Companies Go Green? Which Ones?

We all know that Google is a major player in the power and green tech industry with hundreds of millions, even billions, invested in solar plants and green farms as well as grants for search.  Cleantechica has a list of some companies that are also working to use renewable power to help them cut back on use of traditional power sources.

And this being a mobile blog, I'm happy to say that some companies involved have mobile involvement.  Nokia, Adobe, Starbucks (for its mobile payment), Intel, Motorola, and Cisco to make a few.  And guess what?  Where is Apple in all this?

Anyway, it's fantastic that these companies are conscious of their social and environmental responsibilities and their willingness to set an example for society in general.  Kohl and Whole Foods (with its conservative CEO) both source 100% of their power needs from renewable sources.  I hope the rest will follow.  Imagine if all of Forbes 1000 get their power needs from geothermal, solar, and wind sources.  

All I can say is that Google was the one that started all this.  I'm sure one of more of these companies mentioned by Cleantechnica would have eventually taken up that mantle but they didn't do it in the manner and at the time Google did.  

Once again, where is Apple with regards to renewable power?

UK Job Post For Apple Retail Suggests Early to Middle of Sept iPhone Launch

CNet go this scoop that a hiring company in the UK is looking for temporary workers to get traininge in selling iPhones.  And to be a part of this special project during this period of time.  The timing jives with all the chatter about when Apple is going to unleash the next iPhone.

On top of that, the lucky hire will be given the title "Apple iPhone Sales Specialist".  It'll look good when Apple lets him or her go at the end of October and looks for a job with Microsoft retail or something.  Nice title to go on the resume.

While this is a UK posting, Apple launches the iPhone 4 in the US and Britain at the same time.  And with an orientation in the middle of August, we should see a earliest launch window of late August but probably early through the middle of September.  

So, if you're thinking of getting a new iPhone, don't.  Stop.  There is absolutely no compelling reason for you to get one at the moment  Yes, you can wait a month or so.

Chinese Man Build Own iPad-Like Tablet That Runs On Windows

Remember a while back, a Chinese man built robots out of crap he found? Well, this dude is just as impressive.

He build his own tablet. It looks like even has an Apple logo but runs Windows. But then you wouldn't really be able to tell at first glance that it isn't an Apple product. It looks like a mini-iMac.

And after the initial launch, the UI even looks like OS X.



It's a long video. I suggest you skip to about the 16 minute mark of this 20 minute video.

Hey, if I'm Lenovo, HTC, Samsung, or even Apple, I'd hire this guy right away. I'm sure he could have this running just about any OS. Android, Windows, and even OS X.

Source: Yahoo News.

Apple Retail Is Booming; It Is A Bad Measure For The Economy

During the last recession with the whole housing and financial meltdown of 2008, Steve Jobs vowed that Apple will innovate its way out of the recession.  And it did.  It grew faster than most other companies  And put a lot of cash in the bank.  And amazingly, its retail business has grown beyond the wildest dreams of pundits and analysts.  

USA Today's post mentioned that Apple now accounts for a fifth of retail growth.  It's not bad for a singularly narrowed focus on few lines of consumer products.  Just wait until Apple gets into, oh, say, HDTV or something like that. 

In the same post, it suggested that Apple's growth could serve as a litmus test for retail sales.  I suggest this to be a major failacy.  While companies were laying off people during the recession, Apple sales were growing and hiring people.  By that measurement, we had no recession.

It just goes to show that Apple is an entirely different entity all on its own.  And its retail growth will continue to explode.  Just about every major product will be updated between now and just before the Christmas shopping season starts.  How do you hope to try to see how the economy is doing by Apple's measuring stick?

Boy Genius Report On RIM's Rise and Current Fall - Recommended Read

I think everyone interested in the history of mobile and how it got here should read this Boy Genius Report post on RIM. 

It's a good place to jump in to get an idea of where things are, how the industry works.  It's also about brilliance and blindness that went together.  

RIM is by no means finished.  It's fans are as loyal as any I've seen and they've got a foothold others can only jealously covet:  the enterprise market.  If anyone company can return super-duper growth they've experienced in the last from the "pretty good" growth now, it's them.

At the same time, the post served as a reminder to other companies that what's happening to RIM can also happen to them.

Leaked Info That China Telecom To Start Selling iPhone late 2011 Could Be Apple Ploy

I don't know why this news is out now but I am sure this leak was not accidental or a wink-wink type. There was a lot of details involved.

According to Appleinsider, Apple will offer the iPhone to China Telecom to run on its CDMA network.

Ordinarily, Apple swears its partners regarding deals to total secrecy. But this leak had the taste of previous ones that suggests it was someone close to Apple who authorized it.

Why now? A couple of reasons come to mind. Apple's earnings will be out next week. Could this be a way to give the stock a bump if Apple misses earnings estimates? After all, even if Apple does meeting or slightly beat estimates, it may not be enough to the hedge funds or Overtly demanding investors who swear only by the whisper numbers.

Or it could be a ploy in Apple's negotiation with other Chinese mobile carriers like China Mobile.

If two of its main competitors start offering the iPhone before it does, maybe that is enough for a deal more favorable to Apple be agreed upon.

Obviously, I could be wrong. This Reuters report which Appleinsider referenced came during Asian trading hours. Maybe it was someone at CT who jumped the guy on the announcement.

But I still think this smells more of an Apple leak.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Foregone Conclusion Apple TV Set Coming? Could Be A Game Changer If True

CNBC is reporting some Wall Street analysts considering just what kind of an impact Apple would have on the HDTV market as well as the content market as we know it today.  And it seems like they have already concluded that an Apple-branded HDTV is coming.  Let's take a look at this this means from the market and what it means for us, between now and until Apple actually does release something.

Now, about us.  Well, this is just a couple of Wall Street guys chatting among themselves.  Speculating.  And keep in mind that they are more often wrong than not and never has made any effort to explain the errors of their reasonings.  So, here's what to expect in the short term.

According to CNBC, the people who had a hand in the global financial meltdown of 2008 and various bubbles through the last couple of decades, Apple's HDTV means that it would have secured enough content that will drive a whole 10% of cable viewers towards its ecosystem and other streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.  

In effect, Apple's entry into the TV market, like it has done with other markets, legitimizes alternative means of consuming content.  Ten percent is bad enough but those are likely conservative losses for the cable and satellite TV market.

Furthermore, success is almost assured for Apple given its one of a kind ecosystem as evident with iTunes and iOS in the mobile market.  And with close to $70 billion in cash, Apple can leverage that as they have done in mobile by prepaying for parts.  Apple has the clout and might to pay for contents years out, something that competitors, even cable companies, would have it difficult to do.  Or Apple can buy the contents outright thought that is highly doubtful.  

But imagine if Apple locks up an ESPN deal with the NBA or NFL for exclusive digital distribution.  Pay upfront for first run movies or offer original content.  

So, how does these chatter impact us, the mobile users and consumers?  

First, there will be lots and lots of rumors.  In the past, I've helped newcomers to all things Apple where rumors come from, what they are for, and who they are for.  

Between now and the beginning of October, Apple will hold at least one even to introduce its iOS refresh:  iPhone, iPod line, and Apple TV.  Things will go crazy around August.  While like myself, you will enjoy reading about what Apple may or may not be releasing this year, don't base your buying needs on it.  Most of the rumors are made up, meant to freeze the market or keep one company or another, including Apple, on edge.  

Some rumors will be spread by Apple - particularly through NY Times or the Wall Street Journal.  Those, while fun to read, are meant for Apple's competitors, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.  

Rumors from the blogs work the same way but most are made up or speculations made to sound like rumors.  

But when Apple releases its HDTV, though I can see why they need to since Apple TV works just fine as a conduit between iTunes, contents, iOS devices, and the user, we can expect a radically different way to pay and interact with the content.  Yes, interact.  Through iPad or the iPhone.  It could also be about gaming as well.  

However, I cannot see why Apple needs to release its own TV or how HDTV will be any more different from those already on the market.  Apple's offering could be differentiated by what is built-in:  could be a build in Apple TV running iOS.  Instead of an Apple TV hooked up to a regular HDTV now, it would be an integrated HDTV like the iMac is.

I'm not sure that would enough to get consumers, except those who absolutely must have an Apple logo on their TV, to consider it.  

Hey, I'm all for competition and if Apple does enter the HDTV market and drive innovation and pricing down, I'll be pulling for them.