3D Video Games

Nintendo DS, the handheld video game system, released its newest version in Tokyo on Saturday and saw lines stretching around store corners at 1am. Now with 3D capability without the need to wear glasses, it seems that kids are excited about these hand-held machines. Sunday it became available in the U.S. and 18 video games were already available. It is uncertain how the 3D will fare selling at a premium to the 2D games. I wonder if 3D is the future as it has emerged in movie theaters, television sets and now video games...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703408604576163850793544480.html?mod=WSJ_Tech_LEFTTopNews

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/02/26/nintendo-3ds-debuts-in-japan/

Google will rule the world by 2020

I have the utmost respect for how smart IT creators of programs are. Google has reportedly changed its search algorithm and from briefly going on its site it does look different. Supposedly it will affect 11.8% of its search results and reduce results rankings for low-quality sites. This will make it more competitive among advertisers to keep their ranking up. A local business could get lost in the wide world web of high-quality webpages. Their change in algorithm will impact content farms like Demand Media.

Demand Media, Inc. operates as an online media company in the United States. It identifies, creates, distributes, and monetizes in-demand content. The company's content and media services, include creating media content, primarily consisting of text articles and videos, and delivering together with its social media and monetization tools to the company's owned and operated and network of customer Websites, Google included. Its content and media services are delivered through the company's content and media platform.

After the market closed Friday, shares fell almost 3.5%. It seems Google has declared war on its "content farms." Estimated to be valued at $2 billion, Demand Media will have to make adjustments quick to avoid higher costs and lower revenues. Another two stocks to monitor over the week, GOOG and DMD.

Did the market already anticipate this?

We are taught in business school that the markets are efficient. At the same time we are also taught that from our education we are better than average, so maybe we can find investment loopholes. All information that can be read in the Wall Street Journal or any other public media should already be accounted for in the market. Once it is public, it is probably too late to take advantage of. It is public information that Apple is releasing their second iPad and recently the unveiling was given a date for March 2nd. Apple's stock price is very expensive so it takes large price movements to see large percentage price swings. But over the past week Apples share price has increased 2% and 1.5% on Friday, so it appears that the market has high expectations for the public perception of the new tablet.

Wednesday March 2nd, Apple will unveil their second tablet and it will be interesting to follow trading levels throughout the week.

The iPad's first rival

Yeah that's right, the iPad finally has a competing tablet on its level. For now the only thing the Xoom by Motorola doesn't match up to the iPad is on price. Powered by the new and improved Android system, Honeycomb, allows users to spin the machine and have full touch-screen access as it rotates. Showcasing a larger screen, beefier electronics, and this sleek, new operating system by Google (Honeycomb).



Lets face it, we live in a time of multi-tasking. My generation and those younger need to be doing something at all times. We don't have the greatest attention span, so the Xoom has developed multi-tasking capabilities so while you are waiting for you game to load, you can hop on youtube and search for videos without interrupting the setup of the game. The iPad is still known for having a better resolution screen and more applications. The Xoom is a product to keep an eye on especially with the timing of the new iPad release, which is expected in the coming week. All very interesting news, Apple's share price has fallen over 5.5% the past 5 trading days during as the stock market slides a bit...I will keep an eye on this.

Verizon users, say hello to the iPhone

As of 7am today, Thursday Feb. 10th, the iPhone is available to those with Verizon service. Despite the assumed hype lines were shockingly thin. Analysts believe that both networks will be selling a ton of iPhones this year, and upward estimate of 9-13 million on Verizon's network alone. Day one is off to a slow start.

Well not so fast. Verizon allowed its customers to pre-order the phone where they sold more in the first two hours of availability than the one-day total for any other device's debut in the carrier's history. They declined to reveal the numbers but in this technical day in age it would be misleading to say the move to two networks may be too late. Lets give this time because if the pre-orders are any indication of vindication, both Apple and Verizon will be very pleased with there efforts to team up.

Is Twitter worth more?

Facebook and Google have been rumored to have made a takeover offer. Twitter has been the newest hot sensation of social networking. As an advertised based business, like Facebook, Twitter has to find ways to continue to offer something different. Right now they are. Everything on the site is public and that has a different appeal to advertisers and Twitter users. It seems hard to imagine that upper level management would accept an offer even worth upwards of a couple billion dollars, they believe there is still so much potential. Currently valued anywhere between $8-10 billion, Twitter may seek alternative financing and consider an IPO in the near future.

"The company is having great ad-sales momentum right now, but we still think they need to do something big to increase usage and get more people seeing and interacting with tweets," said Debra Aho Williamson, an eMarketer analyst. "Most of their advertisers are just experimenting at this point; the challenge will be to get those advertisers to come back and buy more," she said. This is what Twitter execs need to figure out whether they have reached their potential as a blog or are there new areas to explore. Is Twitter worth more like $100 billion like people familiar with the company think?

SB Commercials

I have to say I am disappointed with the commercials another year. Not enough funny ones and too little creativity. The car heavy, long drawn out commercials this year where unfortunately expected. Sure there are a few that made us laugh, but in this day in age the approval process on marketing teams is selective. They are careful to not offend someone and receive a law suit the day after the most expensive day ads run. No tech companies ran commercials this year, not sure if that's normal for the industry. It's usually a beer, soft drink, car dominated time slot. So maybe the tech industry as a whole doesn't see enough value running commercials showing off their tablets, knocking on competitors Apple, Samsung, Sony etc.

Apple loyal

I am a little behind in the technology as it seems everyone has a smart phone and/or some other gadget. In fact I didn't even have a cell phone till my senior year in high school. I'm fascinated by the ingenuity engineers at Apple, Samsung, Google etc. have been able to apply to making smaller and smarter technologies. I have a MacBook, bought it four years ago and to date haven't had any issues with it like I did with all the PCs I had before. I am thoroughly impressed and hooked to Apple products. If I could I would upgrade my phone to the iPhone and get the latest MacBook.

Steve Jobs and the Apple team (well I guess we'll find out how smart Apple is without Jobs) have created a stigma or sexiness about their products. I know they have had their issues with the first release of a lot of products, but I am a loyal Apple customer and believe being the first mover in the tablet market the iPad is poised to continue to hold the market. That's my opinion as a biased Apple user.