Monthly Archives: October 2014

3:00 pm on a warm sunny, summer afternoon.

You’re sitting in your house, relaxing, when you hear a knock on the door. You open up and see Al Monaco, CEO of Enbridge inc, standing in front of a construction crew. He informs you that he plans on constructing a pipeline through your living room. He continues to tell you of your compensation, economic benefits of the pipeline, and other valid reasons behind the construction, but you stopped listening at “pipeline through your living room”. Before you can respond to his intrusion, he informs you construction will likely be starting in the next year.

Although this is a fictional story, it is not far from the reality some First Nations people have dealt with. Regardless of the pros or cons of their Northern Gateway pipeline, Enbridge should have given more consideration to the First Nations peoples when planning their project.

The First Nations people whose land will theoretically be used should have been the first group consulted when planning this pipeline. Perhaps through a building of mutual respect from day one, an agreement could have been made. Unfortunately, first impressions are the strongest, and the Northern Gateway Pipeline has made quite a negative impression on the First Nations Peoples.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/There+will+pipeline/10122968/story.html

After launching their new handset last week, the Passport, BlackBerry has made it clear of their focus: innovation of mobile technology for users who care about serious productivity. Unlike competitor Apple, who keeps product specifications secret until release date, information about the passport has been available for a while. The new phone sports new features such as the classic blackberry keyboard with a modern update, a 30 hour battery life, and more, while being the size of it’s namesake, a passport.

The phone does not is not the iPhone. It will not take back BlackBerry’s hold on the market. However, BlackBerry did not make it to be. The new phone was not made to kill the iPhone, BlackBerry is comfortable with their current customer segment. Through their ups and downs, BlackBerry has always had a devoted following from the business community. Rather than take on the behemoths of the mobile phone industry, BlackBerry chose to cater to their loyal customers.

The new BlackBerry will not give you a new high score in Candy Crush. Nor will it map out your jogging route. It is what BlackBerries have always been: a powerful tool for those who need to securely access their data.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102053583?linkId=9850056&linkId=9850613

Netflix Inc., an American supplier of on-demand Internet streaming media is once again ruffling the feathers of the entertainment industry. For the first time, the company is partnering with a major motion picture studio to release a feature film. Challenging the norms of the film industry, Netflix is releasing a sequel to the popular 2000 movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. They plan on releasing the film both in theaters and on its own platform simultaneously.

This is not the first time Netflix has re-positioned themselves in the entertainment industry. Founded in 1997, the company originally ran a DVD-by-mail service in the United States, where customers would pay a flat fee every month and would be mailed DVDs they request. In 1999, the began their digital distribution of media, and their streaming service has since put dvd rental retailers such as Blockbuster out of service. As society began to lean towards a digital age, Netflix re-positioned into the market of digital streaming, which has left them highly successful.

Netflix is constantly changing their value proposition. In a move that upset the television industry, the company released entire seasons of a show at once, rather than the usual serialized method. In a similar fashion, Netflix’s latest endeavor of simultaneous release of a film through theatrical release and digital streaming has upset the film industry.

Netflix’s innovation is the future. As consumers are leaning towards a more digital lifestyle, older companies are left with an ultimatum: follow the innovation, or follow Blockbuster and the dinosuar, to extinction.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/us-business/netflix-to-make-big-screen-debut-with-crouching-tiger-sequel/article20853176/