Hailo, one of the biggest taxi companies in Toronto, has recently launched a very easy-to-use mobile application for their taxi users. This is for the first time that the idea of calling a cab using your mobile phone’s application has been implemented. All you have to do is register yourself with them and request a cab. The app then uses your phone’s GPS to track your location and locate the nearest cabs to your location. When you pick a cab, the app tells you the time when it will pick you up. It also gives you the contact details of the taxi driver. Both drivers and customers can rate each other. This application provides Hailo a great competitive edge over other taxi companies as Hailo’s customers now have another way to avail Hailo’s taxi services.

As the time passes, other companies will also try to compete with Hailo by creating their own app for their consumers. So, in order to survive in the market Hailo will have to keep innovating the app and providing even more features to their loyal customers.

Source: http://dylancollins.com/?p=599
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/blog/tech/105237–the-future-of-taxis-is-here-but-not-without-enemies

Image Source: http://dylancollins.com/?p=599

Response to Chris MacDonald’s post about ethical use of social media in workplace

This article is a very interesting read; it revolves around an issue that has gained a lot of public interest in recent years. The rapid growth of Social Media came with its drawbacks. These issues were pointed out in the article by the various law professionals. The use of social media in the workplace has become an increasing concern. As pointed out by the article, screening of the employees’ social media accounts is on every employer’s mind. Also, when the employees use company equipment to access these sites and post messages about the employer or the company, another issue arises.

His colleague Avner Levin conveys the idea of how we behave online and act online to different audiences which also includes families and friends. We should do our best to make sure that our workplace policies do care for such individual needs.

Source: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/blog/business_ethics/105781–ethics-law-and-social-media-in-the-workplace

Response to Shawn Li’s post of Canyou Group in China

I totally agree with Shawn regarding the concept and importance of Social

Entrepreneurship all around the world. They make profits and improve society at the same time. The Canyou Group in China is a great example of Social Enterprise, it helps the society with creating jobs for the disables. It gives them a chance to earn for themselves and support their families. It also gives them a great chance to come forward in life and share their ideas with other normal people.

Response to Yifan Liu’s post on cost efficient vehicles in Japan.

The concept put forward by the company ZEVe is seems very ideal at first. It is ideal in the sense that it costs it presents a low cost alternative to car. It’s a really profitable opportunity for the business to advance itself in the existing market and enter a new one for compact cars. It also enhances efficiency as the car can literally handle four people at a time. However, its not all good news. Given the large population density of the country, it may not be a good idea for Japan. It might result in even more traffic problem in Japan as more people are going to buy it because of the lower price. It will eventually improve the standard of living of Japanese people as most of them will now have cars instead of bikes.

Source: https://blogs.ubc.ca/yifanliu/

As many other competitors have launched smaller tablets within past years, Apple has been forced to respond. They have recently launched the mini iPad at a price of $329 which is relatively expensive for a 7-inch tablet and $200 cheaper than the latest full-sized tablet. This mini version of iPad has a major flaw that it lacks Retina Display. It is clear that Apple could have easily installed Retina in this one as they have installed it in other gadgets with even smaller screen sizes such as iPhone 4.

However, people find it very easy to handle to iPad mini instead of the larger one because it’s super thin and light. Although, people who are used to Retina Display now might find it difficult to adjust with a non-retina display gadget as text looks blurry and photos and videos are not as sharp. It is assumed that Apple would soon launch a mini iPad with Retina and it will surely help Apple earn huge amount of profits.

Source: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/blog/tech/106441–apple-s-ipad-mini-dilemma
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/blog/tech/105999–ipad-mini-proves-steve-jobs-was-wrong