Apple Vs. Samsung….. will it ever end?    

The ongoing battle between Apple and Samsung does not seem to be reaching a close any time soon. Apple has recently voiced eight Samsung Phones that they would like too see banned. Right after their victory against Samsung they have given the judge a list of these eight phones which they want pulled from the store shelves in the US market. This list also included Samsung’s famous Galaxy model smartphones.

What calls too be questioned is the fact that all of this is really necessary. It is pretty obvious that Apple is getting scared of this competitor and the best way to deal with them is to sue them of all their technology and literally abolish the threat.

Personally, I think this request is rather silly. Shown in the pictures provided, Apple basically wants Samsung to get rid of every touch phone they have for sale which in my eyes doesn’t seem fair because of the newly brought upon consumer craze of touch phones Samsung will not be able to compete with Apple if they lose this key factor. I think Apple should honestly grow up because with every big company there needs to be a competitor that pushes their limits if there wasn’t consumers would be faced with the same model/style over and over again. Although it does make sense that they are worried, because of Samsung’s new found success, they should be researching ways to creatively innovate themselves rather then spending money on petty lawsuits.

Social media, shifting consumer habits erode greeting card market, force consolidation

The internet as put a dent and also ended the industries of many companies. For example, streaming videos has ended the way we watch movies and we no longer make a trip down to our nearest “Blockbuster” and rent a dvd. Social media has done the same for the ‘Greeting Card’ industry. Over the past decade the number of greetings cars that were sold in the US has decreased from  6 billion to 5 billion annually.

Although most people do prefer physically opening a card, it tends to be easier for the greeters to write a simple message on their Facebook wall or even send them an e-card through email. It is also apparent that even the cards people are sending have changed in appearance. People are now taking images off the internet and creating their own greetings for those they are close with. The card making software that was once only available to professionals is now available to everyone which does make it easier and more cost efficient for those sending out home-made cards.

Big companies like Hallmark and experiencing the negative effects of the advance in technology and social media. Before when the main way of communicating with someone was through mail, it is no surprise they are suffering from a decline because of the new found ways of expressing ourselves, which is mainly on the internet.

Statistics say that greeting cards fell 24% between 2002 and 2012, invitations alone has dropped nearly 25% between 2008 and 2010. This is due largely on the new demographic of mail (or in this case email) senders who are kids/teens that become used to communicating mainly through their computer screens.

Although technology is progressing card companies like Hallmark are gradually starting to adapt too these new changes. For example, they have created an iPhone app which lets people buy cards electronically and mail them from their iPhones. Additionally they have partnered with a company called Shutterfly, which gives the iPhone owner the opportunity to even make their own card and customize it how they please. American Greetings who is a chief rival has actually went from trimming costs and jobs too announcing they are adding around 125 more workers which will be a part of their expansion that will allow customers to design their very own cards, much like Hallmark.

All in all, it is important too remember that people do still appreciate the sentiment of a nicely handwritten card arriving in their mailbox. But, I do believe that people whom you are close with will still go to this effort to formally greet you on your wedding, birthday or any special event in your life. I do think the technological movement of greeting cards is a bitter-sweet one because on side the gesture seems less sentiment but on the other hand this can also be great for the environment because of the decrease in paper being used.

NY Times Article 

Just last year Apple had announced that all their iPhones would now come with a voice-activated software by the name of ‘Siri’. And of course, we as consumers did think that the great Apple was the first too come up with this genius new aspect too their product. But in actual fact the idea came from Michael Phillips, a co-founder of a voice recognition company which was established back in 2006. Much before the release of the iPhone 4. Their very own software was integrated into Apple’s very own Siri much before it was absorbed into the iPhone.

But, just in 2008 Michael Phillip’s company had been contacted by a larger voice recognition firm called Nuance. They threatened to sue his company (Vlingo) if Phillips did not agree to sell his company to them. Not giving into Nuance’s ultimatum Michael now had to face the first of six lawsuits. And so now the money that was too go to higher development of their software with expensive research, that money is now to go to pay for lawyers and court fees. And although Phillip’s did win this case the suit had cost him around $3 million dollars and the financially, the damage was done.

MichaelPhillips had complainedthat they were on the verge of changing the world with the new research they intended to do but because of the money spent on lawsuits that is no longer the case. The question becomes this, “has the marketplace for new ideas been corrupted by software patents used as destructive weapons?”. And the answer I believe for the most part. According to a Stanford University analysis, there has been over $20 billion dollars spent on patent ligation which is the equivalent to about eight Mars rover missions.

But from a business stand point most owners do believe patents are important or else they wouldn’t think of paying the big bucks for research if they knew that it was just going to be copied in a couple of years. Unfortunately it is getting a little out of hand with companies creating patents so broad that they allow the holders to claim ownership of unrelated products built by others. In which most companies are sued for patents they weren’t even aware existed, it is plain to see most companies are not very sure on where to draw the line when it comes to this issue.

On the contrary, that is just how businesses keep their edge, with new technology they offer to consumers that cannot be offered anywhere else. Thus, the concept of a patent is important but, unlike most businesses, people tend to not be aware of the unnecessary bounds some of these patents reach. Every company needs some sort of close competitor or else their incentive to create a better product than the other will no longer be existing.

NHL Lockout Article 

Much too the dismay of every hockey fan, the NHL players and owners still have not come too an agreement and it is already affecting the franchise in an economic-business standpoint. It is said that the NHL is already seeing major revenue losses and the lockout has only just begun. Since this is only the beginning, over time, the loss of revenue will only increase higher and higher.

The damage that has already plagued the organization due to the lockout is a near $100 million dollars, just because of the cancellation of the pre season schedule. Consequently, the suffering from this loss will not only be from one side of the debate, but both the players and the owners. With the NHLPA proposing calling a flip for the way that the revenue is divided (originally 43% to player), meaning that the players will now receive 47% rather than the owners acquiring there 57% (which will change to 52%). On the contrary, the owners are unwilling too cut their percentage and also want to reduce the amount of player negotiation rights. They are inching backwards rather than moving forward and are reaching no conclusions.

Moreover, almost 100 locked-out NHLer’s now have deals to play in Europe this including Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Matt Duchene, and Jamie Benn. So if these players are willing too sign with other leagues, are they in fact in much of a hurry too negotiate and create a compromise, or are they just looking for something too fill their time while NHLPA and the NHL are at a crossfire.

However, there are also players who aren’t finding alternatives as easily as these and are just fed up with the entire ordeal. Zach Parise, who just renewed a contract with the Minnesota Wild ($98 million), can’t be more upset with the NHL president’s decisions. With Gary Bettman constantly bragging about the “record revenue” the NHL supposedly makes each year, Parise is upset because “they want to take a quarter of what you’ve made away”, which is what he told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

And of course stuck in the middle of this are the fans who went through this exact predicament back in the 04′-05′ season, in which the players agreed to take a cut in their wages so the next season could continue. Personally, I believe it is time for the owners too have give some leeway in their negotiation. Making 52% may be a significant difference then their 57% but at the end of the day it is not like they are living a paycheque to paycheque life style and they should remember the amount of they are making is huge. All in all the greediness really needs to stop and both sides need to remember the reason the joined the franchise in the first place, for the love of the game.