For those of us who are heavily invested in of of the most recognized social media platforms which differentiates itself by allowing users to post photos instead of words (Instagram), #rkoi has been popping up on news feeds everywhere. RKOI, or rich kids of instagram, unites photos on a tumblr feed  of teenagers and young adults who are the sons and daughters of the %1 spending 5 digits on restaurant bills, jet-setting on a private charter, and popping $10,000 Moet champagne bottles in St. Tropez. For many, the rich kids of instagram offer an exclusive look into how the heirs of the rich and elite conduct themselves day to day. The accounts have drawn massive amounts of attention nation-wide and has opened discussion to the security threats these teens may pose to their parents. Forbes reported in an article on their site  that Michael Dell immediately suspended his daughters account when he learned that she was disclosing information on her and her families whereabouts to anyone who follows her on the social media platform. Mr. Dell reportedly spends approximately $1 Million USD annually on security for himself and his close family, so a picture disclosing a flight or hotel can do serious damage against his efforts. Aside from the risk the youth pose against their personal safety, the amount of attention they’ve received from people criticizing the exorbitant sums of money spent on shopping and super-cars has caused uproar. Nothing is stopping the teens from expressing themselves however they choose to do so, but the fact that they take pride in demonstrating evidence of their copious amounts of consuming in the face of a public already feeling unfairly treated can’t help.

One of the ways in which Apple has differentiated themselves from many other competitors within the exponentially expanding tech industry is through their ability to innovate, or rather convince customers they are innovating. In either case, the company with the worlds largest market-cap as of October 2013 had been rumoured to be continuing on this path of expansion into unknown uses of rapidly advancing technology in developing a wearable smart watch. The general idea would be for consumers to purchase the watch in compliment to their iPhones and gain some utility by wearing Apple product. By Forbes predictions (1), the first-of-its-kind product could add relatively mild increases to Apple’s annual revenue at the pace they’re carrying. What many analysts predicted was that the actual business of the product jumped to a position less important than the social implications of the product itself. Google’s wearable smart glasses are namely recognized as one of the first major introductions of innovation into the market of wearable smart technology, being a fully functional camera, recorder, calendar, alarm clock, …etc that consumers may see through like eyewear. The interest around these and similar products is less focused on the technology, which all exists and has been nearly perfected on most smart phone platforms, and more on the social implications of integrating technology into what we wear. It’s a market that has never really caught our attention or interest, and the fact that the industry-leading giants are investing resources into venture opportunities like these may mean big change is on the way.

(1) http://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/10/07/catching-up-with-apple-analysts-iwatch-wont-be-a-needle-mover-not-enough-wealthy-people-left-to-buy-iphones-larger-screen-iphone-6-could-lift-shares-to-600/

(2) http://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2013/03/19/whats-the-iwatch-worth-to-apple-a-lot-more-than-you-may-think/

CBC “Trader Joe’s loses fight with Vancouver’s Pirate Joe’s”

I learned the name Michael Hallatt first when he was introduced to me before commencing his address to Sauder’s class of 2017 during Frosh. One of the first points he had intended to make, was that his name was Michael Hallat, and he was being sued. He was outspoken, energetic, and came across as totally self-confident and rebellious. The business model he presented was one that I found extremely strange. Drive to the states, buy products from Trader Joe’s, drive back and resell them in Canada at his comedically-named “Pirate Joe’s” store in Kitsilano.  Why and how on earth did someone decide to start crossing the U.S.-Canada border to purchase another companies products if only to return and sell at a mark-up back home? I found it strange and seemingly illegal until he reinforced so convincingly that international laws protect himself and his business from any legal action imposed by Trader Joe’s. All the details of Michael Hallat and his speech to us returned to me upon a ruling this week by United States Judge Marsha Pechman which dismissed the case of Trader Joe’s vs. Michael Hallat citing the inutility of American laws to prosecute infringements in Canadian jurisdiction. Trader Joe’s could not prove any evidence of economic harm imposed by Pirate Joe’s and was therefore forced to appeal. The statement Michael Hallat made early friday morning reinforced the utmost confidence he had in himself and his business; a quality detected very easily by many Sauder froshees. 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/trader-joe-s-loses-fight-with-vancouver-s-pirate-joe-s-1.1912400