critical assumption: September 2009

9/25/2009

Twitter: Worth $7,142,857 a Character

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, internet, Twitter, Web 2.0

Twitter is looking for $100M from the investment community - and that equates to approximately $1B in market capitalization for the company. Well Twitter is based upon the concept of micro blogging with their input box capped at 140 characters. Well, the math is simple - $1B divided by 140 characters equals $7,142,857 per character.

Not bad. If you think through this scenario - our over stimulated world is beginning to reward simplicity. Think about another Internet success - Google. They became a multi-billion dollar company - creating lots of millions - with a very simple page, one input box, and one function. As our world becomes more complex, we are really looking for things that are simple to both understand and use. That may be why Apple has had such success with both the iPod and the iPhone - it's simple to understand. The iPod was a music player and attached to a music store. The iPhone with it's touch screen is and simple navigation is really fairly simple to use for such a technologically advance products.

So, if you're thinking about doing something new - start thinking about making whatever it is simplier. Instead of thinking about everything that can be added to make it "cool" to you - start taking feature and function away to make it simple to use. The key of success for the next few years may be "less is more" and "quality over quantity" - think about it and see if you don't notice the same pattern.

Here are some stories about Twitters search for money....

Wall Street Journal -- Twitter's Value Is Set at $1 Billion
CNN Money -- Is Twitter worth $1 billion?
The Street -- Twitter's Value Is Set at $1B: Report

comments (0)

9/24/2009

Springwise for 9-23-2009 | Ideas to Inspire...

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, Springwise, trend

Booking system lets anyone screen films for profit
Entertainment

Attempting to revolutionize the traditional movie screening business,
IndieScreenings lets anyone hire a film, show it to an audience
they've created, and keep the cash.

A new Poken, made for suit pockets
Life hacks

Many business professionals weren't comfortable whipping out a
plastic panda, and the 64 contact limit on the original Poken was
too constrictive. Poken's answer? The sleek Poken Pulse.

Designer hand sanitizer from fashion label Ed Hardy
Fashion & beauty

Now that toilet seat covers, first-aid kits and vomit bags have been
upgraded with a splash of style, the Ed Hardy line of designer hand
sanitizer comes not a moment too soon.

Partnership promotes Sony Reader for library ebooks
Media & publishing

With more and more aspects of daily life abandoning their physical
form and appearing electronically, why should libraries be any
different? Sony partners with OverDrive to increase lending of ebooks.

Alain de Botton's airport diary launched at Heathrow
Tourism & travel / Media & publishing

Last month, Heathrow Airport installed Alain de Botton as its writer in
residence for a week. As tweeted by de Botton yesterday, the book
he wrote at Heathrow has now been launched.

GM cars come with money-back guarantee
Automotive / Marketing & advertising

Bankruptcy-beleaguered GM attempts to win over new buyers by
offering a 60-day money-back guarantee on many of the cars it
sells.

blinka.me helps people follow up on chance meetings
Life hacks

New Zealand-based blinka.me offers a way to find those we've met
just fleetingly at a bar, airport, conference or event, even if we don't
know their phone number, email or name.

Niche bottle photography, now in Germany
Marketing & advertising

Great ideas deserve to multiply. Good example? A niche photography
business focused on shooting bottles. Launched in the UK earlier
this year, a similar concept is now open for business in Germany.

Connecting creative consumers with local fabricators
Style & design

100kGarages is a community of workshops distributed around the
world that are equipped with the tools needed to precisely cut, drill,
machine or sculpt the components of virtually any creative project.

Members club for artisanal ice cream in Manhattan
Food & beverage

Launching soon, Milk Made will offer New Yorkers the chance to
have a pint of freshly-made ice cream delivered to their doorstep
every month. The service will be by subscription only.

Published Campsite directory with a fresh pitch
Tourism & travel

Pitchup.com lists over 5,000 camping and caravanning sites
around the UK and Ireland. Users can easily narrow down the
selection using a whopping 79 different criteria.

Vitaminwater's new flavour created on Facebook
Fashion & beauty

Using Facebook like an R&D lab, beverage company VItamin-
water is inviting users to create a new flavour, choose functional
ingredients and design a bottle.

Customised goods, collected & reviewed
Retail

Helping consumers find their way through the customisation maze,
Milk or Sugar has started aggregating what's on offer, including
details like shipping regions and delivery times.

Expiration-date stickers for cosmetics
Fashion & beauty / Life hacks

Aiming to protect consumers from the potential hazards of expired
makeup and skincare products, Beauty Alert has developed a line
of stickers to remind consumers when they're likely to go bad.

Personalized e-stories for kids on iPhone and Kindle
Telecom & mobile / Media & publishing

Story Something targets busy parents of kids aged three through
eight with a collection of original stories that can be personalized
and accessed online or via email.

Greeting cards for prisoners
Lifestyle & leisure

Los Angeles-based Three Squares Greetings sells a wide variety
of cards designed for inmates to both send and receive. Themes
include getting out, tough love, and acceptance.

Watch lets crowds monitor air quality in Paris
Eco & sustainability

A new initiative aims to equip Paris citizens with a special device
that can measure and report air-quality data regularly for collective
use.

Sears Christmas card rewards shoppers for saving
Retail / Financial services

In a bid to coax consumers into spending more at the store this
Christmas, retail giant Sears is encouraging them to save first,
using their Christmas Club card.

Colour-changing home appliances by Karim Rashid
Homes & housing / Style & design

Appliances in Gorenje's new line feature colour-adjustable LED
strips, which allow people to change the colour of their oven or
refrigerator.

iPhone app narrates stories for young kids
Media & publishing / Telecom & mobile

Aiming to provide a more enriching experience than simply
playing with buttons or watching movies, iStoryTime is a new
iPhone application that's designed to bring stories to life.

comments (0)

9/20/2009

Springwise | 16 September 2009 | This week's new business ideas

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, Springwise, trend

Solar panels shaped like clay roof tiles
Eco & sustainability / Homes & housing

The Sole Power Tile is a roof tile designed to sustainably convert
sunlight into electricity without compromising aesthetics. It's a solar
panel disguised as a clay roof tile.

Fertility device offers money-back guarantee
Lifestyle & leisure

A UK firm has developed a temperature-measuring device with
accuracy levels so high that it offers a money-back guarantee if
pregnancy is not achieved within 12 months.

High-heeled shoes, designed by the crowds
Fashion & beauty

If consumers can design their own fabrics, dresses, handbags and
sneakers, it stands to reason that they should be able to create their
own high-heeled shoes too.

DNA and memories stored in Swiss nuclear shelter
Life hacks

Swiss DNA Bank offers ultra-secure storage that meets Swiss
banking regulations. For a one-time fee of USD 399, customers
can store both self-swabbed DNA and up to 1 GB of data, forever.

Halal cosmetics for Muslim women
Fashion & beauty

It's estimated that 70% of Muslims worldwide live by the code of halal.
That's a big market for producers of halal food, but one that has largely
been ignored by the casually carnivorous cosmetics industry.

Sponsorship covers costs of Mariah Carey's latest CD
Entertainment / Marketing & advertising

Sponsorship comes in the form of a small booklet that accompanies
the album, filled with glossy advertisements that promote a Mariah
Carey-esque lifestyle.

iPhone app helps road warriors find a place to work
Telecom & mobile / Life hacks

WorkSnug uses augmented reality to show users which workspaces
are nearby along with reviews of their offerings: wifi access, power
supply, noise levels, community feel and, yes, even the coffee.

Recycled plastic bottles into graduation gowns
Eco & sustainability / Education

The bottles are turned into molten plastic pellets, which are then spun
into a soft, breathable polyester fabric. An average of 23 bottles goes
into each gown.

P2P student loans for the developing world
Non-profit / Social cause / Education

Entrepreneurs in the developing world have already benefited from
peer-to-peer lending programs. Aiming to bring similar benefits to
students is Vittana, which focuses on educational loans.

Brain-building toys for dogs
Lifestyle & leisure

If pets now have their own airline and their own social network, it
seems only fitting that canines should have more sophisticated
entertainment than the simple bones their forebears chewed on.

Music fans paid to create videos for fave bands
Entertainment

Currently on the verge of kicking off its first contest, startup Genero.tv
has signed on a number of artists interested in getting fans to create
the official videos for their music.

Niche classifieds for sneakerheads
Fashion & beauty

Equal parts community and classifieds site, SneakerListing is a
new destination for sneaker aficionados to buy and sell limited
edition footwear.

Cash for (two-wheeled) clunkers
Transportation / Retail

Portland bike vendor Joe Bike has launched its own Cash for
Clunkers program whereby consumers can donate an old car
or bike in exchange for discounts on a new utility bike.

Jobs site focuses on reviewing 'great bosses'
Life hacks

Operating under the principle that "people join companies, but they
leave bosses," GetaGreatBoss facilitates reviews of managers by
those best qualified to do so: the people who work for them.

Virtual studio lets anyone be a fashion editor
Fashion & beauty / Media & publishing

Stockholm-based Looklet offers a selection of seven models,
38 backdrops and almost 2,000 items of clothing and accessories
that can be combined to try out new looks and combinations.

comments (0)

9/17/2009

10 Questions: Are you in the right job?

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... Life, success

The list you are about to read is from a book entitled Flight Plan: How to Achieve More, Faster Than You Ever Dreamed Possible by Brian Tracy. It is about knowing whether you are in the right job/career/field/profession [however you classify it]. It's a great list and makes you think beyond "am I progressing up the ladder" or "am I making enough" or "I hate/love my job" or where I work or the people I work with. Our work life is complicated [just like every aspect of your life] and to get the most from it, we need to understand what we want, what we enjoy and how to get the most out of it. Enjoy the list...

Here are ten indicators that you can use to determine that you are in the right field, doing what you were put on this earth to do:
You love your job. It interests you, fascinates you, attracts you.
You want to be excellent at your job, to be among the top 10 percent in your field.
You admire the top people in your field and want to be like them, to achieve their same level of success.
You like to learn about your chosen field—to read about it, attend courses and lectures on it, listen to audio programs about it. You never tire of learning more throughout your life.
The right job for you is something that is easy to learn and easy to do. It seems to come naturally to you, while it is difficult for most others.
When you are fully engaged in your work, time stands still. You often forget to eat, drink, take breaks, or rest.
Success experiences in this field give you your greatest feelings of self-esteem and satisfaction, your peak experiences in life. You can hardly wait to achieve success again.
You like to think about your work and talk about it when you aren't doing it. It is interwoven with your whole life.
You like to associate with other people in your field and to "talk shop" on every occasion.
You plan to do this work all your life, to never retire, because you enjoy it so much.
It has been said, "Do what you love; the money will follow." True success comes from discovering what you love to do and then throwing your whole heart into doing it better and better. Determining your ideal job or career is essential to your choosing your real destination and fulfilling your potential.

comments (1)

9/15/2009

Say "You Lie" during the President's speech - Get $1.5 million.

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... Life, politics

The following is an excerpt from an Associated Press article and provides the background...

The dispute, by capturing the attention of Republican and Democratic loyalists, has been a financial bonanza for both Wilson and his expected challenger in next year's election, Rob Miller. Each has raised some $1.5 million in contributions since the speech last week. [from "House Nears Vote to Abmonish Wilson Over 'You Lie' " by Jim Abrams & Ben Evans (AP) ]

Now, what I find interesting is that we have entered such a polarized time. Remember back about 12 months, there weren't many GW Bush lovers running around - in fact, Bush-bashing was pretty much the rule - blamed for everything from the War [which he did get us into] and the economy [not entirely his fault - deregulation of the banking industry kinda helped there] and of course the general downfall of the American way of life.

Enter stage left, President Obama. So many firsts here that he instantly rewrote the record books before even spending a day in his new job. Twelve months later, he has not only ruined the American way of life, he is propelling us into a new era of socialism. Of course, something had to be done with the economy [can't let the banking system completely melt down] and Wall Street [money has to move for the economy to work] and our top line industrial companies [we have to produce stuff]. So, here we are trillions of dollars thrown to wind - 10% unemployment - chaos ruling the financial markets - and all Obama wants to do is reform health care. Well good luck.

So, if Representative Wilson and his challenger Rob Miller can utilize a little insensitive indiscretion [nothing big, just calling the President of the United States a liar during his speech being broadcast live] and get a few bucks for their next campaign. Then I say, add a few F-bombs into the mix and a couple racial slurs - that might get you into the big money!! [oh, just a little side not. our elected representatives should quit being so sensitive to being elected "Representatives" of the common people -- I've noticed that many of them like to be called "Congressman/woman" rather than "Representative" - I don't see many Senators wanting to be called "Congressman/woman" instead of Senator - but it would be just as appropriate. I say, be proud of being a representative of the people.]

comments (0)

9/10/2009

Springwise for 09-09-09 | This week's freshest new business ideas

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... Springwise, trends

Many very interesting idea - Enjoy!

Customised cookies, baked to order in 2 minutes
Food & beverage / Retail

Toronto's Sweet Flour Bake Shop lets patrons design their own
baked treats and eat them fresh from the oven just two minutes
later.

Chic vomit bags for morning-sick moms
Style & design / Life hacks

Aiming to do away with the frantic search for an appropriate
receptacle, Morning Chicness Bags offer a way for expectant
moms to always be prepared.

52 recipe contests to spawn crowdsourced cookbook
Media & publishing / Food & beverage

food52 has a clear premise: 52 weeks, 52 recipe contests, and a
crowdsourced cookbook to celebrate the result. The site is now in
its 13th week, soliciting recipes for best beef salad & best fruit tart.

Zipcar perks: bike racks & passes to national parks
Automotive

Two dozen Subaru Imprezas and Outbacks in Seattle and Portland
have been fitted with complimentary bike racks for autumn, while
several dozen other Zipcars include free passes to regional parks.

Domino's delivers pizzas to doors on beach & in park
Marketing & advertising

Aiming to broaden its delivery horizons beyond home and office,
Domino's Pizza in the Netherlands recently placed white delivery
doors in the park and on the beach.

Philips expands line of massagers for couples
Lifestyle & leisure

Citing increased "cocooning" at home and a correspondingly
heightened focus on couples' intimate relationships, Philips is
expanding its offerings in a category it calls relationship care.

Web-to-print tool creates personalized magazines
Media & publishing

Helping readers take blogs and other web content offline,
Zinepal lets any user convert their favourite online content into
ebooks and printable, magazine-style PDFs.

Guide to BYO-friendly restaurants
Food & beverage

GoBYO maintains a database of more than 17,000 restaurants
that allow patrons to bring their own wines in 10 metropolitan
regions of the United States.

Service uses Twitter to crowdsource ideas overnight
Marketing & advertising

Offering crowd-brainstorming capabilities overnight is Ideas
Culture, an Australian firm that puts creative thinkers around the
globe to work via Twitter to solve a client's problem by morning.

Hot sauce made and marketed by prisoners
Food & beverage

Incarceration isn't stopping a group of inmates in Florida's
Hillsborough County Jail from making and selling their own
line of hot sauce.

Ben & Jerry's Hubby Hubby celebrates gay marriage
Food & beverage / Social cause

On the first of this month, gay and lesbian couples in Vermont
gained the right to marry. By way of celebration, Ben & Jerry's has
renamed its well-known Chubby Hubby ice cream Hubby Hubby.

School lunch menus published via Twitter
Education / Food & beverage

Since parents have indicated that they don't know what's on school
menus, the UK's School Fund Trust has partnered with Somerset
County Services to publish its menu each day via Twitter.

Interested in industry-specific ideas?
You can access everything we've published in our idea database, which is conveniently
organized by industry.

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