3-D Digital Storage Innovations
In a related, but separate, piece from ArsTechnica.com, author Joel Hruska writes about a similar attempt to cram more bits into a storage medium. From Holographic storage, 150GB discs finally coming to market: "Holographic storage maker InPhase, a spinoff of Bell Labs, first appeared on the radar back in 2005. Initially, the company claimed that it would soon offer holographic discs at 300GB densities, with later disc densities rising as high as 1TB. InPhase's actual shipping product has been coming real soon now for the past few years, but reports have the company releasing its Tapestry hologram archival product this coming May. This time, apparently, they really, really, really, really mean it. Pinkie swear." The holographic discs are supposed to be resistant to degradation for up to 50 years, but of course, it remains to be seen if this innovation will turn out to be hype or not.
How far is TOO far when it comes to selling out to the man with regards to songs/ditties for your favorite feminine hygiene product/chewing gum/toilet paper brand? Drea at BusinessPundit.com thinks one chart-climbing artist might be taking things a bit too far. In Chris Brown’s “Forever” Takes Corporate Rock to New Heights, she writes:
Have you heard the song “Forever” by teenage sensation Chris Brown? This catchy pop song made it to #3 this week on the Billboard Hot 100. I’ve found it especially good for traffic jams and gym sessions.
It’s the kind of uniform commercial sound that makes you wonder whether the song was written by the same group of lyricists as Jesse McCartney’s Leavin,’ most Britney Spears material, and anything the New Kids on the Block ever released.
To Chris Brown’s credit, he wrote his own lyrics. To the dismay of anyone who ever thought corporate pop had limits of artistic decency, the song was written as part of a Wrigley’s commercial campaign.
In a word, we’ve been duped.
Yikes! Brown's song is catchy and vapid, which is the perfect combination for a bit of popular bubblegum pop and will most likely make him a very rich young man. Is it wrong to love meaningless drivel? If so, why?
If you are in the business of importing/exporting goods, you might want to pay attention to what Tom Travis, managing partner of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., a leading international trade and customs law firm, has to say about that very subject in his recent post for Entrepreneur.com. Travis explains the situation: "Importers today are typically being told they're buying directly from the factory, that it's the manufacturer who is selling to you. In fact, you're usually buying through multiple parties, each that's taking its own markup on the goods, adding to the amount of duty paid once the goods arrive in the United States. As a result, importers are trying to reduce U.S. duties by using a "first sale" concept." What's the fix, you ask? Look no further, constant reader. Read Eliminate Middlemen and Save on U.S. Customs Duties to find out!
How to generate innovation without selling off your first-born to fund it? Patricia Seybold has one great tip (of many!) at the Outside Innovation blog, that bears your attention: "4. Run Online Contests for New Ideas and/or to Solve Tricky Problems. Many companies have had good luck (and gotten great PR) out of running contests with a nice prize (this can vary from an iPod to several thousand dollars in value). Pick a thorny problem or an opportunity and encourage your customers and partners to submit their own solutions. Make sure to ask for their contest entries in ways that will be easy for you to productize or commercialize. For example, ask them to submit a video demonstration along with filling in a form to address the questions and issues that will be important in deciding how and whether to commercialize their solutions. Of course, you’ll need to be very clear about intellectual property rights. In most contests, the contestants are giving you the right to use their IP." I think this is an absolutely smashing idea! Why not? How much does an iPod cost and how much might a great idea be worth to your company? You do the math! Then read the rest of Seybold's post for more tips...
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