Some may have been shaking their heads while still others might have been saying that it isn't so, when the news was announced on May 20th 2014, that Google was now the worlds most valuable brand. According to market research firm, Millward Brown, Google's brand value rose by 40% to $158 billion, while Apple, who came in second, fell by 20% to $147 billion.
The unseating of Apple as the top brand is being perceived by some as a lack of innovation. Google has given us, Google Glass, Google Package Delivery, Google Fiber(broadband internet access), and Google Driverless Cars. Apple, on the other hand has yet to give a definite release date for the iPhone 6, which could appear in September 2014.
Apple is currently in negotiations to buy Beats Electronics for $3 billion. Many have questioned this move and believed that this is being done in order to acquire Beats Music, in an effort to improve the stature of iTunes Radio. On the surface, it might appear that Apple is skidding towards an innovative slump. Apple, however files a lot of patents.
It is from this wealth of patents that new ideas from Apple come. One such idea is the Smart Home, which is expected to be announced at Apple's WWDC(Worldwide Developer's Conference) coming up in June 2014. While clearly this represents only one new advancement in the past several years, there's no way to know just what else Apple may have up it's sleeve for the years that follow.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Spotify Reaches 10 Million Paid Subscribers
Hot on the heels of Apple's announced purchase of Beats Electronics, on May 21st 2014, Spotify announced that it had reached 40 million users and 10 million paid subscribers. This marks a 66% increase of both paid customers as well as over all users.
Spotify was created in Sweden in 2008 as a streaming alternative to illegal downloads. Since then the company has become very popular. It made it's debut in the U S in 2011 and has been increasing in popularity here as well.
As download sales continue to slump, the streaming wars appear to be only just beginning. While clearly Spotify is the industry's current front runner, there is still room for growth. In my opinion, the question is, is whether or not this means that streaming will become more important to music consumers than purchasing and owning their own copy of a song or album.
What may actually be happening is an increase in smartphone and tablet usages, which may include a bundling of services. In some cases, such bundling may give hand held users access to apps like Spotify. Trying the free service may cause user to subscribe to the paid service.
If this line of thinking is correct at all, it may well mean that streaming will at some point reach a peak before it too begins to level off. As more of the population adapts hand held devices, they will no longer be viewed as trendy. It's at that point that users may once again become more diversified in their listening habits.
Meanwhile, speculation continues as to what Apple will do with Beats Music Service. Some bloggers have suggested that the electronics division is Apple's sole reason for the purchase. Others believe that Beats Music will become a ready made paid subscription version of iTunes Radio. Both reasons sound highly likely. With Spotify's latest announcement, I think that the latter is a very good idea.
Spotify was created in Sweden in 2008 as a streaming alternative to illegal downloads. Since then the company has become very popular. It made it's debut in the U S in 2011 and has been increasing in popularity here as well.
As download sales continue to slump, the streaming wars appear to be only just beginning. While clearly Spotify is the industry's current front runner, there is still room for growth. In my opinion, the question is, is whether or not this means that streaming will become more important to music consumers than purchasing and owning their own copy of a song or album.
What may actually be happening is an increase in smartphone and tablet usages, which may include a bundling of services. In some cases, such bundling may give hand held users access to apps like Spotify. Trying the free service may cause user to subscribe to the paid service.
If this line of thinking is correct at all, it may well mean that streaming will at some point reach a peak before it too begins to level off. As more of the population adapts hand held devices, they will no longer be viewed as trendy. It's at that point that users may once again become more diversified in their listening habits.
Meanwhile, speculation continues as to what Apple will do with Beats Music Service. Some bloggers have suggested that the electronics division is Apple's sole reason for the purchase. Others believe that Beats Music will become a ready made paid subscription version of iTunes Radio. Both reasons sound highly likely. With Spotify's latest announcement, I think that the latter is a very good idea.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Apple Buys Beats
On May 8th 2014, Apple announced that it was in talks to buy Beats Electronics for 3.2 billion dollars. While some bloggers have questioned this move by Apple, others have been quick to label the deal as a move to divest some of Apple's sizable cash holdings.
Beats Electronics was started by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. The company produces a very popular and successful brand of head phones called Beats By Dre. In January 2014, Beats Electronics launched its own music service, called Beats Music. Reports have stated that Beats Music has only 100,000 to 200,000 paid subscribers since its January start.
iTunes Radio has been doing well, however, Apple is disappointed that the stream to click through ration has been running around 2%, as download sales continue to slump. Apple has been considering an overhaul of iTunes Radio, possibly adding a subscription service to its repertoire.
Apple has been selling Beats head phones practically since their inception. Both iTunes Radio and Beats Music have been struggling. Bringing the two entities together seems like an obvious conclusion. This acquisition will at the very least give Apple access to both the Android OS and Windows Phone. The purchase of Beats Electronics will also give Apple a paid subscription service that's already up and running.
It's not easy to discern whether this deal will mean that streaming will now be viewed as more important than owning your own copy of a song or track. In my opinion, it may just turn out that those who come to Beats to listen to a music stream, will end up clicking through to Apple's iTunes for a download.
Beats Electronics was started by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. The company produces a very popular and successful brand of head phones called Beats By Dre. In January 2014, Beats Electronics launched its own music service, called Beats Music. Reports have stated that Beats Music has only 100,000 to 200,000 paid subscribers since its January start.
iTunes Radio has been doing well, however, Apple is disappointed that the stream to click through ration has been running around 2%, as download sales continue to slump. Apple has been considering an overhaul of iTunes Radio, possibly adding a subscription service to its repertoire.
Apple has been selling Beats head phones practically since their inception. Both iTunes Radio and Beats Music have been struggling. Bringing the two entities together seems like an obvious conclusion. This acquisition will at the very least give Apple access to both the Android OS and Windows Phone. The purchase of Beats Electronics will also give Apple a paid subscription service that's already up and running.
It's not easy to discern whether this deal will mean that streaming will now be viewed as more important than owning your own copy of a song or track. In my opinion, it may just turn out that those who come to Beats to listen to a music stream, will end up clicking through to Apple's iTunes for a download.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Lead Free Solar Cells
The push for alternative energy sources got a big shot in the arm, as researchers at Northwestern University announced on May 5th, 2014, that they had discovered a replacement for lead as a light absorber and energy converter in solar cells. Most of today's solar cells are made from crystalline silicon. While silicon has proven very efficient as a solar energy to electricity converter, because it tends to be heavy, it can make miniaturization of solar cells more difficult.
In recent years, researcher have gone to other, light weight crystalline materials called perovskites. The most common and efficient perovskite until now has been lead. Lead is a toxic material, and scientists had worried about environmental hazards, should wide spread use of lead based solar cell technology become prevalent. But, researchers at Northwestern University believe that they have found a solution. Instead of lead, the researchers used tin.
The new solar cell consists of five layers of material that are only one to two microns thick, which is thinner than a human hair. The first layer consist of glass that allows the light in The second layer, made of titanium oxide, coats the glass and acts as a photo catalyst. The tin is added next and acts as the light absorber. The fourth layer consist of pyridine which serves to seal the cell and close the electric circuit. The fifth layer is made of gold which acts as a contact.
Tin has not only proven to be lighter than lead, it is also cheaper and therefore more cost efficient. The only draw back, at this time, is that lead peroskites have a 15% to 19% solar energy to electricity conversion rate while tin peroskites are just now approaching 6%. However, the use of lead peroskites began in 2009, so it is highly conceivable that those solar cells that use tin peroskites could reach that rate or higher in another 5 years or so. Couple that with the new solar cell's light weight and not only may we see them used to power homes, but we might see them used to power automobiles, and in other applications as well.
In recent years, researcher have gone to other, light weight crystalline materials called perovskites. The most common and efficient perovskite until now has been lead. Lead is a toxic material, and scientists had worried about environmental hazards, should wide spread use of lead based solar cell technology become prevalent. But, researchers at Northwestern University believe that they have found a solution. Instead of lead, the researchers used tin.
The new solar cell consists of five layers of material that are only one to two microns thick, which is thinner than a human hair. The first layer consist of glass that allows the light in The second layer, made of titanium oxide, coats the glass and acts as a photo catalyst. The tin is added next and acts as the light absorber. The fourth layer consist of pyridine which serves to seal the cell and close the electric circuit. The fifth layer is made of gold which acts as a contact.
Tin has not only proven to be lighter than lead, it is also cheaper and therefore more cost efficient. The only draw back, at this time, is that lead peroskites have a 15% to 19% solar energy to electricity conversion rate while tin peroskites are just now approaching 6%. However, the use of lead peroskites began in 2009, so it is highly conceivable that those solar cells that use tin peroskites could reach that rate or higher in another 5 years or so. Couple that with the new solar cell's light weight and not only may we see them used to power homes, but we might see them used to power automobiles, and in other applications as well.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Itunes Closes In On 800 Million Users
On April 23rd, 2014 Apple announced that iTunes was nearing 800 million accounts, despite the reported decline in digital download sales. That number is up from June 2013 by about 40%, when Apple announced that they had reached 575 million accounts. Apple estimates that more than 400 million of those accounts are tied to credit cards.
While the number of iTunes user accounts continues to climb, Apple is said to be considering an overhaul. Apple was hoping that iTunes Radio listeners would be doing a lot of clicking through to the iTunes store, but so far they only seen about 2% of them doing so. With the decline of downloads, more emphasis will be placed on streaming in an effort to fend off any momentum that might be gained by the other streaming services.
So far, Apple plans to create an on demand, subscription streaming service, as a companion to the ad supported service. Apple may also bring the iTunes store to the Android OS. Both of these possibility would increase Apple's access to more potential consumers.
While the number of iTunes user accounts continues to climb, Apple is said to be considering an overhaul. Apple was hoping that iTunes Radio listeners would be doing a lot of clicking through to the iTunes store, but so far they only seen about 2% of them doing so. With the decline of downloads, more emphasis will be placed on streaming in an effort to fend off any momentum that might be gained by the other streaming services.
So far, Apple plans to create an on demand, subscription streaming service, as a companion to the ad supported service. Apple may also bring the iTunes store to the Android OS. Both of these possibility would increase Apple's access to more potential consumers.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Possible Earth Sized Planet Confirmed
On April 17th 2014, NASA announced that the Kepler space telescope had discovered a planet about the size of the Earth orbiting a distant star. The planet, named Kepler-186f orbits an M-type dwarf star some 490 light years away. What is unique about this particular planet is that it is the first Earth sized planet that orbits its star in what is know as the "Goldilocks," or habitable zone.
The habitable zone is the area around a planet's star where the temperature is not too hot and not too cold, but just right to find liquid water, which is essential for life to form. Kepler-186f inhabits an orbit that would be similar to that of Mercury, here in our own solar system. But, since its star is an M-type, or Red dwarf star, the heat it emits is about a third of that of our sun. It is believed that Red dwarf stars make up 70% of all of the light we see in our own Milky Way.
Though Kepler-186f is slightly larger than the Earth, about 1.5 times its size, researchers feel that it is small enough to be a rocky planet just like the Earth. This is significant because most of the planets that have been found orbiting other stars have been extremely large. Finding smaller, rocky, earth like planets in the habitable zone could mean that these planets may also possess water.
There is still much research to do. It is not yet known what the planet's mass is, what elements it's composed of, or whether it has an atmosphere. While life needs water, it also needs a favorable atmosphere such as the Earth's oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, which has proven necessary for maintaining and supporting that life. The type of atmosphere it has would also help to determine whether Kepler-186f is either too warm or too cold to support life, as we know it.
While it's too soon to say for certain, this discovery could possibly be the first of many. If that is found to be true, then Earth like planets orbiting stars similar to our own, in their habitable zones, may be common not only in this galaxy, but throughout the universe. That might mean that the possibilities for finding life would not be restricted to our own little corner of space time.
The habitable zone is the area around a planet's star where the temperature is not too hot and not too cold, but just right to find liquid water, which is essential for life to form. Kepler-186f inhabits an orbit that would be similar to that of Mercury, here in our own solar system. But, since its star is an M-type, or Red dwarf star, the heat it emits is about a third of that of our sun. It is believed that Red dwarf stars make up 70% of all of the light we see in our own Milky Way.
Though Kepler-186f is slightly larger than the Earth, about 1.5 times its size, researchers feel that it is small enough to be a rocky planet just like the Earth. This is significant because most of the planets that have been found orbiting other stars have been extremely large. Finding smaller, rocky, earth like planets in the habitable zone could mean that these planets may also possess water.
There is still much research to do. It is not yet known what the planet's mass is, what elements it's composed of, or whether it has an atmosphere. While life needs water, it also needs a favorable atmosphere such as the Earth's oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, which has proven necessary for maintaining and supporting that life. The type of atmosphere it has would also help to determine whether Kepler-186f is either too warm or too cold to support life, as we know it.
While it's too soon to say for certain, this discovery could possibly be the first of many. If that is found to be true, then Earth like planets orbiting stars similar to our own, in their habitable zones, may be common not only in this galaxy, but throughout the universe. That might mean that the possibilities for finding life would not be restricted to our own little corner of space time.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Curiosity Rover Photo: Proof Of Life?
Photos taken by NASA's Curiosity Rover on April 2nd and 3rd, 2014 have been causing a stir. The photos taken from the rover's right navigation camera shows a light off in the distance, that appears to be shooting up from the surface. The photos created such a buzz that NASA was quick to issue a statement explaining their content.
The light, seen in both photos from the right navigation camera is said not to appear in photos taken by the left camera, at the same moment. NASA says that this could possibly be the result of a cosmic ray hit or the maybe the sun reflecting off of a distant rock.
Some who have viewed the photos have claimed the photos are proof of life on Mars. NASA is not willing to damage it's international reputation for good science by making highly speculative claims. NASA is attempting to explain the phenomenon using every reasonable and realistic criteria at it's disposal.
Since Curiosity's landing on Mars in August 2012 there have been lots of new discoveries. So far, the existence of life has not been one of them. However, when one looks at photos such as those released that show a light in the distance, one can't help but look at the landscape and marvel at how similar it looks when compared with that of the Earth's. Who could help wondering that even if life isn't found there, that proof that it once was there, may still be waiting to be discovered.
The light, seen in both photos from the right navigation camera is said not to appear in photos taken by the left camera, at the same moment. NASA says that this could possibly be the result of a cosmic ray hit or the maybe the sun reflecting off of a distant rock.
Some who have viewed the photos have claimed the photos are proof of life on Mars. NASA is not willing to damage it's international reputation for good science by making highly speculative claims. NASA is attempting to explain the phenomenon using every reasonable and realistic criteria at it's disposal.
Since Curiosity's landing on Mars in August 2012 there have been lots of new discoveries. So far, the existence of life has not been one of them. However, when one looks at photos such as those released that show a light in the distance, one can't help but look at the landscape and marvel at how similar it looks when compared with that of the Earth's. Who could help wondering that even if life isn't found there, that proof that it once was there, may still be waiting to be discovered.
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