Design & Innovation

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121192244684723963.html?mod=OATE

In the article above, Sony is teaming up with six of U.S.’s top cable providers to design a new TV capable of receiving cable service without the need of a cable box. Users with this type of technology will be able to view channels in basic cable as well as advanced options, such as pay-per-view. This new technology will help cable companies simplify the installation process while reducing costs, while saving the consumers one less item to set up in their home theater system. Sony also will be using a Java based application system that will allow for the manufacturing of “plug and play” interactive devices that can be used just with TV sets.

 In a way, I think Sony is trying to adapt an innovation platform similar to Apple, where they are trying to become a “one stop shop” type of service to their customers. With Apple, an iphone provides phone services, internet capabilites, mp3 player, and a video player. If this new technology does come to market, Sony will be providing a TV that allows for MP3 player capabilities, interactive gaming, cable service, as well as advanced cable services, as well as the internet. It seems like to be a successful company in this day and age, companies need to start thinking about innovative platforming, where one device has the capabilities of doing a minimum of four activies.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121140284684611795.html?mod=gadgets_lead_story_col

In the last year and half, I have been hearing about how creative and innovative Apple is. I don’t disagree with this at all. I own an ipod myself, and the new iphone is on my wish list. We all know how much our professor loves Apple’s innovativeness. I’m always thinking, what will they come up with next?

The article aboved predicts Apple moving into our homes. Apple has pretty much conquered the mobile environment with ipod, iphone, mac powerbooks, etc. Forrester research is now predicting that Apple’s next move in the next five years will be to “colonize rooms in our home.”

One of the new products that this research company is predicting is a new wall mountable digital frame that has HD screens and speaker that can wirelessly play media (photos, video and music) from another computer in the home. Another product for the bedroom is an Apple “clock radio” that streams in music/media from the home network. Yet another product is “AppleSound” which is a universal remote control that is touch screen and allows users to play/browse music and allow it to play on their stereos as they move through their house.

 I personally think Apple is already starting this penetration into our homes. With the advent of Apple TV, and an Apple router which doubleplays as an external harddrive, it is only a matter of time until Apple moves from the family room to the hallways and bedrooms of our homes. Apple continues to be an innovative company, and really embodies the “design thinking” mode of business.

Recently, Apple has started offering Windows users its Safari 3.1 Web browser through the same online updater it utilizes for iTunes and the QuickTime video player. The iPod has done a huge job in showing former PC only users, the other side of the spectrum. Users who many have never know the difference have now had a taste of the style and fucntionality of Apple products, showing a huge movement in new user purcahses and users switches. With the release of Safari 3.1, the newest version, on Tuesday, Apple started giving Windows users the option of downloading Safari via the Apple Software Update pop-up.  For nearly iPod users, iTunes is an essentail. Though many bugs had exsited in the early days, the majority of its users praise Apple for the easy usablitliy. Because of this, trying other Apple products may seem more and more reasonable to former PC only users. By starting with another very easy to use, and highly functional program, Safri usage may soon become systematic as well as the change from Internet Exployer. Although not quite the same, any IE user can find their way around the simple working of Safri with little learning curve. All these comes as quite a suprise to Microsoft, who used a scheme simalir to this years ago. These days, the law is what stands in front of Microsoft and any other software bundling programs.

“Safari for Windows is the fastest and easiest-to-use web browser for the PC. It displays web pages faster than any other browser and is filled with innovative features — all delivered in an efficient and elegant user interface,” states Apple’s message in the pop-up screen.

The move is seen as a more aggressive play by Apple to snatch browser market share from Microsoft. This type of aggressive move is not typically for Apple, who usually functions on more mondane forms of advertising.

In February, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer had a 74.9 percent share of the browser market in terms of usage, while Firefox had 17.3 percent, and Safari had 5.7 percent, according to figures from Net Applications, which measures Web traffic and market share.