Microsoft bids to keep its grip on corporate computing against Google’s challenge.
In a significant move, Microsoft announced new, web-based versions of popular applications such as Word and Excel as part of the “Office 2010” release, and unveiled changes designed to make it easier for workers to collaborate using its software. These initiatives come at a critical time in the evolution of corporate computing. After dominating the office desktop for so long, Microsoft now faces a growing challenge from a variety of companies that are betting they can leverage the cloud to erode its share of the market.
Among other things, the new, web-based version of Office will make it much easier for workers to use documents and spreadsheets on a host of different devices, including smart phones. Microsoft has also tweaked its software to make it easier for people to, say, embed videos in PowerPoint presentations and to integrate data from their social networks into online calendars and e-mail services. And the company plans to offer a free, stripped down version of its web apps that will compete directly with Google’s mass-market offering [Source].
Powerful trends are at work — all around the world — forcing changes in how health care will be conceived and delivered in the decades ahead. The editors of Harvard Business Review have compiled a list of 12 megatrends that will dramatically change how we must think about the issue and some of the largely unrecognised consequences.
Megatrend 1: Innovation and demand soar in emerging economies
Megatrend 2: Personalised medicine and technological advances
Megatrend 3: Aging populations overwhelm the system
Megatrend 4: Rising costs
Megatrend 5: Global pandemics
Megatrend 6: Environmental challenges
Megatrend 7: Evidence-based medicine
Megatrend 8: Non-MDs providing care
Megatrend 9: Payers’ influence over treatment decisions
Megatrend 10: The growing role of philanthropy
Megatrend 11: Prevention is the next big business opportunity
Megatrend 12: Medical tourism
Even though the Apple iPad won’t be available for another 60 or 90 days (depending on the model), Apple already has its official iPad website up and running.
In addition to showing off some of the applications, features and design and technical specifications, the website also features an eight-minute video with Apple’s design and development team discussing the device and showing it off. If you love Johnny Ive and well-produced promo videos, you’ll want to check it out!
You can watch the video over at Apple.com here. Please also find a NYTimes article on how “The iPad: A Media Machine That Opens Up a New Front” here.
As the year draws to a close, what does 2010 hold for social media and the web? While web innovation is unpredictable, some clear trends are emerging.
Among the good bets for 2010 online: Real-time, Content Curation, Cloud Computing, Convergence Continues (eBooks are the exception), Social Gaming and more.
This week’s CNN column looks at 10 of the big themes that will shape the next year on the web.
According to trendwatching.com this are the ten key trends to watch in 2010: Business as unusual, Urbany, Real-time reviews, (f)luxury, mass mingling, eco-easy, tracking & alerting, Embedded Generosity, Profile Myning, and Maturalism.
No one knows how the microblogging site and similar online social networks will make money, but investors see a new Web revolution: (the real-time Web).
When entrepreneurs and investors get excited about what they’re calling the real-time Web, they’re talking about services that combine immediacy and social connections in a way that makes them easy and even addictive (amongst others are twitter and facebook).
Real-time Web startups are providing everything from basic utilities and business applications to search and e-commerce. Here’s a look at this new generation. And at this webpage you can find an introduction to the real-time web.
New web 2.0 services between 2007-2008
Existing web 2.0 services in 2006
Has it ever been more vital for corporations to ditch the greed and embrace generosity? After all, giving is the new taking, and sharing is the new giving.
“GENERATION G | “Captures the growing importance of ‘generosity’ as a leading societal and business mindset. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy—and while that same upheaval has them longing more than ever for institutions that care—the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fueled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate in large numbers.”
Three trend-drivers for GENERATION G are:
1. Recession and consumer disgust
2. Longing for institutions that care
3. For individuals. giving is already the new taking, and sharing is the new giving
A complete report on Generation G can be found here.
The July / August 2008 edition of the Trendwatching Trend Briefing is now online, covering INNOVATION AVALANCHE, including no less than 41 new business ideas, many of them begging to be introduced to the Dutch market. So get your act sorted and gear up into action mode!
Onitsuka Tiger, the Japanese sports brand, launched a sneaker vending machine on Carnaby Street today. Sneaker vending isn’t entirely new-it’s been done in Japan, off course, by Reebok. Onitsuka Tiger, on the other hand, put some effort into custom-building their machine, which can sell 24 pairs of shoes at a time, in 6 sizes.
Following its London debut, the machine will travel across the UK to bring convenience-buying to the rest of Britain. Fun bit of brand promotion; “What, these shoes? I just got them from a vending machine down the street.” Nevertheless, other unconventional vending machines have been reported in the past such as machines that vend umbrellas and hair straighteners.
Microsoft bids to keep its grip on corporate computing against Google’s challenge.
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