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“Laptops+Tablets+Smart Phones=ULTRABOOK”

Posted by Kevin Wade On February - 6 - 2012

A portable computing device you will no doubt hear more about in the coming months is a new form-factor PC called the ‘ultrabook.’ The ultrabook class of PCs will deliver a more complete operating system than tablets and smartphones offer, while creating an experience similar to tablet PCs such as Apple’s iPad. In addition, they typically contain features such as always-connected wireless, solid state hard drives for larger and more responsive storage capabilities, longer battery life, and instant-on operating systems. Best of all, the price range is typically less than $1,000.

Intel has become a big supporter of the product category. Intel’s ultrabook design calls for second-generation core microprocessors and the forthcoming Microsoft Windows 8. The ultrabook actually could bring about a convergence of major mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, netbooks, and notebook PCs.

Windows 8 will also facilitate capabilities such as the use of touch screens and voice activation. Laptops have been faced with competition from tablet PCs, but ultrabooks allow users to touch the screen rather than being forced to use a keyboard and mouse or trackpad. Intel also said it has reached a deal with Nuance Communications to develop voice-activated technologies to work with ultrabooks.

Microsoft said Windows 8, as it’s currently referred, has the most dramatically changed look and feel since the company introduced Windows 95, a pivotal version of its operating system that came out 16 years ago. While Apple has found great success with the iPad by creating software tailored narrowly to the finger gestures possible on a touch-screen device, Microsoft said Windows 8 will be flexible enough to accommodate new tablet devices including ultrabooks, as well as more traditional PCs that rely on keyboards and mice. Microsoft has said in the past that it aims to release a new operating system about every three years, which suggests Windows 8 could come out by fall 2012.

Intel has also recently embraced probably the most radical shift in semiconductor technology in more than fifty years that may eventually populate ultrabook products; a design that could produce more powerful chips for gadgets without taxing their batteries.

The company plans to change a key part of each chip into a vertical, fin-like structure; a similar principle to the way high-rise buildings pack more office space in a city. Intel said its latest technology could bring more computing power to smartphones and tablet computers while sharply reducing power consumption. Intel is the first chip manufacturer to commit to using the so-called 3-D approach in high-volume production.

So look for the line to blur quickly between notebooks, tablet PCs, and even smartphones with the new ultrabook class of PCs. Consumers will benefit by being able to do all the things you would do on a laptop computer but still have the sleek, ease of use of a tablet!

KEVIN WADE This is a sponsored “Tech Talk” article. Kevin is founder and CEO of IntelliSystems (www.IntelliSystems.com), which has been operating in Augusta since 1993. The company is located at 1115 Greene Street in Downtown Augusta. Tune in Thursdays at 12:45 on WRDW 1630 AM for “Tech Talk.” For more information, call Kevin at (706) 722-2024 or email him: Kevinw@intellisystems.com

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“Four Technologies That Will Define 2012″

Posted by Kevin Wade On January - 8 - 2012

This month instead of focusing on a specific subject, I thought I would take out the ‘ol technology crystal ball (or is it a crystal tablet PC?) and peer into the future to see what we can expect in the technology world in 2012. So here are the products and technology categories most likely to continue to emerge:

Ultrabooks: There is a fast-emerging new portable computer form factor called the “ultrabook.” Systems that fall into the ultrabook category offer full-fledged operating systems. They typically contain features such as always-connected wireless capabilities, solid state drives, longer battery lives and instant-on operating systems. The price range is typically less than $1,000. An example of this product type is the MacBook Air.

Some experts predict that the ultrabook category could claim about 43% of the total global notebook PC market by 2015 – up from about 2% today. It doesn’t hurt that Intel has become a big supporter of the product category either. Intel’s ultrabook design calls for second-generation core microprocessors and the forthcoming Microsoft Windows 8.

Ultrabooks could represent a paradigm shift for the technology industry. The technology now exists that actually could bring about a convergence of major mobile devices such as smart phones, tablet PCs, netbooks, and notebook PCs. If an attractive price point can be achieved and the consumer deems this a must-have product.

Video usage will continue to climb: It’s estimated that 71% of adult Americans use the Internet to view video information. In addition, a growing percentage of Americans, approximately one-third today, are now consuming video using mobile devices. Both of these trends point to accelerating use of video applications within work environments.

People are coming up with all sorts of interesting video applications. It isn’t just video conferencing and YouTube, we’re talking about building and home video surveillance, remote design reviews; applications that really make use of digital cameras.

The urge to converge continues: Converged infrastructure solutions, commonly known by its warm and fuzzy name “The Cloud” is starting to spread beyond early enterprise adopters into the midmarket. The impetus appears to be preparation for private cloud deployments that allow businesses to treat IT services as utility resources within their own companies – a pay as you go model if you will – instead of big, upfront cash outlays for servers and other infrastructure.

“A” isn’t just for Apple, it’s for Android: I don’t think anyone is naïve enough to suggest Apple won’t continue to be a huge force in touch-screen smartphones and tablets; however Android devices have claimed an avalanche of market share this year and will continue to do so in the next 12 months.

Market research company Nielsen reported in late September that Android smartphones had reached a penetration rate of 43% of all smartphone users. Nearly 56% of “recent acquirers” had bought an Android device, and the close ties of Android with Google applications is proving to be an important deciding factor for users who are considering smartphones for professional as well as personal use.

Android is poised to have a potentially bigger impact on the tablet PC category. Earlier this year, Gartner Inc. predicted that by 2015 the market share for Android tablets would reach about 39% of the total market. That compares with almost 20% in 2011. Much of that growth will come at the expense of Apple’s iPad.

KEVIN WADE This is a sponsored “Tech Talk” article. Kevin is founder and CEO of IntelliSystems (www.IntelliSystems.com), which has been operating in Augusta since 1993. The company is located at 1115 Greene Street in Downtown Augusta. Tune in Thursdays at 12:45 on WRDW 1630 AM for “Tech Talk.” For more information, call Kevin at (706) 722-2024 or email him: Kevinw@intellisystems.com

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“QR Codes: Underused and Misunderstood”

Posted by Jeff Asselin On January - 8 - 2012

Archival Youth Marketing conducted a survey of over 500 college students on 24 campuses across the US to better understand their use of QR Codes. Surprisingly, the results showed a lack of use and a general misunderstanding of companies and marketers on how to properly capitalize on the technology.

The survey found that 81% of students owned a smart phone that was capable of scanning a QR Code, yet only 21.5% of students were able to successfully scan one. Of those who scanned the QR Code, over 75% said they are unlikely to ever scan one in everyday life.

As an Internet marketer and technology enthusiast, the high percentage of students who said they were unlikely to scan a QR Code was surprising. QR Codes, when properly used, are an excellent way to move people out of a physical and into a digital medium. Plus, QR Codes can hold urls, text messages, vCard contact information, Email messages, WiFi Connection settings, PayPal buy now links, calendar events, and more. How can a technology that offers so much be dismissed so easily?

I asked a few people who are familiar with QR Codes to describe their functionality. They all told me QR Codes are used to send people to web addresses on their phone. Not one knew of the other functions that QR Codes supported. So while 75% of students in the poll said they were unlikely to scan a QR Code, it may be in part because people simply aren’t using them to their full advantage.

Here are some creative ways to use QR Codes beyond a link to a web address.

Business Cards: Add a QR Code to your business card that contains your vCard. This will allow people to easily add you to their contacts without having to retype your contact information.

Event Posters: On the poster for your event, add a QR Code that contains a calendar entry so users can easily add it to their personal calendar.

One thing I can not stress enough is you must think about why you are using a QR Code. Putting a QR Code on your website that links to another page on your website makes no sense when you can simply use a normal link. Additionally, you know visitors coming from QR Codes are on a mobile device, so you need to make sure the page they are being sent to is mobile optimized. Always ask yourself “how does this QR Code make life easier?” Because if you see no benefit from it, you can bet others won’t either.

While the results of Archival Youth Marketing’s survey are surprising, they should be seen as a call to use the technology in more useful ways. Adding a QR Code to a poster or brochure simply isn’t enough to get people to scan. You need to make some tasks easier and more convenient to get them to pull out their phone and scan, otherwise they’ll simply ignore it.

Jeff Asselin is Director of Sales & Marketing for Powerserve, a web development company that focuses on Websites, Custom Business Software, Search Engine Optimization, Graphic Design and Social Media Marketing. Let Jeff put his more than 16 years of advertising and marketing experience to work for you helping grow your business. Click (www.powerserve.net), Email (jeff.asselin@powerserve.net), Visit (961 Broad St, Augusta) or Call (c: 706-691-7189, o: 706-826-1506, Ext 122). This is a sponsored article.

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“The Amazing Amazon Growth”

Posted by Kevin Wade On December - 7 - 2011

Amazon recently posted a 73% drop in third-quarter profit and a major drop in its operating margins, due mostly to heavy spending on warehouses, data centers and digital-content offerings such as streamed TV shows and movies. The news overshadowed Amazon’s huge 44% increase in quarterly sales.

Amazon is a really interesting case study in “How to make Wall Street unhappy with a public company”. Most public companies get caught up in the shortsighted reality that a company’s value is only as good as this quarter’s profits. However, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has historically confounded investors in this regard in that he runs Amazon like a privately owned company. By making investments in capacity and scale from which it may take years to realize the profits, including shipment centers, capacity for their cloud storage business, and video streaming content for new Amazon hardware devices like the Kindle Fire.

Amazon history seems to repeat itself: Over ten years ago during their early years of operation, Amazon was criticized for investing in the company’s offerings and delaying profitability. Of course they eventually did turn a profit, and as a result of the major investments, they are the dominant seller of packaged music, video, and books as well as source for a vast array of other products – a virtual mall might be a good description. Amazon very nearly invented “Cyber Monday” which is the Monday following Thanksgiving and known as one of the largest online shopping days of the year.

Nowadays, Amazon is on track to open 17 more fulfillment centers by year end. Much of this growth is due to new initiatives and products that are being rolled out at a breakneck pace. The $199 Kindle Fire is the company’s first tablet computer. They offer cloud server space to companies needing a home for cloud based applications. Amazon has also recently reached deals with movie studios to boost its online video offerings. They have talked with publishers about a fee-based digital-book service and tested a redesign of its website.

With the new transformation, Amazon is graduating from its roots as an online books retailer into an e-commerce giant that sells consumer gadgets as well as digital content. But in making the transformation, Amazon is bumping up against heavyweight rivals such as Apple and Google in the tablet computer and digital-content space, among others.

It’s important to understand that Amazon makes little on the Kindle hardware gadgets they sell, but the bigger picture is that the gadgets are a portal to all the digital products, specifically books, music, streamed TV and movies. Amazon is making the investment in what may by the future of content delivery – it goes beyond companies like Netflix who seem to have fallen short – Amazon is the total package.

KEVIN WADE This is a sponsored “Tech Talk” article. Kevin is founder and CEO of IntelliSystems (www.IntelliSystems.com), which has been operating in Augusta since 1993. The company is located at 1115 Greene Street in Downtown Augusta. Tune in Thursdays at 12:45 on WRDW 1630 AM for “Tech Talk.” For more information, call Kevin at (706) 722-2024 or email him: Kevinw@intellisystems.com

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“Amazon Introduces Kindle Fire”

Posted by Kevin Wade On October - 31 - 2011

Amazon.com announced its entry into the tablet computer market, upping the ante in its rivalry with Apple as each company hopes to provide both the devices and online stores where people buy books, songs and movies. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently demonstrated the Kindle Fire which hopes to jump in on the wildly successful Apple iPad created product segment – particularly with a price tag of only $199.00 that includes 3G wireless- $300.00 less than the least expensive Apple device.

Amazon believes it can compete with the Kindle Fire where others have so far failed, such as Hewlett-Packard and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. The difference is possibly that Amazon already has a very substantial catalog of content to sell, a massive mail-order business, and an enormous base of satisfied retail customers.

In just a few short years, Apple has transformed from a computer company into the world’s largest music seller, a leader in the mobile phone industry, and owner of 68% of the tablet PC market by virtue of the iPad. Meanwhile Amazon has enhanced its leadership in sales of physical books and music into an online department store that includes streaming movie content, downloadable music and electronic gadgets.

Amazon views its new Kindle Fire as simply a portal that delivers deeply integrated media content sold by Amazon, not just simply a hardware gadget and a one-time sale. The Kindle Fire has a smaller screen and less storage than the iPad, and runs Google’s Android operating system. Many analysts believe the tablet could boost Amazon’s sales however, because the device makes it easy to buy both physical goods and digital products, such as books, music and videos, on Amazon. Amazon is now taking orders for the device, which ships on Nov. 15.

One really innovative program Amazon has recently rolled out that is hard to ignore is that for $79.00 a year customers can sign up for ‘Amazon Prime’ which gives customers access to over 12,000 streaming movies and TV shows, and unlimited two-day shipping for physical products ordered from Amazon.

Magazine publishers have also been anxious to find a true rival to Apple’s iPad. Some say they may have finally found it with the Kindle Fire. Amazon has reached agreements with several large publishers including Condé Nast, Hearst, and Meredith, which will allow online magazines such as Esquire, Elle, Better Homes, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Martha Stewart Living and Glamour to be available on the Kindle. At $199.00, Amazon is entering the market at an “attractive price,” which means there will be tablets in more hands, said Bob Sauerberg, president of Condé Nast.

With the introduction of Amazon’s Kindle Fire, it will be interesting to see if the large segment of Middle America who are not early adopters of more expensive tablets like Apple’s iPad, which represents a relatively newer PC technology, will take to Amazon’s tablet product at the breakthrough $199.00 price.

KEVIN WADE This is a sponsored “Tech Talk” article. Kevin is founder and CEO of IntelliSystems (www.IntelliSystems.com), which has been operating in Augusta since 1993. The company is located at 1115 Greene Street in Downtown Augusta. Tune in Thursdays at 12:45 on WRDW 1630 AM for “Tech Talk.” For more information, call Kevin at (706) 722-2024 or email him: Kevinw@intellisystems.com

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“Should You Start An Online Business?”

Posted by Dylan Bredenerd On October - 31 - 2011

We’ve all seen stories of Internet entrepreneurial success. It feels like we’re back in 1999, riding the Dot-com wave, oblivious to the approaching shoreline. Fortunately we didn’t let the bursting dot-com bubble deflate our American spirit and sticktoitiveness. Years after the collapse of a lot of digital dreams we’ve seen the genesis of a new generation of Internet mogul – a little wiser perhaps.

Online entrepreneurialism has risen from the ashes with new ideas; and venture capitalists have emerged from their financial bunkers with a renewed affinity for “prefix investing” (i.e. dot-com investing). Is there a place for you in all this? As always, I remain curious but skeptical.

There are a few things to consider before deciding to launch your online venture, and you’ll be surprised to learn that they have very little to do with technology.

Are you selling a viable product or service? Examining the rubble of the dot-com collapse unearths the ruins of a lot of good ideas… and a ton of bad ones. Commerce is still the name of the game: Sell people something they want or need. Don’t try to sell vapor, and don’t be a solution looking for a problem. If you’re idea takes too much convincing for people to see its value, you’re sunk.

Don’t mess around with things you don’t understand. You will never out-Facebook Facebook. And just because you use Facebook doesn’t mean you should start a company based around your idea for an enhancement. How about you just post your idea to the Facebook message boards, and keep your day job? Stick to what you’re good at, and turn it into revenue. Only geeks who devote their lives — and ALL of their free time – to coding get a shot at being the next Mark Zuckerberg. He didn’t ask a software development company for a quote to develop Facebook. He wrote it himself.

How much will it cost? Any real opportunity has real risks and real barriers to entry — cost being one. The misconception is that the Internet is a cheap way to get rich. If that were the case I’d be writing this from my yacht in the Caribbean. But Dollar-for-dollar you could experience a killer ROI, although it won’t cost you next-to-nothing to get in. Still, there are ways to break in with a modest budget.

How do I start an online business? Start small. For example I know a retailer who sells his closeout merchandise online. Ebay and Amazon Marketplace are great places to start selling! They provide two very critical components: E-commerce infrastructure and traffic! But it’s a tradeoff; cost of sales is higher. You’ll want to keep a close eye on those costs, and adjust your strategy one day.

All of that said, this is America. And the Internet is like rocket fuel to the American dream! If you have a good idea someone will pay you to do it. Just approach it realistically and have the right expectations.

DYLAN BREDENGERD This is a sponsored Online article. Dylan is an Online Business Consultant with Powerserve, a web development company focusing on Interactive Websites, Search Engine Optimization, Custom Business Software, and Graphic Design services. Visit their website at Powerserve.net, or email Dylan at Dylan@powerserve.net. If you’re trendy, connect him at LinkedIn.com/in/DylanBredengerd, or with Powerserve at Facebook.com/Powerserve and follow them on Twitter.com/Powerserve. Try snail mail at 959 Broad Street, Ste. 300, Augusta, GA 30901 or phone 706.826.1506.

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“Microsoft Logs Into The Cloud With Windows 8″

Posted by Kevin Wade On October - 18 - 2011

Microsoft recently demonstrated the latest makeover of Windows, currently referred to as Windows 8. When will it be available? Well, Microsoft has emphatically stated they are more concerned with minimizing quality concerns, rather than meeting deadlines (can you say Vista). Microsoft has said in the past that it aims to release a new operating system about every three years. So although Windows 8 is not currently expected to be rolled out any earlier than September of 2012, it’s important to notice the direction Microsoft is taking with not only Windows 8 but much of their other software as well.

Microsoft plans to embrace cloud computing at the expense of traditional client server computing, part of a sweeping transformation of the software giant’s business model. The transition to the cloud comes as Microsoft scrambles to create software for a booming mobile device market. Sales of smartphones and tablets have been eating into sales of conventional computers, most of which run Microsoft’s current operating system, Windows 7.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said recently at a Los Angeles developers’ conference that Microsoft is “re-imagining” every part of its software catalog to run on and through the cloud. Windows 8, Microsoft’s core computer operating system, is being planned as a “powerful cloud” operating system capable of delivering Microsoft application software, available on any device from a desktop computer to a smartphone. “All the changes pivot around Windows 8” and associated cloud services, Mr. Ballmer said.

Cloud computing moves software and data storage to remote servers operating either behind corporate firewalls or on public networks using leased server space owned by companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Google and Amazon also are expanding into another area Microsoft currently dominates, offering services such as document sharing and email. Software delivered through the cloud reduces reliance on a computer operating system such as Windows, which is Microsoft’s core business. So there is some degree of urgency on Microsoft’s part to create a portal that can not only hang on to their traditional PC business, but also fully embrace cloud computing, and on multiple hardware platforms.

Many observers agree Windows 8 looks and feels so different that it could rival the revolution generated when the company introduced Windows 95 sixteen years ago. While Apple has found great success with the iPad by creating software tailored narrowly to the finger gestures possible on a touch-screen device, Microsoft said Windows 8 will be flexible enough to accommodate new tablet devices as well as more traditional PCs that rely on keyboards and mice.

The fact that Windows 8 will not be out for at least a year gives Apple and Google, maker of the Android operating system, a significant amount of time to build their lead in tablet and mobile computing products. It also gives tablet devices more time to chip away at the traditional PC business. The Windows 8 Commitment to cloud computing creates a way for Microsoft to fight back against competitors who claim we are entering a post-PC world.

KEVIN WADE This is a sponsored “Tech Talk” article. Kevin is founder and CEO of IntelliSystems (www.IntelliSystems.com), which has been operating in Augusta since 1993. The company is located at 1115 Greene Street in Downtown Augusta. Tune in Thursdays at 12:45 on WRDW 1630 AM for “Tech Talk.” For more information, call Kevin at (706) 722-2024 or email him: Kevinw@intellisystems.com

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ARE YOUR VENDORS PICKING YOU CLEAN?

Posted by Dylan Bredenerd On September - 13 - 2011

Website designs have a shelf life of maybe 24 months, tops. Many companies roll out new designs annually. One of our clients wanted to do just that—develop a brand new look. It was exciting; his is a neat business—one of those projects you just know is going to turn out cool! But my excitement waned with his next question. “Would you like to submit a bid on the project?” That evoked the proverbial record-scratch in my in my ears. Submit a bid? Seriously? Then he added, “And I will be going with lowest price.” Now, I know we’re not building stealth bombers here, (which I certainly hope isn’t a low-bid project either!), but to most people, their website is becoming central to their marketing. Should something that important ever be resigned to being a low-bid project? Possibly. If you just need the equivalent to an online business card, and just want to cross it off your to-do list so you can say you’ve got one, then enter the website price-cutter. But if you told me, “Dylan, this is critical to my business. Customers check out everything online fi rst; I need to grab them before someone else does. People need to buy from me!” Well, since you put it like that I’d recommend a different approach. Any good chef knows that quality ingredients are critical to great recipes. They probably know their produce guy by name. Why? He looks out for them and makes sure they always have what they need for dazzling dishes. It’ a partnership, not a “vendorship.” So why are you stuck with a bunch of blood-sucking vendors who nickel and dime you to death? Why can’t you have partners who help you succeed instead parasitic vendors who are dug in like ticks? You might be cultivating those parasites. Sometimes people don’t want partnerships because it creates a sense of vulnerability. You need to overcome that. Take my mechanic, for example: I trust him implicitly. Why? My car has to work, and, most importantly, he tells the truth—no unnecessary auto repairs! He’s no price-cutter, but trust me, it beats being carrion for all the scavenging discounters circling overhead. Those cheap prices mean lots of up-selling! And if you know nothing about cars you may end up being the main course, paying for unnecessary—yet profi table— auto repairs. Who couldn’t use a wingman or two, or more? ROI disappears when running from vendor to vendor to pinch pennies. Find a partner. They may not be a “cheap date,” but it pays dividends. But, how do you know if you have partners or vendors? Take a look at how your own customers treat you. Do they run off with the fi rst suitor offering a penny-perpiece price cut? Do they buy when you have a sale, then never again? Do you feel like a commodity? Then you are a vendor. And if you’re spawning vendor relationships downstream it’s a safe bet it’s happening upstream too.

DYLAN BREDENGERD  is is a sponsored On-Line article. Dylan is an online business consultant with Powerserve International, a media company focusing on Interactive Websites, Search Engine Optimization, Custom Business So  ware, and Graphic Design services. If you’re trendy, reach Dylan@powerserve.net, powerserve.net/facebook, follow him @twitter.com/Powerserve, or connect at linkedin.com/in/Dylan Bredengerd, Try snail mail at 959 Broad Street, #300, Augusta, Ga 30901 or via phone, 706.826.1506.

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If Dinosaurs Lived Today

Posted by Dylan Bredenerd On September - 13 - 2011

Can you imagine living in a world filled with great and terrible beasts like the dinosaurs? What a world it must have been! I’m guessing that movies like Jurassic Park don’t even come close to depicting these awe-inspiring reptiles! If you’ve ever stood before the intimidating skeleton of a T-Rex in a museum, or a colossal Brachiosaurus, you might have gazed up at it wondering what that amazing animal must have been like in real life. You might have also wondered, Just how did such mighty creatures become extinct? You might be closer to the real answer than you think.

Scientist attempt to explain the disappearance of the dinosaurs by way of any number of theories. Regardless of which one you happen to subscribe to, most experts agree that it was some global catastrophic event that ushered in the demise of the “terrible lizards” – an event that the dinosaurs just couldn’t adapt to. We see the same kinds of things happening today. Things come and go, whether it’s animal species, fads, or even once-successful businesses.

But sometimes there really isn’t ever some instantaneous catastrophic even we can point to; sometimes it’s just a slow fading away. One day something which always seemed to be right there on the cutting edge… isn’t. Remember when people thought that America Online was the Internet? What does AOL really do these days? Oh yeah; they provide that cool @aol.com email address that says to everybody, “Hey, I’m a cyberspace pioneer! I was there when it all started!” Yeahhhh.

Many of us do our level best to prepare for potential catastrophes. But what about the slow and subtle changing of the seasons? Theoretical extinction-level events aside, how vigilant have you been changing your business with the seasons? Will you survive, or thrive? Or does extinction loom over you like a shadow?

The reason that decades-old businesses of yesteryear are suddenly reduced to dust and bones today is because the people running them are too entrenched in their thinking to adapt to climate changes. Instead of embracing innovation and being forward-thinking, they shun the technologies news ways of thinking that have become minimum mission essentials in today’s competitive environment. I’m amazed at how many once-savvy business people are intimidated by innovation, and even celebrate their ignorance of it, citing the younger generation as the technology gurus. Someone once said, if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got. Frankly, these days even that is wishful thinking. Apply that logic and you’ll wind up being eyeballed by a bunch of fifth-graders from behind fuzzy red ropes as they read a plaque aggrandizing how world-dominating you used to be.

While Jurassic Park was merely fiction, Dr. Malcolm’s point remains: “Dinosaurs had their shot, and nature selected them for extinction.” The dinosaurs couldn’t adapt, and now we dig up their bones. We can adapt! But is your business beginning to look more like a T-Rex surfing the Web on AOL?

DYLAN BREDENGERD This is a sponsored On-Line article. Dylan is an online business consultant with Powerserve International, a media company focusing on Interactive Websites, Search Engine Optimization, Custom Business Software, and Graphic Design services. If you’re trendy, reach Dylan@powerserve.net, powerserve.net/facebook, follow him @twitter.com/Powerserve, or connect at linkedin.com/in/Dylan Bredengerd, Try snail mail at 959 Broad Street, #300, Augusta, Ga 30901 or via phone, 706.826.1506Powerserve.net, or email Dylan at Dylan@powerserve.net. If you’re trendy, connect him at LinkedIn.com/in/DylanBredengerd, or with Powerserve at Facebook.com/Powerserve and follow them on Twitter.com/Powerserve. Try snail mail at 959 Broad Street, Ste. 300, Augusta, GA 30901 or phone 706.726.1506.

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Apple seems to be the gadget retailing wizard of recent years. Evidence: the introduction and dramatic growth of the iPad which has defined the tablet PC market, the iPhone, which is the single most popular smartphone, and the iPod which is the best selling and most identifiable music player over the last ten years. The iPhone’s success, coupled with smartphones that use the most popular operating system, Google’s Android, have chopped the legs from under perennial smartphone maker Research In Motion, maker of the BlackBerry.

But more drama is on the horizon, as Amazon.com may be an unexpected, but extremely formidable competitor. Apple and Amazon.com have already squared off in the evolving eBooks business. Google is expected to be a serious player soon, making it a three-way fight.

Most experts believe turf battles will be fought over the online marketing, cloud computing, and gadget sales. Apple’s online marketing business is growing quickly, Google’s Android operating system is used on the largest number of smartphones sold today, and is an extremely tough competitor to Apple’s iPhone, and Amazon.com is considering rolling out a tablet PC.

With the introduction of iCloud by Apple, the stakes for Internet commerce has investors reevaluating Amazon’s lock on the market. Apple would like to create one-stop-shop for gadgets and media content such as books, music, and cloud based software for the digital and mobile buyer.

The question seems to be, why would Amazon.com want to enter the already crowded tablet market when established hardware providers have had trouble making gains against Apple? Amazon understands however that the tablet is simply a portal to online marketing, on demand books, music, and apps. Amazon already has the content for sale, which other tablet makers don’t. Plus, in the internet commerce business, getting customers to visit their site, similar to ‘foot traffic’ in brick and mortar stores, is important in order to sell all the other Amazon.com products.

The Battle is already hot in music, eBooks, and other digital media. Google and Amazon.com have a bit of a head start on Apple in terms of cloud commerce, but Apple has the edge in gadget hardware and apps. The three currently rely heavily on each other which complicates matters a bit though. Google’s search engine delivers a lot of business to Apple. Apple sells a substantial amount of products at Amazon.com, and Google benefits from Amazon.com’s paid search advertising program.

So as Apple ventures into the Internet retailing world, and Google continues to own the smartphone market, due in large part to lesser expensive devices, Apple may have difficulty winning battles it is used to winning.

Also, Amazon.com has very high customer-service ratings. It has been selling in the Internet retailing business for over ten years, and has proven to be a stubborn competitor even surviving the dot com bust at the turn of the century. Apple is a rookie to the Internet marketing business and, as such, has lower customer-service ratings, according to research by Wells Fargo done in February.

If Amazon succeeds with the tablet, it could be a definite game changer, however betting against Apple lately has not been in a smart buyer’s shopping cart.

KEVIN WADE This is a sponsored “Tech Talk” article. Kevin is founder and CEO of IntelliSystems (www.IntelliSystems.com), which has been operating in Augusta since 1993. The company is located at 1115 Greene Street in Downtown Augusta. Tune in Thursdays at 12:45 on WRDW 1630 AM for “Tech Talk.” For more information, call Kevin at (706) 722-2024 or email him: Kevinw@intellisystems.com

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