You can Now follow the infamous blog that is capturing everything to do with E-Business on YouTube!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Pimpin’ and the Internet! A Sick Combination!
‘Pimping’
The term pimping can be defined in many different ways. For instance, to ‘pimp’ something out, like a car, means to add many accessories to it. However, most people associate the word pimp with prostitution and profiting from sexual deeds.
Who would have thought of people trying to establish a pimpin business online? Not me. But it seems to be quite common when you enter internet pimpin into google. Websites such as craiglist.com and kijiji.com are some websites where people are able to post ads and messages wanting sexual encounters. There was even a case in Halifax where two people were charged with living off the profits of soliciting prostitution over the internet (Article Link). Many have also said that internet pimpin has helped individuals lure women and young girls, by saying that they will live a better life (Article Link).
This is one of the downfalls to E-business. It does provide a well foundation for a business to continue and grow internationally. However, when individuals are utilizing the internet for purposes such as these, it only hinders the motives of e-business. I am all for the use of technology to increase the profitability of businesses, but in cases such as these it should never be accepted or practiced. It will always be a hard life for a pimp!
The term pimping can be defined in many different ways. For instance, to ‘pimp’ something out, like a car, means to add many accessories to it. However, most people associate the word pimp with prostitution and profiting from sexual deeds.
Who would have thought of people trying to establish a pimpin business online? Not me. But it seems to be quite common when you enter internet pimpin into google. Websites such as craiglist.com and kijiji.com are some websites where people are able to post ads and messages wanting sexual encounters. There was even a case in Halifax where two people were charged with living off the profits of soliciting prostitution over the internet (Article Link). Many have also said that internet pimpin has helped individuals lure women and young girls, by saying that they will live a better life (Article Link).
This is one of the downfalls to E-business. It does provide a well foundation for a business to continue and grow internationally. However, when individuals are utilizing the internet for purposes such as these, it only hinders the motives of e-business. I am all for the use of technology to increase the profitability of businesses, but in cases such as these it should never be accepted or practiced. It will always be a hard life for a pimp!
A Microwave, with Video! What’s Next?
You can now watch YouTube on your Microwave. This honestly blew my mind when I first saw this. Who in their right mind would want to watch a viral video when they are microwaving popcorn or some other type of food? Although the concept is entertaining, I don’t think it will be on many people’s wish lists this Christmas. It was, however, good for a laugh!
He’s making a list, and checking it twice!
Since it is the Christmas season, Santa Claus will be coming to each one of our houses on Christmas Eve to deliver presents. However, for those who have been bad, they will be getting a lump of coal this year. How will Santa Claus determine this? It’s simple. He makes his list and checks it twice. In the past, he would have had to go to extreme lengths to look up information on people to see if they have been good or bad.
This is not the case anymore. Technology has made it possible to find information on virtually anyone on the internet. If you simply type in your name into Google, it will search through many different websites and potentially come back with information that pertains to you. I was with a friend the other day, and it was surprising at how much information we found about her; old profiles, myspace and twitter accounts, as well as her facebook page.
Date Check, an iphone application, can allow people to find information about where they live and how much money they make. This application is powered by Intelius, a company that is ‘helping’ businesses and consumers find information about people. The information can be anything from a criminal record check to a credit report. Furthermore, on the iphone application if you input a home phone number it will come back with the person’s address and residing location. If this isn’t a breach of privacy I don’t know what is.
I guess these applications help Santa Claus determine just who has been good and who has been bad. I know that I have been good this year, but for others, they will have to hope that Santa Claus doesn’t dig too deep to get personal information on them. Also, consumers should try and Google themselves sometime and see what type of information comes up about. You’d be surprised at what you would find. Trust me!
Holiday Shopping Advice!
It is the Christmas Season once again and that means that each one of us will be looking for that special gift for our significant other. With the current global recession, many people are finding themselves strapped for cash this holiday season. This will push consumers to find other means of buying presents, and one trend that has stayed relatively popular and constant is the action of buying your gifts online. Consumers are turning to discounting sites such as CyberShopping.ca and auction sites such as Amazon.com and Ebay.ca, to purchase their Christmas presents. These methods provide consumers with cost-effective ways to reduce the hassle of going to the local malls and taking advantage of online sales. However, consumers have to be weary of what they buy online, because there are many con-artists that like to take advantage of the average consumer this time of the year. The Federal Trade Commission has outlined the following as precautions that consumers should be aware of:
Make a list and set a budget. List the people you plan to buy gifts for, the type of gifts you plan to buy, and how much you plan to spend. Include the cost of cash gifts, holiday travel, extra food, wrappings, decorations, greeting cards, and postage. If it relates to the holiday season and it costs money, add it to your budget.
Shop around. A “sale” price isn’t always the “best” price. Some merchants may offer a sale price on the item you want for a limited time; other merchants may offer items at a discount everyday.
Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, a competitor’s prices.
Go online. Check out websites that compare prices. If you decide to buy from an online merchant, keep shipping costs and delivery time in mind.
Carefully consider bargain offers that are based on purchases of additional merchandise. For example, “Buy One, Get One Free” or “Free Gift with Purchase.” If you don’t really want or need the item, it’s not a deal.
Clip coupons. Coupons are useful when they save you money on what you’re already planning to buy. Check coupons for any restrictions. For example, do expiration dates apply, or do you have to spend a certain amount before you can use the coupon? Some retailers will accept expired coupons, and even coupons from their competitors. Check with the retailer before you leave home to learn their policy.
Ask about sale adjustments. If you buy an item at regular price and it goes on sale the next week, can you get a credit or refund for the discounted amount?
Consider layaway. Layaway purchase plans are designed for people who want to buy merchandise without using credit or paying the full price immediately. When you use layaway, you typically make a deposit – usually a percentage of the purchase price – and pay over time until you have paid for the item in full. In exchange, the retailer holds the merchandise for you. To avoid problems, get the store’s layaway policy in writing.
Keep an eye on your wallet. Don’t flash cash. Keep an eye on your credit or debit card during transactions, and get them back as quickly as possible. If your cards are lost or stolen, report the loss or theft immediately to the card issuers.
Use credit and debit cards with care. Save your receipts. You need them for returns and exchanges. Check credit and debit card sales and return receipts against your monthly bills and statements, and report any problems to the credit card issuer promptly.
Ask about refund and return policies. Many merchants may have different refund and return policies for sale items. For example, clearance merchandise may be on final sale, meaning no refunds or exchanges.
Keep good records. Whether you’re ordering by mail, phone, or online, it’s important to keep detailed information about the transaction, including your order number, shipping costs and dates, warranties, and refund and return policies.
Ship early. If you’re sending gifts to out-of-towners, factor in extra time for shipping. If you wait until the last minute, you may pay a hefty price for express or overnight shipping.
Keep these helpful hints in mind when you are out shopping, whether on your PC or out in the mall. Have a good holidays!
Source: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt082.shtm
Make a list and set a budget. List the people you plan to buy gifts for, the type of gifts you plan to buy, and how much you plan to spend. Include the cost of cash gifts, holiday travel, extra food, wrappings, decorations, greeting cards, and postage. If it relates to the holiday season and it costs money, add it to your budget.
Shop around. A “sale” price isn’t always the “best” price. Some merchants may offer a sale price on the item you want for a limited time; other merchants may offer items at a discount everyday.
Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, a competitor’s prices.
Go online. Check out websites that compare prices. If you decide to buy from an online merchant, keep shipping costs and delivery time in mind.
Carefully consider bargain offers that are based on purchases of additional merchandise. For example, “Buy One, Get One Free” or “Free Gift with Purchase.” If you don’t really want or need the item, it’s not a deal.
Clip coupons. Coupons are useful when they save you money on what you’re already planning to buy. Check coupons for any restrictions. For example, do expiration dates apply, or do you have to spend a certain amount before you can use the coupon? Some retailers will accept expired coupons, and even coupons from their competitors. Check with the retailer before you leave home to learn their policy.
Ask about sale adjustments. If you buy an item at regular price and it goes on sale the next week, can you get a credit or refund for the discounted amount?
Consider layaway. Layaway purchase plans are designed for people who want to buy merchandise without using credit or paying the full price immediately. When you use layaway, you typically make a deposit – usually a percentage of the purchase price – and pay over time until you have paid for the item in full. In exchange, the retailer holds the merchandise for you. To avoid problems, get the store’s layaway policy in writing.
Keep an eye on your wallet. Don’t flash cash. Keep an eye on your credit or debit card during transactions, and get them back as quickly as possible. If your cards are lost or stolen, report the loss or theft immediately to the card issuers.
Use credit and debit cards with care. Save your receipts. You need them for returns and exchanges. Check credit and debit card sales and return receipts against your monthly bills and statements, and report any problems to the credit card issuer promptly.
Ask about refund and return policies. Many merchants may have different refund and return policies for sale items. For example, clearance merchandise may be on final sale, meaning no refunds or exchanges.
Keep good records. Whether you’re ordering by mail, phone, or online, it’s important to keep detailed information about the transaction, including your order number, shipping costs and dates, warranties, and refund and return policies.
Ship early. If you’re sending gifts to out-of-towners, factor in extra time for shipping. If you wait until the last minute, you may pay a hefty price for express or overnight shipping.
Keep these helpful hints in mind when you are out shopping, whether on your PC or out in the mall. Have a good holidays!
Source: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt082.shtm
My Perspective on the iPhone 3G S
iPhone 3GS
I just recently bought my iPhone 3GS from Bell, because now it’s available on every Canadian carrier. But after fiddling around with it for a while, I was realizing how out of touch with technology I was. Some of my classmates were showing me how to use my iphone and some of the interesting features that it has. The one appealing feature that I enjoy is the ability to download over 90,000 apple applications. This could be anything from games, to utility applications, to applications that help with your finances. To say the least, the iPhone 3G S has fully exceeded my expectations in a cell phone.
Here is a list of some of the most popular applications available on Apple.com:
Facebook – Connect with your friends on Facebook, everywhere with 3G connection
FedEx Mobile for iPhone – FedEx Mobile for iPhone provides up-to-date shipment tracking information. Simply input your FedEx tracking number, and you can quickly retrieve the status of your shipment. You can also personalize your view by nicknaming shipments, adding notes or creating a watch list for monitoring important shipments.
Video Downloader iWoopie Lit – iWoopie Lite can search global video portals (Youtube/DailyMotion and match more), watch and download videos to your iPhone.
Twitteriffic – It is a twitter client. I keep myself up-to-date with latest news and updates on Silverlight. I also follow updates from Kevin Rudd our PM and opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull.
Shazam – This application allows a user point his or her iphone at a stereo, and this application will tell you the song title and artist of the current song that is playing on the radio.
Its applications like these that Apple is making to help simplify your life. Quite frequently, I use the facebook application to change my status and check my notifications via my cell phone. This allows me to be able to access my profile and check my email virtually everywhere. It is advances such as these that will continue to bring a greater access to convenience into the lives of many consumers.
I just recently bought my iPhone 3GS from Bell, because now it’s available on every Canadian carrier. But after fiddling around with it for a while, I was realizing how out of touch with technology I was. Some of my classmates were showing me how to use my iphone and some of the interesting features that it has. The one appealing feature that I enjoy is the ability to download over 90,000 apple applications. This could be anything from games, to utility applications, to applications that help with your finances. To say the least, the iPhone 3G S has fully exceeded my expectations in a cell phone.
Here is a list of some of the most popular applications available on Apple.com:
Facebook – Connect with your friends on Facebook, everywhere with 3G connection
FedEx Mobile for iPhone – FedEx Mobile for iPhone provides up-to-date shipment tracking information. Simply input your FedEx tracking number, and you can quickly retrieve the status of your shipment. You can also personalize your view by nicknaming shipments, adding notes or creating a watch list for monitoring important shipments.
Video Downloader iWoopie Lit – iWoopie Lite can search global video portals (Youtube/DailyMotion and match more), watch and download videos to your iPhone.
Twitteriffic – It is a twitter client. I keep myself up-to-date with latest news and updates on Silverlight. I also follow updates from Kevin Rudd our PM and opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull.
Shazam – This application allows a user point his or her iphone at a stereo, and this application will tell you the song title and artist of the current song that is playing on the radio.
Its applications like these that Apple is making to help simplify your life. Quite frequently, I use the facebook application to change my status and check my notifications via my cell phone. This allows me to be able to access my profile and check my email virtually everywhere. It is advances such as these that will continue to bring a greater access to convenience into the lives of many consumers.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Apple's Evolution! Take a Look!
I was thinking the other day about when I was younger playing on my old Macintosh computer back in the 1990’s. I remember playing computer games on old floppy disks. I can also remember when the Hard disk came out and replaced the floppy disk. It is hard to believe that we have come so far in roughly only 20 years time.
If you think this is intriguing, you need to take a look at this website that showcases the evolution of the apple company. This website literally goes through every single computer that the company has ever created.
For instance, take a look at some of these desktop images that have evolved over time from the early 1990’s.
Apple IIGS – 1986
I remember having this computer when I was a child. It was literally my favorite computer.
Macintosh Classic – 1990
This next computer incorporated the innovative technology of the hard disk; a smaller and more compact version of the Floppy Disk.
Macintosh Color Classic – 1993
This was another computer I had the privilege of using.
iMac G3 Tray-Loading, Bondi Blue – 1998
Everyone can remember the iMac. I still have one in my basement. Also, this computer had CD technology available. It took away the tower effect and put it into an all-in-one unit.
iMac (Intel Based) – Aluminum – 2007
If we jump 10 years into the future, this is what the newer version of the apple computer looks like.
As you can see there has been a significant amount of innovation regarding the computer in the past 20 years. I can only imagine what the future holds for Apple 20 years from now.
As you can see there has been a significant amount of innovation regarding the computer in the past 20 years. I can only imagine what the future holds for Apple 20 years from now.
TV vs. Internet Commercials
With the increasing number of younger individuals venturing online and watching less and less television, marketers are trying to develop a new way of reaching their intended target audience. An article from the E-Commerce Times entitled, Online Commercials: New Life for an Old Model?, discussed the issue of television being a form of lean-back medium, while the internet is a form of lean-forward medium. While people watch TV, they tend to be very passive; however, when people are online, their hands hardly let go of the mouse. They remain in control 100% of the time.
To try and capture the attention of these younger individuals, marketers are trying to think outside the box from the traditional commercials that appear on television. Some of these creative ways of thinking outside the box are visible through their use of ‘Webisodes’ and corporate videos.
For those who are unfamiliar with the concept of Webisodes, they are ‘a series of online videos that tell a story and have characters, and they encourage viewers to return repeatedly to a site to see how the story progresses’ (E-Commerce Times, 2009, para.15). Corporate Videos are brief films that appear on the company website and provide younger audiences the chance to listen to information about the company instead of having to read it.
The main goal for marketers is to have their video go ‘viral’. The more viral your video is, means the more people have viewed it. If your number is over 1 million, then you are doing a darn good job. Marketers strive for having their videos go viral, and some consider it to be the gold standard when it comes to online marketing. This is accomplished through the use of social media tools such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Essentially, they are creating a buzz about the intended brand for the prospective consumers.
Link to article.
To try and capture the attention of these younger individuals, marketers are trying to think outside the box from the traditional commercials that appear on television. Some of these creative ways of thinking outside the box are visible through their use of ‘Webisodes’ and corporate videos.
For those who are unfamiliar with the concept of Webisodes, they are ‘a series of online videos that tell a story and have characters, and they encourage viewers to return repeatedly to a site to see how the story progresses’ (E-Commerce Times, 2009, para.15). Corporate Videos are brief films that appear on the company website and provide younger audiences the chance to listen to information about the company instead of having to read it.
The main goal for marketers is to have their video go ‘viral’. The more viral your video is, means the more people have viewed it. If your number is over 1 million, then you are doing a darn good job. Marketers strive for having their videos go viral, and some consider it to be the gold standard when it comes to online marketing. This is accomplished through the use of social media tools such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Essentially, they are creating a buzz about the intended brand for the prospective consumers.
Link to article.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Pepsi iPhone App Draws Critics
Guys! Have you ever needed a pickup line for a woman from a specified stereotype? Well after reading an article from the E-Commerce Times, I came across just that.Pepsi has devised a new application that lets the user pick from a wide range of stereotyped women and this application will give them a pick up line based on the stereotype. For instance, users can receive a pick up line for a ‘school girl’, a ‘foreign exchange student’, a ‘rebound girl’, and many other ones. It will then give you a scorecard to record if you were successful or not with the given pick up line. It is humorous and distasteful at the same time.
From an E-Marketing perspective, this was a big fail for PepsiCo. Social Media sites, such as Mashbale, have directly showed their outrage towards this application. This App gives users the option to input the stereotyped girl’s name into a ‘brag list’ that will appear on the social networking sites. The sites feel that they will lose valuable female customers because of this pick-up application.
The application was designed to show just how far guys will go to pick up women. I, personally, would never resort to pulling out my iPhone and picking a specific ‘type of girl’ to find something to say to her. If I were a woman, I would not like the fact that Pepsi has placed women into these segmented stereotypical roles on this application. PepsiCo. has recently apologized regarding this App, but there was no mention that it would be taken out of the application store.
If you are curious about the application, try downloading it and you might get a good laugh out of it. Or for those guys who are desperate and really need help when it comes to talking to women, this application might just be for you!
…E-Comm Chronicler…
News Article (E-Commerce Times)
Here is a Clip from YouTube if your interested.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Who loves Blackberries....Not the Fruit
The Storm2, RIM’s newest phone, will be launching this new mobile device to compete with Apple’s iphone.
It has been stated that this version of the Storm has been improved significantly, with improved typing and multi-touch technology that seemed to be lacking on the older version.
RIM has to be concerned with its competition, Apple, who is now offering its iphone to every service provider in Canada.
Personally, I believe that this product will fall short of the consumers’ expectations. When you are competing with a device such as the iphone, you need to put proper time and research into differentiating your product. Instead of developing a new concept for their phone, RIM has decided to upgrade the Storm to a newer version. If RIM wants to be successful and be able to compete against competitors such as Palm and Apple, it really needs to take some time and figure out what consumers really want.
Jim Balsillie was quoted saying that ‘We have a really rich (product) road map ... and we aren't slowing down’. (Globe and Mail, 2009).
If this statement is true, then we can look forward to many innovative products in the future.
But, if their ideas include products such as the Storm2, I don’t see how they will be able to compete with Apple and Palm in the long run.
…E-Comm Chronicler…
News Article (Link to Globe and Mail)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Elance: What Skills Do You Have?!
Overview of Website
Elance delivers an immediate, cost-effective and flexible way to hire, manage and pay independent professionals and contractors online.
Elance on YouTube!
I came across this website the other day when I was trying to find a part time job. Elance is a website that allows you to create a profile and offer your skills out to employers on a freelance basis. For instance, if you are good at writing, there are many jobs that you can choose from if you wish to undertake the desired project. If you complete the job to the employer’s satisfaction there is generous payment results that are involved.
This website would be a great way to start networking and do some work from home on your own time. Also, given the current economic crisis, the individuals who have lost their jobs would be wise to look into this website as a wage to supplement their income.
Happy Surfing!
…E-Comm Chronicler…
Elance delivers an immediate, cost-effective and flexible way to hire, manage and pay independent professionals and contractors online.
Elance on YouTube!
I came across this website the other day when I was trying to find a part time job. Elance is a website that allows you to create a profile and offer your skills out to employers on a freelance basis. For instance, if you are good at writing, there are many jobs that you can choose from if you wish to undertake the desired project. If you complete the job to the employer’s satisfaction there is generous payment results that are involved.
This website would be a great way to start networking and do some work from home on your own time. Also, given the current economic crisis, the individuals who have lost their jobs would be wise to look into this website as a wage to supplement their income.
Happy Surfing!
…E-Comm Chronicler…
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Each Your Hearts Out Mac Lovers!
Microsoft is about to release a newer version of its operating system. Windows 7 will be available on October 27th, 2009, and Microsoft has spent a significant amount of time putting the final touches on this operating system. The website even goes on to quote that 'Everyday computing is faster, simpler, [and] easier.' I hope that this OS will be easier to use than Vista was. Here is a video if you are interested in watching a demo of the operating system in action. I hope you enjoy!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
E-Commerce And Online-Dating
A Growing Social Trend!
Many people are turning to various social networking sites to meet new people. The profitability of running one of these sites has great potential. For E-Comm Entrepreneurs, a perfect idea would be to start up your own site for the online dating community.
If you are interested in following the traffic that many of these websites attract, a website entitled www.alexa.com is a perfect tool to observe these trends. Websites like Plentyoffish.com, Lavalife.com, and Eharmony.ca are perfect examples of how this trend is increasing in popularity.
Website traffic:
Many people are turning to various social networking sites to meet new people. The profitability of running one of these sites has great potential. For E-Comm Entrepreneurs, a perfect idea would be to start up your own site for the online dating community.
If you are interested in following the traffic that many of these websites attract, a website entitled www.alexa.com is a perfect tool to observe these trends. Websites like Plentyoffish.com, Lavalife.com, and Eharmony.ca are perfect examples of how this trend is increasing in popularity.
Website traffic:
- Plenty of Fish – Up 13.7% over a 3 month period
- Lavalife – Up 8% over a 3 month period
- EHarmony Canada – Up 40% over a 3 month period
It is evident that by this traffic, this trend will continue to increase. When setting up your online dating website, keep in mind that originality is essential. For example, E-Harmony offers a psychological test to determine which matches you will be most suitable for. This aspect differentiates them from their competitors. Your website must have an original edge to it, in order to be considered as competition in the online dating market.
Personally, I see this trend increasing over the next few years, because more people are valuing their time and online dating offers the individual the choice of who he or she wants to date. As more people move to the online community, look for significant advances in this world of online dating!
You might even find that special someone when setting up that website ;)
…E-Comm Chronicler…
A Profitable E-Commerce Idea
I was looking at various web pages today and I came across a website called 'The E-Commerce Times' (http://www.ecommercetimes.com/). This website is devoted to covering anything E-Commerce. One article that came to my attention was one entitled "Wii Goes to War".
This article talks about how the Nintendo Wii is slashing its prices of its gaming console to $199, in order to stay ahead of its competitors (Playstation and Xbox). Both Playstation and Xbox have reduced their prices to $300, but with the reduction of the Wii to $199 it can sit back and potentially watch its profit increase. Nintendo has always had the advantage because of it being able to offer the system at a lower price.
With Christmas right around the corner, gaming consoles will be in high demand. If you are smart, like me, you would take this opportunity to go out and purchase more than one of these consoles and sell them on E-Bay. You would be able to easily make your money back and MORE! The potential to generate a profit here is very plausible. Think about it...
...E-Comm Chronicler...
This article talks about how the Nintendo Wii is slashing its prices of its gaming console to $199, in order to stay ahead of its competitors (Playstation and Xbox). Both Playstation and Xbox have reduced their prices to $300, but with the reduction of the Wii to $199 it can sit back and potentially watch its profit increase. Nintendo has always had the advantage because of it being able to offer the system at a lower price.
With Christmas right around the corner, gaming consoles will be in high demand. If you are smart, like me, you would take this opportunity to go out and purchase more than one of these consoles and sell them on E-Bay. You would be able to easily make your money back and MORE! The potential to generate a profit here is very plausible. Think about it...
...E-Comm Chronicler...
Attention E-Comm Lovers!
Welcome to the E-Comm Chronicler!
This is your first and only destination for anything involving E-Business and E-Commerce. It is my job to bring to you the most interesting and innovative stories surrounding these two subjects. Look forward to many intriguing stories regarding both of these topics because of them being so widely discussed. You might even want to bookmark this site, or make it your home page on your laptop, because I can guarantee that you will become addicted to reading what I have to say about E-Commerce and E-Business. Thank you for checking out my blog and I hope you will come back to visit soon.
This is your first and only destination for anything involving E-Business and E-Commerce. It is my job to bring to you the most interesting and innovative stories surrounding these two subjects. Look forward to many intriguing stories regarding both of these topics because of them being so widely discussed. You might even want to bookmark this site, or make it your home page on your laptop, because I can guarantee that you will become addicted to reading what I have to say about E-Commerce and E-Business. Thank you for checking out my blog and I hope you will come back to visit soon.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)