I was indeed surprised to read this bit of news today. You may remember that a few years back, HP bought Palm, a maker of Personal Digital Assistants, and was in a similar quandary. And there are other examples (write to me if you know one). But all this teaches cash-rich companies a couple of things.
1. Companies should do due diligence before acquiring — what’s the use of spending million /billions of dollars to acquire a company, because you perceive that it will give you an edge over the competition? What are you going to do with the IP acquired and how will you integrate it into your products lines?
2. Have a well thought out strategy first. Don’t be distracted by the valuation or hot technology or IP of a company.
3. Look at ALL the assets of the company that you want to acquire. Which assets will you actually use, and which ones will you dump.
4. Look at the Culture of the organization. How similar or dissimilar is it from yours?
5. What about the liabilities of the organization you are about to acquire? Have you factored that in the valuation?
6. How many patents does the organization have and how valuable are these to you?
If you do know any other reasons why acquisitions fail, do write in and share these with me and my followers.
Interest in Digital Currencies like Bitcoin has been increasing. But the chances of its proliferation in trade remains a question, particularly in India, which has a highly regulated banking environment. Here’s why Bitcoin cannot be ignored.
In the early years of e-commerce, Indian consumers were wary of using their credit cards for online transactions. But with tighter regulations and security controls, consumer confidence improved, and online card transactions have increased. It was the same for Internet banking. Are we about to see history repeating itself with digital currencies such as Bitcoin?
It is estimated that there are 30,000 Bitcoins in India, with some 50 commercial establishments accepting payment in Bitcoins. These include shops, restaurants, bars, salons and other establishments. But it seems to be a stopgap arrangement, overshadowed by the fact that the Indian authorities could suddenly pull the shutters on digital currencies. In fact Bitcoin operators and exchanges had to suspend operations recently (See ‘Bitcoin in India’). Yet we observe that Bitcoin payment for online services such as Web Hosting is picking up. Globally, the number of transactions in Bitcoin per day has increased from 35,000 transactions in September 2012 to 55,000 per day in September 2013.
While Bitcoin is gradually gaining acceptance, it poses many questions: like the legitimacy of Bitcoin in the real world, as a currency for commercial transactions; about its potential for online transactions and for e-commerce; and about the risks and dangers posed due to misuse in the deep, dark Web of drug trade, money laundering, counterfeit documents, and other shady activities.
And Bitcoin isn’t the only digital currency — it is estimated that there are about 50 such currencies worldwide, with unimaginative names like Litecoin, Ripple, Particlecoin, Peercoin, Namecoin, Lifecoin etc. In fact, we stumbled upon a desi version called LaxmiCoin, which is about to launch its mining operations (Laxmi is regarded as the Goddess of Wealth).
Bitcoin in India
In India, Bitcoin is in a state of anarchy, with no clear standing on whether Bitcoins (or other digital currencies) are legal or illegal. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently issued a cautionary notice warning consumers about the potential financial, operational, legal, customer protection and security related risks of buying and trading in digital currencies. The Times of India reported that the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department took action against Bitcoin operators, causing others to suspend or close operations. Some operators have resumed operations, in the hope that lobbying by organized groups will legitimize trading in Bitcoin.
But Bitcoin cannot be ignored. Ever since its launch in 2009, its value soared to unprecedented levels. As of Jan 15, 2014 you’d need Rs 59,321 (1 US dollar = Rs 62) to buy a single Bitcoin. That value wildly fluctuates making Bitcoin a highly volatile currency and a risky proposition for investors. Online exchanges that accept real-world currency in exchange for Bitcoins, and Bitcoin operators that facilitate trading, are mushrooming on the Internet.
Since Bitcoin and other digital currencies bypass the central bank, it raises questions about how VAT and fees will be imposed during transactions, or how it will comply with the FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) or other Acts and laws relating to Import-Export trade across borders.
While we wait for all these issues to be sorted out, there are many entrepreneurs in India who remain optimistic; investors are buying Bitcoin, perhaps like a hedge, hoping to cash in when the value soars further.
Bitcoins Alliance of India
Meanwhile, a community of entrepreneurs in Bengaluru that call themselves the Bitcoins Alliance of India (BAI), had meet-ups to organize themselves, and to decide how they want to lobby for the acceptance and use of Bitcoin in the country. They want the government to recognize and legalize trading in Bitcoin. BAI appointed the services of Nishith Desai Associates, a team of international Legal and Tax Counsellors, to look into the legality of Bitcoins in India.
In a note on the BAI website, this firm says: “Our Bitcoins Practice Group examined the issue from techno-legal perspective and have found that Bitcoins per se are not illegal in India. This is in consonance with international approach. US considers Bitcoins as a legitimate payment alternative. US Senate Home Land Security and Government Affairs Committee and the Senate Banking Committee consider that virtual currency has legitimate uses.”
I spoke to some Bitcoin enthusiasts for this story.
“There are about 50 establishments that are accepting Bitcoins in India. But Bitcoins should be seen as a long-term investment as they have high volatility,” said Sathvik Vishwanath, founder of CoinMonk, and a founding member of Bitcoins Alliance of India.
Advocate Nishith Desai recently told a group at a BAI meeting that “ordinary people” should not be trading in Bitcoin because of its high volatility and risky nature.
Vishwanath and a group of like-minded entrepreneurs want to be recognized, and to make it easier for people or establishments to accept Bitcoins in India.
Amit Nirgunarthy, an entrepreneur and Bitcoin enthusiast who is also one of the founding members of BAI said, “Indian entrepreneurs are more cautious about investing in Bitcoins, fearing that the RBI may suddenly declare them illegal.”
However, he was all praises for the technology behind Bitcoin saying it could potentially be used for trading stocks across borders. And because it has digital signatures, it can also be used for filing documents in courts. Nirgunarthy feels it is much easier to do transactions with Bitcoins than using Paypal.
It facilitates “financial inclusion” to the poor and unbanked population
Significantly reduces transaction costs
Enables the growth, ease and security of both ecommerce and physical transactions
“India should encourage the mining industry [trade in digital currencies] because that will lead to the widespread trading in Bitcoins. Indian entrepreneurs will be able to export their goods in exchange for Bitcoins, that could later be exchanged for dollars. But we will need a legal framework in place for this,” said Nirgunarthy.
The buzz around wearable device at this year’s CES in Las Vegas almost overshadowed a flood of groundbreaking new gadgets, but not quite. ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK looks at the newly launched devices that are likely to make an impact in 2014.
It’s fairly easy to tell which new gadgets launched at last week’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas will make a big impact in 2014. They are the ones that managed to rise above the tsunami of attention paid to wearable devices. No, you didn’t have to be part of the “wrist revolution” to get recognition at CES.
These are some of the devices that stood out above the crowd, and earned the applause of the media and show-goers alike:
Parrot Minidrone
The A.R. Drone quadricopter was one of the great new toys of the past five years, but also established itself as both a creepy and a liberating surveillance device. Now Parrot have launched the Minidrone, a scaled-down version piloted via Bluetooth Low Energy, and compatible with Android, Windows and iOS smartphones or tablets.
It also comes with four blades, but weighs only 50g and almost fits in the palm of the hand. That means there’s no room for an HD camera and video recording, but a downwards-facing high speed camera helps keep control – and will no doubt also be put to surveillance use. Detachable wheels allow it to drive around on the ground or climb walls. It will be cheaper than the Drone 2.0, but don’t expect much in the way of battery life.
Garmin nüvi 2798LMT
The new nüvi, with 7” display, offers a feature that was previously only available on high-end luxury vehicles: a backup camera. That doesn’t mean it backs up your data, but rather gives you a rear view of what is behind your car when you are reversing. It’s wireless, meaning that you don’t need much extra wiring to make your VW think it’s a Volvo.
When wired to the reverse lights for power, the live camera feed displays every time the vehicle is shifted into reverse. A button press toggles between camera and navigation modes if the camera is plugged into constant power.
LG 77” Curved OLED TV
LG Electronics won this year’s TV wars at CES. It was no doubt their turn, given last year’s dominance by Sony, and the previous year by Samsung. But what a way to take the lead: A Flexible OLED TV is not only a curved TV unit – Samsung also unveiled one with UHD display – but it also lets viewers adjust the angle of curvature with their remote controls.
For once, it wasn’t hype when the CEO said: “LG’s Flexible OLED TV is a product that has to be seen to be believed, because it defies description.” HH Ha, President and CEO of LG’s Home Entertainment Company, summed it up neatly when he added: “What curved is to flat, flexible is to curved.”
Samsung Galaxy NotePro 12
Samsung wasn’t out of the picture. It crushed all comers in the tablet arena, with the launch of a new range of galaxy Tab and Note devices, and taking the maximum standard tablet screen size from 10.1” to 12.2”. The stand-out device is the Galaxy NotePro 12.2, which swept the boards when it came to awards for tablets launched at CES. Along with the TabPRO, it claims the world’s first 12.2” WQXGA Widescreen (16:10) display, with 2560×1600 resolution. Translation: pretty sharp.
Its magazine-style user interface is optimised for a large screen, allowing users to organise content in a dashboard with automatic feed or news updates. A Multi Window feature lets users split the screen into four different windows. The Samsung S Pen is included, while a Pen Window allows users to draw a window of any size on the screen, and instantly access in-application features within the window.
ZTE Projector Hotspot
It claims to be the world’s first all-in-one Wi-Fi hotspot and portable projector, making it ideal for home or boardroom. It’s a compact 4.7 x 4.7 x 1.1” device, with a 4” capacitive touchscreen, running on Android. The combination of the operating system and Wi-Fi means content can be run directly off the Intetnet, or shared from the device to other devices in the room – up to eight can be connected. Oh yes, it projects images too, up to 120” in size.
It supports multiple inputs, including linking to a laptop through HDMI, or mirroring a smartphone screen via Wi-Fi Display. A 5000mAh battery means smartphones can also tap into it as a portable charger.
MakerBot Replicator Mini
While 3D printing was all the rage at CES, most of these devices for “printing” solid objects are out of reach of the ordinary consumer. Market-leader MakerBot is slowly getting there, though. Alongside the new high-end $6500 Replicator Z18 and mid-range $2900 Replicator prosumer, it also launched an “entry-level” $1375 Replicator Mini. Remarkably easy to use, it is intended to produce both toys and prototypes or complex models of objects that will be mass produced more conventionally.
Using a Smart Extruder nozzle, it converts filament stored in cartridges in the device to produce solid objects up to 4x4x6” in volume. Astonishingly, there is only one button on the device: it’s primarily controlled via desktop or mobile app. Now you can build the future tourself.
Sony HDR-CX900 Handycam
Professional performance in a compact body. It’s a phrase we hear often in video camera marketing, but this time it seems on the money. A 14.2 effective megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor with a wide angle 29mm ZEISS Vario Sonnar T Lens allows shooting in full HD with high quality still images. Its 12x Optical Zoom Lens “marries a wide aperture with a seven-bladed iris diaphragm to allow professional-looking videos and photos with smooth, defocused backgrounds”, says Sony. Built-in ND filters, it is claimed, take the camera from low-light to bright sunshine with little difficulty.
Razer Nabu smartband
Okay, okay, wearables really will make a splash this year, so let’s end with one. The best one. Entertainment device manufacturer Razer won Engadget’s People’s Choice award in a public vote, with the Nabu smartband. Newcomers to wearables, Razer ignored the rules and built on an open platform that links to smartphones, collects physical data and communicates with other users’ bands.
It does what is now the usual, like tracking fitness data, location, sleep data, and biometrics. Band-to-band active and passive communication makes it a 4Square for the wrist, allowing users to find nearby friends. In future, it may even link you to healthy restaurants – and let you share the experience. That’s both the good news and the bad news. Can you say “oversharing”?
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Arthur Goldstuck is founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter on @art2gee
Point-and-shoot replaced by action cams and lens cams; SLRs and lenses become affordable
Good footfall at the fair, but teeming crowds made it difficult to walk around the photo fair.
The Consumer Electronic Imaging Fair (formerly called Photofair) is an annual event, conducted alternatively in Mumbai and New Delhi. Organized by the All India Photographic Trade and Industry Association (AIPTIA), the event was held in Mumbai between 9 – 12 January, 2014 at the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Center, Goregaon. The fair is patronized by thousands of photography enthusiasts, solutions providers, amateur & professional photographers from all over India.
This year the absence of camera giants Canon and Nikon was profound, though Sony, HP, JVC, Pentax, Ricoh, Panasonic and others made up for the loss.
CEIF also confirmed the death of the point-and-shoot camera, since camera technology in smart phones has now caught up. But new formats like action cameras and smartphone attachable lens-style cameras made an entry.
The camera in a lens. Use your smart phone screen as the viewfinder.
We visited the Sony stall and got a demo of the new lens-style cameras — DSC-QX100 (for professionals) and DSC-QX-10 (amateurs). At first glance we could tell that this is an entire camera fitted in a lens, minus the viewfinder. Your smartphone screen is the viewfinder. The lens camera relays images to your smartphone over Wi-Fi. The lens camera straps on to the back of your cell phone, but does not make use of your phone lens or phone flash. We’ll come to the specs in a moment.
We asked the Sony official about its application. Apparently, the lens can go into nooks and crevices that are beyond reach for a typical camera. For instance, if you want to capture a shot of a fox in its hole, or a kitten that hides in the hole of a wall, you’d take the lens in your hand and place it closer to the subject. The Sony representative explained that it could also be used for wildlife photography, where you can’t get closer to the animal, to take a shot. But you can place the lens near the spot and move away, monitoring the shot on your phone and remotely controlling the lens through an app on the phone.
Image credit: Sony Corp.
Getting down to specs. The DSC-QX-100, priced at Rs 24,990 is a 20.9 megapixel camera with a CMOS image sensor and a SLR style control ring. It has a F1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* lens with 3.6x optical zoom. The other highlight is the BIONZ image processing engine which converts the raw image data from a CCD or CMOS image sensor into the format that is stored on the memory card. So a copy of the image, smaller in size, is made on the memory card — and you can upload it to a website or share it via email. The original image is left on the lens camera. According to Sony, BIONZ imaging engine transforms data captured by the CMOS sensor into “stunningly beautiful” images with accurate colour, rich tonal gradations and minimal noise. For connectivity, it offers both NFC and Wi-Fi.
The DSC-QX-10, which costs Rs 12,990 is an 18.9 megapixel camera. It has a Sony G lens that offers 10x optical zoom. Like its elder sibling the QX-100, it has BIONZ image processing, NFC and Wi-Fi. Both cameras come with a smartphone bracket or attachment.
With a lens style camera, you can get beautiful images without lugging around a bulky SLR and a bag full of lenses.
Action Cameras
Note the camera mount on the handle bar.
Sony, Panasonic and others make HD video cameras that are used by sports enthusiasts and athletes. They come with water-proof enclosures or special brackets for mounting on cycles, headgear and other sports equipment.
SLRs become affordable
But SLR cameras, which were once the staple of professionals and affluent photography enthusiasts, have now become affordable, sinking below the Rs 50,000 price point. We see more photography enthusiasts and hobbyists upgrading to the SLR platform, as prices for entry-level SLRs and lenses continue to fall.
The Sony Alpha comes with a kit lens, telephoto lens, plus accessories — all for $800.
Manufacturers like Canon and Sony are wooing amateur photographers with sub-Rs 50,000 packages, that include the camera body, kit lens and also a telephoto lens. For instance, at CEIF, Sony was offering a package for Rs 43,990 that included the Alpha SLT-A58K body + standard kit lens (18 – 55 mm) + telephoto lens (55 – 200 mm). During the Christmas season Canon was also offering similarly priced packages for its EOS 600D and EOS 1100D cameras.
Teeming Crowds
With swarming and unruly crowds at the fair, jostling and pushing, or squatting in the aisles, it was at times difficult to walk in the aisles, and spend enough time at the stalls. By day two 27,000 people had visited the fair, and crowd control was a serious problem — something the organizer might want to look into for the next edition. But overall, the fair was well organized, with an entire hall set up just for registration (no separate media registration though), and another for the fashion show, with the expo held in a separate hall. CEIF 2015 will be conducted in New Delhi between 8-11 Jan.
Drives Model S into Dell World. Says production can’t keep up with demand due to constraints in battery supply; produces 600 cars a week as sales graph soars
Apart from Michael Dell, the star speaker at Dell World, Austin, Texas (Dec 11 – 13, 2013) was the Elon Musk, who is CEO of two companies (Tesla Motors and SpaceX) and chairman of SolarCity. But what really got everybody’s attention was an electric car, specifically, the Model S, from Tesla Motors. Musk, who is a visionary and also Fortune magazine’s Business Person of the Year, 2013, rode in a red Model S along a widened aisle in the conference hall, that dropped him at the foot of the stage — with the Beatles song Baby you can drive my car playing in the background. The audience and press went wild with excitement. So electric cars, with sleek sporty designs are cool again, but the moot question is: Are electric cars back for good? Musk is more than convinced; his company produces 600 of them a week, and can’t keep up with demand.
Later, as we toured the solutions expo floor at Dell World, we got to ogle an electric blue Model S, docked to its charging station. We’ll discuss the unique features of this car in a moment.
Back to Dell World: As Musk walks up on stage, he is warmly welcomed by Michael Dell, the Founder and CEO of Dell Inc. There’s another surprise passenger who hitched a ride: David Kirk Patrick, Founder, host, and CEO of Techonomy. Kirkpatrick is a journalist, technology commentator and author, and he’s here to conduct a live interview on stage. You can watch the video of what we just described (and the interview) here:
When asked what made him pursue electric cars and start Tesla Motors, Musk chooses his words carefully and replies, “There was a need for acceleration of electric vehicles. It became clear to me that, if it was simply left to the big car companies, we wouldn’t see compelling electric cars, not for a long time. It would be some time before we would see sustainable transport. That became very clear in the movie, Who killed the electric car?
The 2006 documentary film shows how GM created, produced and then killed the EV1 electric car in the mid-1990s. The film portrays the challenges posed to, and the eventual dismissal of the EV1 project by the Government of California, consumers, and component manufacturers.
And the film motivated Musk to pursue manufacturing of electric cars, seven years ago. The original car was called Tesla Roadster. Since then the car has been through several iterative changes and the project experienced multiple problems. But Musk and his team weren’t ready to throw in the towel, yet.
“I have been a proponent of electric cars ever since my college days, when I studied Physics. It seemed obvious that electric cars were the future. I feel that (eventually) all vehicles, with the exception of rockets, will go electric,” said Musk.
Musk also alluded to the impact of carbon on the earth’s atmosphere and said it would take a while for the world to accept that, and then transition to electric vehicles. “That’s why it is important to start early,” he said.
When the Model S was launched in the market last year, the response was overwhelming. Sales were up more than 12 times in the first three quarters of 2013. In fact Tesla could not keep up with demand – not because it lacked manufacturing capacity – but because Panasonic, its main battery supplier could not produce batteries fast enough.
Musk said Tesla currently produces 600 cars a week, though initial projections were about 400 a week. He remains optimistic that the cell supply constraints will be solved by the middle of 2014, or in the second quarter.
The Tesla Motors manufacturing facility in Fremont, California has capacity to build 500,000 cars annually.
“In order to make electric cars sell again we had to work super hard to make them as compelling as possible. That’s the reason why the car (Model S) ended up being a great car. And we have a really dedicated team,” said Musk.
Apart from cell shortages, the project has also suffered due to problems like battery fires. But the breakthrough was Lithium-ion battery technology (which incidentally, also led to slimmer and lighter cell phones).
Look Ma, no engine!
FEATURES
Let’s take a quick look at some of the features that make reviewers say “Wow!” when they test-drive this car. The first thing you’ll notice is that there’s no engine under the front hood or in the rear boot (see photos). That means you can carry a lot of baggage in this car. The powertrain is fitted snugly between the rear wheels. And there is a lightweight front and rear suspension, and smart air suspension. The car’s chassis is all aluminium and has a remarkably low centre of gravity, important for reducing drag. The array of batteries is fitted under the cabin floor. And when you step on the accelerator you will be flung back into your seat, as you are propelled from 0 – 60 in 5.4 seconds!
Another striking feature is a large LCD screen that’s integrated with the dash, and positioned between the two front-seats. From this touch screen you can
access the digital instruments, steering wheel controls, entertainment, navigation/maps, Web, communications, cabin controls and vehicle data.
A charging cable is included, that plugs into a US-standard 240 volt wall outlet. Model S owners say that it charges quickly like a cell phone. The manufacturer recommends that it is charged overnight.
Elon Musk personally supervised the design and manufacture of the prototype. With an eye for detail, he insisted on the highest standards and unprecedented features that posed engineering challenges. For instance, the door handles on the car automatically extend when the driver approaches, and retract once the car begins to move. This feature goes a long way in making the car more aerodynamic to the airflow around it.
CHALLENGES
A couple of issues need to be sorted out for electric cars to really hit the high road again. Apart from a good supply of batteries, there will be pressing demand for more charging stations. So all the gas stations will need to upgrade. And battery technology (which hasn’t kept up with the rapid advancements of other technologies), needs to improve and become cheaper. Apart from these technical issues, there will need to be greater awareness and buy-in for sustainable and clean energy. Governments will need to do their bit here. Electric cars, now prohibitively expensive, must become more affordable.
Notwithstanding these challenges, if we do see more electric cars on our roads this year, someone might as well make a sequel to the film and call it, Who revived the electric car?
I have seen people wearing T-shirts and caps with the Intel Inside logo, and ironically, that may literally become true in a few years! Yes, we’ll probably have Intel powering pacemakers, personal wearable health monitors, or just an Intel chip embedded under our skin.
So Krzanich wants to change Intel (and its image) — from being a chip maker for PCs and servers to a technology innovator like Apple, HP or Xerox. The Intel lab technicians in their bunny suits (Intel Bunnyman) are obsolete — here come the technocrats and their cool gadgets!
But I think what Intel is really getting to is the democratization of technology. Technology is for everybody and should integrate seamlessly into our lifestyle.
Old tech giants have been slow to adapt to the new technology like cloud, social, mobile and big data. And Intel completed its transition to the cloud, internally only in 2012-13.
The world of technology is changing — PCs are fading out and mobiles are in. What you could do on a PC is now possible on a handset. Multi-core processors, HD graphics and PC-like games are now available on mobile platforms.
Qualcomm stole a march on Intel on the mobility platform.
Intel should learn from its mistakes and move quickly to catch the next wave of opportunity — which is wearable computing devices.
Tech Wow! 
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