George's Musings Blog

Why China’s economy is so influential it doesn’t have to be in recession to derail the world

Posted on December 1, 2011 by admin
Chinese workers go about their chores at a textile factory in Huaibei, east China's Anhui province on November 21, 2011. China's manufacturing activity slumped to its lowest level in 32 months in November, banking giant HSBC said, renewing fears the Asian powerhouse is losing steam amid global economic woes.

Chinese workers go about their chores at a textile factory in Huaibei, east China's Anhui province on November 21, 2011. China's manufacturing activity slumped to its lowest level in 32 months in November, banking giant HSBC said, renewing fears the Asian powerhouse is losing steam amid global economic woes.

One of the world’s biggest economic engines is showing signs of slowing down.

China’s factory sector shrank the most in 32 months in November, according to a report released Wednesday. The HSBC “flash purchasing managers’ index” fell to 48, its lowest level in almost three years. An index lower than 50 usually means the manufacturing sector is getting smaller… Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Toronto Star

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What Steve Jobs learned, and why it matters

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin
What Steve Jobs learned, and why it matters

Cliff Kuang, editor of Co.Design, has been reading Walter Isaacson’s recent biography Steve Jobs, and has delineated six pillars that were at the centre of the Apple CEO’s design philosophy. On fastcodesign.com, Mr. Kuang says these design lessons Mr. Jobs learned early in his career imbued every product he created: Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

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10 ways not to get turned off Twitter

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin
A Twitter page is displayed on an Apple iPhone in Los Angeles October 13, 2009.

A Twitter page is displayed on an Apple iPhone in Los Angeles October 13, 2009.

Twitter has come into its own as the Western world’s No. 2 social network, smaller than the leviathan of Facebook, but frequently offering more potential to reach new customers and make professional connections.

Its open-endedness, however is a weakness, too: Joining Twitter can be a disorienting experience that falls short on instant gratification. Here are 10 tactics for making an entrance on Twitter a rewarding experience: Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

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Twitter buys Whisper Systems to tighten tweet security

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin
A shop in Egypt's Tahrir Square is spray painted with the word Twitter on February 4, 2011 as a reflection of the role Twitter played in helping Egyptian activists communicate. Whisper Systems, which played a similar role, was acquired by Twitter on Monday

A shop in Egypt's Tahrir Square is spray painted with the word Twitter on February 4, 2011 as a reflection of the role Twitter played in helping Egyptian activists communicate. Whisper Systems, which played a similar role, was acquired by Twitter on Monday

Two of the tech industry’s foremost mobile security experts joined the world’s foremost microblogging service on Monday.

Whisper Systems, a startup offering “enterprise-grade” security software for mobile devices based on Google Inc.’s Android platform, was acquired by Twitter Inc. on Monday for an undisclosed amount. The San Francisco-based company was co-founded last year by Institute for Disruptive Studies security expert Moxie Marlinspike and robotics engineer Stuart Anderson, who are the only two Whisper employees listed on LinkedIn… Read More

Source Photo and  Text: Financial Post

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Yelp files for US$100-million IPO

Posted on November 24, 2011 by admin
Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman.

Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman.

Yelp Inc., which runs a website for online reviews, filed for an initial public offering of up to US$100-million of Class A common shares.

A portion of the shares would be issued by Yelp, while the rest would be sold by some stockholders.
The company has not picked an exchange to list its shares on yet, but plans to trade under the symbol, “YELP.” Read More

Source Photo and Text: Financial Post

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Buy into social media with a new ETF

Posted on November 24, 2011 by admin
A new social media fund let's you buy into international companies while you wait for American juggernauts like Twitter and Facebook to go public.

A new social media fund let's you buy into international companies while you wait for American juggernauts like Twitter and Facebook to go public.

New York boutique investment firm Global X Funds launched a new exchange-traded fund that covers the social media space this week, but with investors still waiting for the likes of Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. to go public, buying the fund at the moment is really a big bet into the Chinese and other overseas markets.

The Global X Social Media Index ETF (Nasdaq: SOCL) was just launched on Monday, with net assets of about US$1.5-million and an expense ratio of 0.65%. The fund tracks the Solactive Social Media Index, which is adjusted twice a year, weighted by market capitalization and currently holds 25 companies, but may reach as high as 50. No company may take up more than 10% of the index, while any company that does not focus purely on social media is capped at 4.75%… Read More

Source Photo and Text: Financial Post

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The industrial age has finally run out of gas: An interview with Don Tapscott

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin
Don Tapscott

Don Tapscott

“Throughout the 20th century, we created wealth through vertically integrated corporations. Now, we create wealth through networks. We are at a turning point in human history, where the industrial age has finally run out of gas.” – Don Tapscott

Somewhere, between the APEC CEO Summit with world leaders in Hawaii, receiving a place on the Thinkers 50, a keynote speech at the Enterprise 2.0 conference, and another trip to Brazil for TEDx USPLeste all on the same day, I had a conversation with Don Tapscott yesterday on the changes terraforming the landscape of business and society… Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

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See sales soar with a targeted landing page

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin
A landing page is a place where visitors end up after being drawn there by a specific, targeted campaign – an offer for something desirable delivered via e-mail, social media or an ad.

A landing page is a place where visitors end up after being drawn there by a specific, targeted campaign – an offer for something desirable delivered via e-mail, social media or an ad.

One rainy afternoon when my son was 3 or 4, I took him to one of those cavernous beachside arcades. I thought the flashing lights, buzzing action and acres upon acres of Frogger, Galaxian, Donkey Kong and the like would thrill him, and we’d pass a happy few hours there.

But instead he stood tentatively in the middle of the arcade, bewildered and overwhelmed. After halfheartedly tossing a few Skee-balls up a ramp, he turned toward me and asked, “Is that enough, Mom? Can we go?” Read More

Source Photo and Text: The Globe and Mail

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