In Response to Jaycelyn...

Should Google have made this switch or should Google have kept the Android Market as it was? 

 I think by Google making the switch, it will only be a positive outcome. By opening their "products" or benefits to a larger variety of markets, it will increase it's usage. I would not buy an Android powered device just to access the Google luxuries, I would buy a device based on other features. By Google creating more options for itself, it gives them room to expand this idea exponentially in the future, and who knows that those options will be. 

By limiting themselves to that Android market, it hindered them from gaining customers from a variety of web browsers.  Would you have bought an Android device just to use these Google features? Are you going to check out Google Play now because it is open to a larger variety of browsers?

Above the Influence Campaigns

After watching some TV recently, I have noticed there are more commercials now to promote living above the influence or "drug free". I noticed two very different approaches to this message, both with drivers from opposing ends of each other. 

The national campaign that is branded by Above the Influence shows images of the negative effects of what drugs or alcohol can do to you such as vomiting, forgetfulness, carelessness, etc. Whereas MTV now shows commercials advertizing "Unwasted Weekend" and promotes what teens are doing on their weekends besides participating in drugs or alcohol such as setting up town wide awareness charities, being an active member in helping out school projects that are in need, creating movies, etc. 

I found it interesting that both marketing methods are now being used where as before, from what I remember, above the influence campaigns rarely every spoke a word and they were mostly just images or a scene that most people would laugh at when watching rather than actually taking notice to the message being sent. These are two different organizations sending out these messages but they are of one mind.

Which campaign do you think is more successful? Or will be more successful? Do you think these ads are useful and preventative at all?

In Response to Chris Beland...

Do you think they will sustain thier growth further? or do you think they will slip back down like the other 4 companies that reached that half trillion market cap? 


I think that Apple will continue to grow positively in the years to come. They are so innovative and create products that are popular and becoming more of a "need" to our society. I think they will continue to keep creating products that not only our country but around the world will feel as though they need to keep updating accordingly. I know I own an iPhone and will definitely get another once mine is outdated or my plan is up. Because of the certain uniqueness of their products, the customers keep buying them. If they slip back it will be a shock to me and I am sure to many other Apple product owners. 

Dunkin Donuts to open in Denver

Living in New England, we are spoiled with Dunkin Donuts located almost at every corner. I was naive in assuming Dunkin Donuts were located all over the country, this to my surprise is not true. Dunkin announced recently that they are planning to open its first stores in Denver.  Sizzling Platter, LLC, said it planned to pen 11 Dunkin Donuts locations in Denver between the years of 2013-2018.

To me it seems like it has been a long time coming to open frequent Dunkin Donut's on the west coast. Are you surprised it has taken so long for DD to open on the west coast? Why do you think it has taken this long?

In Response to Michael Thompson...

Could this new law in France open an entirely new market for in-car breathalyzers?

This new law could definitely cause a stir, not only in France but bordering nation's as well; but will it be positive?  I think it is extremely innovative and responsible to think to have breathalyzers inside cars especially with the outrageous amount of intoxicated vehicle deaths each year. This could definitely open many opportunities for marketing, advertizing and hopefully increased sales for car companies all around the world. I think it is a good idea and they should see how the public reacts and then maybe it will spread to other countries around the world.

What would be the most effective way of using this technology to its full potential? Would the car not start unless you used the breathalyzer? And then if you failed the test what would happen? Would it make a phone call for you? These are questions the product companies will have to figure out soon before they put it on the market. Drunk driving is no joke and I would not be opposed to having a breathalyzer in my car but I would definitely find it rather annoying or inconvenient if every time I needed to use my car I would have to blow into the indicator.

Would you buy a car for the purpose of having one of these breathalyzers automatically installed in it? Do you think it is an infringement of choice to make someone breathalyze before getting behind the wheel?

Look, no hands! The driverless future of driving is here

This article on CNN.com asked the question, "Will there be a time in our lives when cars don't crash?" The experts have responded, yes! They are making leaps and bounds on this new technology so that it may be a possibility sooner than we expect. They are working on advances such as vehicle-to-vehicle technology, cars that drive themselves, and cars with the latest and greatest 'high-end' technology. 

Scott Belcher, President and CEO of Intelligent Transportation Society of America, states that, "[vehicle-to-vehicle technology] That's going to be our next major safety advance."  Studies suggest that as many as 81% of "non-impaired" crashes could be avoided through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, which would use a designated part of the radio spectrum that's been set aside by the federal government.

Cars that drive themselves seems like something you would see in an episode of the Jetson's, but in reality, automated cars are close at hand.  "The question is going to be not whether we can do automated vehicles, but how much autonomy we are willing to put up with as a culture. We don't really like to give up control of our vehicles," Belcher stated. There are instances of automated cars already out on the market, a fully automated car although, is going to be dictated by society, not technology. Liability and control issues are going to be the biggest barriers in trying to move forward with this.

What does this all mean? Well, if they make cars that don't crash, then the creation and design of cars will all change.  Right now, we build cars to help you stay safe when you crash, but if you don't crash, do we really need to use all the materials that we currently do? Can you use other materials? I am sure we will soon find out the answer.

How do you feel about a driverless vehicle? Would you be an advocate for this type of technology?