Homebrew apps have arrived
The democratisation of technology is not without drawbacks. Apple’s App Store already has some 550,000 apps. Google offers 450,000 for download on its Android operating system. The coming deluge of apps made by amateurs will see those numbers swell.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Why do we believe we get what we pay for?
Lucy Kellaway in the Financial Times
The third most expensive face cream is La Prairie. It costs $3,000 for a tiny jar and involves smearing caviar on your face. The third cheapest is much more appealing. It is Sudocrem at £3.50 for a big jar. It might be meant for nappy rash, but Cheryl Cole swears by it. And so, as it happens, do I.
The third most expensive face cream is La Prairie. It costs $3,000 for a tiny jar and involves smearing caviar on your face. The third cheapest is much more appealing. It is Sudocrem at £3.50 for a big jar. It might be meant for nappy rash, but Cheryl Cole swears by it. And so, as it happens, do I.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Simon Kuper - Why citizenship tests are full of holes
To be a citizen, it doesn’t matter what you know, or what crazy stuff you have in your head
And even a modest factual test is probably pointless. It would be nice to live in a polis where all citizens have some familiarity with the Magna Carta, but we never will. To be a citizen, it doesn’t matter what you know, or what crazy stuff you have in your head. If you believe homosexuals are infidels, that’s fine. In a democracy you can believe what you like. You just can’t act on certain beliefs.
And even a modest factual test is probably pointless. It would be nice to live in a polis where all citizens have some familiarity with the Magna Carta, but we never will. To be a citizen, it doesn’t matter what you know, or what crazy stuff you have in your head. If you believe homosexuals are infidels, that’s fine. In a democracy you can believe what you like. You just can’t act on certain beliefs.
Intoxivation
A new market is producing a wave of innovation in an old industry
The drinks business is one of the world’s most conservative. Wine drinkers value ancient vintages. Regulars ask the barman for “the usual”. Brewers tussle mightily to increase their market share by a single percentage point. But none of this is true in emerging markets. There, drinkers have yet to become set in their ways, and innovation is rife.
The drinks business is one of the world’s most conservative. Wine drinkers value ancient vintages. Regulars ask the barman for “the usual”. Brewers tussle mightily to increase their market share by a single percentage point. But none of this is true in emerging markets. There, drinkers have yet to become set in their ways, and innovation is rife.
Can Russia create a new Silicon Valley?
Sergey Brin is still in California
In other countries, such ambitious government-led schemes have usually flopped. Nonetheless, Skolkovo’s backers remain optimistic. Dmitry Medvedev, then Russia’s president, gave the green light in 2010. Since then the government has earmarked $3 billion over four years for the project, and will spend billions more indirectly, for instance via tax breaks.
In other countries, such ambitious government-led schemes have usually flopped. Nonetheless, Skolkovo’s backers remain optimistic. Dmitry Medvedev, then Russia’s president, gave the green light in 2010. Since then the government has earmarked $3 billion over four years for the project, and will spend billions more indirectly, for instance via tax breaks.
Industry in Russia
Russia is about to join the WTO. Can its industry cope?
Russia’s economy today depends to an alarming degree on pumping and digging things from the ground. Yet the country also has some serious industries apart from oil, gas and minerals. Take the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) in Nizhny Novgorod. It was founded in 1929, when the Soviet Union, keen to create a national motor industry, asked Henry Ford to help set up a huge car factory. It went on to make lorries, vans, military vehicles and cars, including the bulky Chaika limousines given to officials not grand enough for a Zil.
Russia’s economy today depends to an alarming degree on pumping and digging things from the ground. Yet the country also has some serious industries apart from oil, gas and minerals. Take the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) in Nizhny Novgorod. It was founded in 1929, when the Soviet Union, keen to create a national motor industry, asked Henry Ford to help set up a huge car factory. It went on to make lorries, vans, military vehicles and cars, including the bulky Chaika limousines given to officials not grand enough for a Zil.
VW conquers the world
Germany’s biggest carmaker is leaving rivals in the dust
As VW drives relentlessly towards world domination, Bernstein’s Mr Warburton says that Mr Piëch “will go down in history as an automotive legend, in the same class as Gottlieb Daimler, Henry Ford and Kiichiro Toyoda.”
As VW drives relentlessly towards world domination, Bernstein’s Mr Warburton says that Mr Piëch “will go down in history as an automotive legend, in the same class as Gottlieb Daimler, Henry Ford and Kiichiro Toyoda.”
Advertising on mobile phones
Digital ads are popping up in irritating places
EVERYONE hates digital ads. Yet the ads pay for the free apps that people love to download. Small wonder that crafty firms are slipping them into unexpected places. And that is why, on July 12th, America’s Department of Commerce will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC, to discuss this and other aspects of mobile privacy.
EVERYONE hates digital ads. Yet the ads pay for the free apps that people love to download. Small wonder that crafty firms are slipping them into unexpected places. And that is why, on July 12th, America’s Department of Commerce will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC, to discuss this and other aspects of mobile privacy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)