Wow! Can you believe the immensity of chatter about Twitter? There is no way the volume of words can fit into a 140-character mode. Back when FB did its grand IPO, I thought the volume was high. Twitter has set a new standard.
- Technology that derives personality traits from Twitter updates is being tested to help target promotions and personalize customer service.
The transformation keeps on coming. I am not sure yet how the above can help any of us find opportunity in the market, but, if nothing else, it is interesting and, if I might be a bit paranoid, a bit scary. It is not as if Madison Ave. is not already targeting us (in particular the vulnerable), but the idea that it will become even tighter, say, on a specific personality trait for a specific person, well, you tell me, is that scary? …
- Multitasking while watching TV has become a hot topic within the TV entertainment industry. Everyone is seeking to understand how we will use our second-screen devices and especially how they will be used in relation to the TV programs we are watching.
We now have a term for the ubiquity of devices in our lives – “our second screen devices.” When you think of those devices that way, it is easy to see how the “entertainment industry” will take advantage of this reality. The question of the moment, though, is what exactly does multitasking mean in this context?
- It seems like just about everyone has a smartphone these days. Increasingly, we also own tablets. These devices have become our lifeline to the world. They are how we get news, socialize, and shop. It seems only natural that the use of our mobile device(s) does not stop when we are watching TV. This is called multitasking.
And, so we have it. No less than MIT is defining our reality for us. I can quibble with the writing above (after all, it is MIT), but I cannot quibble with the concept, and I cannot quibble with the question the above raises – Does the above imply a merging of second-screen devices if for no other reason than larger screen sizes are better for entertainment purposes?
Actually, my question is more precise – Are tablet makers set to increase sales because the entertainment industry is pushing more entertainment on us? Here is another question. How will bandwidth providers adapt to this new and coming reality? Will it mean companies such as Cisco will offer faster gateways to move the data, or will Verizon and others have to push 5G faster than it currently is moving? From a market perspective, this is thoughtful stuff.
- For the third time in six weeks, an electric vehicle from Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) caught fire on Wednesday.
Second only to Twitter this week, Tesla has captured its share of headlines. More than anything else, this points to the reality of the breathless media. Like a dog with a bone, it just does not let go.
Anyway, a point to be made is this – the price of Tesla stock right now is more dependent on perception than it is on sales, so this kind of headline is problematic for the moment. My guess is that the stock will rebound because Tesla is on the forefront of the energy transformation. Eventually, the price will come into balance with perception, but for now, stay with the heat of the electric car moving on the global highways.
Hey! Looking back just one paragraph, I think of the maxims that deal with living in a glass house, calling the pot black, etc. … “Easy boy,” I say to myself.” But, the fact is that I cannot help myself.
- China’s leadership is due to start a major four-day meeting tomorrow, when they are set to discuss “comprehensive reforms” of the economy. These are expected to include liberalizing interest and exchange rates, promoting competition, cutting red tape, strengthening the fiscal system, pushing innovation, and developing the service sector.
The above has potential ramifications for the global economy, and they are all good. The future is bright in so many ways, and the fact that the October political debacle in the US did not do as much damage as previously thought speaks to the fact that I am not the only one who sees that bright future. Check out the market today.
- The U.S. economy added 204,000 jobs in October — more than double the consensus — and hiring for September and August were revised up by a combined 60,000.
- World stock markets shrugged off data that showed signs of strength in the global economy after Chinese and German exports rose more-than-expected.
Yesterday, the breathless media told us the market dropped because of the good economic news – the Fed would be less likely to curtail its loose policies. Maybe, just maybe, they missed the mark and the reason the market dropped yesterday because like Tesla’s share price, the market will also balance itself between perception and reality.
Trade in the day; Invest in your life …
