Description: Reports have emerged that Google’s video-streaming site, YouTube, is in the process of launching a monthly subscription service. Buoyed by success of Netflix, YouTube may also try to get consumers to spend money for creative content on Internet. Source: CBC Date: April 12, 2015 Text Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/paying-for-youtube-the-next-experiment-in-the-tv-revolution-1.3028271 Questions for Discussion: Will you pay for… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Technology
Future Shop Closes Stores
Description: Future Shop, a consumer electronic retail giant, is closing its stores, resulting in 1,500 job losses. Future Shop is closing 66 stores immediately, and the remainder 65 will turn into Best Buy outlets. Source: CBC Date: March 28, 2015 Video and Text Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2661222339/ Questions for Discussion: What are the reasons for this closure? Why are… Read more »
Amazon to test drone deliveries
Description: Amazon has won U.S. federal approval to test drone deliveries. This could potentially transform the delivery business. Source: CBC Date: March 19, 2015 Text Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2659723029/ Questions for Discussion: How will drone delivery benefit Amazon? Is it possible for Amazon to deliver throughout the country using drones? Which other companies in the delivery business… Read more »
Apple Working on an Electric Car
Description: Apple Inc. is pushing its team to begin manufacturing of an electric car by 2020. Apple seems set to get in to direct competition with Tesla Motors Co. and General Motors Co., who are scheduled to roll out their electric car costing less than $40,000 by 2017. Source: Business News Network Date: February 20,… Read more »
Electric Car Dilemma for Big Auto Makers
Description: With the plunging oil prices, the new electric and hybrid vehicles may soon see a drop in demand. The electric car hype has been there for nearly a decade and still no one is sure how this market will evolve. Making matters more complex is the low price of oil, which many analysts say… Read more »
Apple to increase the prices of their apps
Description: The falling Canadian dollar is forcing Apple to increase the prices of their apps for Canadian customers. Source: BNN Date: January 08, 2015 Video and Text Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2015/1/8/Canadians-say-goodbye-to-Apples-99-cent-apps.aspx Questions for Discussion: Do you agree with Apple’s decision to increase the prices of their apps? Given that falling Canadian dollar reduces revenues for U.S. based companies,… Read more »
BlackBerry gets a boost from AT&T
Description: BlackBerry received some good news when AT&T became the first carrier to agree to sell and promote its oversized Passport smartphone in the U.S. However, as part of the deal, AT&T has asked BlackBerry to round the right-angled corners of the Passport. Source: CBC Date: January 08, 2015 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2646722338/ Questions for Discussion:… Read more »
Will DVDs survive against the online streaming options?
Description: DVD rental businesses such as Redbox are competing against several online media streaming options available to Canadians. Despite the increased competition, Redbox CEO, Mark Horak, is confident that Redbox offers a unique advantage over its competitors such as Netflix. Source: CBC Date: December 05, 2014 Video Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2627018058/ Questions for Discussion: What is the… Read more »
Netflix CEO predicts no broadcast TV after 2030
Description: Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, compares broadcast TV to a horse and says that broadcast TV will probably last until 2030. In Canada, companies such as Rogers and Shaw have been losing cable customers at a rate of nearly 200,000 per year. Source: Huffington Post Date: November 28, 2014 Video and Text Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/28/broadcast-tv-dead-netflix-reed-hastings_n_6237752.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-business Questions… Read more »
Google Glass – a product that failed to take off
Description: Google Glass, a device mounted on your eyeglasses that has a camera, processor and a computer screen, does not seem to have a market. Google has decided to push back the Google Glass roll out to the mass market Source: Financial Post Date: November 14, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/14/google-glass-market/?__lsa=e829-e8e1 Questions for Discussion: What are your… Read more »
