Amazon have launched their own Smartphone handset called 'Fire' to compete more directly with Apple and Samsung. They base a lot of their appeal around their wide range of digital content and special apps to make it easier for users to buy books. While Amazon eyes a smartphone, Apple's 'Smartwatch' comes closer and closer to production despite some commentators' doubts about the wisdom of making such a niche product. In less competitive news, Tesla has decided to share all its technology in a bid to make collaborations and push forward the development of electric cars. Hopefully the successful expansion and development of electric car tech would reduce air pollution and oil dependence. Finally competition between the big tobacco firms over e-cigarettes is becoming more fierce. Big Tobacco is seeking to capitalise on e-cig sales even as governments begin to discuss moves to restrict advertising of the controversial devices.
Quite a short blog this week. Must have been a slow news week Hope you are enjoying the summer and not too stressed with deadlines
Friday, 20 June 2014
Friday, 13 June 2014
Weekly Round-up
Let's kick off this round up with something fun - the FT's writeup of the first game of the World Cup in Brazil. Are you all enjoying the football? Once you;ve read about the game you might also like to look into the impact of big sporting events on business and national economies. You can find some articles on Summon and they are quite fascinating. Followup articles looking at Apple's intention to make the iPhone a health hub where users can consolidate data from all their different apps and health measurement devices and the fascinating announcement that Apple has decided to open up bits of iOS to developers, making it easier for external developers to create and develop apps and techs for the iPhone. In a bit of cool news, Bloomberg are trialling their database on the Oculus virtual reality headsets, wouldn't that be more fun than using the Financial Markets Lab? Bloomberg is such a useful resource for anything from company and country research to understanding whole sectors and economies.
Finally some more (yet more?) articles looking at jobhunting, ettiquette and the work place. First up, one from the FT.com discussing how to prepare your online presence for the job hunt. It's not just a case of getting and maintaining a positive LinkedIn presence - a website used by many recruiters - but also making sure your private life is private. So be careful with those privacy setting on Instagram and Facebook, employers don't like to google potential employees and see photos of the their last drunken night out! The next article is a list of resources to help you prepare for job interviews, including dealing with unexpected questions! Definitely good to have a look so you are nice and prepared. Finally some tips on office etiquette, make sure you stay polite, answer emails politely and respect your colleagues. Presentation is so important and it can be a shock to adjust to after the informality of university.
Finally some more (yet more?) articles looking at jobhunting, ettiquette and the work place. First up, one from the FT.com discussing how to prepare your online presence for the job hunt. It's not just a case of getting and maintaining a positive LinkedIn presence - a website used by many recruiters - but also making sure your private life is private. So be careful with those privacy setting on Instagram and Facebook, employers don't like to google potential employees and see photos of the their last drunken night out! The next article is a list of resources to help you prepare for job interviews, including dealing with unexpected questions! Definitely good to have a look so you are nice and prepared. Finally some tips on office etiquette, make sure you stay polite, answer emails politely and respect your colleagues. Presentation is so important and it can be a shock to adjust to after the informality of university.
Friday, 30 May 2014
Apple, Beats , Piketty & Driverless Cars.
A lot of the interesting business stories this week were about technology and and acquisitions. Apple bought Beats headphones meaning they will be selling hardware that is not designed by Apple itself. This article from the FT.com argues that this marks Apple's first 'diffusion' brand and marks a significant change for the company. Apple is also said to be readying technology for a smart home platform where you would be able to regulate your home from your i-Phone and other smart-technology. Speaking of smart-phones, smaller and cheaper alternatives are starting to fragment the smartphone market in Europe that has previously been dominated by Apple and Samsung. Google has also announced they are developing driverless cars and have launched a fleet of 100 prototypes. They look terrifying to me!
We have just ordered the best-selling Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty which has been the subject of intense debate and argument. Piketty's book argues that over the last two centuries great wealth has been created, but more and more of this wealth is concentrated in the hands of a wealthy few rather than benefiting the whole of society. Piketty proposes a regime of progressive taxation to remedy the inequalities to create and more stable economic situation. The Financial Times, however, have attacked Piketty's figures accusing him of 'cherry-picking' his data. Piketty has strongly defended himself. So read up on the controversy and then try the book itself. One print copy should soon be on library shelves and we also have an ebook version.
We have just ordered the best-selling Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty which has been the subject of intense debate and argument. Piketty's book argues that over the last two centuries great wealth has been created, but more and more of this wealth is concentrated in the hands of a wealthy few rather than benefiting the whole of society. Piketty proposes a regime of progressive taxation to remedy the inequalities to create and more stable economic situation. The Financial Times, however, have attacked Piketty's figures accusing him of 'cherry-picking' his data. Piketty has strongly defended himself. So read up on the controversy and then try the book itself. One print copy should soon be on library shelves and we also have an ebook version.
Friday, 23 May 2014
Weekly Round-up
A somewhat 'lacking in theme' selection of news stories this week. First-up a piece from the FT.com on European hostility to Google. Concern is focused on how Google's algorithms manipulate search results, how much personal data they store and how how they store and use the personal data that they have. If any of you are worried about what Google is doing with your personal data you can always use Summon, the library's search engine for all resources instead. :)
On the topic of social media, Facebook is looking to develop a video app and challenge Snapchat. FT.com Business School's section has some interesting articles this week,; firstly on whether Business Schools should teach modules on cities and urbanisation.The article argues that, given how many people now live in cities, MBAs should be studying the specific business opportunities that this brings. This week's interview with a woman in business is also really interesting; talking about networking and the importance of continuing education. On the theme of women in business, this article looks at the failure of the mining industry to recruit senior women executives and is definitely food for thought. Finally, will drone technology mean fewer jobs go overseas? An interesting argument but it doesn't sound like it will help unemployment.
(To read the Harvard Business Review blog and magazine articles you will need to register for a free account. It's very worthwhile and quick.)
On the topic of social media, Facebook is looking to develop a video app and challenge Snapchat. FT.com Business School's section has some interesting articles this week,; firstly on whether Business Schools should teach modules on cities and urbanisation.The article argues that, given how many people now live in cities, MBAs should be studying the specific business opportunities that this brings. This week's interview with a woman in business is also really interesting; talking about networking and the importance of continuing education. On the theme of women in business, this article looks at the failure of the mining industry to recruit senior women executives and is definitely food for thought. Finally, will drone technology mean fewer jobs go overseas? An interesting argument but it doesn't sound like it will help unemployment.
(To read the Harvard Business Review blog and magazine articles you will need to register for a free account. It's very worthwhile and quick.)
Monday, 19 May 2014
Freakonomics: Event Special Offer for FT.com subscribers.
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Those of you who have also subscribed to the FT..com using the institutional access should have got an email abut this exciting event, but just in case you missed it!
The international bestselling book, Freakonomics, has changed the way we see
the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything.
On Tuesday 27 May at Cadogan Hall in London, authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner will share a blueprint for an entirely new way to think smarter about almost everything. They will provide insights on how to think like a freak with Tim Harford, FT senior columnist and author of the million-selling “The Undercover Economist”. Levitt and Dubner see the world like no one else. Now you can too. Never before have such iconoclastic thinkers been so revealing-and so much fun to read. Tickets for this interview are on sale now for JUST £45, with a special discount of 20% for you, our loyal subscribers. A copy of Levitt and Dubner's book is included in the ticket price. Early booking is highly recommended. There are a strictly |
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Friday, 16 May 2014
Quick round-up of Career tips
As I am sure we would all rather be sitting in the sun 'revising', this week's round up is a quite short and quick selection of career advice.
Firstly an excellent piece on how important it is to take time out to reflect on your career and job performance to allow you to evaluate and target improvement - definitely a top tip revision and doing coursework too! This article looks at setting career goals to ensure you don't lose focus or apply for the wrong roles. To finish up the (very) brief round-up, two articles on negotiation both at job interviews and in your career in general. Definitely a key skill.
Firstly an excellent piece on how important it is to take time out to reflect on your career and job performance to allow you to evaluate and target improvement - definitely a top tip revision and doing coursework too! This article looks at setting career goals to ensure you don't lose focus or apply for the wrong roles. To finish up the (very) brief round-up, two articles on negotiation both at job interviews and in your career in general. Definitely a key skill.
Friday, 9 May 2014
New News Service & Ethical Business
Bloomberg is now providing a free newsletter, the Bloomberg London Brief! A newsletter that is designed for busy
professionals and students in the city. And the best of all - it's a FREE
subscription. It will be an excellent way to keep yourself informed about
what's going on in the city and financial world. Don't forget how useful it is to keep up to date, both for your assignments and your career prospects
Please use
this link below to subscribe:
(And if you want a bit more Bloomberg, why not do Bloomberg Certification here at Middlesex? The course is free and supported by Sarah, our Economics Librarian. One MDX student did so well on the course they got a job offer!)
Moving to the news round up, this piece from the Guardian is on the environmental hazard posed by microbeads in facial scrubs and the search for eco-friendly alternatives, perhaps I a good opportunity for green entrepreneurship. Thinking about ethical matters, Sheryl Sandberg has become the second female billionaire to pledge to give away half her fortune to ethical causes. Other billionaires to do the same include Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Sara Blakely. This article from the Harvard Business Review also offers suggestions on how social entrepreneurship can have the biggest impact, it talks about how they can best grow their organisation and what challenges face social entrepreneurs.
To finish this ethical roundup, I have another Guardian article, this time arguing that the moral case for the minimum wage is not enough and that businesses must be persuaded of the benefits of paying their staff better rather than seeing this as a burdensome cost.
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