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Technology inflation is here: How creativity is caught in the breeze of the cloud
4:29AM | Friday, 26 AprilSir Ken Robinson talks about the idea of academic inflation much like the process of economic inflation. I agree with him 100% here – if you don’t know what I am talking about and have been living under a rock for the past six years, I suggest you watch the following video: {qtube:=iG9CE55wbtY} Now that you’re on track with my train of thought and you’ve had a bit of a laugh, I want to explain why I think cloud technology is also in a state of inflation. After my recent research and general discussions with a creative colleague of mine, Ben Seydel, I have realised quite quickly that cloud technology is indeed inflating. So much so that good ideas are failing simply because someone else got to the next floor by taking the lift rather than the stairs. If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, have a look into Found. This amazing app has recently been acquired by YouSendIt. It is one really impressive piece of software used by millions that allows you to connect to all of your cloud storage centres and sync them into one beautiful interface. “It’s very evident that we’re moving to a more ‘cloud-nostic’ world. Our industry has placed a huge burden on users to manage their cloud data – effectively isolating it across a growing number of proprietary platforms,” said YouSendIt CEO Brad Garlinghouse. “Found enables YouSendIt to realize an exciting vision, where users can access and manage the information they’re looking for, no matter where it's stored.” The ‘cloud-nostic’ future Found is just one example of technology inflation. Other examples include Marketo and PromoJam (dedicated social media tools) that, let’s face it, wouldn’t be around if not for Mark Zuckerberg (he really started this social media boom with Facebook in my opinion). Please don’t let me lead you to believe that I think this is a bad thing by any means. It creates more jobs, more cool products, a more connected community and more creativity. Technology inflation creates creativity – what a beautiful way to put it. All of these tech-inflated products that I’ve been discussing have one thing in common – they are all cloud-based. Now if you have an internet connection and a web browser you’re good to go – if you don’t believe me ask yourself why Google has released the Chromebook. The Chromebook is simply a fast loading computer with a browser. Google has obviously seen their future through a crystal globe and to be honest, I really don’t blame them. Nearly everything that I do on my computer I do through a web browser. I have even recently moved to Office 365 (sorry Google – not discounting you but I just like the Microsoft suite). The next web There’s a website called The Next Web and literally all it’s about is what’s next on the internet. It’s essentially a news site for the internet. Technically, they should be predicting what I am about to, regarding the web/tech/cloud inflation that we are currently seeing. I think the next big thing on the web will fall somewhere between what Windows tried to do, pulling all of your information together, and how Facebook sorts “what you really want to see”. A stream of friends, colleagues, news, emails, texts, and anything you can imagine – simply manipulated in the most effective way for the end user. At the moment there is too much information – automatically sorting and sifting everything cloud, from the important to the unimportant is where I believe the next amazing piece of future tech will lay. Remember, though, I had the idea first. If you would like to discuss the above I can be contacted at john@cloudbasemedia.com.au If you would like to transform your business’ current online profile take CloudBaseMedia’s 100 Day Challenge today. No risk, endless gains!
NSW start-up TiimFocus warns Facebook co-founder: We’re coming for you
3:27AM | Wednesday, 20 MarchA tech start-up based in Wollongong is taking aim at task management venture Asana, which was created by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, after raising $800,000 from angel investors. TiimFocus, founded in 2009 by Kevin Withnall and Jason Weaver, aims to improve workflow management between teams, allowing organisations to keep track of tasks and assignments. Withnall, who began developing the product two years ago, initially created the product for his 12-person development company. “We created TiimFocus because we didn’t see a product fulfilling the need in the market,” he says. In a bid to become “the world’s most complete collaborative task system”, TiimFocus has raised $800,000 from three angel investors, whose names will remain undisclosed. “Kevin… has contacts in the superannuation investment field and was able to access them. We pitched our idea to these guys and they thought it was a good enough idea to back, so we managed to secure an initial $500,000,” says Weaver. “Since then we’ve secured another $300,000 [from the same investors]. We’re in a position now where we need to get another $500,000 to really help with the marketing push. “Blackbird [Ventures] launched a week or two ago, so they’re somebody we would probably contact. “It’s very difficult [to secure funds] in the Australian market… We certainly haven’t ruled out going to the US, but our preference is to keep it in Australia if we can. “We think this idea – the idea with the workflow – hasn’t actually been done. I’ve been in business and I’ve run many successful teams myself, and I’ve never been able to get this right.” TiimFocus has compared itself to Asana, the start-up founded by Dustin Moskovitz, who, after sharing a dorm with Mark Zuckerberg, became one of the founders of Facebook. Like TiimFocus, Asana keeps teams in sync. It has already raised more than $10 million from investors including Benchmark Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. However, TiimFocus is confident it can compete in the marketplace. “The largest player in the market is Asana… However, its greatest strength – an easy-to-use product – is also its largest weakness; minimal functionality,” says Withnall. “We outgrew Asana within a month. TiimFocus was built to be the world’s most complete collaborative task system. Companies will not be able to outgrow TiimFocus.” TiimFocus provides team members with one central location where they can see what peers are working on and can receive updates on how a project is progressing. The B2B software is designed to evolve as an organisation grows. “We believe the beauty of this marketplace, particularly as more attention is focused on B2B companies, is that the best product can win,” says Weaver. “Despite the pedigree of Asana and other competitors, we spent two years building and validating TiimFocus, and we, and our clients, believe this is the best product in the market.”
Facebook updates the News Feed: Everything you need to know
3:31AM | Friday, 15 MarchThe latest updates to Facebook’s News Feed are not only crucial progress from the company as it faces more competitors, but a call to action for SMEs, experts warn.
Six standouts from Forbes’ 2013 World’s Billionaires list
3:44AM | Wednesday, 6 MarchForbes has welcomed a number of notable newcomers to its World’s Billionaires list, including the founders of fashion brands Diesel and Tory Burch, and China’s version of Steve Jobs.
Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin shares five insights into the social network’s future
3:42AM | Friday, 15 MarchOnce the brainchild of Harvard classmates, Facebook is now a multi-billion dollar company connecting everyone and everything.
Facebook’s Graph Search tipped to boost online advertisers
3:14AM | Friday, 15 MarchFacebook’s new Graph Search product is set to leverage member data to provide advertisers with more targeted, personalised advertising opportunities.
Forbes names most powerful people – who can you learn from?
3:49AM | Monday, 11 MarchUS President Barack Obama might be the world’s most powerful person, according to Forbes, but there’s a handful of entrepreneurs on this year’s list for start-ups to draw inspiration from.
Mark Zuckerberg speaks at start-up school – here are three top tips
3:35AM | Tuesday, 12 MarchFacebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has imparted some new words of wisdom to start-ups, insisting the desire to solve a problem must always be greater than the desire to start a company.
Facebook hits 1 billion users – but what about revenue?
3:55AM | Tuesday, 12 MarchMore than one billion people now use Facebook each month, it’s been confirmed, but concerns remain around the site’s revenue.
THE NEWS WRAP: Facebook now used by more than one billion people around the world
3:56AM | Tuesday, 12 MarchMore than one billion people now use Facebook every month, the company has revealed, with particularly strong take up of the social networking site in Australia.
THE NEWS WRAP: Gates richest American for 19th consecutive year
9:18PM | Wednesday, 19 SeptemberMicrosoft founder Bill Gates has been named by Forbes as the richest American for the 19th year in a row, accumulating a fortune of $66 billion, up $7 billion on last year.
Are smartphones making us dumb?
9:31AM | Thursday, 13 SeptemberIt seems churlish to rain on Apple’s parade following its much-hyped iPhone 5 launch, but it’s worth pondering the question – are smartphones making us dumb?
THE NEWS WRAP: Big miners threaten to pull projects in wake of Queensland budget’s royalty hikes
9:20PM | Tuesday, 11 SeptemberMining giants BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata have threatened to scrap projects in Queensland after the state government hiked royalties by $1.6 billion in its budget.
Five leading entrepreneurs’ worst stuff-ups
8:45AM | Tuesday, 7 AugustHaving a big name involved in your start-up is likely to draw investor and media attention to your business, but it’s unlikely to sustain it in the long term.
Entrepreneurialism about the team, not a Zuckerberg-type individual: Academic
7:38AM | Friday, 6 JulyAn Australian university professor has offered an in-depth insight into entrepreneurship and its defining factors, including why entrepreneurialism is about the team rather than the individual.
I’m keen to be my own boss but I’m past the age of 50 and I have a mortgage. Have I left it too late?
7:38AM | Wednesday, 4 JulyThis week’s Secret Soloist answer is provided by Paul Wallbank, a leading tech speaker, writer and entrepreneur.
I know very little about finance or operations. Should I seek a co-founder?
6:04AM | Thursday, 21 JuneHow can I go about finding a business brain for my start-up?
10 essential entrepreneurial videos
1:13AM | Tuesday, 8 JanuaryThis article first appeared June 15th, 2012. There’s nothing quite like seeing entrepreneurship in action. A business’ facts and figures may catch the eye, but it’s not until you see the founder talk about their idea that it truly comes to life and fires the imagination.
A simple strategy: Make something people love
1:53PM | Monday, 7 JanuaryThis article first appeared June 13th, 2012. We were set to launch Posse in retail.
Staying small
6:53AM | Friday, 8 JuneI read A VC every day. It’s the last thing I do before I go to sleep, as it is early morning in New York.
