Bold Claim: Nintendo 3DS Are Good For Kids?

One of my gamer friends showed me this article to convince me that video games have more benefits than people think! Really? I personally question the true intentions behind these "US optometrists" that gave this recommendation.

To sum it up, the claim here is that the new Nintendo's 3DS can help detect eye problems in young kids at an early stage. 

An earlier report that had the upcoming Nintendo 3DS gaming console's screen bad for the eyes of users, especially those of children under six, is being discounted by US optometrists. USAToday reported on Friday that manufacturer's warnings don't need to be followed for undeveloped vision of the young kids. Eye specialists suggested the just the opposite and condoned the use of the game consoles by that age group, as it could help parents catch vision disorders early.

"The 3DS could be a godsend for identifying kids under six who need vision therapy," said Michael Duenas, associate director for health sciences and policy for the American Optometric Association.

 If you were a parent, would this article convince you to let your kids play video games?

Keep on Googlin'

Since the launch of its super search engine, Google also pioneered in launching brand new products: Gmail, Google Maps, Android OS, Google Checkout, etc. One of my newfound favorites is the Google Art Project, which gives users the interactive ability to visit museums from around the world. TIME Magazine praises it as “one of the longstanding promises of the Internet–of the last century’s worth of technology.” 

Many Googlers devoted their time to develop a project that handles crises. According to a recent news article from physorg.com, Google engineers are designing “a multi-lingual Crisis Response Page with links to resources such as emergency hotlines, relief organizations, maps, and a service for finding loved ones.” In the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami disasters, the Official Google Blog reports:

In Japan, Person Finder went live within an hour of the earthquake. More than 600,000 contact entries have been made since then—more than all other disasters combined—and there have been several reports of people finding their loved ones safe.

Apple Inc.

Recent news of Steve Jobs' medical leaves opened up new questions regarding Apple's future. Techies and bankers are both concerned about imminent future of one of world's most innovative company of this decade.

Let me gave everyone a brief background. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. Initially, they ran a small operation out of the Jobs' garage in Los Altos, California and revolutionized the Personal Computer industry with its easy-to-use computer Apple II. Although Apple pioneered in the PC industry, it was difficult for them to sustain a competitive advantage with its differentiation niche strategy. By charging their consumers at a premium price, Apple offered high quality Macintosh computers with guaranteed reliability and simplicity. While Apple seems to have a bright future ahead of itself, it lost a majority of the PC market shares to Microsoft, Dell, and HP. It didn't help that their top management team made a few wrong maneuvers during the Sculley-Spindler-Amelio years. Apple fell to its lowest trough in 1997 with a loss of $1.6 billion and barely managed to hold its ground with a 3% worldwide market share.

Thankfully, someone at Apple made a smart decision to hire Steve Jobs back. Unlike his predecessors, Jobs was a "tech visionary." I personally believe that Jobs got the golden touch. By focusing heavily on Research & Development and restructuring efforts, Jobs revived Apple in 1998 with a $309 million profit during the fiscal year. His commitment to R&D helped the creation of the "digital hub" strategy. Due to the stagnant nature of the computer industry, Jobs pushed the boundaries of digital technology when he introduced the iPod. Since the iPod, Jobs has redefined the digital world with a string of iGadgets: iTouch, iPhone, and the latest iPad. In 2009, the majority of Apple's net sales came from non-Macintosh series. The iPhone series became 30% of Apple's total revenue. Not only do the financial report figures illustrate Steve Jobs' success, but the ubiquitous presence of Apple products also confirms this theory.

(Interesting side note: Ever since I bought an iPhone, I've became more aware of Apple's products on the silver screen. For those that are curious about this phenomenon, this Product Placement News article claimed that Apple does not pay for the exposures.)

While I applaud Mr. Jobs's maverick attitude and trendsetting accomplishments, I can't help but wonder what would become of Apple sans Jobs. In a press release to Apple employees, Jobs announced a medical leave with an indefinite return date.

Dun dun dun. Here comes the million dollar question! How will Apple fare under a different management? Is Apple going to prevail or is history doomed to repeat itself?

FYI: To give everyone a quick heads up, some are betting against Apple already. One daring prediction against Steve Jobs is that he will not be returning to Apple as he has already achieved everything he wanted. Others are concerned about his health.

A shot of Steve Jobs setting the record straight regarding his "premature death", circa 2008. 

Update:
Netgear's global chairman and CEO Patrick Lo spoke about Steve Jobs in a recent interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. Lo said, "Once Steve Jobs goes away, which is probably not far away, then Apple will have to make a strategic decision on whether to open up the platform."

Does the future of Apple rely solely on Steve Jobs? I want to leave y'all with a quote by Mr. Jobs, "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."