Amazon Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world. So this happened yesterday. But all it took was a one percent increase in stocks. So obviously, this was years in the making.
Bezos now passes another tech legend, Microsoft founder Bill Gates. He held the richest man in the world title for years. According to Forbes magazine, the Amazon leader is worth 90.6 billion dollars. Meanwhile, Bill Gates is worth an even $90 billion. Also in just the last year alone, Amazon’s stock shares increased over 40%. Would you like some Amazon stocks? Then you better get generous. Because as of today, they cost $1,009 a share.
But that doesn’t stop Bezos. He owns 81 million shares. And that’s only 17% of the company. Plus, it helps that Amazon seems bent on controlling every aspect of our lives. Yes, they started as an online store and delivery service. But now they own the Washington Post, one of America’s most trusted newspapers. Their cloud services made them over $12 billion in revenue last year. His Amazon Echo controls 71% of the voice assistant game. They’re even into media and entertainment. They have streaming video service. They even produce movies like and TV shows like Transparent.
And lets’ not forget our food and grocery. Amazon Fresh delivers groceries. But that’s not enough. They also purchased Whole Foods. There’s an old saying: Those who control the food control the power. But there’s another way to look at this. For the last quarter century, the richest person in the world has been in some kind of IT support or computer repair. In fact, year after year, the majority of the world’s richest men are involved in tech. This is what makes me proud to be in computer technology. But you don’t need world domination to do so! Amazon Jeff Bezos is part of this revolution. And it shows no signs of slowing down. Who in tech will be the next richest man in the world?
Do you know who Mike George is? Many people don’t, but they should. Because Judge served as Amazon’s right-hand man for around 20 years. Now, Mike George retires from Amazon after 20 years.
In fact, George helped Amazon come up with voice assistant Alexa and smart device Echo. In computer repair/computer tech form, he announced his retirement on social media by using binary code. That code is over ten lines long. So under George’s leadership, Echo and Alexa aren’t only major hits, but cultural icons. They’re major competition for Apple’s Suri and Google Home. In fact, they even did a spoof a Alexa, parodying alternative news figure Alex Jones. But George says Alexa is just getting started.
She already has little cousins, like Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, and Dash Ward. And Alexa’s future looks bright. They say Amazon sold five million units between November 2016 and March 2017 alone. They also say Amazon will own over 70% of the smart voice market before this year is over. Mike George started at Amazon in 1998. He worked his way up the company. Eventually, he became GM of Global Payments and VP of Apps, Games and Cloud Drive. In January 2016, George took over Amazon Echo operations. The results speak for themselves. So Jeff Bezos and Amazon owe a huge debt to George.
George’s replacement will be Tom Taylor. In the past, Taylor ran Amazon Payments, FBA (Fulfillment of Amazon), and Amazon Appstore. Now, Amazon chooses Tom Taylor to fill some large shoes. Yes, the smart devices are a huge part of George’s legacy. But George’s tenure started when Amazon was at it’s infancy. Not only that, but he ran just about every part of Amazon when it came out. Amazon is also in transition again. Don’t forget, they just brought Whole Foods. So will Tom Taylor be an asset or liability to Amazon?
Several weeks ago, I wrote articles about how video games are good for you. But one New York Post writer would disagree. In fact, Kyle Smith we’re losing this generation of men to video games. So you decide. Video Games: friend or foe?
Kyle Smith argues that young men substitute video games for life in the real world. He also brings statistics to try and prove his point. For example, he claims men in their twenties work 15% less than they did in the 1990s and early 2000s. Furthermore, he talks of how more twenty-something men live with their parents than ever before, and more young men drop out of the work force. You guessed it; he blames video game addiction. But look at other factors: workplace bullying, wealth inequality, longer times in traffic, higher rent costs, more people working at home, jobs sent overseas, jobs being replaced by robots. I don’t think video games are a factor in this crises.
Then he goes for the relationship factor. According to Smith, video game addicts will hit their 40s with little or no accomplishments. He says women rarely date or marry men who are less successful than them. So that’s going to mess up the dating and marriage scene. Also, that will drive the birth rate even lower because men and women don’t even want to touch each other. But then again, when video games are their only reason for living, many young men won’t even care. In countries like Japan, they even have robots who fulfill those needs. Then again, there are many other factors at play here. Millenials grew up in a generation where 50% of marriages end in divorce. I can see why young guys today aren’t so eager to leap into marriage, monogamous relationships, or family life.
Smith has a point about video game addiction. If video games affect your work, family, social life, then maybe it’s time to stop. And if the fantasy world is keeping you sedated from the real world, then maybe it’s time to stop. But other than that, I stand by my articles I wrote weeks ago. Video games, when played moderately, can actually enhance people’s life. I truly believe video games, when played together, can bring friendship. It can also hone skills like listening and problem solving and paying close attention to detail. These skills are especially needed in the workplace today, especially in the IT support industry. Video games, when played moderately, can even help increase grades in school. But what do you think? Video games: friend or foe?
Ever hear of Dave McClure? He helped found 500 Startups‘; he also has close ties to PayPal and Google leaders. But now, scandal follows him. That’s because of the less pleasing aspects of humanity: unwanted sexual advancements in the workplace. However, this tech venture capitalist apologizes for advances.
In a long writing, McClure admitted he made advancements toward many women in the workplace. He also admits these kind of behavior was wrong. McClure also said he used his power and influence to try to get these women. He says, “I put people in compromising…situations. My behavior was inexcusable and wrong”.
McClure’s actions may costed him a leadership role in the very company he founded. Because in that statement, he said he didn’t change his behavior until he was forced to. That sounds like a major hint to me. However, he confessed his behavior to Christine Tsai. She’s the new CEO of 500 Startups. But this is intriguing. He didn’t exactly thank Christine Tsai…but said he needed this ‘butt kicking’. However, McClure is no longer the CEO of 500 Startups. Tsai is. However, he still talks with with the team. The talks are about what future role McClure will have with 500 Startups’, or if he’ll have one at all.
If you want to read how this tech venture capitalist apologizes yourself, I better warn you. The language is very graphic, and not for suitable reading for children or anyone who hates foul language. So my first question is: Why did he decide to apologize using such language? It seems to me if you’re going to apologize, then have some dignity and class about it. Don’t let your apology be laced with a bunch of ‘f’ words and ‘s’ words. It doesn’t sound valid. And it doesn’t sound sincere. Nevertheless, everyone in tech, from computer repair to IT support, can learn a lesson here. This isn’t the Mad Men era! You can’t keep hitting on your fellow employees in the workplace and not expect some bad consequences. Keep in mind McClure is a married man! How does Mrs McClure feel about her husband’s behavior?
The battle between Amazon and Walmart continues. Several years back, they had an online savings war. But now, there’s another war brewing. Amazon vs Walmart: The Cloud Wars.
So here is the deal. Walmart warns some tech companies not to run Amazon’s cloud service. Because if they do, Walmart will cut them off business wise. But Amazon leads the cloud computing market. In fact, they control nearly half of it. Furthermore, some of Walmart’s top suppliers and vendors use the Amazon cloud service. Furthermore, other companies follow suit. But Walmart is perhaps the most powerful corporation in the USA today.
One marketer says companies jump through hoops for Walmart. Then again, people jump through hoops for Amazon. However, this will open the door for more cloud services, like Microsoft. Believe it or not, Microsoft controls only 11% of cloud computing. One Microsoft spokesperson says companies are already leaving Amazon cloud for their services. But you know Amazon doesn’t like this one bit. An Amazon spokesperson calls Walmart’s move ‘bully tactics’. She also says this kind of business is bad for everyone: suppliers, retailers and customers. But the Amazon vs Walmart wars intensify.
So I wonder how much of this has to do with Amazon’s take over of Whole Foods. Let’s not forget. Walmart is big in the grocer business. Amazon wants a piece of it, if not the whole pie. I’m convinced that’s what drove Walmart’s move. I don’t like either Amazon or Walmart. I convict them both for bullying small businesses out of town and creating huge monopolies. But that Amazon spokesperson has a point. Is this move for the good of Walmart’s business? Or is this a political move to mess up Amazon? If it’s a political move, it’s a petty one that can mess a lot of businesses up. All because of the beefing between these two giants. The IT support industry should know better. All businesses should. Who will win the Amazon vs Walmart wars? Or will we all lose?
Okay, let me start off by saying I am very thankful for 21st century computer technology. Let most of you, I depend on it daily. But I read an article that made me think. Is computer technology killing the American Dream?
I say this because things aren’t what they used to be. Did you know that Millenialls are the first generation in US history to do worse than their parents? It’s not their fault. But it’s the world they were given. Also, though more are getting college degrees, they graduate with massive debt. And unlike years past, there is no guarantee they’re going to get a job. What does computer technology have to do with this, if anything?
Well, let’s look at robot technology. In the 21st century, the biggest threat to US jobs isn’t China, India or Mexico. But it’s the robot. I even hear employers say, “I’d rather deal with robots because they don’t make mistakes or give you attitude!” Even workers say that. That is scary. Then look at manufacturing. That was the 20th century. Now, we’re a service economy. We at Computer Geeks are a computer repair AND service company. I’m proud of that. However, that means a place that used to employ 200 people can get away with employing 20. Now, you have dozens, maybe scores, competing for the same jobs.
But there is globalization, and technology really contributed to that one. For example, how many smartphones are made in the USA? Exactly! However, I shouldn’t be too hard on computer technology. Because our industry is what’s keeping Americans working. In fact, technology is what’s keeping Americans from totally falling off the economic cliff. Can you imagine if the computer tech and IT service jobs went away? That’s scary, isn’t it? Nonetheless, with robot and VR technology, it concerns me the impact they could have on the American dream. So I ask you: Is computer technology killing the American dream?
