May is the month when many celebrities and public figures speak at college graduations throughout the US. This year, one tech leader’s speech should teach us all a thing or two.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg gave the commencement address to the University of California-Berkeley’s class of 2016. Sandberg got their attention immediately when she started with this statement: “I’m not gonna tell you what I learned in life. Today, I’m gonna try to tell you what I learned in death.” Here, she referred to the sudden death of her husband, David Goldberg, back in May 2015. She used her time of mourning to encourage the new graduates to persevere in the face of hardship, challenges, and especially tragedy. She shared the hard lessons she learned on overcoming difficult times. Sandberg reflected on the gratitude she found for family and friends. She reflected on the little things, like the laughter of her children. She urged the graduates to be grateful on any day and in any situation, good days and bad. She told them to never take life for granted, or take their loved ones for granted. Sandberg recalls asking herself the question, “What would she do if she had 11 days left to live?” She reminded the crowd that every day is precious and urged them to be there for their loved ones, not just through technology.
From what I’ve read, Sheryl Sandberg’s commencement address is one of the best graduation speeches ever. So many others give you advice about jobs, careers, and such things. Sandberg’s gives you advice about two things we will all face: living and dying. As techies, it’s easy for us to post a message or texts to our loved ones and think we’re doing something. I’d like to challenge us to write a hand written letter, make a phone call, or even pay a visit. In this fast pace world of technology, let’s slow down and appreciate the little things. When I look at the world situation, I don’t see it getting any better. Sandberg is right; we need to appreciate every day we get. What did you think of this commencement speech?
Amazon’s stock went up $23 a share two days ago. Some may ask, “Why is this news?” It’s big news for Amazon’s founder and CEO.
This increase in stock made Jeff Bezos the fourth richest person in the world today, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire List. If you want to invest in Amazon, you better be ready to empty your bank account. As of this writing, Amazon stock is approximately $712 per share. As of this week, his net work is over $61 billion. That’s not far from Warren Buffet, who is the second richest person in the world with almost $68 billion to his name. What’s even more astonishing than that is how much Bezos accumulates in a short time. The day he became the fourth richest person in the world, he made over $2 billion. That’s just in one day! And two billions is pocket change compared to the $6 billion he made in one day when Amazon reported spectacular Q1 2016 earnings. That was just two weeks earlier. Some experts say Bezos can surpass Buffet at this rate within months.
Maybe it’s because Bezos is having the best 2015-2016 ever, so far. In a year, Amazon stock has more than doubled. His company Blue Origin launched and landed their first rocket. Of course, Amazon has had their fair share of setbacks. Remember when Walmart left them in the dust last summer in that sales race? But what matters is they bounced back and are better than ever. Perhaps what’s fueling Bezos’ billionaire year is his social media feuds with other tech giants like Elon Musk. Musk is also serious about space pioneering. I only expect Jeff Bezos to have a better second half of 2016 because so many people are interested in space technology. Some are even paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to go there. By the end of 2016, could Bezos be the 3rd richest man of Earth, or even higher?
Apple and China have what I call a strange relationship. Some Apple‘s services are being censored by the government. Yet, Apple gives China many jobs, like iPhone factories. A Yahoo blogger visited and reported on many such a factory.
The report and the pictures are pretty alarming. The pictures were taken at a secretive iPhone factory that has around 50,000 workers. The factory is in Shanghai and the factory is the size of 90 football fields. This facility creates Apple products that are shipped and sold around the world. Their rigorous routine starts even before checking in. Forget punching a clock or answering a roll call: These employees enter the facility using facial recognition checks. Then after they walk through the doors, their IDs are scanned by an iPad. Metal detectors and other spy equipment are used to spy and catch anyone trying to spill potential secrets of the plant. Every worker is subjected to a uniform that consists of blue hats, pink jackets and black pants. They stand at attention like they’re in the military. A supervisor checks their name off a list. Employees head to their production line in single file. When this blogger was admitted inside to take pictures, it was the first time a Western journalist was allowed in the facility.
I don’t know how long their hours are, or how low their pay is, but I’m guessing this iPhone factory gig isn’t a dream job. ?There have been accusations of abuse and exploitation, though nothing can be proven. But of course the Chinese gov’t run media isn’t going to report on anything like this. If this is such a happy factory, then why do they have safety nets to prevent suicide attempts? According to statistics, only 30% of Americans like their job. Learning about this, I’ve developed a new appreciation for mine. I don’t have to endure facial recognition tests, metal detectors and background checks day after day. Don’t you appreciate your job more? Does it make you think where your iPhone came from?
China is known as the fastest growing economy in the world. It’s also a communist nation. Sure, they give you some freedoms. But if you get too powerful, Beijing will put a stop to it, especially if you’re an international company. Just ask Apple.
Six months ago, Apple debuted services iBooks Store and iTunes Movies in China. One day, they were abruptly shut down. Before Apple could even release these services to the Chinese population, they had to get the State’s permission. They got it. But one day, Chinese State Authority figures ordered iBooks Store and iTunes Movies shut down. This is baffling because Apple has had relative success bringing new services to China. Apple Pay is a huge hit over there. But the success is also their downfall. Apple’s products and services are so successful that the Chinese government is resisting and restricting Apple. Some say the State is doing this to slow the tide of American companies down and give Chinese based companies like Alibaba and Tencent a boost. Some say it’s social and cultural. Chinese President Xi Jinping is cracking down on Western ideology altogether. President Xi said Chinese cyberspace must be…ahem…’improved to create a positive culture that is a force of good.’ What did he mean by that?
There’s an elephant in the room: the Chinese economy. This year hasn’t been kind to the world’s second largest economy. They’re slipping and want every piece of money towards Chinese based businesses. Is that part of the reason China is cracking down on international business? I find that funny. Here was a nation that got rich off of taking our jobs and wealth (that the US government and US major corporations let slip by). But now other companies are taking Chinese business, China is sweating. Is that why they’re clamping down on Apple? What will Apple’s next move be?
Since the mid 2000s, the Xbox has revolutionized the way we play video games. Now, a part of the Xbox era is ending…sort of.
Yesterday, April 20, Microsoft announced it stopped manufacturing Xbox 360 consoles. Xbox leader Phil Spencer said “…the realities of manufacturing a product over a decade old are starting to creep up on us.” But the Xbox isn’t dead yet, and don’t you dare throw your Xbox away. Spencer assured Xbox consoles in inventory will continue to be on sale until the very last one is gone. XBox 360 will still be on sale for $199 (why don’t they just make it an even $200?! It will be past that after taxes anyway). Xbox 360 made it’s American debut in November 22, 2005. It will turn 11 years old this November. Xbox 360 will continue to be supported through live services, online gaming, deals with Xbox Live Gold, and hardware support. However, some have shut their Xbox services. Sports network ESPN shut down it’s console app. That’s still no reason to throw your Xbox away. Obviously, just because you stop making Xbox 360, doesn’t mean you stop playing it all together. Xbox 360 will be with us for years to come.
Think about how long of a life span Xbox has had as the #1 video game console system. Xbox 360 is about to be 11 years old. To but that in perspective…Atari 2600 came out in 1981. How many of you were playing Atari 2600 in 1992? The original Nintendo came out in 1985. How many of you played original Nintendo in 1996? And Super Nintendo and Game Boy don’t count. The first Sega Genesis came out in 1989. How many of us played still played that in 2000? I’m sure very few of us played the same console for 11 years. This alone gives the living testimony of Xbox 360. What is your favorite Xbox moment? What is your favorite Xbox all-time game?
How long has it been seen you heard about a tech company going public on the NYSE? If it feels like it’s been a while, then you’re right.
No tech companies have gone public so far in 2016. The last time something like this happened was in 2009. In 2009, they went through the first several months with no tech company going public. The same thing is happening in 2016. But 2009, the US was in the middle of the Great Recession. Just two years ago, in Q2 2014, tech companies’ public dealings made 8.5 billion dollars. The next quarter, that number rose to 25 billion. But the boom was short lived. Beginning in 2015, startup companies got weary of IPO’s (Initial Public Offerings). Startup funding fell, and fell plenty. Venture capitalist went from being generous to struggling to keep out of the red. We’ve all heard, and I’ve reported it some, about how the Silicon Valley party is just about over. People are being laid off. Benefits and perks are being cancelled. Some businesses are forced to restructure their companies, and some are considering being bought out. I’ve looked at charts and I can see why Silicon Valley is on edge. The number of Internet IPOs, and the deals they’re worth. The numbers today are almost non-existent.
What does this say about the tech industry’s economy? What does this say about the US economy all together? I heard presidential candidate Donald Trump predicted another recession was coming soon. I don’t know if he means it or if he’s using scare tactics to get votes. Remember when tech companies went on the market and went up like crazy? Even Facebook, who had a slow start on the market, but even they made a profit. Now, Uber is virtually the only tech company who is doing well on the public market stage. Is this an omen of where the US, and global economies are headed?
