BACK FROM BERLIN with a nasty cough and a raspy voice, I'm making a short [28 MB 3GP file] video about technology items found in today's Irish Sunday papers--then I saw Sean O'Grady viewing my videostream on his newly-christened 22" monitor. I know I'm part of a dying breed of consumers who prefer to hold a standard newspaper on Sunday. I've developed the habit while growing up in a household where getting the Sunday New York Times was a luxury. I think the Sunday Times magazines published in England and in the NYC area are wonderful in their photographic coverage. Today's British edition continues the tradition with "Spectrum" showcasing pictures from the front line of life. [1] Andrew Sullivan continues the thought of the declining newspaper industry in his Sunday Times column. [2] Between March and September the 500 biggest newspapers in America reported an average circulation decline of 4.6%. That's close to a 10% decline per year. Nearly every Irish paper serves up a perspective on the recession. The current Irish government is borrowing €1 for every €10 spent in the next two years. I think two things are missing: (1) Real sacrifice from the Irish public sector and (2) a viable public relations programme by Ireland Inc to restore confidence, credibility and sustainability in national policy. [3]
Declining Fortunes. Many analysts are pointing to major shifts under global financial markets. [4] Higher credit costs, declining advertising revenues and the need to focus on strategic development is pummeling Formula 1 racing. In fact, the motorsport industry will relocate where the investment is. [5] Traditional CD sales are seeing yet another decline [6] while cyberspace sales [7] and savvy investments [11] are holding the line.
Future Auto Manufacturing. Will Hutton writes, "The car was the symbol of the pre-war 20th century." Things have changed dramatically. He says Detroit is out of touch with the needs of 21st century personal transport by assuming cheap petrol is a never-ending American right. "Car companies need to rethink their mission from scratch, for their own sake and the world's." [8]
More Mobile Phone Spectrum. The powerful UHF network that carries national TV in the UK will now be available for phone and data use and that clean spectrum could transform daily life, says James Robinson. An Android handset, capable of using the new spectrum as well as using legacy frequencies, would take location-based services to a whole new level. [9]
Blogging and Business. Adrian Weckler hits it: "For a while, we thought blogs might be the next big thing for businesses. We were wrong: for the majority who tried it, they only generated a couple of hundred eyeballs and a few spots higher up Google's ranking list." Weckler likes Facebook and points to the value Bebo can provide a company in the Irish market. [10]
1. "Illustrated Man" in the opening key frame sequence of today's Qik video comes from Steve Bloom's book Living Africa ISBN-13: 978-0500514276.
2. Andrew Sullivan -- "Read all about it: newspapers are done for" in the News Review section of The Sunday Times, 7 December 2008.
3. Cliff Taylor -- "Confidence must be restored" in the Sunday Business Post, 7 December 2008.
4. William Keegan -- "I don't want to alarm you, but I think it's time to use the D word" in the Sunday Observer, 7 December 2008.
5. Tim Webb -- "Is Formula One on the skids?" in the business section of the Sunday Observer, 7 December 2008.
6. Caroline Davies -- "High street woes signal the final demise of the CD" in the Sunday Observer, 7 December 2008.
7. Zoe Wood -- "A big day online as shoppers go into cyberspace for bargains" in the Sunday Observer, 7 December 2008.
8. Will Hutton -- "Detroit has run out of road" in the Sunday Observer, 7 December 2008.
9. James Robinson -- "It's the great analogue sale as airwaves go on the block" in the Media section of the Sunday Observer, 7 December 2008.
10. Bryan Collins - "New Way to Hit Target" in the cover story of Computers in Business in the Sunday Business Post, 7 December 2008.
11. Elaine O'Regan -- "VoiceSage sends a profitable message" in the DoneDeal section of the Sunday Business Post, 7 December 2008.
