In the world of technology and specifically electronic devices, one thing is absolutely clear: there's no time to stop and smell the roses. Take, for instance, the case of the Palm Pre. Launched on June 6th, of this year, the Pre was supposed to be Palm's coming out party in the world of smartphones. It even won Best in Show at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Unfortunately, a few weeks after its debut, Apple came out with the iPhone 3GS and the poor Pre was abruptly forgotten. This is not an uncommon occurrence. A company will come out with a revolutionary device. The next week, a competitor comes out with an even more revolutionary device. And it goes on and on. In the end, the race between these competitors is marked by winners and losers. We at Exec Digital have taken the liberty of declaring the (current) champs and chumps of the Technology Race.
WINNERS
Apple iPhone
Make no mistake about it, people love the iPhone. A recent survey from consulting firm CFI Group says people prefer the Apple-based device more than any other smartphone on the market. With a multiple carrier model now in place in Europe, the iPhoneís international popularity is expected to grow even further.
Nintendo Wii
Despite a recent dropping off in sales, Nintendo is still the king of video game consoles. Aided by the immensely popular Wii and the handheld DS, Nintendo was named by BusinessWeek as the Worldís Best Company in 2009. The Wii has outsold its rivals in the Sony Playstation 3 and the Microsoft X-Box 360.
Research in Motion
It seems Research in Motion comes out with a new Blackberry every few months. The Curve is one of Blackberryís finest and most popular products as itís sold well in the US and UK. In fact, it actually outsold the iPhone during the first quarter of 2009 in the US.
Garmin
Garmin is a winner for its continual dominance in the GPS market. The companyís Nuvi brand is always a criticís favourite AND is the top selling GPS device in the US by far.
Amazon Kindle
The Kindle is the iPhone of e-readers. Amazon has put a lot of effort in the Kindle and it shows. The device is immensely popular and easily the number one e-reader in the US. A recent debut in the UK means the Kindle is growing on an international scale.
Twitter
If we could pick a winner for 2009, it'd be Twitter. Nowhere is the rapid rise of Social Media more apparent than the impressive ascension of Twitter. By recently raising $100 million in funds, Twitter is now estimated worth is $1 billion. (Around £620 million). Not too shabby for a company that was worth $250 million at the start of the year.
LOSERS
Sony
Sony is entrenched in third place behind Nintendo and Microsoft in the gaming console market. However, thatís not only the place where Sony has fallen behind. In the ever growing e-reader market, the Amazon Kindle has continuously outsold its main competitor the Sony eReader.
Palm Pre
Palm Pre is a great smartphone, just as capable as the iPhone 3GS. Yet, with the rapidly declining Sprint as its carrier in the US, the Pre didn't reach the one million sold mark in its first three months of existence. It just debuted in the UK and itís unknown how it'll do there.
AOL
Ten years is an eternity in the world of technology. For proof, see AOL. When it merged with Time Warner in 2000, it was valued at $161 billion. Today, with Time Warner spinning it off, JP Morgan and Pali estimates the once-proud giant is worth a mere $4 billion.
Zune HD
On the topic of Microsoft, the Zune HD is another loser in the tech race. Itís a clear number two in the mp3 department behind the iPod Touch. However, with a promising holiday season ahead, that could all change.
Vodafone and O2
The British operators were left in the dust when Amazon launched the Kindle on the 19th of this month. Instead of working with the British based companies, Amazon continued its work with AT&T in the international expansion because the US company has the reach for Amazon's global initiative.
AT&T
AT&T has been both a winner and a loser recently. The exclusive deals with the Kindle and the iPhone are huge. However, the people have spoken are not fans of the carrier. Users may love the iPhone, but AT&T isnít as revered. In the same CFI survey, AT&T scored the lowest of the four major US carriers.
WINNERS
Apple iPhone
Make no mistake about it, people love the iPhone. A recent survey from consulting firm CFI Group says people prefer the Apple-based device more than any other smartphone on the market. With a multiple carrier model now in place in Europe, the iPhoneís international popularity is expected to grow even further.
Nintendo Wii
Despite a recent dropping off in sales, Nintendo is still the king of video game consoles. Aided by the immensely popular Wii and the handheld DS, Nintendo was named by BusinessWeek as the Worldís Best Company in 2009. The Wii has outsold its rivals in the Sony Playstation 3 and the Microsoft X-Box 360.
Research in Motion
It seems Research in Motion comes out with a new Blackberry every few months. The Curve is one of Blackberryís finest and most popular products as itís sold well in the US and UK. In fact, it actually outsold the iPhone during the first quarter of 2009 in the US.
Garmin
Garmin is a winner for its continual dominance in the GPS market. The companyís Nuvi brand is always a criticís favourite AND is the top selling GPS device in the US by far.
Amazon Kindle
The Kindle is the iPhone of e-readers. Amazon has put a lot of effort in the Kindle and it shows. The device is immensely popular and easily the number one e-reader in the US. A recent debut in the UK means the Kindle is growing on an international scale.
If we could pick a winner for 2009, it'd be Twitter. Nowhere is the rapid rise of Social Media more apparent than the impressive ascension of Twitter. By recently raising $100 million in funds, Twitter is now estimated worth is $1 billion. (Around £620 million). Not too shabby for a company that was worth $250 million at the start of the year.
LOSERS
Sony
Sony is entrenched in third place behind Nintendo and Microsoft in the gaming console market. However, thatís not only the place where Sony has fallen behind. In the ever growing e-reader market, the Amazon Kindle has continuously outsold its main competitor the Sony eReader.
Palm Pre
Palm Pre is a great smartphone, just as capable as the iPhone 3GS. Yet, with the rapidly declining Sprint as its carrier in the US, the Pre didn't reach the one million sold mark in its first three months of existence. It just debuted in the UK and itís unknown how it'll do there.
AOL
Ten years is an eternity in the world of technology. For proof, see AOL. When it merged with Time Warner in 2000, it was valued at $161 billion. Today, with Time Warner spinning it off, JP Morgan and Pali estimates the once-proud giant is worth a mere $4 billion.
Zune HD
On the topic of Microsoft, the Zune HD is another loser in the tech race. Itís a clear number two in the mp3 department behind the iPod Touch. However, with a promising holiday season ahead, that could all change.
Vodafone and O2
The British operators were left in the dust when Amazon launched the Kindle on the 19th of this month. Instead of working with the British based companies, Amazon continued its work with AT&T in the international expansion because the US company has the reach for Amazon's global initiative.
AT&T
AT&T has been both a winner and a loser recently. The exclusive deals with the Kindle and the iPhone are huge. However, the people have spoken are not fans of the carrier. Users may love the iPhone, but AT&T isnít as revered. In the same CFI survey, AT&T scored the lowest of the four major US carriers.