A Tale of Two Markets: Comparison for Good or for Evil

Of the initial 29 California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) self-driving car permits, Google’s 25 test permits out-distanced Audi and Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz that obtained two permits each. (Clark). Google’s concept car’s business objective exponentially more value than the auto companies’ was the “rolling data collection” factor: Registered vehicles have no identity protection allowing a constant occupant behavioral data collection and an impulse-driven broadcast potential that would rival the heady days of in-store Kmart Shopper Blue Light Special experiences. Target ranges for real-world application of self-driving cars range from 3 to 5 years to never, given the vast numbers of unmapped roadways and weather complexities that include Polar Vortex winter storms and resultant roadway potholes. Fleets of self-driving Herbie the Love Bugs are one thing Google, not likely to be encountered on the roadway, anytime soon.

Does IBM CoreMetrics Challenge Google Analytics In E-Commerce Analytics?

Although Google recently announced 2014 profits of $14.4 billion, an increase of 19% over the previous year, industry experts continue backroom discussion about whether the corporation will continue its tech dominance as digital advertising platforms Facebook, Pinterest and Snapchat score big ad revenue gains through emotion-immersive brand advertising. Arguing Google has peaked, critics like Ben Thompson see Google following in Microsoft’s footsteps, “…when a company becomes dominant, its dominance precludes it from dominating the next thing. It’s almost like a natural law of business.” (Manjoo).

What New Balance Tells Us About Social Media Circa 2015

“For us, it’s less about selling to our communities and more about distributing compelling content that shows you how New Balance is playing a role in peoples’ lives and the culture we are trying to build. Through content, New Balance is accessible. We have a personality, we stand for things and we have a culture.”

−Patrick Cassidy, head of Global Digital Brand Marketing