Here’s the latest news from Microsoft by Dan Smith. He said that the e-commerce revolution has changed the way discounting is applied to brands.

Director of fashion e-tailer theOutnet.com Stephanie Phair claimed that discounting is something that “used to happen in friends and family sales, sample sales or in bricks and mortar outlets 25 miles away from the flagship”.

She claimed that brands used to maintain their image within the confines of their retail state and discounting was “something very separate”, but the internet has changed this situation as it “demands transparency”.

“At the same time if you look at the consumer, thanks to the internet and shopping online, the consumers have changed the way [they shop],” Ms Phair said.

Referring to the fashion industry in particular, she suggested that trends have also altered, making discounted clothing more acceptable.

“Suddenly, vintage was the way to shop and eBay became a treasure trove for vintage. There was an evolution there and previous season became acceptable and cool,” she added.

According to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, Britons spent £4.2 billion online in October 2009.

However, statistics show that market growth dipped significantly during the recent postal strikes.

Normally, 6th graders are kids who usually begged to their parents to buy them the latest game console for a simple reason that their classmate got one. For them life having that cool soccer shoes or that fancy colorful bracelet with their initials in it is the best time ever.

Who could have ever imagine that a certain 6th grader envisioned to make his own video games to play with. “A lot of kids these days like to play games, but now they want to make them,” says Thomas Suarez, a 6th grader at a middle school in LA. Suarez at this time already have his own company named CarrotCorp. He’s the mind behind Earth Fortune, an app which will show different colors of the Earth depending on your fortune; and Bustin Jieber, a “whack-a-mole” game for Justin Bieber.

That basically answers the title of this post and that’s not all because Suarez has a long way to go. He started an App Club in school which allows students to learn how to design apps. He said that he will be making more apps in the future and is planning to learn Android programming and development.

Suarez inspired a lot people when he had his TED Talk from the recent TEDx conference in Manhattan Beach. Get to hear his speech with the video shown below.

Late last night I received a message from my friend asking me to check the internet for the recent BlackBerry outage. He has been freaking out of not receiving any BBM (BlackBerry Message) from his girlfriend in the Middle East for the past 8 hours. According to him, this is obviously not possible as they used to exchange messages in minutes interval before it happened.

When I Googled it, I found out that there has been a massive number of complaints of service problems from BlackBerry users in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. It includes messaging and browsing delays. RIM admitted the problem and they blamed it on a core switch failure and said that it is “working to restore normal service as quickly as possible.”

This recent problem has been causing headache to RIM, the Canada based company which created the amazing phone. Before it happened, the company has been hurdling over its lost share with Apple and Google. They used to lead the smartphone industry and now they placed third in terms of operating system. They also participated in the recent tablet PC hype but their Playbook wasn’t able to keep up.

I’ve been a BlackBerry user and so far the phone served me well. It satisfies all my tech needs from instant messaging, social networking, email processing and even booking my favorite concerts via Lava Tickets has been very easy. I recently booked an Enrique Iglesias Euphoria Tour event for a friend using my phone. Whenever my friends ask me to switch phones I would definitely not listen to them. Carrying a a BlackBerry phone gives you a certain pride that only a blackberry user could ever feel. Lucky that I wasn’t able to experience the recent outage as it would really affect my satisfaction rating to them. I’m pretty sure that they can solve all these things in time.

I used to have a printed copy of the famous “Think Different” ad framed on my wall. It hung right above my work desk in my room. It was actually written by a couple of writers from an ad agency, but the vision was all Steve’s.

I honestly have never been tempted by Apple’s sleekly designed products, which were born in Steve’s cranium, but I genuinely believed in the revolution that was underneath all that shiny skin. I wasn’t interested in the coolness factor of his products, but in the potential that they held.

photo courtesy of Szilveszter Farkas

Ideas are like pathogens—such as viruses and bacteria—because it can spread rapidly from one person to the next. Ideas are highly contagious. We have seen its worst example in Nazi Germany during WWII, and we have seen its best during the 2000s when Steve Jobs, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Steve Chen and Mark Zuckerberg formed a (super-cool) geek coalition that marched triumphantly towards the future and heralded a new era and, in the process, transformed the way we worked, the way we were entertained, the way we lived, but most importantly the way we think. They made it cool to be smart again. My other favorite ad slogan is IBM’s “let’s build a smarter planet” mantra. But the difference between IBM’s rhetoric and Apple’s is that Apple put their philosophy into action with gusto.

Ideas such as democracy, liberty and human rights seem so simple to us who live in nations that aren’t ruled by a dictatorship. It feels so natural, so right, yet these are dangerous ideas in many parts of the world. In a globe that is bound together in an electrical grid, how fast can these ideas travel? As fast as a revolution at the click of a button—which is to say: instantly.

When Steve Jobs resurrected Macintosh from its ashes with a new face and attitude, he knew what kind of world he wanted to live in, and he wanted to share that piece of neo terra with the rest of us. He understood connectivity and he understood that the Internet is the new Silk Road. But what will lubricate the flow of information and ideas? I’m sure he spent many nights pondering that question. After months of think tanking, he came out with the iMac G3. After that, he became bolder and—well, you know the rest of the story.

Whether you’re a fan of the products he designed or not, you have to give the icon his credit as one of the most brilliant visionaries of our time. So what exactly is his legacy? Revolutions in the Middle East and the now-nationwide Wall Street protests mobilized by iPhones, iPads and Mac Books; affordable tablets, which Apple had perfected, are now about to be available for poor students in India; and millions of filmmakers and multimedia journalists who thank Mr. Jobs for giving them the software to turn their vision into reality.

Steve Jobs’s legacy is not a black turtleneck, a partially-bitten apple, nor the hip and sexy aesthetics of his products; His contribution to the world is that he pushed the first domino that went on to topple more dominoes until it revealed the big picture that illuminated our post-9/11 world and inspired people—-rich, poor, Harvard-educated, or high school dropouts—to not only think beyond the walls of social and personal constraints, but to create what we envision, because it was possible if we had the right tools.

Steve Jobs gave you the spark and he gave you the tools. Now, go out there and use them for good.

Techy Savvies are but in mourn at this very moment as the person behind one of the most successful inventions in the world of technology now rests in peace. Steve Jobs, Apple Inc’s co-founder who has been struggling against pancreatic cancer finally gave up the fight against it and has let go of the world.

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me.… Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful—that’s what matters to me. -Steve Jobs

Jobs spent his entire life creating wonderful things for everyone to enjoy. Apple wouldn’t be Apple if not because of him and losing him would really make a big difference. “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built and this spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple,” said the company in a statement.

In the past few months, Jobs seemed to have known that his life couldn’t hold on that long. He filed an indefinite leave last January and gave up his role as CEO last August 24 of this year because he knew that he isn’t capable of the job anymore. A man who truly knows his limits and because of what he did, there has been a smooth transition of office in the company that he truly loves.

His family released a statement saying, “Steve died peacefully surrounded by his family. We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. “We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief”

To Steve Jobs, Your great work would always be remembered. Thank you for everything.

Dispatches from the ‘webosphere’. How unique online communities are blooming in the age of global inter-connectivity.

A member describes her typical day: wake up; brush her teeth; yell at one of her eight cats for urinating on the couch; read three chapters from an Orson Scott Card novel; eat a bowl of salad; then spend nine hours silently cruising through forums and blogs on the Internet. She says she has no use, nor interest, for social networking sites.

Another member comments that his day is almost exactly the same, except his three perpetually-defecating parakeets in substitution for the cats, and that he only keeps a Facebook account to assure his family back in Oregon that he’s still alive.

New York City, 2008. Photo by Michael Mira.

They are members of an online community where self-professed loners congregate and connect. In an age where overpopulation is a pressing issue, it would seem difficult to isolate yourself, limit the amount of your social interactions, yet the rise of the global population can actually play a role in motivating some people to withdraw themselves from society. Cities are becoming more dense. More people means more cars, more trash, and more voices spewing opinions (including my own) in different languages and accents. Mixed with the advertisements and media vying for your attention, all of this stimuli can be very overwhelming for individuals who are sensitive introverts.

Of course, this is just one of many reasons for being a loner. There are two types of loners: those who are loners by choice and those who are pariahs, or forced by society to live a solitary existence. Individuals who prefer to be loners have a variety of reasons for choosing to be lonesome. It ranges from misanthropy (those who are repelled by humanity) to those who simply enjoy being alone. A classic example of those who withdraw from the greater society is the religious hermit, shunning worldly pleasures to devote one’s self to a life of spiritual pursuits. On the other hand, there are those who are forced to step out of the radar, such as former dictators who become outcasts, not only in the country that gave them the boot, but in most of the world. I heard it’s tough being a dictator these days. Just ask Qaddafi.

What I find interesting about these ‘loner clubs’ is that the members have a strong sense of community. When a member is depressed, others are quick to offer kind words and advice. Though they may be physically alone, huddled together on the Internet they form a kind of synthetic, virtual family. They are able to distance their actual selves from others by using screen names and avatars as proxies—Internet representatives. This allows for lower inhibition. Outside the Net, these shy-types might not make great conversationalists, but when around like-minded people on forums they are articulate, witty and show emotional depth.

The years between 2008 to 2011 have been a sort of renaissance period in the dark corners of the web. I have tallied at least 58 new websites catering to sub-cultures that might not be able to find a platform in more mainstream blogging or social networking sites. This recent crop of new web addresses range from the typical UFO enthusiast forum to the more personal ‘anorexia anonymous’ storyboard, complete with tragic confessionals that would make the most dedicated 90′s Grunge enthusiast seem like a member of the Mickey Mouse Club.

But it was the loner clubs that had attracted me, because I was a bit of a loner myself during my senior year of high school in the Philippines. I could somewhat relate with some of the members on the website, especially the military brats and the kids of expats who had a hard time fitting in with their environment due to living in a foreign country.

Most of the members on the website are self-professed voluntary loners, and when I asked one of the members what attracted her to these type of websites, she said, “Even though we’re confined in our dark, cramp little rooms, and even though we’re all alone–at least here we’re alone together.”

Despite a variety of consoles out in the market, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has been the top-selling gaming console in the United States for 14 of the past 15 months, according to Microsoft’s official blog. It trumped two other popular gaming consoles—Nintendo Wii and Sony’s PlayStation 3—to maintain its spot at the top. NPD Group, a New York-based independent market research firm, states that Xbox 360 has sold 308,000 units in August alone, making it the best-selling console in 2011 thus far.

Microsoft’s recent partnerships with Disney and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) seem to indicate a bright future for the company, saying that a line-up of new titles are slated to be released during the upcoming holiday season. The much-anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which has a huge number of devoted fans, is expected to hit stores on November 8th.

Two of the world’s largest smartphone and Tablet PC distributors, Apple Inc. and Samsung have been filing cases against each other regarding patent issues. Each claims that they invented this technology first or the other one is just copying this and that. Lawsuits anywhere in the globe have been filed halting each other’s marketing. No one really knows when will this end.

At least in Europe, Apple emerged victorious when they won an injunction in a Dutch court to stop Samsung Electronics from marketing three smartphone models in some European countries after alleging a breach of patents. That’s in Europe though, and doesn’t cover all countries in Europe for the record. Of course Samsung will not accept defeat that easy though and a counter charge is then expected. That’s not all, these lawsuits has been filed in Asia, USA and other places, almost covering the entire world. All these for the top spot that everyone has been longing.

On other side of the issue, what will these things bring to mankind? After all, they are the end users of their products. If they keep on pulling each other down, who then be providing gadgets to everyone? How can there be room for innovations and new discoveries if they keep themselves busy proving that their the best? I hope leading manufacturers would be able to think about it.

Apple will have a new face in their succeeding announcements of their new products. We used to see up stage their CEO Steve Jobs but he already tendered his resignation officially Wednesday. Jobs has been in a battle against cancer and has been on an indefinite leave since January. Though it was not mentioned in his letter, it is has been the clear cause.

“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come,” he said in the letter.

Jobs co-founded Apple Inc. way back 1976 but was ousted in 1985. He returned to the company in 1996 and from that point forward, he lead the entire company into stardom. He’s the man behind the success of Macintosh computer line, iPod music players and iPhone smartphones. His contribution to the company is truly exceptional. He will be replaced by no other than the person who looked over his job during his absence, Tim Cook.

No one knows yet what would Apple be look like in the next few years. It would all depends on the management of Cook and the rest of the team. Jobs will remain as chairman of the board though.

Here is the full text of Jobs’ letter to the board:

August 24, 2011 – To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

In the never-ending quest to find and create more energy to supply the ever increasing demands for sustainable and renewable power, more and more companies are tapping into the unlimited resources of the sun.

There is just no possible way to drain its clean, free and readily available supply of light and heat regardless of how many solar panels collect it.

And so, adding to the growing solar projects being pursued is an Australian company with plans to build its solar tower in Arizona. And it is massive.

At 2,600 feet, it will prove to be the biggest solar energy collector to date once built. To stand just below the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, this structure will make it as the second tallest building the world and twice as tall as the Empire Stage building.

According to company officials of EnviroMission, the project owner, not only will it harness solar power but it will do so with no manpower and very little maintenance for 80 years. It is also projected to generate 200 megawatts of power; enough to provide for 150,000 homes.