Launching India Business Network

Welcome to the Launch of India Business Network : Business + Networking with Indian Professionals worldwide.

The mission of India Business Network is to provide an engaging and dynamic online place for business and social networking with Indian Professionals worldwide.

India Business Network Website:

http://indiabusinessnetwork.in

Business Networking Website:

http://indiabusinessnetwork.ning.com/

Try out the exciting social media features such as collaboration through Groups and Forums, networking through Events, communication through Blogs, Video and Notes, and even some fun through Photos, Music, RSS and more.

Create your business profile, invite your friends and business contacts, and build your own professional presence at India Business Network. Comment on each other's wall, write notes and express your opinion, and make your point across through the discussion forums.

Upload your business video, introduce your presentation, experience music, share ideas and explore new opportunities with fellow members and businesses.

Invite your friends, colleagues and business contacts to join the India Business Network.

Already over 1,150 executives and members from various professions and corporations have joined the India Business Network since our launch a few weeks back. Join the India Business Network today, and communicate with these professionals, network, and do business.

India Business Network - Your online social network for doing business with Indian Professionals worldwide. Everyone invited to Join.

Apple introduces new MacBook Pros

"High performance now comes in three sizes: 13-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch."

Key innovations, performance and competitive price:
1. Unibody Aluminium construction with precise details makes it a modern classic
2. Breakthrough long-lasting battery with 7 hours of running time on single charge
3. NVIDIA graphics display card powering LED-backlit display for awesome imagery
4. Green, environment-friendly notebooks built with recyclable materials and energy savings
5. Price, Price, Price... reduced to $1,199 for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, a step closer to the $999 price which Apple will introduce later in 2009.

Mac Engineers also designed a "clickless" "button-less" mouse pad or the track pad.

"The first thing you might notice — or not notice — is the button. The entire trackpad is the button, so you can click anywhere. Without a separate button, the spacious trackpad gives your hands plenty of room to move on the large, silky glass surface. Use two fingers to scroll up and down a page. Pinch to zoom in and out. Rotate an image with your fingertips. Swipe with three fingers to flip through your photo libraries. Swipe with four fingers to show your desktop, view all open windows, or switch applications. If you’re coming from a right-click world, you can right-click with two fingers or configure a right-click area on the trackpad."

Need we say more...

Apple launches iPhone 3G S - Speediest, Smartest, Sexiest Smartphone

Apple introduced the latest iPhone 3G S - S for Speed (upto two times faster), S for Shoot (with the video camera and 3.0 megapixel Still camera), S for Smart (with features such as Voice Control for making calls and music, Internet tethering and voice memos), S for Spotlight Search (search across the entire iPhone, contacts, email, calendars, notes and iPod), S for Slim (slimmer than previous iPhone), S for the two "s"es in Compass (a very cool digital compass), S for the "scape" in LandScape mode (a boon for those typing lots of messagaes, mail, notes and Safari, and who are endowed with large fingers), S for Send and SMS (as in send multimedia rich messages with video, audio, pictures, contact information and even forward them), S for Space (even more, twice the diskspace of iPhone 3G), S for Stocks (as in better stock charts and features) and finally, S for Sexy - the sexiest iPhone to date, now available in White as well as Black! iPhone 3G S is The smartphone you have been waiting for... available for only $199 for the 16 GB version.

Bottomline:

The innovations in iPhone 3G S are downright absurd, and will help expand Apple's marketshare further in the growing smartphone market segment. iPhone has been a category killer with innovative features and iPhone apps store, and now with a starting price of only $99 for the base iPhone, Apple will penetrate the market even deeper and faster. Finally, there is an iPhone for every budget. The question is whether Apple can keep up the margins with such competitive pricing. If the economy rebounds in late 2009, Apple iPhone will have a huge last quarter - traditionally the best quarter in Apple's financial performance. iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S will stall the new Palm Pre and Nokia's N97. Can it also stall Blackberry? The only thing missing from today's announcement was the absence of Steve Jobs.

Selected references:
Leading eBook on Creativity and Innovation in Business
Creativity and Innovation Best Practices
Creativity and Innovation Case Studies
The Innovation Index
Top 50 innovative companies in the world

Steve Jobs launches new iPhone at Apple Developers Conference?

"The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) provides developers and IT professionals with in-depth technical information and hands-on learning about the powerful technologies in iPhone OS and Mac OS X from the Apple engineers who created them"

Is Apple announcing the all new iPhone at the sold out conference with over 1,000 Apple engineers and over 5,000 Apple hardcore developers and aficionados? What will this new iPhone have: full motion video, video recording and editing, faster iPhone, slimmer body, business apps and more...

Is Steve Jobs making the announcement of the new iPhone in a cameo?

Who will win the top awards and bragging rights for the best iPhone application and Mac OS X applications?

After all the stakes are high... "Winners will receive two 15-inch MacBook Pros (best configuration), two 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays, two 16GB iPhone 3Gs, two 16GB iPod touch, an ADC 2009 Premier Membership, and reimbursement of their WWDC 2009 E-ticket."

All eyes will be on Apple as it kicks off the Apple Developer's Conference on June 8, 2009. If Steve Jobs makes an entrance, watch out! There will be a frenzy...

Apple Innovation eBook - Reserve your copy today

Sanjay Dalal, Chief Innovator of InnovationMain.com, and author of Faculty eBook on Creativity and Innovation in Business is launching a new book on innovations at Apple, Inc., the world's most innovative company.

If you have asked these questions, the eBook will try to answer them: "How does Apple innovate?", "How does Steve Jobs come up with ideas?", "What is Apple's innovation process?", "What are Apple's plans for 2010 and beyond?", "What makes Apple cool?", "Why Apple inspires us?", "What made Apple the #1 innovative company?", "Can Apple overtake Microsoft?", "What will Apple do with $25 billion in cash?", "What products will Apple create in 2009 and beyond?", "Who are Apple's innovators and leaders?" and the question that we dare not ask: "What might be Apple's succession plan?"

Apple Innovation eBook will be a must read for professionals, Apple fans, faculty professors and media all around the world. Reserve your copy today by filling out the form below.

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About Sanjay Dalal

Sanjay Dalal is an innovator, investor and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal is the author of the Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Innovation, and has published over 200 articles in the last year and a half on the real-time state of innovation in business at his blog Creativity and Innovation Driving Business. Dalal introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006. Dalal was the president and managing director of the innovative investment company, Innovation Index Group, that systematically invests into the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index. Dalal has launched innovative products to market and grown businesses to the tune of $70 million plus a year. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science. Dalal secured the first position in the 50th William Lowell Putnam Math Competition. Dalal volunteers as a basketball coach for Irvine NJB - 7th graders, as an art master for 2nd graders, and as the secretary in the School Site Council. Dalal, a philanthropist, is an appointed member of the Dean's Leadership Circle of The Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine and Web 2.0 adviser for Cal State Fullerton.

About InnovationMain.com

The mission of InnovationMain.com is to provide uncommon insights, strategy and solutions with proven processes that drive Creativity and Innovation at your business, create real market growth and success for your products and services, and achieve market leadership. We make innovation a sustainable competitive advantage, help build an innovation factory, effect and manage change and grow your business. We have considerable experience and expertise in working with small, growing and established companies, various departments and distributed teams.

InnovationMain.com is located in Irvine, California, the business capital of Orange County. Call us at: 877-904-6660 to learn more about the Apple Innovation eBook or send us an email at: info @ innovationmain dot com

Apple hits a home run with latest earnings - Learn how Apple innovates at the Innovation Bootcamp

In the latest quarterly earnings announced today, Apple earned the highest in its storied history, and grew the most - while maintaining the margins. An amazing feat considering the slowing economy and dismal holiday sales that have impacted major retailers. How did Apple do this? How did Apple turnaround the iPod business and had the highest sales of iPod in a quarter? Over 22 million iPods. Although iPhone quarterly sales slowed somewhat, Apple still sold more than 13 million iPhones in 2008 - besting Apple Innovation blog's estimate of 12 million iPhones. Why are Steve Jobs and Timothy Cook more confident about the future of Apple?

InnovationMain.com - Creativity And Innovation Driving Business is hosting engaging online Innovation Bootcamp workshops in February 2009. These workshops are now delivered using WebEx Meeting Plus service, the global leader in web meetings. Call us at: 877-904-6660 to register today for workshops. Here is the current schedule in February, 2009:

Rigorous Innovation Bootcamp delivered over six sessions:
Bootcamp One: February 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23 Time: 10:00 am until 11:30 am Pacific time

Intermediate Innovation Bootcamp delivered over three sessions:
Bootcamp Two: Mondays - February 24, 25, 27 Time: 10:00 am until 11:30 pm Pacific time

Concise Innovation Bootcamp delivered daily in one session:
Bootcamp Three: Daily starting February 9 Time: 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm Pacific time

Learn how Apple innovates, creates exciting new products such as iPhone, iPod, iTunes Store, App Store, MacBook, and grows the business successfully time and again, especially during recession and economic cycles. Learn how to unlock your creativity, uncover and create game-changing innovations, and make exponential business growth a reality.

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have...It's about the people you have, how you're led, and how much you get it." - Steve Jobs, Apple chief executive officer and co-founder.

The Innovation Bootcamp will help you:

• Become an Innovator at your Organization.
• Unleash the Creativity of your Team.
• Build an Innovation Factory.
• Accelerate the Growth of your Business.

"The Innovation Bootcamp has helped me in countless situations, not only on the job but also in my personal life. Sanjay Dalal's tenacious and diligent coverage of all the core innovation techniques and case studies has given me a more well-rounded understanding of the business world." - Bootcamp Attendee

The Innovation Bootcamp consists of Six Online Engaging Workshops of 90 minutes each:

1. Leading with Innovation
The Business Case for Innovation
(Each attendee completes a Q&A to establish an Innovation baseline)
The Current State of Business Innovation at Apple and key innovators
The Disruptive Innovation Gap
The Innovation Index - Correlating Stock, Business, Innovation Performance
Measuring Business Innovation Success with examples of iPod and iPhone
Short Innovation in Business Quiz

2. Unblocking Creativity and Innovation
The Essential Processes and Skills
The Essential Processes and Skills
Short Business Creativity Quiz
Blocking Creativity and Innovation - Four blockers and Nine Processes
Failures Driving Innovation - Five Takeaways to implement today
Avoiding Cycles of Innovation and Innovation Blunders
Six Ways to Find Innovation - Can you find Innovation? You bet
Leadership Driving Innovation - Ten must-have leadership drivers

3. Unleashing Team Innovation
Great Teams Deliver Great Innovations
Short Team Innovation Quiz
Ten Traits of Creative Leaders - Are you an innovative leader?
Seven Characteristics of Highly Innovative Teams - Build that great team
Examples of Effective Teams - Learn how creative teams deliver
Ten Principles to Unleash Team Innovation - Crank up your team creativity
Unlocking Team Creativity - Create that well oiled assembly line

4. and 5. Innovation Case Study
Learn how Top Innovators Lead with Innovation
Topics include Co-creation, Business Models, Product and Process Innovation
Apple - What makes Apple the #1 Innovative Company?
Apple in 2000 - A Historical Perspective
Apple in 2008 - How did Apple get here?
Apple Innovations in Products, Business Model, Customer Experience
iPod, iPhone, iTunes, Macintosh, Retail - Innovations in motion
Apple Creativity and Innovation Process
Apple Leadership and Innovation
How Apple Innovates? The Innovation Machine
Apple in 2010 and beyond

6. Building an Innovation Factory
Grow and Manage Innovation at Your Organization
Make Innovation Happen at Your Organization
Five Principles For Driving Successful Innovation - Key takeaways
Develop your Innovation and Creativity - Multiple techniques to jumpstart creativity
Create a Business Case for Innovation - Strategy and Plan to drive innovation
Implement Innovation Models at Your Business
Group Innovation Brainstorm and Quiz
Final Project to create an Innovation Strategy

The Innovation Bootcamp will help you:

1. Create real strategies, tools, and techniques to unleash innovation at your organizaton.
2. Prepare you and your team to convert ideas and creativity into successful innovation.
3. Enable you to accelerate and grow your business profitably.

Who should register?
Managers, Leaders, Consultants, HR Managers, Directors, Marketers, Product Managers, Technologists, Engineers, Professors, Business and Engineering Majors, Marketing Executives, Executives, Team Leaders, Consultants, Sales Managers, Strategists, Product Marketers

Why I should attend?
Be different from your peers. Be innovative. Be creative. Stand out. Beat the recession. Increase your team productivity. Challenge your mind. We promise that you will be inspired to jumpstart Innovation at your business after attending the Innovation Bootcamp, or your money back.

The Innovation Bootcamp Schedule

The Innovation Bootcamp Workshop will be delivered live and online through web seminars on the following dates and time:

Rigorous Innovation Bootcamp delivered over six sessions:
Bootcamp One: February 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23 Time: 10:00 am until 11:30 am Pacific time

Intermediate Innovation Bootcamp delivered over three sessions:
Bootcamp Two: Mondays - February 24, 25, 27 Time: 10:00 am until 11:30 pm Pacific time

Concise Innovation Bootcamp delivered daily in one session:
Bootcamp Three: Daily starting February 9 Time: 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm Pacific time

All times in Pacific time zone. If you miss one session, no worries... you can make up a session in the next bootcamp or watch video of the recorded session.

Register by Phone, Email or Fax

Please call us at: 1-877-904-6660 to learn more and register. Hurry, registration is limited to 15 attendees per Innovation Bootcamp. You only need a computer with sound card to attend the live, online workshops from your office or home. It is convenient, flexible and effective.

Contact Us Today if you would like us to deliver the Innovation Bootcamp at your organization at a convenient time.

About Our Innovator

Sanjay Dalal is an innovator, investor and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal is the author of the Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Innovation, and has published over 200 articles in the last year and a half on the real-time state of innovation in business at his blog Creativity and Innovation Driving Business. Dalal introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006. Dalal was the president and managing director of the innovative investment company, Innovation Index Group, that systematically invests into the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index. Dalal has launched innovative products to market and grown businesses to the tune of $70 million plus a year. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science. Dalal secured the first position in the 50th William Lowell Putnam Math Competition. Dalal volunteers as a basketball coach for Irvine NJB - 7th graders, as an art master for 2nd graders, and as the secretary in the School Site Council. Dalal, a philanthropist, is an appointed member of the Dean's Leadership Circle of The Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine and Web 2.0 adviser for Cal State Fullerton.

About InnovationMain.com

The mission of InnovationMain.com is to provide no-nonsense insights, strategy and solutions with proven processes that drive Creativity and Innovation at your business, create real market growth and success for your products and services, and achieve market leadership. We have considerable experience and expertise in working with small, growing and established companies, various departments and distributed teams.

InnovationMain.com is located in Irvine, California, the business capital of Orange County.

The Innovation Bootcamp Jumpstarts Business Innovation And Growth. Unlock Business Creativity, Be An Innovator! Signup Today For Workshops

Creativity And Innovation Driving Business is launching engaging online Innovation Bootcamp Workshops to Jumpstart Business Innovation and Growth starting January, 2009. Learn how the Top Innovators innovate and grow their business successfully time and again. Unblock business creativity, uncover and create game-changing innovations, and make exponential business growth a reality. Signup today for workshops beginning January 2009.

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) December 19, 2008 -- Creativity And Innovation Driving Business is launching engaging online Innovation Bootcamp Workshops to Jumpstart Business Innovation and Profits. Register Today for the Innovation Bootcamp beginning in January, 2009. Learn how the Top Innovators innovate and grow their business successfully time and again, especially during economic cycles. Unblock your creativity, uncover and create game-changing innovations, and make exponential business growth a reality.

The Innovation Bootcamp is delivered live and online using Web conference technology. You only need a computer and 90 minutes a week to engage, interact and collaborate live, at home or at your office.

The Innovation Bootcamp will help you:

1. Become an Innovator at your Organization. 
2. Unleash the Creativity of your Team. 
3. Accelerate the Growth of your Business.

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have...It's about the people you have, how you're led, and how much you get it." - Steve Jobs, Apple chief executive officer and co-founder.

The Innovation Bootcamp consists of Six Online Interactive Workshops of 90 minutes each:

1. Leading with Innovation (1 session)
    The Business Case for Innovation
    The Current State of Business Innovation
    The Disruptive Innovation Gap 
    The Innovation Index - Correlating Stock, Business, Innovation Performance
    Measuring Business Innovation Success

2. Unblocking Creativity and Innovation (1 session)
    The Essential Processes and Skills
    Blocking Creativity and Innovation
    Failures Driving Innovation
    Six Ways to Find Innovation
    Cycles of Innovation
    Leadership Driving Innovation

3. Unleashing Team Innovation (1 session)
    Great Teams Deliver Great Innovations
    Ten Traits of Creative Leaders
    Seven Characteristics of Effective Teams
    Examples of Effective Teams
    Ten Principles to Unleash Team Innovation
    Unlocking Team Creativity

4. and 5. Innovation Case Studies (2 sessions)
    Learn how Top Innovators Lead with Innovation
    Topics include Co-creation, Business Models, Product and Process Innovation
    Apple - What makes it the #1 Innovative Company?
    Google's Innovation Strategy and performance vis-a-vis Yahoo    
    Netflix Versus Blockbuster - Winner Takes All.
    Toyota's Innovation Factory - Innovation Assembly Line
    Strategic Innovation at Deloitte - Edge to Core to Edge

6. Building an Innovation Factory (1 session)
    Make Innovation Happen at Your Organization
    Five Principles For Driving Successful Innovation
    Developing your Innovation and Creativity
    Create a Business Case for Innovation
    Implementing Innovation Models at Your Business
    
The Innovation Bootcamp will help you:
1. Create real strategies, tools, and techniques to unleash innovation at your organizaton.
2. Prepare you and your team to convert ideas and creativity into successful innovation.
3. Enable you to accelerate and grow your business profitably.

Who should register?

Entrepreneurs, Managers, Leaders, Marketers, Product Managers, Technologists, Engineers, Professors, Business and Engineering Professionals, Marketing Executives, Information Executives, Team Leaders, Consultants, Sales Managers, Strategists, Product Marketers, Innovators, Business Development Managers - Anyone who wants to excel at Innovation

Why I should attend?

Challenge your mind. Think different. Be innovative. Create new ideas. Increase your team innovation. Accelerate and grow your business. Become an innovator and entrepreneur. We guarantee that you will be inspired and ready after attending the Innovation Bootcamp to jumpstart new innovations at your business.

Register Today for the live, online Innovation Bootcamp. Registration is limited to only 15 attendees per Bootcamp.

The Innovation Bootcamp Schedule

The Innovation Bootcamp Workshop will be delivered live and online on the following dates and time:

2009 Innovation Bootcamps
     Bootcamp One: Wednesdays - January 7, 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11 Time: 11:30 am until 1:00 pm
     Bootcamp Two: Thursdays - January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12 Time: 9:30 am until 11:00 am
     Bootcamp Three: Fridays - January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13 Time: 11:30 am until 1:00 pm
     Bootcamp Four: Mondays - January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16 Time: 9:30 am until 11:00 am
     Bootcamp Five: Tuesdays - January 13, 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17 Time: 11:30 am until 1:00 pm
     Bootcamp Six: Wednesdays - February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25 Time: 9:30 am until 11:00 am
     Bootcamp Seven: Thursdays - February 19, 26 March 5, 12, 19, 26 Time: 11:30 am until 1:00 pm
     Bootcamp Eight: Fridays - February 20, 27 March 6, 13, 20, 27 Time: 9:30 am until 11:00 am

All times in Pacific time zone. You only need to register for one of the bootcamps. If you miss one session, no worries... you can make up a session in the next bootcamp or watch a recorded session.

An Investment Well Worth the Cost

The Innovation Bootcamp only costs $399. What does $399 give you? Live, online coaching with top innovator in the nation, ultimate Innovation eBook and pertinent materials to help you innovate at work (a $100 value), Innovation Bootcamp certificate from Creativity And Innovation Driving Business, and a paid subscription to our Business Innovation monthly report for one year (a $120 value).

You can Register by Email, Phone or Fax:

Please fax us your complete registration information at: 1-949-861-9320 or call us at: 1-877-904-6660 to register. Please include your name, email, phone number, address and Bootcamp number. We will send you an invoice after you register.

You only need a computer with sound card to attend the live, online workshops from your office or home. It is convenient, flexible and effective.

Contact Us today if you would like us to deliver the Innovation Bootcamp for your organization at a convenient time.

Collaboration with Top University in the Nation

"Focus on building the organizational capabilities that allow a firm to create the capacity for continuous innovation." Leonard Lane, Senior Assistant Dean MBA Programs, University of California, Irvine

Creativity And Innovation Driving Business is honored to partner with University of California, Irvine, The Paul Merage School of Business towards offering the accelerated Innovation Bootcamp as part of the Strategic Innovation Class in 2009.

About Creativity And Innovation Driving Business

The mission of Creativity and Innovation Driving Business is to provide no-nonsense insights, strategy and solutions with proven processes that drive Creativity and Innovation at your business, create real market growth and success for your products and services, and achieve market leadership. We have considerable experience and expertise in working with small, growing and established companies, various departments and distributed teams.

Creativity And Innovation Driving Business
Phone: 877-904-6660
FAX: 949-861-9320
Online: http://www.InnovationMain.com

iPod and iPhone - Successful Business Innovations

 

Apple introduced Apple iPod in 2001. Apple iPod business generated total revenue of $537 million in Q4, 2004 (three years from launch), and was already 22.8% of Apple's total revenue of $2.35 billion in Q4, 2004 (easily eclipsing the 5% mark - although electronics and computer segments do show higher average percent revenue from new products - check Figure 1 below). Apple iPod business generated total revenue of $1.82 billion in Q2, 2008, (within seven years from launch), about 24.2 % of Apple's total revenue of $7.5 billion in Q2, 2008 (well ahead of the 15% threshold). Apple iPod business has consistent or better margins than Apple's hardware businesses. As a matter of fact, iPod saved Apple and made Apple successful again. iPod delivered 5.5% of total Apple revenue in 2003, within the first three years of launch, and delivered 34.6% of total Apple revenue in 2007, within the first seven years of launch.

What about the newly launched iPhone from Apple? Is iPhone equally successful as iPod, or better? iPhone is off to a fast start. In the latest quarter, iPhone innovation produced net revenue of $419 million, or 5.61% of Apple’s total revenue of $7.4 billion. This is staggering, since iPhone was only introduced one year ago. It took iPod more than two years to achieve the 5% mark; iPhone achieved this mark in just one year. If iPhone continues the momentum, it could achieve the 15% mark before end of 2009.

Business Innovation Monthly Report

Do you want to become an innovator?  Do you want to jumpstart your hidden creativity? Do you want to learn how top innovators create new game-changing innovations?  What are their best practices?  We have something special for you.

Business Innovation Monthly Report

Creativity And Innovation Driving Business publishes an insightful monthly report on the top innovators such as Apple of the Innovation Index, innovations activity, best practices, stock performance, business performance and future outlook. We invite you to subscribe to this detailed monthly report. First month free.

We also offer the Ultimate Innovation eBook, a ready and pertinent resource of the best practices, success stories, and insights at the top innovative companies:

185-page collection of 48 best practices, case studies, and insights on the current state of Creativity and Innovation in Business at Top Innovators including Apple, Google, Netflix, 3M, Frito Lay, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Toyota, GE, BMW, Deloitte, Southwest, Nike, IBM, Dell and more...Find out more

Can't wait for the monthy reports?  We have created one-of-a-kind online bootcamp that will jumpstart innovation at your business.  If you have always wanted to become an entrepreneur and innovator, this live workshop is for you!

The Innovation Bootcamp
Creativity And Innovation Driving Business is hosting engaging online business innovation workshops. Jumpstart innovation at your business, unblock your creativity, become an innovator and create game-changing innovations. Bootcamps scheduled in December 08, January, February, March 09. Find out more

About Creativity And Innovation Driving Business

The mission of Creativity and Innovation Driving Business is to provide no-nonsense insights, strategy and solutions with proven processes that drive Creativity and Innovation at your business, create real market growth and success for your products and achieve market leadership.  We have considerable experience and expertise in working with small, growing and established companies, various departments and distributed teams.  Learn more

Apple iPhone 3G Launches July 11

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of the Innovation Index.

iPhone 3G will be launched tomorrow, July 11, at Apple retail stores and AT&T stores nationwide, and 24 countries worldwide. AT&T (NYSE: T) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of the Innovation Index.
iPhone 3G will be available at half the price of the original iPhone at only $199 for the 8GB model in the U.S., and $299 for the 16GB model. And the new iPhone 3G packs twice the punch - it is twice as fast.

The new iPhone 3G packs a powerful mix of new features:
1. Built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services with real-time mapping and tracking the progress with GPS technology
2. iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync - Push Email, Contacts, Calendar - and runs the hundreds of third party applications.
3. Simultaneously browse the web, get map directions, or check your email while the call is on.
4. New App Store, providing iPhone users with native applications in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.
5. MobileMe™, a new Internet service that pushes email, contacts, and calendars from an online “cloud” to native applications on iPhone, iPod® touch, Macs and PCs.

Apple made these announcements on the Apple.com website:

Apple Retail Stores

"Only Apple Retail Stores offer Personal Setup for your new iPhone 3G. Let a Specialist help you choose your iPhone, check the network coverage where you live, select a rate plan, review the contract terms, and — best of all — activate your new iPhone in just a few minutes."

AT&T

"iPhone 3G will be available at over 1,800 AT&T locations across the United States. That means there’s probably one in your neighborhood."

Also, iPhone 3G will be launched on July 11 in the following 24 countries including U.S.:

• iPhone 3G Launch worldwide
  

  1. Australia
  2. Austria
  3. Belgium (French)
  4. Belgium (Dutch)
  5. Canada (English)
  6. Canada (French)
  7. Denmark
  8. Finland
  9. Germany
  10. Hong Kong
  11. Ireland
  12. Italy
  13. Japan
  14. Mexico
  15. Netherlands
  16. New Zealand
  17. Norway
  18. Portugal
  19. Spain
  20. Sweden
  21. Switzerland (French)
  22. Switzerland (German)
  23. UK
  24. USA

Bottomline:

Apple iPhone 3G is poised to become a global phenomenon owing to lower entry costs, 3G technology, and enhanced features including corporate emails. With the iPhone 3G availability in all the continents, including the fast growing markets in Asia, established markets in Europe, emerging markets in Latin America and South America and other markets, iPhone is poised to eclipse the 10 million mark in 2008. Innovation Index Group had earlier estimated that Apple will sell 12 million new iPhones in 2008. Innovation Index Group raises the estimates based on the launch of the new iPhone 3G: Apple will sell over 13 million iPhones in 2008, and over 25 million iPhones in 2009. The lower price will result in a slight decline in Apple net earnings. However, the topline growth will compensate for the bottomline in 2009.

Apple iPhone may cannibalize the sales of iPods at these price points. Innovation Index Group believes that iPod sales will either remain flat year over year, or even decline with the introduction of the new iPhone unless Apple reduces the iPod prices further. Innovation Index Group had earlier talked about how Apple can turnaround the iPod sales growth. One of the suggestions made was that Apple should provide iPods for free with sales of new Macs - now Apple has started doing this for the students. Apple has a huge business in iPods. Apple needs to at the very least maintain this business, while it surges forward with the iPhone business.

Innovation Index Group has long-term BUY recommendations on the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index with price target of $235 to $250 for Apple in Q4, 2008.

About Innovation Index Group:

Innovation Index Group, Inc. is a new investment management company focused on systematically identifying, tracking and investing in the most innovative publicly traded companies in North America – collectively called the Innovation Index. We have developed the Innovation Index Fund, LLC as our first vehicle to invest in the Innovation Index. Over the past six years, the Innovation Index would have generated a gross average annual return of 40% based on historical model.* The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007, and the Innovation Index Fund Manager was up 10% in 2008.*

Innovation Index Group, Inc. and Innovation Index Fund LLC are registered California Corporations, and member of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce in Orange County. Further, Innovation Index Fund LLC is an investment management company organized under the California state regulation, and is registered with Department of Corporations and SEC Regulation D.

The Innovation Index Reports:

Invest in The Innovation Index - Innovation Index Fund tracks The Innovation Index
The Innovation Index closes 2007 at 66% - 2007 Annual Report on the Innovation Index
Top 50 Innovative Companies in the world - 2007 Report on Top 50 Innovative Companies
Annual Report - Chapter One - Total Innovation Activity - 2006 Annual Report One
Annual Report - Chapter Two - The Top Innovator - 2006 Annual Report Two
Annual Report - Chapter Three - The Innovation Insights - 2006 Annual Report Insights
Innovation and Stock Performance Correlation - The Innovation Index and Stock Performance

About The Innovation Index

The Innovation Index introduced in December 2006 is a weighted stock price index of the top 20 Innovators in North America.

The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007 based on performance model, and would have returned 174% over the previous five years (2002-2006) based on historical model*. This assumes equal investment in each stock of The Innovation Index as of December 31, 2001. An average of $100 invested in The Innovation Index on December 31, 2001 returned $454 as of December 31, 2007. By comparison, $100 invested in S & P 500 returned 28% or $129, $100 invested in NASDAQ returned 34% or $136, and $100 invested in the Dow Jones Index returned 30% or $131 through December 31, 2007. The Innovation Index beats the S & P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones Index by more than seven times over the past six years.*

Alphabetical list of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index for 2008 and their stock ticker symbols:

3M Company - (NYSE: MMM)
Amazon.com, Inc. - (NASDAQ: AMZN)
America Movil - (NYSE: AMX)
Apple Inc. - (NASDAQ: AAPL)
AT&T Inc. - (NYSE: T)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - (NYSE: BBY)
Cisco Systems, Inc. - (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Costco Wholesale Corporation - (NASDAQ: COST)
eBay Inc. - (NASDAQ: EBAY)
General Electric Co. - (NYSE: GE)
Google Inc. - (NASDAQ: GOOG)
Hewlett-Packard Co. - (NYSE: HPQ)
Intel Corporation - (NASDAQ: INTC)
International Business Machines Corp. - (NYSE: IBM)
Merck & Co., Inc. - (NYSE: MRK)
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
Microsoft Corporation - (NASDAQ: MSFT)
NIKE, Inc. - (NYSE: NKE)
Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM)
The Proctor & Gamble Company - (NYSE: PG)

The Innovation Index will analyze the positions and standings of the Top 20 Innovators at the end of each year. For 2008, there will be no further changes in The Innovation Index.

Disclaimer: The Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in the stocks comprising The Innovation Index.
*Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Results

Apple iPhone Goes Global

Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, launched the highly anticipated super fast iPhone 3G at the Apple Developer Connection yesterday. The new iPhone will be available for sale on July 11, 2008.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of the Innovation Index.

The biggest surprise in the Apple announcement: iPhone 3G is available at half the price of the original iPhone at only $199 for the 8GB model in the U.S., and $299 for the 16GB model. And the new iPhone 3G packs twice the punch - it is twice as fast.

The new iPhone 3G packs a powerful mix of new features:
1. Built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services with real-time mapping and tracking the progress with GPS technology
2. iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync - Push Email, Contacts, Calendar - and runs the hundreds of third party applications.
3. Simultaneously browse the web, get map directions, or check your email while the call is on.
4. New App Store, providing iPhone users with native applications in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.
5. MobileMe™, a new Internet service that pushes email, contacts, and calendars from an online “cloud” to native applications on iPhone, iPod® touch, Macs and PCs.

More importantly, the new iPhone 3G will be available in 70 countries in 2008, with 22 countries launching it on July 11. iPhone already ships with iPod, Internet, and a host of cool phone features.

Bottomline:

Apple iPhone 3G is poised to become a global phenomenon owing to lower entry costs, 3G technology, and enhanced features including corporate emails. With the iPhone 3G availability in all the continents, including the fast growing markets in Asia, established markets in Europe, emerging markets in Latin America and South America and other markets, iPhone is poised to eclipse the 10 million mark in 2008. Innovation Index Group had earlier estimated that Apple will sell 12 million new iPhones in 2008. Innovation Index Group raises the estimates based on the launch of the new iPhone 3G: Apple will sell over 13 million iPhones in 2008, and over 25 million iPhones in 2009. The lower price will result in a slight decline in Apple net earnings. However, the topline growth will compensate for the bottomline in 2009.

Apple iPhone will cannibalize the sales of iPods at these price points. Innovation Index Group believes that iPod sales will either remain flat year over year, or even decline with the introduction of the new iPhone unless Apple reduces the iPod prices further. Innovation Index Group had earlier talked about how Apple can turnaround the iPod sales growth. One of the suggestions made was that Apple should provide iPods for free with sales of new Macs - now Apple has started doing this for the students. Apple has a huge business in iPods. Apple needs to at the very least maintain this business, while it surges forward with the iPhone business.

Innovation Index Group has long-term BUY recommendations on the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index with price target of $235 to $250 for Apple in Q4, 2008.

About Innovation Index Group:

Innovation Index Group, Inc. is a new investment management company focused on systematically identifying, tracking and investing in the most innovative publicly traded companies in North America – collectively called the Innovation Index. We have developed the Innovation Index Fund, LLC as our first vehicle to invest in the Innovation Index. Over the past six years, the Innovation Index would have generated a gross average annual return of 40% based on historical model.* The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007, and the Innovation Index Fund Manager is up 10% in 2008.*

Innovation Index Group, Inc. and Innovation Index Fund LLC are registered California Corporations, and member of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce in Orange County. Further, Innovation Index Fund LLC is an investment management company organized under the California state regulation, and is registered with Department of Corporations and SEC Regulation D.

The Innovation Index Reports:

Invest in The Innovation Index - Innovation Index Fund tracks The Innovation Index
The Innovation Index closes 2007 at 66% - 2007 Annual Report on the Innovation Index
Top 50 Innovative Companies in the world - 2007 Report on Top 50 Innovative Companies
Annual Report - Chapter One - Total Innovation Activity - 2006 Annual Report One
Annual Report - Chapter Two - The Top Innovator - 2006 Annual Report Two
Annual Report - Chapter Three - The Innovation Insights - 2006 Annual Report Insights
Innovation and Stock Performance Correlation - The Innovation Index and Stock Performance

About The Innovation Index

The Innovation Index introduced in December 2006 is a weighted stock price index of the top 20 Innovators in North America.

The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007 based on performance model, and would have returned 174% over the previous five years (2002-2006) based on historical model*. This assumes equal investment in each stock of The Innovation Index as of December 31, 2001. An average of $100 invested in The Innovation Index on December 31, 2001 returned $454 as of December 31, 2007. By comparison, $100 invested in S & P 500 returned 28% or $129, $100 invested in NASDAQ returned 34% or $136, and $100 invested in the Dow Jones Index returned 30% or $131 through December 31, 2007. The Innovation Index beats the S & P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones Index by more than seven times over the past six years.*

Alphabetical list of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index for 2008 and their stock ticker symbols:

3M Company - (NYSE: MMM)
Amazon.com, Inc. - (NASDAQ: AMZN)
America Movil - (NYSE: AMX)
Apple Inc. - (NASDAQ: AAPL)
AT&T Inc. - (NYSE: T)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - (NYSE: BBY)
Cisco Systems, Inc. - (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Costco Wholesale Corporation - (NASDAQ: COST)
eBay Inc. - (NASDAQ: EBAY)
General Electric Co. - (NYSE: GE)
Google Inc. - (NASDAQ: GOOG)
Hewlett-Packard Co. - (NYSE: HPQ)
Intel Corporation - (NASDAQ: INTC)
International Business Machines Corp. - (NYSE: IBM)
Merck & Co., Inc. - (NYSE: MRK)
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
Microsoft Corporation - (NASDAQ: MSFT)
NIKE, Inc. - (NYSE: NKE)
Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM)
The Proctor & Gamble Company - (NYSE: PG)

The Innovation Index will analyze the positions and standings of the Top 20 Innovators at the end of each year. For 2008, there will be no further changes in The Innovation Index.

Disclaimer: The Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in the stocks comprising The Innovation Index.
*Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Results

Apple On A Tear - Up more than 50% in 3 months

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares have run up more than 50% during the last three months.

Apple is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index.

What is driving the stock price?

1. Apple had an impressive second quarter earnings that beat the Wall Street estimates handily. Apple is poised to continue the earnings momentum in 2008, and beyond. How big has Apple revenue grown over the previous five years? About 300%.

2. Mac business is solid as a rock, growing 50% year over year. Apple has just rolled out new versions of iMac clocking over 3 GHz. And Apple is gaining ground in the laptop segment with the MacBooks.

3. iPhone business is strong, and Apple is on track to sell 10 million or more iPhones in 2008 - we estimate over 12 million. Some estimates track iPhone sales of over 5 million already in 2008.

Apple is introducing the all new iPhone 2.0 aka iPhone 3G next month. Further, Apple has created alliances all over the world to sell millions more iPhones.

Four mobile operators in the Asia-Pacific region introduced partnerships with Apple to bring the iPhone to their regions later this year. SingTel in Singapore, Bharti Airtel Ltd. in India, Globe Telecom Inc. in the Philippines and Optus in Australia. SingTel owns Optus and holds a 30.5 percent stake in Bharti and 44.5 percent in Globe. SingTel has about 2.3 million mobile subscribers in Singapore and around 7 million in Australia, according to data as of Dec. 31, 2007. Bharti currently has about 64 million subscribers, while Globe reported a 21.3 million mobile subscriber base for the quarter ended March 31. Potential Available Subscriber base for the iPhone: Over 95 million.

The top mobile phone operator in Latin America, America Movil SAB, (NYSE: AMX), another Top 20 Innovator, also announced plans to deliver the iPhone to its region. America Movil has 159.2 million subscribers in 16 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

Apple has also signed deals with Rogers Communications Inc. to sell the device in Canada; Milan-based Telecom Italia SpA to sell the iPhone in Italy; and Vodafone Group PLC, the world's biggest mobile company by sales, to sell it in a total of 10 countries, including Australia, India, Italy and Turkey.

Finally, Apple sells iPhone with AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), another Top 20 Innovator, in the United States, O2 in Britain, T-Mobile in Germany and France Telecom's Orange wireless arm in France.

In short, Apple has available subscriber base in the hundreds of millions for the iPhone - now it's a matter of time before Apple launches the new 3G iPhone, and potentially expands the market for the iPhone to tens of millions a year beginning in 2009.

The Innovation Index Fund Manager, that invests in Apple, is up 10% in 2008. The Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index have rebounded well in the 2nd quarter of 2008 to cause The Innovation Index Fund Manager to have double-digit gain for the year.

Innovation Index Group believes that the U.S. economy will recover significantly in the 2nd half of 2008, and the Top Innovators of The Innovation Index will reward the patient, long-term investor.

Innovation Index Group has BUY recommendations on the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and price target of $235 - $250 for Apple in Q4, 2008.

About Innovation Index Group:

Innovation Index Group, Inc. is a new investment management company focused on systematically identifying, tracking and investing in the most innovative publicly traded companies in North America – collectively called the Innovation Index. We have developed the Innovation Index Fund, LLC as our first vehicle to invest in the Innovation Index. Over the past six years, the Innovation Index would have generated a gross average annual return of 40% based on historical model.* The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007, and the Innovation Index Fund Manager is up 10% in 2008.*

Innovation Index Group, Inc. and Innovation Index Fund LLC are registered California Corporations, and member of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce in Orange County. Further, Innovation Index Fund LLC is a private placement investment partnership organized under the California state regulations.

Disclaimer: The Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in the stocks comprising The Innovation Index.
*Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Results

All Eyes On Apple - AAPL - Apple delivers big

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and the number one Innovator in the world. Innovation Index Group, Inc. has a BUY recommendation for Apple with Q4, 2008 price target of $235 to $250.

Analysts were expecting Apple to earn $1.07 on revenue of $6.96 billion - earnings growth of 23% and revenue growth of 32% year over year.

How many iPods will Apple sell in the quarter? How many iPhones? Will Apple announce the new iPhone availability today? How about the growth of Mac sales?

Last quarter which is normally Apple's best quarter owing to the holiday season, "Apple shipped 2,319,000 Macintosh® computers, representing 44 percent unit growth and 47 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 22,121,000 iPods during the quarter, representing five percent unit growth and 17 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. Quarterly iPhone™ sales were 2,315,000."

For the first quarter of 2007 (one year ago quarter), Apple "shipped 1,517,000 Macintosh® computers and 10,549,000 iPods during the quarter, representing 36 percent growth in Macs and 24 percent growth in iPods over the year-ago quarter." Apple iPhone was not shipping yet.

If Apple were to grow at least 15% year over year, Apple should ship at least 1,744,000 new Macintosh computers and 12,131,000 new iPods; and if Apple iPhone were to hit 12 million unit sales in 2008, Apple should ship at least 2 million iPhones in the first quarter.

All eyes will be on Apple as the quarterly earnings are announced.

Earnings Announcement

Apple Inc. "announced financial results for its fiscal 2008 second quarter ended March 29, 2008. The Company posted revenue of $7.51 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.05 billion, or $1.16 per diluted share. Apple revenue increased by 43%, and net profit increased by 36%. These results compare to revenue of $5.26 billion and net quarterly profit of $770 million, or $.87 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 32.9 percent, down from 35.1 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 44 percent of the quarter's revenue.

Apple shipped 2,289,000 Macintosh(R) computers during the quarter, representing 51 percent unit growth and 54 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 10,644,000 iPods during the quarter, representing one percent unit growth and eight percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. Quarterly iPhone(TM) sales were 1,703,000"

Great Earnings Report from Apple. Although Apple had provided a very conservative quarterly forecast in January, 2008, Apple beat the high end estimates on revenue, and came on the high end estimates on earnings for the quarter. Apple once again gave a conservative outlook for the future. The street should get an idea now. Mac business is solid. iPod volume business is stalling, however Apple is selling higher priced iPods. iPhone business is strong, and Apple is on track to sell 10 million or higher iPhones in 2008.

Is Apple winning marketshare against Windows Vista? Apple had a strong surge in Mac business. Can Apple reclaim the position, slowly but surely, in the PC business? Apple has a really long way to go.... but if Apple can get to the 10% marketshare of the overall PC business worldwide, this would mark a significant milestone and signal a shift.

Watch out for Apple in Q4, 2008!

Related Articles:

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 2.0 software scores a trifecta
Nike and Apple iPod working out at a Gym near you
Why Apple will hit $250 by December 2008?
Apple Creativity and Innovation in Business Case Studies
Apple iPod - Apple's Best Innovation
Apple introduces new iPhone and new iTouch
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) Kicks Off 2008 with Bold...

About Innovation Index Group:

Innovation Index Group, Inc. is a new investment management company focused on systematically identifying, tracking and investing in the most innovative publicly traded companies in North America – collectively called the Innovation Index. We have developed the Innovation Index Fund, LLC as our first vehicle to invest in the Innovation Index.

Innovation Index Group, Inc. and Innovation Index Fund LLC are registered California Corporations, and member of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce in Orange County. Further, Innovation Index Fund LLC is a private placement investment partnership organized under the California state regulations.

The Innovation Index Reports:

Invest in The Innovation Index - Innovation Index Fund tracks The Innovation Index
The Innovation Index closes 2007 at 66% - 2007 Annual Report on the Innovation Index
Top 50 Innovative Companies in the world - 2007 Report on Top 50 Innovative Companies
Annual Report - Chapter One - Total Innovation Activity - 2006 Annual Report One
Annual Report - Chapter Two - The Top Innovator - 2006 Annual Report Two
Annual Report - Chapter Three - The Innovation Insights - 2006 Annual Report Insights
Innovation and Stock Performance Correlation - The Innovation Index and Stock Performance

About The Innovation Index

The Innovation Index introduced in December 2006 is a weighted stock price index of the top 20 Innovators in North America.

The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007, and returned 174% over the previous five years (2002-2006). This assumes equal investment in each stock of The Innovation Index as of December 31, 2001. An average of $100 invested in The Innovation Index on December 31, 2001 returned $454 as of December 31, 2007. By comparison, $100 invested in S & P 500 returned 28% or $129, $100 invested in NASDAQ returned 34% or $136, and $100 invested in the Dow Jones Index returned 30% or $131 through December 31, 2007. The Innovation Index beats the S & P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones Index by more than seven times over the past six years.*

Alphabetical list of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index for 2008 and their stock ticker symbols:

3M Company - (NYSE: MMM)
Amazon.com, Inc. - (NASDAQ: AMZN)
America Movil - (NYSE: AMX)
Apple Inc. - (NASDAQ: AAPL)
AT&T Inc. - (NYSE: T)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - (NYSE: BBY)
Cisco Systems, Inc. - (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Costco Wholesale Corporation - (NASDAQ: COST)
eBay Inc. - (NASDAQ: EBAY)
General Electric Co. - (NYSE: GE)
Google Inc. - (NASDAQ: GOOG)
Hewlett-Packard Co. - (NYSE: HPQ)
Intel Corporation - (NASDAQ: INTC)
International Business Machines Corp. - (NYSE: IBM)
Merck & Co., Inc. - (NYSE: MRK)
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
Microsoft Corporation - (NASDAQ: MSFT)
NIKE, Inc. - (NYSE: NKE)
Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM)
The Proctor & Gamble Company - (NYSE: PG)

The Innovation Index will analyze the positions and standings of the Top 20 Innovators at the end of each year. For 2008, there will be no further changes in The Innovation Index.

Disclaimer: The Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in the stocks comprising The Innovation Index.
*Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Results

Zero to Sixty in 2.09 Seconds - Safari 3.1

2.09 Safari 3.1 - First

3.62 Firefox 2 - Second

4.00 Internet Explorer 7 - Third

5.95 Opera 9 - Fourth

Blazing performance.

The fastest web browser on any platform, Safari loads pages up to 1.9 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and up to 1.7 times faster than Firefox 2.

Safari loads web pages in 2.09 seconds - "0 to 60 in 2.09 seconds flat!"

And it executes JavaScript up to 6 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and up to 4 times faster than Firefox 2. What does all that mean for you? Less time loading pages and more time enjoying them.

- Performance measured in seconds. Testing conducted by Apple in March 2008 on a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo-based iMac system running Windows XP Professional SP2, configured with 1GB of RAM and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 with 256MB of VRAM. HTML and JavaScript benchmarks based on VeriTest’s iBench Version 5.0 using default settings. Testing conducted with a beta version of Safari; all other browsers were shipping versions. Performance will vary based on system configuration, network connection, and other factors.

Bottomline:

Can Safari become The Web Browser?

Would FireFox users convert to Safari?

Would Internet Explorer users convert to Safari?

What would it take for new users to embrace Safari, and old users to convert to Safari?

Apple claims Safari as the fastest and easiest-to-use browser. Give Safari a test-drive and find out yourself.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and the number one Innovator in the world.

“Safari 3.1 for Mac and Windows is blazingly fast, easy to use and features an elegant user interface,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “And best of all, Safari supports the latest audio, video and animation standards for an industry-leading Web 2.0 experience.”

References:
Apple Press Releases

Elegant user interface.

Safari’s clean, sleek look lets you focus on the web instead of your browser. The browser frame is a mere one pixel wide. You see a scroll bar only when you need one. You see no status bar by default — a blue progress bar fills the address field as the page loads — giving you more room to browse and view the web.

And with commonly used tools like a Google search field built right into Safari, you can get anywhere on the web faster.

Easy bookmarks.

Safari makes it easier than ever to manage your bookmarks. Know iTunes? Then you know Safari bookmarks. One click opens the single-window interface, where you can browse, search, and organize bookmarks the same way you browse, search, and organize music in iTunes.

Importing your current bookmarks couldn’t be simpler. In fact, the first time you open Safari, it imports all your bookmarks from the browsers you’ve been using. And if you want to import bookmarks later, just choose Import Bookmarks from the File menu.

Safari even helps you find sites to bookmark. Using the innovative Bonjour technology, Safari discovers and shows devices such as printers, routers, and webcams associated with web servers on your local network — automatically.

Pop-up blocking.

Say goodbye to annoying pop-up ads and pop-under windows that clutter up your desktop and distract you from your browsing.

By default, Safari blocks all unprompted new windows. You can open new windows when you click links, but you’ll get no surprises from unexpected, unwanted pop-ups.

Find.

Now you can locate any text on any web page using the Find command in Safari. Type a word into the new integrated Find banner

under the bookmarks bar, and Safari shows you the found count and highlights matching terms while dimming the page below them. So you can view every instance — in an instant.

Tabbed browsing.

With tabbed browsing in Safari, you can open and switch between multiple web pages in a single window. Drag and drop your tabs to rearrange them, open one in a new browser window, or merge all your current windows into one tabbed window.

Safari resizes each tab depending on the number you have open. Set a bookmark for a group of tabs or revert to the tabs that were open when you last closed or quit Safari.

SnapBack.

With most browsers, it’s easy to lose your way on the web. You go surfing, and before you know it, you’ve drifted far from where you started. Stop hitting the Back button and start using SnapBack in Safari. SnapBack lets you instantly snap back to your original search results or to the top level of any website, even after you’ve browsed down a few levels.

The SnapBack icon appears in the search field after you click a link in a search results page. Clicking the icon takes you back to the results page and even scrolls to the specific location you last viewed.

SnapBack also works in the address field. Type an address, click a bookmark, or click a link in email or another application, and Safari creates a SnapBack anchor point. When the SnapBack icon appears in the address field, click it to return to that anchor point instantly. So, if you type in the address of your favorite news site, click a link to read an article, then click another link, the SnapBack icon will take you back to the front page of the original news site.

Forms AutoFill.

Now you need never fill out an online form from scratch. That’s because Safari Forms AutoFill completes online forms with information from your Address Book or from previously completed forms.

Let Safari fill in your name, street address, city, zip code, email, and other information. Safari also gives you the option to automatically enter account names and passwords — all stored in a secure, encrypted format.

Built-in RSS.

Scan all the latest news, information, and articles from thousands of websites in one simple-to-read, searchable article list delivered right to you. The built-in RSS (Really Simple Syndication) reader in Safari tells you when new articles or blog posts have been added to your favorite sites, so you never have to guess.

Whenever you land on a page that offers an RSS feed, Safari displays an RSS icon in the address field. Click it and you view the simple RSS feed. Bookmark it and Safari tells you how many updates have been added since your last visit. The RSS view in Safari is customizable, so you can adjust article length or sort and filter articles by date, title, and source. You can also use the built-in search field to find articles relating to topics of interest. All from one place: Safari.

Resizable text areas.

Maybe the text area you’re typing in is a bit too small to read. Or maybe you just have a lot to say.

Either way, Safari lets you resize text areas on any website, just by grabbing the corner of the area. Resize and the web page reflows to make room.

Private browsing.

Your browsing is your business. Which is exactly why Safari offers private browsing — to keep your online activities private. Turn on private browsing and Safari won’t store your Google searches, your cookies, the history of sites you’ve visited, your download history, or information from online forms you’ve filled out.

If you’ve been browsing without private browsing turned on, just use Privacy Reset to empty your cache and clear Safari of your browsing, forms, and search history. It’s a one-click clean slate.

Security.

Now you can enjoy worry-free web browsing on any computer. Apple engineers designed Safari to be secure from day one.

For starters, Safari uses robust encryption to ensure that your private information stays that way. When you browse a secure site, Safari displays a lock icon in the upper-right corner of the browser. If you want to know more about the credentials of a secure site, click the lock icon and Safari displays detailed information about the site’s security certificate.

Safari supports SSL versions 2 and 3, as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS), the next generation of Internet security. Safari uses these technologies to provide a secure, encrypted channel that protects all your information from online eavesdroppers. And Safari lets you use standards-based authentication such as Kerberos single sign-on and X.509 personal certificates, or proprietary protocols like NTLMv2 to log in to secure sites.

Safari also supports a variety of proxy protocols — services that help firewalls control what flows in and out of the network — including Automatic Proxy configuration, FTP Proxy, Web Proxy (HTTP), Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS), Streaming Proxy (RTSP), SOCKS Proxy, and Gopher Proxy.

Graphics and fonts.

Apple brings the same amazing graphics technology to Safari that's used in Mac OS X to ensure great color in everything from iPhoto to Final Cut Pro. Safari is the only browser that employs advanced color management to deliver web images with the most accurate color possible.

And Safari makes text beautiful and easy to read on all displays thanks to Apple's sophisticated font-rendering technology. Safari smoothes fonts so that they're easy on the eyes but also remain as faithful as possible

to the chosen font. As a result, your favorite websites look the way they were meant to be seen.

With CSS3 web fonts in Safari 3.1, web designers can go beyond web-safe fonts and use any font they want to create stunning new websites using standards-based technology. Safari automatically
recognizes
websites that use custom fonts and downloads them as they’re needed.

How can Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) turnaround the iPod sales growth?

(click to maximize)

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and the number one Innovator in the world.

iPod - Apple's best innovation, introduced in 2001 and masterminded by Steve Jobs, combines outstanding design, easy-to-use interface, superb performance, and an experience like no other. Apple assumed the world’s number one innovative company position in 2005, and held it again in 2006 and 2007 in large part due to the exponential growth of iPod – aptly called the iPod phenomenon.

Apple has sold more iPods every year since its introduction. In 2007 alone, Apple sold more than 52 million iPods, 6 million more than in 2006, and eclipsed the cumulative total of 100 million iPods sold since introduction. Apple also introduced the all new iPod touch in 2007, and new models in 2008. Apple reported in the quarterly earnings conference call that although the introduction of the high-end iPod touch may have reduced the sales volume growth of iPod in 2007, it increased the average selling price.

On the one hand, Apple is poised to have a great year of iPhone sales - Apple Innovation blog and Innovation Index Group, Inc. estimate that Apple will sell more than 12 million iPhones in 2008. Most of the industry analysts estimate Apple to sell more than 8 million iPhones in 2008. But will the growth of iPhone business cannibalize the growth of iPod business?

The iPod sales volume growth peaked in 2004 with a growth of 469% from 2003. However, since 2004, the sales volume growth of iPods is in a free fall. In 2005, the iPod sales growth was 287% over 2004 sales; in 2006, the iPods sales growth was only 45% over 2005 sales; and finally, in 2007, the iPods sales growth was a meager 13% over 2006 sales. Of course, the sheer size of iPod sales is a huge number - over 52 million a year - and it is harder to keep up the triple-digit sales growth when you achieve the 800 lb gorilla status. However, iPod market share has remained relatively flat around the 70% mark in the last couple of years.

How can Apple turnaround iPod Sales Growth Engine?

First, we must ask the fundamental question on whether the overall market of MP3 players is big enough and growing fast enough for Apple to grow the iPod sales 20% to 40% a year? If the overall market of Mp3 players is say 90 million in 2008, for Apple to maintain its 70% market share, it must sell 63 million new iPods in 2008. This would amount to a 20% growth in iPod sales from 2007, and a positive turnaround from the 13% sales growth of 2007. For Apple to grow its lead to say 75% in the MP3 market, Apple would need to sell 67.5 million iPods in 2008, or a sales growth of about 28% from 2007. This would be an amazing turnaround. However, if Apple sells anything less than 60 million iPods, a growth of 15% only over 2007, the analysts would begin to wonder on whether iPod is a growth phenomenon anymore. It would mark two years of back to back growth of 13% and 15%, and could mark a real slowdown of iPod sales.

Can Apple drive consumer behavior further to buy more iPods in 2008, and create a bigger market of MP3 players - thereby growing the market share?

What is Apple doing to drive this behavior?

1. Apple has introduced the new iPod touch at lower prices. iPod touch is perhaps the best iPod ever made, and would find existing iPod owners upgrading to it, and also new buyers.

2. Apple has lowered the starting price of iPod Shuffle to only $49 so as to attract first-time iPod buyers.

3. Apple is experimenting with newer business models for the iTunes store (unconfirmed) so as to provide more value and more songs in a new iPod.

4. Apple has introduced the new pink model of iPod nano, and also expanded the partnership with Nike for the gym.

5. Finally, Apple is expected to reduce the iPod prices further when it launches iPhone 2.0 (unconfirmed) or in summer, 2008.

Can Apple provide a free iPod Shuffle to every new buyer of a MAC or Apple TV? In order to get the Shuffle for free, a buyer has to subscribe to an iTunes service for $9.99 or $14.99? Would that drive more sales of iPods?

Or does a higher sales volume really matter to Apple? If Apple can sell iPods at a higher sales price, that would still drive the overall sales revenue growth. And that's what the investors are really looking for. Knowing Apple though, it is not about to relinquish its firm foothold on the MP3 market anytime soon, and it would continue to play both ends of the market.

2008 - Can Apple turnaround the iPod sales growth engine?

Innovation Index Group, Inc. maintains a BUY rating on Apple with a Q4, 2008 price target of $235 to $250.

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About Innovation Index Group:

Innovation Index Group, Inc. is a new investment management company focused on systematically identifying, tracking and investing in the most innovative publicly traded companies in North America – collectively called the Innovation Index. We have developed the Innovation Index Fund, LLC as our first vehicle to invest in the Innovation Index. Over the past six years, the Innovation Index has generated a gross average annual return of 40%.

Innovation Index Group, Inc. and Innovation Index Fund LLC are registered California Corporations, and member of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce in Orange County. Further, Innovation Index Fund LLC is a private placement investment partnership organized under the California state regulations.

The Innovation Index Reports:

Invest in The Innovation Index - Innovation Index Fund tracks The Innovation Index
The Innovation Index closes 2007 at 66% - 2007 Annual Report on the Innovation Index
Top 50 Innovative Companies in the world - 2007 Report on Top 50 Innovative Companies
Annual Report - Chapter One - Total Innovation Activity - 2006 Annual Report One
Annual Report - Chapter Two - The Top Innovator - 2006 Annual Report Two
Annual Report - Chapter Three - The Innovation Insights - 2006 Annual Report Insights
Innovation and Stock Performance Correlation - The Innovation Index and Stock Performance

About The Innovation Index

The Innovation Index introduced in December 2006 is a weighted stock price index of the top 20 Innovators in North America.

The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007, and returned 174% over the previous five years (2002-2006). This assumes equal investment in each stock of The Innovation Index as of December 31, 2001. An average of $100 invested in The Innovation Index on December 31, 2001 returned $454 as of December 31, 2007. By comparison, $100 invested in S & P 500 returned 28% or $129, $100 invested in NASDAQ returned 34% or $136, and $100 invested in the Dow Jones Index returned 30% or $131 through December 31, 2007. The Innovation Index beats the S & P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones Index by more than seven times over the past six years.*

Alphabetical list of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index for 2008 and their stock ticker symbols:

3M Company - (NYSE: MMM)
Amazon.com, Inc. - (NASDAQ: AMZN)
America Movil - (NYSE: AMX)
Apple Inc. - (NASDAQ: AAPL)
AT&T Inc. - (NYSE: T)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - (NYSE: BBY)
Cisco Systems, Inc. - (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Costco Wholesale Corporation - (NASDAQ: COST)
eBay Inc. - (NASDAQ: EBAY)
General Electric Co. - (NYSE: GE)
Google Inc. - (NASDAQ: GOOG)
Hewlett-Packard Co. - (NYSE: HPQ)
Intel Corporation - (NASDAQ: INTC)
International Business Machines Corp. - (NYSE: IBM)
Merck & Co., Inc. - (NYSE: MRK)
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
Microsoft Corporation - (NASDAQ: MSFT)
NIKE, Inc. - (NYSE: NKE)
Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM)
The Proctor & Gamble Company - (NYSE: PG)

The Innovation Index will analyze the positions and standings of the Top 20 Innovators at the end of each year. For 2008, there will be no further changes in The Innovation Index.

Disclaimer: The Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in the stocks comprising The Innovation Index.
*Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Results

Countdown to iPhone 2.0 aka iPhone 3G - Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)

To buy iPhone 2.5G now or wait until iPhone 2.0 3G arrives? That will be the question facing most iPhone buyers between now through Summer 2008.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and the number one Innovator in the world.

In a story released by Fortune, Apple is getting ready for the launch of the all new iPhone in June 2008 in a similar vein when Apple introduced the iPhone in June 2007. If history is any guide, Apple will have another huge launch of the iPhone 3G.

"The new phone will operate on AT&T's (NYSE: T) faster network giving a big speed boost to mobile Internet users. The new phone will also be packed with more features including GPS navigation." - Fortune

Who are the biggest competitors to the all new iPhone? Sony with it's new Xperia, Garmin with the new Nuvifone, and Research In Motion's (NASDAQ: RIMM) new Blackberry 9000 will give iPhone a run for the money.

Innovation Index Group, Inc. projects sales of 12 million iPhones in 2008.

Complete story here...

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