At the head of the poll they state, “Innovation: The health of the economy depends on it. Our schools are meant to encourage it. But innovation isn’t a widget that can be stamped out on the assembly line. It’s the product of a delicate recipe of education, technology and entrepreneurship. We’d like your help exploring where innovation is happening, and where it’s not, but should be.”

When I received an email invite today to respond to the poll, I was initially excited since I assumed (wrongly) that this was open to general public and/or MPR members at large. As it turns out I received the invite since I’m one of a select number of “Public Insight Network” contributors to yet another subsite on MPRNewsQ called “Minnesota Today“.

Minnesota Today is a crowdsourced article input site from a number of people who (hopefully) have insight in to important and interesting we all come across daily while reading online. We submit links to a moderated queue and they’re looked at and posted periodically throughout each day. I’m expecting this connection might enable me to obtain the results of this poll early—or at least be able to publish them quickly here on Minnov8—and I’ll try to let you know what people say as soon as possible.

Though I’m a contributor and fan of MPR, the website has so much going on and is so layered and nuanced, it’s a real challenge to find anything…including my modest contributions at Minnesota Today. In fact, I’ve talked to about a dozen hard-core MPR and Twin Cities Public Television members who had no clue Minnesota Today even existed and for a couple of others who did, had no idea I contributed. Others are taken aback that there are “special” polls like this that are not open to the public at large and I’d have to agree.

Still, this is a good start on an innovative use of the web and crowdsourcing and I applaud MPR for the effort.

MPR: Where is innovation in Minnesota? is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

Many Minnov8 readers automatically assume that startups and new businesses are the key to being the growth engine the U.S. and Minnesota needs. While that’s absolutely true, the Advocacy’s analysis of the quarterly Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that over the 15 years from 1993 to mid-2008, 31 percent of net job gains (jobs created minus jobs lost) came from the creation and destruction of businesses (net employment change from business entry minus business exit) BUT an even larger share—the remaining 69 percent—were from businesses that were not new, but survived.

Small business has been hit just as hard as the rest of the economy and oftentimes cannot withstand recessionary forces as well as bigger businesses with either deep pockets or access to capital. As a consequence, many are turning to powerful and inexpensive methods to get the word out about their businesses, engage their loyal users and build a following, and are doing so in some unique ways.

For those of you who are actively using social media—blogs, Twitter, Facebook, even the old standby, email—you know that more of us than ever are paying less attention to traditional media and more attention to new forms of media and communications and therefore coming across businesses who are using it for communicating with us. Some local savvy small business leaders are taking matters in to their own hands with interesting results and to make certain they’re one of the 69 percent that survive our economic downturn.

l-r: Dan Marshall, Julie Warner, Naomi Williamson and Aimee Pelletier

Friday found the Minnov8 team at the Social Media Breakfast/Minneapolis & St. Paul (SMBMSP) for a panel discussion about small business and how to leverage social media for fun and profit. It was led by Jason DeRusha (a reporter at WCCO-TV & is at @DeRushaJ) with panelists Julie Warner of WarnersStellian (@WarnersStellian); Aimee Pelletier of DarnKnitAnyway (@darnknitanyway); Naomi Williamson of Sanctuary Restaurant (@SanctuaryRest); and Dan Marshall of Peapods (@PeapodsNatural).

Each of the panelists had stories about the impact of social media on their businesses and that it was contributing to growth. Marshall talked about ways they connect with mothers and foster word of mouth; Warner of connecting with both those who are positive about WarnersStellian and, especially, those who have had negative experiences so as to turn their perception toward the positive; Williamson discussed the ineffective use of traditional media (e.g., advertising in restaurant guides brought zero results) and the impact of email marketing; and Pelletier of how reaching out with her email newsletter to current customers and how that approach continually built upon her customer base.

Though the group was light on analytics and anecdotal in their storytelling, each was firmly convinced that it was making a difference in their businesses and they could each cite results that backed up their claims.

This all begs the question for a site that focuses on web and internet innovation: Should the focus of innovation be just on startups, or is it perhaps just as important to educate, empower and encourage innovative use of technologies in businesses we need to survive? Any way you look at it, the Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that the survival and saving of jobs in small business is more important than just starting up new ones.

What do you think?

Why Small Business Needs to Innovate is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

How true is the perception that Minnesota lacks funding and risk-taking venture capitalists? If you read these three things below, you’ll see that it’s highly likely perception is reality.

• Having Eric Caron (@ecaron) point out this thread to me at Hacker News which was sparked by someone submitting this tech.mn article for discussion. While commenters have usernames vs. real ones and there is a lot of anecdotal discussion in the thread, it’s a troubling read since this is how many startups feel about being here in Minnesota

• Next I fired up my iPad RSS reader in order to skim the top tech sites I read at breakfast each morning. I immediately was presented with an incredibly contrarian-to-Minnesota-VC-funding-experience in an article on the tech site GigaOM entitled, “Seed Stage Investments Jump Sharply in Q2 2010.” It begins with this: “If there were any doubts that the entrepreneurial activity is hitting new highs, then the new data from the National Venture Capital Association puts them to rest –venture capitalists invested $6.5 billion in 906 deals during the second quarter of 2010, thanks to a renewed interest in seed and early stage companies along with new found enthusiasm for clean technology-oriented startups. This is in sharp contrast to a slowdown in the new money flowing into venture funds themselves.“

• In a pretty clear sign that everyone’s perception is reality came when I popped open StarTribune.com’s business section this morning and this article leapt out at me, “Venture capital still scarce in Minnesota.” It led with this: “Venture capital investments in emerging Minnesota companies perked up a bit in the second quarter but remained on track for the weakest year in 15 years of record-keeping, according to data being released Friday.“

The passing of the Angel Tax Credit will go a long way to tap in to the seed stage momentum GigaOM reported on this morning. Read Why Now? MN Legislature Passes Bill w/Angel Investment Tax Credit and Angel-backed Startups 30-50% More Likely To Be Successful to learn more about seed stage investing in Minnesota…

…but then tell us what else needs to be done? Make your voice heard in the comments!

Is Perception the Reality with MN Venture Funding? is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

His most recent work comes from his own Zachstronaut, which he describes as a “web rocket-lab” site to showcase his love for the internet and gaming as well as his experiments. The result of that work is his internet game Infiltration.

Infiltration was built in response to blog Boing Boing‘s call for games to be developed that were inspired by “chip music“. (You can vote for Infiltration through today, 7/15). Most likely very familiar to gamer cycles but not far beyond, chip music is inspired by early video game soundtracks. Think Asteroids, Pac Man and a host of Nintendo games. Grab a Casio keyboard and hang on…

Johnson, a fan of this unique musical genre, has spent more than his fair share of time listening to chip music and envisioning the game activity that it might accompany. A User Experience developer at Worrell, he says, “Video games contributed to shaping my entire career in computers.” It was clearly a natural for him to develop a chip music inspired game.

Indie game developer game designs tend to be very simplistic, with an almost nostalgic look and feel. “Part of the design is a nod to the old school music but it’s probably more about the amount of time and money indie game developers have to spend on the games.” He goes on to note, “It took nine people a year to write Pac Man, I wrote this in about 30 hours.”

Johnson also saw an opportunity to advance his passion for open programming. “I wanted to make a game that didn’t need a plugin.” Hence the use of Javascript, allowing the ability to play the game directly from your browser. “Javascript and browser based games offer a very low barrier of entry.” notes Johnson.

The use of coding language like Javascript and HTML5 is on the rise as many see the use of Flash diminishing. “I don’t hate Flash, but it’s obvious it is going the way of the Dodo.” according to Johnson referencing the ownership and closed nature of the language. “I always bet on the openess of  web.” When developing the game and entering the Boing Boing contest (Did I mention you could vote for his game through 7/16.) Zach thought that the use of Javascript would allow him to be more unique and give him an upper hand. But “The use of Javascript was more prevalent than I thought…which is good.” Nearly half the games submitted use it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhvupyRdR5I

The design of the game and the participation in the contest serves Johnson in number of ways. First and foremost, it’s a hobby. It also clearly promotes his programming skills and many projects while allowing him to share his passion for open web design. In addition, while he could have spent much more time on the game he appreciates the short-term goal. “The competition set a deadline. Otherwise I can spend a lot of time on it. I need to make a game I need to get done.”

Where does he see this indie game developer movement going? “There are plenty of applications from entertainment to art to even civil engagement. Imagine someone demonstrating the need for better routing of traffic through a game.” He also notes a very basic result. “If I can make little tidbits of joy for someone, that’s great.”

The Joy of Infiltration Champions Open Game Development is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

On July 31, 1790, the first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins for an improvement "in the making of Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and Process" and signed by then President George Washington.

Let’s say you’ve founded a startup and think you have a completely original idea no one has thought of before with new approaches to the way an old process works. You might then think all you have to do is patent that process and you can achieve the protection patenting is all about: excluding others from copying you.

Oh, if it were only so simple. The world of patents has become incredibly complex and is a minefield just waiting for a startup to get traction selling their offering before the unaware entrepreneur takes a step, hears a click, and thinks “Oh-oh” just before the “patent landmine” blows up. This is especially true in the area of method (i.e., process) patents but there’s hope.

Ernest Grumbles III

Ernest Grumbles III, an intellectual property attorney with Merchant & Gould and co-founder of MOJO MN, has one of the best posts I’ve read yet at StarTribune on the current state of method patents (and it’s obvious why you need somebody like him to ensure your idea is capable of being patented or even worthy of protection). As Ernest points out, method patents are neither good nor bad and are granted based on the merits of the claim and its level of abstraction. If you have a method idea you’re already moving forward on (or are about to) then you owe it to yourself, and your current and future investors, to make certain you are protected and that you wrap that idea in a way that minimizes abstraction and ensures you’re granted that patent!

That said, calls for patent reform are growing louder by the week and many of us who see some patents as ways to extort money from entrepreneurs and innovators or stifle innovation, hope the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office moves faster on reform.

Until there are significantly more precedents set in the area of method patents, people like Ernest will have no shortage of work and startups no end of concern over whether a method idea is too abstract to be patented or likely infringing on some obscure patent already granted.

Method Patents: Good or Bad? is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

Billed as “an open call and partnership between PepsiCo and up to 10 of the most promising start-ups in media, communications and technology” PepsiCo is quick to point out this is not a contest. “it is an open Request For Proposals (RFP).” and “the 10 entrepreneurs chosen will be mentored by a team of venture capitalists, media experts and PepsiCo brand marketers during pilot programs of their submitted technologies and innovations.” While there is no ‘prize’ on the line, Foote noted the benefits of being part of the PepsiCo10, “To be associated in a technology demonstration with a brand like Quaker or Gatorade is very valuable to a startup. The trade off between revenue and exposure works in this case. ”

The next step for MixMobi as well as all of the semi-finalists is to submit a three minute video answering some basic questions and a running through a demo of the product or service. The finalists will be announced by weeks end with the final 20 heading to the two-day PepsiCo10 Summit to present to PepsiCo brand marketers, agency partners, venture capitalists and angel investors in attendance. The chosen ten will partner with a PepsiCo brand for a pilot execution of their solutions.

According to Foote the ideal outcome would be “To have MixMobi-powered technology support PepsiCo brands like Frito Lay or Pepsi beverages in multiple geographies in several different languages, across a variety of mobile platforms and carriers, as well as through diverse digital channels (ex: Facebook, Twitter, text messaging and Augmented Reality) would be an ideal demonstration of MixMobi’s robust, internationalization-ready platform.”

MixMobi Moves Closer to Being Named One of The PepsiCo 10 is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

St. Cloud-based W3i is in the app distribution business — in a big, profitable way (33 successive quarters thereof).  But till now that business has been all about desktop apps, and Windows only. Well, mark down yesterday as the day they entered the world of mobile, with this bombshell: W3i Launches New Incented Mobile App Distribution Service for iOS App Developers.  A separate version of the release, for consumers, gets more to the benefit: Consumers Can Now Earn Rewards for Installing Apps.  Those rewards, my friends, would be cash — for consumers who register at a W3i site called Apperang.com.

Naturally, app fanboys and girls everywhere loved the news — after reading about it on some of the sites they frequent the most.  TechCrunch (MobileCrunch) ran this story: Apperang Pays You Cash to Download iPhone Apps… Ka-Ching! And VentureBeat (MobileBeat) ran concurrently — amazing how that happens — with their take: Get paid to install apps with W3i Mobile Solutions and Apperang.  Numerous other sites and blogs picked up on it immediately, and Twitter was going crazy on it (just search on hashtags #apperang and #w3i).  [Oh, sure, there was a story in the StarTrib last week, too, but that didn't light up much of anything... <rimshot>]

I asked the CEO of a local app development company for his reaction to this W3i news, from a business perspective:  ”The model and integration W3i has developed for desktop distribution has been a huge success in the past, so I wouldn’t bet against them on making their mobile version a success,” said Wade Beavers, CEO of DoApp Inc. “For developers wanting to get a core base of users fast, it makes sense to use this service. The key will be how long those users keep your app, because that’s where the return on investment is.”

I also asked one of Minnesota’s most experienced iPhone app developers for his reaction: “Will app publishers readily jump to use this type of service? Small developers, maybe,” said Bill Heyman of CodeMorphic. “But small developers may not have budget to support this type of promotion… Will it be enough to hit the tipping point for more organic sales because of a higher App Store ranking? Well, ultimately, it would depend on how much a company wants to spend to buy a ranking.”

But, actually, W3i signed on some pretty successful big developers for its private beta before the announcement yesterday (the service is now in public beta).  That list of launch advertisers — just those that let W3i use their names for PR purposes — includes these firms, with the name of their app in parentheses: Big Stack Studios (Sigma), Inert Soap (FingerZilla), Booyah (MyTown), Gist (Gist), Thinking Ape (Kingdoms at War), Flixster (Movies), Slacker Inc (Slacker Radio), xCube Labs (My Health Records – Health n Family), and infinidycorp (Zombies vs. Aliens).

I’m sure we’ll be hearing about a lot more, as W3i tells me they are crazy-busy now following up with other app companies who are inquiring.

(Disclosure: the author has had a consulting relationship with W3i for providing PR services.)

W3i Lights Up the ‘Net with Its Latest App News is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

This sort of innovation is sorely needed in the real estate marketplace today primarily due to the collapse that has occurred in the housing market. With its capability to make the process of selling and buying a home considerably more efficient for both buyers and real estate agents, iKenex promises to remove much of the typical lag time for realtors to communicate to buyers about properties or for buyers to wait around for a real estate agent to call or email when you’re on the hunt for that perfect home.

What might not be obvious from looking at the features of iKenex is this: DoApp and Concentric Mobile have done a remarkable job of creating a platform adept at aligning incentives in the residential real estate marketplace and making the process of communicating with buyers fast and easy.

Of course, the key to any platform is to provide an on-ramp to a market or technology which savvy businesspeople and developers can leverage. My impression of the iKenex platform is that it strongly aligns with the incentives of local, regional, state or even national companies that want to participate in the mobile/GPS real estate app space, but clearly can’t “play” with providers like Zillow and maybe couldn’t obtain decent ROI by building their own app. In addition, a realtor’s incentives seem obviously aligned with iKenex and how they could easily leverage what’s happening with their local listings and the areas in which they sell houses.

I asked DoApp CEO, Wade Beavers, if my assumption that their strategy about aligning incentives with iKenex was on the right track.

“That is a fair way to position it,” said Beavers, “What we have found is that products developed for a local market do well.  They never reach numbers that dazzle you but when you aggregate them they are very high. Real Estate is still a local service and the idea that we are trying to work with agents, associations, etc to maintain that level of service with technology is key.”

“We like to think we are helping them reinvent themselves on the service side but that is only us self proclaiming that and time will tell. I do know that agents use these tools to make their jobs more efficient too. The thing that is amazing for us is we are able to take an MLS and put them in market with their own branded app in 30 days or less which says a lot.”

iKenex (and the other apps DoApp delivers) is one to watch since it undoubtedly is aligning incentives as you can see from the press release below and that they were awarded a significant technology contract with San Diego County’s regional MLS service!

Over 18,000 Real Estate Agents in San Diego Will

Have Access to the Latest Mobile Technology From iKenex

Sacramento, CALIF. – June 17, 2010 – iKenex was awarded the mobile technology contract with Sandicor, San Diego County’s regional Multiple Listing Service representing over 18,000 agents, to provide the latest MobileMLS, MobileIDX, and ConsumerIDX solutions for the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry platforms. “We are very excited to offer these innovative mobile products to the real estate professionals in our area,” says Ray Ewing, CEO, Sandicor.

iKenex will provide Sandicor’s members with a powerful and easy-to-use mobile MLS that runs natively on the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry platforms. These innovative apps will be available in Apple’s App Store, the Android Market, as well as a mobile browser based MLS solution for all smartphones. iKenex mobileMLS uses highly optimized searching algorithms and takes advantage of the phones GPS and mapping capabilities to help pinpoint listings and provide agents complete listing details in seconds. “Imagine being an agent showing properties to a client and having the ability to push a button in front of a listing to receive all of the information you need instantly. It really changes the way an agent can conduct business in the field, “ says Dave Borrillo, COO of iKenex.

The iKenex products allow agents to communicate with their clients more effectively by integrating the mobile application with the IDX (Internet Data Exchange to display listings for customers to view). An agent can save a listing to their favorites folder on their iPhone and see that listing later that day on their office desktop in the same folder. They can instantly send information regarding a listing or directions to a listing directly to their client from their smartphones via email, text, or share it through a direct Twitter or Facebook link.

“Having access to crucial information on a listing when you need it, where you need it is essential to gain the competitive advantage in this market. Timing is everything. Current mobile solutions are too slow and too tedious to deliver MLS information effectively and timely. By utilizing the features that are contained within today’s smartphones iKenex has unleashed the power of this platform,” says Brian Lonchar, VP of sales and marketing for iKenex. “We are thrilled to be working with such a forward thinking organization like Sandicor and look forward to our partnership with them.”

iKenex is a partnership between Concentric Mobile, creators of next generation Real Estate MLS applications, and DoApp Inc., which is one of the top developers of mobile applications in the country. Together, their focus is on developing Real Estate applications that are powerful, easy-to-use, and help agents improve customer contact. For more information, contact Brian Lonchar at (916) 837-6511, brian@ikenex.com or Rich Igou at (916) 290-9665, Rich@iKenex.com, or visit the iKenex website at www.iKenex.com

iKenex Platform from DoApp is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

It’s not just the dough, though, it’s the “professional services” mentioned that can make a huge difference in the life of a startup enabling them to “…connect with local business leaders and mentors arranged by the Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School of Management.”

The 2010 semi-finalists will be honored with a reception at the James J. Hill Library on Tuesday, June 22 from 6:00-8:00 p.m and Minnov8 will be there covering it live. Read the press release here.

MN Cup Announces Semi-Finalists is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

We revisit Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) through Julio Ojeda-Zapata’s experiences talking about the new iPhone 4 and his reliance on the iPad and HTC EVO 4G on his trip. Many other related subjects are explored to their logical conclusions.

Show Hosts: Tim Elliott, Graeme Thickins and Phil Wilson (Steve Borsch was away this week).

Music by AjT “Apple Chunk Guitar” from Music Alley.

Discussed during the podcast:

iPhone 4 live blogs: Engadget | gdgt

Julio’s impressions of iPhone 4 vs. HTC EVO 4G  on Your Tech Weblog

Simplenote app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

Reeder app for iPhone and iPod Touch

Read It Later

Instapaper

Pulse News Reader app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

Readability

Safari 5 Extensions blog

Xmarks extension for Firefox, Chrome and Safari

Apple TV Rumors at Engadget

Julio’s “Twitter Means Business” book website

Julio’s latest TWiT appearance

Events:

Social Media Breakfast, Twin Cities

fontconf

Unsummit 2010

MIMA “Crowd Source/User Generated Content with John Winsor” Event

Minnov8 Gang Podcast 82: Vicarious WWDC is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

FryPanDigital

I met co-founder John Haddad at the Mobile March event a couple of months ago. He said that he’d keep in touch on the apps release and, true to his word, did so today and I thought I’d write a post immediately so you all could go and download this free app.

If you’ve ever spent any time hiking through the 8+ miles of skyway in the Minneapolis system, you know how challenging it is to find your way, locate that favorite deli or coffee shop you’ve been thinking about, or are heading toward to meet a friend for lunch and if you’re like me — a guy who detests pausing for several minutes to locate my destination on a skyway directory and then orient myself in the skyway labyrinth over-n-over again — this app will be a godsend and make it significantly simpler to ensure you and I don’t get lost in the skyway system.

For retailers and merchants who struggle to get the attention of potential skyway-walking customers (and face restrictions on placing signage in the walkways) this app promises to give them a new avenue to connect with customers as well as prospective ones. This is a struggle I know all too well since a few college buddies of mine once had a video rental store on the skyway system and every day multiple people would stop in and express surprise and delight that, “Oh good! There’s a video rental store in the skyway. How long have you been here?” even though they’d been in business at that location for several years. This app holds the promise of being both a fabulous tool for people to discover merchants and retailers but will also enable those retailers and merchants to deliver specials, deals and other focused advertisements through the app.

Mobile advertising through the app is the obvious monetization play for FryPan Digital and Haddad mentioned that they have been receiving nice feedback on the app, solid downloads (more than 100 even before this launch as a developer download) and they also enjoyed this great article at the Examiner. Here are some screenshots of the app:

It’s clear that Haddad and crew hope that this app becomes wildly successful and fuels a business surrounding it. If the word gets out and people use it, they’ve got a good shot at making it the de facto way for mobile users to navigate the skyway system and to also act as a channel for merchants and retailers to leverage.

Take a peek at their video about the app and go download it if you’re a Twin Citian who traverses the Minneapolis skyway system or if you’re a visitor to our fair city:

Lost in Minneapolis Skyways? FrypanDigital Has Your Lifeline is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

Image courtesy of Apple, Inc.

As Minnesotans continue to embrace the always-on and always-connected online world — and mobile startups here continue to clock millions of app downloads with their offerings — there is no question that our ability to richly communicate with one another, be more productive, work when and where we want to, and have the world’s knowledge at our fingertips (provided our mobile carrier connection is operational!) took a big leap forward today with Apple’s introduction of iPhone 4.

Taking the stage at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) Monday, CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the new iPhone, a product we unfortunately had already seen in some detail due to April’s leak at tech site Gizmodo, but still eagerly anticipated.

Priced at $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB (same as the previous generation 3GS now priced at $99) iPhone 4′s features are impressive: a 5 megapixel camera (which Jobs pointed out was technically far superior to other smartphone manufacturers with even more megapixels); a camera in the front for videoconferencing and one in the back for photos; the rear camera lit with an LED flash; and recording software for HD video capture; and a 960 x 420 display that’s roughly twice the resolution as the 3GS model, now rendered permanently inferior to this new model with its cutting edge features.

The operating system driving this new phone, dubbed “iOS4″ instead of “iPhone OS 4″ since it will also be available to run the iPad come Fall, adds multitasking, clustering apps in “folders” and more. These features are key to keeping up with competitors — like that of Google’s Android operating system running devices such as the recently shipped HTC Evo 4 — but many pundits and bloggers are dissecting Jobs’ keynote and some are wondering if this new hardware and software will be enough to stave off competitors (like Google) and keep the iPhone sales momentum going?

According to analyst firm Nielsen in their “iPhone vs. Android” report, “As of Q1 ‘10, Nielsen data shows that 23% of mobile consumers now have a smartphone, up from just 16% in Q2 ‘09. Between Q4 ’09 and Q1 ’10, Android and iPhone’s share of the smartphone market grew by 2% each. At the same time, smartphone leader Blackberry lost 2% share to fall to 35% of all smartphones while Microsoft’s Windows Mobile OS also lost 2% to fall to 19%.”

While this data certainly indicates that Google is accelerating and iPhone sales continue to grow — though this data was compiled before today’s iPhone 4 release as well as Friday’s introduction at Sprint of the HTC Evo 4.

About the Sprint HTC Evo 4 release — a smartphone that runs Google’s Android operating system, Fortune magazine wrote Monday that, ”Friday sales of HTC EVO 4G marked the largest quantity of a single phone sold in one day ever for Sprint – the record was previously held by both Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre. In addition, the total number of HTC EVO 4G devices sold on launch day was three times the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined.

So, take the two previous record holders, tally up both of their sales for their first three days. The EVO sold three times that total in just one day. Estimates were for 50,000 to 100,000 Pres at launch so that would put EVO somewhere between 300,000 and 600,000 units.”

Pretty impressive numbers and it shows that the iPhone — the now “old” 3GS or this new iPhone 4 shipping June 24th — has good competition from Google and the handset manufacturers who’ve opted to leverage the Android operating system. Though Google’s debut in the smartphone OS space is intriguing, counting out Microsoft, RIM (Blackberry), Nokia (and what HP might do with their recent acquisition of Palm) would be a mistake since each has strengths that will likely see each of them growing market share in the mobile arena.

Is iPhone 4 enough? That’s an open-ended question without a specific answer, but suffice to say that the dozens of heavy use iPhone users I know are all going to upgrade to iPhone 4 (as am I). Using the HTC Evo 4 last evening at a Best Buy store it was clear the operating system is nowhere near as elegant and responsive as the iPhones, though I’ll admit it had a better display, camera and was faster than the iPhone 3GS I had in my pocket.

Comparing the brand new HTC Evo 4 (currently state of the art in Android phones) with my “old” 3GS version isn’t a fair comparison. A better one would be comparing the HTC Evo 4 with this new iPhone 4. Doing so will demonstrate that Apple just made another quantum leap forward in a smartphone experience which is likely to continue to accelerate Apple’s sales of iPhones within the globally growing mobile category.

iPhone 4: Is it enough? is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

Harvard Business Review (HBR) published this article about a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey that showed, ”people in professional services (consultants, investment bankers, accountants, lawyers, IT, and the like) simply expected to make work their top priority. They believe an “always on” ethic is essential if they and their firms are to succeed in the global marketplace.”

I feel their pain since I’m absolutely “always on” and “always connected,” often feeling guilty if I’m not working or putzing around on some project. You probably are doing this too since it’s likely you’re at home in the evening, or on weekends, preparing presentations, reading journals, checking email, and performing other tasks that are probably easier to accomplish when other workday distractions are at a minimum.

BCG also discovered in that study that, ”94% of 1,000 such professionals said they put in 50 or more hours a week, with nearly half that group turning in more than 65 hours a week. That doesn’t include the 20 to 25 hours a week most of them spend monitoring their BlackBerrys while outside the office. These individuals further say they almost always respond within an hour of receiving a message from a colleague or a client.”

Whoa. That means that these consultants are, practically speaking, always working. The problem with that sort of response time too is an growing expectation that people will be paying attention to their turned on and connected devices, able to receive a notification of a message, and are willing and eager to get back to us and BCG’s consultants were suffering from significant (and increasing) stress related to being seemingly “on call” constantly.

Is this the sort of future workplace behaviors we want for ourselves and our children in what is becoming an always connected world?

Fortunately, BCG found that time off was key to both productivity and the quality of consultant work. Predictable time off was even more important and is the name they gave to designated periods of time consultants must shut down and turn off work-related tasks and communications and was in addition to normal ebbs and flows of their work.

Being more productive and delivering higher quality work was the goal (and keeping their consultants happy and working with reduced stress a secondary one) but contemplative time is something I’ve found is as important (if not more so) than simply getting more stuff done and with higher quality.

When working feverishly or interacting with clients, I often ask, “Is it the right stuff I’m getting done? Am I considering important, timely and relevant input? Or am I even seeing input that might appear, once I’m in a different mental state? Do I really need to respond to them at 7pm this evening?” Too often I realize I’m not sure anymore, so take steps to tear myself away, turn stuff off, and put myself in to a contemplative mode.

Even though I might not be actively working on some client problem when off and in contemplative mode, flashes of insight almost always come from the most unlikely sources.

Case in point: I was working on particularly vexing partnership at a former company and was watching the movie Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingmar Bergman. While I won’t go in to the details of the negotiation, suffice to say that the movie’s intrigue, character relationships, double crosses and who you can trust or not made me stop and chuckle: it gave me complete insight in to the negotiation and the people involved!

I submit ensuring that you have contemplative time built-in is an imperative and a skill you need to learn now. No question that some people will use that sort of time to goof off, but with focused contemplative time you can help yourself understand even the most daunting problems and approach them from a new perspective.

If you’re building an application or developing a startup company, tearing yourself away to put yourself in a different context or environment will nearly always lead to new insights. You’re still mulling over the problems, but when you return refreshed from your contemplative time off you’ll see those problems or tasks from a different angle and with a fresh perspective.

So take time off this summer…it will be critical to your success.

Are you building in time for contemplation? is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

We had a chance to catch the kick-off of MOJO Minnesota last week. To say it was a unique launch might even be a bit of an understatement. Here’s some thoughts from some of the attendees and the lead “instigators”.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd_zhe5Ly44

Minnesota’s Got It’s MOJO Workin’ is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

Founders Ben Edwards & Luke Francl address the crowd at Minnebar

It was a good thing there was plenty of room. The session list was chocked full of a diversity of topics. What struck many of the attendees, myself included, was the challenge of deciding what session to attend…I always feel like I might miss something. That, and the inability to meet more than a handful of people who’d carved out a Saturday to attend, makes Minnebar a venue that will surely continue to grow and solidify its place as the premiere event for entrepreneurs and startups in Minnesota.

Sessions were all relatively well attended and ranged in adherence to the Barcamp-unconference expectations. Some were very engaging and some were straight ahead presentations…and those “presos” resulted in a less than stellar 40 minutes of time spent. Then again, that’s the fun, and risk, of the unconference style.

Steve Borsch w/Chief Inspector Robert Stephens

Fellow Minnov8er, Steve Borsch noted of defacto host Best Buy executive Robert Stephens, Chief Inspector of the Geek Squad, as “…passionate believer in entrepreneurship and a steadfast supporter of the Minnesota startup community. It was a delight to see him totally immersed in sessions, more than willing to talk to anyone willing to engage in conversation with him, and demonstrated Best Buy’s commitment to innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit simply by acting as a catalyst for this Minnebar.”

Our own Graeme Thickins added, “We need that — more big players who get it!  It’s heartening to know that so many people at Best Buy realize that new innovation often comes from the small companies, the startup teams, the individual developers. Robert had just gotten back from the huge Google IO event in the Valley, and wanted to talk about Google TV and all that. But he was also fired up to talk about ideas and technologies going on right here. It’s impressive that he and so many others dedicated a Saturday to talk about ways we can make tech in MN stronger.”

Mykl Roventine leading his web session

For one writer to try to indicate the highlights and lowlights would be pointless. No one person could truly appreciate all of the sessions. Minnov8er  Tim Elliot points out, “As we recounted in our podcast recorded at the event, MinneBar this year was quite varied than in past years…” He goes on to note topics like, “…web innovation, design, application development or social media.” Tim also said, “Mobile technology was a theme that ran through many of the sessions with iPhone, Android and iPad applications being featured on stage and in the audience as participants tweeted the proceedings.”

The real take away is the simple fact that the Minnesota innovation community continues to grow, it continues to draw energy from itself and those involved…and there is no sign of that letting up.

Graeme summed his experience up in one tweet, “..best evah!“

Strong Community of Innovation In Attendance at Minnebar is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

Best Buy Co. Inc today announced the availability of its new digital video service CinemaNow which will provide customers same-day instant access to new release movies and TV shows.

This month the service will be available on the CinemaNow website, but also with internet connected BluRay players. Netflix has been delivered on these devices (as well as the Roku box, internet connected HDTVs and more) but Best Buy is in a highly unique position with consumer electronic manufacturers.

Add to that their ability to explain to consumers how to use the service, Geek Squad ‘officers’ to set it all up in the home, and the potential to begin to reallocate the sheer square footage devoted to merchandising TVs and movies on DVD/BluRay discs.and you can see why this is of such strategic importance to Best Buy.

The full press release is after the jump.

Best Buy Provides Customers Same-Day Instant Access to

New Release Movies and TV Shows with Launch of CinemaNow(TM)

Digital Entertainment Platform Debuts on Devices This Month

MINNEAPOLIS, May 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Best Buy Co. Inc today announced the availability of its new digital video service CinemaNow which will provide customers same-day instant access to new release movies and TV shows.

The service will initially be accessible through select connected Blu-ray Disc players and HDTVs, and on most PCs via the web at www.cinemanow.com. Beginning this month, the service will be available on all new connected Blu-ray Disc players and home theater systems from LG Electronics. CinemaNow is also expected to launch on an array of other devices from various manufacturers, including Insignia, later this year.

CinemaNow, the result of the previously announced strategic relationship between Sonic Solutions(R) and Best Buy, will be powered by the RoxioNow(TM) technology platform. Best Buy owns the legal rights to the CinemaNow trademark, and will use it going forward to market the service to consumers who will have the ability to buy or rent from an extensive library of premium content, including new release movies and TV shows, with no subscription required.

The platform will also allow customers to seamlessly access their premium content on a wide range of Internet-connected devices from multiple manufacturers. The initial product launch, which is expected to be followed by an improved and updated version later this year, will allow customers to easily browse, search and purchase premium content through a highly-functional, straightforward user interface, and will deliver a high-quality viewing experience through enhanced playback technology.

“With the introduction of CinemaNow, Best Buy continues our commitment to evolve with our customers as their demand for digital entertainment grows,” said Chris Homeister, senior vice president of entertainment for Best Buy. “The convenience, selection and flexibility of the CinemaNow service offers customers more freedom in the way they choose to consume entertainment from Best Buy. This service, which complements our existing suite of digital entertainment brands, will be available to customers in their homes and on-the-go through a broad array of devices and will be brought to life in store with the help of our Blue Shirts and Geek Squad Agents.”

“At LG, we’re committed to enriching in-home entertainment by delivering the ultimate HD viewing experience and limitless content options,” said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. “Best Buy, through its compelling CinemaNow service, will provide customers with one of the most interactive entertainment options available making it easy for people to access their favorite content using LG’s NetCast Entertainment Access feature simply from the remote.”

“With a track record for bringing innovative technologies to a broad audience, Best Buy is in a great position to expand the market for on-demand home entertainment,” said Mike Dunn, Fox Home Entertainment worldwide president. “We are thrilled to partner with them and provide a wide selection of entertainment that can be accessed across many popular devices.”

The first update to the CinemaNow service is expected to release on select devices later this year and will include an advanced user interface and expanded video playback features aimed at further improving the video entertainment experience.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2010, we donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work.

For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com.

Best Buy Announces Movies & TV Online is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

It’s called “Izzy’s Flavor Up!” and it essentially allows customers to subscribe to their favorite ice cream flavors. Current flavors are updated every three minutes on its “flavor grid” web page.

With web site design and technology assistance from Bloomington MN-based The Nerdery (aka Sierra Bravo), Rogers MN-based RFID firm AbeTech, and CA-based tech vendor Phoenix Technologies, Izzy’s Ice Cream is now tagging all its 90+ flavors of ice cream in-store with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.  Each flavor’s tub is tagged with a unique code that’s automatically scanned when placed in the dipping cabinet.

What it means for an ice cream lover is nothing less than nirvana. Customers can now know, with absolute certainty anytime around the clock, which flavors are available in-store. When new flavors are removed from or added to the dipping cabinet, Izzy’s web site, Facebook and Twitter pages will automatically be updated, alerting fans to the latest changes. Customers can sign up for email alerts for their favorite flavors – so they’ll always know when their favorite Hot Brown Sugar, Soy Peanut Butter, or Peace Coffee ice cream is available. My buddy Al Maruggi told me today that Izzy’s has the best coconut ice cream in the Twin Cities, too, as he licked a sample thereof.

We also learned that SMS or text updates are on the way, if you’d rather get your alerts that way.  In-store customers can see the technology in action via a large-screen monitor that shows which flavors are now being scooped.

“Our customers are extremely passionate about their favorite flavors of Izzy’s ice cream,” said Jeff Sommers, Izzy’s owner, in a statement. “Their enthusiasm, while motivating me to continue creating delicious flavors, can also prove to be a customer service issue. Before today, our customers had no way of knowing if their favorite flavors were going to be available when they walked through the door.  This system solves that problem and makes it easier for our customers to enjoy their favorite flavors.”  The title of a video that Izzy’s crack PR firm put up on YouTube says it all: “How to Subscribe to Ice Cream.”

The nameplates for each flavor in the store have RFID chips built in, which are then read by antennae anchored in the dipping cabinet. The inventory is automatically updated simply through the act of an employee changing flavors in the dipping cabinet. That act triggers an inventory update, which in turn publishes the current flavors to multiple channels: the in-store screen, Izzy’s website, its Twitter and Facebook pages, and it’s automated emails to subscribers of individual flavors.

Izzy’s isn’t just a retail business. It has a catering business as well, and a wholesale business that has signed up several upscale grocery stores and restaurants throughout the Twin Cities that now offer its products — Kowalski’s, just to name one chain.

Regarding its latest new wrinkle, “This is undoubtedly one of the first uses of RFID as a customer service application,” said the company’s statement.  Izzy’s has a history of embracing new technology, having installed solar panels in 2005.  Owner Jeff Sommers also showed attendees at his media briefing today an innovative new cleaning system he has implemented in Izzy’s kitchen called “Zap Water,” which is an amazingly more environmentally friendly way to maintain a germ-free, allergen-free environment.

Izzy’s gets my vote as a true Minnesota innovator!  Now, excuse me, I’m jumping onto their web site to check if my favorite flavor is still available tonight….

Web Innovation Is Everywhere in Minnesota – Even In an Ice Cream Shop! is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

Minnesota’s innovators require many resources to be successful and a new entity, MOJO Minnesota, has been formed to thwart what the founders see as “an innovation crisis in Minnesota” and since “entrepreneurial advances and business revolutions thrive in a culture and community of risk and innovation.”

The catalysts for MOJO Minnesota read like a “Who’s Who” of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and intellectual property experts such as: Brad Lehrman; Ernest Grumbles; Kim Garretson; Mary Meehan; Tim Bachman; Rick Brimacomb; Andy Halper; Joy Lindsay; Damien Novak and Marti Nyman.

As they so engagingly point out, “Minnesota has amazing creative, technical and financial capital – yet new business launches and exits are scarce agitation is needed to -- promote a culture of risk -- and to – support innovation on the path from launch to exit the need for leaders Minnesota needs business revolutionaries to:

• boost emerging business and technology models
• spark the innovation community; and
• promote use of risk capital
• the path to mojo – a movement.”

The Minnov8 team met with the founders Wednesday to talk about their vision and what’s next. Here’s a snippet of that conversation where Phil Wilson asks Brad and Ernest for an overview of MOJO MN:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_fn8H6-R74

Minnesota’s MOJO is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

MinneSpark is an initiative from the team that brings you MinneDemo and MinneBar

What could you do with $1,000 for your best idea? Could you turn it into a scalable business? Let’s find out!

MinneSpark will award 1 to n grants of $1,000 to Minnesota-based teams who demonstrate to their trustees the ability to take that money and turn it into something real. This is about doing more with less, and building a profitable business from day one.

Winners will get some help along the way in the form of mentoring from the trustees and services from sponsors.

Applications are due by April 30, 2010. Winner(s) will be announced at MinneBar on May 22, 2010. Find the FAQ, application and more here.

MinneSpark Has $1,000 (Potentially) For You is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.

In case you missed it, I joined fellow Minnov8er Tim Elliott’s Team, dubbed Full Court Press as a bond to the WordPress platform we used, for the 3rd annual Nerdery sponsored event. This unique gathering pairs 10 person teams of web site professionals with deserving non-profit organizations. Those non-profits, some who have no web presence, receive brand new websites valued at well over $25,000 at the end of the 24 hour period. (Check out the Minnov8 podcast that originated from the Challenge.)

You couldn’t help but be taken by the dedication of these web pros. It’s not easy to spend a relatively short period of time with a “client”, then accelerate the design and creation of a website that accomplishes the goals of the non-profit…much less spending part of it in a sleep deprived state.

This being the third year of the event the folks at The Nerdery do a great job providing what teams need including entertainment and food. The carnival-like atmosphere is definitely not what you would expect from a bunch of web site developers. From human pyramids and massages to oxygen bars and ice cream the 24 hour period was anything but sedate.

The winner of the Challenge was Team Placeholder and they produced an incredible site for Dakota Wicohan, an organization working to preserve the Dakota language. However, all of the teams built great sites and all of the non-profits benefited from this 24 hours of design and production. All of the challenge participants deserve to be applauded for their commitment, ingenuity, patience, and generosity. Remember, these teams accepted only gratitude as their reward. Bravo!

Here’s a brief light-hearted recap of our 24+ hours that started at 7:30am on Saturday and ended just after 10:00am on Sunday…

Arrive and set up (“We didn’t bring enough stuff.”)…Coffee, pastry and bananas, yum…Observe other teams in the room. (These guys brought a lot of stuff, including really big monitors. Note case of monitor envy.)…Arrange tables for work-flow. Choose a “w” shape to reflect dedication to WordPress…Meet rest of team…Rearrange tables for real workflow. (You saw that coming.)…Snacks and coffee…DesignWise Medical draws Team Full Court Press. Brad and Janine appear to be great…Coffee…Get acquainted, planning and design meeting….DesignWise Medical is great…Note team spreadsheet indicates plenty of Red Bull and coffee consumption (Do we have a problem?)…Coding….Found the ice cream…Team meeting…Coding…Spicy lunch…Browse raffle prizes-iPad, 30″ monitor (more monitor envy), Threadless gift certificates, robot, bacon gift set, light saber and Ton-Ton sleeping bag?…Geek-meter pegged…Grab raffle tickets inside a giant blower…coding…Power past design disagreement…Tim Elliott displays strong penchant for Arnold Palmers (Iced-tea and lemonade)…Coding…Snack time and coffee…Team meeting…Burritos for dinner. Spicy again…Coding…Note funky smell…Minnov8 Podcast-Ask indecipherable question…Coding…Team Meeting…Visit to oxygen bar…Coding…Midnight pizza for 2nd dinner…Is that my colon screaming?…Coding…Team meeting…(Insert unexplained gap in time here.)…Bagel for breakfast…Final touches on site…Present to judges…Prepare for group presentation “just in case”…Watch finalist presentations (we aren’t one)…See raffle prizes awarded (didn’t win one)…Watch winner announcement…Clean up…Walk back to car (glad we didn’t bring a lot of stuff)…nap time!

Special thanks to all of Team Full Court Press: Tim Elliott, Mitchell Hislop, Carl Bliss, Patrick Lewis, Josh Leuze, Crystal Colby, Bharadwaj Parthasarathy, Toby Cryns, Ben Wallace as well as our chosen charity DesignWise Medical’s Brad Slaker and Janine Johnson. Look for their new site soon.

24 Hours, a New Site and Real Fun. is a post from: Minnov8 and published under a Creative Commons license.