Future Transportation in the US Is Not Pretty

(2/5/2015) The Department of Transportation in the US released US's future traffic report and it does not look good at all. Here is a quick summary from Popular Science. Think your commute is bad now? It can be worse.

BTW, US DOT warns about Climate Change's impact on transportation.

Fire Tablet Bad News from Amazon Shows The Importance of Real Retail Channel

(2/4/2015) Amazon's Fire phone was a failure (causing $170 millions of write-down on its book), but its predecessor - Fire Tablet was not. Well, at least, before the Fire Phone was launched. Just within 5 years after the first generation of iPad was launched, the global tablet sales has entered its "mature stage." In 2014, the tablet sales dropped for the firs time (still before Tablet is 5 years-old), even Apple's iPad has 17.8% of sales drop. But once the biggest contender of iPad -- Amazon Fire Tablet -- had a even bigger drop of 68% in 2014, almost 70% of in sales. How can that be? This news has a very good analysis: Amazon's Fire tablets are only available on Amazon and very limited channels. But many smaller brands tablet maker had encroached a good chunk of the market share: 35.2% and was the 'only group' that saw tablet sales growth in 2014. $40 after gift card for 10" Android tablet (see captured picture below), How can Amazon's Fire beat this price? Can Bezos dodge this miscalculation again?

Internet Hype

(2/3/2015) When will I get 15 minutes of publicity like Andy Warhol said? Who knows?
Can you justify why who are the dancing sharks for Katy Perry becomes a talking point of NFL Superbowl? Their names now become search keywords. If they dress like normal backup dancers, will we notice them?

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Skymall Goes Bankruptcy

(1/23/2015) For many travelers, Skymall magazine used to be the stuff people read when they forget to bring some books to read during the flight. For me, Skymall magazine is the source of many crazily customized tool and gadgets and useless one-function-dedicated innovations (like "a Darth Vader toaster or a paper towel holder with USB ports"). However, just after two years that on-board Wi-Fi are available on commercial plane, this magazine says goodbye to flyers and files bankruptcy. It is an end of an era.

For those who will miss the crazy invention on Skymall, this is your last chance to review "top 10 innovations that we never need.' I do think their demo room should become a public museum.


World News Videos | ABC World News

Useless Invention Coming back

(1/17/2015) Selfie stick is one of the most popular new devices in 2015 CES due to the popularity of mobile devices. There is even a booth selling various type of selfie sticks (see picture below). However, this type of product was invented early in the early 1990's and was voted as one of the most useless product in 1995. If you are old enough, you probably remember Apple's Newton (launched in 1991) handheld device that failed. There were really born in the wrong time (生不逢時), right?

Selfie Stick is popular in 2015 CES show. Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/there-are-whole-booths-filled-with-selfie-sticks-at-ces-2015-1 

A Touching Story -- Jason Brown from NFL

(12/5/2014) At the era that most people pursuing material advances and many rich people get greedier, I am very moved by this story from Huffington Post. Jason Brown, an ex-NFL football player from St. Louis Ram, shared his life now as a farmer. Our society needs more dreamers like Jason Brown who are willing to help and share.

Jason Brown

Mile Long Security Check Line @ Midway Airport

(12/4/2014) Mile long of airport security check line? No kidding. It is hard to believe that Midway Airport made such a big mistake at the busiest day of air travel. But seeing is believing. What is the cause? The airport says they opened the security check too late and did not have enough staff working for security checking.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy