iPad 2 - Instant Hit

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is the number one technology company in the world!

iPad 2 has three things going for it which will make it an instant success!

1. Price - Very, very attractive starting at $499!
Believe me, as the current user of iPad, this is a screaming deal! I need to upgrade mine, soon! None of the new Tablets such as those from Motorola and Samsung can match this drop-bottom price. Apple has done something really great with the iPad line for which it doesn't get much credit - "Apple has made this amazing device very affordable for the average consumer!"

2. New Powerful Features (and looks)
In particular, the all new Video camera and Faster Processing! Current iPad is really fast... But with dual processors, the additional performance will come in handy for multi-processing and running all those powerful business and entertainment apps. And did I mention that the new iPad is thinner, lighter, sexier and available in a very cool white color. I love my black iPad!

3. Apps! Apps! Apps!
Apple has upped the ante on Built-in Apps including FaceTime, Photo Booth, enhanced Mail, Video, and the iPad finder (no more losing your iPad).
More importantly, there are now over 65,000 iPad dedicated Apps! Some of my favorites are the Project, Wall Street Journal, Pandora, Kindle for iPad, YouTube, Netflix and OGoing. I also enjoy many of the games on the iPad... There are apps for Business, Communications, Entertainment, Productivity, and every industry... "There's an app for that"

Why I love my iPad?
I find that my iPad is very easy to use, performs extremely well, never crashes, is ON in seconds, and works all the time! I enjoy the music, movies, photos, surfing and the entertainment features. I love the fact that the iPad runs for 10 hours without having to recharge! My daughter loves it too for the many games, drawing, and the intuitive, easy touch interface! I do have a wish list for Steve Jobs and Apple - a. File folders to store docs, photos, files b. Flash video support. c. USB or external drive

Check out Apple's Innovation Strategy, and learn to innovate like Apple and Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder, chief innovator:
http://www.innovationmain.com/Apple-eBook.html

What's amazing is that the tablet market surpassed the mature eBook reader market owing to the Apple iPad in 2010! IDC is predicting shipments of roughly 50 million tablets for 2011, with Apple owning 70%-80% market share, or shipping at least 35 million iPads.

Best Three Technology Innovations of 2010

PCWorld scanned the entire universe of technology this year--HDTVs, phones, tablets, PCs, e-book readers, storage, software, services, apps, digital cameras, camcorders, printers, and more--and picked the best 100.

Whereas the PC World top 100 list is interesting and subjective, here are my picks of the Top Three Technology Innovations of 2010. I have picked my best three innovations in 2010 based on the following three criteria:

a. Commercial Success - number of units shipped, new revenue generated and market share gains
b. Ease of Use - how easy, simple, and intuitive the product is to use, reuse, and enjoy
c. X Factor - how sexy is the product, fan following, viral appeal, user ratings, and customer loyalty

Here are my Top Three Technology Innovations of 2010:

#1. Apple iPad - The wildly successful Apple iPad re-created the Tablet PC marketplace single-handedly, and started a whole suite of Tablet competitors from Samsung, HP, Dell and more... Apple iPad is elegant, sexy, engaging, interactive, extremely easy to use, and has endless applications. The other day, my wife's neice's 8 month old baby boy was enjoying Baby Piano, Sound Touch and Virtuoso on my iPad... And he was loving every moment of it and laughing his heart put. My daughter loves the drawing app and various games, and since my son bought the Need for Speed game over this holidays, I am addicted to it. Apple sold over 7 million iPads within the first six months of launch, and will likely sell at least 5 million iPads in the holiday quarter. Suddenly, Apple iPad will generate over $7 Billion in new revenue for Apple in 2010. The Apple iPad phenomenon could generate over $21 billion in revenue in 2011 for Apple. iPad anyone?

#2. Amazon Kindle 3rd Edition - Amazon's third Kindle is on the money. The form factor, ease of reading, looks, and the huge selection of eBooks. A must have reader if you love reading (and who doesn't). Amazon Kindle started the eBook reader revolution, and its competitors including Sony and Barnes & Noble aren't doing that bad either. Yesterday, while waiting in line at the DMV, this woman in front of me was quietly reading her novel on the ultra cool white Kindle, and she was really enjoying reading it. I also peeked and read a few pages while she was reading, and the display was immaculate. With estimates of about 8 million Kindles sold in 2010, Amazon has quietly created a Billion Dollar franchise! Amazon just announced the latest innovation of sharing Kindle eBooks with a friend or relative for 14 days. Very Cool! What's amazing is that Amazon Kindle sales have been least impacted by the Apple iPad onslaught. A difference of over $350 in price between the base iPad and the Kindle would mean a clear sailing for Amazon in 2011 and beyond.

#3. Microsoft Kinect - Microsoft has created something new and exciting that no other game console maker has been able to do yet. Nintendo Wii created a huge following with the wireless controllers which you can wave, move and play. Microsoft one-upped Nintendo, Sony and others by removing the controllers altogether. Rather, you become the controller. No wires, no joysticks, no mouse, no controllers, no gadgets. Simply plugin the Kinect to the Xbox 360, and play your games by moving around, jumping, jabbing, running, kicking, smashing, speaking, singing, and more. Kinect uses advanced entertainment technology to respond to even the sound of your voice. You can just say “Xbox” to start, and even control HD movies with the sound of your voice. Can Kinect replace the remote? Microsoft has changed the playing field entirely for video games, and with more games arriving that will implement the Kinect technology, Microsoft is onto something huge in 2011. There are estimates of over 5 million Kinects sold in 2010 ( Kinect was only introduced recently ), and Kinect technology has likely pushed the sales of Xbox 360 to new levels in this holiday season.

These are my picks of the top three innovations of 2010.

Leading Creativity and Innovation eBook.
Business Innovation Resource Kit - 212 pages Definitive Guide, 439-slide insights Innovation Bootcamp, Annual Innovation Report. 212-page collection of over 55 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, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, GE, BMW, Deloitte, Southwest, Nike, IBM, Dell and more. "Your report from the eBook and definitive guide was the primary reference that we used." Used by over 650 leading organizations including HP, Pepsi, EDS, Nokia, J&J more... Learn more...

This Week's Top Technology Innovation News

Sikorsky Aircraft Developing Optionally Piloted Black Hawk Demonstrator Helicopter

MarketWatch (press release) - ‎Apr 15, 2010‎

Sikorsky Innovations, Sikorsky Aircraft's technology organization, is leading the development program. It plans to fly the optionally piloted demonstrator ..

Verizon Breaks Ground On Technology Innovation Center In Waltham, Mass.

PR Newswire (press release) - ‎Apr 15, 2010‎

The Verizon Technology Innovation Center will be the first-of-its-kind collaboration hub for expanding the telecommunications ecosystem by taking advantage ...

Avanade, an Accenture and Microsoft Venture, Marks 10-Year Milestone ...

MarketWatch (press release) - ‎Apr 14, 2010‎

About Avanade Avanade provides business technology services that connect insight, innovation and expertise in Microsoft technologies to help customers ...

GM hopes to foster innovation with $8 million expansion at Warren lab

The Detroit News - Alisa Priddle - ‎Apr 12, 2010‎

"GM took a big leap two years ago to move into this space," committing a lab to battery technology, said Micky Bly, GM executive director in charge of ...

Sterling Commerce Announces Innovation Award Winners at Customer Connection 2010

MarketWatch (press release) - ‎Apr 15, 2010‎

... year's Innovation Awards, recognizing companies that have demonstrated innovation and vision in applying technology to achieve competitive advantage. ...

Hilton Worldwide and IBM Announce Global Technology Infrastructure and ...

MarketWatch (press release) - ‎Apr 13, 2010‎

"We are confident that IBM's world-class technology capabilities will help us to accelerate our innovation initiative." Hilton Worldwide is the leading ...

America COMPETES: Vehicle for Innovating at Innovation

Brookings Institution - ‎Apr 14, 2010‎

... and mathematics (STEM) education from grade school to grad school; and construct a true technology innovation and commercialization infrastructure. ...

State of Sao Paulo hosts conference on science, technology and innovation

Genetic Engineering News (press release) - Fernando Cunha - ‎Apr 13, 2010‎

This information is central to a plan that will be put forth at the Sao Paulo Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation, scheduled for April 12 and ...

VehiCALL takes top innovation prize

Deseret News - ‎Apr 12, 2010‎

GEORGE — VehiCALL was the grand prize winner in Grow Utah Ventures' general technology "Concept to Company" innovation contest. VehiCALL is an aftermarket ...

WABCO's OptiDrive System, a Breakthrough in Transmission Automation Technology ...

MarketWatch (press release) - ‎Apr 14, 2010‎

"The Automotive News PACE Award powerfully acclaims game-changing innovations that offer outstanding benefits and competitive advantages in our industry's ...

Nova Energy, Inc. (NVAE) With China Crescent (CCTR) and NuMobile (NUBL ...

MarketWatch (press release) - ‎Apr 16, 2010‎

The Greenfield program was introduced last year to accelerate and enhance the introduction of new technology innovations into new markets, including those ...

Taiwan to open innovation research zone

Focus Taiwan News Channel - ‎Apr 13, 2010‎

It is hoped that the special innovation park will help with technology upgrades and innovations of the industries in central Taiwan, said Lin Hao-chu, ...

BritWeek 2010 and UK Trade & Investment Announce the Finalists of the BritWeek ...

Business Wire (press release) - ‎Apr 16, 2010‎

First held in 2010 the BritWeek UKTI Business Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations in Design, Technology and Service Provision from companies ...

Pull - A Key for Empathy-Driven Innovation

Blogging Innovation (blog) - Tim Kastelle - ‎Apr 15, 2010‎

In short, companies need to refocus technology innovation on providing tools to amplify the efforts of communities of practice to drive performance ...

Federal-Mogul Wins Three 2010 Automotive News PACE(TM) Awards

PR Newswire (press release) - ‎Apr 13, 2010‎

"Developing leading technology and innovation is a fundamental priority for Federal-Mogul to be a world-class company capable of generating sustainable ...

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