Will Mozilla lead innovation of the mobile web?

Mozilla’s VP of Mobile, Jay Sullivan, positioned the company at the forefront of the mobile web during his keynote: “The Web platform and mobile innovation,” delivered at the ARM techcon³.

One problem with the mobile web, as Sullivan sees it, is the existence of multiple operating systems, requiring different versions of an application to run on: palm webOS, WindowsMobile, symbian, android, Maemo, LiMo Foundation and of course, iPhone.

The solution?
“Turn to the Web browser as the application development platform in order to reduce risk and development time, and maximize reach for application developers.”

The current “Engine of innovation is the web.” In the very near future, Sullivan expects the engine of innovation to be mobile phones as well.

There are currently 5 – 6 billion mobile phones. And Sullivan expects all growth between 2010 and 2020 to happen from mobile phones.

With nearly 24% of the Web browser market share and its Canvas 3 → WebGL development, Mozilla is setting out to make sure developers have what is needed.

Sullivan outlined 3 things developers are going to need to create great applications:

Power
“The phones I’m carrying around are more powerful than my computers were 10, 15 years ago”

Beauty
It’s now possible to bring “beautiful” downloadable fonts to the web real-time, without having to create it on the server side and serve it up as an image.

Speed

• Super Responsive apps
• Raw Execution speed
• Leverage multi-core

 

Eco Marketing: It’s not just about the product

Everyone is jumping on the eco bandwagon, and understandably so.  It’s hawt, it’s cool, it’s financially lucrative and it’s the new brand accessory. 

But, when Pepsi sent, unsolicited, a 5 lb overnight shipment of three half-liter bottles of Aquafina water to TechCrunch to promote their reduced-plastic, plastic bottles, the stunt went slightly awry.

Lesson learned: When marketing eco-friendly products, remember, it’s not just about the product. It’s about the process, as well.

Michael so astutely notes,  “I’m concerned that Pepsi decided to promote its new “eco-friendly” product by proactively shipping, via Fedex overnight, 5 lb boxes of the water to press around the country. And then sending a second batch either in error or to reinforce the message. That’s not very eco-friendly (if anyone knows the carbon cost of sending these boxes, let me know, then multiply it by hundreds or thousands of press). It all seems a little wasteful.”

Here is the full TechCrunch article. 

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Catch me on Twitter: @AndaPR

 

Global 100: Most Sustainable Corporations

The Global 100: Most Sustainable Corporations in the World were named at the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland.

Among the top U.S. corporations:

Advanced Micro Devices
Alcoa
Amazon.com
Dell
Genzyme
Nike
Prologis

Want to see the full Global 100 list?

About the Methodology

The Global 100 is a list of publicly-traded, MSCI World-listed companies that, based on research and analysis by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, have the best developed abilities, relative to their industry peers, to manage the environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities they face. The companies were selected from the Innovest universe of around 1,800 securities.

 

SCU Law School holding open house in Second Life, today!

For those who don’t know, Santa Clara University (SCU) is my alma mater. While it has been years since I’ve been there, I have seen the University grow so much and stay at the forefront of technology, social justice, and take a willingness to look forward.

So, I was thrilled to find out that Santa Clara University School of Law is holding an open house in Second Life today. The National Law Journal’s Leigh Jones says it’s considered the first event of its kind! The event is designed to attract potential students and emphasize the law school’s close ties with the technology industry in the Silicon Valley area of California.

Over at the Above the Law blawg, they say

Santa Clara law students could have their law librarian to thank for the school’s foray into the virtual world. Sources report that the new law librarian over at Santa Clara is an avid Second Lifer. In addition, we’ve learned that Santa Clara has hosted other legal seminars in Second Life, over at “Santa Clara Island.”

SCU’s Second Life cyber-campus opened on November 1st. On Santa Clara Island, visitors will find a simulation of SCU’s new library and learning center, including a teaching classroom, reading area, theater, art gallery, bookstore, and café. Other campus buildings, such as the de Saisset Museum and Mission Church, will also have cyber counterparts.

According to the Second Life blog,

over 200 educators from nearly as many universities and colleges use it for classes, research, learning and projects with their students, bringing a new dimension to learning. A large, active education community is engaged in the Grid. Harvard University, Texas State University, and Stanford University have set up virtual campuses where students can meet, attend classes, and create content together.