David Lidsky's Blog, page 4785

Breaking Rumor: Two New iPhones, One Heading to Verizon [Update]

This is still unconfirmed, and it's worth noting that we've seen this rumor pretty much since the release of the original iPhone in 2007. But this is the first time a major publication has published new information pertaining to the rumor of a Verizon iPhone, and it's the best indication yet that this might actually be happening.

The Wall Street Journal reports that for its next iPhone, Apple is actually splitting production into two separate tracks, to be completed by two separate...

Tesla Changes Mind, Will Actually Sell Cars This Year

It puzzled more than a few people in early February when Tesla decided to stop selling the Roadster, the only car they've currently got on the market, and filed an IPO at the same time. Looks like they've either seen the error in that decision or there's been a sudden uptick in demand for the hardest of hardcore (and crazy-expensive) eco-friendly cars, because VentureBeat reports that they've decided to continue to sell the Roadster until at least the end of 2011.

Previously, the...

Nissan Prices the All-Electric Leaf, Aims for Launch This Year

The all-electric, battery-powered Leaf will sell in Japan for 3.76 million yen, around $40,600 USD, although current Japanese law provides a hefty subsidy for the purchase of such eco-friendly cars. After the subsidy, the car should cost a shade under 3 million yen, or around $32,400 USD. Even better: the car is due for launch in Japan this year, with US and European releases coming soon after.

Nissan, currently the number 3 automaker in Japan (though largely owned by French company Renault)...

Today in Most Innovative Companies

News of note from our Most Innovative Companies, including Politico, Fast Retailing, and Nike.

Politico: How does Politico, the powerful Internet news site for political junkies, stay ahead online? By forgetting about the users who visit the most, founding editor John Harris told CNN yesterday. "Our fundamental model is not drive by traffic," says Harris. "It's trying to be as essential to the conversation of Washington insiders, people who live and breathe this, whose careers depend on it....

Jack Donaghy vs. Kabletown: The Case for Innovation

Television can contain nuggets of
wisdom in even its silliest situations. Last week, a segment of 30 Rock struck a chord with me, like it has with FastCompany.com writers many times before. Though the context was satirical, this
episode portrayed two stereotypes I recognize in the business world: innovators
and complacent companies.

Jack Donaghy, a self-proclaimed
innovator, delivered a eulogy for his mentor, Don Geiss, in the face of a
personal crisis. His NBC had just been acquired by...

TV Networks Remarkably Close to Figuring Out This Web Thing

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Is Sunday morning the new Saturday Night? Maybe so, say media executives watching television networks work to keep up with the Internet's transformation of TV watching in America. NBC is not alone in its recent online offering of partial clips and full episodes of popular shows like SNL and 30 Rock. Additionally, if viewers aren't forced to choose between Leno and Letterman or debate if it's worth staying up for both Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, it's more likely they'll make time for...

Breaking Rumor: Two New iPhones, One Heading to Verizon

This is still unconfirmed, and it's worth noting that we've seen this rumor pretty much since the release of the original iPhone in 2007. But this is the first time a major publication has published new information pertaining to the rumor of a Verizon iPhone, and it's the best indication yet that this might actually be happening.

The Wall Street Journal reports that for its next iPhone, Apple is actually splitting production into two separate tracks, to be completed by two separate...

Test Driving the Chevy Volt [Video]

First impressions of GM's much-ballyhooed electric car of the future.

Today on the westernmost fringe of Manhattan, in a nasty rainstorm, FastCompany.com got to test drive the Chevy's all-electric, plug-in Volt.

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Having cost GM billions in R&D, it's a technical marvel well ahead of it's time. And it won't be making money anytime soon: When the Volt finally hits market after a whirlwind, moonshot development process, it'll be limited to just 10,000 units in...

Apple Posts Eleven Soothing Guided Video Tours of the iPad

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The videos don't tell us a whole lot more than we already knew, but they do flesh out the iPad's actual use better than all the arguments over capability in the world. And some of these videos, especially Numbers, Pages, YouTube, and Keynote, haven't seen much action so far--nobody really knew all that much about how they'd work.

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The videos are, as always, simple and beautiful, and focus on the features. They don't go particularly in-depth (you won't hear any musing on...

Teri Hatcher Gets a Bit of Gwyneth's Goop on Her

News that Teri Hatcher is to do a Gwyneth Paltrow and launch her own lifestyle Web site--apologies, it's not a Web site, but an "online destination"--courtesy of the Disney Family is slightly lost on me. It is, apparently, a "chick's guide to life," but I am a little unsure of why Walt's successors might want to choose Ms. Hatcher for the job. And, it has to be said, I'm a little confused as to why Teri Hatcher would want to market herself in such a way.

I know that the actress's talents run...