Comments for azeem.azhar http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com technology | finance | other stuff Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:41:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Calamity, leadership and song: special video edition by earningtoday http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/calamity-leadership-and-song-special-video-edition/#comment-80 earningtoday Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:41:25 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=162#comment-80 good song every breath you take good song every breath you take

]]> Comment on Product and marketing in the start-up by stefaniehartman http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/product-and-marketing-in-the-start-up/#comment-79 stefaniehartman Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:00:34 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=108#comment-79 The biggest mistake that business personals make at the onset of their business, is that there is more expense involved than profits earned. I would prefer to start my business in a simple moderate manner and then go in for bigger projects once I have got the tact in dealing with them. The initial year would be a learning year where you would be observing your business grow and making a lot of mistakes in implying good strategies. The biggest mistake that business personals make at the onset of their business, is that there is more expense involved than profits earned. I would prefer to start my business in a simple moderate manner and then go in for bigger projects once I have got the tact in dealing with them. The initial year would be a learning year where you would be observing your business grow and making a lot of mistakes in implying good strategies.

]]> Comment on Counter seasonal social networks by jenslapinski http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/counter-seasonal-social-networks/#comment-77 jenslapinski Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:19:59 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=155#comment-77 If this is relative to the total traffic, then maybe people just stop doing all the other stuff more than they stop being on Facebook? Do you have some absolute numbers? If this is relative to the total traffic, then maybe people just stop doing all the other stuff more than they stop being on Facebook?

Do you have some absolute numbers?

]]> Comment on Low power bulbs just make economic sense. Just. by dgen http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/low-power-bulbs-just-make-economic-sense-just/#comment-76 dgen Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:01:15 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=148#comment-76 Hi Azeem http://tinyurl.com/6evtuy 1.2W - I just bought a load of them. They've got a pretty interesting range of bulbs and the prices are as cheap as I've seen. I do completely agree there's a way to go on the colour temperature. Pierre - dimmers and LEDs/CFLs unfortunately don't yet mix. I hope they do soon. Hoping that Philip's £1bn spending spree on lighting helps move things along quickly... best gavin Hi Azeem

http://tinyurl.com/6evtuy 1.2W – I just bought a load of them. They’ve got a pretty interesting range of bulbs and the prices are as cheap as I’ve seen.

I do completely agree there’s a way to go on the colour temperature.

Pierre – dimmers and LEDs/CFLs unfortunately don’t yet mix. I hope they do soon.

Hoping that Philip’s £1bn spending spree on lighting helps move things along quickly…

best
gavin

]]> Comment on Low power bulbs just make economic sense. Just. by Pierre Far http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/low-power-bulbs-just-make-economic-sense-just/#comment-75 Pierre Far Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:55:09 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=148#comment-75 I've been thinking about this too and here is one interesting twist to the math: could you redesign your house life to require less lighting? For example: can all desks ("offices") in the house be put in one room? It's quite likely more than one person will be working at the same time. Take it more micro: I tend to work with the room lights off but I have powerful desk lights. A powerful neon or halogen light doesn't get too hot and can be positioned far away enough so as not to cause a headache. I currently have 2 shade lamps with halogen bulbs in them, one on each side of the desk. It even looks nice :) And where you don't need that much light, put it on a dimmer; keep it dimmed by default and crank it up when needed. Another thing: the biggest electricity drains in a computer are the screens, CPUs, and hard disks. For screens, try dimming them a couple of levels. For CPUs, run them (always!) in power saving mode as that decreases power consumption and might just increase their lifetime. Cheers, Pierre I’ve been thinking about this too and here is one interesting twist to the math: could you redesign your house life to require less lighting?

For example: can all desks (”offices”) in the house be put in one room? It’s quite likely more than one person will be working at the same time.

Take it more micro: I tend to work with the room lights off but I have powerful desk lights. A powerful neon or halogen light doesn’t get too hot and can be positioned far away enough so as not to cause a headache. I currently have 2 shade lamps with halogen bulbs in them, one on each side of the desk. It even looks nice :)

And where you don’t need that much light, put it on a dimmer; keep it dimmed by default and crank it up when needed.

Another thing: the biggest electricity drains in a computer are the screens, CPUs, and hard disks. For screens, try dimming them a couple of levels. For CPUs, run them (always!) in power saving mode as that decreases power consumption and might just increase their lifetime.

Cheers,
Pierre

]]> Comment on Low power bulbs just make economic sense. Just. by azeemazhar http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/low-power-bulbs-just-make-economic-sense-just/#comment-74 azeemazhar Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:42:04 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=148#comment-74 Hey Gavin Thanks for this. I couldn't see the B&Q halogen replacements on their websites. In any case, these would be equivalent of 12W, I am guessing, so not enough to replace my brighter spots. I've adopted a slightly different plan: low-energy bulbs where we tend to run the lights for longer (e.g. staircase). For the one spot in the hall where we have GU10s, I have ordered a pair of 6W LED GU10 replacements. I'll run them for a while, make sure we like the light quality, and then look for a case-by-case replacement of others bulbs. a Hey Gavin

Thanks for this. I couldn’t see the B&Q halogen replacements on their websites. In any case, these would be equivalent of 12W, I am guessing, so not enough to replace my brighter spots.

I’ve adopted a slightly different plan: low-energy bulbs where we tend to run the lights for longer (e.g. staircase). For the one spot in the hall where we have GU10s, I have ordered a pair of 6W LED GU10 replacements. I’ll run them for a while, make sure we like the light quality, and then look for a case-by-case replacement of others bulbs.

a

]]> Comment on Low power bulbs just make economic sense. Just. by dgen http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/low-power-bulbs-just-make-economic-sense-just/#comment-73 dgen Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:58:52 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=148#comment-73 Hi Azeem, The simple answer is that it's a no brainer to upgrade. LEDs are coming along very fast - and the price is dropping accordingly. B&Q have 1.2W halogen replacements for £4.50 that last up to 30,000 hours. By the time you need to replace them I imagine the cost will be < £1. All you need to factor in now is increasing your heating to compensate for the 2.4kW of halogen you currently have, and will reduce to 56W as a result of using LEDs! Also - if you install solar, you could look at running everything apart from your high-current appliances (cooker, washing machine, etc) on DC instead of AC. Best Gavin http://www.amee.com Hi Azeem,

The simple answer is that it’s a no brainer to upgrade. LEDs are coming along very fast – and the price is dropping accordingly. B&Q have 1.2W halogen replacements for £4.50 that last up to 30,000 hours. By the time you need to replace them I imagine the cost will be < £1.

All you need to factor in now is increasing your heating to compensate for the 2.4kW of halogen you currently have, and will reduce to 56W as a result of using LEDs!

Also – if you install solar, you could look at running everything apart from your high-current appliances (cooker, washing machine, etc) on DC instead of AC.

Best
Gavin
http://www.amee.com

]]> Comment on How far should the BBC open the iPlayer? by Pierre Far http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/how-far-should-the-bbc-open-the-iplayer/#comment-72 Pierre Far Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:29:03 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-72 The last bit of the quote you have from Strategy Eye is a bit troubling: "will become an industry standard" The problem here is how open the standard is. Is it a UK telecom standard (akin to having an ISO, ITU standard or specific examples like USB, Bluetooth and WiFi) that any compatible software will be able to access? Or will it be developed by the BBC only who will have complete lock and control about its future? The latter can be "an industry standard" just like the Windows API is an industry standard. The question as you suggest is how open and public the license is. If it's truly open, then I'm all for it. If not, then we're just handing the BBC a monopoly. More related questions: Will there be an industry body? Who will be on it? What license will the code be released under, if any? What about copyright? Will users be able to upload and share their content with iPlayer (like a national P2P network)? The last bit of the quote you have from Strategy Eye is a bit troubling:

“will become an industry standard”

The problem here is how open the standard is. Is it a UK telecom standard (akin to having an ISO, ITU standard or specific examples like USB, Bluetooth and WiFi) that any compatible software will be able to access? Or will it be developed by the BBC only who will have complete lock and control about its future?

The latter can be “an industry standard” just like the Windows API is an industry standard.

The question as you suggest is how open and public the license is. If it’s truly open, then I’m all for it. If not, then we’re just handing the BBC a monopoly.

More related questions: Will there be an industry body? Who will be on it? What license will the code be released under, if any? What about copyright? Will users be able to upload and share their content with iPlayer (like a national P2P network)?

]]> Comment on How far should the BBC open the iPlayer? by Ian Betteridge http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/how-far-should-the-bbc-open-the-iplayer/#comment-71 Ian Betteridge Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:37:35 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-71 I'm not sure this is a good idea in the long term. Why would the commercial sector invest in development work, if they know that the BBC is going to give them whatever it develops for free? And without competition, you get stagnation. Where is the incentive for the commercial companies to develop products *better* than the BBC? It would be far better for the BBC to simply release its code under an open source license - that way, there's the opportunity for others to take what they've built and improve it. Plus, of course, it would be open not only to large commercial "rivals", but to any technology company, no matter how large or small. I’m not sure this is a good idea in the long term.

Why would the commercial sector invest in development work, if they know that the BBC is going to give them whatever it develops for free?

And without competition, you get stagnation. Where is the incentive for the commercial companies to develop products *better* than the BBC?

It would be far better for the BBC to simply release its code under an open source license – that way, there’s the opportunity for others to take what they’ve built and improve it. Plus, of course, it would be open not only to large commercial “rivals”, but to any technology company, no matter how large or small.

]]> Comment on Mmm…this feels like the botto-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-m by azeemazhar http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/mmmthis-feels-like-the-botto-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-m/#comment-70 azeemazhar Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:26:54 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=139#comment-70 Jens Completely agree with you on the fate of 2009. My position is that there will be a spike upwards , followed by further downward movement because deleveraging isn't complete and over the long run P/Es are below long-term averages but not so far below as to represent being excessively cheap. I'm looking at two indicators: long term average Tobin's Q (which is flagging a 'buy') and long term average P/Es (which aren't a solid buy). I also question whether long term averages aren't in a longer downtrend anyhow, since we got used to P/Es being based in an era of cheap credit. Re; insolvencies. I agree. I have heard this as well. The wall of creditors is holding back because on January 16th, companies will be much more cash rich. Jens
Completely agree with you on the fate of 2009. My position is that there will be a spike upwards , followed by further downward movement because deleveraging isn’t complete and over the long run P/Es are below long-term averages but not so far below as to represent being excessively cheap. I’m looking at two indicators: long term average Tobin’s Q (which is flagging a ‘buy’) and long term average P/Es (which aren’t a solid buy). I also question whether long term averages aren’t in a longer downtrend anyhow, since we got used to P/Es being based in an era of cheap credit.

Re; insolvencies. I agree. I have heard this as well. The wall of creditors is holding back because on January 16th, companies will be much more cash rich.

]]> Comment on Mmm…this feels like the botto-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-m by jenslapinski http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/mmmthis-feels-like-the-botto-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-m/#comment-69 jenslapinski Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:49:46 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=139#comment-69 The Dow Jones is still above the level that it had in 2002. If you think that 2009 will be much worse than 2002 (which is likely), then you better brace yourself. I think we may well have much more 'red' ahead of us. Also: I hear that banks have a tendency not to let businesses fail before the cash generating Christmas period. They rather like to wait until the middle/end of January, when there is as much cash in the accounts as possible. That is a much better time to cull the credit line... The Dow Jones is still above the level that it had in 2002. If you think that 2009 will be much worse than 2002 (which is likely), then you better brace yourself. I think we may well have much more ‘red’ ahead of us.

Also: I hear that banks have a tendency not to let businesses fail before the cash generating Christmas period. They rather like to wait until the middle/end of January, when there is as much cash in the accounts as possible. That is a much better time to cull the credit line…

]]> Comment on Revisiting the recession for start-ups by Conspirama http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/revisiting-the-recession-for-start-ups/#comment-66 Conspirama Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:41:02 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-66 <strong>Revisiting the recession for start-ups...</strong> Europe is heading inexorably for a recession. And many governments were over-extended due to lavish spending and inadequate tax revenues (Portugal, Belgium, Spain). The ECB/Eurozone area has never had its structures strained to the ...... Revisiting the recession for start-ups…

Europe is heading inexorably for a recession. And many governments were over-extended due to lavish spending and inadequate tax revenues (Portugal, Belgium, Spain). The ECB/Eurozone area has never had its structures strained to the ……

]]> Comment on Search engines today do what they currently do 100%! by Answers vs search « azeem.azhar http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/search-engines-today-do-what-they-currently-do-100/#comment-65 Answers vs search « azeem.azhar Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:40:23 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=100#comment-65 [...] line in innovations they are bringing to the search space. I am a big believer that there is lots more innovation to come in search. In fact, I am deeply involved in True Knowledge which is an open-domain question answering system [...] [...] line in innovations they are bringing to the search space. I am a big believer that there is lots more innovation to come in search. In fact, I am deeply involved in True Knowledge which is an open-domain question answering system [...]

]]> Comment on How bad is the recession for start-ups? by Revisiting the recession for start-ups « azeem.azhar http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/is-this-recession-good-for-start-ups/#comment-64 Revisiting the recession for start-ups « azeem.azhar Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:49:32 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-64 [...] Revisiting the recession for start-ups Three months ago I asked what the recession would mean for start-ups. [...] [...] Revisiting the recession for start-ups Three months ago I asked what the recession would mean for start-ups. [...]

]]> Comment on Product and marketing in the start-up by Aaron Johnson – Links: 9-29-2008 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/product-and-marketing-in-the-start-up/#comment-63 Aaron Johnson – Links: 9-29-2008 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:48:06 +0000 http://azeemazhar.wordpress.com/?p=108#comment-63 [...] Product and marketing in the start-up « azeem.azhar Quote: Product management is the process of bringing a market-driven focus to companies to ensure they build products customers want to use (and buy). Product management is also about helping the company *make choices* (emphasis mine). (categories: productmanagement marketing business startup ) [...] [...] Product and marketing in the start-up « azeem.azhar Quote: Product management is the process of bringing a market-driven focus to companies to ensure they build products customers want to use (and buy). Product management is also about helping the company *make choices* (emphasis mine). (categories: productmanagement marketing business startup ) [...]

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