Land of Opportunity

An article about a library that lends iPods with audio books got me to thinking. What are some possible business opportunities involving Apple iPods?

National iPod Rental Networks

There are least two markets for a national chain of iPod rental centers (more…)

A new database of small business grant awards to Arkansas small businesses is now available. The database lists small businesses awarded either a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant or a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant. Grant awards range from $42,750 to $750,000.

While a total of 24 SBIR/STTR small business grants were awarded in FY2003, the number of grants awarded in FY2004 (more…)

Zogger at Technorat.com has found a 5-page list of the 100 Greatest Gadgets of All Time. The list was assembled by and published in Mobile PC magazine.

I own several of the top 100, including #89 (more…)

Steve Smith at EContent has a very eye-opening article on 2005 Product Trends. This article is a must read for anyone who wants to be on the leading edge of breaking consumer trends.

So what are the new rising trends of 2005 according to Steve Smith?

Streaming video ads. Why have a single flash ad when you can easily stream ads using existing pay per view solutions? This is another example of the America’s adult entertainment industry pioneering technologies that are later adopted by main stream business worldwide. I’ve noted this trend for an upcoming redesign of a college recruiting website that would likely benefit from some bleeding edge eye-candy.

Blogging for Bucks. Bloggellers bloggelling to bloggell will add billions of new pages of content to ever expanding Internet. This is so hot that I’ve submitted a speaking proposal to the Association of SBDCs to train our nation’s small business counselors. I’m already counselling small businesses on how to bloggell. Watch for my first book to come out later this spring. Its on bloggelling. (more…)

From the pages of CNet we have another example of why Americans don’t vote for new taxes, even if the tax is limited to just a few years:

A report prepared by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation proposes extending a 100-year-old tax on phone service to some or all data connections. The tax originated in 1898 to pay for the Spanish American War. After being repealed, it was reinstituted to pay for World War I and was eventually set at 3 percent. (more…)

Two Arkansas small businesses enjoyed remarkable success in competition for NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I research grants, winning three grants. All three grants are targeted at development of high temperature electronics. The Phase I grants, ranging from $70,000 to $100,000, fund exploratory work with the opportunity to compete for a follow-on Phase II grant for as much as $750,000. (more…)