European Carriers Aren’...

Nokia hasn’t had the best year. Of course, the launch of the Lumia line has been refreshing, as Nokia’s much-anticipated Windows Powered offerings are finally out in the world, trying to woo owners like neon-colored puppies in a pet shop window. The only problem is that four of the major wireless operators in Europe have deemed Nokia’s WP phones “not good enough to compete with Apple’s iPhone or Samsung’s Galaxy phones,” according to Reuters . The Lumia 710 and 800 have been on sale in Europe since before Christmas, and Europe has long been an easy market for Nokia. But times are a’changin’. One executive interviewed by Reuters said that “no one comes into the store and asks for a Windows Phone.” Which precisely pinpoints Nokia’s biggest issue. If the company was throwing Windows Phone onto its hardware 12-15 months ago, this wouldn’t have been such a big deal — Nokia still had enough market share. Now, however, Nokia is coming off the slump of all slumps. About a year ago (in May), Nokia saw its lowest market share in 14 years: 25 percent . Windows Phone also hasn’t penetrated the market as strongly as expected, so the partnership is much like two beaten, bruised gazelles teaming up to take on a pack of lions. Not super successful. But there’s also something to be said about the way the retailers are selling Nokia’s Lumia phones. It wouldn’t be the first time we’d heard about sales reps ignoring Windows Phones, and pushing Android devices or iPhones into the faces of consumers. WPTattleTale.com was started by Windows Phone enthusiast Robert McLaws , who believes that Windows Phone hasn’t been given a chance in stores. And Reuters reports that a similar situation is occurring in Europe, saying that a store clerk was quick to offer up an iPhone, followed by Samsung and HTC’s Android models to incoming consumers. Lumia models, on the other hand, were not prominently displayed. So is it the fault of the stores or is it the fault of the device? Probably a hint of both. Specs on the Lumia line can’t compete with those of Android or the iPhone, and those are just the cold hard facts. But in the same vein, Nokia’s WP phones are basically perfect for the new smartphone buyer or anyone looking for a refresh from an old phone. Time, and the release of Windows Phone Apollo, should tell us if this is a growing pain or a sign of things to come.

Apple, Philippe Starck ...

$10 says it’s an iPhone 5 case. AFP is reporting Philippe Stark and Apple have teamed up on a project that Starck called “fairly, if not very, revolutionary.” The project is said to drop in time for Christmas. However that’s where the fun info stops. No other details were given including the nature or scope of this so-called revolutionary project. It could anything from a new consumer product to a “revolutionary” design element of the new Apple HQ. And for what it’s worth, Apple already has their own powerhouse designer in Sir Jonathan Ive. Starck himself revealed this info to a French radio station today. It’s unclear if it was an unintentional slip or an announcement sanctioned by Apple. But Starck apparently knows Apple. Several of his products are sold in Apple Stores. In fact the designer revealed that he had a personal relationship with Steve Jobs. The two apparently met on a monthly basis for seven years and Starck still returns to Palo Alto to see Laurene Jobs. Nearly anything could come of this partnership. Starck’s designs and products range from street lights to cutlery to headphones to super yachts. The man and his design firm are apparently comfortable rethinking nearly anything — just like Apple. But if it’s true that said upcoming project is supposed to hit before Christmas, the most important retail time of year, then it’s likely a new consumer product. The Apple HDTV? Perhaps.

Heineken: Limited Editi...

Heineken celebrated their 140th birthday by offering the design community the chance to create a limited edition bottle via a Facebook collaboration piece. The challenge aimed to showcase social connections from all over the world and received over 30,000 entries across 100 countries. In order to connect designers with each other, part of the competition Related Digital Buzz Posts: Heineken: The Valentines Day Serenade App Heineken Star Player: Live Football Gaming App Heineken: The Christmas BeerFriender

Best Buy To Shut 50 Sto...

TechCrunch’s Best Buy tag isn’t exactly a heartening place to visit. In the last few months, it “stole Christmas,” been “finished,” and is now “going out of business.” Dire straits indeed for a company that has defied the odds not only against big retail competition but against deadlier online opponents as well for nearly 50 years. But an announcement today seems to give a little weight to the doom and gloom expected from a tech community that views Best Buy as an anachronism. Best Buy will be closing 50 of its big box stores and laying off some 400 people, mostly on the administrative side. Is it rightsizing or just plain attrition? CEO Brian Dunn sees it as a necessary measure to reduce costs and make the chain’s retail experience more relevant to the average consumer. “We’re going to have more doors and less square footage,” he said, suggesting that further big box closures may be in the company’s future, but at the same time assuring that said closures were part of an overall strategy. The sprawling megastores cost far more and see more competition from the likes of Amazon and Newegg, whereas smaller stores with popular items and services save on both space and costs. One has to admit that it makes a certain amount of sense. Best Buy is in the retail business, not the warehousing business, and at any rate they can’t compete in the latter category with online storefronts. The 400 jobs, which Best Buy said would mostly come from its headquarters, would be enough to raise an eyebrow, but they neglect to estimate the real number of jobs that will be lost as a result of the closures. The employees of the 50 stores could easily amount to a couple thousand with floor staff, management, warehousing, and so on. Needless to say, it’s not a number they care to shout from the rooftops. It would take the wind out the sails just when the new plan needs a boost.

Coca-Cola, Subway and H...

It’s tough enough to make it to the top of your field, but staying there for eight years in a row is near impossible. Still, fifteen brands managed to do just that. The numbers come from the 23rd Annual Harris Poll EquiTrend Study. They surveyed nearly 40,000 US consumers and asked them to rank a random collection of forty brands and the cream rose to the top. Every brand on this list is immediately recognizable. Each evokes a feeling of stability, of excellence. They also mean more than just the product they represent. Hallmark makes cards and Christmas ornaments. But the brand brings to mind visions of loving families, heart-felt gifting and a lifetime of memories. Gatorade is a drink. But it’s also a symbol of athleticism. Of pushing yourself to be the very best you can be. It’s interesting to note that some of the top brands go way back. Did you know that Life Savers go back to the turn of the century. The 1932 Marx Brothers movie Horse Feathers features a scene where a girl falls in a lake and asks Groucho to throw her a life saver. She wants a rubber tube but he throws her a candy, instead. That scene is often referred to as one of the earliest examples of product placement in a movie. Then there’s HBO, Sony Electronics and Visa, all of whom are newbies by comparison. While these brands defend their territory, several new category leaders are coming on strong. Apple, Google, Kindle, even Chobani Greek Yogurt are carving out their own niche. Harris also paid homage to those brands that have gained the most momentum over the past year. These include Yamaha, Glaceau Vitaminwater and Physician’s Formula Cosmetics. So, motorcycles, healthy water and make-up. Interesting. Then we have the brands that are caught in a downward spiral. Groupon and its cousin Living Social both took hard hits. Folks also lost confidence in Goodyear Tires, Carnival Cruise Lines and Fannie Mae. The hardest hit was former technology darling, BlackBerry. Finally, a little shout out to my media pals. CBS took top honors for a broadcast network. History Channel came in first for topical programming and A&E got top for variety programing. You can see the results for all 127 categories on the Harris Interactive website.