In the wake of another big Apple release, where does this leave Microsoft?

For some good observations on the iPad release, check out Lance Turner’s blog.

An excerpt:

The iPod and iPhone had instant appeal to an array of users for several reasons. Among them, they each fundamentally changed the way we consume certain media and conduct everyday tasks. (The iPod changed how we listen and buy music; the iPhone brought the full Web to our handsets and created a new software ecosystem with apps.)

The iPad, while well-designed and beautiful, does neither. All it does is build on existing technologies to deliver media in a not-entirely-new form factor. If you’ve got an iPhone or iPod Touch, you’ve seen these tricks before. And if you have a laptop, you can do all the things the iPad does — and more — on a more robust machine.

For an interesting take on Microsoft’s woes — due to clumsy innovating? — check out this New York Times commentary.

An excerpt:

What happened? Unlike other companies, Microsoft never developed a true system for innovation. Some of my former colleagues argue that it actually developed a system to thwart innovation. Despite having one of the largest and best corporate laboratories in the world, and the luxury of not one but three chief technology officers, the company routinely manages to frustrate the efforts of its visionary thinkers.

Techpreneurship, with Jeff Amerine

Jeff Amerine

(Jeff Amerine is an IA advisor, entrepreneurship educator, and officer with the University of Arkansas Technology Licensing Office. Each Thursday, his Techpreneurship blog will appear in INOV8. Drop him a line in comments.)

Folks, after about the fifth venture-capital raise I suffered through earlier in my career, I truly began to fear no evil in the valley of startup death.

Some would say the process caused a “fear lobotomy” –  I do in fact hide the zipper in my forehead with makeup…

Clearly the valley of death is no fun under any circumstance and an active, engaged angel community can truly deliver some serious salvation to struggling Techpreneurs.

So where was I going with this?  Ah yes, Innovate Arkansas is now sponsoring monthly Technology Venture Showcase lunch meetings to highlight promising early- stage ventures here in the state.  The venue alternates every month between the University of Arkansas Genesis facility in Fayetteville and the Winrock facility in Little Rock.

You could think of this as the Innovate Arkansas version of ABC’s Shark Tank. Although we’ve yet to have investment deals done on the spot or Jerry Springer-esque infighting amongst potential investors (although we might be open to that).

On Wednesday, Feb. 17th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of Arkansas Genesis Center, AT&T Conference Room, three great Innovate Arkansas client companies will be giving 15 minute company overview presentations over a FREE LUNCH…did I mention it was a FREE LUNCH?

If you are an angelic investor type or senior executive looking to learn a bit more about some really interesting startups, please RSVP to Vicki Malpass at vmalpass@winrock.org.

If you want to find out more about the presenting companies, well you’re just going have to roll the dice and show up…

Our goal with this process is to establish an engaged, informed venture community across the state.  The Technology Venture Showcase Venue provides an opportunity to learn more and get to potentially get  involved in “the next big things” early in the process.

Calling all Angels……

It’s not quite Jules Verne, but it’s close. And who other than Richard Branson to take us there. INOV8 loves cool, dare we say innovative, stuff like this.

Branson’s Virgin Group unveiled an underwater plane last week that will ferry paying customers — and by paying, we mean PAYING — through the depths of the Caribbean Sea.

The craft, dubbed the Necker Nymph because it will be based at Branson’s privately owned Necker Island resort in the British Virgin Islands, will seat three — a pilot and two passengers. It will “take off” from land or boat and gradually descend into the water after gliding upon the surface.

It will have an open cockpit, and passengers will be required to wear SCUBA masks. Tanks will be mounted in the sub.  The craft will travel 2 to 5 nautical miles per hour and dive up to 100 feet, and is purported to have zero environmental impact.

Capt. Nemo, here we come. Balance the ol’ checkbook, ’cause surely we can all squeeze on of these trips in every other year, right?

INOV8’s Arkansas Patent of the Month for January: An exercise in guys who are way smarter than any of us.

Robert Friedman’s “Method and apparatus for combining transponders on multiple satellites into virtual channels” is proof that this Fayetteville man is not dumb.  The flow chart alone gave us a headache.

After you take a look at Mr. Friedman’s work (and let’s hope he didn’t have to wait three years for the patent), check out all patents issued to Arkansans here.