Things That Make Us Go...ummmmm....

I am currently working on my "12 Greatest Events of 2008" list...what about you?

It's year end.

Your manager is asking for Q1 '09 and the next 12 month forecast, complete with MIF rollover, net new and target accounts.

Or maybe your sales people are struggling with 2009 planning and forecasting.

But what about you and your PERSONAL goals - like, read a book this year or learn how to swim...or ride a bike.

It is said, before you can plan ahead, you must first reflect on the past - so -

what was 2008 like for you? What happened last year that changed your life?

Post it. Let me know.

Konica Minolta Named to the InfoWorld 100

Press release follows - This award recognizes Konica Minolta’s successful implementation of the MyKonicaMinolta.com 2.0 Portal Initiative (MKM 2.0). Not too shabby for a copier manufacturer to be honored for an innovative IT project.


NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Ramsey, NJ, United States, 12/15/2008 - Annual Award highlights Konica Minolta’s innovative use of enterprise technology.


Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, today announced that it has been named in the InfoWorld 100, InfoWorld’s highest honor. The InfoWorld 100 Awards honor companies for IT projects that exemplify intelligent, creative uses of technology to meet business and technical objectives.

The award recognizes Konica Minolta’s successful implementation of the MyKonicaMinolta.com 2.0 Portal Initiative (MKM 2.0), led by Nelson Lin, Vice President, Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.

MyKonicaMinolta.com (MKM), Konica Minolta’s multi-faceted online employee/dealer portal application, provides users a flexible and scalable technology framework that significantly impacts and changes web development and delivery capabilities. The secure MKM 2.0 portal extends information, services and business processes to 8,000 employees and 15,000 business partners 24X7. Within this portal, users can choose when, where and how they wish to interact and conduct business with Konica Minolta. Available portal content focuses on information and business applications that support the sales and service of technology leading Konica Minolta office products and solutions.

This year, InfoWorld chose the top 100 IT projects that were inspiring and energizing with the most valuable organizational benefits. The InfoWorld 100 Awards are held annually by the InfoWorld Media Group, who helps Senior IT Decision Makers choose the right technology for business impact at different organizations. Konica Minolta was recognized by InfoWorld in the technology category on November 17, 2008; a complete list of the winners is available at InfoWorld online.

"Breathing new life into outdated operations, advancing business goals with inventive use of technology -- this year's winners demonstrate, once again, that innovative, business-minded IT is the lifeblood of successful organizations," said Jason Snyder, Senior Editor for InfoWorld.

“At the outset, the IT department at Konica Minolta wanted to provide employees with a comprehensive technology platform that addressed pain points in a proactive manner,” said Lin. “The effort between business and IT reflects the notion of integrating technologies with enterprise applications to create a new company technology platform that has benefited stakeholders, business advisory groups, internal employees and management alike. We are truly proud to be recognized for this outstanding effort.”

Watch the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on January 1st at 1.00p EST on CBS Sports.

About Konica Minolta

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (kmbs.konicaminolta.us) is a leader in advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop. In 2008, Konica Minolta was recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys.

About InfoWorld Media Group

InfoWorld (infoworld.com) identifies and promotes emerging technology segments that add unique value for the organizations that implement them, as well as the vendors that provide those solutions. Using an integrated communications approach including online, events, research, and a continued investment in an independent Test Center, InfoWorld analysts and editors provide both hands-on analysis and evaluation, as well as expert commentary on issues surrounding emerging technologies and products.

Konica Minolta is a trademark of Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

Frank Tutalo Lois Paul and Partners P: +1 781.782.5761 - E: ftutalo[.]lpp.com.

360° Digital Camera

Document your Site Surveys with this cool camera from Giroptic.

You can capture complete 360 degree pictures.

Scan a room, upload the video, link it to a spot on a floor plan and now you have a virtual walk-thru to present to your customer.

See doorways, loading docks, proximity to cubes and offices, power outlets, etc. And even your smiling client utilizing one of your solutions.

BubbleScope and Bubble Blogs -

Same type of 360 degree camera, different manufacturer - and different applications. Check this collection of "Bubbles".

Nifty-Keno...

HP's 10k Report

Just a link to the entire report...

FYI, if you like.

Here.

Canon to Lay Off 1,200 - In Japan

Camera's are Canon's "sweet-spot", right?

Reports say Canon is laying off 1,200 "contract" workers - workers that are not on the company payroll but get pay through accounts payable, on a temporary contract.

At first blush, this does not seem as bad as laying off employees of the company - it is similar to firing your pool guy.

But - Canon has been changing employment structures for years. Today, every third Japanese employee is on a temporary contract.

Japanese efficiency.

Posted at The Earth Times

Sanyo and Panasonic -

Panasonic gets the "ok" to take Sanyo.

The impact of this merger does not carry the same significance as the RiKon deal, but still worth a mention- it's a nine billion dollar deal.

The takeover also alludes a more financial and timing decision between cash rich Panasonic and the primary Sanyo stake-holders - financial houses, Goldman Sachs Group, Sanyo Electric, Daiwa Securities SMBC and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking.

"This shows that Goldman is in need of cash and wants to recoup its investment quickly," said Shigeo Kikuchi, an analyst at Takagi Securities in Tokyo, to Bloomberg News. "This is a symbolic event in this recession. Whoever has cash is strong."

Good article here, by Chad Berndtson, ChannelWeb.

With the assimilation of Sanyo, Panasonic bolsters it's consumer electronic presence - could this have an effect on Panasonic's copier and printer business? A "spin-off" perhaps?

Fires, Landslides, Floods, Blizzards, Earthquakes and VAR's

So Cali is crazy nuts when it comes to "uncontrollable and unforeseeable acts of nature" 

An article over at ChannelWeb reports on how one of our local VARs is responding to the latest fires here. 

 His house was on the news because his neighbor used a pump to pull water out of his pool and save houses around his. That was just a few weeks ago - today, 26 inches of snow. I needed to be at a "mandatory" bid meeting at 9:00 AM. 

The mountains had the biggest snowfall since 1997 over the past two days. 

 I woke to a buried Land Rover and no electricity, at 5,000 feet above and 45 minutes away from the meeting. Leaving a voice mail apparently shed an extra 90 minutes grace in my direction - I began to dig the Rover out. 

With a great deal of help from two of my colleagues, one racing in from Orange County and one "stalling" the sign-in, I ended up getting to the meeting although my co-worker signed in for us. (to be known from this day forward as "Speed") 

Over 70 people at this bid-meeting - I am contemplating a detailed article on the "benefits" of working with county/government purchasing types - let's just say, you never get to work "with" them, only "for" them...