A File Sharers Dream

Now consumers world wide have the ability to download, share, and stream torrents on their handheld devices. UTorrent has offered an app to the Android marketplace that allows users to control their uploads and downloads via smartphone or tablet.

The best part about this app is that now you have the ability to watch the torrented files directly, simply by clicking the link and watching it unfold before your eyes. A great point made by CNETs host however is that Wifi better be enabled when controlling your torrents because data stream will be astronomical.

I found this article interesting primarily because of the discussion we had on media and the music industry last week. Torrents have always posed a threat to record labels and the movie/tv industry, but with the introduction of this product they should expect sales to drop.

VZ Competitive Landscape

As a sunglasses/goggles/apparel company appealing primarily to the extreme sports market, Von Zipper is swimming in a field of competitors offering the exact same products. From Quiksilver to Hurley, or Electric to Spy, or even Anon to Dragon, Von Zipper has to maintain quality and performance in order to retain loyal customers, and even steal some away from the others listed above.

Unlike many major corporations selling copious amounts of products(Nike, Adidas, Microsoft), Von Zipper has three things to sell. With a very defined business model, VZ went international back in 2002 and haven't turned back since. Their product life cycle consists of development, production, distribution, and sale. Seems simple right? Now try tossing in advertising, salaries, promotions, and sponsorships... Not so easy huh.














                          Lets take a look at Electric for a second.

Their Website sucks! It is really awful actually, and I can imagine why. They offer a superior product, but focus too much of their time and money on product development and production to worry about how savvy and visually appealing their website is. A recent acquisition of Volcom, Electric specializes in sunglasses and goggles manufacturing and distributing.

Now let's take a look at how similar some of their products are...

Insanely similar right?? 


Now check out these motocross goggles offered by Spy Optics compared to Von Zipper...

Spy Optics offers an identical product to consumers world wide. If you didn't personalize what was stated earlier about this market, I hope these pictures help. The market for moto/snow/sunglasses and goggles is extremely horizontal, and the barriers to entry are slim to none. There are new brands exposed yearly, offering up products to trade shows, conferences, and expositions in the hope of becoming the next new brand of a Fatherly company like Quiksilver, Hurley, or Billabong.

Since both competitors, as well as VZ were all acquired companies under huge brands deeply embedded in the surf/snow/moto community, the financial reports are pretty hard to come by. It will take another week of some extensive research to weed out the companies reports and filings but it will be done. That being said however, each product has its own loyal following. For example, I rock the Von Zipper Clutch sunglasses everyday. They pose an attitude which may be "too cool for school", but when it comes to goggles I shred in nothing but the Electric EG1s. They offer durability and comfort while giving the rider a style so swag that the majority of riders on the mountain can't overcome or match.

Who is VonZipper?

Von Zipper is owned by Billabong, INC. making Derek O'Neill the CEO. Other figure heads include Ted Kunkel, Tony Froggatt, Margaret Jackson, and others. They are all apart of the organizational and committee structure, with three Committees making up the entire force. They include Auditing, HR and Remuneration, and Nominations with all board members being included in all Committees.

Von Zipper only retains about 7 full time employees, with the manufacturing of their products outsourced to companies in Austria. They do however sponsor pro surfers, bmx riders and snowboarders like Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr, Donavon Frankenreiter, Monyca Byrne-Wickey and many many others. I would definitely consider these members as a part of the Von Zipper staff because they represent the company through and through with their extreme skill in the water, on the snow, and in the air.

Although there aren't any specifics on Billabong's balance sheet/income statement about Von Zippper, I was able to find information about their net assets and brands consolidated. In 2010, $1,187,000 went to intangible assets with the same amount going in 2009 as well.

The only problem I feel myself encountering with Von Zipper in this project is that a lot of their information is masked by the over arching Father, Billabong. It is however important to understand where the company who owns VeeZee is headed, but that being said I wish they included the sunglasses and goggles manufacturer.

YouSendIt: Music Firm Distributes Digitally

After our discussion about the music industry on Tuesday, I found an article relating to the distribution aspect of digital music. This case touches on the revolution of independent record labels and the artists who want their music heard. This is where IRIS steps in.

"IRIS Distribution, founded in 2003 in San Francisco, is a music industry marketing and distribution company that sends out audio, video, and album-cover artwork to websites, music reviewers, social networks, and Internet radio stations on behalf of independent record labels."



So basically what IRIS does is control and protect the distribution of the music labels they support. In todays market, new release music from popular artists is highly regarded and most labels do not support wide spread distribution. This is especially important when it comes to sending multiple large sized files. As a result, IRIS linked with Yousendit to use the already constructed dynamic and extensible encoding system.

This system gives the record labels a sense of relief since every file is password encoded and has the ability to be tracked with sight on who may be/ already have downloaded the files.

This mode of digital distribution is sweet, especially when it comes to larger files that need to be transmitted online quickly. Personally I have never used the Yousendit service, but by the looks of it almost any file of any size can be processed, encoded, and sent quickly.

What is a Von Zipper?

"Von Zipper is a fashion forward brand centered around the alternative mindset with a focus on the eyewear, accessory and premium apparel market". Founded in 1999 as an Orange County based manufacturer of sunglasses, goggles, accessories, and soft goods, Von Zipper (or VeeZee, Inc.) became extremely popular in the local surf, wake, moto, and skate scene soon offering sponsorships to pro riders in order to create a cult-like movement.

Although its founders are unknown, the company was acquired by Billabong, Inc. in 2001 as a result of its explosive popularity and similar business model. Since its purchase, Von Zipper has proved itself in the field of extreme sports hosting such events as the VZ-Air Tahiti surfing trials at Teahupoo, J-Bay Super Heat, and prestigious Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay and
Tahiti.

They offer their products both internationally and domestically, with products being constantly seen through "a range of high profile entertainers and personalities photographed in the Von Zipper product. Pop sensation Katy Perry was rarely seen without her VZ’s on, wearing them in one of her music videos, several fashion shows and relaxing in them in her down time. Actress Drew Barrymore and singers Rhianna, Chris Brown and Tegan from the indie rock band Tegan and Sarah were seen rocking the sunglasses as well as rapper Mickey Avalon and alt rock favourites Weezer. Von Zipper had key product placement in print, digital and film in 2009-10 with the highlight being actor Robert Downey Junior wearing the VZ Fulton Red Checker shades in the hit film Iron Man 2." 2009 ShareHolder Review.

Finally I'd like to hit a little on VZ's affiliation with the non-profit communities out there. "VonZipper continued to give back to their markets by supporting the Surfrider Foundation, having officers and membership in the Surf Industry’s Manufacturers Association, developing product for Boarding For Breast Cancer and donating the proceeds to their cause, as well as launching VZ Optical’s ‘Charity for Clarity’ program".

All that being said, I really chose this company on the basis that they provide an outstanding product. VZ has yet to lose the interest of their consumers, as can be seen in their quarterly introduction of new products in the market. As long as they keep their roots strong, you won't see this guy give up on Von Zipper.

Goal is to have a solid understanding of who/what/when/where/how the company originated.

IBM Conquering the World One Societal Problem at a Time

So early last year, IBM came out with a commercial promoting how they were going to revolutionize the world. "Improving water distribution systems, reducing city traffic congestion, or making the electric grid more reliable and efficient" was a phrase they referred to in this commercial I think we all remember.



After searching CNET tonight, I found this article explaining the reality of the Internet of Things, or pervasive computing . This comes as a result of cheaper processors and a higher penetration of broadband networking.

One example of how they are currently using their system is through the electricity grid; by setting more sophisticated sensors along the electric transmission lines, data can be collected at a real time pace, thus alert grid operators of problems as a they occur.

Although these ideas are awesome in text, they still have many kinks to work out before steady implementation and future success. IBM reports that "The sheer amount of data that non-computer devices produce requires a heavy dose of analytical software, too". As a result of this issue, IBM has bought a number of software companies in this field, including Cognos, DataPower, and Neteeza.

I hope to see some and more of these ideas rolled out in the next few years, primarily because I would like to experience gas prices back in the $2 range before I die. That being said, it will take time and money to produce results. Time and money taken from yours truely...

Final Company and why Egypt Sucks

Although not one of my original selections, I chose to introduce and follow Von Zipper because it is the surf/snow/sports company which I relate with the most; case and point, my initials. VZ, or Von Zipper, or Vince Zieser have influenced me to make such decisions as selectively and exclusively rocking out nothing but their shades, placing an 18" VZ decal on the rear window of my Silverado, and owning as much of their apparel as possible.

Here is Von Zipper's Twitter page, and from observation they typically use it in the same fashion as every other for service company, advertising. Any new/introduced product or team rider who wins an event is thrown up on a tweet and broadcasted to their 4,275 fan base.

Now onto why Egypt sucks...
They're putting thoughts into my mind of a new millennium civil war held here in the US. If a country can band together much like Egypt did to protest President Hosni Mubarak's 30 years in power thus causing the Egyptian government to shut down Internet service, than what would happen if the same happened on our soil? I'll tell ya, TURMOIL.

What would Youtube sensations such as fountain girl, or the millions who walk NYC streets texting, sexting, and browsing do if our government decided to shut down service? I'm not even considering the amount of businesses (all of them) that rely on web based technologies to function properly on a daily basis.

Check out this chart that displays the overview of routing activity in Egypt for the past 24 hours.

It's unbelievable to fathom the amount of damage this could sustain on a country, and Egypt is a prime example. With CNN reporters getting harnessed and abused while reporting live for simply displaying the violence that was ensuing, what would happen to the millions of innocent minding their own business?

Here is one last article describing the idea behind the Internet "kill switch" and if it truly necessary...