Category Archives: Technology

Who in the world gets the best broadband access?

Any strategic consideration about the development of web-based applications in a specific market must take into consideration broadband penetration rates and the performance of last mile public connectivity. This is especially true of applications that use large amounts of bandwidth capacity such Broadband and OTT TV, streaming and online gaming. So if you are looking for good worldwide ISP performance data, one source should be the Akamai State of the Internet Report. In their words:

Each quarter, Akamai publishes a quarterly “State of the Internet” report. This report includes data gathered across Akamai’s global server network about attack traffic, average & maximum connection speeds, Internet penetration and broadband adoption, and mobile usage, as well as trends seen in this data over time.

You can download the free quarterly report here, and also use a fun visualization tool to chart network performance in different countries. Who in the world gets the best broadband access?  Find out.

Akamai State of the Internet chart

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Filed under International Business, Technology

Traveling to the Bay Area in July and August? Check out these tech events

Many of my European friends take advantage of summer vacations to visit the Bay Area. A few ask me to suggest tech events to attend while they are here.

I put together a list of interesting tech and business events taking place in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, in July and August 2010. The focus is mostly web, internet marketing, social media, software etc.

Here’s the Google calendar in HTML and iCal format.

PS: I am not associated with, nor endorse any specific listed organization or event.

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Filed under Business Models, Events, Technology, Tips

Italians spark electrical aviation records

In aviation circles, the span of time between the two World Wars is remembered as the Golden Age. A global race to speed, range and performance records pushed the limits of technology and pegged countries and manufactures against each other.  It was a great run for Italian engineering too, culminating with the 1934 Schneider Trophy speed record that Francesco Agello established on a Macchi MC 72. His 709 km/h (440 mph) remains the fastest speed ever attained by a piston engine seaplane.

As an an aeronautical engineer, I was very excited to learn that, on June 12, 2009, Maurizio Cheli established another speed record and aviation milestone on an Italian built craft. Continue reading

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Filed under Innovation, Technology

Why Facebook should sell your data

We are drowning in irrelevant advertising. Some are inspired by it, most ignore it, some would like to get more relevant ad messages.

I have been convinced for a while now that selling user data is one of the most direct and potentially lucrative ways social networks can achieve the kind of revenues that would justify their valuations. A recent article on Facebook’s intention to “cash in” on user data reminded me of a recent conversation.

Continue reading

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Filed under Business Models, Media, Technology

Italians at the Frontier

Italiani di Frontiera Logo“Italiani di Frontiera”, Italians at the Frontier. It’s the project of Roberto Bonzio, Reuters journalist and entrepreneurial spirit who is turning a six-month sabbatical in California into a blog, book and multimedia project, covering Italians past and present who have taken to the American frontier.

I had the pleasure to sit down at Caffe del Doge in Palo Alto (apt location!) with Roberto for a chat. He posted his report here (in Italian).

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Filed under International Business, Technology

Y-Combinator Startup School Videos

Once a year, Y-Combinator holds Startup School, its “annual free conference for hackers interested in startups.” This year’s videos from speakers like Jeff BezosMarc Andreessen and Peter Norvig among others are available online here: http://omnisio.com/startupschool08/

Recommended to any startup entrepreneur.

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Filed under Innovation, Management, Technology

A Silicon Mind

LA7, a major Italian television broadcaster, has produced a Silicon Valley reportage that is now available online. A sweeping view of the opportunities, challenges and motivations of Italian entrepreneurs and professionals in Silicon Valley, including startups, BAIA, SVIEC, Google, Stanford, Tim Draper, John Hennessy,… Interviews and reportage by Frediano Finucci and Damiano Ficoneri, LA7 News. Note: the video is in Italian. la7-video1

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Filed under Innovation, International Business, Technology