April 4, 2008
09:49 am | 1 recommendation | 1 comment
In our Fast 50 issue, we praised Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner for its lightweight construction and streamlined design--features that contribute to the aircraft's remarkable fuel efficiency. The interior of the plane is roomy, with wider seats and aisles, and it has cool passenger-comfort features like overhead lighting that imitates the changing colors of the sky and a cabin that is pressurized at lower altitudes. Aviation geeks who were present when the prototype was unveiled last July described it as an almost religious experience.
But a big question remains: When will it be ready? The 787 was supposed to make its maiden flight last year, but instead has hit one production delay after another. The latest snafu: Boeing announced earlier this week that it has to redesign key structural parts of the aircraft (you know, those somewhat essential pieces that hold the wings in place). The company now claims it will begin filling orders in early 2009, although analysts predict the first delivery won't be until fall.
Which got us thinking. Is the 787 one of those technological marvels that's so ambitious, so novel that production delays are inevitable? Think about the Tesla Roadster, the electric sports car that can go 220 miles before it needs to recharge. The prototype is done and series production finally began on March 17, but only after significant delays (most notably over transmission troubles). Yet we doubt many people are canceling their orders, and even if they were, there's a waitlist longer than an Airbus 380-compatible runway. What are some other products that were delayed to market but worth the wait?
February 2, 2008
02:49 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
If you look at the top ten of the Fast 50, the world's most innovative companies, these are the companies that have got buzz working for that. Nintendo and the success of it Wii game console has been all over the media. Apple's iPhone dominated the internet for several months. Facebook was followed by months of buyout speculation. Amazon released the Kindle with much discussion. And the number one company, Google, is constantly discussed -- whether it is new applications the company unveils, the on-going competition with Microsoft, or just awe at its history of success.
What I enjoy more each year Fast Company magazine pubilshes the Fast 50 are learning the stories of companies that I haven't heard about. This year is no exception. Have you heard of AFFYMETRIX before the list came out? What about Tesco? Ausra is a prime example. This is a company that has a plan that will not only help with the world's energy concerns, but will have success that may be measured in billions of dollars. Or Real D, a company whose product I have experienced first hand, three-dimensional film projection, but didn't realize it was them. With the release of Beowulf last year and many more 3D films coming this year and next, this will be name that many will soon know and talk about.
Which of the Fast 50 had you not heard of? Which story gets you talking?
12:16 pm | 1 recommendation | 1 comment
Google, which earned the top spot in this year's Fast 50, is like no other company I’ve visited in ten years at Fast Company, and I’ve explored the inner workings of some of the most creative organizations out there--from Dell to Disney, eBay to IBM, Motorola to the Mayo Clinic.
You don't hear complaints about bureaucratic obstacles, although Google now boasts more than 16,000 employees worldwide. You don’t hear about bottom-line pressure on new products. You hear about autonomy. You hear about speed. You hear about feedback from "Larry and Sergey and Eric" – co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and CEO Eric Schmidt.
It's easy to see why Google attracts top engineers from Microsoft and Yahoo as well as independent-minded entrepreneurs. In many ways, Google still behaves like a start-up, although everybody knows that's impossible for a big company--isn't it? The Googleplex oozes creativity, fearlessness, and fun. The lingo (Nooglers, Googlers, Googly and so on) and culture are easy for outsiders to mock, but they're indicative of the closely-knit community that Google nurtures and protects with the utmost care.
That community might be put to the test soon. According to a new comScore report, U.S. Web users clicked on slightly fewer search ads in January than they did a year ago. Those clicks are the big moneymaker for Google. Is this a crack in the armor, perhaps? Nothing more than a post-holiday aberration? We'll see. Googlers think they have the answer for any significant slowdown--enough cash in the bank and the right culture. "We're strong believers that as long as we keep innovating, we won't have a lull," says Andy Rubin, the brains behind Android, Google's phone platform. "It's all about planting seeds."
05:17 pm | 1 recommendation | 4 comments
At the magazine, the choice to put Google at the top of our "most
innovative companies" list was almost a fait accompli. No one seriously
argued for any other player to head the list. Check out our various
Google insights at http://www.fastcompany.com/fast50_08/index.html Anyone want to make an argument for another No. 1 for 2007? Or does consensus reign everywhere?
06:07 pm | 4 recommendations | 4 comments
In the March issue of Fast Company--careful, it's hot off the press--we unveil the new and improved Fast 50, aka the Fast Company 50. This year's list is our first-ever ranking of the most innovative companies in the world. But wait, you say, that's impossible. Can't be done. The world's too big! There's too much innovation out there to keep track of! Sloooow down, Fast Company!
Well, that's what you pay us for. To take journalistic chances. To venture where others fear to tread. Besides, the ranking felt like a natural for us given that we write about, talk about, and obsess about innovation all day. It's in our blood, people. We've been chronicling innovators large and small from the beginning, back when the Internet really was "a series of tubes," as Senator Stevens so eloquently put.
Take a gander at our list and let us know what you think. Who'd we leave off who belonged on there? And who should we have left off? Who did we rank too high? Too low? Here's where you can make your case. Let's hear it.
