Issue 164

April 2012

American Idol

An intimate portrait of the world's most famous CEO.
Read More

Features

Photographers Document A Billion Contrasts In Today's China

A 20,000-mile search for the face(s) of China.
Ekso's Exoskeletons Let Paraplegics Walk, Will Anyone Actually Wear One?

Ekso Bionics builds robotic exoskeletons that can help paraplegics leave their wheelchairs. All CEO Eythor Bender has to do is create a market for a product that no one knew they wanted.
MLB Advanced Media's Bob Bowman Is Playing Digital Hardball. And He's Winning.

Major League Baseball Advanced Media--BAM, for short--is as technologically sophisticated as any company, anywhere. Here's how a winning and profitable strategy is being built by an online player that breaks all the rules.
MLB's Social-Media Fan Cave Goes 2.0
Why Tesla Motors Is Betting On The Model S

Elon Musk's Tesla Motors isn't just an electric car company--it's perhaps the greatest test of Silicon Valley's innovation model. And now is do-or-die time, when everything is riding on a new $50,000 sedan.

Now

Cashing In On The 100th Anniversary Of The Titanic

The RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912--and because tragedy can be lucrative, the centennial has sent money bubbling up from the ocean floor.
Chic, Eco-Friendly Designs Abound At London's Alternative Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week may think it's fashion-forward, but real risk taking is displayed this month at Alternative Fashion Week in London.
The Recommender: Justin Klosky, Brian Sharples, And More On What They're Loving This Month

Check out all the recommended books, films, and more.
Intel Thunderbolt's Lightning-Fast Data Transfer Tech Leaves Firewires And USBs In The Digital Dust

Intel Thunderbolt's lightning-fast data transfer tech leaves firewires and USBs in the digital dust.
The MacArthur Foundation Wants To Foursquare Your Résumé With Digital Badges Designed By Mozilla

Mozilla and The MacArthur Foundation teams up with HASTAC to create a new digital badge system.
In The Battle Of The Pint-Sized Celebs, Famous Parentage Doesn't Always Get You To The Top

In the battle of the pint-sized celebs, famous parentage doesn't always get you to the top.
Has Coachella Lost Its Cool? Two Audiophiles Duke It Out

Two audiophiles duke it out.
Walmart's "American Idol"-Style Contest Draws In Some Bizarre Submissions

Walmart's "American Idol"-style contest draws in some bizarre submissions.
Hallmark Says So Long To Martha Stewart As Bravo Ushers In Kathy Griffin

The Golden Age of Martha Stewart is ending. The expert homemaker's Hallmark talk show ceases production this month after seven seasons, just as funny gal Kathy Griffin launches her own talk show on Bravo. We check in with experts to find out why Martha is out and Kathy is in.
Tyler Cowen Shares His New Rules For Mindful Foodies

Go grocery shopping with a top economist.
Broadway's Religious Raps Rake In The Ticket Sales

Based on the 1992 Steve Martin comedy about a fraudulent faith healer, Leap of Faith debuts on Broadway this month.
How Marvel's Digital Superpowers Won Over Brick-And-Mortar Retailers

Beginning this month, all new Marvel releases are available digitally the same day they hit shelves.
Conferences You Don't Want To Miss In April

From Microsoft's to IBM's own events, here are the conferences this month.

Do Groupon And LivingSocial Do More Harm Than Good?

The Groupon hangover is setting in, and providers and retailers alike are looking for a Bloody Mary.
50 Cent Remixes Beats By Dre With SMS Headphones

Emerging headphones purveyor 50 Cent studied a predecessor closely before pressing play on his own venture.
How G3Box Turns Shipping Containers Into Clinics

Arizona State students Gabrielle Palermo and Susanna Young are converting freight containers into mobile clinics--when they can find the time.
In The Cafeteria, Google Gets Healthy

Companies spend a lot of time finding ways to cut energy costs and increase recycling. Here's how the tech giant is working to better manage another resource: the health of its staff.
Tigo Helps Remittances Go Mobile

In countries like Guatemala, remittances from migrant workers in the U.S. are critical to the economy. Tigo, an international telecom, has a unique plan to use mobile banking to simplify a trying process.

Making Cheaper, Better Windmills

Wind power can be cheaper than solar and greener than coal, which bodes well for the $77 billion (and counting) annual market. But turbines are clunky and expensive--both huge barriers to adoption. So what if they soared like kites?

Fast Talk

Healing Health Care

This year, the U.S. government will funnel $6 million to a select group of medical visionaries. Their mission: Fine-tune programs to solve life-and-death problems in our health-care system. Here are five of the most promising options.
Srikant Iyer, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Diane Curley, St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center
Stevi Riel, Muskegon Community Health Project
Jay Want, Center for Improving Value in Health Care

Wanted

Oakley's Radarlock Sunglasses Feature Lenses That Pop Out Like Doors

For the easy-to-use lock on its new shades, Oakley studied the mechanisms of car doors.
Dror's Magical Expandable Suitcase For Tumi Is Fit For Mary Poppins

Dror Benshetrit creates an overpacker's dream suitcase for Tumi
How Windowfarms Turned DIY Recycled-Bottle Planters Into A Blossoming Business

Britta Riley turned a DIY project into a business with the help of a thriving online community.
These Luxurious 3-D Wallpapers Are Lush With Beads, Glittery Sand, And Even Grasses

These luxurious 3-d wallpapers are lush with beads, glittery sand, and even grasses.
Black + Blum Design A Better Water Bottle, Complete WIth A Giant Charcoal Stick

Black + Blum goes back to basics with a military canteen-inspired bottle.

Progress Report

Making Cheaper, Better Windmills

From the Editor

The Education Of Mark Zuckerberg

Five years ago this month, I sent senior writer Ellen McGirt to Palo Alto to stalk a cover subject. Our prey was a 22-year-old college dropout. He ran a free online service for college students.

Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Lives On In Spite of Doping Allegations

We check back in on Lance Armstrong's foundation, Livestrong.
SAP's New VP Of Marketing Has Weathered The Walmart Whirlwind

Despite a cloud of rumors surrounding her departure from Walmart back in 2006, marketer Julie Roehm is now making a return

Reader's Feedback: February 2012

Your gripes, tweets and comments about the February 2012 issue.

Fast Fixes February 2012

In February’s "Generation Flux," a paraphrased definition of Charles Darwin's survival of the fittest theory was mistakenly attributed to Darwin as a direct quote. We regret the error.
In March's 2012 Most Innovative Companies, we neglected to credit the barber for the Square story. It was Christopher Eliares.

Issue 164

April 2012

American Idol

Features

Now

Next

Next

Fast Talk

Wanted

Progress Report

From the Editor