Weekly Links #21
Here is a weekly selection of important information bits, thoughtful opinion pieces and interesting analyses from the digital and technology world. Published every Thursday.
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- Human Capital Report 2015 Ranking
The World Economic Forum has released its Human Capital Report 2015. The ranking shows which countries are leading in making use of their human capital to create wealth, growth and innovation. Finland scores the top position. Overall the Nordic countries do very well. The U.S. only reaches rank 16. Germany is doing even worse with rank 22. - Yelp sale rumor reminds us that social is terrible as a business even if it did change the Web
Interesting statement, and some plausible arguments. - The Facebook Reckoning
- Why Facebook Instant Articles Are The Future of The Web
Two analyses worth reading about this week’s Facebook announcement regarding “Instant Articles”. - U.S. Mobile Users Spend The Most Time In Facebook And Instagram, Elsewhere Messaging Apps Dominate
Noteworthy observation: “U.S. users seem to lean more towards one-to-many communication through social networks, while other countries appear to favor one-to-one communication”. Considering how much Americans love to entertain crowds whereas other cultures prefer intimate conversations in between fewer people, this makes actually a lot of sense. - Circumstances align for Airbnb as Cuba becomes the company’s fastest growing market
These are our new times: Cuba opens up for U.S. tourism and investments and who is the first U.S. company to be able to offer thousands of accommodations? Not one of the major hotel chains, but Airbnb. - Right to be Forgotten – Google rejects 70% of 250,000 removal requests
That’s good news actually. The less this newly introduced right offered to citizens of the European Union is being used, the better. - CIO interview: Hans-Petter Aanby, Scandinavian Airlines
Interesting interview with the CIO of SAS about how to leverage information technology to make an airline more efficient and competitve. - Samsung is imploding in China
A nightmare for Samsung: Apple’s iPhone is rapidly pushing the South Korean technology giant out of China, right now the world’s most important smartphone market. - Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions
By now one thing is clear: Microsoft is serious with completely reinventing itself. - Disassembling the Dash
Amazon recently announced a “smart button” called Dash, which allows for quick purchasing of products without using a smartphone or PC. This article explains what can be found inside a Dash button. - A Month With the Apple Watch: Does It Pass the Test of Time?
- Upon This Wrist – A week with the new thing
- I am thinking of returning my Apple Watch
Three reviews of the Apple Watch that come to different conclusions. - Elon Musk: The World’s Raddest Man
This article has been shared heavily so chances are that you already have read it. If not, I recommend you to read it. It takes probably 30 minutes but it is worth it. - A bitcoin-like solution for Greece
Geeky stuff for fans of real-world use cases for crypto-currencies. - These plates serve up picture-perfect foodporn every time
A crazy idea, but somehow also extremely clever. - Why Is the Local Market So Elusive for Tech Companies?
It is one thing to release a game app or social app that can be used by people from all over world. It is another thing to launch a service that needs strong local presence in each of its target areas. This article explains why capturing local markets has so many challenges for tech companies.
And recently on meshedsociety.com: