Microtek's New Photo Contest!

Every month, Microtek will be hosting a themed photo contest for anyone (in Canada) who loves snapping and sharing their photos. You don't need to be a professional, you just need to enjoy photography! Well be giving away great prizes to winners. Just go to our website at www.microtekcorporation.com/photocontest/ to see the current contest information, and submit your entry!

November Theme: Fire Hydrants

Contest Timelines:

Submissions will open to the public November 1st, 2011
Submissions will close November 15th, 2011
Top Finalists Posted November 21st, 2011
Winner Announced on November 30th, 2011
 

Contest Criteria:
Judges will award points in the following categories:

1. Originality & Creativity (is the photo subject matter interpreted uniquely, while still clearly 'on theme'? Does the photo tell a story? Was there creative effort?)
2. Design & Composition (good cropping, effective center/object of focus, effective angles/perspective )
3. Technical Quality (crispness, color control, lighting/shadows, professionalism, etc)
4. Judges Choice (points awarded for overall appeal to judges)

The public will be allowed to 'Like' the finalist photos. This will not affect the judging criteria, but could impact the Judges Choice point category based on public popular opinion.

Just visit the website at: www.microtekcorporation.com/photocontest/

Good luck, and have some fun!

He Should Need No Introduction.

His name is Dennis Ritchie. 

And while the world paused to pour praise and tribute upon Apple founder, Steve Jobs, a week later Ritchie quietly succumb to his own ongoing illness in the silence of his New Jersey home. There was no outpouring of appreciation much beyond the community of experts who recognized the significance of the man. 

Why should we know Dennis Ritchie? Simply put, even Steve Jobs would have to say he stood on the shoulders of this originator. It was Ritchie who developed the C programming language, upon which the UNIX system was built. Essentially, everything we love and enjoy on the internet was built upon the foundation that Ritchie developed. Web browsers, servers and the network hardware the internet runs depend on 'C'. Even modern technological luxuries, like the Apple desktop OS, the iPhone and iPad depend on the underlying foundation of the 'C' language. Yes, even Windows was originally written upon the 'C' platform. 

As some experts put it, it could not be overstated how much the networking and information technology industry owes to what Ritchie contributed. What praise Steve Jobs received for the outwardly incredible innovations the world loves in Apple, Ritchie ought to receive the same recognition for what happens within those very products. 

I am not a programmer; I'm just a guy who benefits from the amazing things the really smart people in this world are able to build. But the programmers who work on the Microtek team were adament that the same recognition which was paid to Steve Jobs should also be given to a man their profession owes so much to.

I marvel at how brilliant the originators of the technology industry really are. To conceive and give birth to the ideas which a man like Dennis Ritchie did is beyond remarkable. So while the world continues to echo appreciation in the aftermath of Steve Job's passing - may we also give place to a man who even Steve Job's would have to tip his hat to. 

Well done, Dennis. Thank you. 

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James Rozak is the Creative Manager at Microtek Corporation, sharing his talents as a graphic designer, branding specialist, web developer and illustrator for over 15 years. Thank you to Joshua Hyatt, Microtek Programmer/Developer, for his contribution. 

A Job Well Done: Apple Innovation in Marketing

It is no surprise that the passing of Steve Jobs has resonated so broadly throughout the world. The tributes that pour in are well deserved. Whether you are a fan of his practices and products or not, his success speaks for itself. Anyone who becomes a figure of such praise and criticism can surely know; they've made a stunning impact. 

I've often heard the pros and cons of their products. The critics often chime that their products aren't necessarily 'better' when you break down the nuts and bolts.That, to me, is open for debate. 

But what is not open for debate is how well they have marketed themselves. Their marketing is stunning. Brilliant. There are numerous ways of dissecting why their marketing has proven so impacting. But for the purpose of this blog, I will focus on what I call "singularity". 

While Apple has assembled a range of fun and effective products, their 'catch' is really not the products themselves. What they have achieved is "singularity" in the WAY that people perceive their brand. When you think "Apple", you don't necessarily think of any single product. What you do think of is the association that has been built into the Apple brand.

"Quality". "Innovative". "Sleek". "Slick". "Easy-to-Use". 

People expect the extraordinary. They've established a perception which to thousands (if not millions) of people means they've sold their products before they ever hit the shelves. When Steve Jobs took the stage to unveil the next product, all people wanted to know was "are they for sale NOW? Do I need to get to the Apple Store NOW?".  

There are lots of competitors who offer similar products. You could even argue that those products are comparable in function and performance. But without the 'package' that Apple has nurtured and painstakingly wrapped their products in, they don't compare. They come across as imitations. 

If you've ever visited an Apple store - you discover it's not a JUST a computer store. It's a hub of interactivity. There are customer service people everywhere. The products are accessible and meant to be handled. When you leave, if you were paying attention you'd realize - it wasn't just the products on display that impressed you. It was the experience. And if you've ever had a problem with a device, it wasn't the product that impressed you. It was the way you were treated. They got it right. They "wow"ed you. 

In my mind, one of the most brilliant innovations of Steve Jobs was that his brand is as much about the customer as it is the product.

It's a principle of branding. You aren't only selling a product. You're selling the feeling people have when (and after) they purchase your product, and how they imagine their experience will be when they come in the store, or visit your website, or interact with your staff. That really is what a 'brand' is. (Of course, you then need to back up that expectation with performance. Pretenders will fail too. )

So when you are building your business - consider the Apple model and what Steve Jobs accomplished. What is the "singular" aspect of your product or service that distinguishes you? Why should you stand out? What should people know you for? 

When you market, aim for "singularity". Have you identified what singularly defines you? That distinction should drive your marketing effort.  

Thanks Steve for the Inspiration.  

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James Rozak is the Creative Manager at Microtek Corporation, sharing his talents as a graphic designer, branding specialist, web developer and illustrator for over 15 years.