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The Biggest Trend in 2008 Won’t Just be a Fad This Year’s Biggest Tech Trend Belongs to a Micro-Cap
Trends can get an investor into trouble. Oftentimes, an investor will put too much stake in how he believes a particular trend will shape up, yet neglect his most important decision: The company whose shares he chooses to buy! Oil can be on the rise…but if you’re invested in a failing oil company, you won’t reap the rewards of your prediction, accurate or not… Then there are bogus trends. Take Crocs Inc., for instance. The company makes squishy sandals that were all the rage last summer. The stock rose on high hopes that these sandals would grab a permanent place in the fashion world. Expectations became overblown and then crashed — along with the stock — when reality set in…
Shares of Crocs Inc. — maker of the popular soft, lightweight sandals — have fallen more than 70% since November 2007. By the time the footwear hit its popularity peak, the stock was already underperforming… The point is this: You need more than a trend to make a profit. You need a strong business to back up your big-picture predictions. Great investors look for industry leaders. And even in our dealings with micro-caps, we’re searching for the best in their respective businesses. That’s why we’ve had our eye on an industry leader in one of the next big technological breakthroughs in the mobile phone market… This one small company owns and licenses key patents that it has vigorously — and, so far, quite successfully — defended in court. We’ll get to more on this groundbreaking corporation in just a minute. First, let’s take a look at what could very well be the biggest trend in mobile communications for the next several years… The iPhone’s Achilles’ Heel Back in July, we wrote an online column titled “Why Apple’s iPhone Can’t Change Anything.” As you can probably guess, we weren’t too impressed with the glossy little gadgets we saw paraded around town. One of the reasons was that AT&T — the iPhone’s exclusive carrier — announced disappointing activation data right after release. Customers activated only 146,000 iPhones during the first weekend of its release. Most of the very serious Wall Street-type analysts were expecting this number to come in around 500,000. Apple stock initially took a beating, but quickly rebounded. But we still aren’t buying it — at least not yet. Sure, the screen looks great and the Web browser sets up pages much nicer than other smart phones. However, there are some features that need to be added or corrected. Apple is working on some of them. Soon, third parties will be allowed to develop software for the phones — allowing almost limitless possibilities for new useful applications. That’s a step in the right direction. But there’s something else missing. These first generation iPhones lack a crucial piece of technology that could very well take the ultimate mobile fashion accessory to the next level… ************One Day Left************ How the Microwave Oven (and a Tire Fire) Led to One of the Biggest Energy Breakthroughs in Decades You might already be familiar with how microwave technology was discovered in the first place. But let me refresh your memory. One day, shortly after World War II, a scientist at Raytheon working on radar technology noticed a candy bar starting to melt in his pocket. He quickly realized the radar was giving off microwaves at a frequency that heated up the chocolate. That was the jumping-off point for the development of the microwave oven that's a fixture of every modern kitchen. And it’s also what makes the “Oil Vacuum” work. Check it out now. You only have until tomorrow at midnight to do so. Read this now… ********************************** Feedback You Can Feel Touch screen technology is used in a variety of applications nowadays. Servers at restaurants punch orders into a touch screen monitor. Cash registers at many stores are now operated with touch screen technology. Even some factories employ touch screen controls for complex machinery. But miniaturizing touch screens for mobile phones creates a few new obstacles. For example, how do you create an easy-to-use touch screen keyboard for a small hand-held device? The answer lies in a science you’ve probably experienced, but have never heard of: Haptics. Haptic technology is essentially “feel feedback.” It gives you more control and precision by emitting vibrations or motions that give technology such as touch screens the feel of a keyboard. Haptics has the unique ability to make sleek, stylish gadgets just as easy to use as your old flip phone. When you press the buttons on a traditional phone or keyboard, you receive a tactile response. You are able to run your fingers over the keys to get your bearings, making it easier to type and recognize errors. This simply isn’t possible on a touch screen without haptic feedback. You can’t type with your eyes closed, and you can’t feel it when you’re in between buttons or pressing the wrong key altogether. We found the leader in the field of touch feedback technology. Phone manufacturers have used its licensed haptic solutions in more than 10 million mobile phones, with more new models introduced almost every month. Heavy hitters like LG, Nokia and Samsung all license this technology for their products. You might even recognize some of the phones that incorporate it — like the LG Voyager, offered by Verizon in the U.S., as well as the pricey Prada phone (also by LG). Unfortunately, this company is far too small for a newsletter this size. So, I had to hold off on it. I will however, release it to my Penny Stock Fortunes readers. In fact, I just put the finishing touches on it, and PSF readers should receive it in their inboxes within 24 hours from now. If you would like to get into this exclusive group, check this out. But hurry; you don’t want to miss this amazing penny stock play… Best, P.S.: In case you missed it, my partner in crime, Jim Nelson, wrote to you last week announcing another amazing penny stock opportunity. That one gives you access to the most exciting growth opportunity in China. We will be releasing the name of that company at the same time as the haptics play. To get in on these before it’s too late, check this out right now… |
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Greg Guenthner uses his experience as a former journalist to dig up the hard-to-find headlines that could lead to big gains for your small-cap portfolio. He also heads the Sleuth's "big sister" publications, Penny Stock Fortunes and Bulletin Board Elite... <click here for full bio> |
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