Thought of the day

Google, the most successful internet company; Microsoft, the most successful PC software company; Amazon, the most successful e-commerce company and Facebook, the most successful social media company. What these fabulous four have in common today?

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The answer is these four software giants are all trying to become hardware manufacturers.

Google has Nexus series, Microsoft just demonstrates the Surface, Amazon battles with the power of Kindle Fire, Facebook rumours with developing Facebook customised smart phone.

What the hell is going on here?

Software development is a the lowest entry but the highest margin business. If you can write "Hello World", you definitely know how to program. Working for the industry for threesome years, you will grant a senior title, although you still look and behaviour childish. An initial $1000 investment for a laptop, your business is open. There is less business running and maintenance cost, almost all your business income potentially is the profit.

Why the above big four start pursuing low margin, risky hardware business?  Are they trying to duplicate the success of Apple model - Hardware, OS, application, 3rd party app store. From top to bottom, tightly control every node in the food chain.

How to adapt this trend for the software developers? Do they need add hardware welding and soldering in their skill set in future?