The lesson is that disruptive technologies truly are so, and most companies can’t—or shouldn’t—make that transition. In the electronics world, for example, only a few vendors of vacuum tubes made it into the transistor world, and only a few of the transistor companies made it into ICs. Such is change.

Not that long ago, the commentary-and-pundit class was worried—and fearful—that, as we entered the 21st century, IBM and its PCs running on Intel CPUs with Microsoft Windows operating systems would dominate. So where are we now, smart folks? IBM is out of the PC business, and both Intel and Microsoft, though still major players, face tough competition in both CPUs and operating systems for new smartphones, tablets, and embedded products

Kodak’s bankruptcy. Shocking (and sad) as it might be, it is not all that surprising. People have been watching the company’s slow free fall for years. The Economist has a great rundown of what went wrongat the company
http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/01/kodak-files-bankruptcy-protection-1

Struggling camera maker Kodak said on Wednesday night that it has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization.

The move, which had been expected, follows years of struggle by the film giant to transition to a digital imaging company. In recent months the company has sought to capitalize on its patents and, in recent days, has sued Apple, HTC and Samsung.

Kodak Considers Restructuring Chief, Sues Samsung
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970204555904577169063509420828-lMyQjAxMTAyMDEwODExNDgyWj.html

Eastman Kodak Co. is preparing to appoint a chief restructuring officer, a move that could help the company secure financing needed to stay afloat during bankruptcy proceedings, people familiar with the matter said.

According to the Wall Street Journal, camera manufacturer Kodak is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, following a long struggle to maintain any sort of viable business.

Looking at camera data from Flickr, of images uploaded in 2011, camera phones only make up 3% of the total. Dedicated cameras from Canon, Nikon and yes, Kodak were used to take 97% of the images.

What Kodak failed to understand is that people have switched from taking photos for remembering and commemorative reasons to using photos for identity and communication. The shift changes the emphasis away from print to social media platforms and dedicated apps.

Kodak makes its money (or used to) from film, not the camera hardware itself. All those ‘dedicated cameras’ are busy taking shots without a single bit of negative being exposed.

Eastman Kodak Co. is preparing to seek bankruptcy protection in the coming weeks, people familiar with the matter said, a move that would cap a stunning comedown for a company that once ranked among America’s corporate titans.

That Kodak is even contemplating a bankruptcy filing represents a final reversal of fortune for a company that once dominated its industry

Kodak, whose near-monopoly on film produced high margins that the company shared with its workers.

Former employees say the company was the Apple Inc. or Google Inc. of its time.

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