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It is easy to lose sight of the long-term strategy that MRNJ management has employed to keep the company going but that is very much as important as the day-to-day app ranks and introductions and app enhancements. The long-term strategy of branching out into the self-help genre has proved to be VERY smart over the long haul. It is not as glamorous as a Michael Jackson app but over the last 3 years it has morphed into a revenue-generating business that has not only survived the Great Recession but grown smarter and better equipped for further growth, along with financial solvency, which may not yet be as transparent as would be preferred, but is nonetheless, apparent.
Slow, steady, persistent; these are key marks of a successful enterprise. Quantum-leaping growth can happen with the right breaks at the right time, that is one unknown in business that cannot be factored into a pps. MRNJ is not a static enterprise, either, keep in mind that they have learned through the mistakes and successes both, and as importantly, they have made many more business connections that most of us probably are unaware of, and yet these sorts of things in the background are dynamic and unpredictable resources that can be overlooked and even all too often dismissed by looking too closely at the pps activity on a day to day basis. Sure, it will be great when the pps is more favorable, what investor/shareholder would not want it? Rome is not built in a day, to expect otherwise is fantasy.
Thanks, JJ, and Appfan, too, for your responses that were very helpful in making my perceptions clearer.
Cheche, I will not argue the point that expenses rising to absorb revenue increases is NOT a reassuring trend as far as its impact on world-be investors or those of us who might opt to buy more shares...fear being, of course, that will go on forever. I DID NOT/ DO NOT miss that in the past several quarterlies. HOWEVER, I do not accept that it justifies the very lopsided free fall in the PPS, which is NOT commensurate with the trend of growth, despite the rising expenses...other forces are at work, in my opinion. If there would be an impressive surge in profits to be shown, then this argument would be moot, of course, and the results would speak for themgselves, presumably spurring investors and the PPS along with it.
A bit off the current discussion, although I appreciate seeing E. Tolle climbing, etc. I have been thinking about the PPS and how inconsistent it seems to be over time and drawing the conclusion that it is being shrewdly manipulated. For example, 2-3 years ago there were far fewer outstanding shares and MUCH LESS real business going on,ie, perhaps a tenth of the current revenues, with only a LOT of foreward-looking speculation about client assets and the PPS then was MUCH higher, by a factor of 4-5-6 times. That does NOT seem to make any sense then that with record revenues and newly conceived means of extracting more revenue from each app, that the price has dropped 400-500-600 percent; it is clearly illogical. It must serve as a turn-off for would-be investors who only take a less-than-comprehensive/resultantly dismissive look at MRNJ...anyone else care to add his/her 2 cents worth?
Storm...many thanks as always. I am NOT one who checks Appanie, etc., so I would advocate MORE not FEWER blogs by the company, but I am content with the current pace of company blogs.
I am wondering about the Zukav app(s) and have a question. I am wondering if the company lost its momentum for production of this app in the wake of less-than-hoped-for interest in the paralleled-genre app by E. Tolle; did that lackluster result bring about a strategy of doubling down on the Harrold apps, since they were the best sellers, ie, revenue generation as the bottom line? I only wonder about this because I did query IR about it in February, and they said another month on the Zukav app, coupled by the initial hype of getting Zukav as a new client last fall...hard to believe that there was NOT a perceptual change on this. What are your impressions?
Debate, if one is to call it that, must never be a one-sided diatribe.
Like Colectinmrnj, I am patient with the company. I hope to see the PPS improve, as it is way below my points of entry and the objective to investment is to see growth in value. If the company is struggling, does it make sense to beat them down with negativity...I believe it is much easier to do and simpler than suggesting anything that might be of beneficial use to turn things around. I agree that audited books would not only be a step to reassure shareholders but also it seems it would be imperative to have such records to show prospective investors, especially if they have a fund of $100 million and have been at this a while with a record of investing in other struggling but promising small tech companies. I find it hard to imagine that anyone will throw in millions of dollars with no look at how the $$$ has been managed over the course of the past 3-4 years. I also understand other frustrations, such as why it takes so long to get an app out by a new client, for instance and how that would impact other prospective clients who can follow and see that it takes so unimaginably long to accomplish...but, nevertheless, do not see the value in only seeing light through one side of the prism. Some say the company is only trying to improve revenues, that is the current strategy, foregoing leaping into unknown waters...I think that pros and cons have an opportunity to learn and gain insights from eachother when they put forth rational and measured responses. It is good to see this dynamic developing on this discussion board.
Grizley, glad to see there is more info on the labels, as you recall, I saw one of them at a truck stop in Feb. Maybe having the symbol will entice them to investigate the options. Keep up the good efforts!
Diode, I was referring to Malcolm Gladwells' book, "Outliers", which I have read along with "Blink" and "What the Dog Saw". For some reason I have not yet read "Tipping Point" but if that is where MRNJ is about to be, then I must read it, ASAP...off to the library this week!
Good post Storm...and that is a good point that so many companies stuck on the paradigm of the CD are not shifting to the app mentality, somehow resolutely denying the informational digital delivery change, but I think that there is a silver lining in that reluctance, especially for MRNJ, ie, lack of competing capital has allowed MRNJ to "get the jump" on the pack and inevitably position MRNJ to pick the cream of the crop when the heard starts running for the technological wizards that are soon to be ferreted out by the rush to change. The day may soon be coming when MRNJ cannot grow fast enough to keep up with the demand that is inevitable. I think it is crucial that MRNJ find the right financing partner before much longer, just my opinion...the old Chinese addage goes, "all is lost to he who hesitates". As the celebrated author Malcolm Gladwell explains in his great book about paradygm shifts and those who became wealthy by being the "first responders" it takes so much time and learning to conquer the challenge of a new paradygm, that those who first RECOGNIZE the coming revolutionary techology and embrace it are the first who can perfect it, cut business deals, and invent ways to make fortunes based on it. Note, the lack of stashing cash that some balk about is a very real and timely investment in being positioned to "be at the right place at the right time" which I believe MRNJ is doing, slowly and methodically.
Storm, I believe your Q1 2012 should actually be Q1 2013.
Prudent analysis, thanks! Wealth is built slowly and methodically, it is NOT a cavalier enterprise...unlike the mentality of the casino flock that pines for a quick pay-off. It takes patience and persistence, and ingenuity, not to mention volume of sales plays an important factor; long-term persistent sales, with increasing product and client base and product improvements. I am glad to hear that the Zukav material is soon to materialize.
Thanks Diode, hadn't realized it was posted.
Getting the Q1 out early bodes well, clears the air, can't be considered poor or lack of progress and clears the air for other important things that are developing and will be resolved soon. Good day for longs, agreed.
The dynamics of this "discussion board" are certainly a collective conundrum; clearly, someone does not want to see certain types of posts, that has proved true time and time again. I am ever more intent on posting. There are several positive things to discuss, like the impending AppFlix trademark resolution with Showtime and the 2013 Q1 results.
I wrote IR recently about the extension to the objection on the trademark. The reply said that the company agreed to the extension and that their lawyer advised them not to blog much about it, guess everyone must all wait until further developments are announced. The old expression of encouragement goes, "no news is good news".
Focusing on what management is accomplishing is very positive.
If a "group" manipulates trading, by as you suggest, selling into positive news, etc., and manages to depress share price both by that maneuver and by having their representatives create suspicions and distrust about the company by the posters here called the "bashers" then where does that go? If I sold my shares today, I would take a very large loss, let's say about 70%. It is to the point that it is worth holding on, I have already, along with countless others, taken the worst of the decline, so why not hold on, I might as well take a complete loss in the end, if I have to take a 70%+ loss as it now stands,and I am guessing this is the case with a majority of other shareholders. So, I am guessing that many will take my position,, which is, I AM NOT SELLING, I WILL GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP". That will make for a bigger tax loss at some point it it comes to that. As others like myself become determined to NOT sell to manipulators, then their game has reached a point of diminished returns, if that. If the company holds the ONE preferred share and will not sell, then I think the "group" is going to run out of steam, with not willful sellers and having scared off any potential buyers, methodically over a LONG period of time, they will have no one to sell their nearly worthless shares to, just like the rest of us...guess they will take a tax loss too then, too bad.
PROBLEM is that I think that MRNJ is going in the right direction, one that will lead them out of this entanglement because revenues can and will do that, of course. A good bellweather will be the Q1 report which should be out in about 3 weeks from now. To all other shareholders in my position, it seems very prudent to hold on and see what the Q1 report yields. Meanwhile, expect a lot of ranting and raving from the boogieman squad, that is my guess.
Also, the AppFlix trademark objection will be settled, it cannot go on indefinitely, and I have confidence that the management is looking forward to the movie market.
If a "group" is really trying to capture control of the company, I am in a quandary about how they can do it because even if they run the share price down and shake out umpteen shareholders and get those shares cheaply ,etc., there is still that ONE BIG share of PREFERRED stock that controls everything, and it is in the possession of one of the officers. Common shares here do not have collective power over the ONE proprietary PREFERRED share, no voting rights, etc., nor a Board of Directors for the millions of commons, that is my understanding of the structure...I believe it is spelled out in the annual reports.
Storm...VERY GOOD,thanks for your thoughts on the matter.
I am also hoping that with the recent run up in share values for the traditional stocks that might have the effect of more $$$ for venture taking and consequent sniffing around to see what is out on the edges.
Hi Grizly...not sure if you saw my post a month ago about seeing one of your i-mobilize.com labels in a bathroom stall at a truckstop on 1-95 in southern Georgia. I was surprised, but I only wish that your labels might just add a line about what specific niche of products are offered on the website, ie; self-help, city tours, exercise, hypnosis, sleeping soundly apps, and so on. Maybe that would make the readers of the labels think about what we offer that might help them? Anyhow, that is my 2 cents worth. Keep up the good work!
Seems that the heavy hand of extending the objection reveals that they do not have much of a case going forward other than they have "flix" and do not want anyone else using it, which may serve as a pretext to dealing with competition in the short term. If they genuinely had much of a real case, they would get it resolved, asap, especially with their deep pockets, so looks like this may really be maneuvering to stifel the competition. Seems that if they are quibbling over other trademarks granted to a "group" that Showtime's real frustrations are perhaps more with the USTPO and not individuals. Maybe Showtime's legal dept. erred in not protecting a plethera of other prefixes and suffixes that might have evolved around the "flix"? What is going on is much clearer now, all in my humble opinion.
The battle will not continue if the Trademark Tribunal decided to stay on the trademark for MRNJ. Only way it could go on is if there were other entities that filed an Objection within the first 60 days after publication, that is the window of opportunity for filing an objection and it has now closed.
Colectin...very good post. AppFlix issue will be resolved soon, According to my research, 60 days is the amount of time for an Objection to a Trademark, that passed last week, then each party is allowed one file submission in the next 15 days before the Trademark Tribunal makes a final ruling after reading the briefs. So it should be resolved one way or the other in a couple weeks. It is a great trademark name, so hopefully the company is going to get to keep it. I think the company has a good position for several reasons. For one thing, it was already granted as a trademark so there will have to be a VERY STRONG argument to sway the opinion to un-trademark it. Also, the trademark "AppFlix" does in fact very much relate to the use that the company plans for it, ie, "apps with flims(flix)". Most likely, that was already considered in the original opinion of the Trademark Office to grant the trademark to MRNJ in the first place. Apps, after all, are MRNJ's business and the new trademark is its intelligent, methodical effort to expand that business by offering movies in the near future. Apps, on the other hand ARE NOT Showtime's primary business, so I think the argument is stronger for MRNJ to keep the AppFlix trademark. Maybe it would be more appropriate for Showtime to apply for a trademark that is closer to what it is about, such as MovFlix, for example? It is my opinion, of course, but the motives behind the two parties wanting the trademark are markedly different. MRNJ is an app company wanting to expand its business. It is my guess that Showtime is more in a mode of protection than business expansion on this issue, but again, that is only my perception and I certainly do not have all the facts. It seems to me that Showtime has far less to lose here, too. After all, they did not invest the time to file for the trademark in the first place and spend the months waiting with their business on hold. MRNJ has a far greater, real investment in the trademark.
Thanks Storm. I thought you would know.
Storm - it is the same level of performance that I have come to expect from my frequent queries to investor relations for MRNJ. I wrote to them twice yesterday and had two replies before evening. By the way, I did share with them something that happened to me that was pretty interesting as far as the company is concerned. I was recently traveling back from Florida on I-95 and came to a truckstop to fill up with gas and used the men's room. On the wall inside the stall was a simple black and white sticker with "i-mobilize.com" on it. I told the company that I had wished it was a little more informative about the offerings to be found and that I recalled a guy on i-hub who was a truck driver shareholder who used to blog that he was going about the country leaving these stickers behind. I wonder if he is still participating on i-hub?
Has anyone ever plotted the pps against the share structure per quarter?
Good discussion, funding is of major importance...organic growth is good and steady but keep in mind the real window of opportunity may not wait for growth without a financial infusion, that is the problem. Slow and steady may get one ahead but may also miss the boat, too, with more highly capitalized competition. Talent is not everything, especially with time and as more people become savvy to the new technologies the edge of creative talent slips away. In the end, it takes money to make money.
Last week, I said that I expected that a decision might be forthcoming in 3 weeks, so that means that 2 weeks remain yet before the tribunal would rule on the trademark standing or strike it down. Two more weeks, according to the timeline provided that I researched at the website of the USPTO.
We are on the same page in this discussion. I was NOT defending poor grammar, just recognizing how ubiquitous it is with the younger crowd, which as you so deftly pointed out is probably NOT the focus crowd for a company with aspirations of real growth. Poor grammar translates to either lack of awareness or lack of intelligence, neither of which is impressive when considering where to put one's money. You are singing to the chorus on this issue.
All4 - the showdown on the Appflix trademark is probably sooner than you may be thinking. In looking into the matter, I found that the extension for objection is a 60 day period, say from around Dec. 21st - Feb 20th, as I recall. After that, there is a 15 day period where each entity is allowed to make a single filing in support of its position. Then the Trademark tribunal will look at the filings and make a final ruling on it. That means it could conceivably be settled in the next 3 weeks. That is worth waiting for, especially since Metatron is defending its intellectual property rights that it has already paid for and had preliminarily approved. Too, keep in mind that the USPTO WAS INDEED AWARE of the Flix name by Showtime when it issued the Trademark for Appflix in the first place, so...in my humble opinion, that gives one reason to support the notion that Metatron will conceivably retain the trademark.
Headinto - Grammar is not very evident in a LOT of what is today called "music". My niece got her master's degree and I couldn't even understand one of her papers she gave me to edit. It was so messed up that I couldn't begin to know where to start, so gave it back to her and she did just fine...go figure. I think that standards slipped incomprehensively at some point in the past 30 years, and moreover, that there is significant differences in what is demanded at varying institutions of higher learning, so I don't totally blame the 40-30's crowd for its trend toward linguistic minimalism. On the other hand, I will give the company credit recently for offering to allow shareholders to review its new webpage and make suggestions. I saw, "separate your apps from the rest of the pack" and wrote to IR and suggested that they change it to, "distinguish your apps from the rest of the pack" and they made the change. I was very pleased that the company solicited help, albeit, subtlely. I am all in favor of clarity. Often, there is a correlation between those with money and better skills in writing, think about it. I believe what you are covertly suggesting is that if someone wants to attract money then perhaps they must "dot all their i's and cross all their t's" as the old Victorian period comment goes.
It would be a positive contribution if you could broach your standoff and submit this constructive information directly to IR. I don't know the efficacy of what you propose but it sounds worth considering at the least. I do think that a certified audit would help to quell uncertainties. I would want to know, for instance, if I were going to offer any significant investment capital, hopefully non-diluted funding, what has been transpiring financially up to this point, that is, how the existing management has been doing its fiduciary job before I plopped down a few million in seed $$$. One must face the music in order to grow, no doubt. That is only fair and reasonable, if not to be expected as a measure of good faith, especially in the present, tough and demanding business climate. I do very much hope that management at Metatron will see the long-term wisdom in actualizing this initiative and follow through sometime in the next few months on having an audit of financials.
I think getting audited makes a lot of sense, we agree on that issue, and I think your mention of it is, long-term, a positive initiative.
Have you ever written to IR yourself or just borrowing feedback? There was mention a month or so ago about getting financials audited, I am sure you know that. Best to criticize it after it fails to material instead of beforehand.
I prefer to remain optimistic. I just do not see the benefit of venting unendingly. I believe in making ones point and moving on or as my grandmother would have said, "turn the page". There are valid criticisms but I also perceive that amid them is the potential for an agenda of manipulation and subjective bias. I think that there has been a lot of faith shown and unfettered support. I know that you, too, have been here a long time and that you were once more optimistic. I will not defend the company, that is not for me to try to do, but I will not condemn it because I am not inside the heads of the management and I cannot objectively see all that is real or imaginary. I am hopeful that some good news is soon to break. If I lose my money on this investment then it will be a lesson to never invest again in a stock in this market. However, I think throwing in the towel is still too premature. This market sector offers real promise and giving MRNJ more time to prove itself is the best shot to succeed in the long term. So,me things fail even with the best of intentions but I do not believe we are at that juncture. I am looking forward to the new mega app(s) for Gary Zukav. That will be a good boost to revenues, in my opinion.
I think that good things are nearer than the rhetoric here would reflect. I challenge all the naysayers to contribute some sort of positive response to this board, it cannot all be negative,that is simply unbalanced. If you do not have rock solid agendas , then by all means please post some of the positive things that can be said, for example, is anyone else looking avidly forward to the launch of the materials by Gary Zukav? When do the rest of you think it will be launched?
I believe that you are a real shareholder as I recall that you have been here a long time. I seem to remember a couple years ago that your posts had a positive tone. Sorry that you have become embittered. However, I do not blame IR if they told anyone to sell their shares if they are not happy with them. I would give the same advice. Life is short, don't linger in unhappiness if you can avoid it.
Having a legitimate concern is not same as having a malvolent agenda.
Also, invariably, when there is good news, it is very quickly turned on its heels and spun in some obscure manner for hours to harp on and on about some trivial aspect so as to discredit the progress in a morass of meaningless, driveling posts. There is certainly transparency on this board, there is no mistaking it, lol.
IR has always responded reasonably to me, in a period spanning over 3 years...perhaps because they know that I am a real shareholder. Regardless, that is my honest experience, if others have a different experience it is hard to believe.