About Phil Baker

Phil’s advises and helps small and large companies bring their products to market quickly and cost effectively.

Phil Baker has 35 years experience in all facets of product development, including invention, design, engineering, industrial design, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. He has been responsible for more than 80 products ranging from consumer electronics, computers and computer accessories to mobile devices, printers, cameras, software, eReaders and more. Phil has extensive experience in locating and leveraging resources in Asia for cost-effective and fast-to-market product development and manufacturing.

Phil has played key roles in developing the innovative flag-ship technologies and products of many leading companies. He developed and implemented product, manufacturng and market development strategies for Apple Computer, Seiko, Polaroid, Polycom, Proxima, Think Outside and others.

Phil Baker co-founded Think Outside, inventor and manufacturer of the most popular PDA accessory ever—the Stowaway folding keyboard. At Seiko Phil managed product development of consumer and computer products. At Apple he led development of the second- and third-generation Newton MessagePads, served as director of Entry PowerBooks and orchestrated Apple’s development and manufacturing strategy in Taiwan for portable products. At Polaroid Phil contributed to the development of dozens of products, including the SX-70 camera, professional and consumer cameras, ID systems and more.

Currently, Phil writes the “On Technology” column for the San Diego Daily Transcript and maintains a blog, which feature product reviews, the latest gadgets, travel tech and commentary based on having developed scores of products. In 2008 he published a book based on his professional experience in product development and marketing, From Concept to Consumer: How to Turn Ideas Into Money (FT Press has a free excerpt online). Phil also contributes articles and reviews to journals, including the Huffington Post and IndustryWeek.com. Phil is a regular guest on KOGO-AM in San Diego and has appeared on Ronn Owen’s radio show KGO-AM in San Francisco.