This is my favorite time of year. The kids are back in school, we finally get summer in Seattle (yep, the weather again), and there are 150+ tech product/company launches in the next 12 days.

First up are the general tech events next week in the Bay Area: TechCrunch Disrupt and Demo. Then the following week, it's fintech's turn with our Finovate in NYC Sept. 20/21 and the SIBOS Innotribe competition in Toronto. And don't forget, BAI Retail Delivery is just around the corner, Oct. 11-13 in Chicago.

It will be interesting to see if there will be an innovation du jour this year. Unlike a few years ago, when mobile, online PFM, and social media all hit the scene at the same time, it's harder to put labels on the class of 2011.

But in many ways, this month's launches are more important than what we saw several years ago. Instead of general "blue sky" advances, we are seeing specific, actionable and profit-generating applications. 

Mobile is the best example. Just three years ago, it was novel to show a bank balance on a cell phone. That was helpful for users, but didn't do anything (positive) for the bank's bottom line. Now, smartphones are used to deposit checks, geo-locate cardholders, and acquire customers, all potential profit drivers. 

For all you tech observers, butter up the popcorn and enjoy the show.