The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Typed too fast? Google profits from your typo: "Google, which runs the largest ad network on the Internet, is making millions of dollars a year by filling otherwise unused Web sites with ads. In many instances, these ad-filled pages appear when users mistype an Internet address, such as 'BistBuy.com.'
...
This form of online advertising relies on 'type-in traffic': users who type the information they're looking for into the Web browser's address bar instead of using a search engine. Industry analysts estimate 15 percent of Web traffic originates this way."
Sunday, April 30, 2006
AOL: A Punching Bag in Need of a Big Hit - New York Times
AOL: A Punching Bag in Need of a Big Hit - New York Times: "But even if AOL manages to surprise Wall Street this week by doing better than analysts expect, it will remain the gilded punching bag of the so-called Internet age. There are several reasons for this, and all appear to stem from one fundamental problem beyond expected declines in revenue, earnings and subscribers: AOL's inability to attract its share of the best talent in its industry, and hence to demonstrate that it has the technological chops to compete with its fiercest rivals."
Neil Young's 'Living With War' Shows He Doesn't Like It - New York Times
Neil Young's 'Living With War' Shows He Doesn't Like It - New York Times: "As in the 60's, protest songs risk self-righteousness and preaching only to the converted. Only the most generalized ones outlast the interest in whatever headlines inspired them. There's not a lot of mystery to the songs on 'Living With War'; they make their points as forthrightly as possible. Yet in the Internet era information -- not just songs but blogs, videos, photos, drawings, e-mail jottings -- is in the paradoxical position of being published worldwide and perhaps archived forever, but also being impulsive and ephemeral. A song for the Internet doesn't have to be one for the ages. Like an old broadside, it just has to get around for its moment, for right now. 'Living With War' -- irate, passionate, tuneful, thoughtful and obstinate -- is definitely worth a click. "
Saturday, April 29, 2006
The New Yorker: The Talk of the Town: OZONE MAN
The New Yorker: The Talk of the Town: OZONE MAN: "The imminence of catastrophic global warming may be a subject far from the ever-drifting mind of President Bush—whose eschatological preoccupations privilege Armageddon over the Flood—but it is of growing concern to the rest of humanity. Climate change is even having its mass-entertainment moment. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”—featuring Ellie the computer-animated mammoth and the bottomless voice of Queen Latifah—has taken in more than a hundred million dollars at the box office in two weeks. On the same theme, but with distinctly less animation, “An Inconvenient Truth,” starring Al Gore (playing the role of Al Gore, itinerant lecturer), is coming to a theatre near you around Memorial Day. Log on to Fandango. Reserve some seats. Bring the family. It shouldn’t be missed. No kidding."
Read the full essay/review...
Read the full essay/review...
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft's one-day stock plunge: enough to buy all of Costco
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft's one-day stock plunge: enough to buy all of Costco: Fun with big numbers:
"Microsoft's stock took its biggest one-day fall in more than five years Friday, shaving about $32 billion off the company's market value.
That's enough to buy Starbucks, with plenty left over to treat everyone in China to a tall cafe Americano. Or maybe buy Costco and Getty Images and get back about $2 billion in pocket change.
It's almost as much as the United States spends every three months in Iraq and Afghanistan."
In reality:
"We announced yesterday that our [research and development spending] is going up even more,' Gates said. 'Some people are very enthused about those investments. Others were wondering why we think we need to invest so much. It really comes back to the optimism we have about these advances.'"
So yesterday's stock price drop suggests one or more of the following:
1. Wall Street is so obsessively focused on short-term results that strategic investments no longer rate.
2. Wall Street indiscriminately punishes companies that miss expectations, even when a company changes its investment strategy with a focus on long-term opportunities.
3. Investors think Microsoft will fail to achieve positive financial returns on its new investments.
4. Many investors are exhibiting symptoms of bounded rationality and are swayed more by (often deeply conflicted) buy/sell side financial analyst opinions than actual business fundamentals.
I gave up trying to discern a correlation between substantive business results and stock price variability a long time ago...
"Microsoft's stock took its biggest one-day fall in more than five years Friday, shaving about $32 billion off the company's market value.
That's enough to buy Starbucks, with plenty left over to treat everyone in China to a tall cafe Americano. Or maybe buy Costco and Getty Images and get back about $2 billion in pocket change.
It's almost as much as the United States spends every three months in Iraq and Afghanistan."
In reality:
"We announced yesterday that our [research and development spending] is going up even more,' Gates said. 'Some people are very enthused about those investments. Others were wondering why we think we need to invest so much. It really comes back to the optimism we have about these advances.'"
So yesterday's stock price drop suggests one or more of the following:
1. Wall Street is so obsessively focused on short-term results that strategic investments no longer rate.
2. Wall Street indiscriminately punishes companies that miss expectations, even when a company changes its investment strategy with a focus on long-term opportunities.
3. Investors think Microsoft will fail to achieve positive financial returns on its new investments.
4. Many investors are exhibiting symptoms of bounded rationality and are swayed more by (often deeply conflicted) buy/sell side financial analyst opinions than actual business fundamentals.
I gave up trying to discern a correlation between substantive business results and stock price variability a long time ago...
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Vista feature will enhance online newspaper reading
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Vista feature will enhance online newspaper reading: "'The fact that you can put something in your hands and subconsciously simply adjust your angle of viewing and your comfort ... makes a huge difference in terms of being willing to do long-term immersive reading off of a digital machine,' Gates said.
An editor asked Gates how much an ultra-mobile PC would cost relative to a year's subscription to The New York Times.
Gates, the world's richest man, asked Sulzberger to remind him what a year's subscription costs.
The publisher's reply: 'If you have to ask, you can't afford it.'"
An editor asked Gates how much an ultra-mobile PC would cost relative to a year's subscription to The New York Times.
Gates, the world's richest man, asked Sulzberger to remind him what a year's subscription costs.
The publisher's reply: 'If you have to ask, you can't afford it.'"
Microsoft Software Will Let Times Readers Download Paper - New York Times
Microsoft Software Will Let Times Readers Download Paper - New York Times: "Microsoft and The New York Times unveiled software on Friday that would allow readers to download an electronic version of the newspaper and view it on a portable device."
Friday, April 28, 2006
PBS | I, Cringely . April 27, 2006 - Killer Apps
PBS | I, Cringely . April 27, 2006 - Killer Apps: "For Apple's Windows Strategy to Work, It Must Replace Microsoft Office and Buy Adobe Systems"
I don't often strongly disagree with Cringely's thought-provoking and insightful essays, but I think he's on Planet 10 with this one.
Where to start?... E.g., ADBE market cap at the moment: $23.6B (approx. half of AAPL's current mkt cap). I doubt even a classic Steve Jobs reality distortion field could make an acquisition case for that, despite Apple's current stock market magic, especially since Adobe happens to be a huge Windows ISV (the only mainstream Windows desktop ISV that really matters these days, other than Microsoft itself) and Apple's OS market share is still relatively tiny (albeit stronger for creative types who buy a lot of Adobe products than in the market overall).
Microsoft might be a big supporter of an AAPL/ADBE merger, since it'd be very useful for selling Microsoft's new Expression line of designer/creative tools; I'm sure a lot of Adobe Windows product customers would be nervous if Apple acquired Adobe...
In any case: I agree that Apple needs to do something aggressive/innovative/etc. to continue rebuilding Mac momentum at a sustainably meaningful level, but dropping $25B+ on ADBE (I have no idea what an acquisition premium would be like) doesn't seem like a great option to me.
I don't often strongly disagree with Cringely's thought-provoking and insightful essays, but I think he's on Planet 10 with this one.
Where to start?... E.g., ADBE market cap at the moment: $23.6B (approx. half of AAPL's current mkt cap). I doubt even a classic Steve Jobs reality distortion field could make an acquisition case for that, despite Apple's current stock market magic, especially since Adobe happens to be a huge Windows ISV (the only mainstream Windows desktop ISV that really matters these days, other than Microsoft itself) and Apple's OS market share is still relatively tiny (albeit stronger for creative types who buy a lot of Adobe products than in the market overall).
Microsoft might be a big supporter of an AAPL/ADBE merger, since it'd be very useful for selling Microsoft's new Expression line of designer/creative tools; I'm sure a lot of Adobe Windows product customers would be nervous if Apple acquired Adobe...
In any case: I agree that Apple needs to do something aggressive/innovative/etc. to continue rebuilding Mac momentum at a sustainably meaningful level, but dropping $25B+ on ADBE (I have no idea what an acquisition premium would be like) doesn't seem like a great option to me.
Brightcove opens IPTV service to public | CNET News.com
Brightcove opens IPTV service to public CNET News.com: "Allaire called Brightcove 'the democratization of TV,' thanks to the plummeting cost of video distribution over the Internet and the ubiquity of broadband. In recent years, people's interest in video online has mushroomed, causing companies like Google, Veoh Networks, YouTube, iFilm and others to race to build superior video offerings and attract advertisers to the fold."
Is Jesus the next killer app? | CNET News.com
Is Jesus the next killer app? CNET News.com: "Companies such as Sony, Panasonic, Avid and Hitachi are helping churches spread the gospel as part of an effort to cash in on an exploding market known as 'house of worship technology.'"
Meanwhile, in a Newsweek article this week on the Beatles catalog finally being prepared for on-line access:
"During the mania years of the 1960s, John Lennon once described the Beatles as being bigger than Jesus. But in 2006, the Internet is bigger than the Beatles. Instead of fighting the Net, the Beatles can use it to reinvigorate their glory. What happened to 'We can work it out'?"
Meanwhile, in a Newsweek article this week on the Beatles catalog finally being prepared for on-line access:
"During the mania years of the 1960s, John Lennon once described the Beatles as being bigger than Jesus. But in 2006, the Internet is bigger than the Beatles. Instead of fighting the Net, the Beatles can use it to reinvigorate their glory. What happened to 'We can work it out'?"
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Building a Google? Microsoft pouring cash into Web fight
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Building a Google? Microsoft pouring cash into Web fight: "Microsoft is supercharging its business in the coming year with a spending burst that made some Wall Street analysts do a double take Thursday.
The company plans to plow perhaps $2 billion more than expected — a meaningful sum even for the world's largest software company — into new technologies, marketing for its most significant wave of product launches in a decade, and the fight for online supremacy against Yahoo! and Google."
The company plans to plow perhaps $2 billion more than expected — a meaningful sum even for the world's largest software company — into new technologies, marketing for its most significant wave of product launches in a decade, and the fight for online supremacy against Yahoo! and Google."
Is Microsoft Preparing Big Attack? - New York Times
Is Microsoft Preparing Big Attack? - New York Times: "Microsoft reported strong third-quarter revenue growth on Thursday, but analysts said the company also telegraphed a significant increase in spending, an indication that it was preparing to take on its big online rivals, Google and Yahoo."
While it's never helpful to fail to meet Wall Street guidance, it's also weird that Microsoft is getting punished for increasing investment in potential growth areas.
While it's never helpful to fail to meet Wall Street guidance, it's also weird that Microsoft is getting punished for increasing investment in potential growth areas.
Technology Review: Xbox U
Technology Review: Xbox U: "The college students glued to video game consoles today are as likely to be scholars as slackers. More than 100 colleges and universities in North America -- up from less than a dozen five years ago -- now offer some form of 'video game studies,' ranging from hard-core computer science to prepare students for game-making careers to critiques of games as cultural artifacts."
Google releases free 3D sketching tool | InfoWorld | News | 2006-04-27 | By Juan Carlos Perez, IDG News Service
Google releases free 3D sketching tool InfoWorld News 2006-04-27 By Juan Carlos Perez, IDG News Service: "Google has released a free version of the SketchUp application for creating, viewing, and modifying 3D images it acquired when it bought @Last Software in March.
Google is also launching a Web site called 3D Warehouse, where SketchUp users can store and share their designs and collaborate, the Mountain View, California, company announced Thursday. "
Google continues in its quest to compete with everyone in the software universe...
Google is also launching a Web site called 3D Warehouse, where SketchUp users can store and share their designs and collaborate, the Mountain View, California, company announced Thursday. "
Google continues in its quest to compete with everyone in the software universe...
Microsoft Reports Third-Quarter Results: Strong momentum of new products drives 13% revenue growth
Microsoft Reports Third-Quarter Results: Strong momentum of new products drives 13% revenue growth: “The Windows Server™ platform value proposition is truly resonating with customers, as shown by growth in Microsoft® SQL Server™ revenue of over 30% this quarter,” said Kevin Johnson, co-president, Platforms & Services Division. “Enterprise customers are increasingly selecting SQL Server to run their mission-critical applications because of its high performance, security and business intelligence capabilities.”"
It'd be interesting to know how much of that was SQL Server 2005 pent-up demand.
It'd be interesting to know how much of that was SQL Server 2005 pent-up demand.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Wired News: You, To, Can Right Like a Blogger
Wired News: You, To, Can Right Like a Blogger: "A lot of people will tell you that blogging is merely journaling online. It is not. Blogging is not private, but very public. And very few blogs involve the kind of introspection that characterizes a serious journal. Most blogging is sheer exhibitionism, either the self-absorbed ramblings of an individual blogger or the corporate site that exists for the sole purpose of making money. (If anyone sees a disturbing parallel between blogging and column writing, kindly keep it to yourself.)
This doesn't mean blogs have to be badly written. It just means that most are."
This doesn't mean blogs have to be badly written. It just means that most are."
Web Sites Set Up to Celebrate Life Recall Lives Lost - New York Times
Web Sites Set Up to Celebrate Life Recall Lives Lost - New York Times: "It's impossible to know how many people with pages on social networking sites have died; 74 million people have registered with MySpace alone, according to the company, which said it does not delete pages for inactivity. But a glib and sometimes macabre site called MyDeathSpace.com has documented at least 116 people with profiles on MySpace who have died. There are additions to the list nearly every day. "
Technology Review: Emerging Technologies and their Impact
Technology Review: Emerging Technologies and their Impact: "Known outside the company for his technical acumen -- as well as a ponytail and his outspoken blog (he was one of the first high-level technology executives to start a public blog, in June 2004) -- Schwartz wasted little time laying out his vision for Sun's future on April 24 during a conference call where he was introduced as the new CEO.
Schwartz expressed enthusiasm for a few specific technologies: open-source operating systems for large corporate computing systems, 'grid' or 'utility' computing, and the idea of selling computing time and power by the CPU-hour over the Internet. But he failed to bring up two keys areas in Sun's past: semiconductors and microprocessor architecture."
Schwartz expressed enthusiasm for a few specific technologies: open-source operating systems for large corporate computing systems, 'grid' or 'utility' computing, and the idea of selling computing time and power by the CPU-hour over the Internet. But he failed to bring up two keys areas in Sun's past: semiconductors and microprocessor architecture."
3 out of 4 adults use Internet, survey says - The Boston Globe
3 out of 4 adults use Internet, survey says - The Boston Globe: "The US online population has hit a record high: 73 percent of adults, or 147 million, now use the Internet.
...
But only 42 percent of all adults, or 84 million, have the home high-speed connections important for viewing video and treating the Internet as an always-on reference. Looking only at home Internet users, 62 percent have broadband."
...
But only 42 percent of all adults, or 84 million, have the home high-speed connections important for viewing video and treating the Internet as an always-on reference. Looking only at home Internet users, 62 percent have broadband."
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Oracle Watch : IBM's Venom Compression Technology Strikes at EMC and Oracle
Oracle Watch : IBM's Venom Compression Technology Strikes at EMC and Oracle "IBM has unveiled its Venom data storage compression technology for DB2 Viper. IBM gave me a sneak peek at this impressive stuff a few weeks back, but I didn’t know the final, nicely poisonous name until now.
When I first wrote about the technology I posed it as a storage battle between IBM and Microsoft, but in actuality it's bigger than that. IBM says that Venom, which reduces storage hardware and usage by up to 70 percent, is really targeted at the 30,000 Oracle customers who use EMC storage and want a new, cheaper alternative to buying more EMC hardware."
When I first wrote about the technology I posed it as a storage battle between IBM and Microsoft, but in actuality it's bigger than that. IBM says that Venom, which reduces storage hardware and usage by up to 70 percent, is really targeted at the 30,000 Oracle customers who use EMC storage and want a new, cheaper alternative to buying more EMC hardware."
TechCrunch ? Yahoo Launches DVR Service: Yahoo Go
TechCrunch ? Yahoo Launches DVR Service: Yahoo Go "Yahoo launched Yahoo Go today, a DVR and general Microsoft Media Center competitor based on the recently acquired Meedio technology."
Can the Windows Live Team Reverse the Microsoft Brain Drain?
Can the Windows Live Team Reverse the Microsoft Brain Drain?: "Another day, another Microsoft defector.
At least that's the public perception. Over the past couple of years, Microsoft brain drain has been a hot topic, with Microsoft developers and executives jumping ship for Amazon.com, Google, Technorati and a variety of other Web 2.0 players and startups.
However, despite the dearth of headlines, Microsoft has been doing its own share of poaching, too. And many of Microsoft's new big-name hires, such as Steve Berkowitz, the former Ask.com CEO who just joined Microsoft to head up the online business unit, are choosing to join Microsoft's MSN and Windows Live teams."
Timely reality check
At least that's the public perception. Over the past couple of years, Microsoft brain drain has been a hot topic, with Microsoft developers and executives jumping ship for Amazon.com, Google, Technorati and a variety of other Web 2.0 players and startups.
However, despite the dearth of headlines, Microsoft has been doing its own share of poaching, too. And many of Microsoft's new big-name hires, such as Steve Berkowitz, the former Ask.com CEO who just joined Microsoft to head up the online business unit, are choosing to join Microsoft's MSN and Windows Live teams."
Timely reality check
For Sun Microsystems, a Leader With Little Taste for Convention - New York Times
For Sun Microsystems, a Leader With Little Taste for Convention - New York Times: "Mr. Schwartz contends that Java is the No. 1 driver of growth at Sun, ahead of Solaris, its operating system for corporate computers. 'More teenagers recognize Java than they do Microsoft, because that is what they have in their pocket on their cellphone,' he said in an interview on Tuesday. 'Shame on me if I can't find a way to monetize that.'"
Big Sun/Schwartz articles in the WSJ and NYT today. It will be interesting to see if it's business-at-usual at Sun over the next few weeks/months.
Big Sun/Schwartz articles in the WSJ and NYT today. It will be interesting to see if it's business-at-usual at Sun over the next few weeks/months.
WSJ.com - Microsoft's 'Massive' Move Into Game Ads
WSJ.com - Microsoft's 'Massive' Move Into Game Ads: "Microsoft Corp. plans to acquire Massive Inc., a closely held start-up that places ads in videogames, in a deal that highlights the growing flow of advertising into nontraditional media.
Massive, a two-year-old start-up with 80 employees, is one of several companies pioneering the business of placing ads in videogames. Massive's clients include Coca-Cola Co., Honda Motor Co. and other advertisers that are gradually increasing their spending on ads in videogames. Microsoft plans to announce next week an agreement to buy the New York company, said people familiar with the situation. People familiar with the matter estimated the deal to be valued at $200 million to $400 million."
Busy times in Redmond...
Massive, a two-year-old start-up with 80 employees, is one of several companies pioneering the business of placing ads in videogames. Massive's clients include Coca-Cola Co., Honda Motor Co. and other advertisers that are gradually increasing their spending on ads in videogames. Microsoft plans to announce next week an agreement to buy the New York company, said people familiar with the situation. People familiar with the matter estimated the deal to be valued at $200 million to $400 million."
Busy times in Redmond...
WSJ.com - Microsoft Sets Up a Venture To Rival Social-Network Sites
WSJ.com - Microsoft Sets Up a Venture To Rival Social-Network Sites: "Microsoft Corp. has formed a new social-networking venture based on technology created at the software company, the first spinoff under an intellectual-property program begun last May.
The new company, dubbed Wallop Inc., is being jointly funded by Microsoft and Bay Partners, a venture-capital firm. Wallop is developing a Web site that would compete with social-networking sites like MySpace, owned by News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media unit; Facebook Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif., start-up; and Friendster Inc., a San Francisco company that was one of the first with a service to help people meet each other."
The new company, dubbed Wallop Inc., is being jointly funded by Microsoft and Bay Partners, a venture-capital firm. Wallop is developing a Web site that would compete with social-networking sites like MySpace, owned by News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media unit; Facebook Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif., start-up; and Friendster Inc., a San Francisco company that was one of the first with a service to help people meet each other."
Technology Review: Emerging Technologies and their Impact
Technology Review: Emerging Technologies and their Impact: "Reports emerged that component technologies of the supposedly defunct Total Information Awareness (TIA) project -- established in 2002 by the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop advanced information technology to counter terrorists, then terminated by Congress in 2003 because of widespread criticism that it would create 'Orwellian' mass surveillance -- had been acquired by the NSA. "
Disturbing -- read the entire (3-page) article.
Disturbing -- read the entire (3-page) article.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Wired 14.05: The Ressurection of Al Gore
Wired 14.05: The Ressurection of Al Gore: "He invented the Internet (sort of). He became President (almost). Now Al Gore has found his true calling: using the power of technology to save the world."
Sun's New Boss: The Same as the Old Boss?
Sun's New Boss: The Same as the Old Boss?: "Indeed, Heidrick & Struggle's Thompson notes that CEOs brought in from outside the company often have much greater ability to set a new course -- right down to driving for changes to the company's board.
Sun's two top executives say that's a non issue. 'You're going to find us way more alike [than different], because we both think we're on the right track, our board thinks we're on the right track, and our customers think we're on the right track,' McNealy said. He didn't mention the investors who've kept the company's stock in a four-year holding pattern."
To recap the primary reasons why Schwartz will be a good CEO for Sun, from today's news thus far:
1. He has a blog
2. He has a ponytail
3. If McNealy didn't make Schwartz CEO, he would have been recruited elsewhere
Sun's two top executives say that's a non issue. 'You're going to find us way more alike [than different], because we both think we're on the right track, our board thinks we're on the right track, and our customers think we're on the right track,' McNealy said. He didn't mention the investors who've kept the company's stock in a four-year holding pattern."
To recap the primary reasons why Schwartz will be a good CEO for Sun, from today's news thus far:
1. He has a blog
2. He has a ponytail
3. If McNealy didn't make Schwartz CEO, he would have been recruited elsewhere
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Amazon offers on-demand DVD manufacturing service
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Amazon offers on-demand DVD manufacturing service: "When a customer orders a film or show on Amazon, the online retailer manufactures the DVD and ships it to the customer. While film studios and TV networks already sell their most popular titles online, the service erases the financial risk associated with manufacturing DVDs and holding inventory for lesser-known works."
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Windows without media player is sales bust, Microsoft says
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Windows without media player is sales bust, Microsoft says: "No computer maker has shipped a PC or laptop with the media player-free Windows XP N version, which is available only in Europe. 'Not a single one,' Bellis told the 13 judges. Some 90 percent of Windows sales come from being pre-installed on computers when they are sold.
XP N sales represent 0.005 percent of overall XP sales in Europe, Microsoft told the court, and many of the copies produced may remain unsold."
XP N sales represent 0.005 percent of overall XP sales in Europe, Microsoft told the court, and many of the copies produced may remain unsold."
Raising the Bar at Samsung - New York Times
Raising the Bar at Samsung - New York Times: "Thirty-seven years ago, 36 employees began assembling electric fans in a small workshop in this city, just south of Seoul.
That company was Samsung Electronics, and it is now the world's largest and most profitable consumer electronics company. Its 123,000 employees make a range of products as diverse as cellphones and flat-panel televisions, washing machines and vacuum cleaners. Last year, it unseated Sony as the world's most valuable consumer electronics brand, according to a survey by the Interbrand Consulting Group."
That company was Samsung Electronics, and it is now the world's largest and most profitable consumer electronics company. Its 123,000 employees make a range of products as diverse as cellphones and flat-panel televisions, washing machines and vacuum cleaners. Last year, it unseated Sony as the world's most valuable consumer electronics brand, according to a survey by the Interbrand Consulting Group."
McNealy Yields Post as Sun Chief - New York Times
McNealy Yields Post as Sun Chief - New York Times: "Mr. Schwartz, 40, a former software entrepreneur, joined Sun in 1996 when it acquired his company, Lighthouse Design. He has been known as an innovative strategist at Sun, and his trademark ponytail has helped identify him with Silicon Valley's software design culture.
...
Indeed, it is Mr. McNealy's steady focus on Sun's competition with Microsoft, some executives believe, that led him to miss a turning point in the industry. Sun was late in responding to the threat of the open-source Linux operating system, which gained tremendous market share in many markets that Sun had dominated in the last decade."
...
Indeed, it is Mr. McNealy's steady focus on Sun's competition with Microsoft, some executives believe, that led him to miss a turning point in the industry. Sun was late in responding to the threat of the open-source Linux operating system, which gained tremendous market share in many markets that Sun had dominated in the last decade."
Software Chief Admits to Guilt in Fraud Case - New York Times
Software Chief Admits to Guilt in Fraud Case - New York Times: "The men repeatedly lied to their own lawyers and to federal investigators, according to the indictment, which also said that Mr. Kumar even authorized paying $3.7 million to buy the silence of a potential witness.
The pleas came in a two-hour hearing yesterday afternoon before Judge I. Leo Glasser. The men had maintained their innocence for years and had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry prison terms of as much as 20 years apiece."
...
"Prosecutors did not promise Mr. Kumar or Mr. Richards leniency in return for the guilty plea, said Eric Komitee, deputy chief of business and securities fraud for the United States attorney's office.
'There is no agreement of any kind,' Mr. Komitee said. 'The defendants simply pleaded to the indictment.'"
The pleas came in a two-hour hearing yesterday afternoon before Judge I. Leo Glasser. The men had maintained their innocence for years and had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry prison terms of as much as 20 years apiece."
...
"Prosecutors did not promise Mr. Kumar or Mr. Richards leniency in return for the guilty plea, said Eric Komitee, deputy chief of business and securities fraud for the United States attorney's office.
'There is no agreement of any kind,' Mr. Komitee said. 'The defendants simply pleaded to the indictment.'"
WSJ.com - EBay Launches Set-Price Site In Challenge to Online Retailers
WSJ.com - EBay Launches Set-Price Site In Challenge to Online Retailers: "EBay Inc. began the 'preview phase' of its new 'Express' site yesterday, a move that puts the online auctioneer in more direct competition with Web retailers such as Amazon.com Inc.
The Express site has only fixed-price items, meaning customers aren't bidding on an item, as they would typically on eBay's primary site. Customers see new items in their initial search results; they have the option of viewing used ones with one mouse click."
The Express site has only fixed-price items, meaning customers aren't bidding on an item, as they would typically on eBay's primary site. Customers see new items in their initial search results; they have the option of viewing used ones with one mouse click."
WSJ.com - At Sun, McNealy to Cede CEO Job; Loss Widens but Revenue Rises 21%
WSJ.com - At Sun, McNealy to Cede CEO Job; Loss Widens but Revenue Rises 21%: "Sun Microsystems Inc. said co-founder Scott McNealy will give up the job of chief executive to the No. 2 person at the company, Jonathan Schwartz, a historic transition for a computer maker facing stiff pressure to cut costs and boost revenue.
Mr. McNealy, 51 years old, will remain chairman and a full-time employee. Mr. Schwartz, 40, who had been president and chief operating officer, will retain the former title."
So... tell us what's going to be different, and why being "... one of Silicon Valley's most prominent executive bloggers" is a strong leading indicator for leadership potential in one of the industry's most challenging roles...
Mr. McNealy, 51 years old, will remain chairman and a full-time employee. Mr. Schwartz, 40, who had been president and chief operating officer, will retain the former title."
So... tell us what's going to be different, and why being "... one of Silicon Valley's most prominent executive bloggers" is a strong leading indicator for leadership potential in one of the industry's most challenging roles...
Monday, April 24, 2006
Interview with Ray Ozzie founder of Groove Newtorks
Interview with Ray Ozzie founder of Groove Newtorks: Read the full interview... Excerpt:
"Office Groove 2007 is the rich client for dynamic team work, and SharePoint is the centralized, scalable system where that work gets published, broadly shared and searched, and integrated with structured business applications.
Together, we believe Groove and SharePoint provide the integrated collaboration environment teams and organizations need to work together and share information more effectively. "
"Office Groove 2007 is the rich client for dynamic team work, and SharePoint is the centralized, scalable system where that work gets published, broadly shared and searched, and integrated with structured business applications.
Together, we believe Groove and SharePoint provide the integrated collaboration environment teams and organizations need to work together and share information more effectively. "
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft is farming in Quincy?
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft is farming in Quincy?: "A few weeks ago, Microsoft paid $1.08 million for 75 acres, where it's building three structures totaling 1.4 million square feet. That's about the size of 10 Costcos.
Inside they'll hold thousands of data-serving computers. The industry calls them server farms, and Microsoft's will be huge, taking advantage of cheap hydroelectricity and fiber-optic connections to an Internet arterial crossing the state."
Inside they'll hold thousands of data-serving computers. The industry calls them server farms, and Microsoft's will be huge, taking advantage of cheap hydroelectricity and fiber-optic connections to an Internet arterial crossing the state."
Video Handsets Mostly Just Used as Phones - New York Times
Video Handsets Mostly Just Used as Phones - New York Times: "Cellphone companies, especially Sprint and Verizon Wireless, have been aggressively promoting mobile video services, which cost an average of $10.70 a month for access to sports, news and weather clips. More than a quarter of cellphones now in use can play such videos. But only 1 percent of wireless subscribers are using their phones to watch them, according to a recent survey by the NPD Group, a market research firm."
Ultra-Mobile PC - Go Everywhere. Do Everything. [Yahoo! Music Unlimited observation]
Ultra-Mobile PC - Go Everywhere. Do Everything [Yahoo! Music Unlimited observation]: "Featuring full Microsoft Windows XP functionality and the ability to touch, write, or type, the Ultra-Mobile PC is a powerful companion that lets you communicate, accomplish your tasks, and stay entertained and informed wherever life takes you."
Another good reason to consider Microsoft's Ultra-Mobile PC (code-named "Origami"): I recently received an email notification from Yahoo! explaining that the price of an annual subscription to Yahoo! Music Unlimited will ~double (from $59.88 to $119.88) if I want to have the "To Go" option -- i.e., to be able to use subscription-based music (i.e., albums I have downloaded but haven't purchased) on non-PC devices. I assume an Ultra-Mobile PC would appear to Yahoo! Music Unlimited as just another PC, so I'd likely to be able to save ~$60/year (unless Yahoo! is going to change that part of the service license as well; at the moment, I can have music on up to three devices). For now, in any case, I'm going to drop the "To Go" option, as it's a nuisance to use subscription-based music on my portable device (A Creative Zen Micro) -- the user experience leaves much to be desired -- and not worth the extra cost.
Another good reason to consider Microsoft's Ultra-Mobile PC (code-named "Origami"): I recently received an email notification from Yahoo! explaining that the price of an annual subscription to Yahoo! Music Unlimited will ~double (from $59.88 to $119.88) if I want to have the "To Go" option -- i.e., to be able to use subscription-based music (i.e., albums I have downloaded but haven't purchased) on non-PC devices. I assume an Ultra-Mobile PC would appear to Yahoo! Music Unlimited as just another PC, so I'd likely to be able to save ~$60/year (unless Yahoo! is going to change that part of the service license as well; at the moment, I can have music on up to three devices). For now, in any case, I'm going to drop the "To Go" option, as it's a nuisance to use subscription-based music on my portable device (A Creative Zen Micro) -- the user experience leaves much to be desired -- and not worth the extra cost.
Everyone's an Editor as Wiki Fever Spreads to Shopping Sites - New York Times
Everyone's an Editor as Wiki Fever Spreads to Shopping Sites - New York Times: "Millions of people have lent their wisdom — or their perceived wisdom, at least — to Wikipedia's online articles, helping to make it one of the more talked-about Web sites in recent years. Now Amazon.com and the people who built the online advertising pioneer DoubleClick are hoping millions more will wax authoritative about toasters, fondue pots and lawn mowers."
alphaWorks : Visual XForms Designer : Overview
alphaWorks : Visual XForms Designer : Overview: "Visual XForms Designer is an easy-to-use set of graphical tools and interfaces for expediting the creation and editing of documents with XForms-based content. This Eclipse plug-in makes the process of creating documents with XForms content easier, faster, and simpler."
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Neil Young's protest album heads to Internet first - Yahoo! News
Neil Young's protest album heads to Internet first - Yahoo! News: "Neil Young's newly recorded protest album 'Living With War,' including a song calling for the impeachment of President Bush, will be posted for free Internet streaming next week, his label said on Friday. "
See the full post for details.
See the full post for details.
For MySpace, Making Friends Was Easy. Big Profit Is Tougher. - New York Times
For MySpace, Making Friends Was Easy. Big Profit Is Tougher. - New York Times: "MySpace now displays more pages each month than any other Web site except Yahoo. More pages, of course, means more room for ads. And, in theory, those ads can be narrowly focused on each member's personal passions, which they conveniently display on their profiles. As an added bonus for advertisers, the music, photos and video clips that members place on their profiles constitutes a real-time barometer of what is hot."
Extensive snapshot of current MySpace realities.
Extensive snapshot of current MySpace realities.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Chief of Ask Jeeves to Lead Microsoft's Internet Unit - New York Times
Chief of Ask Jeeves to Lead Microsoft's Internet Unit - New York Times: "Microsoft has hired Steven Berkowitz, the chief executive of Ask Jeeves, to run its floundering Internet division, Microsoft said yesterday.
Mr. Berkowitz became president of Ask Jeeves in 2001 and chief executive in 2003. He helped transform the service, which was introduced to answer questions posed in English phrases, into a search engine to compete with Google. Mr. Berkowitz continued to run the company after it was acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp last July."
Mr. Berkowitz became president of Ask Jeeves in 2001 and chief executive in 2003. He helped transform the service, which was introduced to answer questions posed in English phrases, into a search engine to compete with Google. Mr. Berkowitz continued to run the company after it was acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp last July."
MercuryNews.com | 04/21/2006 | Might McNealy step down at Sun?
MercuryNews.com 04/21/2006 Might McNealy step down at Sun?: "Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's president and chief operating officer, has been considered to be McNealy's logical successor. Enderle thinks Lehman is the favorite because the board brought him out of retirement as the go-to guy for the overdue cost cutting.
Schwartz said he doesn't think it's likely McNealy will leave the company. He told the Mercury News a few weeks ago, ``I think Scott will go to his grave as a Sun employee.''"
Schwartz said he doesn't think it's likely McNealy will leave the company. He told the Mercury News a few weeks ago, ``I think Scott will go to his grave as a Sun employee.''"
Friday, April 21, 2006
GOOG: Summary for GOOGLE - Yahoo! Finance
GOOG: Summary for GOOGLE - Yahoo! Finance As I type this:
GOOG mkt cap: $133.44B
IBM mkt cap: $128.55B
Strange days indeed...
GOOG mkt cap: $133.44B
IBM mkt cap: $128.55B
Strange days indeed...
WSJ.com - EBay Talks to Microsoft, Yahoo About a Common Foe: Google
WSJ.com - EBay Talks to Microsoft, Yahoo About a Common Foe: Google: "EBay Inc. is talking to both Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to determine whether one of them might be a worthy ally against a common threat: Google Inc.
After years of working closely with the search giant, eBay last year became alarmed as Google started assaulting its turf in multiple ways. In one case, Google launched a classified-advertising service that competes directly with eBay's online auctions and other listings."
More stimulus/response...
After years of working closely with the search giant, eBay last year became alarmed as Google started assaulting its turf in multiple ways. In one case, Google launched a classified-advertising service that competes directly with eBay's online auctions and other listings."
More stimulus/response...
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
FORTUNE: Microsoft's new brain - May 1, 2006
FORTUNE: Microsoft's new brain - May 1, 2006: "Brutal competition. A stock going nowhere. Microsoft is in crisis, so Bill Gates has unleashed his new hire, software genius Ray Ozzie, to remake the company - and conquer the Web."
Timely reality check
Timely reality check
Gates-Hu meeting is short but noteworthy
Gates-Hu meeting is short but noteworthy: "'Because you, Mr. Bill Gates, are a friend of China, I'm a friend of Microsoft,' Hu said, according to an Associated Press pool report from their meeting. 'Also, I am dealing with the operating system produced by Microsoft every day,' he added, to laughter from those around him.
Hu told Gates that he would welcome further investment and cooperation from Microsoft in China. He also gave assurances that the country would fulfill its promises to protect intellectual property rights -- a key issue for the company in China, where its Windows operating system is widely pirated."
This a very significant milestone.
Hu told Gates that he would welcome further investment and cooperation from Microsoft in China. He also gave assurances that the country would fulfill its promises to protect intellectual property rights -- a key issue for the company in China, where its Windows operating system is widely pirated."
This a very significant milestone.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
ACM Queue - TiVo-lution - DVR services have taken off in recent years. TiVo's cofounder discusses the method behind the magic.
ACM Queue - TiVo-lution - DVR services have taken off in recent years. TiVo's cofounder discusses the method behind the magic.: "As we began implementation of the TiVo service, we kept these ideas in mind. Our goal was giving viewers a new level of control over their television viewing, while keeping within the context of consumer expectations of a television experience.
In this article I touch on many design facets of the iceberg that is the TiVo service, and the tip of that iceberg most people think of when they hear the name TiVo is the TiVo DVR (digital video recorder)."
ACM Queue finally posted the TiVo article -- check it out.
In this article I touch on many design facets of the iceberg that is the TiVo service, and the tip of that iceberg most people think of when they hear the name TiVo is the TiVo DVR (digital video recorder)."
ACM Queue finally posted the TiVo article -- check it out.
Oracle's Linux Push Is a No-Brainer
Oracle's Linux Push Is a No-Brainer My Burton Group colleague Richard Monson-Haefel and I had a fun debate in this context yesterday. He thinks Oracle should acquire Ubuntu or Mandriva; I think Oracle should buy Novell if it wants to have a full (superplatform) stack à la Microsoft. On my short list of reasons:
1. Novell's cash-to-mkt cap ratio is unusual; it topped a recent Business Week list in this context (see the chart on this page; as of the 2006/04/10 BW issue, Novell had a mkt cap of $2.979B and $1.686B cash -- a 57% ratio). This means Novell would be considerably less than a $3B acquisition, while Red Hat would be far more expensive.
2. Novell SUSE has strong momentum in several regions, especially in Europe.
3. Novell has several other product lines that would complement Oracle's portfolio, especially for identity, security, and enterprise messaging.
1. Novell's cash-to-mkt cap ratio is unusual; it topped a recent Business Week list in this context (see the chart on this page; as of the 2006/04/10 BW issue, Novell had a mkt cap of $2.979B and $1.686B cash -- a 57% ratio). This means Novell would be considerably less than a $3B acquisition, while Red Hat would be far more expensive.
2. Novell SUSE has strong momentum in several regions, especially in Europe.
3. Novell has several other product lines that would complement Oracle's portfolio, especially for identity, security, and enterprise messaging.
Redmond | News: Oracle May Launch Linux Version, Considered Novell Buy
Redmond News: Oracle May Launch Linux Version, Considered Novell Buy "Oracle's chief executive, Larry Ellison, told the Financial Times that the company might launch its own version of Linux and has considered buying Linux distributor Novell. That could help counter leading Linux vendor Red Hat, which just announced a $350 million acquisition of JBoss Inc., a maker of open-source 'middleware,' which connects varying applications.
'I don't think Oracle and IBM want another Microsoft in Red Hat,' Ellison told the Financial Times."
Interesting times -- we haven't seen the last of the cascading ramifications from the Red Hat/JBoss deal...
'I don't think Oracle and IBM want another Microsoft in Red Hat,' Ellison told the Financial Times."
Interesting times -- we haven't seen the last of the cascading ramifications from the Red Hat/JBoss deal...
SAP steals BEA's thunder | Channel Register
SAP steals BEA's thunder Channel Register: "BEA, meanwhile, is gunning for growth with today's expected launch of BlueDragon, BEA WebLogic Edition. The latest addition to BEA's WebLogic family allows applications written in Macromedia's Cold Fusion Mark-up Language (CFML) to run on WebLogic without being re-written for Java.
BEA is targeting an estimated 125,000 servers running CFML and is charging $3,000 per CPU. BlueDragon, BEA WebLogic Edition uses technology licensed from specialist New Atlanta.
BlueDragon, BEA WebLogic Edition is an attempt to exploit uncertainty over CFML's future following Adobe Systems' purchase of Macromedia. BEA is giving CFML users a single source of support and maintenance having combined, and optimized, WebLogic with the BlueDragon technology from New Atlanta."
BEA is targeting an estimated 125,000 servers running CFML and is charging $3,000 per CPU. BlueDragon, BEA WebLogic Edition uses technology licensed from specialist New Atlanta.
BlueDragon, BEA WebLogic Edition is an attempt to exploit uncertainty over CFML's future following Adobe Systems' purchase of Macromedia. BEA is giving CFML users a single source of support and maintenance having combined, and optimized, WebLogic with the BlueDragon technology from New Atlanta."
Monday, April 17, 2006
Software engineering makes a comeback, despite outsourcing
Software engineering makes a comeback, despite outsourcing "A couple surprises for me in Money Magazine's list of hot jobs. First, despite all the concern about software jobs migrating to India, software engineer ranks as the number-one job. Jobs are expected to expand in the U.S. from 800,000 to 1.16 million by 2014."
WSJ.com - Oracle Weighs Launching Own Version Of Linux: Report
WSJ.com - Oracle Weighs Launching Own Version Of Linux: Report: "Oracle Corp. (ORCL) is considering launching its own version of Linux, the computer operating system, and has considered buying Novell Inc. (NOVL), one of the biggest distributors of Linux, according to a report in the Financial Times.
Citing an interview with Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, the newspaper said Oracle wants to offer a complete set of software, like Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), including applications and an operating system.
The FT said the acquisition of software company JBoss by Red Hat Inc. (RHAT), another Linux distributor, could also spur Oracle into action."
Stimulus/response...
Citing an interview with Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, the newspaper said Oracle wants to offer a complete set of software, like Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), including applications and an operating system.
The FT said the acquisition of software company JBoss by Red Hat Inc. (RHAT), another Linux distributor, could also spur Oracle into action."
Stimulus/response...
The Impact of Emerging Technologies: Flash for Laptops - Technology Review
The Impact of Emerging Technologies: Flash for Laptops - Technology Review "Flash storage, traditionally found in cell phones, digital cameras, and MP3 players, is finding its way onto the laptop. Last October, Intel unveiled a hybrid storage technology in which flash is used with a conventional magnetic hard drive to increase battery life. Then, last month at the CeBIT, a technology show in Hannover, Germany, Samsung Semiconductor displayed a laptop in which 32 gigabytes of flash completely replaces the hard drive (click here for an image of this flash drive). As storage densities rise and prices fall for flash technology, many industry experts expect that it's only a matter of time before flash memory becomes common in laptops."
Sunday, April 16, 2006
PBS | I, Cringely . April 13, 2006 - Easy DOS It
PBS | I, Cringely . April 13, 2006 - Easy DOS It: "One part of last week's column on Apple's Boot Camp that slipped past many readers was the idea that Apple would actually start shipping OEM versions of Windows Vista with at least some of its computers. I believe that will be the case and, if so, it is a big deal, and could lead to Apple becoming the biggest vendor of Windows computers to business, which I think is a hoot.
...
Ironically, I predict that Avie [Tevanian] will move north to Redmond and work at Microsoft with Rick Rashid, the father of Mach. Rashid, who runs Microsoft Research, taught at Carnegie Mellon University in the 1980s when Tevanian was a graduate student there. Microsoft has long tried to recruit Avie, whom I predict will now follow the money. I don't expect, though, that he'll have much technical impact on Microsoft."
...
Ironically, I predict that Avie [Tevanian] will move north to Redmond and work at Microsoft with Rick Rashid, the father of Mach. Rashid, who runs Microsoft Research, taught at Carnegie Mellon University in the 1980s when Tevanian was a graduate student there. Microsoft has long tried to recruit Avie, whom I predict will now follow the money. I don't expect, though, that he'll have much technical impact on Microsoft."
Friday, April 14, 2006
Blogger RSS publishing delays
I've noticed an annoying new Blogger "feature" this week; while HTML publishing is still immediate when I create new blog posts, RSS publication is lagging -- sometimes by more than an hour. Perhaps it's time for me to consider making the jump to a different blogging service.
The Cult of Mac Blog
The Cult of Mac Blog "Bay Area CBS affiliate TV-5 reports that Shea O'Gorman, a South Bay third-grader, received an unwelcome reply to her hand-written letter to Steve Jobs suggesting improvements to the iPod nano. She wrote the letter as a school project and received an unpleasant response from Apple's legal department noting the company does not accept unsolicited product ideas. Shea's mother's description of the girl running into her bedroom to hide is a perfect description of how it usually feels to ask questions of Apple."
InformationWeek | Microsoft | Microsoft Office Live Beta Gets Traffic Spike | April 13, 2006
InformationWeek Microsoft Microsoft Office Live Beta Gets Traffic Spike April 13, 2006 "On Microsoft's Office Live blog, Matt Rolak, a lead developer of the product, said the waiting list has had more than 275,000 signers since the service launched in November 2005."
Good Morning Silicon Valley: And in the end, the cash you take is equal to the cash you make ...
Good Morning Silicon Valley: And in the end, the cash you take is equal to the cash you make ...: "According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the Beatles are, by far, the best selling artists in history, with over 168.5 million albums sold. A deal to distribute the Beatles' catalog digitally would be, by far, the most significant yet in the world of online music. And it this point, it's not likely to go to Apple."
GigaOM : ? Retread Web 1.0 to Web 2.0
GigaOM : ? Retread Web 1.0 to Web 2.0: "One observation about this whole Web 2.0 thing - all the smart entrepreneurs are incredibly young. I just thought it would be fun to give them a little bit of a history lesson and introduce them to names, ideas, and things from the recent past - aka Web 1.0. I am not sure if I can remember all the old ideas that are now being reinvented, and I would let all of you to chime in. Of course you can help spread the 'retread meme.'"
Microsoft Gets Social
Microsoft Gets Social: "Microsoft (MSFT) plans to unveil a question-and-answer social-search tool in the coming months, says Justin Osmer, senior product manager for MSN. The feature will let users direct questions to a specific universe, such as a group of friends, rather than to get automated lists of results from a generic search engine.
...
Microsoft research shows that generic search engines can't answer 50% of queries asked, he says. The new tool, whose name he didn't disclose, will be 'one of the larger projects for us' this year, [senior product manager for MSN Justin] Osmer says."
...
Microsoft research shows that generic search engines can't answer 50% of queries asked, he says. The new tool, whose name he didn't disclose, will be 'one of the larger projects for us' this year, [senior product manager for MSN Justin] Osmer says."
CNN.com - Beatles to join online revolution - Apr 13, 2006
CNN.com - Beatles to join online revolution - Apr 13, 2006: "The Beatles are preparing to sell their songs online after years of refusing to take part in the Internet music boom, according to testimony given by the head of their record company."
So maybe Apple and Apple will find a mutually beneficial solution after all.
So maybe Apple and Apple will find a mutually beneficial solution after all.
Finally, Windows 98/Me Move Towards Retirement
Finally, Windows 98/Me Move Towards Retirement: "Microsoft has begun alerting its customers that three of its legacy Windows versions--Windows 98, Windows 98 SE (Second Editon), and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)--will be retired as of July 11, 2006. That is, these products will exit the Extended Support phase and Microsoft will cease providing any support.
'Microsoft is ending support for these products because they are outdated and these older operating systems can expose customers to security risks,' a note on Microsoft's Web site reads. 'We recommend that customers who are still running Windows 98 or Windows Me upgrade to a newer, more secure Microsoft operating system, such as Windows XP, as soon as possible.'"
That's a significant reduction in entropy; Windows Me, in particular, was awful.
'Microsoft is ending support for these products because they are outdated and these older operating systems can expose customers to security risks,' a note on Microsoft's Web site reads. 'We recommend that customers who are still running Windows 98 or Windows Me upgrade to a newer, more secure Microsoft operating system, such as Windows XP, as soon as possible.'"
That's a significant reduction in entropy; Windows Me, in particular, was awful.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
CRN | Windows Vista | Microsoft Posts, Then Pulls 'Not Quite Ready' Vista Guide
CRN Windows Vista Microsoft Posts, Then Pulls 'Not Quite Ready' Vista Guide: "Microsoft first posted, then pulled a 313-page guide to its upcoming Windows Vista operating system Tuesday, saying that, like the OS itself, the documentation 'it isn't quite ready for public consumption.' "
My download experience:
1. Download and install WinFX beta 2 -- approx. 40 meg, long install time, reboot required
2. Download (and rename) ~40 meg .xps file
3. Wait a minute +/- for the file to load in the xps reader...
My download experience:
1. Download and install WinFX beta 2 -- approx. 40 meg, long install time, reboot required
2. Download (and rename) ~40 meg .xps file
3. Wait a minute +/- for the file to load in the xps reader...
BBC NEWS | Technology | Google acts to organise your life
BBC NEWS Technology Google acts to organise your life: "As well as being integrated with Gmail, the calendar uses so-called natural language processing technology to simplify how events are added.
It means that people can type an entry like 'lunch on Sunday 12pm' and the software will automatically add it to the calendar.
'We enable the user to create multiple calendars, share them with other people and overlay web calendars back on the user's own calendar,'said Google Calendar product manager Carl Sjogreen.
At the moment, the calendar works best with Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Firefox. In the coming months, Google aims to make it synchronise with Outlook and mobile devices."
It means that people can type an entry like 'lunch on Sunday 12pm' and the software will automatically add it to the calendar.
'We enable the user to create multiple calendars, share them with other people and overlay web calendars back on the user's own calendar,'said Google Calendar product manager Carl Sjogreen.
At the moment, the calendar works best with Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Firefox. In the coming months, Google aims to make it synchronise with Outlook and mobile devices."
Run Windows and Mac OS Both at Once - New York Times
Run Windows and Mac OS Both at Once - New York Times: "Suppose you're finishing a brochure on your Mac, and you need a phone number from your company's Microsoft Access database. You double-click the Parallels icon, and 15 seconds later -- yes, 15 seconds -- Windows XP is running in a window of its own, just as you left it. You open Access, look up and copy the contact information, click back into your Mac design program, and paste. Sweet.
Using Boot Camp, you'd restart the computer in Windows, look up the number -- but then what? Without the ability to copy and paste, what would you do with the phone number once you found it? Write it on an envelope? "
Using Boot Camp, you'd restart the computer in Windows, look up the number -- but then what? Without the ability to copy and paste, what would you do with the phone number once you found it? Write it on an envelope? "
WSJ.com - Google to Unveil Calendar Service In Further Move to Microsoft's Turf
WSJ.com - Google to Unveil Calendar Service In Further Move to Microsoft's Turf: "Google's Calendar, which has been expected by rivals and analysts, includes a number of features designed to make it easier for consumers to enter events and share them with friends. With a friend's permission, a user can simultaneously view the friend's appointments alongside his or her own. Consumers can also search and add calendar items posted by other users, such as the season schedules for their favorite baseball teams. They can invite friends to events and have the service keep track of the RSVPs."
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Redmond | News: Extra, Extra: FrontPage Is Dead
Redmond News: Extra, Extra: FrontPage Is Dead: "In its place, Microsoft is coming out with three Web design tools oriented towards three separate markets. These are the Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007, meant for enterprise information workers using the SharePoint platform; Microsoft Expression Web Designer for professional Web designers; and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 for Web developers."
O'Reilly Radar > Web 2.0 Directory
O'Reilly Radar > Web 2.0 Directory "What's the name of that Ajax calendar? No, no that one, the other one. Sgrodee? Plumpa? Calendr? Nothing kills a chat-up move in the pub like being unable to recall a trend-chasing clonealike. If only there were a place to go where every pastelled big-font Javascript palace on the web was indexed ... but wait! There is! The Web 2.0 List has a bazillion companies (disclaimer: my metric bazillion may vary from your imperial bazillion) and they're conveniently (wait for it) tagged."
Oracle Watch : Unbreakable, Unless You Shoot Yourself in the Foot
Oracle Watch : Unbreakable, Unless You Shoot Yourself in the Foot "Oracle on April 6 put out a note on its MetaLink knowledge base that let Oracle users know about an unfixed security vulnerability that affects all versions from 9.1.0.0 to 10.2.0.3, Alexander Kornbrust reports in his blog."
Oops...
Oops...
MySpace.com Hires Official to Oversee Users' Safety - New York Times
MySpace.com Hires Official to Oversee Users' Safety - New York Times: "The company also announced that it was starting an advertising campaign, in conjunction with the Advertising Council and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to educate parents and young people about Internet safety. The Ad Council will team with the News Corporation to run public service announcements on MySpace and other Web sites and television channels of the News Corporation."
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Sun Exodus Aids JackBe
Sun Exodus Aids JackBe: "To get a head start on the emerging trend of AJAX and SOA integration, JackBe, one of the early AJAX supporters (it had one of the first AJAX tool kits available on the market), has recruited three of Sun's top Java/SOA engineers, including Distinguished Engineer and Chief Java Architect John Crupi.
Crupi, who also was former chief technology officer of Sun's Enterprise Web Services Global Practice, joins JackBe as the company's CTO. Deepak Alur, a Sun principal engineer who led Sun's SOA initiatives and was lead architect for implementing eBay's V3 project, joins as JackBe's vice president of engineering. Dan Malks, also a Sun principal engineer, joins JackBe as vice president of solutions and strategic development.
The trio made up a core team focusing on SOA strategies in Sun's services-focused organization. The loss of these engineers is but another blow to Sun's software world in the wake of the recent departure of John Loiacono, Sun's former executive vice president of software, to Adobe Systems."
Crupi, who also was former chief technology officer of Sun's Enterprise Web Services Global Practice, joins JackBe as the company's CTO. Deepak Alur, a Sun principal engineer who led Sun's SOA initiatives and was lead architect for implementing eBay's V3 project, joins as JackBe's vice president of engineering. Dan Malks, also a Sun principal engineer, joins JackBe as vice president of solutions and strategic development.
The trio made up a core team focusing on SOA strategies in Sun's services-focused organization. The loss of these engineers is but another blow to Sun's software world in the wake of the recent departure of John Loiacono, Sun's former executive vice president of software, to Adobe Systems."
Red Hat's Red-Hot Deal
Red Hat's Red-Hot Deal: "The new challenge for Red Hat will be navigating existing partnerships that could become thorny as a result of the JBoss deal. Red Hat has key relationships with companies like IBM (IBM) and Oracle that have worked hard to evangelize Linux and Red Hat -- but will now compete more directly with Szulik & Co. Szulik says such concerns are overstated. '(Software companies partnering and competing) goes on everyday,' he says. 'This is a [sign] of the maturing aspect of Red Hat's management and model.'"
There are some other important considerations, e.g., IBM's acquisition of Gluecode
There are some other important considerations, e.g., IBM's acquisition of Gluecode
Red Hat to Acquire a Middleware Producer - New York Times
Red Hat to Acquire a Middleware Producer - New York Times: "Red Hat, which develops software based on the Linux operating system, said Monday that it had agreed to buy the open-source software maker JBoss for $350 million in stock and cash."
Interesting times. I wonder if Red Hat will feel compelled to next acquire a DBMS or two, e.g., Sybase, EnterpriseDB, or Ingres Corp., in order to be even more directly competitive with IBM and Microsoft.
Interesting times. I wonder if Red Hat will feel compelled to next acquire a DBMS or two, e.g., Sybase, EnterpriseDB, or Ingres Corp., in order to be even more directly competitive with IBM and Microsoft.
Microsoft Posts Windows Vista Product Guide
Microsoft Posts Windows Vista Product Guide: "A week after providing this massive documentation to its Technology Adoption Partner (TAP) members, Microsoft has posted its Windows Vista Product Guide to the public. The product guide is a 313 page overview of the features of Microsoft's next generation operating system."
Start here
Start here
Monday, April 10, 2006
Software Notebook: Microsoft rival turns sights toward Office
Software Notebook: Microsoft rival turns sights toward Office: "The push toward Web-based programs is good for the industry, Robertson said. But he also sees his latest company serving another important purpose.
'Fundamentally, I do believe that competition is a very healthy thing,' he said. 'I take it on as a little bit of a personal challenge to make sure that Microsoft has that competition.'"
'Fundamentally, I do believe that competition is a very healthy thing,' he said. 'I take it on as a little bit of a personal challenge to make sure that Microsoft has that competition.'"
Surfing the Web -- with no connection
Surfing the Web -- with no connection: "Today, Husick and Mathur are introducing Webaroo -- a Bellevue company whose free software allows users of laptops and hand-held computers to take portions of the Web with them wherever they wander.
The technology, which stores Web pages on a laptop's hard drive or a mobile phone's storage card, could have wide-ranging implications. A sales professional staying in a London hotel could access reviews for nearby restaurants without the hassle of paying for an Internet connection. Airplane travelers could use Webaroo to read portions of The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle or News.com without needing an airborne Internet service such as Connexion by Boeing. And visitors to remote regions -- whether Australia or Alaska -- could have superfast access to archived versions of their favorite Web sites."
It's definitely feeling like 1999 again...
The technology, which stores Web pages on a laptop's hard drive or a mobile phone's storage card, could have wide-ranging implications. A sales professional staying in a London hotel could access reviews for nearby restaurants without the hassle of paying for an Internet connection. Airplane travelers could use Webaroo to read portions of The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle or News.com without needing an airborne Internet service such as Connexion by Boeing. And visitors to remote regions -- whether Australia or Alaska -- could have superfast access to archived versions of their favorite Web sites."
It's definitely feeling like 1999 again...
WSJ.com - Disney Will Offer Many TV Shows Free on the Web
WSJ.com - Disney Will Offer Many TV Shows Free on the Web: "Walt Disney Co. plans to make much of its newest and most popular programming on ABC and other channels available free anytime on the Web, in a move that could speed the transformation of television viewing habits and help revive the struggling TV advertising business.
...
Episodes of the ABC shows -- which can be paused, rewound and fast-forwarded -- will contain commercial breaks that viewers can't skip, making Disney hopeful it has figured out a way to turn the delivery of programs over the Web into a profit-generating business. Ten advertisers, including Ford Motor Co., Procter & Gamble, Universal Pictures and Unilever, already have signed up."
...
Episodes of the ABC shows -- which can be paused, rewound and fast-forwarded -- will contain commercial breaks that viewers can't skip, making Disney hopeful it has figured out a way to turn the delivery of programs over the Web into a profit-generating business. Ten advertisers, including Ford Motor Co., Procter & Gamble, Universal Pictures and Unilever, already have signed up."
Friday, April 07, 2006
Face value | Still changing the subject | Economist.com
Face value Still changing the subject Economist.com: "Mr McNealy's slogans are usually right. The network really is becoming the computer. An age of participation may indeed be dawning. The trouble is that Sun, the company, may not be there to witness it. "
PBS | I, Cringely . April 6, 2006 - A Whole New Ball Game
PBS | I, Cringely . April 6, 2006 - A Whole New Ball Game: "Microsoft and Apple are happy with each other for the moment, and rather than representing some Apple attack on Microsoft, Boot Camp just represents the state of their happy partnership. But this won't last for long. It never does.
I predict that Apple will settle on 64-bit Intel processors ASAP (with FireWire 800 please), and at that time will announce a product similar to Boot Camp to allow OS X to run on bog-standard 32-bit PC hardware, turning the Boot Camp relationship on its head and trying to sell $99 copies of OS X to 100 million or so Windows owners."
Always fun and provocative -- read the full post.
I predict that Apple will settle on 64-bit Intel processors ASAP (with FireWire 800 please), and at that time will announce a product similar to Boot Camp to allow OS X to run on bog-standard 32-bit PC hardware, turning the Boot Camp relationship on its head and trying to sell $99 copies of OS X to 100 million or so Windows owners."
Always fun and provocative -- read the full post.
Linux gaining as Oracle database platform of choice
Linux gaining as Oracle database platform of choice
"While commercial Unix still dominates as the platform for Oracle databases and applications, Linux is expected to become the leading platform by next year, with 44 percent of respondents expecting to run Linux. That would surpass Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Solaris OS, whose share is expected to drop by next year, despite Sun?s open-sourcing of Solaris 10 in 2005."
Lots of interesting stats in this summary of a survey of 812 IOUG attendees. E.g.,
"Heterogeneous environments dominate, with only 7 percent of respondents running pure Oracle shops; 70 percent also run Microsoft's SQL Server, up from 41 percent who said that in a 2001 survey."
Check out the full (2-page) article.
"While commercial Unix still dominates as the platform for Oracle databases and applications, Linux is expected to become the leading platform by next year, with 44 percent of respondents expecting to run Linux. That would surpass Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Solaris OS, whose share is expected to drop by next year, despite Sun?s open-sourcing of Solaris 10 in 2005."
Lots of interesting stats in this summary of a survey of 812 IOUG attendees. E.g.,
"Heterogeneous environments dominate, with only 7 percent of respondents running pure Oracle shops; 70 percent also run Microsoft's SQL Server, up from 41 percent who said that in a 2001 survey."
Check out the full (2-page) article.
Agassi: MySQL to support SAP this year | InfoWorld | News | 2006-04-06 | By Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service
Agassi: MySQL to support SAP this year InfoWorld News 2006-04-06 By Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service: "Shai Agassi, president of SAP's products and technology group, said Thursday he expects MySQL to be certified to run SAP applications by the end of the year. "
Major MySQL milestone. Later in the article:
"SAP's venture arm announced its investment in MySQL in February. The investment was part of $18.5 million in Series C funding the Uppsala, Sweden-based company secured from investors that included not only SAP but also Intel Corp."
Major MySQL milestone. Later in the article:
"SAP's venture arm announced its investment in MySQL in February. The investment was part of $18.5 million in Series C funding the Uppsala, Sweden-based company secured from investors that included not only SAP but also Intel Corp."
GigaOM : ? Vista Behind Apple Boot Camp Move?
GigaOM : ? Vista Behind Apple Boot Camp Move? "Mark Stahlman, analyst with Carris & Company thinks that even though Apple’s Boot Camp move might look smart now, Apple will face a moment of truth once Microsoft Vista comes out."
$.07 (my standard bet...) says Apple will never officially support Windows Vista on Apple hardware.
$.07 (my standard bet...) says Apple will never officially support Windows Vista on Apple hardware.
Security Curve Weblog: Apple - they're killing me
Security Curve Weblog: Apple - they're killing me: "I'm just ticked cause I have a PowerPC Mac so I'm left in the wake."
Rule #1 for being a happy Apple customer: there is no past, only future...
Rule #1 for being a happy Apple customer: there is no past, only future...
Irwin Lazar's "Real-Time" Blog: Windows Virtualization (WinXP under Mac OS X) Beta Released
Irwin Lazar's "Real-Time" Blog: Windows Virtualization (WinXP under Mac OS X) Beta Released: "It will be interesting to see the impact that these capabilities have on the Mac platform, it certainly eliminates the concern that many folks have that they will lose their investment in Windows applications if they switch to the Mac. It also means that Mac users won't be shut out of windows only applications (e.g. Visio, InterWise, GoToMyPC).
I think it is a good thing that we are nearing the end of having to chose between Mac or PC. Buying a PC shouldn't be about sacrifice. "
Timely insights from my Burton Group colleague Irwin Lazar... but he neglected to mention one permutation: Apple steadfastly refuses to license Mac OS, so we won't be seeing it run on any non-Apple hardware anytime soon.
Meanwhile Microsoft's Barry Briggs speculates about the possibility that Apple's Boot Camp may be an ominious leading indicator for Mac OS overall.
I think it is a good thing that we are nearing the end of having to chose between Mac or PC. Buying a PC shouldn't be about sacrifice. "
Timely insights from my Burton Group colleague Irwin Lazar... but he neglected to mention one permutation: Apple steadfastly refuses to license Mac OS, so we won't be seeing it run on any non-Apple hardware anytime soon.
Meanwhile Microsoft's Barry Briggs speculates about the possibility that Apple's Boot Camp may be an ominious leading indicator for Mac OS overall.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Oracle Watch : MySQL to Slip Out from Under Oracle's Thumb
Oracle Watch : MySQL to Slip Out from Under Oracle's Thumb "The poorly kept secret of how MySQL is going to work its way out from under its Oracle-induced storage engine dilemma will be made apparent soon, CEO Marten Mickos told me at LinuxWorld on March 5. Namely, the company will be announcing its own transaction storage engine, based on Jim Starkey's work and its acquisition of his one-man, Firebird-based Netfrastructure company. The announcement will come at MySQL's user conference, April 24-27, in Santa Clara."
CRN | Linux, LinuxWorld, Open Source | Microsoft Platforms Chief Talks Co-opetition With Open Source
CRN Linux, LinuxWorld, Open Source Microsoft Platforms Chief Talks Co-opetition With Open Source: "Bill Hilf, director of platform technology strategy at Microsoft, explains the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant?s changing views on open source and its work with partners such as JBoss and Sugar CRM in an interview with CRN Senior Writer Paula Rooney at LinuxWorld Expo
...
CRN: Is Microsoft going to form partnerships with other open-source projects or companies?
HILF: Yes, there is a group of others we're talking with. We're looking at open-source companies that matter in terms of volume. There are five, 10 or 20 open-source applications that are broadly interesting to most customers. There are thousands of open-source projects that are ‘abandonware’ or ‘orphanware’ that no one cares about. "
...
CRN: Is Microsoft going to form partnerships with other open-source projects or companies?
HILF: Yes, there is a group of others we're talking with. We're looking at open-source companies that matter in terms of volume. There are five, 10 or 20 open-source applications that are broadly interesting to most customers. There are thousands of open-source projects that are ‘abandonware’ or ‘orphanware’ that no one cares about. "
Apple Support Windows XP on Intel Macs | Bayosphere
Apple Support Windows XP on Intel Macs Bayosphere: "In any event, Apple deserves serious applause for this move. I will have two impacts on my life, assuming I end up buying one of the new Macs (which I now expect to do at some point): First, I won't be buying a machine just for the Windows apps I need to try or use; and second, I no longer care if Microsoft ports VirtualPC, the Windows emulation software that runs on PowerPC models, to the new machines. It's irrelevant now."
Of course, some people might opt to buy Windows PCs anyway, say a new Dell desktop for $299, rather than paying $199 for a copy of Windows XP Home ($299 if you want XP Pro) to run on their new Mac. BTW the "irrelevant" Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac (not available for Intel Macs today; unclear if it ever will be now, I suppose) is $249 including XP Pro. (Overall, Microsoft's "Q&A: Using Microsoft for Mac Products with Intel-Based Macs" is not entirely encouraging...)
Of course, some people might opt to buy Windows PCs anyway, say a new Dell desktop for $299, rather than paying $199 for a copy of Windows XP Home ($299 if you want XP Pro) to run on their new Mac. BTW the "irrelevant" Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac (not available for Intel Macs today; unclear if it ever will be now, I suppose) is $249 including XP Pro. (Overall, Microsoft's "Q&A: Using Microsoft for Mac Products with Intel-Based Macs" is not entirely encouraging...)
Windows or Mac? Apple Says Both - New York Times
Windows or Mac? Apple Says Both - New York Times: "Wednesday's move also won an important endorsement from Apple's other co-founder, Stephen G. Wozniak, who long ago left the company but remains a vocal Macintosh user and is idolized by the Mac faithful.
'It's a great thing for Apple,' he told a reporter by e-mail. 'I don't see the earth being rocked, but I can now recommend Apple hardware to a lot more people. One pitch is that if Windows gets too frustrating and unbearable and unsafe, then they can easily switch.'"
I.e., perhaps Apple co-founder and Apple I/II creator Stephen Wozniak believes some people will opt to run Windows rather than Mac OS -- not just use XP on an as-needed basis for apps that aren't available on Mac OS.
'It's a great thing for Apple,' he told a reporter by e-mail. 'I don't see the earth being rocked, but I can now recommend Apple hardware to a lot more people. One pitch is that if Windows gets too frustrating and unbearable and unsafe, then they can easily switch.'"
I.e., perhaps Apple co-founder and Apple I/II creator Stephen Wozniak believes some people will opt to run Windows rather than Mac OS -- not just use XP on an as-needed basis for apps that aren't available on Mac OS.
Verizon Business Adopts Hosted Microsoft Office Live Communications Server as Platform for Its Real-Time Communications Service Offering
Verizon Business Adopts Hosted Microsoft Office Live Communications Server as Platform for Its Real-Time Communications Service Offering: "Microsoft Corp. today announced that Verizon Business will use Hosted Microsoft® Office Live Communications Server, including Microsoft Office Communicator client software, as the platform for its newly launched Hosted Secure Instant Messaging (IM) Service. The new service, announced today by Verizon Business (NYSE: VZ), will enable companies to achieve security-enhanced, real-time collaboration and communications in the workplace. Verizon Business is the first announced network service provider to offer a service based on Hosted Live Communications Server to its customers."
WSJ.com - Bloggers React to Windows-on-Mac
WSJ.com - Bloggers React to Windows-on-Mac: "Jason Snell, editorial director at Macworld magazine, said the program still has far to go. 'I'm hoping that there's another shoe yet to drop -- either from Apple or by way of Microsoft. Because while rebooting into Windows solves numerous compatibility issues, it also means that you can't run Mac OS X while you're in Windows. If you need to switch back and forth between Mac and Windows applications, a dual-boot system will not boost your productivity, because you'll be starting [sic] at boot screens half the time,' he said."
In any case: Windows on Treo, Windows on Mac -- strange days indeed.
In any case: Windows on Treo, Windows on Mac -- strange days indeed.
Personal Technology -- Personal Technology from The Wall Street Journal.
Personal Technology -- Boot Camp Turns Your Mac Into a Reliable Windows PC: "You can't run both operating systems at the same time. Switching between the two requires you to restart the Mac; the operating system you're not using is shut down. That makes switching a little slow, but it also means that each operating system runs like a separate computer, with full control of the hardware. This allows Windows to run at full speed and protects your Mac files from the effects of Windows viruses."
Ahh -- so the serial multi-OS model is a feature... (the link is to the no-WSJ-subscription-required version of Walt Mossberg's column; read it for some additional features, e.g., needing to reset the Windows system clock every time you reboot).
I wonder if Boot Camp has anything to do with Avie Tevanian's abrupt departure from Apple.
Ahh -- so the serial multi-OS model is a feature... (the link is to the no-WSJ-subscription-required version of Walt Mossberg's column; read it for some additional features, e.g., needing to reset the Windows system clock every time you reboot).
I wonder if Boot Camp has anything to do with Avie Tevanian's abrupt departure from Apple.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
WSJ.com - Apple Unveils Software To Run Windows on Macs
WSJ.com - Apple Unveils Software To Run Windows on Macs: "Apple Computer Inc. unveiled software that enables its newer Macintosh computers to run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system, as it tries to broaden its appeal among PC users.
The software, dubbed 'Boot Camp,' lets users of Mac computers powered by Intel Corp. processors to install and run the Windows XP operating system, which is found on more than 90% of personal computers.
Apple said Boot Camp is available for download starting today, and the application will be a feature in Leopard, the company's next major release of the Mac OS X system."
I suspect that may signal the end of Microsoft Virtual PC for the Mac (for Intel Mac, that is), but it looks like Apple's approach is serial multi-OS only -- i.e., reboot to run Windows apps, reboot again to run Mac apps. Seems pretty limited compared with Virtual PC, imho.
See this Apple press release for more details.
I have a hunch this may backfire on Apple, as I won't be surprised if lots of people opt to buy Macs and use them with Windows exclusively -- especially if Apple doesn't preclude installing Windows Vista when it's finished. (It'd be a pattern similar to Linus Torvalds using Linux on his Mac in some respects -- no Mac OS in that picture.) Potentially bad news for Dell and HP, perhaps, but not so bad news for Microsoft...
The software, dubbed 'Boot Camp,' lets users of Mac computers powered by Intel Corp. processors to install and run the Windows XP operating system, which is found on more than 90% of personal computers.
Apple said Boot Camp is available for download starting today, and the application will be a feature in Leopard, the company's next major release of the Mac OS X system."
I suspect that may signal the end of Microsoft Virtual PC for the Mac (for Intel Mac, that is), but it looks like Apple's approach is serial multi-OS only -- i.e., reboot to run Windows apps, reboot again to run Mac apps. Seems pretty limited compared with Virtual PC, imho.
See this Apple press release for more details.
I have a hunch this may backfire on Apple, as I won't be surprised if lots of people opt to buy Macs and use them with Windows exclusively -- especially if Apple doesn't preclude installing Windows Vista when it's finished. (It'd be a pattern similar to Linus Torvalds using Linux on his Mac in some respects -- no Mac OS in that picture.) Potentially bad news for Dell and HP, perhaps, but not so bad news for Microsoft...
WSJ.com - Ring the Parents: Disney Is Set To Unveil Cellphones for Kids
WSJ.com - Ring the Parents: Disney Is Set To Unveil Cellphones for Kids: "Seeking to capture the growing wireless market for kids, Walt Disney Co. is set to unveil a Disney Mobile cellphone service today that gives parents the ability to track the whereabouts of their children and control how and when they use their phone.
Disney said its new wireless service, offered in a deal with Sprint Nextel Corp., will have a global positioning satellite function so that parents can locate their children using their cellphone or the Internet. Other features include camera, text messaging, ring tones and exclusive content for both kids and parents."
Disney said its new wireless service, offered in a deal with Sprint Nextel Corp., will have a global positioning satellite function so that parents can locate their children using their cellphone or the Internet. Other features include camera, text messaging, ring tones and exclusive content for both kids and parents."
Wired News: Antisocial Networking Gets Hip
Wired News: Antisocial Networking Gets Hip: "Software engineer Bryant Choung intended to satirize social discovery services when he launched his beta site, Snubster, last month. The site lets members create public lists of people and things that rankle them.
'The whole concept of online social networking was really starting to irk me,' said Choung, who initially envisioned Snubster as a way to stem the often irritating flow of invitations to join networking sites like Friendster and LinkedIn. While such sites seemed like a good idea at first, their usage too often devolves into 'an attempt to get as many fake friends as possible.'"
'The whole concept of online social networking was really starting to irk me,' said Choung, who initially envisioned Snubster as a way to stem the often irritating flow of invitations to join networking sites like Friendster and LinkedIn. While such sites seemed like a good idea at first, their usage too often devolves into 'an attempt to get as many fake friends as possible.'"
MIT professor dismisses laptop criticism
MIT professor dismisses laptop criticism: "'When you have both Intel and Microsoft on your case, you know you're doing something right,' Negroponte said, prompting applause from the audience of several hundred open-source software devotees."
Corel plans IPO of 8 million shares | CNET News.com
Corel plans IPO of 8 million shares CNET News.com: "Canadian software maker Corel filed with U.S. regulators on Tuesday for an initial public offering of up to 8 million shares at $18 to $20 a share.
The company plans to sell 5 million shares, and Vector Capital, the private equity company that took Corel private in 2003, plans to sell 2.95 million shares. "
I don't get it -- Corel has been vanquished by Microsoft in productivity suites, Adobe in creative tools, and now faces serious challenges from open source initiatives such as OpenOffice.org as well...
The company plans to sell 5 million shares, and Vector Capital, the private equity company that took Corel private in 2003, plans to sell 2.95 million shares. "
I don't get it -- Corel has been vanquished by Microsoft in productivity suites, Adobe in creative tools, and now faces serious challenges from open source initiatives such as OpenOffice.org as well...
Developer of $100 laptop slams Gates's gibe on plan - The Boston Globe
Developer of $100 laptop slams Gates's gibe on plan - The Boston Globe: "Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, thinks Bill Gates is ''the most important philanthropist in the history of mankind.' But Negroponte has a major philanthropic idea of his own -- a $100 laptop computer for every poor child on earth -- and he says that the Microsoft chairman's recent criticism of the laptop plan could hinder its success."
Later in the article:
"When Negroponte unveiled his plan last year, he said production of the laptops could begin this year. But he still doesn't have a working prototype. Yesterday, Negroponte said prototypes would become available before the end of the year, and full production would begin in 2007. The initial model of the laptop would cost $135, with the cost falling to $100 by 2008 and as low as $50 by 2010."
Later in the article:
"When Negroponte unveiled his plan last year, he said production of the laptops could begin this year. But he still doesn't have a working prototype. Yesterday, Negroponte said prototypes would become available before the end of the year, and full production would begin in 2007. The initial model of the laptop would cost $135, with the cost falling to $100 by 2008 and as low as $50 by 2010."
Microsoft Wins Big Order for Cellphone Software - New York Times
Microsoft Wins Big Order for Cellphone Software - New York Times: "Microsoft has won its biggest contract ever for mobile phone software, an order from the United States Census Bureau for 500,000 handsets.
Microsoft plans to unveil the deal as early as today, Scott Horn, a general manager for the company, said in an interview. Microsoft expects to increase its mobile unit's sales to $1 billion in one to three years, from $337 million last year, and break the dominance of the Research In Motion BlackBerry wireless e-mail device."
Microsoft plans to unveil the deal as early as today, Scott Horn, a general manager for the company, said in an interview. Microsoft expects to increase its mobile unit's sales to $1 billion in one to three years, from $337 million last year, and break the dominance of the Research In Motion BlackBerry wireless e-mail device."
I.M. Generation Is Changing the Way Business Talks - New York Times
I.M. Generation Is Changing the Way Business Talks - New York Times: "'I almost never get e-mail from my Sun colleagues,' said Tim Bray, an avid instant messager and director of Web technologies for Sun Microsystems. 'And I only get voice mails from outsiders.'
Sun isn't the only technology company to embrace instant messaging. 'We send 2.5 million I.M.'s within I.B.M. each day,' says David Marshak, senior product manager for collaboration at I.B.M. 'And we have virtually zero voice mails here.' "
Sun isn't the only technology company to embrace instant messaging. 'We send 2.5 million I.M.'s within I.B.M. each day,' says David Marshak, senior product manager for collaboration at I.B.M. 'And we have virtually zero voice mails here.' "
Software Out There - New York Times
Software Out There - New York Times: "Mr. Ozzie, who used the Firefox browser (an open-source rival to Internet Explorer) during his demonstration, said, 'I'm pretty pumped up with the potential for R.S.S. to be the DNA for wiring the Web.'
He was referring to Really Simple Syndication, an increasingly popular, free standard used for Internet publishing. Mr. Ozzie's statement was remarkable for a chief technical officer whose company has just spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars investing in a proprietary alternative referred to as .Net."
This is silly -- it's not an either/or scenario, and .NET's support for RSS and other standards is contributing to .NET momentum. The article seriously over-reaches in other areas as well.
He was referring to Really Simple Syndication, an increasingly popular, free standard used for Internet publishing. Mr. Ozzie's statement was remarkable for a chief technical officer whose company has just spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars investing in a proprietary alternative referred to as .Net."
This is silly -- it's not an either/or scenario, and .NET's support for RSS and other standards is contributing to .NET momentum. The article seriously over-reaches in other areas as well.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
? Zimbra makes ALE, Calc and Write | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
? Zimbra makes ALE, Calc and Write | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com: "Zimbra's two 'Notebook' applications, a spreadsheet and a document editor, will be joined by a presentation app and other kinds of content editors in the future, Dharmaraj said. Unlike Google, which appears to be cobbling together a bunch of Web applications, Zimbra is building an integrated set of Office-like applications with leading user interface implementation and deep mash up integration."
Zimbra obviously is not just an email-on-AJAX play...
Zimbra obviously is not just an email-on-AJAX play...
Steve Castledine [IBM hires Domino blog creator]
Steve Castledine [IBM hires Domino blog creator]: "Well this one has been hard to keep myself, however as of today (Monday) I am now an IBM employee and my self employed consultancy will be no more.
To say I am excited would be an understatement, opportunities like this do not come around very often!
One of the key annoucements around all this is that my dominoblog software will be integrated into the IBM product set."
Via Ed Brill.
Blog and wiki trends are having a significant and growing influence on traditional enterprise collaboration software.
To say I am excited would be an understatement, opportunities like this do not come around very often!
One of the key annoucements around all this is that my dominoblog software will be integrated into the IBM product set."
Via Ed Brill.
Blog and wiki trends are having a significant and growing influence on traditional enterprise collaboration software.
Venture Chronicles
Venture Chronicles: Airlines to Begin Charging for Amenities: "It’s only a matter of time before coin slots and a timer start appearing on the lavatories. At least when Ryanair does things like charge for checked bags they reduce ticket prices."
If you live in Boston, you can also plan to pay $300+ ($200 to sign up, $100 annual fee, and a $5 daily surcharge) for privilege of actually being able to find parking at the airport.
More good reasons to use web conferencing tools...
If you live in Boston, you can also plan to pay $300+ ($200 to sign up, $100 annual fee, and a $5 daily surcharge) for privilege of actually being able to find parking at the airport.
More good reasons to use web conferencing tools...
Slashdot | Apple Begins Fixing MacBook Pro Issues
Slashdot Apple Begins Fixing MacBook Pro Issues
This just in from the reality distortion field:
"Hack Jandy writes "For those of you who bought one of the first generation Macbook Pros, a new replacement may be in your future. Flicking LCDs, overheating and intermittent WiFi connections are all common place for many of these first generation machines, but apparently Apple is fixing the problem. The article claims 'According to Apple, it has begun replacing the mainboard inside its MacBook Pros with a new revision. It calls the updated product "revision D," which is indentifiable by product serial number.' If you have a reservation at an Apple Store, they may even replace your MBP with a new one.""
So Apple gets extra good will points for replacing faulty laptops?... Apparently Apple is now using paying customers for new product field tests.
This just in from the reality distortion field:
"Hack Jandy writes "For those of you who bought one of the first generation Macbook Pros, a new replacement may be in your future. Flicking LCDs, overheating and intermittent WiFi connections are all common place for many of these first generation machines, but apparently Apple is fixing the problem. The article claims 'According to Apple, it has begun replacing the mainboard inside its MacBook Pros with a new revision. It calls the updated product "revision D," which is indentifiable by product serial number.' If you have a reservation at an Apple Store, they may even replace your MBP with a new one.""
So Apple gets extra good will points for replacing faulty laptops?... Apparently Apple is now using paying customers for new product field tests.
O'Reilly Radar > Raise an ALE to Google Maps API v2
O'Reilly Radar > Raise an ALE to Google Maps API v2: "ALE is, at its heart, a simple standard whereby components (like the spreadsheet) register callbacks to let the main application know how to marshal (serialize) their data, get an edit interface, get an HTML read-only display, etc. Simple is good, though the cool toys from the Windows world will come with the same costs: DLL hell (imagine if my spreadsheet component uses a different version of a date library than the version my main app uses), speciation over versions of the spec (will ALE 1.0 components work with ALE 2.0 components?), and fragility (as apps are only as stable as their crappest component)."
John Cook's Venture Blog - IPO window remains closed
John Cook's Venture Blog - IPO window remains closed "Venture capitalists may be partying like it is 1999. But the initial public offering market certainly isn't behaving that way.
A report out today (PDF) from the National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Venture Economics says that only 10 venture-backed companies raised $541 million in the first quarter. That compares to 10 companies that raised $721 million during the first quarter of last year and 13 companies that raised $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2004."
Read the full article for a timely reality check.
A report out today (PDF) from the National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Venture Economics says that only 10 venture-backed companies raised $541 million in the first quarter. That compares to 10 companies that raised $721 million during the first quarter of last year and 13 companies that raised $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2004."
Read the full article for a timely reality check.
TiVo's future may hinge on EchoStar patent case - Boston.com
TiVo's future may hinge on EchoStar patent case - Boston.com "In an east Texas courthouse, TiVo Inc. and EchoStar Communications have been battling over a key patent that makes digital video recorders work. A TiVo victory -- which experts deem likely -- would not only resurrect the fledgling company but also encourage a shift in DVR strategies at the major pay TV providers."
Outstanding TiVo CTO/co-founder Jim Barton article in the latest issue of ACM Queue, but it's not posted on the Queue web site yet; I'll post a reference when it appears.
Outstanding TiVo CTO/co-founder Jim Barton article in the latest issue of ACM Queue, but it's not posted on the Queue web site yet; I'll post a reference when it appears.
Zimbra - Blog - A Pint of ALE - Ajax Linking and Embedding
Zimbra - Blog - A Pint of ALE - Ajax Linking and Embedding: "AJAX Linking and Embedding (ALE) provides the ability to embed rich content into an editable document and to then interact with and edit that content in much the same way as it is done with traditional office suites and applications in a desktop environment. A key difference is that instead of embedding objects that are backed by installed desktop applications (e.g. a spreadsheet or drawing application), within the ALE world the embedded objects are AJAX components that are embedded into an editable HTML document. These components adhere to a set of design patterns specified by the ALE specification. So, for example, if a user is editing some content such as a personal note or an email message, then she would be able to directly embed an AJAX spreadsheet into the note or email body and interact with the spreadsheet while remaining in the editing context of the note or email message. As long as the spreadsheet component adheres to the ALE specification it could be fetched across the network, instantiated, and used regardless of the user’s location."
Very interesting new technology from Zimbra.
Weird déjà vu lately, with ALE (like OLE in some respects) and Microsoft's recent Simple Sharing Extensions and Live Clipboard initiatives (reminiscent of DDE and the Windows clipboard).
There was lots of enthusiasm for DDE during the 1980s and OLE during the 1990s, but neither really went mainstream in terms of influencing everyday user conceptual models. I suspect it may be a different story this time around, since the Internet has a lot more link-worthy stuff than most people's local hard disks. Wikis will also likely play a role; while wikis are mostly known for lightweight web-based content-centric collaboration, they're also subtly democratizing hypertext authoring, and web-centric linking and embedding will be a natural extension to "the wiki way."
Very interesting new technology from Zimbra.
Weird déjà vu lately, with ALE (like OLE in some respects) and Microsoft's recent Simple Sharing Extensions and Live Clipboard initiatives (reminiscent of DDE and the Windows clipboard).
There was lots of enthusiasm for DDE during the 1980s and OLE during the 1990s, but neither really went mainstream in terms of influencing everyday user conceptual models. I suspect it may be a different story this time around, since the Internet has a lot more link-worthy stuff than most people's local hard disks. Wikis will also likely play a role; while wikis are mostly known for lightweight web-based content-centric collaboration, they're also subtly democratizing hypertext authoring, and web-centric linking and embedding will be a natural extension to "the wiki way."
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Ex-Microsoft guru books rocket flight
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Ex-Microsoft guru books rocket flight: "Charles Simonyi created some of the most widely used computer-software programs on Earth. Now he's ready to take on the next frontier: space.
Simonyi, formerly a top researcher at Microsoft and co-founder of Intentional Software in Bellevue, has booked a seat aboard a Russian rocket for a flight to the International Space Station as early as next year."
Simonyi, formerly a top researcher at Microsoft and co-founder of Intentional Software in Bellevue, has booked a seat aboard a Russian rocket for a flight to the International Space Station as early as next year."
I.B.M. to Work With Start-Up on Chip That Uses Less Power - New York Times
I.B.M. to Work With Start-Up on Chip That Uses Less Power - New York Times: "I.B.M. plans to announce an alliance on Tuesday with a small Silicon Valley company that has designed a flexible microprocessor chip intended to perform tasks like video processing using less than a tenth the power of today's chips."
Interesting -- also check out Rapport CEO/CTO Andrew Singer's bio; looks like some of Paul Allen's Interval Research investment might finally be coming to fruition...
Interesting -- also check out Rapport CEO/CTO Andrew Singer's bio; looks like some of Paul Allen's Interval Research investment might finally be coming to fruition...
WSJ.com - Social Networking Goes Mobile
WSJ.com - Social Networking Goes Mobile: "In a development likely to generate dismay from some parents and teachers, social networking sites MySpace and Facebook are going mobile.
Tens of millions of teenagers spend countless hours logging on to such sites, updating their profiles, posting pictures, writing blogs and exchanging messages. Until now, the services have been largely tethered to desktops or laptops. Now, Facebook Inc., a popular social-networking Web site among college students, and Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless are starting a service that will make it possible for users to post messages on Facebook's home pages or search for other users' phone numbers and email addresses from a cellphone."
Tens of millions of teenagers spend countless hours logging on to such sites, updating their profiles, posting pictures, writing blogs and exchanging messages. Until now, the services have been largely tethered to desktops or laptops. Now, Facebook Inc., a popular social-networking Web site among college students, and Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless are starting a service that will make it possible for users to post messages on Facebook's home pages or search for other users' phone numbers and email addresses from a cellphone."
Monday, April 03, 2006
Microsoft to 'host' Linux virtually - New York Times
Microsoft to 'host' Linux virtually - New York Times: "Microsoft will support customers who chose to run Linux with Microsoft's Virtual Server 2005 R2, software for running multiple operating systems on one machine. "
At Last, Movies to Keep Arrive on the Internet - New York Times
At Last, Movies to Keep Arrive on the Internet - New York Times: "Six major studios plan to begin selling movies over the Internet today that buyers can download and keep for watching at any time.
Until now, the only downloads the studios have offered have been online rentals, which can be watched only for a 24-hour period -- an idea that has not caught on with consumers. But the high prices and technological limits of the new permanent downloads suggest that they may not be an instant hit. "
A new kind of Blockbuster hit...
Until now, the only downloads the studios have offered have been online rentals, which can be watched only for a 24-hour period -- an idea that has not caught on with consumers. But the high prices and technological limits of the new permanent downloads suggest that they may not be an instant hit. "
A new kind of Blockbuster hit...
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Rough Type: Nicholas Carr's Blog: Onanism 2.0
Rough Type: Nicholas Carr's Blog: Onanism 2.0 "In a long and thoughtful article on the internet pornography phenomenon, Adrian Turpin notes that the number of porn pages on the web reached 260 million in 2003, up from 14 million in 1998, and that online porn sales hit $2.5 billion in 2005, well over double the sales of music downloads."
Read the full post and think about the implications; very scary stuff.
Read the full post and think about the implications; very scary stuff.
IBM challenges Microsoft with huge ad buy
IBM challenges Microsoft with huge ad buy: "IBM Corp., the world's largest provider of computer services, will spend more than $300 million on an advertising campaign to win customers and help revive its image with investors."
$300M here, $500M (amount Microsoft is spending in a similar ad campaign) there; bummer for IBM + Microsoft competitors...
$300M here, $500M (amount Microsoft is spending in a similar ad campaign) there; bummer for IBM + Microsoft competitors...
Sony goes prime-time with "LocationFree TV" - Yahoo! News
Sony goes prime-time with "LocationFree TV" - Yahoo! News: "Sony's dream of freeing TV from the confines of the living room is looking more like reality with a gadget that allows you to watch local broadcasts on a PC even if you are thousands of miles from home. "
It'll be interesting to see if Sony can capture any of the momentum already enjoyed by Sling Media.
It'll be interesting to see if Sony can capture any of the momentum already enjoyed by Sling Media.
An Open-Source Lightning Rod
An Open-Source Lightning Rod: "Brash, outspoken, and frequently insulting, Fleury has clawed his way to the top of the open-source pile over the past six years. Part of the dislike arises because he's a threat. Even though JBoss brings in only $50 million a year in revenues, at most, from providing training, support, and maintenance services to its users, it has siphoned off some hundreds of millions in market value from the likes of BEA Systems and IBM by giving away free software."
Interesting JBoss snapshot; includes speculation about why the Oracle acquisition didn't happen.
Interesting JBoss snapshot; includes speculation about why the Oracle acquisition didn't happen.
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