Steve Ballmer’s assertion regarding ‘massive Windows 8 adoption’ just might be the best example of how far out of touch he (and perhaps even Redmond is) to the ‘massive’ shift in computing that has left them largely flat-footed in the Application; Smartphone and Tablet spaces.
(Source) Computer World: http://goo.gl/7mXHK
What… Yahoo is actually releasing a new product?! Yes, it is true and whilst even perhaps a bit slow / albeit very late (indeed) to do so… the firm is nevertheless debuting their entrant in the Browser space.
(Source) CNET Asia: http://goo.gl/Ts6Vx
With Facebook dominating tech-news over the past few days; Apple checked in as the world’s most valuable brand – once again demonstrating the merits / validity of an actual ‘tangible‘ product vs. an ‘intangible‘ one.
(Source) LA Times: http://goo.gl/05XLp
With Facebook’s underwhelming IPO; their underwriters forgoing continually propping them up; a rough second trading day; their mobile strategy being called into question; critics assailing them for how they’re ‘ruining’ Silicon Valley… and, anything else that hasn’t been mentioned, two points are worth noting: one) welcome to being publicly traded; two) has the firm (already) seen their better days (e.g., did Facebook’s value proposition / uniqueness actually peak some time ago and did they conduct an IPO just to cash-in, etc?)
(Source) WSJ: http://goo.gl/EK26W
In ‘what-just-might-be-nothing-less-than-a-serious-line-crossed’ SceneTap (a facial detection Start-up) and their agreement with a number of San Francisco bars to install cameras therein might have set a new ‘standard’ (e.g., low) for creepiness.
(Source) The Washington Post: http://goo.gl/tyxsM
For those paying attention; it seems a bit odd / surreal that as a stipulation for approving the Google / Motoola merger China has mandated that it remain free and open… both of which the PRC is anything but…
Granted, third~party vendors have valid concerns regarding Motorola getting special treatment; however, the main strength of Android (which has largely driven their runaway success has been what China has reportedly demanded).
(Source) CNET: http://goo.gl/Kwrxx
All things being equal (including their rocky start to being traded publicly) Facebook made their (initial) mark… now, how the firm does / goes from here is anyone’s best guess…
(Source) The Washington Post: http://goo.gl/de9f1
It’s a bit challenging to fathom that a firm whose main product is user-generated media (versus syndicated media for example) has an IPO valuation that’ll be larger than McDonald’s; Cisco’s and/or Amazon’s market caps. Moreover, it is also a bit of a stretch to reckon how said firm will be able to sustain this valuation. Nevertheless, rationality and market-speculation are clearly not mutually inclusive.
(Source) WSJ: http://goo.gl/Hpqqm
Now that Google has publically stated that they intend to end fragmentation (of their OS) it will be interesting to see how / if they are able to pull this off.
(Source) LA Times: http://goo.gl/2FFDf
In advance of one of the most-highly anticipated IPO’s (perhaps) since Google roughly 1/2 of Americans surveyed think that Facebook’s shares are overpriced… which begs at least three questions: 1) What should they be priced at? 2) Should this really come as any surprise? 3) Does this story itself actually warrant as ‘news?’
(Source) The Washington Post: http://goo.gl/Uebf0
