With Facebook apparently set to launch an initial public offering this week, valuing it at $US75 billion-$US100 billion, the market’s willingness to capitalise the optimism around social networking businesses is about to be tested.
Microsoft
The most outrageous tech predictions for 2012
Lists of tech predictions for the year ahead are super abundant at this time of year, writes Charis Palmer, of Technology Spectator.
Virtual (economic) reality: Microsoft Points to future
Microsoft has become the first technology firm to weigh into the debate on innovation in the Australian payments system, calling for the payments infrastructure to be modified to facilitate virtual currencies, writes Technology Spectator’s Charis Palmer.
Patents, governance and WMDs
The public has a right to expect that blatant misuse of monopoly power be addressed by active anti-trust/anti-competitive laws, writes Anna George, an adjunct professor at Murdoch University.
Next year’s favourite websites
What’s the next big Twitter or 4Square? Perhaps it’s the program that uses Facebook to study. Or oBaz, the site that brings you together to get a group discount on a product. Check out BizSpark, a program by Microsoft that supports start-ups.
In IT’s dance of the inflating elephants, Microsoft is stumbling
With moves like Google’s launch of their own social network Google+, the corporate elephants are now engaged in a highly-competitive dance around a massive pot of gold.
Are we being gouged on delivery as well?
Not merely are Australians being ripped off by local retailers for internationally available goods, it costs more to deliver them.
Why Microsoft had to buy Skype
It makes strategic sense that Microsoft happily bought Skype for the rather inflated price of US $8.5 billion, says Robert X Cringely. Microsoft needed a new market — telecommunications, but more importantly it needed to stop Google from buying Skype.
Hold the line, Microsoft to buy Skype
Microsoft is apparently in talks to buy Skype — the internet phone service company — for a reported US $8 billion, making it Microsoft’s most expensive buyout ever.
Tired Microsoft delivers solid profits, for now
Microsoft’s online services have now clocked up 21 consecutive loss-making quarters.
Bartholomeusz: an Amazonian effort
The common denominator in the Amazon and Google results was that the increase in revenues significantly outstripped the increase in earnings.
Why Apple will (eventually) fail — the industry guarantees it
Apple relies on a few key products, all of which require upgrading every 12 months. That’s a horribly short product lifecycle that demands constant innovation, writes John Addis, founder of The Intelligent Investor and a Crikey director.
Microsoft’s record revenue, but for how long?
Microsoft announced record second-quarter revenues of $19.95 billion overnight.
Google kids have grown up, but where will they take the firm?
“Day-to-day adult supervision no longer needed!” tweeted Google CEO Eric Schmidt early this morning Australian time as the company announced that Larry Page would take over in April. So without a chaperone, what now for the Google kids in charge?
The Wintel of our discontent
It’s nearly the end for IT’s most hated power couple: Microsoft and Intel. For years Microsoft’s Windows system has run happily on Intel architeture, but now technology is killing the partnership.
Will Windows shut Ballmer down?
Despite solid financial performance and a number of good strategic decisions, Microsoft shares have been inconsistent in recent years. A movement of naysayers are heaping the blame on CEO Steve Ballmer and may be plotting to give his career a real-life ALT-F4.
Top ten ‘did you know?’ facts about Microsoft
Did you know Microsoft was originally spelt Micro-soft? Did you know over 23 million free drinks are consumed on the company campus every year? Did you know Microsoft holds over 10,000 patents? Didn’t think so.
Microsoft announces plans for iPad killer
In a bold attempt to break Apple’s stranglehold of the tablet PC market, Microsoft have confirmed that their iPad equivalent will arrive within months. The big question is: will it send Windows error reports?
leaked Microsoft plans for Windows 8 surface online
A leaked Power-Point presentation detailing plans for Windows 8 reveals Microsoft are taking a leaf out of Apple’s book, developing improvements such as faster boot up times and a Windows app store.
The most hated companies in history
BP may currently be the most despised company in the world, but it’s not alone in the hate stakes. Some classic US companies also rank in the top hated historical list, like Blackwater, Halliburton and Microsoft.
Letter from...: Redmond, Washington: inside Microsoft HQ
If Microsoft is an also-ran, the news has yet to permeate the company’s Pacific Northwest headquarters. The sheer scale of Microsoft doesn’t really hit until you arrive at “the campus”.
Business As Usual: Rosy future for capex … Apple eats Microsoft … Club Austerity’s newest member …
Taxpayers to chip in for Foster’s, Foster’s write-offs could total $2.5 billion, UK’s Channel Five on the market and BSkyB close to buying Virgin Media TV and Apple takes the most-valuable title.
Apple is now the tech king
Apple is now officially the largest technology company in the world. It’s the climax of a ten-year story from failing computer company to the hottest cult brand in the world.
Is Google evil?
Google has become the all powerful controller of the internet, giving its own content priority and raising serious issues of competition law. The regulators of Washington are watching it very, very closely.
Look ma! Actual convergence — Foxtel, XBox 360 link
Foxtel and Microsoft joined forces this morning, announcing Foxtel will be soon be available via XBox Live, offering a full-scale IPTV offering for the first time.
