Technology News: Business

Steve Jobs Conquers the Decade - Now What?
November 07, 2009

Now that Fortune has named Apple CEO Steve Jobs CEO of the decade, where will he go from here? Throughout his career, Jobs has typically led the market, bringing out products that consumers didn't know they wanted until they saw them -- products like the iPhone and iPod touch, for instance. He will probably continue doing so, but in the future he may delegate more responsibilities.

The iPhone's China Syndrome
November 04, 2009

The iPhone went on sale last week in China, and it landed more or less with a thud. Cupertino's carrier partner in that country, China Unicom, announced on Tuesday that only 5,000 customers had purchased the phone thus far. At this rate, the handset may have trouble meeting sales expectations. China Unicom had pledged to sell 1 million iPhones per year.

Did Apple Take the Slow Boat to China?
November 02, 2009

When Apple officially released its iPhone in China last week, it presented Chinese consumers with what could be a difficult decision: Pay more for the official device --which currently lacks WiFi -- or obtain a cheaper, WiFi-enabled device from the gray market.

Lack of WiFi Puts Damper on iPhone's China Debut
October 30, 2009

Apple's iPhone is making its long-awaited formal debut in the world's most populous mobile phone market, without a key feature and at higher prices than widely available black market models. Apple's local service provider, China Unicom, hopes the iPhone will give it an edge against giant rival China Mobile, the world's biggest phone company by subscribers.

An Android Advance, a Patent Punch and More Tablet Temblors
October 28, 2009

avweTalk that Apple is inching ever closer to making its rumored tablet computer a reality is making the rounds. In fact, Cupertino could sell more than 2 million tablets in 2010, according to the expectations of analyst Brian Marshall. Meanwhile, Apple should continue to gain strength in other areas with the new iMacs it introduced last week and the strength of its iTunes App Store.

Microsoft Launches a Revolution, Apple Launches a Mouse
October 26, 2009

I really was anticipating a battle royal between Microsoft and Apple and thought both companies would come to the mat with their best stuff. It felt like Apple was so focused on maintaining high margins last quarter that it gave up a huge chance to grow share, and its stealth launch of a couple of PCs and a multitouch mouse just seemed lame next to the massive rollout of Windows boxes.

Nokia Throws the Book at Apple
October 24, 2009

Nokia announced on Thursday that it has filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that Apple's iPhone infringes 10 of Nokia's mobile technology patents. The suit asserts that the iPhone infringes Nokia patents for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN standards covering wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption. At issue are all Apple iPhone models shipped since the device was introduced in 2007.

Weighing Windows 7's Wallop
October 23, 2009

So how's your head after that wild Windows 7 launch party with the Stepford crew? Still got the spins? OK, if you really did throw or attend an official Windows 7 launch party, then that's ... interesting. I sincerely hope you had a good time. For the rest of us, the official introduction of Windows 7 was a pretty austere affair.

Apple Is Saving the Best for Last
October 23, 2009

Usually by the end of October, early November at the latest, Apple tends to wrap up its retail product innovation and set its lineup in stone for the upcoming holiday buying season. Not this year. Rest assured, something new and important is coming from Apple in time for holiday sales.

The Juggernaut's New iMac
October 21, 2009

Apple launched three new products Tuesday just hours after disclosing details on the most successful non-holiday quarter in the company's history. The new hardware includes new iMac models, a new sub-$1,000 MacBook and a multitouch mouse that Apple has dubbed the "Magic Mouse." On Wall Street, the company's revelations sent its stock climbing.

How Apple Became Red Hot in the Enterprise
October 21, 2009

Almost overnight, it seems that Apple and its products, led by the iPhone, the iPod and the Mac, are everywhere -- including in the corporate enterprise. Apple's presence as a favorite staple in the consumer market segment is accepted, expected and taken for granted. The corporate enterprise is another matter.

Apple's Q4 Blows Wall Street Away
October 20, 2009

Despite an ongoing recession, the fourth quarter of Apple's fiscal year 2009, which ended in September, was the company's second-best quarter ever, Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said at the company's earnings call on Monday. Net revenues totaled $9.87 billion, and net quarterly profits $1.67 billion, or $1.82 per diluted share.

The New Darling of the Green-Tech Movement
October 20, 2009

Until recently, Apple was a little too ripe for the green scale. Environmentalists raised a stink over the company's use of toxic chemicals, its refusal to publicly release its carbon emissions, and its overall sorry showing in industry green rankings. "Well, it's important we give Apple credit for the data they just released," said Greenpeace's Casey Harrell, "because it has definitely raised the bar."

Visions of Bulls in AAPL's Crystal Ball
October 14, 2009

Investors are expecting a pleasant surprise when Apple issues its Q4 earnings report on Monday, Oct. 19, and analysts expect Cupertino to close 2009 with a bang as well. As a result, they're bullish on Cupertino. "We believe the stock is a must-own technology bellwether," said Brian Marshall, an analyst at Broadpoint AmTech. Apple should close out 2009 strongly, he expects.

Levinson Ditches Google Seat to Stay on Apple Board
October 13, 2009

Google said Monday that Arthur Levinson has resigned from the Internet search leader's board, averting a potential showdown with government regulators over his overlapping job as a director for computer and gadget maker Apple. The FTC had been investigating whether Levinson's double duty on the boards of both Google and Apple would lessen competition between the companies as they increasingly collide in the same markets.

IBM and Apple: Why We Love Monopolies and Then Kill Them
October 12, 2009

The age of the computer started in the 1950s, and one of the first things that happened to a then relatively tiny IBM was it got nailed by the Department of Justice. The result was competition and the modern age of computing. Last week, the DoJ opened another, very similar, investigation of IBM. It was -- you'd never guess -- on the mainframe.