Technology News: Tech Buzz

Free Flow of Internet Traffic Requires Sensible Road Rules
November 04, 2009

Free marketeers' primary argument against Net neutrality is that a government watchdog role in protecting neutrality is bound to be "political" -- and that any government agency will ultimately start a slippery slide to full-bore regulation of the Internet. This all-or-nothing approach is a false choice.

Rumored Deals Could Give New Meaning to 'Apple TV'
November 03, 2009

Apple reportedly is eyeing a new service to be launched as part of its iTunes ecosystem: a TV subscription service with a fee of $30 per month. While the site already has numerous TV series episodes and seasons for rent or purchase, this service would represent a different go-to-market strategy for Apple. The service would be similar to cable TV offers but delivered through iTunes.

Windows 7 Takes Back Mac Switchers and Other Reasons for Hope
November 02, 2009

Last month was fascinating for me. Not only was Windows 7 launched, but it appeared last week that because so many Mac users were installing Windows 7, some huge enterprise servers crashed. In addition, I got a chance to see Yahoo's new CEO Carol Bartz in action, and was both impressed with her and a little disappointed in the event.

How to Solve the Net Neutrality Issue
October 28, 2009

The FCC recently voted to move forward on a rule-making process that could lead to new government regulations for the Internet. It claims to be supporting only "neutrality," but even key players seem confused. The Open Internet Coalition says neutrality "is about keeping the hands of several powerful network operators -- AT&T, Verizon and Comcast -- off the Internet.

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.

The Windows 7 Road to Success: Is It There Yet?
October 22, 2009

Earlier this week, Windows 7 became the highest grossing pre-order product in Amazon UK history, topping those of J.K. Rowling's book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," according to media reports. The reason for making the correlation between a much-anticipated OS and a very popular book, presumably, was to demonstrate that even before its much-hyped Thursday launch, Windows 7 was already a success.

Windows 7 and What Comes After the PC
October 19, 2009

Microsoft and Windows go back to the very beginning of the PC -- when people couldn't afford them, when networks were defined by terminal emulators and floppy disks, and when many of the Google pioneers were in diapers. Looking back at what Windows initially did and considering what Windows 7 is capable of, you can certainly say a lot has changed.

Shriver Exposed as Cellphone Scofflaw, Schwarzenegger Promises Action
October 14, 2009

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling out his wife, Maria Shriver, for apparently violating a state law he signed -- holding her cellphone while driving. The celebrity Web site TMZ.com posted two photographs Tuesday showing Shriver holding a phone to her ear while she's behind the wheel. It says one was snapped Sunday and the other in July. The Web site later added a video.

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.

Google, Microsoft and Twitter's Golden Egg
October 09, 2009

Google and Microsoft are reportedly in separate talks with Twitter with the goal of licensing the microblogging site's rich store of data. The potential deal structures could be anything from up-front payments to revenue-sharing schemes. Whatever form it might take, a deal would represent Twitter's first significant source of revenue since its inception.

Is Dell Getting Its Android On?
October 08, 2009

Dell is reportedly building an Android smartphone for AT&T. If the rumor should prove true, it would mean significant advances for both companies. It would be AT&T's first offering built on the open source mobile operating system developed by Google. Android made a strong start out of the gate, and it is projected to grow quickly in the coming years.

Nvidia Imagines Computing's Next Age
October 05, 2009

Last week, I was at the first GPU developer's conference put on by Nvidia, along with around 1,500 people trying to change the future of computing. What was both troubling and amazing was the number of times people were telling me stories about things people had said were impossible that they were now doing as a matter of course all because of this change.

FCC's Genachowski Not Neutral on New Net Rules
September 30, 2009

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski stirred up the Net neutrality pot last week with his speech at the Brookings Institution where he pledged to create new rules for governing the Internet. The FCC boss implied that because the Internet is such a big part of the lives of Americans, its management cannot be left to the marketplace.

The US' Perilous Path to Energy Enslavement
September 28, 2009

Hidden in the messaging at the Intel Developer Forum last week was a goal to dramatically lower U.S. electricity bills and save the country from becoming an energy slave to China by 2020. At the core of this is the view that the current Obama administration may be focused on the right things but in the wrong order.

What If Steve Jobs Had Introduced the Zune?
September 21, 2009

Over the years, I've had long "discussions" with Apple fans on why Apple can't actually put Microsoft out of business. Many seem to think the event is imminent, while I clearly believe it is impossible. To make a point like this, however, you need a reverse example, and the new Zune is likely the best product for the purpose.

Starting Over: What Obama's Healthcare Team Could Learn From AMD's 'Vision'
September 14, 2009

You couldn't help but feel for the U.S. president last week as he tried to sell an unpopular health plan. Sometimes you have to realize the foundation of something is just so bad that no amount of patching or selling will fix it, and while it looks like you are close to done, you'd actually get done more quickly if you started over properly.