Technology Industry

AMD Splitting Symptomatic of Semiconductor Industry Woes

Erik Sherman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:46:02 +0000

There's plenty of news today about AMD's plan to split itself into two. One part will design chips while the other becomes a joint venture with investors from Abu Dhabi. But this isn't a story just about AMD. Indirectly it's about the entire semiconductor industry and the even bigger implications for the global economy when the companies that power everything from greeting cards to autos and appliances can't figure out how to make money. If they can't stay in business, how is anyone going to make anything?

Tech Roundup: Linux Boomerangs, Faux Military Chips, and More

Erik Sherman — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:35:32 +0000

Linux laptops become boomerangs, strong returns — At least one OEM, MSI, is seeing much stronger returns on Linux laptops than on those running Windows, to the tune of four to one. Apparently people like the price, open the box when they get home, start the laptop up, and then realize that Linux is not [...]

Palm Feeling the Pinch of Rising Commercial Loan Rates

David Phillips — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:10:13 +0000

The crisis of confidence on Wall Street is pushing up costs of variable-interest commercial loans, many of which are pegged to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Handset maker Palm Inc., which has invested more than 12 percent of its sales in R&D in each of the last two years, or about $392 million, to [...]

IBM Beta Tests Bluehouse, a Business “Facebook”

Erik Sherman — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:00:20 +0000

Not long ago Talkbiznow's CEO was flogging a new type of online business networking -- LinkedIn with souped up communications and services. Now it seems that IBM has just opened the beta on Bluehouse, a similar concept, only undertaken with far deeper pockets and way more experience. IBM's approach, with its impressive resources, should make LinkedIn nervous. Even if the particular expression may not start a category firestorm, it does suggest an evolutionary direction for digital business networking.

Tech Roundup: Aluminum Apples, Chrome Declines, and More

Erik Sherman — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:30:55 +0000

Apple rumored to have new production process– According to 9to5Mac, Appleis using a new production process in which lasers and water jets carve blocks of aluminum into cases, first for the MacBook Brick, later for … who knows? The thought is that it would avoid bending and therefore stressing the metal, making a stronger case, [...]

Tech Roundup: Free Games, Yahoo’s News for the Bored, and More

Erik Sherman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:12:28 +0000

Free computer game model reaches US – Everyone loves free, but gaming companies in Korea seem to have figured out how to make it pay and they’re going to give it a try in the US. Nexon, out of Seoul, supports its offerings through micro-transactions in which players buy weapons, armor, and other accoutrements for [...]

Credit Crunch Hits Small Tech Firms

Erik Sherman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:10:27 +0000

The House has just passed the banking bailout bill and not a moment too soon. Experts have been talking about how the effects of credit tightness were starting to be felt by most of the country, and small technology firms have found that they are in just as bad a position as everyone else.

Tech Roundup: TCP/IP and iPhone Security Vulnerabilities, Internet Radio Temporary Resuscitation, Microsoft to Build European Research Centers, and More

Erik Sherman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:57:50 +0000

Researchers claim new networking vulnerability – A couple of researchers are claiming that they’ve discovered flaws in TCP/IP protocol stacks that hackers could use to unleash new denial of service (DoS) attacks on Internet-connected computers. The results supposedly could range from crashing a device to forcing the administrator to reboot the computer, even after the [...]

Digital Cinemas Suggest New Way to View Markets

Erik Sherman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:44:36 +0000

Hollywood studios are starting to line up to help finance the rollout of digital technology in movie theaters. While an interesting story, particularly if you’re a motion picture technology buff at all, it’s an important reminder that there are non-digitized markets out there that might present important new revenue opportunities. The money involved is big — [...]

Tech Roundup: Game Companies Hunt Pirates, Bad Oracle Consultants, Green Google Investments, and More

Erik Sherman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:27:02 +0000

Activision Blizzard chases individual game pirates — Clearly some in the gaming community have been watching the RIAA a bit too closely. Activision Blizzard has been suing individuals who have pirated its game Call of Duty 3. Out of six people so far pursued, three settled for $100,000, one for $25,000, and one for $1,000. [...]