Archive for December, 2008

Steve Jobs is a very important man. Just the rumor of his health declining sends people into a tizzy. It reminds me of all the times that Alan Greenspan farted and people sold everything they had in the stock market. Ridiculous.

Shares of Apple Inc fell as much as 2 percent on Tuesday after technology website Gizmodo reported a “rumor” that Chief Executive Steve Jobs’s health was declining.

A spokesman for Apple declined to comment on the rumor.

When asked about Jobs’s health, the spokesman said “if ever Steve or the board of directors decided that he was no longer capable of doing his job as CEO of Apple, I’m sure they will let you know.”

Yes, you can get an iPhone for $99, but not at Wal-Mart.

Walmart began selling Apple’s iPhone 3G at nearly 2,500 of its stores on Sunday. The news came just before AT&T announced Monday that it will sell refurbished iPhone 3Gs for just $99.

Walmart is offering the black 8GB iPhone 3G for $197 and the 16GB black or white model for $297. Those prices are contingent on a new two-year service agreement — or a qualified upgrade — from AT&T.

Don Reisinger at The Digital Home has this to say about Wal-Mart selling the iPhone:

As the world’s largest retailer (and company), Wal-Mart commands a significant amount of respect. In fact, I think the company is the most important retailer to any company in any industry, let alone Apple and the tech industry.

But Friday’s announcement that the iPhone will be coming to Wal-Mart store shelves Sunday has changed the face of the cell phone industry. In effect, it has ensured that Apple, one of the most important hardware companies in the space, will not only see its popular mobile phone be made available to millions of more customers, it ensures that RIM and every other company in the market that’s trying desperately to compete with Apple simply won’t be able to do it.

He’s right. When Apple opens that door at Wal-Mart, RIM and other companies just won’t be able to keep up. They better stop planning on the next ‘iPhone killer’ and come up with Plan B real soon.

Will there be lines out the door of Wal-Mart tomorrow morning?

Wal-Mart will start selling Apple’s popular iPhone on Sunday, the chain said, confirming earlier reports by employees.

Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will become the second independent retail chain after Best Buy Inc. to sell the phone. It is also sold at Apple Inc. and AT&T Inc. stores.

I’m sure one of the reasons that Amazon did so well, is because their prices were more competitive than others.

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. called this holiday season its “best ever,” saying Friday that it saw a 17 percent increase in orders on its busiest day — a rare piece of good news in a season that has been far from merry for most retailers, including online businesses.

I know this, because Barnes & Noble sent me a “valued member” coupon for 40% off, yet I was able to find the same items I wanted at Amazon for more than 60% lower than B&N was charging AFTER the discount). Funny, I had a hard time seeing that it was coupon. I think we need better bathroom lighting around here.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

It seems there is another security threat out there, just in time for Christmas.

Microsoft has confirmed the existence of a new and potentially serious security threat to users of its SQL Server database software.

“Microsoft is aware that exploit code has been published on the Internet for the vulnerability addressed by this advisory,” the company said in a bulletin published Monday.

The threat is essentially software code that hackers could use to access or alter corporate databases built with SQL Server. The malicious code could allow what’s known in IT security as remote code execution, a process by which hackers could, for instance, alter figures in a bank account without ever setting foot on the bank’s premises.

Thank goodness InformationWeek was there to put it all in plain English for us.

Microsoft has given yet another reprieve to its seasoned Windows XP operating system.

The cut off date for PC makers to obtain licenses for the software was 31 January 2009.

But now Microsoft has put in place a scheme that will allow the hardware firms to get hold of XP licences until 30 May 2009.

Who knows, many people could be using Windows XP for another decade.

I’m not so sure pulling your videos from the #1 video service on the internet is a good negotiating ploy. YouTube isn’t making money playing the videos, so it’s no skin off their back if you want to pull out.

Negotiations between Warner Music Group and YouTube over renewing the licensing agreement for the record label’s music videos broke down Friday. Early Saturday, Warner, the third largest record label, removed videos from the Google-owned video site.

The impasse comes at a time when all four major labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and EMI, are renegotiating their licensing deals with YouTube.

Just when you thought music companies were finally getting “it”.