PC sales grew in 2008 – just by single digits, but…
Internetnews.com reports that “[p]ersonal computer sales managed the barest of growth rates in the fourth quarter of 2008 even in the face of a worldwide economic slowdown. The U.S. saw the worst damage done, but even then it wasn't enough to cause a year-over-year decline. Technology research firm Gartner said Wednesday that fourth quarter 2008 worldwide PC sales reached 78.1 million, up just 1.1 percent over the same period in 2007. For the year, worldwide PC sales rose 6.1 percent. [...]
Task force finds that online child safety concerns are overblown
Yahoo!Tech reports that “[a] high-profile task force formed last year to study dangers young people face on the Internet has found that fears of sexual predators are overblown and that technology alone won't keep children safe. Family, education, and government policy are key components of reducing risks for children, according to Internet Safety Technical Task Force findings to be discussed Wednesday at a Congressional Internet Caucus Fifth Annual State of the Net Conference in Washington, D.C. ‘We have concluded that [...]
Apple and Microsoft win InfoWorld Technology of the Year Awards
InfoWorld reveals that “Apple and Microsoft topped the list of InfoWorld's annual product award winners this year, nabbing three and four Technology of the Year Awards, respectively. Announced today, InfoWorld's 2009 Technology of the Year Awards recognize the best hardware and software products evaluated by InfoWorld reviewers during 2008. Microsoft's four prizes include two for development tools and two for small-business solutions. Best Integrated Development Environment went to the matchless Visual Studio 2008, while Best Rich Internet Application Platform went [...]
TADC Conference – ‘Other people’s stuff should be Free, not mine’
Today at the Carnagie Institution the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue held a conference called “Patents, Copyrights, and Knowledge Governance: The Next Four Years”. Here’s the top blurb about the event: As a new Administration will take office in Washington, and the European Union renews its institutions, what should the political agenda be for intellectual property? The globalisation of the challenges faced by consumers and rights holders have made intellectual property policy one of the main features of global trade policy, and [...]
Decision about new Yahoo! chief could be made as early as last week
The Wall Street Journal writes that “Yahoo Inc. is in the final stretch of its search for a chief executive officer, and a decision could come as soon as next week, said people close to the Internet company. Among candidates still under consideration is Carol Bartz, the former chief executive officer of Autodesk Inc., a publicly traded company that builds design software used in engineering. She's ‘on the list,’ said a person familiar with the matter, adding that she has [...]
Welcome to the Party
Microsoft launched a public policy-focused blog today, Microsoft on the Issues, joining tech giants like Verizon, Cisco, and Google who all have corporate public policy blogs. The new blog features a welcome post from Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith, who writes:Today we are launching "Microsoft on the Issues" to open another, more direct line of communication that will enable us to quickly and succinctly provide our perspective on the pressing technology matters of the day. We do not want this [...]