Business Industry

IBM says the next wave of computing devices will address areas never before associated with technology, including the ability to see, smell, taste, and hear. If the report's predictions prove accurate, such new computer capabilities could ... dramatically change human society. IBM made these predictions in its recent "IBM 5 in 5" report. It's the seventh straight year that IBM has released the report, which discusses innovations expected to affect the technology industry during the next five years. This year, the "5 in 5" report's predominant theme was human senses, and the way future computers ... (view more)

It's that time of year again: when millions of Americans will descend upon 'big box' stores and shopping malls to get their bargain 'fix' on Thanksgivings' so-called 'Black Friday' super-sales day. If you're looking for the latest technology ... hardware, you might want to check out Wal-Mart, where tablet PCs, flat-screen TVs, Blu-ray players, and video games are all on sale at reduced prices. Arguably, the biggest bargain involves Apple's 16GB iPad 2, which is available for $399 and comes with a $75 gift card. The iPad 2 typically retails for about $400, so you're essentially getting the gift ... (view more)

Apple's chief executive officer has publicly criticized Microsoft's new tablet computer, the Surface. However, he admits that he has never actually used the device. Microsoft's Surface tablet launched last Friday. Priced at $399 and up, it's seen by ... many experts as a major threat to Apple's iPad, which has dominated the tablet market for several years. The Surface runs Microsoft's Windows RT operating system, a slimmed-down version of Windows 8. Versions of the Surface running fully-featured editions of Windows 8 are expected to hit the market in the coming months. Cook: Microsoft's Surface ... (view more)

Microsoft wasn't the only firm to report significant revenue losses last week. Advanced Micro Devices, popularly known as AMD, revealed that its revenue recently hit a three-year low. In response, the firm says it must cut costs by eliminating close ... to 1,800 jobs worldwide. AMD is a major producer of computer microprocessors. A few years ago it was neck-and-neck with Intel in the race for market leadership. Today it's still in second place, but much farther behind. Overall PC sales are down throughout the industry, leaving the entire personal computer market to face an uncertain future. Part ... (view more)

With consumers moving away from PCs in favor of tablet computers and smartphones, Dell has reported a significant decline in both its revenue and its share price. Dell Inc., for many years a major PC maker, recently made public its second quarter ... earnings. The report shows that the firm's second quarter profits declined 18 per cent, while revenues dipped nearly 8 per cent. Even more concerning may be the company's inability to predict this trend. In May, Dell suggested that revenues would significantly increase, not decrease. Mobile Devices Lure Consumers Away from PCs Dell has blamed its ... (view more)

The Apple App Store might be the single most important reason for Apple's dominance of the smartphone and tablet markets. But Valve, which is responsible for the wildly popular Steam video game distribution platform, now appears ready to challenge ... Apple, Microsoft, and Google with its own app store. According to reports, Valve is preparing to expand its operations into non-gaming areas, including computer applications. For those not familiar with Steam, it's basically an app store for video games. With tens of millions of users and more than one thousand games available for instant download, ... (view more)

Things just got tougher for one of the most embattled technology companies: Yahoo. Earlier this year it announced a massive restructuring program designed to revive flagging profits. Now it will be looking for a new chief executive officer (CEO), ... after Scott Thompson tendered his resignation. Last week experts and observers were stunned by reports suggesting that Thompson had padded his resume , adding an extra, unearned degree in computer science from Stonehill College in Massachusetts. In actual fact, Thompson earned only a bachelor's degree in business administration from the small, post- ... (view more)

Facebook has officially announced its initial public stock offering will go on sale at a price between $28 and $35 a share. At the high end of that range, the company would claim a market capitalization of $95 billion. Facebook is only selling a ... portion of its shares. That means the most it could receive in this initial public offering (IPO) would be $13.58 billion, which would make this the ninth-most lucrative stock issue in world history, behind major firms like General Motors and Visa. (Source: ft.com ) Facebook IPO To Claim Internet Record The $13.58 billion figure would destroy all ... (view more)

For the last four months, Yahoo chief executive officer (CEO) Scott Thompson has been trying desperately to get his failing company back on track. Now he faces the same task with his own career. Thompson is facing embarrassment, and even the ... possibility of having to resign his lofty position as it appears he may have padded his resume. According to reports, Thompson may have considerably exaggerated his education at Stonehill College, a small Catholic institution not far from Boston. Computer Science Degree Not Earned It now appears that Thompson, who legitimately received a bachelor of ... (view more)

The number of computers sent to stores at the end of 2011 appears to have taken a surprising dip, leaving the industry anxious about the expected release of Windows 8 later in 2012 . Manufacturers' US shipments dropped 6.71 per cent during the last ... quarter of 2011, while the global figure fell just a little: about 1,600 fewer computers in a sea of more than 90 million units. At this stage, it appears the total shipments for the year will rise, compared with 2010, but by the smallest margin since 2001. (Source: betanews.com ) Big Sales Increases Year-to-Year the Norm It's worth noting that a ... (view more)