Business

Ten years ago, Google filed its business incorporation papers. In the decade since, the search company has changed the planet. Without any doubt, it is the most successful business on the Internet landscape and is well-poised to continue in that ... vein. To fully appreciate Google's achievement, one needs only to examine its history in comparison major competitor Microsoft. A decade down the road, Google boasts revenues of just under $20 billion. Microsoft is 33 years old and has revenues of approximately $60 billion. At age 10, Microsoft had revenues of only $140 million. Google's market value ... (view more)

Apple is facing a second lawsuit over poor iPhone performance. This time, the company faces complaints that it sold more handsets than its 3G network could cope with. You may remember that many of the recent reports of dropped calls (caused by ... reception problems on the 3G network) came from California. It's therefore not a major surprise that the new legal action comes from a San Diego resident, William Gillis. He alleges that the new iPhone demands too much power from 3G networks, to the point that AT ... (view more)

Microsoft has aired the first in a series of ads featuring Jerry Seinfeld, former star of the popular 90s sitcom, "Seinfeld". Although he's guaranteed $10 million for the gig, Seinfeld's impact on Vista sales is yet unknown, and the campaign itself ... has done little to win over the mainstream media. The Seinfeld campaign is part of a $300 million marketing blitz to resurrect Vista's damaged image. Other tactics include comparing sceptics to people who once believed the Earth was flat, and a series of videos showing members of the public reacting positively to a presentation of 'Mojave ... (view more)

Approximately 440,000 Sony Vaio TZ series laptops have been reportedly recalled worldwide to avert potential wiring problems that involve overheating and short circuiting. Approximately 74,000 of the recalled laptops were sold in the United States. ... Sony's recall involves VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300 and VGN-TZ2000 series laptops involving 19 models manufactured between May 2007 and July 2008. Improperly placed wires near the hinge connecting the body of the laptop and its display could wear quickly which could cause the computer to short circuit or overheat. The recall also involves a flaw ... (view more)

At least 51 separate civil antitrust actions against Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices/ATI Technologies (AMD/ATI) alleging price-fixing in the graphics processing unit (GPU) market received a major boost when emails from competing executives ... suggesting how to keep prices high were read during a recent hearing. The cases assert price-fixing in various types of computer chips, flat panel screens and cathode ray tubes. U.S. District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California (in San Francisco) berated defense lawyers for trying to keep what they consider trade secret documents ... (view more)

Not long ago I reported on a Bloomberg news wire stumble that led to the publishing of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' obituary. Just to prove he's alive and well, the Apple chief is now provoking the media with hints of major music news -- perhaps even a new ... iPod MP3 player. Apple, like any successful company, is considered a master of hype. In order to rouse much speculation about an upcoming announcement on Tuesday, September 9th, the company has organized most of the world's press in a number of major cities for a still-unknown unveiling. Journalists invited have been lured with a not-so-subtle, " ... (view more)

Apple fans can breathe a sigh of relief this morning. After brief word last week that Steve Jobs was -- and I know this hurts -- dead, Infopackets has confirmed that the iPod's grandaddy is alive and well in Cupertino. To the shock of many in the ... tech and wider world, the Bloomberg business news wire last week ran an obituary describing the death of Steve Jobs, the man who "refashioned the mobile phone". The obit was published only for a few moments after a reporter added the news. Once superiors determined that the headline simply wasn't true, the headline was "immediately deleted". The obit ... (view more)

Thus far, Apple has launched the iPhone in 22 new countries with plans for a future Russian launch that could guarantee 1.8 million sales a year. The news has prompted one analyst to forecast the new 3G version of the device will sell 45 million ... units next year. The new markets opened up this week range from Argentina to Venezuela and include several countries in Eastern Europe and Africa. The Philippines was first to receive the phone legally, with reports of sold-out launch parties. Perhaps the most unusual launch came in Greece, where local laws meant the phone had to be sold unlocked. In ... (view more)

News has been spreading rapidly across the tech world regarding Microsoft's recent decision to hire Jerry Seinfeld, famed comedian and former sitcom star, as its primary spokesman for an advertising campaign designed to sell Windows Vista, the ... company's down-and-out operating system (OS). Released early last year, Windows Vista has undergone some tough times. Repeatedly berated by tech experts for its design flaws that compromise security or generally dampen system performance, the OS continues to be outsold by its predecessor , Windows XP. In the constantly-changing tech world, that's a bit ... (view more)

The first mobile phone based on Google's "Android" system will be available on the T-Mobile network in October. But insiders say the device, while functional, lacks the grace and style of its obvious market rival, Apple's iPhone. As we reported back ... in November, Google opted against launching its own mobile phone, instead developing an open source software package with the idea that it could encourage manufacturers to develop cheaper handsets. The belief at the time was that Google might get back its investment by negotiating a cut of any advertising revenue network carriers would make ... (view more)