industry

After enjoying the top spot for a little over a year, Microsoft must now get used to being referred to as the former number one powerhouse in the list of the most affluent global brands of 2007. According to an internationally-published brand ... ranking system, Google bested the popular Microsoft Corp. by a unanimous decision. While not affecting the financial success of the company, the news must still be a little devastating to Microsoft, especially after a year in which the company had launched their highly anticipated operating system, Windows Vista. This is only the second year in a row ... (view more)

With the vast majority of industry insiders expecting positive results once Apple releases their new iPhone to the public, many multimedia phone companies have recognized the Apple threat and are attempting to avoid any competition against the ... technological giant. Palm Inc., a hand-held computer making company, has announced their plans to challenge Apple in the hopes of putting an end to their stranglehold on the rest of the industry. While representatives at Palm were quick to decline extensive commentary on their retaliatory devices, the company did reveal that a former Apple computer ... (view more)

It seems I'm not the only tech writer interested in the phenomenal (and annual) success of Electronic Arts' (EA) Madden series. The National Football League-based franchise of games, released every August to armchair quarterbacks around the world ... (but predominantly North America) routinely dominates the yearly video game sales charts, and is now being compared by some to Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. When I wrote about Madden 07 a few weeks ago , I was particularly interested in the game because it so quietly seems to go about shaping the video game industry. Make no mistake, Madden is ... (view more)

In the last few years -- perhaps even decade -- the cost of wages has forced many technological jobs to a place in our galaxy far, far away. Manufacturing as a whole has exploded in China and the Far East, but in recent years, the boom has expanded ... to include other nations in the near-Pacific theatre with a workforce capable of technological achievement. The most recent market for manufacturing outsourcing has been India, but as its wage rates increase, its appeal to the North American and European tech industry decreases. Outsourcing is most widely known as the delegation on internal duties ... (view more)

As if the race for the ultimate next generation gaming experience wasn't tight enough, one of planet earth's biggest companies may be looking to get its feet wet. Sort of. Apple may be looking to go the way of arch rival Microsoft in the ... ever-expanding console gaming industry by purchasing a company whose very name is synonymous with the industry itself: Nintendo. Apple is no stranger to the home gaming industry, despite having a less-than-stellar debut in the mid 90's. In 1995, Apple released the Bandai Pippin: a home gaming console, which, to put it mildly, tanked due to its technological ... (view more)

I've been in the computer business for quite some time and have read countless publications related to both the computing industry and its users. Since I continue to read a number of publications on an ongoing basis, I see developing trends and the ... direction the industry is going. I find new hardware especially intriguing, as well as software that is constantly being developed for the consumer market. But, there has been some rather disturbing news along with all the 'hype', including some recent unsavoury news concerning Microsoft. Before I get into that, let's review a bit of history: Back ... (view more)

I don't normally post jokes in the Gazette; in fact, I've never done so. However, a joke I recently received put a smile on my face. Of course, none of the following story is true -- but humorous nonetheless. See if you can point out the parodies. " ... For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, 'If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars ... (view more)