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Is Microsoft’s Head in the Cloud?

This is a superb article that helps try and explain to the already well educated in the area of the internet and computers how thing might be in 5-10 years. And I truly believe it will be that soon. It's been very noticeable over the past few years what Google is trying to do. I never knew that this whole concept was called Cloud Computing and am a bit scepitcal of it's label. However, the idea and the goal of "Cloud Computing" is pretty much the next evolutionary step in the world of computing. It's obvious. At least if you think about it anyway.

I've long been a back of Google winning this war but you have persuaded me that Microsoft's intentions aren't necessarily the act of a desperately wounded animal. They have a serious amount of cash and they should use as much as possible right now in order to prepare for the future.

Personally I see the future through web portals. And in that sense Microsoft have an advantage. I see us clicking on our web portal through which ever device we want (be it oven, remote control, phone/mp3 player, laptop or car) and everything that we own is available to us. You don't really need google for that. In fact you don't need microsoft either. You need a host that will hold links to all of the online software programs that you have.

I think the online future only has room for big players if they buy all of the smaller ones. And that can't keep happening. It's all very exciting.

iPhone Price Drop Is A Bad Sign

I think it's just a simple application of clever business practice following the introduction of new models. The new iPod touch is seriously undercutting the iPhone. It's basically the same thing except for the phone part. So people could get the iPod Touch and a cell phone for much less than the iPhone. So they reduce the price of the iPhone significantly to keep demand levels up. I also think sales of the iPhone probably aren't going as well as first thought.

Thomas's prediction of the downfall of Nokia is so ridiculous it made me laugh. It's like saying Mercedes are going to topple Toyota's as the world biggest carmakers.

Sony's Problems Can't Be Solved Without New Blood

The other thing is that there's all kind of strategic partnerships that Sony could utilise to draw the focus of the PS3 away from games and towards entertainment. In the UK, British Telecom (BT) have recently released a box that allows users watch tv on demand through it. Now this is BT's first foray in to the tv market and they are taking on industry giants BSKYB and the second biggest Telecoms and also TV company in the UK in Virgin Media. BT's product is a good one but it lacks a lot of features like HD and internet surfing capabilities. SKY has the disadvatage of still needing to broadcast via satellite dishes and Virgin lack the actual content. So there is potential to exploit there. If Sony and BT tied up a strategic alliance in the UK it could offer us a glimpse of the future. BT would be able to market increased capabilities to it's customers with the potential to watch HD shows on demand by buying a PS3. And Sony would benefit by being marketed by the UKs biggest Telecoms company.

Another partnership could be with Blockbuster. I understand Blockbuster announced a few months ago that they will only be stocking blu-ray discs and not HD DVD discs. Blockbuster were late in to the dvd online rental market and as a result they are only no. 2 in the UK market to Lovefilm. Blockbuster could agree to supply blu-ray disc subscriptions cheaper if Sony gave Blockbuster small discounts on the PS3 units.

I see loads of these opportunities that could be vital in jump starting the great PS3 obsession.

Sony's Problems Can't Be Solved Without New Blood

You took the words right out of my mouth Mike. The whole reason Sony lost ground was because they delayed the release of the PS3 in order to get the blu-ray player in it. Now they've done that they're not exactly going out of their way to market it's media capabilities. In fact, I've not actually seen one advert for the PS3 in the UK despite constantly seeing Wii adverts in magazines, on tv and on bill boards. This is very poor. The PS2 marketed itself. It was a no nonsense gaming machine that was better than the rest. But the PS3 has so much more. Sony needs to tell people about this. Sony only have themselves to blame on this. As soon as they get people realising that this machine can replace your computer then people may sit up and take notice.

I still think long term that sony will win this battle. But short term they're just not thinking right. Why not market it along side the Bravia tv range. Bring the strategies in line and see people buy them in droves.

Apple's Playing The EuroOperators For Fools

And that's no doubt why Vodafone lost the contract. They probably didn't want to budge on their terms where as the others are like dogs who will do anything to please their owner. Good on Vodafone I say. How much do you really think that it will effect their bottom line? Especially as we don't know how much Apple are getting from O2.

Motorola Unveils RAZR 2, Mobile Phone Collection for '07

Exactly. Where's their Nokia N95? They probably havne't even begun thinking about something like that yet.

Motorola: Wall Street Unexcited By New Phone Offerings

Talk about playing the same old tune. The Razr 2 looks exactly the same as the original. So are we expected to like it because it's "retro" now lol?

Although, the RIZR Z8 seems to be very interesting. I really like the new way of sliding it and if the demo simulated videos of what the screen is going to be like is anything like the real thing then this could be a winner. Although why provide that screen and then only a 2 mp camera? Some comments elsewhere on the net suggest that it doesn't feel well built though.

Motorola: Investors Want Cool New Handsets

That's always been Motorola's problem. Feature light and with rubbish software. They've negated that by having cool phones but unfortunately the competition has caught up with looks. In the mean time Motorola have done absolutely nothing about features and their software.

Motorola have got a long way to fall yet. Expect a big crash landing because another RAZR just won't be good enough now that we have Sony Ericssons W880i's and Nokia N95's to go along side Prada phones and a huge array of ultra mobiles from Samsung.

The only way is down!

Long In the Tooth, Sony Needs a Protein Jolt

I personally don't think they should have released a PS3 Lite. It would have ruined they medium to long term business model. That model includes a successful Blu-Ray. While it is still in doubt it is certainly more probable now that it's in the PS3. Fair enough it's probably held back the PS3 sales quite substantially but let's be honest the lack of decent games have done that on their own. What I think Sony was worried of happening was another SACD vs DVD Audio debacle where both failed. Their prime reason for failure was that no one became interested in either due to the costs of the player and that resulted in limited support from the music industry. By getting a few million Blu-Ray players on to the market already they have guaranteed the support of the movie industry and also speeded up the process which will see the prices of Blu-Ray players reduced.

I for one think it's a great move. Sony basically have a medium term vision of the PS3 being a home entertainment hub. People just can't see it right now because the games on the PS3 are rubbish and the demand for HD movies and online content is relatively low right now. But knowing how well their Bravia range is now selling I think they are well aware that the demand will take off relatively soon. We need internet connections to continue to rise rapidly and then they are all set.

As for Stringer. Well Roger is probably right. Sony is doing most things right. But it seems that many of the areas of business that Sony could have working in some sort of harmony through good top level management aren't working properly. I think this will hinder them rather than stop them altogether. I don't think that they market many of their products very well either. Sony shouldn't be about being cool anymore. Apple have that sewn up. Convergence should be the name of the game for Sony.

Apple's iPhone Rocks the Cell Phone Industry

Tommo_UK, that has to be just about the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard on this website. Nokia are a far bigger company than Apple and if you think one phone that costs $600 and therefore twice the price everywhere else in the world will put even the slightest dent in Nokia then you are sorely misunderstood.

By the time the iPhone comes out in Europe every other manufacturer of mobile phones will have already realeased a phone of similar spec but at 20% of the price.

I just don't see how you guys think that this is going to replace your laptop, your blackberry, your mobile phone, your mp3 player and everything else in your home. It does all of the above but not nearly as well because it's battery life won't be as good as stand alone products, it's screen is smaller than your laptop and mp3 player, the memory is smaller than you ipod.

Yet it's still bigger and heavier than all other mobile phones out there.

This is not going to kill any mobile phone companies. In fact I doubt they are that worried.

When Will Microsoft Own Up to the XBox 360 Bomb?

You can understand why they are trying though. They don't want to rely on Windows.

And here's where I think they're really running scared. My prediction is that over the next few years we'll see our operating systems move online. I think Google will jump in to bed with the Linux developers and offer bespoke operating systems for free. Everything will be done online with all of your data stored on line. then you'll just go to any computer in the world and have access to your own bespoke operating system.

Then we'll all save £100 on every computer we buy because we won't have to fund Microsoft.

Apple's iPhone: It's Not About the Phone, It's About the Revolution

"Yeah, that's what everyone said about the iPod you fool. The combined might of every CE company (ie. SOny, Philips, Samsung et al), and Muicrosoft, did NOTHING to stop the iPod becoming the worlds' dominant MP3 player."

You're comparing apples with pears here (pardon the pun). The iPod became the world dominant mp3 player simply because the market had just been born. The pie was huge and no one had even taken a bite yet (apart from Creatives very small nibble). So Apple happily came in and took all of what was available. The mobile market on the other hand is already saturated. Growth markets remain in developing countries where people can't afford the iPhone so Apple are going to have to take market share. That is completely different to what they have ever done before. In fact they've never even been successful at taking market share and the Macs are a case in point. If it wasn't for the iPod then Macs would still be limited to designers.

People buy phones first and foremost to phone people. That is why I think $500 for a phone instead of $0 for one that does even more is ridiculous.

And to Dan Poarch. You would happily pay $500 for a phone just because it has an accesible address book? What?! that has to be the most stupid thing I've ever heard. You may as well higher a personal secretary while you're at it. People won't pay $500 for an accessible address book.

I've had enough of all of this hype. That's all it is. Hype. Well done Steve Jobs that's all I can say. I tell you one thing though. Don't expect manufacturers who have been doing this for years and have production factories across the globe that generate economies of scale that Apple can only dream of in mobile phone land to take this lying down.

Nokia are a bigger company than Apple will ever be.

PlayStation 3 Sales Solid in Europe Debut

As I've been saying all along. I just couldn't understand everyone's concerns about the PS3. This is the future. The Xbox 360 is the present but why have the present when you can have the future right now. The Wii? Well, I've said all along that the Wii is different. IT's not in a fight with Sony and Microsoft because it's aimed at a different market. Plus it's longevity has already been questioned by those who own one.

The new Xbox Elite is not going nearly far enough. A hdmi output and a 120gb hard drive? Are you kidding me. Is that all you've got Microsoft?!!!

Apple's iPhone: It's Not About the Phone, It's About the Revolution

How on this green and blue earth do you know that it'll be the first phone that we'll be happy to use for three years? Have you tried it?

The reason people buy new phones is because they're free with new contracts. Plus technology advances slightly giving them better cameras and more features. But it's mainly about them being free.

The iPhone on the other hand costs $500. For that reason alone people will think twice about upgrading. But that's the thing. Within a year of the iPhone coming out the other manufacturers will have so far surpassed the iPhone that people will want the new phones.

$500 is the sticking point for the iPhone.

Motorola: Heading From Bad to Worse

Maybe I was harsh Thomas. But you still didn't really explain anything. I wasn't doing a feature by feature comparison simply because the iPhone lacks so many features that I'm not actually able to.

As you say it's how well everything integrates. What I find amazing is that based solely on it's reputation for making good mp3 players you and the rest of the US seem to think that they're going to nail the iPhone first time.

Motorola has been making phones for years and it's interface is still rubbish. Microsoft can't do it on a phone either. So why will Apple?

With the iPod all they need to do is play music. The iPhone will have to make calls, connect to the net, take pictures, play music, organise your life and much much more. But I suppose the general assumption now a days is that Apple can do anything!

Their repuation is based on the iPod and the iPod alone. They aren't really that successful with their computer division and their media boxes haven't done much. Plus now Apple tv is getting criticised to. So I'm just not getting how people can get so exceited about a product that they have never built before and that people have never used.

I'm sure Nokia are shaking in their boots!