This week we discuss hostile rejections, coffin carpentry, wireless fidelity, and another Cupertino roundup!
Corporate rejections are always harsh! In a follow up to last week's roundup, Yahoo has formally rejected Microsoft's offer to acquire the company. Executives submitted the rejection, stating that the offer devalues the Yahoo brand, while also hinting to the fact that they would be open to a bigger offer. Expect one to made, as Microsoft is not willing to let up so easily. They have stated that they are still committed to the combination of the two companies. The Yahoo execs can reject all they want, but what it ultimately boils down to, is the shareholders. How much money will it take for them to give in?
Does Microsoft really want Yahoo? Cnet's Don Reisinger doesn't believe so. In his blog, he compares this proposed acquisition to the 1994-95 proposal that Microsoft made to acquire Intuit, the maker of Quicken. Back then, Intuit was giving Microsoft more competition than they could handle. Naturally, Microsoft made them an offer they couldn't refuse. As an anti-monopolistic precaution, the courts stepped in and put a stop to it. However, that was all Microsoft needed in order to perform due diligence, and have a look at Intuits internal books. A year later Microsoft gained the upper hand and pulled far enough away from Intuit, that they could never catch back up. Is Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Yahoo fueled by deceit? It seems far fetched, but I wouldn't put it past them.
I'm not quite sure how many nails it takes to seal a coffin, but it does seem like Count Dracula could sleep in the one built for HD DVD. Earlier this week, Netflix had announced that it is no longer going to be stocking new movies in the HD DVD format. A shame, considering Netflix was one of the few places you could still find HD DVDs, after Blockbuster already made the decision to side with Blu Ray. Meanwhile, Netflix has raised quite a stir with a recent survey that they released, asking consumers if they would be interested in streaming movies to an XBOX 360 or PS3. I know I would be pretty damn interested, but I have a feeling Microsoft and Sony wouldn't.
Anybody whom has ever attempted to transfer an even somewhat large file via bluetooth, knows that it can be a tedious and unreliable process. Things may change for you if you have an 802.11 card sitting next to that bluetooth antenna! The Bluetooth Special Interests Group (BSIG) has announced that bluetooth transfers will soon be able to piggy back off of the signal of wireless 802.11 technology, to achieve must faster and reliable data transfers. I always get a warm and fuzzy feeling when technologies come together and co-exist as one. Unfortunately, we shouldn't expect to see this new spec come to fruition until sometime in 2009.
In other wireless news, fanatics of over-priced coffee now have reason to rejoice. Starbucks has announced that they are switching their in-store wireless carriers from T-mobile to AT&T. What this means for Starbucks card members, is two free hours of wifi goodness, and $4 for an additional two hours. T-Mobile HotSpot customers are still allowed in on the action at no additional cost, through an agreement between T-Mobile and AT&T. With the recent innovations between Starbucks and Apple's iPhone, this was a partnership waiting to happen.
Did somebody mention Apple? The Cupertino based company kicked the week off by releasing a new and more refined version of their photo editing and management tool, Aperature. The following day, they updated OS X to version 10.5.2, which includes many security patches and bug fixes. Then, after being delayed by two weeks, we were blessed with the long awaited AppleTV updated. I will be digging my claws into it this weekend and will post a full review soon. Would Apple dare get back into gaming? After the disaster known as the Pippin, one would hope not! However, suspicions have arose after a trademark was patented by Apple, that sounded more like it came from Nintendo. While this can just be signs of what's to come for the iPhone once the software development kit is released later this month, it may also answer why Apple was looking to hire a game developer a while back.
Corporate rejections are always harsh! In a follow up to last week's roundup, Yahoo has formally rejected Microsoft's offer to acquire the company. Executives submitted the rejection, stating that the offer devalues the Yahoo brand, while also hinting to the fact that they would be open to a bigger offer. Expect one to made, as Microsoft is not willing to let up so easily. They have stated that they are still committed to the combination of the two companies. The Yahoo execs can reject all they want, but what it ultimately boils down to, is the shareholders. How much money will it take for them to give in?
Does Microsoft really want Yahoo? Cnet's Don Reisinger doesn't believe so. In his blog, he compares this proposed acquisition to the 1994-95 proposal that Microsoft made to acquire Intuit, the maker of Quicken. Back then, Intuit was giving Microsoft more competition than they could handle. Naturally, Microsoft made them an offer they couldn't refuse. As an anti-monopolistic precaution, the courts stepped in and put a stop to it. However, that was all Microsoft needed in order to perform due diligence, and have a look at Intuits internal books. A year later Microsoft gained the upper hand and pulled far enough away from Intuit, that they could never catch back up. Is Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Yahoo fueled by deceit? It seems far fetched, but I wouldn't put it past them.
I'm not quite sure how many nails it takes to seal a coffin, but it does seem like Count Dracula could sleep in the one built for HD DVD. Earlier this week, Netflix had announced that it is no longer going to be stocking new movies in the HD DVD format. A shame, considering Netflix was one of the few places you could still find HD DVDs, after Blockbuster already made the decision to side with Blu Ray. Meanwhile, Netflix has raised quite a stir with a recent survey that they released, asking consumers if they would be interested in streaming movies to an XBOX 360 or PS3. I know I would be pretty damn interested, but I have a feeling Microsoft and Sony wouldn't.
Anybody whom has ever attempted to transfer an even somewhat large file via bluetooth, knows that it can be a tedious and unreliable process. Things may change for you if you have an 802.11 card sitting next to that bluetooth antenna! The Bluetooth Special Interests Group (BSIG) has announced that bluetooth transfers will soon be able to piggy back off of the signal of wireless 802.11 technology, to achieve must faster and reliable data transfers. I always get a warm and fuzzy feeling when technologies come together and co-exist as one. Unfortunately, we shouldn't expect to see this new spec come to fruition until sometime in 2009.
In other wireless news, fanatics of over-priced coffee now have reason to rejoice. Starbucks has announced that they are switching their in-store wireless carriers from T-mobile to AT&T. What this means for Starbucks card members, is two free hours of wifi goodness, and $4 for an additional two hours. T-Mobile HotSpot customers are still allowed in on the action at no additional cost, through an agreement between T-Mobile and AT&T. With the recent innovations between Starbucks and Apple's iPhone, this was a partnership waiting to happen.
Did somebody mention Apple? The Cupertino based company kicked the week off by releasing a new and more refined version of their photo editing and management tool, Aperature. The following day, they updated OS X to version 10.5.2, which includes many security patches and bug fixes. Then, after being delayed by two weeks, we were blessed with the long awaited AppleTV updated. I will be digging my claws into it this weekend and will post a full review soon. Would Apple dare get back into gaming? After the disaster known as the Pippin, one would hope not! However, suspicions have arose after a trademark was patented by Apple, that sounded more like it came from Nintendo. While this can just be signs of what's to come for the iPhone once the software development kit is released later this month, it may also answer why Apple was looking to hire a game developer a while back.
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