Tablet Sales Set To Explode

We still don't get the appeal, but somebody does. Some firm called eMarketer says that sales of tablet devices will exceed 80 million by 2012. That's a lot of tablets.

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/16/20101 comments

Non-Existent Microsoft Tablet Already Drawing Criticism

Sometimes, it just stinks to be Microsoft. Oh, sure, there are the billions in revenues, the embarrassingly dominant market share in huge sectors like operating systems and the picturesque surroundings of Greater Seattle around the company's headquarters.

Still, though, it's not easy being...whatever color Microsoft is. Maybe electric blue like its executives' dress shirts, as opposed to that navy IBM blue. But we digress. This week, rumors leaked that Microsoft will be introducing a tablet computer, a competitor to the iPad, at the Consumer Electronics Show next week.

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/15/20103 comments

A Great Big Patch Tuesday

You've seen it by now, but here's a friendly reminder in case you missed it: Microsoft offered 17 patches for a whopping 40 holes yesterday.

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/15/20100 comments

F5 Offers Cloud Storage

F5 Networks' new offering will let companies extend storage to clouds both public and private...and we really don't have anything clever to say about that. But it's interesting...

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/15/20100 comments

Paul Allen Loses in Court

The former Microsoft honcho's attempt to sue nearly the entire technology industry fell...just a bit short. Oh well. At least he still has the Seahawks. Ahem. And billions of dollars, we suppose. Still, the Seahawks... ouch.

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/13/20100 comments

Google, Microsoft Accidentally Distribute Malware

Oops! Nasty but nifty hackers tricked the tech giants into distributing "drive-by" malware. Drive-by? What is this, LA in 1989? Or do those things still happen? We're going to shut up about this now.

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/13/20100 comments

Windows Small Business Server 2011 Released to Manufacturers

'Tis the season for short RCPUs with news in short supply and your editor eat-up (as we'd say in Texas) with other projects. So, we're just dropping an entry in here to say that a major Microsoft product hit metal this week.

Wait, did someone say metal? (Oh, yeah. We just went full power ballad all over this entry. Careful clicking on that link, though -- it's nothing serious, but Bret Michaels has something of an aversion to shirts in this clip. He may be blond, but he is nevertheless hirsute.)

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/13/20100 comments

Microsoft Wins USDA Cloud Contract; Google Complains

Another day, another federal agency moving to the cloud. This time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture picked Microsoft's cloud e-mail offering in what turns out to be the largest government cloud deal ever. (That's a record soon to be broken, we imagine. Heads up, partners.)

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/09/20101 comments

Nathan Myrhvold Sues the Industry

What is it with these ex-Microsoft guys? Did they actually manage to blow all their cash? And on what, in Seattle -- rain parkas and lattes? Lumberjack equipment? Ironic t-shirts? Jake Locker for Heisman paraphernalia? Anyway, first Paul Allen sued most of the technology industry over patents and now former Microsoft CTO Nathan "Nasty Nate" (not really his nickname -- we just made it up) Myrhvold is doing pretty much the same thing.

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/09/20100 comments

Salesforce.com Buys Heroku

The thundering cloud vendor will expand its platform with the $212 million deal.

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/09/20100 comments

Salesforce.com Unleashes Cloud Database

Those marketing folks at Salesforce.com sure have a way with domain names. They've got Salesforce.com, of course, along with Force.com and now...Database.com.

Yes, Salesforce.com's new database service for the cloud is called Database.com. How brilliant is that? Your editor is on his way to squat on other domain names (is that still possible?) that Salesforce.com might someday want to use: NastyCommentsAboutMicrosoft.com, MarcBenioffsEgo.com, AcquiredByGoogle.com, DubiousCliams.com...

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/08/20100 comments

Microsoft Remains Uncool

Many are the times that we, in this space, have bemoaned Microsoft's embarrassing efforts to be cool. Finally, somebody in Chicago summed up in a relatively short article what we've been trying to say here for years.  

Posted by Lee Pender on 12/08/20102 comments