Ultimate Electronics Battles Best Buy with Better Customer Service
West coast chain Ultimate Electronics has begun to expand east, leveraging a customer service-centric model to compete with Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.
Technology
Apple Wants to Own Software Publishing for iPhones and iPads
Apple's app store has effectively made it the single publisher of software for iOS devices, and a series of patent applications suggest that it will expand its reach.
Oracle Google Suit Could Kill Android and Threaten Open Source
Oracle sued Google over Java in Android. It's trouble for the mobile operating system and a cold dose of reality for all who use open source software.
Demand Media Backlash Highlights the Dangers of Pre-IPO Spin
Demand Media's IPO shows that the company has never seen a profit. That's in sharp contrast to previous statements by the CEO. Bad spin returns to bite.
Cisco Earnings Highlight Weakness of Economic Recovery. Thankfully.
Wall Street reacted negatively to Cisco revenues missing analysts' predictions. But the news is actually a good thing, whether you're an investor or a business executive. If you have to make decisions, it's best to have some realistic data, not wishful thinking.
Scandal May Have Been an Excuse for HP to Dismiss Mark Hurd
HP's board dismissed CEO Mark Hurd for irregularities in expense reports, and supposedly not sexual harassment charges. However, look at financial metrics and employee morale and the entire story seems like an excuse for the board to exert control it should have previously used.
Why Facebook Unfriended Google and Verizon on Net Neutrality
Facebook has come out against the Google and Verizon joint broadband proposal because the document would specifically omit wireless from net neutrality. That would be bad for Facebook, which has 100 million mobile users that like to see video links.
NetFlix Big Bet On Streaming Video Will Succeed
Netflix expensive new content deal with Epix will hurt its stock in the short term. But in the long run, it will help to establish the company as the number one player in the emerging market of streaming video. Netflix will be able offer subscribers more than competitors like Hulu, without having to take on the studios and networks for new releases.
Google's Acquisitions Are No Substitute for Effective Innovation
Google has a passive approach to building its business. That may feel good in laid-back California, but its a bad strategy that has limited the company -- as evidenced by Google's inability to create lucrative businesses beyond its core advertising product.
How Free Wi-Fi Will Help Sam's Club Sell More Tech Gadgets
Sam's Club has announced an unprecedented deal with AT&T (ATT) to provide free Wi-Fi in all its Sam's Club stores. It is a strategy that CostCo, Target (TGT), and other competitors will have to embrace.
What Apple Should Learn from Richard Nixon
As Apple has evolved into a mainstream consumer brand, it has failed to understand that its secretive and spin-heavy approach to marketing is poorly suited to the new environment. Apple still aims at the elites, but former President Richard Nixon understood that elites aren't the people who shape destiny.
Google and Verizon Want To Emasculate the FCC
Although Google and Verizon try to appeal to consumers and business with words like "open," they really want a broadband structure to push the FCC out of the way.
The HP CEO Scandal: The HP Board Was Engulfed in Fear
HP may have done the right thing in firing Mark Hurd, but it did so based on fear, and that is a big part of what is wrong at HP.
Blockbuster's DVD Deal with Comcast: Desperation and Doomed Technology
In financial trouble and lead by heavily-criticized CEO Jim Keyes, Blockbuster (BBI) has made a deal with Comcast to offer digital customers discounts on its DVDs-By-Mail program. Making a physical deal with a digital medium company, especially while getting hit by both Netflix (NFLX) and Redbox, ...
Skype's IPO Is a Better Bet than Demand Media
Skype's business basics look stronger than Demand Media's, so the company was able to get more immediate acceptance for pro forma numbers.
Exclusive
Newly obtained footage shows Iran attack on major U.S. post in Kuwait
Maduro expected to face new charges of torture of Americans in Venezuelan prisons
Christa Pike has pneumonia, unable to move arms after botched execution
Tropical Storm Isaias forms in Gulf, could reach U.S. as hurricane this weekend
Live
Vance appears to soften U.S. demands on Iranian nuclear enrichment
Investigation
Congress tried to stop surprise medical bills. It created another problem.
Trump pitches Trump International Golf Course for site of "presidential retreat"
Alleged Chinese agent to remain in custody, judge rules, amid flight-risk fears
