Is Microsoft likely to find success with the launch of the Surface Windows 8 tablet? June 19, 2012 YES Steve Dinneen Can Microsoft’s new tablet beat the iPad? No. Apple’s category- defining product had a US tablet market share of around 73 per cent last year and it shows no sign of slowing. But Microsoft’s offering can still be a success – the market for tablets is growing exponentially (by 91.7 per cent [...]
RAPID responses June 19, 2012 Marital business [Re: Selling off unproductive assets is liberating music to a capitalist’s ears, yesterday] Anthony Evans says he has merged his CD collection with his wife’s, and she has made unofficial assurances that the new entity now belongs to him. I’m afraid his wife now sees the entire collection as a problem. After a [...]
Market report: FTSE benefits from caffeine hit as inflation falls June 19, 2012 Coffee and a promise to safeguard the Eurozone from further contagion pushed the FTSE up 0.4 per cent in early trading this morning. As a result London’s blue chip index broke through the 5,500 level – a technical level seen as key for spurring further buying. Last night European leaders at the G20 summit in [...]
Microsoft introduces tablet computer range to take on iPad June 19, 2012 Microsoft signalled a significant change in strategy last night by announcing its own range of tablet computers to take on Apple’s iPad. The firm, which has traditionally eschewed the hardware business in favour of licensing software to the third-party manufacturers, said it will launch a range of tablets under the “Surface” brand. The range includes [...]
Microsoft reveals its new Surface tablet in bid to challenge Apple June 18, 2012 MICROSOFT last night drew back the curtains on Microsoft Surface, its first, long-awaited tablet as it looks to step up competition with Apple’s iPad. At a private event held at Milkwood Studios in Hollywood yesterday evening, the technology giant showed off two versions of the Windows-powered Surface device, a thinner 9.3mm model for the Windows [...]
US tech stock rally stymied by debt fears June 18, 2012 THE Nasdaq advanced yesterday, propelled by a rally in Apple and other big-cap tech stocks, but fears Europe’s debt crisis is in danger of worsening limited broader gains. Positive analyst comments lifted both eBay, up 4.5 per cent to $42.49, and Groupon, up 10.8 per cent at $11.15. Apple accounted for about half the Nasdaq’s [...]
RUN FOR A REASON June 18, 2012 JAMES FATTAL, 25 MEDIA AND COMMS WORKER WHAT’S my max? The physiologist came through the door with news: “Your VO2 Max is 49”, he said, looking down at a clipboard. I studied his face for clues, something that would get me through the next few minutes, at which point I could go to the toilet [...]
FTSE down as rally fizzles out June 18, 2012 The FTSE enjoyed a brief rally this morning – but all the gains were wiped out by 9.30am. The index had opened up 1.3 per cent, driven by strong performance from banks and commodity stocks as investors welcomed the result of Sunday’s Greek election. A narrow victory by pro-bailout parties over radical leftists had eased [...]
Microsoft remains coy ahead of expected launch of new tablet June 17, 2012 MICROSOFT is widely expected to unveil a tablet device today after inviting media to a “major” announcement. The tech giant refused to give further details, except to say: “you will not want to miss it.” The secretive invitation is possibly an attempt to emulate Apple-style excitement around the launch of a new product. Sources close [...]
More woe at Nokia as stock falls on plan to cut one in five jobs June 14, 2012 LOSS-MAKING Finnish mobile phone producer Nokia plans to cut another 10,000 jobs globally in its biggest revamp in recent history, it announced yesterday, while warning that the second-quarter loss from its mobile phone business would be larger than expected. The cuts, which include the closure of Nokia’s only plant in Finland, bring total planned job [...]