Edgelings.com

Sanity Comes to Sarbanes

edgelings — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:21:43 +0000

In a fit of sanity this week, the House Financial Services committee voted to amend Sarbanes-Oxley, the regulation -- passed in the aftermath of the dot.com bust and Enron -- that was designed to stop corporate corruption . . .but instead crushed U.S. entrepreneurship for the rest of the decade. Without S-Ox, as it is called, the economy still would have crashed -- but we'd also be climbing out of it a whole lot more quickly. This week's vote was a good start, but it should be only the beginning. Commentary by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone.

Silicon Valley Music Start-Up Blows Up Bay Area

edgelings — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:56:23 +0000

After spending years as a tiny on-line CD trading service, Silicon Valley's LaLa Media decided to position itself right at the intersection between a music industry that has finally decided to accept the new business model demanded by music sharing, and a growing number of new hardware and Web 2.0 platforms that want to offer that shared music. The result is something odd bedfellows -- not least tiny Lala, whose entire staff fits into a tiny Palo Alto loft, and such giants as Google and Facebook. Commentary and video by NBC-KNTV tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman.

Orphans of the Storm

edgelings — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:48:34 +0000

There comes a moment to start believing that little voice inside you -- and when it comes to the U.S. economy, that moment has arrived. The stimulus accomplished little, most of the recent good economic news was a Cash for Clunkers bubble, and there's no way you can print and spend trillions of new dollars without runaway inflation. It's time to face reality and start making plans for how to survive the trainwreck in our near future. The good news is that technology is here to help. Commentary by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone.

Missing the Meat

edgelings — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:50:39 +0000

Things appear to be looking up in the tech world -- good news for Washington, which can't turn around this economy without major assistance from the nation's largest manufacturing sector. But what if this recovery in tech is just an illusion, a pretty wrapper on what is now, thanks to over-regulation and the Administration's anti-small business attitude, a hollow shell? Commentary by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone

A Sound Opportunity

edgelings — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:49:56 +0000

One of the great things about Silicon Valley is not only that you get a glimpse of the future thanks to the innovations of local companies -- but you also get to see the best that the rest of the world has to offer as it comes to the Valley looking for buyers. This week, even the most jaded Valley investors and companies were stunned to see a new Taiwanese audio speaker technology made from . . . paper. Dorm rooms will never again be the same. Commentary and a Qik video by NBC-KNTV tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor, Scott Budman.

A Cloudy Future

edgelings — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:55:49 +0000

If you were among the estimated one million users of the Microsoft/T-Mobile Sidekick smart phone, this week's massive data loss was a special kind of betrayal for which the subsequent recovery is only partial recompense. As for the rest of us, this story should serve as a warning to never again put our faith in a vast, distant data 'Cloud' -- and to start asking some tough questions of those who manage it. Commentary by Edgelings Editor-in-Chief Michael S. Malone [See also Scott Budman's blog and video on the same topic, below.]

Lost in the Clouds

edgelings — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:44:43 +0000

Who doesn't like clouds? They're soft and fluffy and harmless -- and far, far away. That is, until they suddenly unleash hail and lightning. The same is true for Computing Clouds, that hot new tech term for distant networks of computers that store all of the data that won't fit on your cellphone or wireless device. But, with the recent crash of the Cloud supporting the Microsoft/T-Mobile Sidekick smartphone -- and the loss of billions of bytes of user's private information -- all of the promises made for the safety and security of Computing Clouds have suddenly been placed in doubt. Commentary and video by KNTV-NBC tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman.

Real Estate.com

edgelings — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:45:34 +0000

High technology isn't just about the latest products and services from the coolest companies -- though that's what gets all of the attention. The real business of tech is the long slow grind of selling aging technology to budget-conscious companies in non-glamorous vertical markets . . .like real estate. There, great tech wars take place, as vicious as anything between Apple and Microsoft, unnoticed by the outside world. To get a glimpse of this other side of the digital revolution, in a business that may be more affected by this recession than any other, Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone spent a day at the California Association of Realtors Expo 2009 Convention.

Organizing Your Job Search

edgelings — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:33:29 +0000

Looking for a job these days is difficult enough. But even if you are clever (or desperate) enough to try all of those on-line job placement sites like Monster.com -- and the various on-line communities like Facebook -- how do you keep them all organized and up-to-date. Now a new Silicon Valley start-up is offering a free service to help you do just that. Report and video by KNTV-NBC tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman.

Under the Tech Radar

edgelings — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:55:18 +0000

You may be worried these days about making this month's mortgage check and keeping your job -- but in boardrooms of the nation's top high tech companies, they are already maneuvering to get the jump on the competition. What these world-class CEOs know is that bad times, not good, are when you win the war in business. Commentary by Edgelings Editor-in-Chief Michael S. Malone.

When Gamers Grow Up

edgelings — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:47:37 +0000

Remember those kids who used to hang around the video game arcade -- the losers, everyone was convinced, who would never amount to anything? Well, those slackers, along with the subsequent generation of kids who played Half-Life online instead of going to class, are now in the corporate world . . .and guess what? All of those worthless skills are turning out to be pretty valuable after all in a world of avatars and meetings in Second Life. Story and video by NBC-KNTV tech reporter and regular Edgelings.com contributor Scott Budman.

Thinking Humans, Intelligent Computers

edgelings — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:16:27 +0000

Intel Corporation's chief scientist this week made a public statement that seemed to suggest that computers that think like human beings might be just around the corner. That is hardly surprising: the torrid pace of technological change sure seems to suggest that miracle is both imminent and inevitable. But if that's the case, why are even our most powerful supercomputers still so damn dumb? Some thoughts (and human thinking) by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone.

Facebook Rules the World

edgelings — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:50:04 +0000

A year ago, industry observers were convinced that the social networking site Facebook had peaked. Like MySpace before it, Facebook seemed destined to slide into oblivion, victim of both bad management decisions and fickle young users. But this week, Facebook not only announced that it had reached an astounding 300 million users, but that for the first time it was profitable. Maybe it's time to start worrying . . . Commentary by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone.

Steve Jobs Takes the Stage

edgelings — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:23:51 +0000

Has any business leader ever held the world in such rapt attention as Apple's Steve Jobs? First, he was the hottest entrepreneur of his generation, then one of the biggest failures. Then, in a lateral move, he took over Pixar and led it Hollywood glory. But that was nothing compared to Jobs' triumphal return to Apple -- where, for the last decade, he has given the tech world one thrilling consumer product after another. A genius, a monster, and the perhaps the greatest product manager ever, Jobs has now, unwillingly, held the world's attention over the last few years as he's battle pancreatic cancer and its complications. And, in a life of legendary moments, perhaps none was bigger than Jobs' reappearance this week on stage at an Apple event. Scott Budman, KNTV-NBC tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor, reports (with video).

Off-to-School Time

edgelings — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:26:46 +0000

This is the time of year when millions of young Americans are heading off to college, many of them for the first time. And these days, that means equipping them with the technology they need to navigate the digital world for their classwork and their personal lives. The good news is that the hardware they need is cheaper and more poerful than ever. The bad news is that all of the networking services -- Internet, cellphone, smartcards -- they'll need will more than eat up all of the savings on equipment. A report from the front lines of new college kid parenthood by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone.

So . . .

edgelings — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:20:07 +0000

So . . .have you ever notice that when you're talking to a techie, especially someone from the dot.com world, that they punctuate almost every remark with the opening: "So . . ."? Scott Budman has. What began a decade ago as a kind of place-marker, a verbal tic that gave the speaker time to ponder how to phrase an arcane topic in a simple way, has now become a key component of Tech Speak, a punctuation mark in programmer patois. If you don't believe it, just listen. Commentary by NBC-KNTV tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman.

How About an Entrepreneurship Czar?

edgelings — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:01:54 +0000

As the U.S. economy slowly recovers from last year's recession, the two most likely scenarios for the future are grim: even if we escape a double-dip recession, we're still likely to face a long, painful and jobless recovery. Meanwhile, inside the Beltway, the White House and Congress seem more concerned with social engineering than restoring prosperity. So here's a modest proposal: as long as President Obama is creating 'Czars', why doesn't he name an Entrepreneurship Czar to protect America's crucial small businesses from the predations of his other Czars?

The Return of a Little Band from Liverpool

edgelings — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:23:22 +0000

With the entire electronic game industry slowing down, this might seem an unfortunate time to bring out "The Beatles: Rock Band." Sure, it will sell well . . .but you can't expect one game to save an entire industry. Or can you? This is the BEATLES we're talking about, after all, the little pop group that once turned the entire world upside down. Commentary by Edgelings editor-in-chief (and former rock music critic) Michael S. Malone.

Testing the Tesla

edgelings — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:34:59 +0000

The new Tesla electric roadster is one of the world's most desirable new cars. But cool as it is, is it truly the right wheels for the real world? KNTV-NBC high technology reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman makes the ultimate sacrifice and test drives the newest model for the rest of us . . .lucky dog. Commentary and video

The VW Economy

edgelings — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:18:04 +0000

With the stock market finally emerging from its doldrums, now is the time to look to the future of the U.S. economy. Are we really heading towards another era of prosperity . . .or are we going to sink back into yet another downturn? And if the latter, what shape will this second downturn take, and when can we hope to get out of it? Forbes Magazine publisher and regular Edgelings contributor Rich Karlgaard offers a novel, though downbeat, answer.

A Matter of Trust

edgelings — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:30:03 +0000

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the single most important commodity in the modern world is Trust. In a world where we get our news from bloggers and comedy shows, buy goods from Mozambique on eBay and depend upon pundits and 'experts' to guide us through the complexities of law, business and politics, almost everything now depends upon who what we believe and who we trust. So how come so many politicians and businesspeople fail to understand that? Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone had just such a trust-busting encounter with . . .Comcast.

G.I. Joe and Gaming’s Future

edgelings — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:15:03 +0000

Video game giant Electronic Arts is going all-out in support of its new comic/movie-based game, "G.I.Joe". The company has gone so far as to paint a giant Cobra head on the lawn that runs through its South San Francisco campus. It's fun for EA employees, but for the rest of us it is a glimpse of the new world of strategic partnerships between game designers, toy makers and Hollywood. Reporting and video by KNTV-NBC tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor, Scott Budman.

The Myth of Valley Wages

edgelings — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:49:56 +0000

The latest news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is that wages in Silicon Valley have enjoyed huge growth -- $35,000 per worker - over the last seven years. But a closer look suggests that rather than being good news, this and other BLS stats offer a troubling glimpse of America's most creative business community in dire straits. Commentary by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone.

Bollywood Beauty Tames Twitter

edgelings — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:26:34 +0000

Think of it as Bollywood 2.0. One of the most beautiful actresses in the Indian film world, Mallika, is proving that she is just as technologically hip as her Hollywood counterparts like Ashton Kutcher. And, in her recent visit -- a pilgrimage of sorts -- to Twitter, she also showed why it's good to be a high tech entrepreneur . . . Commentary and video (including outtakes) by NBC-KNTV tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman.

Highway 101 Becomes High Tech’s Madison Avenue

edgelings — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:23:26 +0000

With traditional advertising venues -- from mainstream publications to newspapers to trade magazines -- disappearing, high tech companies are going back to their roots: billboards. These days, to drive down Silicon Valley's Highway 101 from San Francisco to San Jose is to encounter a bewildering number of billboards rented by some of the world's biggest companies, speaking in obscure tech argot to the thousands of engineers gridlocked in cars below. Commentary and video by KNTV-NBC tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman.

Chasing the Sweet Spot

edgelings — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:51:09 +0000

It's supposed to be so easy: you just go down to the stereo/computer/electronics store and buy the coolest new products. But it's more complicated than that . . .as anybody who has owned an 'orphaned' device knows all too well. Suddenly that expensive PC or MP3 player or game platform turns into an expensive paperweight -- while all of your friends who played it safe in their purchases come out looking like winners. So, is the best strategy to stay away from leading edge? Maybe -- but fall too far behind and you'll be in even worse shape. Ain't technology fun?

Yahoo Shareholders: Holding Their Applause

edgelings — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:19:23 +0000

The reviews are in: Wall Street wasn't impressed by the Yahoo-Microsoft deal . . .and Yahoo shareholders are left asking: what will it take to see their stock, long in the doldrums, begin to regain even a hint of its old glory? KNTV/NBC tech reporter and regular Edgelings contributor Scott Budman thinks he has the the answer: a simple story.

Enter the Pros

edgelings — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:19:40 +0000

This week's announcement of deal between Yahoo! and Microsoft over licensing the new Bing search engine and sharing online salesforces may have come as a surprise. After all, didn't Microsoft storm away from the negotiating table months ago over Yahoo's resistance to a merger? Ah, but that was Yahoo under founder Jerry Yang -- these days Yahoo is run by tech veteran Carol Bartz. And therein lies a tale . . . Analysis by Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone in a piece that first appeared on Forbes.com.

Where Has Innovation Gone?

edgelings — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:09:22 +0000

It was while helping his local Silicon Valley museum create a timeline of the history of electronics that Edgelings editor-in-chief Michael S. Malone first noticed, behind all the explosion of new iPhone apps, computer games and other consumer products, that the pace of important tech innovation has been slowing for more than a decade. Worse, he realized, is that the few industries where vital innovation is still taking place are also the ones under assault by Washington. After a century of being the inventive nation on the planet, he asks, what happens when the United States looses its innovation?

Worlds Enough

edgelings — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:29:04 +0000

The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moonshot last week was not only a cause for celebration and nostalgia -- but also a reminder of time when American's were willing to take great risks for a shot at equally great accomplishments. These days, there is considerable doubt that Americans will ever again walk on another world. But it can still be done, says regular Edgelings contributor Charlie Martin: all it would take for a U.S. astronaut to plant a flag on Mars in the next decade would be one little -- but shocking -- deletion in the flight plan.