Monday, June 19, 2006
Toshiba Notebooks Got Game
Toshiba is making a move into the battlefield for notebooks fashionable among games players.
With its Satellite P100, button-down PC maker Toshiba is offering three laptops that will sport a souped-up graphics from Nvidia, among other features. The company is offering laptops with the GeForce Go 7900 GTX. The laptops presumably aim at the same market Dell's XPS line of games machines target.
These machines from Toshiba are chunky. The Satellite P100-ST9012, the P100-ST9412 and the P100-ST9612 have 17-inch displays, weigh in at just over 7 lbs and are 1.41-inches thick. Prices start at $2,000.
Can you say Google and coupons and Dell?
With its Satellite P100, button-down PC maker Toshiba is offering three laptops that will sport a souped-up graphics from Nvidia, among other features. The company is offering laptops with the GeForce Go 7900 GTX. The laptops presumably aim at the same market Dell's XPS line of games machines target.
These machines from Toshiba are chunky. The Satellite P100-ST9012, the P100-ST9412 and the P100-ST9612 have 17-inch displays, weigh in at just over 7 lbs and are 1.41-inches thick. Prices start at $2,000.
Can you say Google and coupons and Dell?
Circuit City Beats Estimates
Circuit City Stores on Monday reported a first-quarter profit that beat analyst expectations by 3 cents.
The electronics retailer reported for the quarter ending May 31 a profit that increased to $6.4 million, or $0.04 per share, from a loss of $13.1 million, or $0.07 per share, in the same period last year.
A survey of analysts from Thompson Financial had expected Circuit City to post a profit of a penny per share.
Net sales increased to $2.62 billion in the quarter from $2.23 billion in the same period last year. The company reported a 15 percent surge in domestic sales for the quarter compared with same-store figures for its first quarter last year.
"We believe that an improved in-store customer experience contributed to increases in average ticket and conversion rate," Circuit City CEO Philip J. Schoonover said. "Our multichannel marketing efforts drove improved traffic trends in all channels, and we saw an increase in Web-originated sales picked up in our stores."
Electronics retailer Best Buy posted results last week that blew past expectations.
The electronics retailer reported for the quarter ending May 31 a profit that increased to $6.4 million, or $0.04 per share, from a loss of $13.1 million, or $0.07 per share, in the same period last year.
A survey of analysts from Thompson Financial had expected Circuit City to post a profit of a penny per share.
Net sales increased to $2.62 billion in the quarter from $2.23 billion in the same period last year. The company reported a 15 percent surge in domestic sales for the quarter compared with same-store figures for its first quarter last year.
"We believe that an improved in-store customer experience contributed to increases in average ticket and conversion rate," Circuit City CEO Philip J. Schoonover said. "Our multichannel marketing efforts drove improved traffic trends in all channels, and we saw an increase in Web-originated sales picked up in our stores."
Electronics retailer Best Buy posted results last week that blew past expectations.
Vonage: Patent Suit. What's Next?
Verizon on Monday filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Internet phone service Vonage.
The suit comes after Vonage's IPO flop and shareholder suits.
Verizon's suit over voice over Internet Protocol technology involves seven patents. Vonage said it plans to have its intellectual property outside counsel investigate the matter.
"Vonage believes that its services have been developed with its own proprietary technology and technology licensed from third parties and intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit," the company said in a statement.
The suit comes after Vonage's IPO flop and shareholder suits.
Verizon's suit over voice over Internet Protocol technology involves seven patents. Vonage said it plans to have its intellectual property outside counsel investigate the matter.
"Vonage believes that its services have been developed with its own proprietary technology and technology licensed from third parties and intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit," the company said in a statement.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Best Buy Beats Street Solidly
Electronics megastore Best Buy on Tuesday reported that first-quarter net earnings rose 38 percent, blowing past analyst expectations.
Best Buy earned $234 million, or 47 cents per share, for the quarter that ended May 27. That compares with earnings of $170 million, or 34 cents per share, during the same period last year.
Analysts surveyed by Thompson Financial were expecting earning of 36 cents per share.
Wall Street applauded Best Buy's results, as shares rose $2.66, or 5.43 percent, to $51.69 by market close Tuesday.
A Commerce Department report said that while spending is somewhat slow that it continues to chug along and is still up, perhaps a factor feeding Best Buy stores. The report said the retail sales were up .1 percent compared with .8 percent.
Best Buy earned $234 million, or 47 cents per share, for the quarter that ended May 27. That compares with earnings of $170 million, or 34 cents per share, during the same period last year.
Analysts surveyed by Thompson Financial were expecting earning of 36 cents per share.
Wall Street applauded Best Buy's results, as shares rose $2.66, or 5.43 percent, to $51.69 by market close Tuesday.
A Commerce Department report said that while spending is somewhat slow that it continues to chug along and is still up, perhaps a factor feeding Best Buy stores. The report said the retail sales were up .1 percent compared with .8 percent.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Luxury Link(s) Up $9 Million
Luxuriating with a $9 million venture capital investment might come more naturally if you're Luxury Link.
That's because the online luxury travel company specializes in luxury vacation accomodations in hotels, resorts, cruises, tours and other options. It claims to offer tips for the "sophisticated" traveler. Translation: the wealthy traveler with money to burn.
San Francisco's Equity Partners and El Dorado Ventures made the investment on Wednesday.
The funding will be used for growth initiatives in customer acquisition, brand awareness, and expansion of consumer access to the more than 1,000 upscale hotels and resorts, cruises, tours and villas in over 60 countries it offers on its Web site.
That's because the online luxury travel company specializes in luxury vacation accomodations in hotels, resorts, cruises, tours and other options. It claims to offer tips for the "sophisticated" traveler. Translation: the wealthy traveler with money to burn.
San Francisco's Equity Partners and El Dorado Ventures made the investment on Wednesday.
The funding will be used for growth initiatives in customer acquisition, brand awareness, and expansion of consumer access to the more than 1,000 upscale hotels and resorts, cruises, tours and villas in over 60 countries it offers on its Web site.
LoopNet IPO Blasts off in Trading Debut
While the real estate market is in pull-back mode, who says Internet real estate LoopNet site should be? The newly public company's shares surged nearly 27 percent in its opening Wednesday.
LoopNet priced at $12 per share and was at $15.23 in midday trading. The IPO will give the real estate site $42.1 million in net proceeds.
Credit Suisse Securities managed the offering, and Thomas Weisel Partners, Pacific Crest Securities Inc. and Pacific Growth Equities were the co-managers.
Interest in online real estate sites has remained steady. ZipRealty went public in 2004 but has traded lower ever since. Last week, investors backed by Paul Allen took a stake in Redfin.
LoopNet priced at $12 per share and was at $15.23 in midday trading. The IPO will give the real estate site $42.1 million in net proceeds.
Credit Suisse Securities managed the offering, and Thomas Weisel Partners, Pacific Crest Securities Inc. and Pacific Growth Equities were the co-managers.
Interest in online real estate sites has remained steady. ZipRealty went public in 2004 but has traded lower ever since. Last week, investors backed by Paul Allen took a stake in Redfin.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Yahoo Grabs 10 Percent Stake in Korea's Gmarket
Yahoo has planted another flag overseas: It's staked Korea's online retailer Gmarket.
"We look forward to working with Gmarket to leverage their e-commerce expertise to further expand Yahoo's leading position in commerce in Asia," Yahoo Chief Operating Officer Dan Rosensweig said Tuesday in a statement.
Yahoo agreed to acquire a 10 percent stake in the company from Oak Investment Partners, which manages $8.4 billion in assets. Oak Investment Partners, the No. 2 Gmarket investor, holds 29 percent of the company, according to reports.
Interest among U.S. companies continues to be high for the prospects in the Asia region.
Yahoo took a multibillion-dollar stake in China's Alibaba.com in what has been called the largest foreign Internet investment to date taken by a U.S. company. Google has a piece of search giant Baidu.com and eBay has made moves into the region's e-commerce through several acquisitions.
IPO in the Offing?
However, it gets better. The investment comes right after Gmarket applied for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq worth up to $100 million, according to a Reuters report.
Gmarket has been eyeing a run at the Nasdaq for some time, according to China's business paper The Standard. The market in Korea has been receptive to consumer-focused IPOs, as other companies have positioned to go public there as well.
Financial terms of Yahoo's stake in Gmarket were not disclosed.
"We look forward to working with Gmarket to leverage their e-commerce expertise to further expand Yahoo's leading position in commerce in Asia," Yahoo Chief Operating Officer Dan Rosensweig said Tuesday in a statement.
Yahoo agreed to acquire a 10 percent stake in the company from Oak Investment Partners, which manages $8.4 billion in assets. Oak Investment Partners, the No. 2 Gmarket investor, holds 29 percent of the company, according to reports.
Interest among U.S. companies continues to be high for the prospects in the Asia region.
Yahoo took a multibillion-dollar stake in China's Alibaba.com in what has been called the largest foreign Internet investment to date taken by a U.S. company. Google has a piece of search giant Baidu.com and eBay has made moves into the region's e-commerce through several acquisitions.
IPO in the Offing?
However, it gets better. The investment comes right after Gmarket applied for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq worth up to $100 million, according to a Reuters report.
Gmarket has been eyeing a run at the Nasdaq for some time, according to China's business paper The Standard. The market in Korea has been receptive to consumer-focused IPOs, as other companies have positioned to go public there as well.
Financial terms of Yahoo's stake in Gmarket were not disclosed.
Unable to Delete MySpace, Member Resorts to Posting Porn
Consumerist's blogger Ben Popken only wanted to delete his MySpace account.
But apparently three weeks into the ordeal, he still hadn't gotten instructions from MySpace. That's when he took matters into his own hands.
"Myspace is a Loser, So We're Resorting to Porn," Popken writes, describing what he did. (Credit for this item: Valleywag.) He posted the following:
"So we’ve just replaced our MySpace profile photo with shemale porn.
We’re also uploading a lesbian strapon movie ... It’s 4:27pm EST, let’s see how long it takes for our profile [NSFW] to finally get deleted."
Both MySpace and YouTube have pledged to keep their sites cleansed of porn, as both attract a young audience.
When I checked at 7:30 p.m. PT, his account was off like Jenna Jamerson's panties. I guess it worked.
But apparently three weeks into the ordeal, he still hadn't gotten instructions from MySpace. That's when he took matters into his own hands.
"Myspace is a Loser, So We're Resorting to Porn," Popken writes, describing what he did. (Credit for this item: Valleywag.) He posted the following:
"So we’ve just replaced our MySpace profile photo with shemale porn.
We’re also uploading a lesbian strapon movie ... It’s 4:27pm EST, let’s see how long it takes for our profile [NSFW] to finally get deleted."
Both MySpace and YouTube have pledged to keep their sites cleansed of porn, as both attract a young audience.
When I checked at 7:30 p.m. PT, his account was off like Jenna Jamerson's panties. I guess it worked.
Nvidia Touts Chip Design for Intel Mobile Set
Nvidia is thinking small: It wants to be the graphics processor used inside devices running Windows Mobile 5.0.
On Tuesday, it announced design references to work with Intel's XScale mobile chip. Intel and Nvidia recently announced an alliance pairing Nvidia's graphics technology with Intel's third-generation mobile XScale processor family, code-named Monahans, to enhance applications on mobile devices.
"Next-generation devices based on the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system will have specific demands, both for application processing as well as the acceleration of the multimedia content within those applications," said a statement from Barry Evans, general manager of Intel's Applications ProcessorBusiness Unit.
Microsoft's Window Mobile 5.0 is quickly taking over across smart phones as a popular choice. Palm has even conceded to Window Mobile 5.0's demand and offered the OS as an option, making it available on its Treo 700w.
On Tuesday, it announced design references to work with Intel's XScale mobile chip. Intel and Nvidia recently announced an alliance pairing Nvidia's graphics technology with Intel's third-generation mobile XScale processor family, code-named Monahans, to enhance applications on mobile devices.
"Next-generation devices based on the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system will have specific demands, both for application processing as well as the acceleration of the multimedia content within those applications," said a statement from Barry Evans, general manager of Intel's Applications ProcessorBusiness Unit.
Microsoft's Window Mobile 5.0 is quickly taking over across smart phones as a popular choice. Palm has even conceded to Window Mobile 5.0's demand and offered the OS as an option, making it available on its Treo 700w.
Biotech's Sequenom Hauls in $33 Million
Genetics anlysis developer Sequenom is getting a $33 Million cash infusion.
Investors include Pequot Private Equity Fund, ComVest Investment Partners, Lehman Brothers affiliate LB I Group and SiemensVenture Capital GmbH.
Net proceeds from the investment will be used for working capital and implementation of new management strategies to expand the company's products. Among other efforts, it plans to push ahead with work in the area of noninvasive prenatal diagnostics.
Investors include Pequot Private Equity Fund, ComVest Investment Partners, Lehman Brothers affiliate LB I Group and SiemensVenture Capital GmbH.
Net proceeds from the investment will be used for working capital and implementation of new management strategies to expand the company's products. Among other efforts, it plans to push ahead with work in the area of noninvasive prenatal diagnostics.
Microsoft on a Qwest to Push Windows Live
Qwest on Tuesday agreed to offer co-branded Windows Live services, Microsoft announced.
The software maker says the Internet service provider is the first to announce plans to offer such a service in the Unite States.
The two companies said in a statement that they plan to develop new and improved integrated communications and personalized services on the new Windows Live product.
This means, under Microsoft's much-trumped Windows Live OneCare, customers who operate Windows XP on their computers will get automated anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall security features, as well as updates that are supposed to keep their computers secure, along with a bunch of other services that work along with Qwest's.
The cost of the co-branded service was not provided. When it was debuted last month the cost for OneCare was pegged at $49.95 a year for use on up to three computers.
Many discussed whether Microsoft's support service could at that cost be profitable. Blogger Valleywag had some analyis on OneCare:
"In a fit of business brilliance, Microsoft launched a paid PC care service, thus profiting from the shittiness of its own products."
The software maker says the Internet service provider is the first to announce plans to offer such a service in the Unite States.
The two companies said in a statement that they plan to develop new and improved integrated communications and personalized services on the new Windows Live product.
This means, under Microsoft's much-trumped Windows Live OneCare, customers who operate Windows XP on their computers will get automated anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall security features, as well as updates that are supposed to keep their computers secure, along with a bunch of other services that work along with Qwest's.
The cost of the co-branded service was not provided. When it was debuted last month the cost for OneCare was pegged at $49.95 a year for use on up to three computers.
Many discussed whether Microsoft's support service could at that cost be profitable. Blogger Valleywag had some analyis on OneCare:
"In a fit of business brilliance, Microsoft launched a paid PC care service, thus profiting from the shittiness of its own products."
Monday, June 05, 2006
New Entrant in Digital Camera SLR Market
Picture this: A major consumer electronics maker busts a move on the market for digital single lens reflex cameras, or D-SLRs.
And it's not Apple.
Consumer electronics icon Sony on Monday introduced the alpha DSLR-A100, which offers a 10.2 megapixel sensor.
"Our system will be attractive to people who are ready for something beyond what's available in D-SLR cameras today," said a statement from James Neal, director of marketing for digital imaging products at Sony Electronics.
Canon and Nikon are ahead of the pack in the market for higher-end consumer digital SLR cameras. Canon has lead the way in excellent quality pro-sumer, or professional-consumer grade, cameras that have reached a price that more people can afford.
While Sony is a formidable opponent in consumer electronics, its star has slightly faded in recent years next to that of Apple's product parade.
So where's Apple in this picture?
And it's not Apple.
Consumer electronics icon Sony on Monday introduced the alpha DSLR-A100, which offers a 10.2 megapixel sensor.
"Our system will be attractive to people who are ready for something beyond what's available in D-SLR cameras today," said a statement from James Neal, director of marketing for digital imaging products at Sony Electronics.
Canon and Nikon are ahead of the pack in the market for higher-end consumer digital SLR cameras. Canon has lead the way in excellent quality pro-sumer, or professional-consumer grade, cameras that have reached a price that more people can afford.
While Sony is a formidable opponent in consumer electronics, its star has slightly faded in recent years next to that of Apple's product parade.
So where's Apple in this picture?
Viator Guides in $4 Million
Online travel advice site Viator has guided in $4 million of venture capital.
Viator, which offer tips on tours and other travel activities, got the funding from its current investors Carlyle Venture Partners, an arm of The Carlyle Group, based in Washington, D.C., and Sydney-based TechnologyVenture Partners. The round on Wednesday comes after $6 million raised from the same group of investors in November 2005.
Viator states that its company verifies the quality of the destinations it recommends and routinely reviews activities.
Viator, which offer tips on tours and other travel activities, got the funding from its current investors Carlyle Venture Partners, an arm of The Carlyle Group, based in Washington, D.C., and Sydney-based TechnologyVenture Partners. The round on Wednesday comes after $6 million raised from the same group of investors in November 2005.
Viator states that its company verifies the quality of the destinations it recommends and routinely reviews activities.
Bluefly Soars
Online clothing retailer Bluefly got a little wind behind its wings today.
Shares in Bluefly shot up from 74 cents to 90 cents, or 21 percent, after investors agreed to purchase $50 million of newly issued common stock in the company.
Private funds associated with Maverick Capital and another source in connection with Prentice Capital Management agreed to invest in the publicly traded company.
Under the deal, private funds associated with Soros Fund Management, Bluefly's largest stockholder, agreed to convert their preferred stock into common stock. Bluefly will keep $25 million in the financial arrangement that will allow it to grow its business. The remaining $25 million will be used to repay debt to the Soros funds and other obligations.
Shares in Bluefly shot up from 74 cents to 90 cents, or 21 percent, after investors agreed to purchase $50 million of newly issued common stock in the company.
Private funds associated with Maverick Capital and another source in connection with Prentice Capital Management agreed to invest in the publicly traded company.
Under the deal, private funds associated with Soros Fund Management, Bluefly's largest stockholder, agreed to convert their preferred stock into common stock. Bluefly will keep $25 million in the financial arrangement that will allow it to grow its business. The remaining $25 million will be used to repay debt to the Soros funds and other obligations.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Tesla's Electric Sports Car Revs Up Big Names in $40 Million Round
Tesla's electric sports car is turning heads already.
Though the car hasn't yet launched, it's attracted the attention of some big names in its latest $40 million round. Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who invested by way of partnership Tao, are among those interested. Perhaps it offers a little more sex appeal than a Prius.
VantagePoint Venture Partners, one of the leaders in so-called CleanTech investments in Silicon Valley, lead the investment. Other notable investors are PayPal founder Elon Musk and institutional investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and JP Morgan Bay Area Equity Fund.
Tesla will use the funding to unleash the company's first beast: a high-performance electric sports car.
Though the car hasn't yet launched, it's attracted the attention of some big names in its latest $40 million round. Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who invested by way of partnership Tao, are among those interested. Perhaps it offers a little more sex appeal than a Prius.
VantagePoint Venture Partners, one of the leaders in so-called CleanTech investments in Silicon Valley, lead the investment. Other notable investors are PayPal founder Elon Musk and institutional investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and JP Morgan Bay Area Equity Fund.
Tesla will use the funding to unleash the company's first beast: a high-performance electric sports car.
Vulcan Takes Stake in Redfin's $8 Million Round
Paul Allen is fishing for Redfin.
Paul Allen's Vulcan Capital was the lead investor in a group that plunked down $8 million last week on Internet real estate broker Redfin. BEV Capital, The Hillman Company and The Madrona Venture Group also took part in the investment.
Seattle-based Redfin returns satellite maps to people's search queries and touts its online real estate brokerage as a tool to buy and sell homes with lower costs than the high costs paid to brokers. It has expanded its service from Seattle into the San Francisco Bay Area market.
Paul Allen's Vulcan Capital was the lead investor in a group that plunked down $8 million last week on Internet real estate broker Redfin. BEV Capital, The Hillman Company and The Madrona Venture Group also took part in the investment.
Seattle-based Redfin returns satellite maps to people's search queries and touts its online real estate brokerage as a tool to buy and sell homes with lower costs than the high costs paid to brokers. It has expanded its service from Seattle into the San Francisco Bay Area market.
Report: Hatteras Hauls in $21 Million
Hatteras Networks, a Research Triangle, N.C., telecommunications company, has raised $21 million in its latest investment round.
The investment puts Hatteras' total funding at $89 million, according to the report in The News & Observer.
Hatteras makes technology that allows phone companies to use traditional copper wire to send high-speed data .
The investment puts Hatteras' total funding at $89 million, according to the report in The News & Observer.
Hatteras makes technology that allows phone companies to use traditional copper wire to send high-speed data .
The Venture Forum Packs Bags for Silicon Valley
The Venture Forum, an event to connect early stage innovators with funding sources, has announced that it has changed its venue from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley.
The show this month will be held in San Jose on June 28-29. The event is a meeting ground for biotech, pharmaceutical and tech startups to rub elbows with private investors, government agencies and mergers and acquisitions specialists.
"The venture capital funding stream has begun to flow again, so we felt the timing was right to move The Venture Forum from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley, the epicenter of innovation,'' said Larta Institute founder Rohit Shukla. Larta is a Venture Forum sponsor.
The Venture Forum promises a window into the breeding ground of innovation. The event will "offer seed and startup capital investors a glimpse into the future of every major technology sector, from nanotechnology to the Internet,'' Shukla said.
The show this month will be held in San Jose on June 28-29. The event is a meeting ground for biotech, pharmaceutical and tech startups to rub elbows with private investors, government agencies and mergers and acquisitions specialists.
"The venture capital funding stream has begun to flow again, so we felt the timing was right to move The Venture Forum from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley, the epicenter of innovation,'' said Larta Institute founder Rohit Shukla. Larta is a Venture Forum sponsor.
The Venture Forum promises a window into the breeding ground of innovation. The event will "offer seed and startup capital investors a glimpse into the future of every major technology sector, from nanotechnology to the Internet,'' Shukla said.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Apple MacBook Reviews: Pogue Pummels CNET Reviews
I used to find certain online video reviews of products pretty helpful to get a close up look at cell phones, laptops, cameras or whatever.
The ratings were even helpful. Somewhat. I mean here's the thing: If it happened to be a glowing review and a high number -- 9.0 and up -- I took it with a grain of salt, feeling that the reviewer could be just one evolutionary step up from a teenager working at Best Buy. But if the review was negative, pointed out valid flaws and gave a low score, I felt it could be trusted. The concern for the glowing review was that the "expert" had missed something.
I haven't been paying enough attention to these reviews lately. But I just stumbled across what looks like a fairly newish effort at The New York Times to do video reviews of a laptop, a DVR and a Treo. I have to say that I'm impressed.
Video reviews at CNET's First Look labs approach thing used to be it, as far as I was concerned. (Remembering to take the above caution about glowing reviews.) They were a little geeky and dry but informative. The testing-lab thing felt edgy and ahead of the pack. But now?
That's all changed. I just watched The New York Times' video reviews and they make CNET's look dated. Like This Is Tech 1998. Yet trying to still be cool. Whereas David Pogue of NYT is cool. He really gets it, and in part because he's a tech reporter. It doesn't hurt that he's funny and bright, which I would never know from the "labs" reports.Also, the video production of NYT's has a certain YouTube home entertainment quality. It seems spontaneous, yet smart and knowledgeable. It's delightfully creative and funny. I'm also not big on being held captive to watch a Best Buy ad before I get to see the video review, CNET.
Here's what I think it all means: Tech news and information has become a commodity. The mystery of figuring it out is gone. CNET's advantage of being more tech savvy is no longer there. Big MSM is doing it better now and has resources and better reporters. Has the day come when "the expert" tech publishers have become irrelevant?
Tell me what you think.
The ratings were even helpful. Somewhat. I mean here's the thing: If it happened to be a glowing review and a high number -- 9.0 and up -- I took it with a grain of salt, feeling that the reviewer could be just one evolutionary step up from a teenager working at Best Buy. But if the review was negative, pointed out valid flaws and gave a low score, I felt it could be trusted. The concern for the glowing review was that the "expert" had missed something.
I haven't been paying enough attention to these reviews lately. But I just stumbled across what looks like a fairly newish effort at The New York Times to do video reviews of a laptop, a DVR and a Treo. I have to say that I'm impressed.
Video reviews at CNET's First Look labs approach thing used to be it, as far as I was concerned. (Remembering to take the above caution about glowing reviews.) They were a little geeky and dry but informative. The testing-lab thing felt edgy and ahead of the pack. But now?
That's all changed. I just watched The New York Times' video reviews and they make CNET's look dated. Like This Is Tech 1998. Yet trying to still be cool. Whereas David Pogue of NYT is cool. He really gets it, and in part because he's a tech reporter. It doesn't hurt that he's funny and bright, which I would never know from the "labs" reports.Also, the video production of NYT's has a certain YouTube home entertainment quality. It seems spontaneous, yet smart and knowledgeable. It's delightfully creative and funny. I'm also not big on being held captive to watch a Best Buy ad before I get to see the video review, CNET.
Here's what I think it all means: Tech news and information has become a commodity. The mystery of figuring it out is gone. CNET's advantage of being more tech savvy is no longer there. Big MSM is doing it better now and has resources and better reporters. Has the day come when "the expert" tech publishers have become irrelevant?
Tell me what you think.
