On Thursday, Microsoft set the wrong kind of record, as it reported the first year-over-year quarterly revenue decline since it first sold stock to the public in 1986. In its third quarter, which ended March 31, Microsoft said its revenue fell 6 percent, to $13.65 billion, from $14.45 billion. It reported net income of $2.98 billion, or 33 cents a share — a 32 percent drop from the $4.39 billion, or 47 cents a share, reported in the period last year….
Of course it’s not really a reflection on anything M$ is doing. It’s just that it’s so tied to the business PC market that it’s bound to be badly affected by the downturn. Nobody’s upgrading at the moment. And I guess lots of companies (and customers) are waiting for Windows 7.
Jon Stewart has uncovered evidence of a new disease that is sweeping through the ranks of senior members of the Bush administration. It’s called Ballsheimer’s Disease. The symptoms are acute memory loss concerning unpalatable facts, and superhuman levels of effrontery. A prominent victim is former Vice-President Dick Cheney who last week was observed campaigning for freedom of information and the publication of classified documents. There is currently no known cure for the condition, though neuroscientists claim that some patients have been helped by lobotomy.
Former President George W. Bush is reported to be setting up a FaceBook group to campaign for better treatment for Ballsheimer’s sufferers. Interviewed at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Mr Bush said that he would be setting up the group just as soon as he had located his Profile.
The significance of the iPhone – as regular readers know – lies in its operating system. It's really a powerful Unix computer that fits into the palm of your hand. That means it can run very sophisticated software – such as a browser that actually makes it feasible to read web pages and even books on a small screen. Add to this the fact that it is also permanently connected to the internet and you have what the rest of the industry is starting to recognise as a game changer.
Actually, the PC business is also beginning to wake up to the threat of the iPhone. How come? Well it turns out that iPhone users make less use of their laptops and desktop computers. The reason is obvious when you think about it: much of what we do on the net is pretty routine – checking email, accessing websites, Googling, accessing Facebook or Twitter. If you can do all that without booting up a computer, why bother?
The iPhone is also transforming the market for software…
A police officer has been given a written warning after he posted on his Facebook page that he was going to “bash” demonstrators at the G20 protests.
PC Rob Ward’s message was apparently published on the social networking website shortly after the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson. His status, timed at 8.17pm on April 1, read: “Can’t wait to bash some long haired hippys (sic) up @ the G20.” Twenty minutes later a reply was posted saying: “LMAO (laughing my a*** off) dats bad but good in da same way lol (laugh out loud).”
The policeman’s page has now been taken off Facebook.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “A PC from Enfield was today given a written warning under public conduct regulations.” She confirmed the officer would face no further disciplinary action.
Coincidentally, I saw this news report shortly after reading this blog post by someone I follow on Twitter:
I know two policemen well. They are both good guys and in my age group, I’m 48. One’s a traffic copper and the other works in the drug squad. Both hate their jobs. They have two complaints. The first is the familiar one of red tape and stupid laws obstructing their ability to do their work properly. The other, I feel, is directly related to the type of stories that are making it into the news this week.
The force, they tell me, has been infiltrated by people who are not really interested in our society and its well being. Instead, they like the pay and conditions, not to mention the generous pension arrangements. More disturbingly, they like power and actually seem to enjoy violence. They show little regard or respect for any member of society regardless of race or social class. They have a deep set ‘us and them’ attitude that is, in my opinion, both wrong and probably rather dangerous.
Take a look at the films of the police problems at the protests. Now mentally remove the uniforms (for those that were actually wearing any) and dress the guys in a football shirts or even hoodies. Get the picture?
And, while we’re on the subject, here’s an interesting YouTube video which illustrates current police attitudes towards being photographed or filmed:
