Roundup: The Jobs saga continues, Circuit City razed, Hulu apologizes and more
Here’s the latest action:
The Steve Jobs saga continues — Talk about the Apple chief executive and his health issues remain everywhere you look. Newsweek columnist Dan Lyons says the media’s coverage of Apple “bites.” As you might expect after their heated exchange the other day, Lyons focuses on CNBC’s Jim Goldman. Meanwhile, the blog which Goldman criticized for its reporting on Jobs’ failing health initially, Gizmodo, featured a profanity-laced post from its editorial director, Brian Lam,… Continue Reading
Microsoft Office makes bold leap into online services … with Circuit City?
Microsoft has just revealed the details of its online office and security offering, Equipt (previously code-named Albany), which will bundle together Microsoft Office, security service Windows Live OneCare and other products for a $69.99 annual subscription.
Product Manager Bryson Gordon told the IDG News Service that Equipt isn’t really meant to be a competitor to Google Docs and other free or low-cost office products. Instead, he said, it’s a way to convince people who are buying… Continue Reading
Blockbuster returns bid for Circuit City to the crazy store, just misses late fee
Blockbuster today issued a one paragraph statement to announce it was withdrawing its proposal to purchase electronic retailer Circuit City. This is the way a takeover bid ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Citing “market conditions,” Blockbuster determined it wasn’t in its best interest to purchase the struggling chain. Those market conditions likely being that both companies stocks are in the tank.
When Blockbuster made its initial bid in April, Circuit City’s stock was… Continue Reading
Blockbuster: Perpetually on the cusp of digital distribution
While nearly everyone and their mother is getting in to the digital movie distribution business, one name still notably absent is Blockbuster. Despite being nearly synonymous with movie rentals for the past twenty years, and buying the digital download service Movielink last year, Blockbuster still has not been able to get its act together in the digital world.
Today, at its annual shareholder meeting, the company showed off yet another direction it is attempting to take… Continue Reading
Blockbuster wants Circuit City: Sinking boat wants more water
Blockbuster was once a name synonymous with movie rentals. Then Netflix, the online DVD mailing service, came along and stole some of that luster. Recently, as the transition to digital distribution for home movie rentals/purchases has begun, Blockbuster has seemed almost comically behind. That reputation could get worse with the company’s offer today to buy number two electronics retailer Circuit City.
The $6 to $8 a share dollar cash offer, which could be worth as much… Continue Reading
Roundup: Cleantech gets record investments, Google opens enterprise market and more
Here’s the latest action:
Cleantech investments laugh in the face of recession — Everyone knows the economy is in the dumps, right? (Heck, it even says so in The New York Times.) Well, no one told the VCs putting their money in cleantech. The Cleantech Group reports that cleantech investment reached a record high of $1.25 billion during the first quarter of 2008, with $195 million going to biofuels and $119 million going to solar. It… Continue Reading