The latest update to Mozilla's Firefox browser is expected to be released between now and Friday.
The update (to version 2.0.0.12) will include an important security update.
If you are not automatically updated, select 'help', then 'check for upgrades', or visit http://www.mozilla.com/en-US at the end of this week.
In other Firefox news, the next generation of Firefox (3.0) is in 'code freeze' on the third Beta.
Beta 2 was a very significant improvement over the first release and we could see Beta 3 soon.
Update Feb 7, 2008 - 9 PM EST: The Firefox update is now online and can be obtained by following the instructions above.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
More surprise takeover bids on the way !
Nobody likes to use the 'R' word. The fact is, if you don't use it soon enough, you could be dealing with the 'D' word. Election year or not.
The Fed cut (significantly). The 'not enough' economic stimulus package is still stuck, and unemployment numbers are moving up. Margins are tightening and major companies are beginning to shed middle management salaries. The latest round at Time-Warner being reported by AdAge.
Not gloom and doom (yet). Just time to look at history and do something.
The US economy (in my humble view) has been, and is, in recession. The markets are recognizing it, and as I write this, Japan's Nikkei is sharply down on "US recession fears".
What's next?
During the Microsoft / Yahoo 'headline parade' this past week, others (notably AOL) were making acquisitions. There's a very good chance, that Private Equity is about to move into this market.
I'm betting on more acquisitions in very short order. Most will be complete surprises. Nervous markets or not.
Why?
(1) Market caps of some great companies have tanked as have their stock prices.
(2) Private Equity has no place to put their money. T-Bills? They're better off taking some small (or big) chances right now, and they know it. Funds and ETF's have a few investors looking for action. Public companies will be looking hard at acquisitions over the next few days as well.
(3) The world was watching Super Tuesday as evidenced by those commenting on the Twitter / Google map (see previous post) yesterday. No clear direction for America on Super Tuesday (and the primaries could very well be decided right here in Pennsylvania in April!).
The markets are very nervous and could sink further from here. Not a time for the small investor. M & A - You bet.
The week to watch is ahead. As company valuations and stock prices continue to tumble, you can bet there will be a host of acquisition announcements, big and small.
Do I know what I'm talking about? We'll find out :)
The good news. You may be able to say 'fill it up' again soon.
Update: Bloomberg is reporting that TWX is considering spinning off AOL among other options here .
Update 2: CNBC.com is reporting the latest on AOL and the Time-Warner plan here .
The Fed cut (significantly). The 'not enough' economic stimulus package is still stuck, and unemployment numbers are moving up. Margins are tightening and major companies are beginning to shed middle management salaries. The latest round at Time-Warner being reported by AdAge.
Not gloom and doom (yet). Just time to look at history and do something.
The US economy (in my humble view) has been, and is, in recession. The markets are recognizing it, and as I write this, Japan's Nikkei is sharply down on "US recession fears".
What's next?
During the Microsoft / Yahoo 'headline parade' this past week, others (notably AOL) were making acquisitions. There's a very good chance, that Private Equity is about to move into this market.
I'm betting on more acquisitions in very short order. Most will be complete surprises. Nervous markets or not.
Why?
(1) Market caps of some great companies have tanked as have their stock prices.
(2) Private Equity has no place to put their money. T-Bills? They're better off taking some small (or big) chances right now, and they know it. Funds and ETF's have a few investors looking for action. Public companies will be looking hard at acquisitions over the next few days as well.
(3) The world was watching Super Tuesday as evidenced by those commenting on the Twitter / Google map (see previous post) yesterday. No clear direction for America on Super Tuesday (and the primaries could very well be decided right here in Pennsylvania in April!).
The markets are very nervous and could sink further from here. Not a time for the small investor. M & A - You bet.
The week to watch is ahead. As company valuations and stock prices continue to tumble, you can bet there will be a host of acquisition announcements, big and small.
Do I know what I'm talking about? We'll find out :)
The good news. You may be able to say 'fill it up' again soon.
Update: Bloomberg is reporting that TWX is considering spinning off AOL among other options here .
Update 2: CNBC.com is reporting the latest on AOL and the Time-Warner plan here .
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Update: Google joins Twitter for Super Tuesday
I guess you can watch it on TV. You could go to one of the social networks or major media websites for all kinds of graphs and graphics. You can attempt to be one of those bombarding Twitter with your own commentary.
If you're like me, you'll probably be doing a little of each.
While the YouTube debates were 'OK' (but a very important and hopeful start in citizens actually getting involved directly with THEIR government)...
... The new YouTube page launched yesterday in preparation for what is a historic primary, is well, just a little weird ...
Check out Super Tuesday on YouTube here .
Update: The Official Google blog just posted a variety of other Super Tuesday Google initiatives including interaction with Twitter. It's not too late. Check it out here .
Update 2: Direct link to the Twitter Google map is here . Neat huh ?
staff edit
If you're like me, you'll probably be doing a little of each.
While the YouTube debates were 'OK' (but a very important and hopeful start in citizens actually getting involved directly with THEIR government)...
... The new YouTube page launched yesterday in preparation for what is a historic primary, is well, just a little weird ...
Check out Super Tuesday on YouTube here .
Update: The Official Google blog just posted a variety of other Super Tuesday Google initiatives including interaction with Twitter. It's not too late. Check it out here .
Update 2: Direct link to the Twitter Google map is here . Neat huh ?
staff edit
Monday, February 4, 2008
Microsoft Research to open lab in Cambridge, MA
Microsoft to open Northeast US Research facility in Massachusetts.
Microsoft Research announced plans Monday to open a new east coast research lab in Cambridge, MA. The anticipated opening date is July 2008.
The new lab would provide another new MS 'presence' close to the coveted Massachusetts tech college recruiting campuses.
The lab will be headed by veteran Microsoft researcher Jennifer Tour Chayes.
Ars Technica has a good piece on the new Microsoft Research lab here .
The complete press release can be found here .
staff edit Feb 4
Microsoft Research announced plans Monday to open a new east coast research lab in Cambridge, MA. The anticipated opening date is July 2008.
The new lab would provide another new MS 'presence' close to the coveted Massachusetts tech college recruiting campuses.
The lab will be headed by veteran Microsoft researcher Jennifer Tour Chayes.
Ars Technica has a good piece on the new Microsoft Research lab here .
The complete press release can be found here .
staff edit Feb 4
Sunday, February 3, 2008
SEMMYs winners announced
For those who missed the posts around the web, the winners of the SEMMYs have been announced and can be found here
There's a myriad of great reading from a wide variety of authors here.
Definitely worth a bookmark for later reading as the industry continues to evolve.
There's a myriad of great reading from a wide variety of authors here.
Definitely worth a bookmark for later reading as the industry continues to evolve.
Yahoo says decision will take some time - Google responds.
In a second reaction to the Microsoft takeover proposal, Yahoo posted a brief Q & A to their website late Saturday. The company is planning to take their time, evaluating all options, including the possibility of remaining independent.
This type of reaction was fairly typical for a company that, despite earlier overtures, has in fact, been hit with what is usually characterized as a hostile takeover bid.
Reuters ran a story late Saturday noting Yahoo's comments, and went on to indicate that Microsoft said they have been courting Yahoo for 18 months.
It is noteworthy that Yahoo employee Jeremy Zawodny, just back from his honeymoon, did post a brief perspective on his own blog, (which we did carry on our shared feed earlier this weekend).
Update: Google has posted their first reaction to proposed takeover the official Google blog here.
Update 2: Microsoft responded early Sunday with a statement here .
This type of reaction was fairly typical for a company that, despite earlier overtures, has in fact, been hit with what is usually characterized as a hostile takeover bid.
Reuters ran a story late Saturday noting Yahoo's comments, and went on to indicate that Microsoft said they have been courting Yahoo for 18 months.
It is noteworthy that Yahoo employee Jeremy Zawodny, just back from his honeymoon, did post a brief perspective on his own blog, (which we did carry on our shared feed earlier this weekend).
Update: Google has posted their first reaction to proposed takeover the official Google blog here.
Update 2: Microsoft responded early Sunday with a statement here .
Saturday, February 2, 2008
SMX West Reveals Changes in Search Marketing
SMX West will be held at the Santa Clara California Convention Center from February 26th through February 28th.
Wandering around the SMX website a short time ago, there definitely appears to be a lot of change in the wind.
Danny Sullivan's post to Search Engine Land recently on the latest changes to Google's Universal Search could literally be just the beginning. (This latest change has the potential to change entire industries!)
If you haven't read the article and do any kind of Search Engine Marketing, read it. Period.
Did someone say Search 3.0 and Search 4.0 ? Are we getting a little carried away here?
A look at the tentative agenda now only shows some of the changes taking place in online marketing in general, but the forum titles provide a peek at what may be next in search.
Regardless of what some of 'us' think, there always something new to pick-up and face-to-face still wins the race over 'social networking' and/or video conferencing.
Is there still an audience?
The other day, I walked into a local 'shop' that does a decent amount of online sales. The owner posed the question "What is SEO?". I suppose it's possible I spend too much time in front of a computer, particularly in the winter, but I was a little shocked.
Am I jaded? Yes.
Can SEO (and SEM) still help a lot of companies? YES.
Is there still a huge market? Positively.
Timing? Couldn't be better.
Slowing economies are when you want to be looking at your ROI!
So why the unsolicited (and non-compensated) plug from here? It was one of Sullivan's trade shows a lot of years ago (more than a lot of years? :) that set the tone for what we've now been doing for a long time.
As 'SEO' seems to becoming more and more 'SEM' (for another piece), it's probably more important than ever to stay 'tuned in'.
Wandering around the SMX website a short time ago, there definitely appears to be a lot of change in the wind.
Danny Sullivan's post to Search Engine Land recently on the latest changes to Google's Universal Search could literally be just the beginning. (This latest change has the potential to change entire industries!)
If you haven't read the article and do any kind of Search Engine Marketing, read it. Period.
Did someone say Search 3.0 and Search 4.0 ? Are we getting a little carried away here?
A look at the tentative agenda now only shows some of the changes taking place in online marketing in general, but the forum titles provide a peek at what may be next in search.
Regardless of what some of 'us' think, there always something new to pick-up and face-to-face still wins the race over 'social networking' and/or video conferencing.
Is there still an audience?
The other day, I walked into a local 'shop' that does a decent amount of online sales. The owner posed the question "What is SEO?". I suppose it's possible I spend too much time in front of a computer, particularly in the winter, but I was a little shocked.
Am I jaded? Yes.
Can SEO (and SEM) still help a lot of companies? YES.
Is there still a huge market? Positively.
Timing? Couldn't be better.
Slowing economies are when you want to be looking at your ROI!
So why the unsolicited (and non-compensated) plug from here? It was one of Sullivan's trade shows a lot of years ago (more than a lot of years? :) that set the tone for what we've now been doing for a long time.
As 'SEO' seems to becoming more and more 'SEM' (for another piece), it's probably more important than ever to stay 'tuned in'.
Why the deal WILL happen - Microsoft / Yahoo
One needs only to look back less than a year when News Corp made an unlikely bid for Dow Jones. The headlines flared. Is Murdoch serious?
Most of Dow Jones was controlled by one family who did NOT want to see the company sold, especially to Murdoch.
Enter stockholders and ... ugh ... profit ?
Murdoch offered a very significant premium over Dow Jones stagnant stock price. Ultimately, the Bancroft's (Ottaways, and a few others) respected a 'few' independent stockholders, started looking at the CASH, and the deal was done.
This deal is very similar in many ways. The stockholders of Yahoo! will green light it in a heartbeat. The EU may have a brief trauma with it but the FTC will probably go the way of 'they're essentially two different companies'.
There is some talk of a possible second or third bidder for Yahoo. Certainly there are a few private equity firms that could put the deal together but these are touchy times in the markets and it's doubtful that any of these companies would foot 44 billion, even as a combined effort.
With broadband e-mail names ('at' comcast, optonline, verizon others) quickly replacing a lot of 'at' Yahoo's, the hits to Yahoo's main page could decline. They probably are already. Yahoo's Flickr, del.icio.us, MyBlogLog (and others) are valuable properties that could have been monetized but really weren't.
Yahoo came along long before Google and MSN / Live search. Their innovation lagged, monetization was left to display ads and 'deals', an over-investment in content, an attempt but inability to create a viable competitor to Adsense .... etc.
Yahoo needs a rescue. It most likely will be Microsoft which poses the question ... Will they fix it, or absorb it and take it apart?
Enter AOL. Time Warner has to be going crazy that the bid wasn't for AOL. Should Google grab the content rich platform now? Do they need it?
Finally, Jim Cramer likes Microsoft / Yahoo deal.
That makes us wonder if we're right :)
... Finally: How many of you can remember when Yahoo looked like this ? (Click to enlarge).
Most of Dow Jones was controlled by one family who did NOT want to see the company sold, especially to Murdoch.
Enter stockholders and ... ugh ... profit ?
Murdoch offered a very significant premium over Dow Jones stagnant stock price. Ultimately, the Bancroft's (Ottaways, and a few others) respected a 'few' independent stockholders, started looking at the CASH, and the deal was done.
This deal is very similar in many ways. The stockholders of Yahoo! will green light it in a heartbeat. The EU may have a brief trauma with it but the FTC will probably go the way of 'they're essentially two different companies'.
There is some talk of a possible second or third bidder for Yahoo. Certainly there are a few private equity firms that could put the deal together but these are touchy times in the markets and it's doubtful that any of these companies would foot 44 billion, even as a combined effort.
With broadband e-mail names ('at' comcast, optonline, verizon others) quickly replacing a lot of 'at' Yahoo's, the hits to Yahoo's main page could decline. They probably are already. Yahoo's Flickr, del.icio.us, MyBlogLog (and others) are valuable properties that could have been monetized but really weren't.
Yahoo came along long before Google and MSN / Live search. Their innovation lagged, monetization was left to display ads and 'deals', an over-investment in content, an attempt but inability to create a viable competitor to Adsense .... etc.
Yahoo needs a rescue. It most likely will be Microsoft which poses the question ... Will they fix it, or absorb it and take it apart?
Enter AOL. Time Warner has to be going crazy that the bid wasn't for AOL. Should Google grab the content rich platform now? Do they need it?
Finally, Jim Cramer likes Microsoft / Yahoo deal.
That makes us wonder if we're right :)
... Finally: How many of you can remember when Yahoo looked like this ? (Click to enlarge).
Friday, February 1, 2008
Breaking : Microsoft makes bid for Yahoo
The year of speculation is over.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announces bid for Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO).
Microsoft confirmed a short while ago that it is making a bid to buy Yahoo.
The current offer is at $31 per share, or an estimated 44.6 billion dollars (US) in cash and stock.
Earlier this week, Microsoft posted record profits in the midst of a looming recession in the US.
Yahoo has been having difficulties during the past year, and stories of significant layoffs have been circulating the net.
In Europe, tech shares firmed quickly as news of the bid spread through the various markets.
As we expect numerous (More than numerous?) websites to post this news and perspective on the story today, updates will be made to our shared Google Reader list (at right) as appropriate.
The markets, which have been more than shaky as of late, couldn't have asked for better news on a Friday. It remains to be seen how the proposal plays out in the NY markets which open in a few hours. Reaction from the Yahoo board could come quickly or take a few days.
UPDATE 1 : The pre-market trading, Microsoft was trading down approx 6 per cent. Yahoo shares are up over 50% reaching for the tender price in pre-market activity!
UPDATE 2 : Yahoo responds to Microsoft offer. The press release from Yahoo is here .
UPDATE 3 (edit) : Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's memo this morning to Microsoft employees has been posted by SeattlePI.com here .
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announces bid for Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO).
Microsoft confirmed a short while ago that it is making a bid to buy Yahoo.
The current offer is at $31 per share, or an estimated 44.6 billion dollars (US) in cash and stock.
Earlier this week, Microsoft posted record profits in the midst of a looming recession in the US.
Yahoo has been having difficulties during the past year, and stories of significant layoffs have been circulating the net.
In Europe, tech shares firmed quickly as news of the bid spread through the various markets.
As we expect numerous (More than numerous?) websites to post this news and perspective on the story today, updates will be made to our shared Google Reader list (at right) as appropriate.
The markets, which have been more than shaky as of late, couldn't have asked for better news on a Friday. It remains to be seen how the proposal plays out in the NY markets which open in a few hours. Reaction from the Yahoo board could come quickly or take a few days.
UPDATE 1 : The pre-market trading, Microsoft was trading down approx 6 per cent. Yahoo shares are up over 50% reaching for the tender price in pre-market activity!
UPDATE 2 : Yahoo responds to Microsoft offer. The press release from Yahoo is here .
UPDATE 3 (edit) : Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's memo this morning to Microsoft employees has been posted by SeattlePI.com here .
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