ZDNet Blogs

Facebook: We have 150 million active users

Larry Dignan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:17:57 PST

Facebook has hit its latest milestone: 150 million global active users. In a blog, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said half of those 150 million users visit the social network daily. Zuckerberg writes: If Facebook were a country, it would be the eighth most populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia and Nigeria. When we first started Facebook almost five years ago, most of the people using it were college students in the United States. Today, people of all ages—grandparents, parents and children—use Facebook in more than 35 different languages and 170 countries and territories.

Intel: Fourth quarter sales worse than expected (again)

Larry Dignan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:08:41 PST

Updated: Intel said Wednesday that its fourth quarter, which was already dismal, was actually worse than expected. The chip giant forecast fourth quarter revenue of $8.2 billion, down 20 percent from the third quarter and 23 percent from a year ago. Intel warned about the fourth quarter in November and forecast sales of about $9 billion. Before Intel's previous warning, analysts were expecting fourth quarter revenue north of $10 billion. That's a $2 billion revenue shortfall in two months. In a statement, Intel cited "further weakness in end demand and inventory reductions by its customers in the global PC supply chain." Other guidance from Intel included: Fourth quarter margins is at the low end of the 55 percent range Intel...

Should open source boycott Cisco's contest?

Dana Blankenhorn — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:47:17 PST

I'm interested in how readers feel about this. Should open source people shun Cisco until it gets right by the FSF? Or do we compartmentalize legal disputes and get on with the work?

Satyam crashes with $1 billion cash hole

Dennis Howlett — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:45:42 PST

In a shock announcement this morning, Satyam, India's fourth largest outsourcing companies reported that B Ramalinga Raju, founder and chairman has resigned following an admission that there is an estimated $1 billion cash hole in the company's balance sheet. The company's shares crashed 77% in the aftermath. According to Finextra: In his resignation letter to the board, Raju says that the firm's balance sheet, as of 30 September 2008, has a hole of around $1 billion. The sheet of Rs5361 crore includes "non-existent" cash and bank balances of Rs5040 crore. Revenue for the second quarter was actually Rs2112 crore, not as stated Rs2700 crore. Operating margin was just three per cent of revenue, not the reported 24%. The gap in...

CES2009: Sony Walkman X1000 revealed with OLED touch screen display

Matthew Miller — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:45:25 PST

The rumors that Sony was planning to launch a touch screen media player at CES were spot on and looking at what was revealed (may have been unofficial at this time since there is not a press release or other info available yet) I have to say I am quite impressed initially. The Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000 has a 3-inch OLED touchscreen display, WiFi, headphone-independent noise cancellation, and capacities of 16GB & 32GB. Sony is holding a press conference at CES this evening where even more details should be revealed.

The Gupta choice

Dana Blankenhorn — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:31:02 PST

Politicians on all sides have their doubts about him. Even some Obama fans admit to being of two minds.

January 7: Join our Ballmer CES live-blog keynote coverage

Mary Jo Foley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:04:56 PST

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer kicks off the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas tonight at 6:30 p.m. PT. I'll be joining Paul Thurrott of WinSupersite fame, plus Tom Warren of Neowin.Net, in a live-blogging fiesta on Friendfeed tonight.

Microsoft preps to push IE 8; makes blocking tool available

Mary Jo Foley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:28:45 PST

As it has done with previous Internet Explorer (IE) releases, Microsoft has made available an IE 8 blocking toolkit to allow users to keep Microsoft's browser from being downloaded automatically on their Windows machines.

Do the simple stuff first is Klepper's Law

Dana Blankenhorn — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:53:17 PST

"The biggest bang for your dollar is in analysis and decision support based on existing data,"

Mugliasoft meeting open source on SaaS battlefield

Dana Blankenhorn — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:32:48 PST

The promotion of Bob Muglia to a President's position (in the mix to succeed current CEO Steve Ballmer) may prove to be the smartest move Microsoft has made against open source in a long time.