thegeekchannel.com

I’m not sure why companies like The Sharper Image and Brookstone ever got into the business of rebranding technology with their name or why they would think that the average consumer would assume quality from their name, but I suspect they’re reconsidering those thoughts as BusinessWeek is reporting that The Sharper Image has filed for bankruptcy protection and is planning on shuttering 90 of their 184 stores.

Sign of the times - hard retail market - or destiny?  I’ll let you decide.  Personally I think that gadget gifts are better received when they have a recognizable name, and if it weren’t for the success of Osim and their acquisition attempts for Brookstone, I believe that they wouldn’t be far behind.  Unfortunately, with both of these gadget companies changing, companies like Best Buy are bound to become “more popular” which means that the consumer will have fewer choices for whatever tech gadget they choose to buy.

~geek

I should have known it would never last, but I was very optimistic when I purchased an HD-DVD player from Wal-Mart last year for the outstanding price of $99.99.  I justified it by saying “Microsoft is behind this,” and thinking that worst case I could play regular DVDs on it, too.  Unfortunately, I believe that the final nail has been placed against the pine top of HD-DVD’s coffin.

Wal-Mart has officially announced that they will no longer stock or sell HD-DVD media by June.  Their HD offering will continue to support the increasingly popular Blu-Ray, and they’re not alone.  Netflix and Best Buy are also pulling HD-DVD from their offering, effectively ending any chance the format had of success.  So, if the consumer hasn’t spoken, the retailers have.  They’ve picked their format and like it or not the consumer is going to have to suffer the consequences.

As always, I would love to know your thoughts.

~geek

In what may prove to be one of the biggest snafus in recent years, ComputerWorld is reporting and TheGeekChannel.com has confirmed that Microsoft is warning Windows Home Server users that the new idiot-proof software that Microsoft marketed to be the answer for people wanting to easily share their files is now corrupting those same files. 

I’m sure that this proved to be a very exciting Christmas bonus for the early adopters, with the only good news being that you might not know what you spent because Quicken, Money and Outlook are on the list of products likely to experience corruption when edited on the Microsoft Home Server share.

~geek

Chalk another one up for the Apple legal team.  A press release was issued from Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher today.  It read as follows:

December 20, 2007 - PRESS RELEASE: Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher, said “I’m pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”

My thoughts are pretty simple - someone gave him some information that they shouldn’t have and pissed off Apple.  He lost.  Too bad, so sad.

 Geek

Aston Martin and Bang & Olufsen have announced a “creative and strategic partnership” that is set on revolutionizing luxury automobiles. The press release states that designers, engineers and specialists from both companies will be working closely together in the future.

This could mean a variety of things, but I suspect what it means is that B&O will be putting their sound technology and aesthetics into the Aston Martin product line.  Not sure how I feel about this, but it will be be very interesting as both companies are already well known for their high-priced eye-candy.  And, of course, if they would like me to demo and review any of their products, I would be more than happy to do so.

~geek

It’s been a rumor, and now it’s official.  CompUSA has announced that they will shut their doors after the heavily discounted holiday season.  My recommendation: don’t buy any extended warranties.

Sorry to see this group go, but it’s difficult to compete as number three and their advertising, customer service, and management haven’t matched the competition in recent years.

More information at Bloomberg.

~geek

In 1984, CompUSA opened it’s doors and consumers and businesses stormed them to take advantage of value, knowledge and selection.  In recent years, it seems that the company lost it’s edge and quickly lost consumer marketshare to companies like Best Buy and Fry’s Electronics and business marketshare to companies like CDW and Dell.  In February of 2007, they shuttered 126 stores, including a handful in the Silicon Valley.  If a computer store can’t make it here…?

Therein lies the rumor - will CompUSA be closing the rest of their stores and logging out of the marketplace?  I suspect yes, but only time will tell.

~geek

Rumors are now circulating the web thta the iPhone will be getting a 1.1.3 update by the end of this week and with it two new features: voice recording and hard drive storage capabilities.  Nothing too revolutionary, but a great step forward that shows Apple will continue to enhance an already successful product.

Of course, for those of you that have hacked your iPhone… expect the usual problems.

Geek

I don’t know that I should be excited about it, because I do realize that the point of the internet and blogging as a whole is to allow researchers to easily quote and reference other works, but I am very excited that I was recently quoted in It World Canada. Apparently Briony Smith liked what I had to say about Microsoft’s sacking of CIO Stuart Scott, and I’m glad for it! Thanks for the mention, guys.

Michael

I’ve been readng with some interest all the rumors coming out about Stuart Scott, Microsoft’s former CIO.  For those of you that have been living in the dark, Scott was recently released by Microsoft only two years after hiring him in 2005.  What’s unique about this situation is that Microsoft has publicly said:

“We can confirm that Stuart Scott was terminated after an investigation for violation of company policies, and have no further information to share.”

Of course, the rumor mill is churning about the myriad of different reasons that could have triggered this and the one with the most sticking power seems to be that Scott was having an affair with one of his subordinates, and perhaps that woman received positive reviews and/or a promotion because of her relationship with Scott.  Definitely possible, although it seems somewhat unlikely to me that it would have been handled like this and not as a structured settlement with Scott’s resignation.  Leads me to wonder if it’s not an issue business ethics, such as accepting bribes, favors, or something outside the norm.

What seems weird to me is how many people have come out suggesting that “we” the public deserve to know the whole story, and I’m not sure that I agree with that.  What’s happened, especially if it’s of a personal nature, is between Microsoft and Scott - what gives “us” the right to know anything more than he’s left Microsoft under unfavorable circumstances?  Even that means that his business life is fractured and the chance of him getting another opportunity like this is likely gone.  With a wife and seven kids - whose right is it to know anything more?  My thought - give the man some space, save him whatever small amount of dignity he has left.

~geek