The consumer electronics trend that had us shuffling out our perfectly good but perfectly bulky CRT televisions in favor of fancy-new flat screens appears to be ebbing. According to research firm IHS iSuppli, U.S. shipments of …
Technology & Media
Apple Stock: Too Much of a Good Thing?
As virtually everyone knows, Apple has had a sweet run of late. This year alone its stock shot up nearly 50%, four times the gains notched by the S&P 500 index.
But if you’re feeling miffed that you missed out on the stock …
Thanks to E-Books, Flat Revenue is No Problem for Publishers
Large book publishers’ most recent earnings reports reflect a new normal: Revenues are roughly flat, but profits are up—in large part due to e-books.
Apple Agrees to Labor Reforms After ‘Serious’ Foxconn Violations
After months of growing scrutiny over its labor practices, Apple has agreed to implement reforms following an independent audit that discovered major violations in the sprawling Chinese factories that produce iPhones and iPads. …
Is Cable’s Long, Glorious Ratings Run Finally Over?
For more than three decades, cable TV programmers enjoyed steady ratings gains—mostly at the expense of broadcasters. Inspired efforts like AMC’s Mad Men and FX’s Sons of Anarchy notwithstanding, those steady ratings …
Light Beer, Suffering From Watered-Down Sales, Tries to Regain the Spotlight
Retail sales of craft beers grew 15% last year. Liquor also had a good 2011, with a 4% increase in sales, while wine has soared in popularity among Baby Boomers and women in general. Everywhere you look, there’s a hip new vodka …
China Welcomes Apple CEO Tim Cook, Approves New iPad for Sale
Apple’s new iPad, which is currently for sale in over 30 countries worldwide, has been an immediate hit — the company sold over 3 million units in the first weekend. But there is one very large and conspicuous market where the …
Facebook Asks Court to Throw Out ‘Fraudulent’ Paul Ceglia Lawsuit
Social networking giant Facebook hopes to finally put an end to a bizarre lawsuit filed by an upstate New York former wood-pellet salesman who claims he owns half of the tech phenom. In a motion to dismiss the case Monday, …
Like Building Refrigerators: Bell Labs and the End of Game-Changing Innovation
In the years immediately after the breakup of the Bell System in 1984, a question arose: What was the purpose of this company—and what was the purpose of its laboratory, arguably the finest in the world—going forward?
Why Your Inbox May Seem a Little Less Crowded These Days
Sometimes one industry’s bad news is cause to celebrate for … almost everybody else in the world.
Return Path, one of the world’s biggest email certification companies, says the number of emails getting through to inboxes …
Music Industry Can See The Light After ‘Least Negative’ Sales Since 2004
The music industry enjoyed its best sales performance for eight years in 2011, as CDs’ collapse decelerated, digital sales continued growing and new services were launched to capitalise on in-roads made in combating piracy.
Why Hollywood Loves IMAX More Than 3-D
The decline in movie theater attendance can’t be denied. The majority of people say they rarely or never go to the movies nowadays, and last year saw the fewest movie tickets sold since 1995. Yet one part of the business—the …