Beta testers and developers know that RTM means Release To Manufacturing. This means that Microsoft has released Office 2008 for the Mac to be localized, duplicated, packed and shipped to be available worldwide by January 15th, 2008. This version adds Universal Binary support, the new file formats from Office 2007 for Windows, and brings a new Entourage which is supposed to be function identical to Outlook 2007 and have full Exchange support. I’ll have a more complete rundown closer to the MacWorld Expo.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: 2008, business, mac, news, office

Palm isn’t doing so well, again. On recent news of a delay of a new product and lower than expected revenues from the popular Palm Centro device, Palm’s stock has been dropping like mobile network calls (that’s a joke). Yeah. Despite its brisk sales of the smaller, cooler, less expensive Palm smartphone, the Centro, its not pulling in enough revenue to make projections, and investors show their displeasure by selling stock. This MacWorld article also points out that they are also facing RIM, Apple, and Motorola with pretty much nothing.

I used to be an unabashed Palm lover, and in some ways I still am. I hate Windows Mobile since it hasn’t changed significantly since the days of Windows CE 1.0 and it still crashes with regularity. Symbian is nice, but too complicated, and nobody has come up with a decent, marketable Linux-based mobile OS yet, including Palm. Palm used to be the rock. Why can’t they get their act together?

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: business, news, palm

Yes. Sold to Specialty Equity, CompUSSR is going to be shut down and liquidated. If you’re expecting a rash of fantastic Fire Sale-like deals, though, don’t get too excited. Gordon Brother Group, the owners of Specialty Equity, is known to hold off on steep discount deals until the 11th hour. Combine that with the fact that there are only 103 active stores, very few of which are in major metropolitan areas (check your city) and you’re not going to find much.

Two of the possible reasons behind this collapse are Apple and the market. Apple now holds anywhere from 15-20% of laptop sales and the Halo Effect (not the game) from its very, very significant iPod/iPhone business combined with Microsoft spectacular failure with Windows Vista (Blista?) have been driving upgraders to Apple’s online and retail stores better than any slick Apple advertising campaign.

Second, the market has been evolving for years and that includes people’s decreasing need for a monolithic brick & mortar establishment. Like cars, computers are being built better and, despite Microsoft’s claims that people need Vista, XP is a solid platform with proven tools and support and companies like Dell and HP are building better machines based on a wide range of improved technologies. Tie all of this together with low system prices, a drive towards portable and all-in-one systems, and it wasn’t hard to see coming.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: business, news

Verizon last week announced that it would be opening up its network to all phones compatible with its wireless technologies, a move which goes completely contrary to the entire market model here in the U.S. of A. Therese Poletti of CBS’ MarketWatch talks about the significant move and what it might mean for the wireless industry in America. While she indicates that it would be a good move, and references the Apple iPhone as a major contributor to the pressure, she only brushes up against what it might mean. Continue reading »

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: business, mobile, wireless