Google buys Motorloa. Look what more do you want?
The Great Google Purchase:
So Google purchased Morotola for $12.5 Billion.
Can I analyze this. Sure. But here's a roundup:
My take? Well it's hard to assess this as good or bad – it's going to depend on what Google does. Google could end up competing with other hardware providers and make many enemies. Google could use this for patent defense and let it go. Google could ignore phones and let things go on normally and use some Motorola tech in Google TV. We don't have any answers yet.
So we wait. But we need to pay attention as This. Is. Big.
We can be pretty sure Apple and Microsoft are at the battlestations figuring out what to do. Nokia and RIM are wondering who's going to buy them (read: Microsoft). Sony is probably . . . er, hell if I know. Amazon is wondering what the future of Android is and how it's going to affect their tablet and Ecosystem plans.
Besides, remember Google's disruptive strategy. For all we know they bought themselves $12.5 billion dollars of Freaking People Out, with some added extras.
Economics/Geekonomics:
Europe is surprisingly calm. Face it, these days, that's news.
Super-rich Warren Buffet calls on higher taxes for wealthy people like himself. Not exactly geeky, but Buffet's call may renew discussion of tax rates and economic growth, and that's something we could use. Besides, this is all over the news.
Geek Politics:
With the U.S. Presidential campaign gearing up, it appears we're gonna need this section. So sally forth . . .
Sudden presidential candidate Rick Perry got very cushy with Huawei from China, which is pretty much a company distrusted as a security threat, as this snarky article notes. There's a lot of conflict of interest, cyber-security, and other issues here to consider.
Publishing:
A look inside Pottermore. Sounds to me like it's a complete digital stop with books, worldbuilding, social tools, etc. Well worth reading – and note the emphasis on disintermediation.
Security:
Anonymous hacks the BART website in retaliation for their shutdown of cell phones in their stations. Anonymous of course is pretty much going full-bore revolutionary, so it's not surprising – but it is interesting they focused on a local matter, which tells us that they may be diversifying their targets. Pretty much what the BART organization did – cutting of cell service in the stations to avoid a protest – is really something I consider unconscionable. I think this also indicated Anonymous' political focus may mean a threat evaluation requires asking if you did anything to encourage people to hack you.
Technology:
Amazon releases a student version of it's mobile shopping app. It's fairly obvious now that Amazon is making a massive effort to target students, and that should clue us in on some of their future plans and activities – and who they'll compete against. It may also give you an edge if Amazon is on your job search.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: OK, I'm gonna ask – what do you think Google is planning?
– Steven Savage