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November 2008
- Downturn Derails Dell's Turnaround
  
  Wall Street Journal | Nov 28, 08 8:17 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Shifting consumer demand and the sagging economy spell trouble for Dell's turnaround strategy, the Wall Street Journal reports. Founder Michael Dell had been making progress since returning to the company last year with a two-pronged rescue plan, but weak sales mean his goals of cutting costs at the low end of the PC market while developing high-end gadgets are starting to conflict. More »
- Smile, NFL —You're in 3-D
  
  Wall Street Journal | Nov 24, 08 5:05 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The NFL is embracing new technology and exploring the possibility of broadcasting games in 3-D, the Wall Street Journal reports. Select industry insiders and executives have been invited to watch the Dec. 4 Chargers-Raiders game live at private screenings in theaters in LA, Boston, and New York. "We want to demonstrate this and let people get excited about it." says an NFL exec. More »
- Tiny Tubes May Trumpet End of Bulky Loudspeakers
  
  Economist | Nov 21, 08 3:36 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - You may soon be able to add paper-thin speakers to that flat-panel TV, the Economist reports. Scientists have used ultra-tiny carbon nanotubes to make a transparent film that produces sound identical to a signal-carrying current that passes through it. If the technology can be made commercially viable, you might be saying goodbye to those heavy speaker cabinets in your home entertainment center. More »
- Storm Proves Worthy Rival to iPhone
  
  Wall Street Journal | Nov 20, 08 12:11 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The BlackBerry Storm hits the US tomorrow, with the iPhone squarely in its sights. The new smartphone is an interesting mix of traditional BlackBerry and the hugely popular Apple gadget, with a few twists, Walt Mossberg writes for the Wall Street Journal. The keyboard is the Storm's calling card: "The entire glass display is one large button, mounted on a mechanical substructure that allows it to be depressed when pressure is applied." More »
- Hang Onto That BlackBerry, Barack
  
  BusinessWeek | Nov 18, 08 12:10 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - This weekend was full of stories about how Barack Obama will have to give up his beloved Blackberry as president—but that’s wholly unnecessary, writes Stephen Wildstrom in BusinessWeek . The only good reason to dump the phone would be because it's a timesuck, but “Obama has shown himself to be nothing if not disciplined,” Wildstrom notes. Other arguments to lose it are “specious” or misinformed. More »
- Gadgets Have Consumers Crying for Help
  
  San Francisco Chronicle | Nov 17, 08 1:46 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Digital technology plays a key role in the lives of most Americans, but it's often too complex, frustrating, and prone to failure, a study by the Pew Research Center finds. Nearly half of consumers said they regularly need help setting up a device, learning how to use it, or solving problems, reports the San Francisco Chronicle . Among researchers' findings: More »
- Amazon Leads Charge Against Clamshell Packaging
  
  New York Times | Nov 15, 08 4:05 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Stories of angry and even injured customers have inspired companies to ditch sealed clamshell packaging for easy-to-open alternatives, the New York Times reports. Amazon leads the pack, working with suppliers to ship products in plain cardboard boxes ahead of the holidays. Even some offline companies, which rely on clamshells to guard against theft, are seeking out alternatives. More »
- Tech Sector Short-Circuits
  
  New York Times | Nov 15, 08 7:09 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - A sudden slowdown has sent the tech industry into a slump so severe some are comparing it to the dot-com bust, the New York Times reports. The sector was confidently chugging along as recently as September but last month saw orders for both business and consumer tech rapidly plunge—"like flicking a switch," according to one analyst. More »
- Circuit City Files for Bankruptcy
  
  Associated Press | Nov 10, 08 8:21 AM CST
  
  (AP) - Circuit City Stores has filed for bankruptcy protection today, about a week after it said it would close 20% of its stores. The electronics retailer, based in Richmond, Va., has struggled as nervous consumers spend less and credit tightens. More »
October 2008
- Computer Shopping? No Need to Go for Broke
  
  Wall Street Journal | Oct 30, 08 10:36 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Economic conditions being what they are, you might not have a ton of dough to spend on a new computer. So in his annual PC buyer’s guide, Wall Street Journal tech expert Walter Mossberg adopts a budget-focused mindset. His advice: The current Mac OS, Leopard, is much better than Windows, but Macs don’t come cheap. Look for a computer with Windows XP; downgrading from Vista may cost money, but you can then buy a cheaper machine. More »
- First Laser TV Hits the Market