Markets

Nonetheless, an ad-based revenue model is something that cofounder Biz Stone says they "will be looking to do down the line." But, for now, he continues, Twitter is focused on "creating value for our users." For now, revenue generation ideas are being put on paper, "and we're definitely going to get to them," Stone says.

Comments (0)Permalink

No more Nookie 'til next year, says Barnes & Noble

By Tom Johansmeyer | Nov 21st 2009, 12:40PM EST Filed Under: Amazon.com (AMZN), Sony Corp ADR (SNE), Media World, Technology

Take the Nook off your Christmas list. The new e-reader from Barnes & Noble (BKS) has already sold out, and more won't be available until after the holiday has passed. The next batch will be available, at best, by November 4, 2010.

In a statement, the company said, "While we increased production based on the high consumer interest, we've sold out of our initial Nook allotment available for delivery before the holidays." If you still want to give the device as a holiday gift, Barnes & Noble will give you...

Comments (0)Permalink

Google says: Chrome for Christmas

By Tom Johansmeyer | Nov 21st 2009, 10:40AM EST Filed Under: Internet, Competitive strategy, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Technology

Google (GOOG) is letting a few developers peek behind the curtain. The early look the company's new operating system, Chrome, is happening in true Google style: by invitation only. When it's released, which should be in time for the holidays, developers will be able to bang away at an open source solution, tapping an army of volunteers who are eager to work for bragging rights.

The open source version is called Chromium OS,...

Comments (0)Permalink

Massucci's Take: Twitter CEO says Murdoch's Google plan is doomed

By Anthony Massucci | Nov 20th 2009, 4:00PM EST Filed Under: Company News, Technology, People, Media, Google , Apple, News Corp.

Twitter co-founder and CEO Biz Stone said Thursday that Rupert Murdoch's potential plan to block Google from searching New Corp.'s (NWS) websites is doomed to fail. Murdoch has accused Google (GOOG) of stealing content from his publications, which include The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post in the U.S., and The Times and The Sun in the United Kingdom. The cantankerous tycoon said last week that blocking Google could be part of his strategy to get more people to pay for content online.

Here's a young man, all of 35,...

Comments (9)Permalink

Green Turismo: To save the Earth and save gas, turn cars into video games

By Alex Salkever | Nov 20th 2009, 3:40PM EST Filed Under: Energy, Technology, Economy, Green

My friend has a Tesla Roadster. For those who are unfamiliar with Tesla Motors, the Roadster is the Ferrari of the electric-vehicle world, a high-performance two-seater with more sex appeal than Mae West. How ironic, then, that my friend pines for her old Honda Insight, a dinky little hybrid that has been a commercial failure but remains a cult favorite among the green car set. Why would any sane, hedonistic California resident wish their Ferrari were a Chevy Chevette?

Because the Insight had a wonderful feature that told her how efficiently she was driving. That feature was a light on her dash that glowed green when she was driving smoothly, braking gradually, and accelerating...

Comments (4)Permalink

Dell in a handbasket: Should founder Michael Dell resign?

By Sam Gustin | Nov 20th 2009, 1:30PM EST Filed Under: Company News, Technology, Dell

With apologies to Warren Buffett, it's only when the tide comes in that you learn who can swim. With waves of growth on the horizon for the tech sector, it's becoming increasingly apparent that Dell (DELL), the declining PC powerhouse, cannot swim. So maybe it's time for Michael Dell (pictured) to hit the showers. The company's founder returned in January 2007, supposedly to save the company after it spent years adrift. But his performance of late has been so poor that it arguably represents a breach of his fiduciary duty to shareholders. What makes Dell's slide particularly troubling is the apparent strength of other companies in the tech sector, including makers...

Comments (43)Permalink

Yahoo! wants in on Twitter: No money involved

By Tom Johansmeyer | Nov 20th 2009, 12:40PM EST Filed Under: Internet, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Technology

Yahoo! (YHOO) is the latest company that wants to optimize its search results for Twitter. This follows moves by Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOG) to integrate Twitter data into their search results. Unlike its competitors, however, Yahoo! wants to do this without spending a dime (well, without giving a dime to the hot new social...

Comments (0)Permalink

Is construction headed for a rebound? Autodesk numbers give a good clue

By Alex Salkever | Nov 20th 2009, 12:40PM EST Filed Under: Technology, Economy, Investing

Several years ago, when I was doing research for hedge funds, I spent a month talking to Autodesk (ADSK) resellers. Autodesk's AutoCAD software suite is the standard tool used by designers and architects in the construction trade, and it dominates its market much like Adobe's Creative Suite dominates the print, graphic and interactive design fields. Its resellers are the hundreds of consulting organizations and systems integrators that sell Autodesk licenses to customers in the construction business. Like many big software companies, Autodesk relies on a huge reseller channel for the majority of its sales volume.

What my favorite resellers all told me was that they like to play construction-related...

Comments (1)Permalink

Greentech VC Nancy Floyd: U.S. cleantech firms must go global to thrive

By Alex Salkever | Nov 20th 2009, 9:59AM EST Filed Under: Technology, Green

Nancy Floyd was early to the greentech investing game. A prominent venture capitalist, she founded and remains the managing director of Nth Power, an early-stage venture capital fund based in San Francisco. Nth Power, a $180 million fund, has seen a number of successful exits, including companies specialized in biofuels and "smart" meters.

More than a quarter century ago, Floyd founded NFC Energy, one of the country's first wind development companies. She has also been active in non-profit energy projects, such as home audits, and sat on the Vermont Public Uitlities Commision. These days, she makes bets on the future of greentech. I sat down to talk with her in San Francisco. Here's an edited transcript of our co...

Comments (1)Permalink