Google CEO: Ads the Only Hope for News Business

Posted by | Posted on 30-09-2009

For all the talk of emerging models that could breathe new life into the flagging news industry, Google’s CEO only sees one answer: better ads.

Eric Schmidt sat for an on-stage interview this afternoon at a conference in Washington hosted by the Atlantic showcasing newsmakers and prominent journalists titled, appropriately, “The First Draft of History.”

Schmidt had kind words for the social benefit of the plush economics of newspapers in their heyday, where fat revenues from print advertisements could support robust news-gathering organizations.

“Those economics are under attack,” Schmidt said. “That attack is not going to end.”

He added, “I don’t have a good answer for it and I think it’s very sad.”

Dynamic serendipity?

The best Schmidt could offer was a conception of a new breed of intelligent online news product.

Read full post…

Oil: Iran’s trump card

Posted by | Posted on 30-09-2009

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Don’t look for Iran to throw up the white flag anytime soon.

The Obama administration is scrambling to tighten trade sanctions against Iran after the disclosure last week that Tehran was hiding a heavily fortified facility that many believe is designed to make material for nuclear weapons.

But the kind of sanctions that would really hit Iran’s economy – sanctions against its energy industry – are thought to be off the table because China and other nations are too reliant on Iran’s oil.

“They look to Iran as a major source of future oil supplies,” said James Placke, a senior associate at Cambridge Energy Research Associates who specializes in the Middle East.

Read full post…

Wall Street dips after mixed data

Posted by | Posted on 28-09-2009

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks fell slightly on Tuesday after data on consumer confidence and home prices gave a mixed picture of the economy.

After opening higher, stocks turned negative on the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, which fell short of Wall Street expectations.

But declines were limited as homebuilders’ shares got a boost from stronger-than-expected readings on home prices for July.

“When a bad piece of data comes out, especially after a run like this, people tend to be hesitant,” said Doug Roberts, chief investment strategist, Channel Capital Research.com, Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 24.33 points, or 0.25 percent, to 9,765.03. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index .SPX fell 1.86 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,061.12.

Read full post…

IE Opponents Want More Ballot Screen Changes

Posted by | Posted on 26-09-2009

Microsoft may have hoped it could resolve its browser bundling case by giving in to the European Commission’s (EC) ‘ballot screen’ demands, but that fix is proving easier said than done.

While two of Microsoft’s leading European adversaries have generally praised the idea of letting users choose which popular browser they’d like to set as the default the first time they fire up a new computer, those same parties now complain that the proposal as presented by Microsoft is too complicated to work.

“If the Microsoft proposal is the one that’s chosen, we don’t think that will restore competition,” Hakon Wium Lie, CTO of Norwegian browser maker Opera, told InternetNews.com. Opera’s complaint to the EC — the European Union’s (EU) executive branch — in 2007 started the case now pending that accused Microsoft of illegally bundling Internet Explorer with Windows going back to 1996.

Read full post…

Wall Street little changed by data, but RIM hits Nadsaq

Posted by | Posted on 25-09-2009

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Dow and S&P 500 stock indexes were little changed on Friday after a mixed bag of economic data, while the Nasdaq fell, hurt by disappointing results from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion.

New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods dropped by their biggest amount in seven months, hit by a plunge in commercial aircraft orders, and new home sales rose less than expected. Consumer sentiment, however, hit its highest since January 2008.

“New home sales failed to meet raised expectations, marking back-to-back disappointments for housing sales in August,” said John J.

Read full post…

Guarantee Your Success in Business–How To

Posted by | Posted on 24-09-2009

Every normal person wants success in life. Many women want success as wives, mothers, friends, teachers, or providers. Men often want success as fathers, husbands, friends, athletes, coaches, or providers. Financial success helps us feel better and perform better in every one of these areas. It’s easier to be a good mother, father, spouse, friend, or teacher when we’re not constantly worrying about how or where we can get the money for our family’s next meal.

Countless ways to succeed exist today in a gazillion different businesses or professions. However, certain principles of success never change.

Let me ask you a question. If you wanted to become a top singer, actor, golfer, or outstanding cook, where would you turn for help? Would you ask some stay-at-home neighbor? A bro

Read full post…