Tech Buzz

As the end of the year approaches, I will begin talking more and more about the big things expected to drive the 2007 Technology Segment. One of them, particularly since the Democrats are back in power in the U.S., is a move toward Green, and HP took a huge step to get ahead of this parade last week...

This week the National Venture Capital Association released "American Made: The Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Professionals on U.S. Competitiveness," a new study that reveals something that Silicon Valley netizens already know but scream for others to recognize: The immigration debate affect...

Here in the U.S., last week was a big week, where we had a minor revolution and tossed out the arrogant bums who should have seen this change coming. This upheaval mirrors what often happens inside technology firms and could now apply to open source software and Apple as well, so it is a lesson that...

The Linux folks must be feeling like they've walked into some kind of alternative universe. Last week, Oracle made its move to take Linux over by swiping Red Hat's revenue stream in a pre-Halloween surprise. This week, Novell and Microsoft are partnering in an event for the history books. In a year ...

I spent most of last week in Las Vegas with IBM, learning about things that firm doesn't often talk about. While that was going on, Oracle implemented the first step in its latest world domination plan and I continued to hear chatter on Apple's planned surprise for Microsoft during its Vista launch....

The status of Latin and COBOL are quite similar. Neither is really dead, both are deeply ingrained, intertwined and embedded in our contemporary world. The former in many of our written and spoken languages, and the latter is the underpinning of much of the world's existing data systems. If you igno...

As we approach the end of the year, thoughts traditionally turn to the future. I thought I'd get an early start. Near term we have the widely rumored launch of the new Apple Newton, uh, I mean iPhone. A little further out we have the emergence of true telepresence -- which brings the possibility tha...

North Korea's detonation of a nuclear bomb has made Silicon Valley, Calif., leaders even more eager to offer their expertise to help spread freedom and peace. Technology can jumpstart this quest at home and abroad, but not alone. A human element has to be present as well. Technology is often viewed...

Last week's happenings foreshadowed potential changes in the wind. With the stock option backdating scandal widening, it appears that Apple CEO Steve Jobs may have been caught in the net. Meanwhile, with the realization that gaming has been driving a lot of the PC industry, and some powerful recent ...

In the recent movie "Thank You for Smoking," a tobacco lobbyist comes under fire for working to protect people's right to smoke. A similar movie could be made about gambling and the villain would be Representative Bob Goodlatte. The Virginia Republican has been fighting to enact legislation on Inter...