Because it’s beginning to snark a lot like Christmas, this edition of Short Takes focuses on a series of headline riffs for the holidays.
Note: In a blatant attempt to mail it in two days before Christmas, this edition of Short Takes will focus more on the headline riffs than the blurbs. Happy Holidays! –Paul
Microsoft squeezes another $1 billion out of the U.S. military
As Brad previously reported, Microsoft has re-upped a contract with the US Defense Information Systems Agency, which is basically the IT Crowd for the US Department of Defense. Worth nearly $1 billion, this contract is perhaps most interesting for what the military is getting: Access rights to Microsoft’s source code, personal access to the Microsoft employees who can actually solve problems and explain that source code, and of course a technical support contract that would make most IT managers pee themselves a little bit. So what does Microsoft gets? Nearly $1 billion, obviously. Geesh.
“Microsoft’s 2017 could be bigger than 2016”
Yes, that is one of two possibilities.
Nokia and Apple File Competing Lawsuits Over Patents
Nokia and Apple briefly competed in the smartphone market—a battle Apple won so decisively that Nokia sold off all of its phone assets—but now they’ve found a new way to fight: This week, Nokia sued Apple for violating various phone-related patents it still owns. And Apple has sued because—and I’m paraphrasing here—screw you, Nokia. What this really boils down to is Nokia wanting more patent-based revenues, and requiring Apple—which is already paying small fees to Nokia—to license even more of its patents. Or, from Apple’s perspective, it’s about Nokia turning into a patent troll. I love a good fight.
“To win in 2017, Microsoft has to keep innovating”
That kind of deep thinking is why you make the big bucks.
“Here’s Why Nokia Shares Are Falling Today”
Because they’re Nokia.
“How Microsoft became more like Amazon to emerge from darkness”
Trail of breadcrumbs?
“Microsoft’s Surface Phone To Miss MWC 2017”
Nessie, Sasquatch, and the Yeti will all miss MWC 2017 as well. For the same reason.
“Review: Sony’s PlayStation VR Shows Promise”
So it should be excellent by the time it’s released, then. What’s that? Ah.
“Raspberry Pi’s Pixel for PC and Mac breathes new life into old computers”
You know what else would “breathe new life” into these old PCs? Just running the version of Windows (or OS X) they actually came with.
“A flight was delayed after someone named their Wi-Fi hotspot ‘Samsung Galaxy Note 7′”
Do we still do the tar and feathering thing?
“Apple’s curved OLED iPhone 8 will probably be impossible to find next year”
Because you made it up, yes.
“Canada declares ‘high-speed’ internet essential for quality of life”
See what you can do when you’ve already figured out national healthcare?
“Barnes & Noble’s New NOOK Tablet Contains ADUPS Malware”
I’m surprised anyone even noticed.
“It Sounds Like Facebook Is Launching Radio Functionality”
Now we can get fake news in our ears, too.
“Uber’s new creepy update lets you turn people into destinations”
Because you are my density.
Happy Holidays!