Tech Week in Review 10-14-2011
Qwikster Quickly Quashed
Remember that awesome (crazy?) idea that Netflix had so split their business in two? They were going to spin off the DVD-by-mail side of their business into a separate entity called Qwikster. They said “we realized that streaming and DVD by mail are becoming two quite different businesses, with very different cost structures, different benefits that need to be marketed differently, and we need to let each grow and operate independently.” Now, as quickly as it was born, Qwikster is going away.
It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult, so we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs.
This means no change: one website, one account, one password… in other words, no Qwikster.
via Netflix
iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Top One Million in First 24 Hours
According to Apple, pre-orders for the iPhone 4S topped one million in a single day. This shattered the previous single day pre-order record of 600,000 held by iPhone 4. This is very interesting because, by most accounts, users are disappointed by the iPhone 4s. With all the chatter of the iPhone 5 by just about every major media outlet, the expectations were set very high. While the 4s is not what many expected, it is still definitely an upgrade for those looking for speed, a better camera, and Siri. As I’ve said before, the star of the show is still iOS 5, which launched earlier this week.
Today, customers across the globe are still trying to update to iOS 5 on their current devices, or attempting to activate their shiny new iPhone 4S devices. Between all that activity and the addition of the iCloud services from Apple, things are getting pretty hectic for some Apple customers. There were already significant delays in updating for existing iOS customers and the addition of all the iPhone 4S devices hitting the servers probably won’t make things any better.
Blackberry Users Lose Service for 4 Days
As if RIM needed any bad press. Access to BlackBerry services was restored yesterday after users were left without for about 4 days. The problems began in Europe and quickly spread to a global scale. Making things worse, RIM was very slow to respond to disatisfied customers. Richard Levick, who runs a consultancy that specializes in crisis management, gives one reason for RIM’s slow actions, saying “RIM needs to change its DNA entirely – they need to start thinking like a startup again, instead of a former market leader.” Eventually, a video apology from co-CEO Mike Lazaridis was posted on YouTube. RIM says services have been completely restored at this time.
via Reuters, AllThingsD
Microsoft Buys Skype
Microsoft just closed its acquisition of super-popular video and voice conferencing service, Skype. You may have heard of it? It’s what we used before Facetime and Google Chat. Through negotiations led by investor group Silver Lake, Microsoft will get Skype for $8.5 billion.
“Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues — anytime, anywhere.”
Skype will operate as a division within Microsoft and Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of this new division. It looks like it will be business as usual for Skype at this time, but we can expect it will be integrated across Microsoft products in time. Of course, effective immediately, no more Google products will be bundled with Skype. Sorry Google Toolbar.
Category: Tech Week In Review | Tags: apple, blackberry, ios 5, iphone 4s, Microsoft, Netflix, qwikster, rim, Skype
About the Author Rahsheen has been a certified geek since before it was the thing to do. He started programming and tinkering in the 4th grade. Now, Rahsheen mostly writes on various sites about technology trends in social media and mobile. . He is also a musician, singer, rapper, writer, and producer. @rahsheen - +Rahsheen Porter - coachrah.com
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