Dick's Picks

[MiMiC]

Is Sun Rising?

http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/060823/115635733212.html?.v=1

Motley Fool
Is Sun Rising?
Wednesday August 23, 2:22 pm ET
By Tim Beyers

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? According to a report from researcher IDC, Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW - News) was the only one (of the top four global server vendors) to experience year-over-year revenue growth during the second quarter ended in June.

Frankly, the numbers for the entire server market are startling:

Vendor Q2 2006 revenue Q2 2005 revenue YOY growth
IBM (NYSE: IBM - News) $3,808 $3,893 (2.2%)
Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ - News) $3,420 $3,480 (1.7%)
Sun Microsystems $1,585 $1,372 15.5%
Dell (Nasdaq: DELL - News) $1,269 $1,286 (1.3%)

Source: IDC; numbers in millions

I mean, wow. What happened? Opteron, that's what. Sun adopted Advanced Micro Devices' (NYSE: AMD - News) speedy server chip more than two years ago, and it appears to be paying dividends at Dell's expense in the high-growth x86 -- or Intel-compatible -- segment of the market.

IDC explains in its press release, "HP and Sun were the only top five server vendors to outgrow the market in Q2 2006 -- growing [sales] 3.6% and 48% respectively -- and gaining x86 market share in the process." In other words, Sun's products are selling very well.

Dell, for its part, saw both revenue and market share decline. IDC now says the ailing computer maker accounts for 10.3% of global server revenue, 2.6 percentage points behind Sun. Can that gap widen? Yes, but only if Sun figures out how to stay different. That won't be easy if Dell extends its relationship with AMD to include Opteron chips in its volume servers. ("Volume server" is a term typically used to describe a computer with fewer than four processors.)

There's also the chance that long-standing Dell partner Intel (Nasdaq: INTC - News) will see its newer server chips gain traction, which could hurt Sun and aid Dell. But I count that as a long shot, since Sun is also an Intel partner.

Nevertheless, Sun still isn't making money and isn't expected to record a profitable year before June of 2008. That's two years -- an eternity in the tech business, and more than enough time for today's brightly shining Sun to be swallowed by a Dell-sized eclipse.

Dell and Intel are Motley Fool Inside Value selections.

Fool contributor Tim Beyers worked at Sun in the late '90s. You'll have to forgive him if he's rooting for a comeback. Tim didn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story at the time of publication. Get the skinny on all the stocks in Tim's portfolio by checking his Fool profile. The Motley Fool's disclosure policy is always on the up-and-up.

[MiMiC]

Apple? Good time to buy? Perhaps with these lows and before the expo and the launch of their Movie rental for iTunes.

[MiMiC]

TiVo: P 7.28 B 7.27 [-] A 7.28 V 2,940,575

Wonder what TiVo is going to do to capitalize on this?

[MiMiC]

Loud-and-Clear Verdict Rattles EchoStar

http://yahoo.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2006/tc20060818_359849.htm

[MiMiC]

you should do well in the coming days then!!

Thanks for stopping by.

[SkeBallLarry]

I added to ( TIVO ) Friday @ $7.04 .... !!!

[MiMiC]

The next step in DVRs. The Digital Information Home Page!

When you have hundreds of gigs of shows on your DVR, would it not be nice to search all those files using a desktop search tool that you can search from your DVR or Computer.

TiVo can also partner with an ad company that will introduce a version that integrates ads [Google’s adsense for example] while viewing information about what you are watching; all done in a familiar web based setting.

Place a DVD into the DVR-DVD and TiVo will gather information on that DVD. You can view Cast and Crew information like you would on the DVD credit screen but with the ability to click on names and see other information such as filmography, websites. How many times have you watched a movie and wondered who that person is or what else they played in? You have to watch the entire credits to get just name details or you can enter into Info mode (split screen) and you can view relative information about what you are seeing. Imagine seeing an actor or location and clicking Info and instantly being able to see that actors or locations information?


But don’t limit yourself to DVDs, but add TV content to the search capabilities as well. All from your TV just as you would form your computer using the very friendly browser interface.


Ever want to do a quick web search on something you just saw on TV like a web address or a book? TiVo can make it just that easy!


How about watching a movie that is on location in Hawaii and clicking over with your Into button and researching Hawaii vacations and having the ability to reserve rooms and flights? Or e-mailing yourself that information right from your TiVo?


Tired of seeing the same shows and you don’t feel like heading down to the video store, click right over to a dot com movie rental and rent a movie that streams directly to your DVR.


The only technology you need is the one that identifies what is being viewed and pushes that to the Info interface (which could be as simple as a custom Firefox browser) that gathers information in a simple to view format that becomes your Digital Information Home Page. Pre cached information on TV programs, DVDs, actors, and make the gathering and displaying information seamless and allow TiVo to provide full interactive content with video and Flash. Gracenote.com is a fine place to gather CD and DVD information.


May I also suggest TiVo Tunes that allows you to see your MP3s across the network and play them instantly over your A/V system including allowing you to set up play list. Use the same Info technology to browse information about your MP3s with your DIHP (Digital Information Home Page) again in a familiar browser interface.


This is of course just an overview of what TiVo DIHP could be for the digital world, “Making life seamless between your living room and your internet”.

This is what I see as being the next step into DVR.

[MiMiC]

TIVO HOT!!

http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/18/dell-microsoft-tivo-cx_kdt_0818techroundup.html?partner=yahootix

TiVo (nasdaq: TIVO - news - people ) announced Friday that a federal district court granted the company's motion and ordered direct broadcast satellite provider EchoStar Communications (nasdaq: DISH - news - people ), which runs the Dish Network, to stop selling and using certain digital video recorders. In April, a jury found that EchoStar's DVR technology had infringed on a TiVo patent. Shares of TiVo soared on the news in Friday trading. But in a quick reversal of fortune midday, EchoStar announced that a federal appellate court had temporarily blocked the district court's injunction.

[MiMiC]

Thank you!!

[buysellbuy0]

hello and good luck

[MiMiC]

Welcome traders!! This is a listing of my favorite stock picks and why I like them. More to come Monday when I have the time.