Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Pete....
How "domestic" of you.
"No I didn't forget about those. All of them were released by Capitol Records, not Apple Corps. Try again."
Infinity Broadcasting Teams With Apple Corps Ltd To Premiere Beatles Album
http://radio.about.com/b/a/039028.htm
Apple Corps Ltd: The corporation owned by the Beatles to administer all recording rights for it's principals. (This includes it's label imprint, Apple Records. )
Thorne/EMI:World wide distribution conglomerate
Capitol:EMI's U.S. distribution label
"Let It Be...Naked" - The no-frills Beatle album the band first set out to make Infinity Broadcasting has partnered with Apple Corps Ltd to bring America the exclusive broadcast premiere of "Let It Be...Naked," The Beatles no frills, back-to-basics album that the band first set out to make in 1969, but was never released.
Infinity stations across the country will play the album in its entirety in a special broadcast onThursday, Nov. 13 (10:00PM, ET), more than 30 years after "Let It Be" was completed.
Access Hollywood's Pat O'Brien will serve as host of the event and will moderate a live roundtable discussion immediately following the broadcast with other musicians, music experts and celebrity guests who will talk about "Let It Be...Naked" and The Beatles impact on pop culture, as well as field calls from listeners.
"Let It Be...Naked" will be released by EMI Records on November 18.
"The Beatles are arguably the greatest band of all time and we are honored to partner with Apple Corps Ltd in the release of this historically significant album," said John Sykes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Infinity Broadcasting. "This is a one-of-a-kind programming opportunity thatwe will be providing our listeners."
When The Beatles first set out to make the album in 1969, they intended to record an album that would be a return to live performance of just the bare necessities of the band, no studio effects or overdubbing of voices or instruments would be allowed. However, caught in the turmoil of the break-up of the band, the album was re-produced by Phil Spector and never released as The Beatles had originally meant it to sound.
Infinity Broadcasting operates 185 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation's top 50 markets and reach more than 76 million listeners a week."
Pete, What about these releases?
"Anybody want to venture a guess as to when Apple Corps released their last album? Try 6 years, 11 months."
How quickly you seem to have forgotten BEATLES #1's (released November 14th 2000):
Not to mention "Let It Be - Naked"
OR
Or did you just forget about these?
Bootz, It'd be within The Beatles' Apple Corps. rights to sue.
I hear ya, Bootz!
Call it a hunch, but Sir Paul & the rest of the Corps DON'T strike me as the type to sign an exclusive deal with the defendants that they view as "the people who tried to steal our rights for the 3rd time"
I'd be happy to take your money again on another bet,(providing we can figure out a way for me to collect for the last one,) I'll say it's an exclusive in Microsoft's WMA format, & you can bet on iTunes & AAC ... DEAL?
What the Beatles & Apple Corps. are looking for, is an exclusive Beatles branded store, something MSFT has already put the infrastructure together for, for other clients.
Besides, after settlements,court costs,& 3x punitive damages, I don't think AAPL will have enough left to pay the upfront licensing fees the Beatles seem to want. They need a licensee with deep pockets..Wonder who that might be? Bill?
JMHO ACE
P.S. Bolts got the cup... Now, Go Lakers!
"I floated this as a possibility awhile back, namely that a Beatles vs. Apple settlement might entail a Beatles music distribution deal.
Not saying that's the way it's going to play out, just that if it does, I want all the credit for having forecasted it.
Are you listening, Ace?"
Bootz
Duke, I think you're way right on this,
The slash & burn marketting competition will affect fixxed cost hardware vendors first. SUNW took the biggest hits due to the cost of their server systems. I believe that while the various Linux's will have their place, it won't be on the list of corporations making big profits.
"Both Red Hat and Novell are sending messages that they are designing new user interfaces based on the Mac OS. While their stated target is Microsoft,the collateral damage from the developments, much like it was with Sun, will probably be Apple. Apple has been subsidizing its relatively expensive hardware with software, so the cost disadvantage that Sun enjoyed would seem to be dramatically less for Apple. But that might not be the case. While much is said about the success of the Mac OS X , the speculation remains that the majority of Apple's installed base has stayed with its older hardware and has not migrated to the new operating system."
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/34271.html
Hope that info helps!
Send the dog!
WAIT! You mean the guy on the radio lied this morning when he said "Everyone outside the Motor City is rooting for the Lakers" ? Or was it "expects the Lakers to win" I forget.
I feel for you every time I see the weather reports about floods & crushing heat, & Propane trucks being stolen...
What next? LOCUSTS?
At least it's not boring.
ACE
Bootz: Try this.
System Information>Components>Display Should get you information on the video card...
System Information>Components>Storage>Drives>
OR
System Information>Components>Multimedia>CDRom>
should get you info on the optical drives installed.
Happy Hunting.
P.S. Go Tampa Bay, Go Lakers....
ACE
It's true Cotton.
"Great. Just great. Enron rips off California (if this stuff it true) "
It is true. But don't expect any sort of real action out of Feinstein & Boxer. No one in California does.
"And now I am hearing on CNBC that some dude with another company that lied and cheated the shareholders out of millions got 5 years probation."
And a free Gulfstream Jet...
Bootz, Correct!
God doesn't want me to waste harddrive space on redundant software. Clapton doesn't either. I've no use for iTunes.
Good!
"The>2% market share co stock; +55% in past year."
Now if it could just go up another 100%, it'd be where it was 4 years ago.
The smart ones have already sold out. With MSFT announcing a plan to kneecap iPod on price, you gonna hang on to it, or wait for $13 a share again?
MSFT Branded Portable Music Player?
2 thoughts...
A: It supports WMA, as any worthy player should,
and
B: What a charming fiscal kick in the teeth to Steve Jobs. It couldn't happen to a nicer meglomaniac.
"Microsoft is to sell its portable music-players for 80 per cent less than Apple 's iPod, the company has announced.
MSN corporate vice president Yusuf Mehdi told the Goldman Sachs fifth annual Internet Conference that the Microsoft-branded devices will "look and feel as good as the iPod for as little as $50".
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, said manufacturers are developing a "multitude'' of players that will work with its online service, which will go live later this year. That gives customers more choices than they have with the Apple service, which works only with the iPod, Mehdi said.
Nice Price too...
if this is the case:
"and proven incompetency should never be rewarded, either in the boardroom or in politics."
So... If that's the case,You'll be looking to fire Steve Jobs again? (Or at least have him return a jet & some gifted stock?)
1990 marketshare - 50%
1995 marketshare - 10%
1999 marketshare - 5%
2001 marketshare - 3%
2003 marketshare - >2%
Amazing how he manages to cut this in half every year or so, huh?
Duke, This was TOOOOO Funny!
"You know you are right NOTHING works as well in Windows as it does in COBAL.
Take this CTR-ALT-DEL thingy. IT IS NOT INTUITIVE. I AGREE WITH YOU IT DOES NOT A GOOD USER INTERFACE. SEE! It simply doesn't wo "
Oh, Man! I just about fell over laughing at that...
Duke, You're the King!
Dang.
I'll try not to miscontrue... I'll walk instead, Unless Miss Construe wants to give me a ride.
Time to park the SUVs & pick up an old Suzuki Samurai just for getting around.
"That'll be a relief."
You misconstrue.
You wont be paying 2.55 because gas is going UP! :))
Thanks Duke!
That'll be a relief. It ain't no fun paying 25 bucks for 10 bucks worth of gas.
On the plus side, it makes it much easier to stay home & watch the Stanley Cup finals... But what will I do next week?
C'mon Tampa Bay! Get it together...
Gotta keep the Cup out of Canada. ;)
P.S. I'm lovin' your posts on S.I. , They're funnier than a jonkai earnings report explanation.
Nice Dow Movement today...
Due to the Pres? Or Gas Prices hopefully receding?
All I know is I'm sick of $2.55 gasoline.
Bootz, I haven't seen an answer:
Is Paypal a viable option for you?
(anything that keeps the post office out of the loop is a plus!)
Let me know, An extra $20 to wager on the Stanley Cup Championship would come in handy.
P.S. Congrats on the new dog.
ACE
RDF? or revisionist history on Cringely's part?
"Apple said it sold 70 million iTunes songs the first year of the Apple Music Store, but their target, believe it or not, was ONE million songs. That was the expectation Apple set with record company executives."
Actually the target was 100 MILLIONsongs.
It was widely publicized.
Just as it was when they only sold 2/3rds of that.
Two faced revisionist history, or clueless 2 facedness?
Or just a dose of Steve's Reality Distortion Field?
was i talking to you? NO.
Bootz, you have a different definition of PER CAPITA?
"China's per capita income is so small simply because it has so many poor people"
No disrespect intended, but...DUH!
PER CAPITA: "A distribution made equally to the number of persons".
"It doesn't follow that it doesn't have a significant growing class of consumers."
I never said that it didn't. I did say that with respect to their social economy, they aren't likely to pay the equivalent of up to $10 per song to download tunes. I also said iTMS has to start from "square one" to acquire territory rights to sell each & every one of those tunes. This has nothing to do with the RIAA, it has to do with the territorial rights (or lack of them) for the labels thses artists are signed to here.) For example, a certain artist had records released on Arista & Capitol in the USA, Alfa & Pony Canyon in Japan, & Pye in the U.K. , all because each deal was separate due to territory.
Multiply that maneuver x 400,000 & you'll understand why you can't even get iTMS in Canada. I can pretty much guarantee you that the label who paid for the actual recording is goingto want first crack at releasing that specific material in any newly opened territory. (whether it's online distribution, or not)
"And it's a billion-plus people, not 100 billion"
My mistake... typed too fast.
Heck, I thought you made money off SINA?
I did.
Bootz: Do you do Paypal?
I just set that up in the last few weeks.
Bootz, agreed,
But then, I have the wasted hard drive space back, & they don't.
Bootz,
Sorry, I missed it. A recent email? After our discussion of the last 0.04 sec game?
Yofie-WAKE UP
"Interesting numbers when you consider that QuickTime doesn't come pre-installed on Windows PCs, but WMP does."
You'd be hard pressed to find a PC from a major manufacturer such as Dell, HP/Compaq, Gateway, Alienware, etc. that doesn't come with QuitTime pre-installed. (I know, because it's usually the first thing deleted, followed by Real Player & Music Match Jukebox.)
Go check the "included software" list for any of them.
Bootz, Got your message:
Will try to respond during Happy hour tomorrow. (wasn't allowed to now, I tried..) In the meantime I'll see if I can find out anything else. Is there a good steakhouse near you that does gift certificates? We can do the Lakers-Spurs $20 dinner wager, if you're up for it...
P.S. Now I bet you're feeling like a genius for offing TASR when you did, huh?
What a difference a week makes.
ACE
Microsoft's Universal Audio Architecture Initiative Gains Momentum
29 April 2004, 09:01am ET
Microsoft Announces Availability of First HD Audio Class Driver for Next-Generation Products
Microsoft Corp. today announced broad support for the Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) initiative, which will help to ensure an improved audio experience and improved audio device driver support for users of Windows.
Microsoft also announced the availability of the first version of the Microsoft High Definition Audio Class Driver, based on the High Definition (HD) Audio specification developed by Intel Corporation. Through the UAA initiative, Microsoft also is delivering a set of Windows audio class drivers based on other key audio technologies, including USB Audio and 1394 Audio.
Universal Audio Architecture is a Microsoft-led initiative to provide a transparent "it just works" consumer experience and to improve the quality of audio on Windows-based PCs.
Announced first at WinHEC 2002, the UAA initiative was established by Microsoft not only to enhance consumer audio experiences, but also to lower support costs, improve the functionality and quality of PC audio for current and future operating systems, and save time and resources for manufacturers.
The Microsoft UAA HD Audio Class Driver 1.0 is available as an out-of-band release for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server(TM) 2003. For future operating system releases, Microsoft intends to ship the UAA class drivers as part of the operating system. The Microsoft UAA initiative proposes UAA class driver compliance from audio solutions on all PCs running Windows.
"As high-quality, reliable and feature-rich audio becomes increasingly important to PC owners and manufacturers, an audio specification is needed that will reduce the complications of compatibility, improve functionality and decrease high manufacturing costs," said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "Universal Audio Architecture and High Definition Audio solve these problems. Together with Intel and a growing list of industry partner companies, we're taking steps toward guaranteed device support, glitch-free audio and the best sound quality available."
Microsoft's collaboration around UAA with Intel and others will provide consumers with consistent audio functionality and enable a number of key benefits, including the following:
-- Simpler installation of audio peripherals
-- Higher performance: Minimum CPU time consumed when streaming, while taking advantage of increased bandwidth
-- Glitch-free audio
-- Ability to update the operating system while guaranteeing high-quality audio performance
-- More stable and secure audio for server applications
-- Fewer drivers and upgrades required, and less driver code to be developed, tested and supported
-- Reduction in support calls and returns
"The PC is a versatile platform for the delivery of digital media, and consumers are increasingly looking to the PC to power their home-theater- quality experiences," said Thomas Loza, technology initiatives manager at Intel. "The availability of a Microsoft High Definition Audio Class Driver is a significant step forward in delivering on the audio performance expectations for today's platforms."
Manufacturers today are frequently moving toward system-integrated audio instead of stand-alone PCI audio chips, which are usually on add-in cards. This system integration helps lower costs and improve convenience. Before the emergence of Intel's High Definition Audio specification, however, each vendor had to create a separate driver to work with digital audio controllers, making development cumbersome and complicated. The High Definition Audio specification provides a common audio host controller interface that allows the Microsoft UAA HD Audio Class Driver to provide audio support and extend the capabilities of PC audio for all users of Windows.
Support for UAA Initiative
Support for UAA-supported technologies has grown significantly in the last year and is backed by leading chipset and codec manufacturing, PC manufacturers, and audio modem vendors such as these:
Agere Systems Inc., Analog Devices Inc., ATI Technologies Inc., C-Media Electronics Inc., Conexant Systems Inc., First International Computer Inc., Foxconn Electronics Inc., Fujitsu, Intel, Motorola Inc., Nvidia Corp., Realtek Semiconductor Corp., SigmaTel Inc., Silicon Integrated Systems Corp., Silicon Laboratories Inc., Smart Link Ltd., ULi Electronics Inc. and VIA Technologies Inc. These companies support the primary goal of the UAA initiative, bringing a streamlined and transparent high-quality audio experience to consumers.
Bootz, I don't know.
I'm unable to replicate the issue without clicking your link.
Sorry I couldn't be more help there. As long as you're on DSL, I can't understand why that issue is happening
Y'got me, Yofie...
"Ace: Launch has a lot...
But what's with the kooky "must use Netscape 4.7x" for Macintosh users?"
Y'got me... I never get that, but then again, I don't use either Netscape or a Mac.
Blue, Is this what you're looking for?
Get thyself to launch.com : almost all the videos you could ever think of are there.
http://search.launch.yahoo.com/search/lsearch/all?p=aha
20% Redemption is 4 times what they got.
Isn't a 20% redemption rate pretty good...
Not really... But you only got 5% of the redemption possibilities, not 20%.
5% falls in to that all too familiar "beleaguered" tag that Apple seems destined to wear, for the life of the company.
Bootz, Be glad you sold TASR
Looks like it took another beat down today. Getting closer to your sell point again.
Pepsi Tune WAS included.
Dilleet found it, so I don't have to.
"Astonishing number on Pepsi iTunes redemptions, 5 million songs...
It is still too early in the masses learning curve, to offer downloadable premiums, apparently. None of the store clerks I questioned about the Pepsi iTunes promotion, 'got it' or knew anything about it.
Considering that most Pepsis are about .25 per can for 12 oz, the 20 oz bottle has to be a failure since they ask between .99-1.25 @ for them. Pepsi hoped to use iTunes to make a killing on an overpriced Pepsi package.
This does not bode well for future co-promotions
http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5201676.html
It also notes that those 5 million songs were included in the 70 million number, so hyperbole is alive and well in Cupertino."
"Cotton noted that the yellow-capped bottles with the Apple song codes were late in reaching some key markets."
LATE? COnsidering there's less than 2 days left before they all expire, & Apple's home state still doen't have yellow capped iToons bottles. The ad campaign was a California no-show.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm stepping out for a giveaway that the product IS actually there. Baskin Robbins Free Scoop day. (Just like Ben & Jerry's yesterday)
Steve Jobs offers update on iTMS sales predictions
Apple CEO Steve Jobs will offer an update on the iTunes Music Store one year after its launch.
http://www.macnn.com/news/24417
Predicts 100 million downloads, delivers a shortfall of 30 million dowloads ( free songs included. )
[Suppressed Sound Link]
Can music keep Microsoft growing?
Watch for Janus this summer. Its adoption will say a lot about Microsoft's growth prospects.
By Eric Hellweg, CNN/Money contributing columnist
SAN FRANCISCO (CNN/Money) - When Microsoft reports its third-quarter earnings tomorrow, expect renewed debate over whether the company still deserves its designation as a growth stock.
Detractors will point to the fact that its next big new product, Windows Longhorn, won't arrive until 2006. While I'm hardly a Microsoft cheerleader, I do think the company has quite a few more surprises in store.
For my money (though I don't have any investments in Microsoft), the company's formidable research and development budget gives it ample claim to growth status. Despite its massive R&D operations, Microsoft is often chided for unveiling "me too" technology, advances that merely catch up to the market.
But I'm watching a development from Redmond's Windows Media labs that's scheduled for public unveiling in July. If you're a Microsoft investor -- or a fan of (or investor in) digital-music services -- you'll want to pay close attention as well.
The technology is called Janus, and it could significantly alter the existing digital-music market.
The digital-music models
Here's what it's all about. Right now, several digital-music entities offer subscription models instead of, or in addition to, pay-per-download services.
This means that customers of RealNetworks's (RNWK: Research, Estimates) Rhapsody service can pay $9.95 per month to have access to the 625,000 songs the company offers in a streaming format.
Roxio's Napster lets people download as many songs as they want per month, as long as they continue to pay their monthly subscription fee. If a user stops paying, those songs disappear from his or her hard drive.
These services have yet to catch on and capture the zeitgeist as Apple's iTunes Music Store has, for a couple of key reasons.
First, consumers haven't yet glommed on to the idea of a subscription for music; they don't relate to music the way they do to, say, cable television or an Internet service provider.
Second, and I think just as important, is that these subscription services don't yet allow users to play their songs on portable devices such as the iPod or Dell's (DELL: Research, Estimates) Digital Jukebox.
Without portability, these services are missing out on a huge market segment. Last week In-Stat/MDR released a study that found that 23 percent of U.S. households currently own some kind of portable digital-music player.
Meet Janus
Microsoft's Janus technology allows subscription services to offer users the ability to carry their subscription songs on portable devices, with the same caveat: If the user stops paying his or her subscription fee, the songs disappear.
With Janus, however, subscribers can sync up with their music services and throw 100,000 songs onto their portable players in one sitting. Or they could check in every Tuesday to automatically download all the new releases for that day.
"Janus will dramatically change the proposition of the subscription services," says Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray. "It's pretty significant." Piper Jaffray has had an investment banking relationship with Roxio in the past 12 months.
If Janus is released when expected in July (Microsoft wouldn't comment on the technology or its release schedule), it could shake things up for companies such as Apple.
"Janus is clearly aimed at Apple," says Phil Leigh, an analyst with Inside Digital Media.
I've long argued that 99 cents per song is too expensive, and now that the labels are experimenting with charging more than that amount -- and significantly more than the usual $9.95 for an album -- I think a window of opportunity is emerging for Microsoft's Janus technology.
One music industry executive told me about some upcoming music service launches and said, "We're all excited about Janus. We think this will change the landscape in a big way."
So will Janus alone fuel Microsoft's continued growth? Of course not. But I'm bullish on Janus's long-term prospects, and I think it could serve as an example of the kind of market-shifting technological advance Redmond can produce to keep Microsoft in the good graces of growth investors.
Microsoft Reports Strong Third Quarter Revenue
22 April 2004, 4:15pm ET
Broad-based Demand Drives 17% Revenue Growth
REDMOND, Wash., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced revenue of $9.18 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, a 17% increase over $7.84 billion in the prior year. Operating income for the third quarter was $1.28 billion, compared to $2.74 billion in the prior year. Net income and diluted earnings per share for the third quarter were $1.32 billion and $0.12 per share. These results include stock- based compensation expense of $748 million (pre-tax) equating to $501 million (after-tax) or $0.05 per share, and legal charges of $2.53 billion (pre-tax) equating to $1.89 billion (after-tax) or $0.17 per share related to the settlement of the Sun Microsystems Inc. litigation and a fine imposed by the European Commission. For the previous year, net income and earnings per share for the third quarter were $2.14 billion and $0.20 per share, including stock- based compensation expense of $978 million (pre-tax) equating to $655 million (after-tax) or $0.06 per share.
"Broad-based demand and solid execution across all our businesses drove outstanding results for the quarter," said John Connors, chief financial officer at Microsoft. "All of our businesses met or exceeded our expectations this quarter with the Client, Information Worker and Server and Tools businesses growing a combined 17%. Overall corporate IT spending continued to improve and we expect to see healthy demand through the end of our fiscal year."
Information Worker revenue grew 18% over the prior year as Office experienced strong sales across all customer segments. Worldwide retail license sales of Office 2003 since its launch in October 2003 were double those of Office XP over its first five months. Office OEM sales grew 35% benefiting from increased adoption of Office 2003 including penetration of the Small Business and Professional editions. Customers acquiring Office during the quarter included Circuit City, Del Monte Foods, Perot Systems, The Thomson Corporation, and Unisys Corporation.
Server and Tools grew a solid 19% driven by healthy demand for Windows(R), Exchange, SQL Server(TM), and Visual Studio(R) products. Rapid customer adoption of Windows Server(TM) 2003 continued with new licenses growing 31%. "Windows Server 2003 is our most successful server operating system product ever with customer license sales doubling any previous version over a comparable period since launch," said Eric Rudder, senior vice president, Server and Tools business. "It is also rewarding to see customers and partners excited about the recently released Windows Small Business Server 2003 product, as is reflected by our early strong sales and already having 47,000 partners trained to deploy and service the platform."
MSN(R) reported another profitable quarter on robust revenue growth of 16% over last year driven by continued success in growing its advertising business. MSN advertising revenue increased 43% during the quarter, again showing strength in both traditional online and search-based advertising. Customers and advertisers continue to recognize MSN as a worldwide leader in online services with more than 350 million unique users to the MSN network, over 170 million active MSN Hotmail(R) unique users, and more than 120 million active MSN Messenger unique users worldwide on a monthly basis.
Business Outlook
Management offers the following guidance for the quarter ending June 30, 2004, which includes stock-based compensation expenses in accordance with SFAS 123:
-- Revenue is expected to be in the range of $8.9 billion and $9.0
billion.
-- Operating income is expected to be in the range of $2.8 billion and
$2.9 billion, including stock-based compensation expense of
approximately $750 million.
-- Diluted earnings per share are expected to be approximately $0.23,
including stock-based compensation expense of approximately $0.05.
Management offers the following guidance for the full fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, which includes stock-based compensation expenses in accordance with SFAS 123:
-- Revenue is expected to be in the range of $37.8 billion and $38.2
billion.
-- Operating income is expected to be in the range of $15.9 billion and
$16.3 billion, including stock-based compensation expense of
approximately $2.5 billion.
-- Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.16 and
$1.18, including stock-based compensation expense of approximately
$0.15.
Webcast Details
Microsoft will hold an audio webcast at 2:30 p.m. PDT (5:30 p.m. EDT) today with John Connors and Scott Di Valerio to discuss details regarding the company's performance for the quarter and other forward-looking information. The session may be accessed at http://www.microsoft.com/msft . The webcast will be available for replay through the close of business on April 22, 2005.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are "forward-looking statements" are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors such as: entry into markets with vigorous competition, market acceptance of new products and services, continued acceptance of existing products and services, changes in licensing programs, product price discounts, delays in product development and related product release schedules, and reliance on sole source suppliers for key components of Xbox that could result in component shortages and delays in product delivery, any of which may cause revenues and income to fall short of anticipated levels; obsolete inventory or product returns by distributors, resellers and retailers; warranty and other claims on hardware products such as Xbox; changes in the rate of PC shipments; technological shifts; the support of third party software developers for new or existing platforms; the availability of competitive products or services such as the Linux operating system at prices below our prices or for no charge; the ability to have access to MSN service distribution channels that are controlled by third parties; the risk of unanticipated increased costs for network services; the continued ability to protect the company's intellectual property rights; the ability to obtain on acceptable terms the right to incorporate in the company's products and services technology patented by others; changes in product and service mix; maturing product life cycles; product sale terms and conditions; the risk that actual or perceived security vulnerabilities in our products could adversely affect our revenues; implementation of operating cost structures that align with revenue growth; the financial condition of our customers and vendors; variations in equity compensation expenses under FAS 123, which will fluctuate based on factors such as the actual number of stock awards issued and the market value of the awards on the dates of grant; unavailability of insurance; uninsured losses; adverse results in litigation; the effects of terrorist activity and armed conflict such as disruptions in general economic activity and changes in our operations and security arrangements; the level of corporate information technology spending and changes in general economic conditions that affect demand for computer hardware or software; currency fluctuations; trade sanctions or changes to U.S. tax law resulting from the World Trade Organization decision with respect to the extraterritorial income provisions of U.S. tax law; and financial market volatility or other changes affecting the value of our investments that may result in a reduction in carrying value and recognition of losses including impairment charges.
For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Microsoft's business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Issues and Uncertainties" sections of Microsoft's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Microsoft's investor relations department at (800) 285-7772 or at Microsoft's investor relations website at http://www.microsoft.com/msft .
All information in this release is as of April 22, 2004. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company's expectations.
Microsoft set to argue EC ruling is out of step
LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - "Microsoft is set to argue that the European Commission's landmark decision against it is out of step with business realities and legal precedent, the Financial Times Web site reported on Wednesday.
Last month, the world's largest software maker was told by European Union regulators to pay a 497 million euro ($587.8 million) fine, decouple Windows Media Player from the Windows operating system and provide information on how its server software for networked computers works.
Microsoft said at that time it planned to appeal the decision.
Citing a company briefing note, which the newspaper said sets out the arguments Microsoft is likely to use in its appeal, the Financial Times said Microsoft attacks the European Commission's working methods, as well as the conclusions it reaches.
Microsoft accuses the Commission of "seeking to make new law ... reducing incentives for research and development that are essential to global economic growth," the Financial Times reported.
The newspaper said Microsoft had circulated the note to its lawyers and economists ahead of its appeal, expected to be lodged later this year.
The newspaper said the Commission's ruling, set to be published shortly, argues that Microsoft choked off competition in the markets for server systems by denying its rivals interface information and illegally "tied" its Media Player program to Windows, reducing demand for rival products.
Microsoft argues that the Commission decision requires it "to make available to its competitors well over 100 communications protocols" for which it holds "dozens of patents."
As well as launching an appeal, the company will ask for a suspension of the Commission orders for it to license such information and to offer computer manufacturers in Europe a version of Windows without Media Player.
The company says the Commission's stance on sharing information "rests on a very narrow product market definition that bears little resemblance to the real world."
Officials at Microsoft's U.S. headquarters were not immediately available for comment. "
Mario Monti looks to be cutting of his nose to spite his face here... (JMHO) Media Player's market share is what it is because Microsoft happened to build a better mousetrap.
My desktop Dell came with RealPlayer, Quicktime, MusicMatch Jukebox,& Media Player all pre-installed.
The first 3 have seen near zero use, past the first week's checking them out, due to the 4th (Windows Media Player) doing just about everything I ever would need an AudioVisual jukebox/player application to do.
The upgrade to WM9 pretty much proved the others aren't likely to be needed by me anytime soon.
Oddly enough, Even though I can use WMP to watch a DVD on the desktop, I tend to still favor WinDVD for that.
TASR Misfires...
-34.31 (-28.90%)
OUCH! I feel your pain, Bootz.
Fortunately, I don't share it.
That amp:
Is a Vox AC-30 which hasn't changed much in 40 years.
The amplifier of choice for Brian May & ummmm, The Beatles... (Remember them? Steve Jobs does. Every time he writes a check with more than 6 zero's in it.)
Bootz, You were right! Rained out.
"San Antonio show Cancelled!
We have been informed by Lone Star Attractions, promoter of the concert, that Legs Diamond has cancelled their appearance for Saturday's show. Consequently, the promoter has decided to postpone the entire show. This comes as a complete shock to us. We are very disappointed, as we were looking forward to playing for all our friends and fans in San Antonio. If you have any further questions, you can direct them to the show's promoter at Lone Star Attractions, 210-494-9477. "
Happy Easter, Jailees, Attendants, Hecklers.
And Lazarus... Thanx for the beautiful images.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a date with the Easter Bunny. (Miss April)