Didn’t have time to keep up with every ripple in the technology pond this week? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from last week.
Nokia bets big on Mango-powered Lumia 800, 710
This week, Finnish phone-maker Nokia launched the Lumia 800 and 710 — the company’s first two phones powered by Windows Phone 7.5. The new phones have impressive specs and feature Nokia-exclusive apps like turn-by-turn navigation, a public transportation guide, an ESPN hub, and a radio-like music service, but they won’t even arrive in the U.S. until 2012. As Jeffrey Van Camp spells out, that means Nokia will have to act fast to stay relevant. We’ve got photos of the new Nokia phones, which come in a variety of color, right here.
Steve Jobs: Angry, opinionated, brilliant
The tech world is still buzzing about Steve Jobs this week thanks to a new, hugely successful biography written (with cooperation from Jobs) by author Walter Isaacson. The late Apple innovator was also featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes in a two-part segment that gives fans a little more insight into the life of the man who brought the company back from the dead. We also found out what the biggest revelations are in the newly-released biography, including thoughts about rivals like Bill Gates and a desire to keep third-party apps off of the iPhone.
IBM takes on a new CEO
IBM’s current CEO Sam Palmisano will be retiring at the end of this year, and the company has decided to take on Senior Vice President (and IBM veteran since 1981) Virginia Rometty. The company recently surpassed Microsoft as the second most valuable technology company in the world, and according to sources, much of that success has been due to Rommetty’s contributions.
Netflix continues its downfall
This week we found out that Netflix lost 800,000 subscribers in Q3, despite a jump in the company’s revenue. Customers have been dissatisfied with the company’s recent changes and fumbles, and it’s showing in the numbers. It’s anticipated that the company will go into the red in Q4 to pay for international expansion. The company’s CEO also recently detailed new Netflix strategies that seem oddly similar to those of rival HBO.
Rest assured, HP is still making PCs
Back in August, rumblings from HP’s former CEO Leo Apotheker that the company was considering selling off the Personal Systems Group (HP PCs as we know them) in favor of other areas of business. This week we heard back from current CEO Meg Whitman that despite those considerations, HP will continue making PCs for the time being.
