Author: David

The recent war between Google and Apple over the place of maps in iOS underscores how firmly the tech world has come to favor smartphones as the ultimate convergence device.  That Apple and Google are now locked in a struggle that formerly belonged to Navteq and Tom Tom cements the fact that, by my estimation, … Continue reading On Maps and Apps

Following a lukewarm IPO and bloody second day, Facebook’s third day on the market was pretty lousy, too. An interesting breakdown of who owns what part of FB is available here. Continue reading Facebook Stock Sinks Nearly 9%

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  It was the time of the SUV, the flip-phone, and cargo pants.  Google was just a search engine and Apple made PCs. Heck, there was even a website called MySpace.  In seeking to relive the glory days, of, oh, 2003, AOL recently relaunched AIM, the … Continue reading Return of the Early-00s: AIM is Back!

For the second time in the last few months, Apple has passed ExxonMobil in market capitalization, to become the most valuable corporation on earth, worth some $468 Billion, as of Friday, compared to ExxonMobil’s paltry $405 Billion.  However you shake it, that’s a lot of iPads – or gas station visits. Though this is the … Continue reading The ‘pad is Mightier than the Pump

I’d like to echo Ben’s assessment of college tuition prices at free- or inexpensive colleges, and I’d like to do so with an anecdote.  The other day, I was walking outside the Hunter College building and saw students with oaktag signs protesting $150/semester increases in tuition.  The following day, in the hallway, I saw several … Continue reading Seconding the Motion

Here at Ben & David, we’re die hard Stones fans and we always make sure to keep tabs on whatever Mick & Co are up to. But this summer is shaping up to be the July (okay, fine, August) of Jagger, with two songs released within weeks of each other, either performed by or riffing … Continue reading The Summer of Mick

El Goog picked up the handset maker – and its attractive patent portfolio – for a cool $12.5 Billion. Up until 2008, Motorola had languished in its failure to produce a viable iPhone competitor. But in ’09, Moto executed an effective turnaround and has found success on the Android platform with its attractive Droid series. … Continue reading Google Picks Up Motorola Mobility for $12.5 Billion

DJIA Down 300, 400 500 600 No one, save bears and gold bugs, were safe today. Only one stock in the S & P 500 was in the black, with everything else steeply in the red. If you’re confident that the market has bottomed out it’s a great buying opportunity. Continue reading Monday, Bloody Monday

I’m about as Republican as they come, but Sarah Palin excels at getting on my nerves. When she first burst onto the political scene in 2008, she was viewed as a sort of hayseed, salt o’ the earth soccer mom cum VP contender. It became immediately obvious that despite her spunk, Sarah Palin didn’t really … Continue reading Sarah Palin: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Keep Unqualified Political Opinions to Myself