ZDNet UK Nibs
This is where to come for information briefs to complement ZDNet UK's news, reviews and comment.
Tuesday 23 June 2009, 12:42 PM
ZDNet UK upgrades - more speeds, more tweets
It may be summer, but we haven’t been lazing around on the beach. (It is an English summer, after all)
Instead, we’ve been working away behind the scenes on the site – part of a project that’ll be accelerating later in the year. For now, here are a couple of new and improved bits of ZDNet UK that you might enjoy.
First, we’ve spiffed up our Broadband Speed Test. That’s always been very popular, but after a few years sterling service it was showing its age. When we looked at it, we had a choice – we could throw the kitchen sink at it and add hundreds of tweaky meters, or we could simplify it and make it a one-click-that’s-it check of your speed.
And that’s what we’ve done. Just click on the button that says where you are and you’ll get your speed back in a trice. Do it as much as you like, when you like – perfect if you suspect your ISP of easing back on the throttle.
Second, we’re going to town on Twitter. You can follow one or all of our site Twitter feeds – news, reviews, blogs and the site as a whole, and you can follow our personal feeds too if you like – just don’t forget, what we say there is not ZDNet UK speaking, it’s human beings. Beware.
You can join in too. If you’ve got a blog on ZDNet UK, then you’ve automatically got an RSS feed for it. And if you point that feed at an RSS to Twitter service – we recommend Twitterfeed, but there are plenty of alternatives – then what you post on your blog will automatically appear in Twitter.
Can’t say fairer than that. You’ll also get all the other advantages of blogging on ZDNet, where we read your stuff and promote the good bits on our community page; you’re part of a unique, global network of IT content – and a community unmatched on the Web. It’s one of the best ways to get a name for yourself (apart from reality TV. But even The Apprentice doesn’t auto-twitter your blog posts, and Britain’s Got Talent gets very few hits for virtualisation).
Stick with us, as the young people say on Twitter, for the win.
Rupert
Your ZDNet UK Staff Personal Twitter List:
Karen Friar, community and news editor
David Meyer, senior reporter
Tom Espiner, reporter
Charles McLellan, reviews editor
Toby Wolpe, senior editor
Rupert Goodwins, editor
Instead, we’ve been working away behind the scenes on the site – part of a project that’ll be accelerating later in the year. For now, here are a couple of new and improved bits of ZDNet UK that you might enjoy.
First, we’ve spiffed up our Broadband Speed Test. That’s always been very popular, but after a few years sterling service it was showing its age. When we looked at it, we had a choice – we could throw the kitchen sink at it and add hundreds of tweaky meters, or we could simplify it and make it a one-click-that’s-it check of your speed.
And that’s what we’ve done. Just click on the button that says where you are and you’ll get your speed back in a trice. Do it as much as you like, when you like – perfect if you suspect your ISP of easing back on the throttle.
Second, we’re going to town on Twitter. You can follow one or all of our site Twitter feeds – news, reviews, blogs and the site as a whole, and you can follow our personal feeds too if you like – just don’t forget, what we say there is not ZDNet UK speaking, it’s human beings. Beware.
You can join in too. If you’ve got a blog on ZDNet UK, then you’ve automatically got an RSS feed for it. And if you point that feed at an RSS to Twitter service – we recommend Twitterfeed, but there are plenty of alternatives – then what you post on your blog will automatically appear in Twitter.
Can’t say fairer than that. You’ll also get all the other advantages of blogging on ZDNet, where we read your stuff and promote the good bits on our community page; you’re part of a unique, global network of IT content – and a community unmatched on the Web. It’s one of the best ways to get a name for yourself (apart from reality TV. But even The Apprentice doesn’t auto-twitter your blog posts, and Britain’s Got Talent gets very few hits for virtualisation).
Stick with us, as the young people say on Twitter, for the win.
Rupert
Your ZDNet UK Staff Personal Twitter List:
Karen Friar, community and news editor
David Meyer, senior reporter
Tom Espiner, reporter
Charles McLellan, reviews editor
Toby Wolpe, senior editor
Rupert Goodwins, editor
Wednesday 20 May 2009, 4:13 PM
Colour, clouds and community: changes at ZDNet UK
You will have noticed by now that we've got a new logo - up there, to the left - and a new, less cluttered and more colourful header around it. Together with a few other cosmetic tweaks, these are the first steps in a whole set of changes we've got planned for the rest of the year. including making search faster and more effective and spiffing up our community side to make it easier to join up and more fun to join in.
We're also constantly looking at content and focus. Cloud computing, for example: there's a lot of hype there, but we think that it's got the potential to be more of a game-changing technology than perhaps even its proponents realise. So we're investing in cloud coverage - keep an eye out for the Cloudwatch logo.
Lots more planned for the rest of 2009, so keep checking in.
We're also constantly looking at content and focus. Cloud computing, for example: there's a lot of hype there, but we think that it's got the potential to be more of a game-changing technology than perhaps even its proponents realise. So we're investing in cloud coverage - keep an eye out for the Cloudwatch logo.
Lots more planned for the rest of 2009, so keep checking in.
Thursday 30 April 2009, 12:15 PM
Smartphones, smart move? Take our survey and find out
Do you use an iPhone for work? Would you like to? We're finding out how, what and why people are integrating smartphones into enterprise IT - and, perhaps more interestingly, why they might not be.
You can help! Take our survey - it's ten minutes, fifteen tops, but hurry as it ends on Friday 1st May. Let us know your experiences, opinions and predictions for the role pocket technology can play in business systems.
Once we've got the data, we'll analyse it and write it up. We can't say whether there'll be the sort of impeccable business case that shows incredible return on investment if the company buys everyone the latest iPhone, Android or Symbian device - but if there is, wouldn't you like to know about it? We certainly would.
So, please, let us know what's going on in your portable business technology world - and we'll do the rest.
Rupert Goodwins, editor, ZDNet UK
You can help! Take our survey - it's ten minutes, fifteen tops, but hurry as it ends on Friday 1st May. Let us know your experiences, opinions and predictions for the role pocket technology can play in business systems.
Once we've got the data, we'll analyse it and write it up. We can't say whether there'll be the sort of impeccable business case that shows incredible return on investment if the company buys everyone the latest iPhone, Android or Symbian device - but if there is, wouldn't you like to know about it? We certainly would.
So, please, let us know what's going on in your portable business technology world - and we'll do the rest.
Rupert Goodwins, editor, ZDNet UK
Friday 23 January 2009, 2:52 PM
Ballmer's email to employees about layoffs
The following is an e-mail Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sent to the software maker's workers on Thursday, as the company announced poor earnings and major layoffs.
From: Steve Ballmer
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 6:07 AM
Subject: Realigning Resources and Reducing Costs
In response to the realities of a deteriorating economy, we're taking important steps to realign Microsoft's business. I want to tell you about what we're doing and why.
Today we announced second quarter revenue of $16.6 billion. This number is an increase of just 2 percent compared with the second quarter of last year and it is approximately $900 million below our earlier expectations.
The fact that we are growing at all during the worst recession in two generations reflects our strong business fundamentals and is a testament to your hard work. Our products provide great value to our customers. Our financial position is solid. We have made long-term investments that continue to pay off.
But it is also clear that we are not immune to the effects of the economy. Consumers and businesses have reined in spending, which is affecting PC shipments and IT expenditures.
Our response to this environment must combine a commitment to long-term investments in innovation with prompt action to reduce our costs.
During the second quarter we started down the right path. As the economy deteriorated, we acted quickly. As a result, we reduced operating expenses during the quarter by $600 million. I appreciate the agility you have shown in enabling us to achieve this result.
Now we need to do more. We must make adjustments to ensure that our investments are tightly aligned with current and future revenue opportunities. The current environment requires that we continue to increase our efficiency.
As part of the process of adjustments, we will eliminate up to 5,000 positions in R&D, marketing, sales, finance, LCA, HR, and IT over the next 18 months, of which 1,400 will occur today. We'll also open new positions to support key investment areas during this same period of time. Our net headcount in these functions will decline by 2,000 to 3,000 over the next 18 months. In addition, our workforce in support, consulting, operations, billing, manufacturing, and data center operations will continue to change in direct response to customer needs.
Our leaders all have specific goals to manage costs prudently and thoughtfully. They have the flexibility to adjust the size of their teams so they are appropriately matched to revenue potential, to add headcount where they need to increase investments in order to ensure future success, and to drive efficiency.
To increase efficiency, we're taking a series of aggressive steps. We'll cut travel expenditures 20 percent and make significant reductions in spending on vendors and contingent staff. We've scaled back Puget Sound campus expansion and reduced marketing budgets. We'll also reduce costs by eliminating merit increases for FY10 that would have taken effect in September of this calendar year.
Each of these steps will be difficult. Our priority remains doing right by our customers and our employees. For employees who are directly affected, I know this will be a difficult time for you and I want to assure you that we will provide help and support during this transition. We have established an outplacement center in the Puget Sound region and we'll provide outplacement services in many other locations to help you find new jobs. Some of you may find jobs internally. For those who don't, we will also offer severance pay and other benefits.
The decision to eliminate jobs is a very difficult one. Our people are the foundation of everything we have achieved and we place the highest value on the commitment and hard work that you have dedicated to building this company. But we believe these job eliminations are crucial to our ability to adjust the company's cost structure so that we have the resources to drive future profitable growth. I encourage you to attend tomorrow's Town Hall at 9am PST in Cafe 34 or watch the Webcast.
While this is the most challenging economic climate we have ever faced, I want to reiterate my confidence in the strength of our competitive position and soundness of our approach.
With these changes in place, I feel confident that we will have the resources we need to continue to invest in long-term computing trends that offer the greatest opportunity to deliver value to our customers and shareholders, benefit to society, and growth for Microsoft.
With our approach to investing for the long term and managing our expenses, I know Microsoft will emerge an even stronger industry leader than it is today.
Thank you for your continued commitment and hard work.
Steve
From: Steve Ballmer
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 6:07 AM
Subject: Realigning Resources and Reducing Costs
In response to the realities of a deteriorating economy, we're taking important steps to realign Microsoft's business. I want to tell you about what we're doing and why.
Today we announced second quarter revenue of $16.6 billion. This number is an increase of just 2 percent compared with the second quarter of last year and it is approximately $900 million below our earlier expectations.
The fact that we are growing at all during the worst recession in two generations reflects our strong business fundamentals and is a testament to your hard work. Our products provide great value to our customers. Our financial position is solid. We have made long-term investments that continue to pay off.
But it is also clear that we are not immune to the effects of the economy. Consumers and businesses have reined in spending, which is affecting PC shipments and IT expenditures.
Our response to this environment must combine a commitment to long-term investments in innovation with prompt action to reduce our costs.
During the second quarter we started down the right path. As the economy deteriorated, we acted quickly. As a result, we reduced operating expenses during the quarter by $600 million. I appreciate the agility you have shown in enabling us to achieve this result.
Now we need to do more. We must make adjustments to ensure that our investments are tightly aligned with current and future revenue opportunities. The current environment requires that we continue to increase our efficiency.
As part of the process of adjustments, we will eliminate up to 5,000 positions in R&D, marketing, sales, finance, LCA, HR, and IT over the next 18 months, of which 1,400 will occur today. We'll also open new positions to support key investment areas during this same period of time. Our net headcount in these functions will decline by 2,000 to 3,000 over the next 18 months. In addition, our workforce in support, consulting, operations, billing, manufacturing, and data center operations will continue to change in direct response to customer needs.
Our leaders all have specific goals to manage costs prudently and thoughtfully. They have the flexibility to adjust the size of their teams so they are appropriately matched to revenue potential, to add headcount where they need to increase investments in order to ensure future success, and to drive efficiency.
To increase efficiency, we're taking a series of aggressive steps. We'll cut travel expenditures 20 percent and make significant reductions in spending on vendors and contingent staff. We've scaled back Puget Sound campus expansion and reduced marketing budgets. We'll also reduce costs by eliminating merit increases for FY10 that would have taken effect in September of this calendar year.
Each of these steps will be difficult. Our priority remains doing right by our customers and our employees. For employees who are directly affected, I know this will be a difficult time for you and I want to assure you that we will provide help and support during this transition. We have established an outplacement center in the Puget Sound region and we'll provide outplacement services in many other locations to help you find new jobs. Some of you may find jobs internally. For those who don't, we will also offer severance pay and other benefits.
The decision to eliminate jobs is a very difficult one. Our people are the foundation of everything we have achieved and we place the highest value on the commitment and hard work that you have dedicated to building this company. But we believe these job eliminations are crucial to our ability to adjust the company's cost structure so that we have the resources to drive future profitable growth. I encourage you to attend tomorrow's Town Hall at 9am PST in Cafe 34 or watch the Webcast.
While this is the most challenging economic climate we have ever faced, I want to reiterate my confidence in the strength of our competitive position and soundness of our approach.
With these changes in place, I feel confident that we will have the resources we need to continue to invest in long-term computing trends that offer the greatest opportunity to deliver value to our customers and shareholders, benefit to society, and growth for Microsoft.
With our approach to investing for the long term and managing our expenses, I know Microsoft will emerge an even stronger industry leader than it is today.
Thank you for your continued commitment and hard work.
Steve
Monday 5 January 2009, 5:54 PM
Steve Jobs's letter about his health
The following is a letter posted Monday by Apple CEO Steve Jobs to tell the company's customers about his health problems and the situation with his employment at the Mac maker. After Apple announced that Jobs would not be attending Macworld in San Francisco this week, rumours resurfaced about his health.
--------------------------------------------
Letter from Apple CEO Steve Jobs
Dear Apple Community,
For the first time in a decade, I'm getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.
Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.
I've decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.
As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.
Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been "robbing" me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.
The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment. But, just like I didn't lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple's CEO during my recovery.
I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple's CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.
So now I've said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.
Steve
--------------------------------------------
Letter from Apple CEO Steve Jobs
Dear Apple Community,
For the first time in a decade, I'm getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.
Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.
I've decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.
As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.
Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been "robbing" me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.
The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment. But, just like I didn't lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple's CEO during my recovery.
I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple's CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.
So now I've said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.
Steve
Previous
