Groans and moans over product tying (aka bundling) are commonplace. When companies sell products as a package deal only, consumers frequently feel they’re getting the short end of the stick because they’re being “forced” to purchase products they don’t want. The classic example is cable television. The sports fan only wants to watch ESPN and …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/07/netflix-missses-an-opportunity-by-un-tying-its-services/
Jul 08
Ponzi Scheme at the local PTA
Another Ponzi scheme has been uncovered. While the perpetrators are not exactly Bernie Madoff, they did manage to bilk over 40 “investors” out of approximately $4 million. As is common with Ponzi schemes, the victims were concentrated within a tight social network which offers the illusion of trust and the insinuation that the members are …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/07/ponzi-scheme-at-the-local-pta/
Jul 07
House passes patent changes without altering damages in litigation
On June 23, 2011, the House of Representatives approved the renamed Leahy–Smith America Invents Act (H.R. 1249) by a bipartisan vote of 304-117. In March, the Senate passed S. 23, “The America Invents Act,” with larger bipartisan approval. Although there are differences between the House and Senate versions, I suspect that these differences will be …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/07/house-passes-patent-changes-without-altering-damages-in-litigation/
Jun 23
CFOs are dissatisfied with Big 4 Accounting firms
If you have $32,400 to spend on a survey of the Big Four accounting firms, then BTI Consulting will sell you their recent survey of chief financial officers of major U.S. public companies. But, our headline is free. Only 6 in 10 clients would recommend their Big 4 auditor to others, and 18.5% of companies are …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/cfos-are-dissatisfied-with-big-4-accounting-firms/
Jun 22
Amazon’s Junk Ebook Problem and a Computer Forensics Approach to Solve It
Recently Reuters ran a story regarding (i) Amazon’s ebooks business that is part of its highly popular Kindle readers and (ii) reader applications for phone and table devices. One consequence of these offerings is they provide a way for writers to self-publish their own work for free. Unfortunately whenever the words Internet and free are combined, …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/amazons-junk-ebook-problem-and-a-computer-forensics-approach-to-solve-it/
Jun 22
Amazon's Junk Ebook Problem and a Computer Forensics Approach to Solve It
Recently Reuters ran a story regarding (i) Amazon’s ebooks business that is part of its highly popular Kindle readers and (ii) reader applications for phone and table devices. One consequence of these offerings is they provide a way for writers to self-publish their own work for free. Unfortunately whenever the words Internet and free are combined, …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/amazons-junk-ebook-problem-and-a-computer-forensics-approach-to-solve-it-2/
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/eddifice-rex/
Jun 13
Beware Of Poll Results
The Associated Press (AP) does its readers a disservice by suggesting that its most recent May 2011 survey results are indicative of future election outcomes. AP makes significantly incorrect claims about likely election results because its poll (i) starts with a more Democrat-friendly profile, and (ii) is not based on likely voters. The AP poll starts with …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/beware-of-poll-results/
Jun 09
HP TouchPad vs the iPad 2: And Fight!
HP recently announced that their Touchpad tablet computer will be available for order on June 19, with prices identical to a similarly configured iPad 2. Sales of the TouchPad will be looked at closely as the answer to a very big question: Did HP make a mistake paying 1.2 billion dollars for Palm? Palm’s share …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/hp-touchpad-vs-the-ipad-2-and-fight/
Jun 07
The Worst Example of Executive Data Security Ever?
Fabrice Tourre of Goldman Sachs has the distinction of being the only person sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission for fraud in selling mortgage backed securities. While that may remain his primary claim to fame (thanks to a front-page article in the New York Times), there may be a secondary distinction added: the worst handling of …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/the-worst-example-of-executive-data-security-ever/
Jun 17
Eddifice Rex
June 17, 2011
It isn’t often that a story comes along that combines my original profession, architecture, with my current, computers. This was one. Steve Jobs arrived the day after Apple’s WWDC11 conference, with very short notice, at the Cupertino City Council meeting. No surprise, they added him to the agenda. His purpose? To display to the city council …
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