Toluu : Silicon Valley Watcher - the business of disruption

Silicon Valley Watcher - the business of disruption

Former Financial Times journalist Tom Foremski and team reporting on the business of technology and media . Silicon Valley is becoming a Tech Media Valley.

Yahoo CEO Search: Here's My Pick . . .November 19

Businessweek reports:

What Yahoo needs, say management recruiters and analysts, is someone with the profile of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) CEO Mark V. Hurd. A low-key operating wizard from the relative tech backwater of NCR (NCR), Hurd has managed to turn around HP in the three short years since he joined. In fact, one source close to the search says Yahoo isn't ruling out an executive outside the Internet realm. "You need someone who doesn't have the ego of a rock star," says Dona Roche-Tarry, a partner at executive search firm CTPartners. "But the new person would need the strength of character to stand up to Yang and the board."

Here is my pick: Sean Maloney, Intel's executive VP and its chief sales and marketing officer.

Sean Maloney has been Intel's top trouble shooter for many years. He is the one that Intel relies on when troubled business groups need to be turned around. He always gets the toughest jobs at Intel.

He is one of the most capable executives in the tech industry right now. My contacts tell me he was in the running for CEO of H

No "Killer" Applications For Microsoft Robotics ToolkitNovember 18

There are no killer applications being developed by Microsoft's Robotics Developer Studio there are only "compelling applications," jokes Tandy Trower GM of Microsoft Robotics Group. The software giant today released a major new version of its toolkit that helps robotics researchers develop routines for controlling domestic robots.

Microsoft believes that domestic robots will become as common and as useful in the home as PCs are today. "We are still at an early stage, at the Apple II stage," says Mr Trower.

In the same way that Microsoft software propelled the microcomputer from a hobbyist tool and into a PC industry worth several hundred billion dollars, it hopes to do the same for the robotics industry.

At an event in San Francisco Monday evening, Microsoft partners showed off some of their creations programmed with applications developed by Microsoft software.

Here is a short video and interview with Mr Trower:

http://www.blip.tv/file/1482035

Microsoft Tries Blogger Outreach But How Serious Is It?November 17

On Monday, The Conversation Group set up a "Blogger Roundtable" for Microsoft's Online Services Group that invited leading bloggers to offer their advice on how to improve communications (please see end for who was there.)

It was an interesting exercise and although MSFT executives were quick to admit they had poor relations with bloggers I question how serious the software giant is in improving relations.

For a start, there was no one from Microsoft's several hundred strong global communications team present. I recently spoke at a large internal conference of its communications team and got great feedback and great questions, so I know they are many great people within Microsoft thinking a lot about blogger relations.

Also, Microsoft pays a fortune to its long time PR firm Waggener Edstrom yet there was no representation from this firm. I mentioned this to Ron Markezich, Microsoft VP and in charge of Online Services. "There was a guy from Wagg-Ed at the back of the room but he got bored and left a while ago," he said.

Seriously not serious . . .

Which makes me think that this exercise was not a serious attempt by Microsoft to figure out how it should relate to key influencers. This is a shame because Microsoft got some excellent advice from the group. But you can lead a horse to water...

How will that advice be translated into action i

Microsoft Launches New Online Services - Blogger Roundtable MondayNovember 17

Microsoft is launching new Online Services at an event Monday Morning at the St. Regis hotel in San Francisco (more details to come). I'll be part of a "Blogger Roundtable" at noon. I hope to see you there. Here is the line up:

David Spark (also as moderator)

From Microsoft:

Ron Markezich, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Online

David Howell, Director, Microsoft Online Engineering

Bharat Shah, General Manager, Microsoft Online Engineering

Eron Kelly, Sr. Director, Microsoft Online

Alex Payne, Director, Office Client Product Management

Andrew Kisslo, Sr. Product

Saturday Post: Are These The Four Horsemen Of The Financial Apocalypse?November 15

DK Matai, chairman of the ATCA Open writes an interesting essay on how this financial crisis will play out in the following article titled: The Four Scenarios: Debt Deflation, Hyperinflation, Quadrillion Play and Muddle Through.

The "Four Scenarios" brings to mind the "Four Horsemen" as a metaphor for describing these extraordinary times.

It's an interesting essay. I love the imagery of scenario #3 and that is my pick because governments think they have control but they do not and thus will continually put markets out of balance. And the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

IMHO, the thing to do is to let it all play itself out, since no one can understand the complexity of today's global markets.

[BTW, the third horseman rides a black horse and represents famine and carries a scale. Scarcity and judgement?!]

The Four Scenarios: Debt Deflation, Hyperinflation, Quadrillion Play and Muddle Through.

By DK Matai

From the vantage point of November 15th, 2008, whilst the Washington, DC, summit is underway amongst the leaders of the G20 nations, it would appear that there are four distinct global economic scenarios that may unfold towards the tail end of this year, 2009 and 2010:

Scenario 1: Debt Deflation

Most product, service and asset prices keep falling and the vicious circle of deleveraging causes ma