Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Hollywood Reporter, Microsoft, Mobile phone, Motorola, Steve Ballmer, Wall Street Journal
Global shipments of personal computers dropped 0.4% in the fourth quarter last year while U.S. shipments fell 3.5%, according to a study by research firm IDC. IDC analyst Loren Loverde characterized the drop as “pretty dramatic,” noting that netbook computers were one of the only bright spots for the industry during the last three months of 2008. The Wall Street Journal (1/15)
Motorola confirmed Wednesday it will eliminate an additional 4,000 jobs — all but 1,000 from its mobile-devices unit — after cell phone sales plummeted more than 50% in its fourth quarter. The handset maker sold 19 million phones compared with more than 40 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Combined with the elimination of 3,000 positions announced in October, Motorola said it would save about $1.5 billion a year. 
ClipSyndicate/Bloomberg (1/15) , The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/15) , Yahoo!/The Associated Press (1/14)
(Below) Sigh.  Simplification is the name of the game at this point…
If video killed the radio star, DVDs and Blu-rays have helped to do in the Laserdisc format. Pioneer reportedly is shutting down production of its DVL-919 Laserdisc/DVD/CD player as well as the DVK-900 and DVL-K88 models. ElectronicHouse.com (1/14)
Mirroring overall consumer-spending trends in the U.S. last year, home-entertainment spending fell 5.7%, with standard-definition DVD sales down 9.5%. Some analysts suggested that rising Blu-ray sales are dictating the end of DVD’s day. The Hollywood Reporter (1/14)
Rumors of massive job cuts at Microsoft — totaling perhaps 15,000 positions — appear to be unfounded. However, the company is reportedly mulling job cuts that could be announced next week. CEO Steve Ballmer said: “We’re finding our right balance. When we find it, I’m sure we’ll communicate that publicly.” The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/15)
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