10 best stories about IT 2005

The following 10 stories, each one looks, not only makes the face of "sadness, anger, love" of the world IT 2005 but also predicts for bigger trends in 2006. IDG News poll .

1. Oracle bought Siebel

Now, the enterprise application market is just a double race between Oracle and SAP AG rivals. After a $ 10.3 billion "bitter" acquisition of PeopleSoft in January, Oracle kept an eye on Siebel Systems. Last September, Oracle announced it would buy this customer resource management software (CRM) for $ 5.85 billion. Just like PeopleSoft, Siebel was once glorious in the enterprise software market, but when faced with fierce competition from new competitors, . drowned.

The trend of merging, acquiring and swallowing Oracle is very hot in 2005, both in IT and telecommunications. Typically, SBC Communications acquires AT&T, Cisco Systems buys Scientific-Atlanta and the most popular is the eBay deal that devoured Skype Technologies.

2. HP "eat stone bowl porridge", fired Fiorina

The fact that Hewlett-Packard expelled the executive coach of Carly Fiorina in February may have shocked the world. It also means a bitter acknowledgment, that the strategy HP pursued for years (which culminated and merged with Compaq), was completely ineffective.

Despite protests, Ms. Fiorina still poured money to buy Compaq, knowing that no-loss PC business was lucky. Fiorina said that by selling package hardware to corporate customers, HP could boost server and service sales. But 3 years after acquiring Compaq, the company's financial situation still stalled. Her replacement is the former president and CEO of NCR Mark Hurd. He has not conducted any reforms but fired at least 15,000 HP employees.

3. Sony has the first foreign CEO

In March 2005, Sony Corporation fired Nobuyuki Idei and selected Howard Stringer as the new president and CEO.

This is the first time a foreigner has been granted a civil rights position in this empire, and it also contains an implicit statement: from now on, Sony will move from analog devices to Digital.

4. The effect is called Google

If Google's initial public offering (IPO) is a "top story" of 2004, then this year, the company made history when it crossed over Time Warner, becoming a high-value media carrier. best of the world. The stock price of the company in June 2005 surpassed the peak of $ 400, far ahead of rivals such as Yahoo and Microsoft (fluctuating in the range of $ 350). This is a reward for Google's own dark search technology. The best in the market, as well as the best money from advertising. Of course, multiply by multiplication. Google also has a few stumbling blocks such as a new service with a security vulnerability, or not prepared yet, hastily launched the service, leading to a temporary closure. But with the "Webization" and "onlineization" trends emerging as alcohol in IT, Google is the pioneer.

5. Web 2.0: Softwareized web has become a reality

The dotcom crisis is increasingly receding into the past. The Internet has now emerged as a new platform, enabling vendors to provide desktop software and services as a new business model. This is the world called Web 2.0. Google is the quickest and is pioneering this trend: users get free services, payers are advertisers.

For corporate customers, the idea of ​​using Web-based software, charging per capita, has also started to become prevalent. IT giants like IBM and Sun Microsystems are offering new, flexible and flexible services. Microsoft launched the "Live" service in early November, with the same vow to make both the latest Windows and Office versions available.

6. Xbox 360 causes fever

The official release of the Xbox 360 can be considered an unforgettable milestone of world technology in 2005. Previously, the most active, even a sneeze of Microsoft was all over the world. watch. Not Windows, not Office, the launch of the Xbox 360 was the most anticipated event of the year from Sir Bill Gates' empire. Everyone admits the quality of the Xbox 360's graphic images is a huge step forward compared to the older Xbox versions as well as Sony's PlayStation 2. So be prepared for fierce fighting when Sony launched PSP3 in 2006.

Remember that Xbox 360 is not simply a gaming device. In the eyes of Microsoft, it is the foundation of a "digital home" in the future - imagine, the space around you becomes a digital entertainment world, immersed in music, video and online entertainment.

7. Two tigers fighting: AMD sues Intel

Last June, AMD filed an antitrust lawsuit in federal court, accusing Intel of misusing its dominant market position on AMD chip turnover. Accompanied by this lawsuit is a PR campaign that is buzzing and active against Intel. More importantly, it seems that AMD has won the first round of dual-core chip war with Intel, as the market recognizes its products have better performance. In the retail market, AMD's market share is also inching up. Asia has become the new arena for the two giants Intel and AMD against the low, especially China and India have always received enthusiastic fervor.

8. Apple continues to splendor:

The birth of the authentic 2001 iPod music player was a marvelous landmark: bringing Apple from the slander to the "glorious" peak in the blink of an eye. A trendy music device that comes with an attractive paid digital music service has opened the door to Apple. Continuing to seduce users with the introduction of iPod Nano in September, Apple had an unprecedented fiscal quarter in its history. The success of iPod also helps Mac computers to be "fragrant". Fund IV this year, Apple shipped 1.23 million Macs.

9.Sony and Rootkit Nightmare

The first week of November, Sony BMG record label began to take the first blow. The world press simultaneously released the CD case, which contained anti-copy software without giving half a notice to customers. The problem is even worse when the software uses rootkit code techniques that spyware and viruses often exploit.

The more she tried to appease the angry user, the more Sony slipped on the wrong. The patch that the company released (so that rootkit antivirus programs) could be detected could damage Windows.

10. AOL - Where is this body?

The press reported that Time Warner was negotiating tense throughout the year about AOL's future, excluding the possibility of selling off the entire burden (AOL began merging with Time Warner since January. / 2001). But as of the end of 2005, the idea of ​​"cooperation" got more attention: more likely to be put on the table: shake hands with Microsoft's MSN search engine, or tighten the advertising relationship with Google, Is the company providing search technology for AOL?

AOL's future use is showing the reality: by the middle of the first decade of the third millennium, the online sector is being divided into two lines: on the one hand, firms are successful in making money. from searching and providing Web services, and on the other side are "slow buffalo" who don't want to drink cloudy water.

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