Microsoft Down Compared To Last Year - 1st Time In 23 Years

The world's largest software maker, Microsoft, announced Thursday that its quarterly revenue fell in comparison to the previous year, a first in the company's 23-year history. The news proves that the software giant is not immune to the economic troubles seen globally and the outlook appears to be uncertain “I didn't see any improvement at the end of the quarter that gives me encouragement that we're at the bottom and coming out of it,” said Chris Liddell, Microsoft's chief financial officer. Both the Windows and Office divisions of Microsoft saw profits and revenues drop.

Source: Globe and Mail.

Google Announces Venture Capital Fund

In a tough economic downturn many companies are having a hard time to find the funding they need to move innovative ideas forward. Yesterday Google announced it's own brand of venture capital called, Google Ventures of course. In a post on the Official Google Blog Rich Miner and Bill Maris, Managing Partners, of Google Ventures say "Economically, times are tough, but great ideas come when they will. If anything, we think the current downturn is an ideal time to invest in nascent companies that have the chance to be the "next big thing," and we'll be working hard to find them. If you think you have the next big idea, or if you just want to to learn more, please see our website at www.google.com/ventures."

iPhone Recession Proof?

According to the Globe and Mail 255,000 iPhones were sold in Canada between its launch on July 11th and the end of September, and there appears to be no slowing down in sales irregardless of how the economy is performing. “We've seen time and time again that if people want something bad enough, they're willing to put themselves in debt or save less in order to buy it,” said consumer research analyst Josh Martin of Boston-based Yankee Group. “It would be interesting to see if consumers are cutting out other things so they can afford to have their iPhone.” Martin added. They certainly have a lot of appeal and I've definitely noticed more of them in the wild, we'll have to keep an eye on the Christmas season sales numbers...

Cellphones And Internet Essencial Even In Tough Times

A study conducted last week in Canada and the US by Toronto research firm Solutions Research Group says that North Americans see their cell phones and internet service essential utilities, like water or electricity. "People were saying, 'It's not going to happen - you would have to pry it out of my hands,' that kind of language," said Kaan Yigit head of the research firm. The company has ranked in order the items consumers will be cutting back on in order of most likely to least likely and it shakes out like this:

Ranking consumer targets for cuts:

1. Big-ticket events (eg. concerts, sports)

2. Movie-going

3. DVD buying

4. Magazine subscription renewals/newsstand

5. Cable/satellite TV extras

6. Video game buying

7. Home phone

8. Mobile/wireless phone

9. DVD Rentals

10. Home Internet

Solutions Research Group

Globe and Mail article.

Gas Sipping Techniques Gaining Favour

Sky rocketing fuel prices have brought back into favour driving techniques aimed at squeezing every last mile out of a tank of gas. The trend, called hypermiling, is seeing the average practitioner getting 20 - 30% or more miles per fill up. "It's like a videogame," hypermiler Yahya Fahimuddin says. "Can I beat my new high score?" There are a number of things that can be done to push your vehicle a little further, more than 100 according to ecomodder.com, some are common knowledge while others may push the limits of the law. I'm thinking I'll get out the tire gauge and perhaps be a little more conscious of the speed limit.

Wired has more here.