Best Buy

All is not swell at Dell

By Scott Moritz

Dell (DELL) is trying unpaid vacations (for starters). 

The No.2 PC maker, already grappling with a massive turnaround strategy, is taking a closer look at expenses and has informed employees of a company-wide cost cutting plan that includes voluntary five-day unpaid leaves for everyone.

According to an internal memo confirmed by a company representative, Dell has frozen its hiring and is considering a range of cost-reduction plans.

In addition to the unpaid MORE

Apple bruised in downgrades

By Scott Moritz

Apple (AAPL) got hit with a pair of downgrades Monday as analysts see a weaker consumer taking a big bite out of the computer-maker's growth rate.

RBC and Morgan Stanley analysts slapped Apple with neutral ratings, down from buy, on concerns that the slumping economy will put a chill on sales of Mac notebooks and desktop computers.

Citing a IQ/Changewave survey, RBC noted that 40% of consumers questioned said they "plan on spending MORE

Dell, Best Buy outlook darkens

By Scott Moritz

If Dell's (DELL) view is right, the tech spending hiatus that started in July isn't ending anytime soon.

Less than a week after Dell warned that a U.S. slowdown in information technology spending was spreading to Europe and Asia, the No.2 computer maker now says the slump is getting worse.

"We saw some weakness in July, and August is always slow," Dell CFO Brian Gladden said at a Bank of MORE

Best Buy to sell iPhones starting Sept. 7

In a move that will significantly expand its retail presence in time for the holiday season, Apple has agreed to let retailing giant Best Buy sell the new iPhone 3G through its nationwide chain of Best Buy Mobile outlets starting early next month.

Best Buy markets cell phones in the United States through 970 full-size stores and 16 stand-alone Best Buy Mobile shops. All U.S. Best Buy stores will carry the MORE

Hands-free laws a boon for Bluetooth

By Michal Lev-Ram

A flurry of new state laws making it illegal for people to drive while holding a cell phone is expected to be a bonanza for Bluetooth, a wireless technology that lets devices communicate with each other.

Connecticut, New Jersey and New York are among those states that have already enacted laws requiring drivers to use a headset when talking on the phone. Similar laws take effect in California MORE

Apple's iTunes is briefly No. 1 in music

UPDATE: Apple on Thursday issued a press release declaring itself No.1. See here.

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It happened one week in January, according to a memo sent to Apple employees on Wednesday and intercepted by Ars Technica (link). The memo contained weekly data from a NPD Group Music Survey dated Jan. 8, 2008, and showed Apple's (AAPL) iTunes store passing Wal-Mart (WMT) for the first time to become the No. 1 MORE

Million of households unprepared for digital TV

By Michal Lev-Ram

Couch potatoes, listen up: If you're still using an analog TV, you might find static instead of "American Idol" on your screen come Feb. 18, 2009. That's when the Federal Communications Commission plans to end a half-century of analog broadcasting.

This is the final step in switching to digital television broadcasting, which takes up less bandwidth and allows for high-definition pictures. With the government's auction of the old analog MORE