Topic: Software and Services

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

Facebook IPO: Six key dates in its debacle

Facebook's first week as a publicly traded company will go down as a terribly botched corporate launch, perhaps one of the worst in recent history for such a highly visible entity. Eight days ago, it was the tech world's most highly anticipated initial public offering in eight years. Now, the social media company faces mounting legal woes and serves as an embarrassing example of how not to run an IPO. Despite rising insider pessimism about its growth prospects, Facebook kept boosting its asking price and the number of shares it would sell. The result: billions of dollars in losses; investigations by two congressional committees, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an industry watchdog, and the state of Massachusetts; at least 13 class-action lawsuits; and thousands of resentful shareholders who days later still were unsure how many Facebook shares they had or at what price. Here are six key dates in Facebook's unfolding IPO disaster.
Top 10 most expensive car repair mistakes

Better built cars and an uncertain economy mean that Americans are holding onto their cars for longer than ever and are doing more of their own repairs. Nearly half of those who already do their own auto repairs say they are doing more of them themselves this year; 3 in 4 of those who rely on a mechanic say that economic conditions are making them more likely to attempt their own repairs, according to a recent survey by AutoMD.com. But there are mistakes that even the most seasoned do-it-yourselfers can make. Whether you like to go under the hood or take your vehicle to the shop, here are 10 expensive repair and maintenance mistakes to avoid:
Facebook stock: 6 intriguing investors

Facebook stock will make many people suddenly wealthy when it begins trading this Friday. The company is expected to be valued somewhere around $100 billion, with stock expected to sell anywhere between $34 and $38 per share. Here are six of the more unexpected people set to make a killing with initial public offering of Facebook stock, including a rock star, a graffiti artist, and pair of Mark Zuckerberg’s enemies.
Five myths about video games

Why they aren’t as scary or one-dimensional as many parents think.
Top video game markets in the world

The United States remains No. 1, but other countries, notably in Asia, are rising fast. Many countries, too, are sweetening tax incentives to lure video game developers in their quest to create jobs. Here are the top 5 video game markets for 2010, as outlined in a 2011 study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the big accounting and consulting firm.

All Content

Facebook IPO: Six key dates in its debacle

Facebook's first week as a publicly traded company will go down as a terribly botched corporate launch, perhaps one of the worst in recent history for such a highly visible entity. Eight days ago, it was the tech world's most highly anticipated initial public offering in eight years. Now, the social media company faces mounting legal woes and serves as an embarrassing example of how not to run an IPO. Despite rising insider pessimism about its growth prospects, Facebook kept boosting its asking price and the number of shares it would sell. The result: billions of dollars in losses; investigations by two congressional committees, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an industry watchdog, and the state of Massachusetts; at least 13 class-action lawsuits; and thousands of resentful shareholders who days later still were unsure how many Facebook shares they had or at what price. Here are six key dates in Facebook's unfolding IPO disaster.
Facebook stock falls 11 percent in second trading day

Facebook shares close down $4.20 in Monday trading. Facebook stock dropped so much Monday morning that 'circuit breakers' kicked in to restrict sell orders.
Top 10 most expensive car repair mistakes

Better built cars and an uncertain economy mean that Americans are holding onto their cars for longer than ever and are doing more of their own repairs. Nearly half of those who already do their own auto repairs say they are doing more of them themselves this year; 3 in 4 of those who rely on a mechanic say that economic conditions are making them more likely to attempt their own repairs, according to a recent survey by AutoMD.com. But there are mistakes that even the most seasoned do-it-yourselfers can make. Whether you like to go under the hood or take your vehicle to the shop, here are 10 expensive repair and maintenance mistakes to avoid:
Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook status updated to 'married' (+video)

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg married long-time girlfriend Priscilla Chan Saturday in a small, surprise wedding. Less than 100 guests arrived at Zuckerberg's home for what they would be a party to celebrate Chan's graduation from medical school. Zuckerberg did not wear a hoodie.
Tech stocks exchange to change IPO auctions after Facebook glitches

Tech stocks IPO auctions will be revamped, Nasdaq CEO says, after delays plagued Facebook's first day of trading. SEC investigating to see if delays hurt trading in the tech stock's underwhelming IPO.
The New Economy
Facebook IPO? Flat. Facebook future? Bright.

Facebook IPO generated no big stock gains on its first day of trading. But Facebook has many of the traits that made Apple, Microsoft, and Google great in the long run.  
Facebook to debut at $104 billion

The IPO will be one of the largest in history.
Decoder Wire
Facebook IPO: Is co-founder Saverin cheating US out of $100 million in taxes?

By renouncing his US citizenship, Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin could save some $100 million in taxes from Friday's Facebook IPO. Senators call it 'tax avoidance,' and aim to block it.
Facebook stock: 6 intriguing investors

Facebook stock will make many people suddenly wealthy when it begins trading this Friday. The company is expected to be valued somewhere around $100 billion, with stock expected to sell anywhere between $34 and $38 per share. Here are six of the more unexpected people set to make a killing with initial public offering of Facebook stock, including a rock star, a graffiti artist, and pair of Mark Zuckerberg’s enemies.
LightSquared, bankrupt, still aims to launch wireless network

LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy protection, saying that will give it more time to win regulatory approval. Regulators have blocked LightSquared's plans, saying they could interfere with GPS signals.
Horizons
Black Ops 2 brings the Call of Duty franchise crashing into the future

Black Ops 2, set for launch this fall, will take place partially in 2025, in an America overrun by deadly drones. Can Black Ops 2 continue Call of Duty's record-breaking streak? 
Barnes and Noble stock soars on Microsoft team-up

Barnes and Noble stock went zooming following an infusion of money from Microsoft to create a subsidiary for Barnes & Noble's e-book and college textbook businesses.
House passes cybersecurity bill despite veto threat over privacy protections

The cybersecurity bill seeks to protect the nation from cyberattack, but concerns over how personal information is shared with the government and corporations has sparked opposition and a veto threat from the Obama administration.
Patents arsenal: Why Facebook is buying

Patents accumulation is key strategy as Facebook prepares to go public. It bought $550 million worth of patents from Microsoft.
Google to split stock to preserve control

The split will take the form of an issue of new, non-voting shares after Google reported increased earnings in its first quarter.
New Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson cuts 2,000 jobs

Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson announced the company would be laying off 2,000 employees on Wednesday in order to take the "next step toward a bold, new Yahoo."
Facebook warning to employers: Don't demand workers' passwords

An Associated Press story this week documented cases of job applicants who are being asked, at the interview table, to reveal their Facebook passwords so their prospective employers can check their backgrounds.
Five myths about video games

Why they aren’t as scary or one-dimensional as many parents think.
Top video game markets in the world

The United States remains No. 1, but other countries, notably in Asia, are rising fast. Many countries, too, are sweetening tax incentives to lure video game developers in their quest to create jobs. Here are the top 5 video game markets for 2010, as outlined in a 2011 study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the big accounting and consulting firm.
Android patent trial set for next month

Android system violates Java patents, Oracle charges in patent and copyright suit against Google. Android suit could run into hundreds of millions of dollars.
Yahoo sues Facebook over patent infringement, Facebook calls it 'puzzling'

Yahoo Inc. said in a court filing Monday that Facebook has infringed 10 of its patents covering advertising, privacy controls and social networking.
Yahoo sues Facebook as legal war escalates

Yahoo sued Facebook on Monday, the first major legal battle among technology giants in social media. But patent skirmishes are common in the tech industry. Is Yahoo simply firing the opening shots for a new battlefield?
Horizons
Google privacy changes go live tomorrow

Amid criticism from a top French watchdog group, Google is set to launch its new privacy policy. 
Facebook reveals plans for mobile ads

Watch out – your phone may no longer be safe from Facebook advertisers.
Yelp IPO is near, could raise $115 million

Yelp IPO targets stock price at $12 to $14 a share. Yelp IPO target suggests company could be worth up to $840 million.