Given the ongoing uncertainty floating around Europe and the likelihood of another recession there, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing companies cite similar pressures. Apparently, it's happening sooner than later. This week, both {complink 5218|STMicroelectronics NV} and {complink 4929|Siemens AG}, significant bellwethers for Europe's electronics sector, delivered bad news about…
Finally, after years of starts and stops, various types of electric vehicles are out in the market and have won early adopters. To convert this “trial” niche audience into a broader mass market, though, a number of other factors have to come into play in the next few years. A big issue keeping would-be buyers…
It's the time of year when most people are evaluating recent trends and planning expectations for the coming quarters. It makes sense that we take a quick look, too, at the events unfolding in the broad, but increasingly popular, cleantech segment, which encompasses everything from smart meters and electricity grids to renewable energy and electric…
Happy New Year! So, what did Santa bring you? Wait. Don't tell me. Did you get an Amazon Kindle Fire tablet? Really? I got one, too! What do you think of it? I wouldn't be a bit surprised to hear that many of you unwrapped the new tablet from the world's largest online retailer. (I…
I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but the lively discussion last week about whether {complink 4644|Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM)} might be an acquisition target makes it worth our while to take another look at the company's near-term future. (See: RIM’s Struggle to Succeed.) In case you missed the newsfeed or some of…
Sometimes, I find it hard to watch a big company tumble. I can't help but wince when organizations that had a huge presence in the tech scene begin to crumble. Other times, I just throw my hands up in frustration and want to shake some sense into the executives. More frequently, I want companies that…
Late last week, European Union heads of state gathered to hash out regulatory details for greater financial unity, find ways to bolster resources, and, once again, try to get more control over the unwieldy debt crisis. This week, the Web is awash in headlines about the agreement's fallout, stock market jitters, and, as always, political…
As I read up on Germany's plan to move towards a no-nuke energy policy last week, I stumbled onto a stack of other interesting factoids that are worth sharing here and putting into broader context. (See: Germany’s Nuclear Power Predicament.) While Germany has been vocal in wanting to shut down its 17 nuclear power plants…
A couple of months after Japan's earthquake-tsunami-nuclear disaster, Germany made headlines by announcing plans to pull the plug on its dependence on nuclear energy. The country said that eight plants would go dark immediately, and that the remaining nine would be shuttered by 2022. The Fukushima crisis in March was enough to tip the political…
It's getting to that time of the year when consumers dash around shopping centers and online outlets, pull out the credit cards, and buy up nifty gadgets for loved ones on their holiday-gift list. For electronics companies, the next four to six weeks brings with it some nail-biting anticipation. This year, like the recent few,…