Assorted musings

CARLSBAD, Calif.--The D7: All Things Digital opening night keynote, often reserved for tech legends like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, was handed over this year to the team behind Twitter. CNET News is offering live coverage, so check back for frequent updates.

6:37 p.m. PT: Rupert Murdoch takes the stage to kick things off.

6:40 p.m. PT: Singer Jill Sobule takes the stage with a song written for Rupert. Kara Swisher comes out to hold the lyrics.

"Rupert I met you last year at this conference," she sang. "Do you remember me. … Read more

CARLSBAD, Calif.--It's often the first question people want to answer after arriving at the D: All Things Digital event--What's in the goodie bag?

Alas, there was no Palm Pre inside the blue Samsonite duffel bag. But there was plenty to appeal to the gadget-loving executives. The smallest box contained perhaps the biggest deal--instructions on how to claim one of Plastic Logic's e-readers, a highly touted rival to Amazon's Kindle.

The other big piece of hardware was also in a small package--a Flip Mino HD video camera (identical to the one I had already purchased to … Read more

It's every gadget lover's nightmare and, on Wednesday, it became my reality.

My BlackBerry went for an ever-so-brief tour of CNET's plumbing facilities. I'm not sure how it ended up exactly where it did, but suffice it to say, it did. And, to answer the question before you ask, it was a clean bowl.

I pulled it out within a second of hearing that dreaded splash. I shook it off, dried it, and headed to my desk with a sheepish look on my face.

With a quick glance to make sure no one was looking, I googled "What to do if cell phone gets wet."

As you may or may not know, many cell phones meet their end by visiting pools, tubs, and other reservoirs of different shapes and contents. There are so many such incidents, cell phones now have indicators that show whether they have gotten wet and are therefore ineligible for warranty replacement.

I called Verizon Wireless to see how often this happens. Although spokesman Jeffrey Nelson didn't have any solid numbers, he said, "I do think it happens a fair amount more than people realize."

Nelson said his own cousin has dropped his BlackBerry in the toilet twice and a Facebook friend dropped his phone in a cup of coffee this morning. (The Verizon folks also helpfully pointed me to this phone, should I really want a phone that can handle the water.)

Luckily, even some of the non-waterproof devices survive their aquatic ordeals and there is plenty of advice on the Internet about how to maximize one's chances. … Read more

SOMEWHERE OVER PENNSYLVANIA--I know in-flight Wi-Fi isn't really new anymore. But, it's my first time and, like many before me, I can't resist using the opportunity to send my missives out to the world.

It's particularly liberating after spending the last two hours trapped on the tarmac at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. OK--perhaps trapped isn't the fairest verb to describe any existence where there is water, sanitation facilities, and live satellite TV. Still, as we waited for a runway to clear, we had no way to get food or connect to … Read more

Market research firm IDC on Friday said it is cutting 82 workers in the United States, or 5 percent of its worldwide staff "due to the impact of the economic recession."

The Framingham, Mass.-based company said that the cuts include 26 research analysts.

"IDC will continue to have more than 1,000 research analysts worldwide which is more than any other technology market intelligence and advisory company," IDC said in a statement. The firm added that it still has more analysts than it did a year ago, noting that it hired 50 new analysts in … Read more

Although the economic crisis won't change his focus on global health and U.S. education, Bill Gates said the woes are making his work harder.

In particular, Gates said that beyond the prospect of lower aid budgets, the biggest factor in reducing disease and hunger is actually the underlying growth in the area in question--something that is now stalled globally.

"Economic success has been this phenomenal thing," Gates said. "Whenever that clock is running slower or even briefly goes into a period where it is going back, it is really a very negative thing. It blocks … Read more

In a public letter on Monday, Bill Gates took stock of both the economy and his foundation's efforts to improve education and combat global health issues.

As for the economy, Gates said that he hoped to be able to look back two years from now and say that the crisis "was something that was short-term and that has passed" but said that he expects "the effects of the crisis will last beyond that."

The economic woes took their toll on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which saw its assets drop by a fifth last … Read more

It was 1988 and I was in the first weeks of eighth grade. I had arrived back after being out for a day. I found a note, intended for my counselor, attached to my absence slip.

The handwritten letter was from my advanced art teacher and it was blunt. She said that I was a good kid but couldn't draw, and could my counselor please find another elective for me?

At the time, it was slightly traumatic. But that turned out to be a great day. The counselor found a spot for me in a graphic arts class. And … Read more

The uncertainty surrounding Microsoft's cost-cutting plan is likely to last only another day, until the software maker announces earnings Thursday.

That's when many people expect the company will detail its plans, which will likely include the company's first-ever companywide layoffs.

In the absence of hard facts, the guessing game goes on. I was fond of Todd Bishop's post at TechFlash on "Five things we really wouldn't miss" if Microsoft cut them.

Zune hardware tops the list, which also includes Microsoft's little-known YouTube rival Soapbox, and its search business. Although it seems very … Read more