How Microsoft lost its edge; the Secret Service’s global hunt for hackers.
With three key exits, Facebook’s top talent departures continue [ALLTHINGSD]
It’s worrisome for outsiders — particularly investors — who fear the loss of top Facebook talent after the company went public. If Facebook loses too many good minds to other, smaller companies, it could face what all growing companies dread — a stall in company innovation and proper leadership.
Microsoft’s lost decade [VANITY FAIR]
Amid a dynamic and ever changing marketplace, Microsoft—which declined to comment for this article—became a high-tech equivalent of a Detroit car-maker, bringing flashier models of the same old thing off of the assembly line even as its competitors upended the world. Most of its innovations have been financial debacles or of little consequence to the bottom line. And the performance showed on Wall Street; despite booming sales and profits from its flagship products, in the last decade Microsoft’s stock barely budged from around $30, while Apple’s stock is worth more than 20 times what it was 10 years ago. In December 2000, Microsoft had a market capitalization of $510 billion, making it the world’s most valuable company. As of June it is No. 3, with a market cap of $249 billion. In December 2000, Apple had a market cap of $4.8 billion and didn’t even make the list. As of this June it is No. 1 in the world, with a market cap of $541 billion.
Design and drama mark first day in Apple-Samsung trial [THE NEW YORK TIMES]
In his testimony before a jury in a federal courthouse in San Jose, Calif., Christopher Stringer, a longtime Apple industrial designer, provided a colorful account of the secretive methods by which Apple conjures up products like the iPhone and iPad. His testimony is part of an effort by Apple to show that Samsung swiped Apple’s patented inventions for use in its own electronics devices.
Amazon’s retail bulldozer rumbles on [FORTUNE]
Several articles in recent weeks raised the possibility of this ultimate Amazonifiation of retail. Construction of more warehouses is all that stands between the company and total domination, they suggested. Such conjecture largely ignored an important point: Amazon already offers same-day delivery in 10 cities including New York, Phoenix and Washington, DC. The plan is already well underway, although its success is far from certain.
No safe haven: the global Secret Service hunt for three hackers [ARS TECHNICA]
By September, Suvorov had collected nearly 5,000 credit cards from store #32 alone—and many thousands of more card details from the other stores. He compiled the card numbers into a database and sold his list for $25,000. Easy profit.
