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Digg thisAs the economy falters, technology stalls
December 19, 2008
In this 14-day series, CNET News profiles people in various technology sectors--from the start-up execs getting a stern talking-to from their investors to the holiday shoppers in the housing foreclosure epicenter of Modesto, Calif., to see how real people are handling the recession.
Feature stories
Day 1: IBM to start-up: Industry vet responds to recession
LogLogic's Patricia Sueltz heard a clear message about the economy from investors. But she already knows a thing or two about navigating through tough times.
Day 2: Confessions of a man who does the layoffs
It's easy to vilify the guy who hands out the pink slips. But contrary to popular notions, these aren't decisions that are taken lightly, at least with the executive we interviewed.• Video: What it's like to lay people off
Day 3: Slowing expectations at a green-tech start-up
Six months ago, biofuels start-up Mascoma had the wind in its sails, as did the rest of the clean-tech sector. Now, the company is treading carefully and scaling back.
Day 4: After a layoff, a family learns to cope
Balancing the checkbook is a tense chore for an unemployed IT consultant and his wife. Their story is becoming less unique.
Day 5: A tech reporter's unexpected path to freelance
Changing reader tastes and the downturn in print advertising are making it tough on some longtime trade magazine hands.• Video: Tech journalists feeling the crunch
Day 6: Amid recession, developer finds hope in the Apple App Store
Dennis Hescox has been around the games industry for years. Now, as the economy founders, he is trying to turn to iPhone games as a way to make a living. The challenges are huge.
Day 7: A Web 2.0 entrepreneur counts his blessings
Suleman Ali had quick success with his start-up. But with the economy sinking and big companies flexing their muscles, he knows it will be harder for his peers to do the same.
Day 8: Fighting cybercrime in an economic downturn
With malware attacks on the rise, McAfee cybercrime strategist Pamela Warren is increasingly focused on helping Internet users.
Day 9: Contractless in Seattle
A programmer thought he was settling into good shape financially when he landed a temporary job with Microsoft. He was wrong.
Day 10: For Net consultant, crisis, then a silver lining
Four-fifths of Steve Borsch's revenue evaporated in two months. But the problem sent the Web communication consultant in a new, better direction.
Day 11: Liquidated at Circuit City
A young single father's career in retail electronics is stalled before it really gets started, as Circuit City closes its stores.
Day 12: Talking Apple in the land of foreclosures
Modesto, Calif., has been hit hard by the housing crisis and already has double-digit unemployment. Nonetheless, there are plenty of shoppers in the new local Apple store.
Day 13: Working overtime for venture capital funding
Treb Ryan managed to sell a start-up for big bucks just as the dot-com boom was ending. But now, just getting funding for his current company is proving hard work.
Day 14: You don't need satellite TV when times get tough
An Oakland, Calif., family knew they had to trim monthly expenses. So they took a novel, Internet-savvy approach to cutting costs while still watching their favorite programs.Latest financial coverage
Intel warning casts cloud over CES
The bellwether chipmaker foresees a 23 percent drop in revenue. It's especially untimely news as it comes on the eve of the premier consumer electronics event.
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Public clean-tech firms get clobbered
On the heels of a weak ending for venture funding in 2008, a clean-energy stock index falls further than the overall market, with solar and biofuels battered the worst.
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Current Media: Nope, we're not closing an office
The edgy cable TV company has denied a rumor floating on a popular Twitter account that suggested it will be closing its downtown San Francisco headquarters.
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Intel expects fourth-quarter revenue to drop 23 percent
Chip giant's quarterly revenue will fall $2 billion short of its original forecast, due to a greater-than-expected decline in orders from PC makers.
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Tech layoffs: The scorecard
Follow the companies that are shedding workers with this live layoff tracker, which we'll continue to update as more news surfaces.
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LiveJournal deletes 'about a dozen' jobs
The staff cuts hit its San Francisco and Moscow offices, the company confirms after a rumor on Gawker hinted at a much more significant layoff.
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Logitech to slash 15 percent of workforce
Manufacturer of PC peripherals, based in Switzerland, says the retail environment has "deteriorated significantly" and will "worsen in the upcoming months."
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Microsoft planning big layoffs for January?
The latest rumor puts the possible job cuts at 15,000, or nearly 17 percent of Microsoft's worldwide operations, with MSN getting hit hard.
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Holiday report: E-commerce dips, electronics plummet
One of the first reports out on holiday sales shows that e-commerce was down 2.3 percent year over year, while the electronics category took a 26 percent dive.
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Google, Microsoft, Yahoo as Ford, GM, and Chrysler
Analyst draws parallels between tech industry titans and Detroit in the early 20th century. They're thought-provoking, but is he right?
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Report: Digg still mining for profits
A BusinessWeek article claims to have taken a peek at the company's balance sheet, and it ain't pretty.
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FixMyMovie forsakes the cloud for PC software
The service to improve video quality will shut down December 31, to be replaced by desktop software to accomplish the same thing.
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Fraud case leads Polaroid to bankruptcy protection
Polaroid blamed the financial restructuring on a fraud case involving its corporate owner, but "operations are still strong." Also: Canon delays camera plant.
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LCD TV revenues to dip for first time ever
Falling prices and a lower demand for TVs will drag down in 2009 what had been a rapidly growing industry.
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Working overtime for venture capital funding
Treb Ryan managed to sell a start-up for big bucks just as the dot-com boom was ending. But now, just getting funding for his current company is proving hard work.
Read more
Resources
Making sense of the Wall Street meltdown
The tech downturn: How long and how bad?
The makings of another tech mess?
Credits
Editors: Jim Kerstetter, Jennifer Guevin
Art: Ellen Ng
