Parmy Olson's Blog, page 64

Research Shows Tablets Are Primarily Used For Entertainment

The market for tablets is steadily growing and even outpacing the business of selling PCs, but consumers seem more interested in using their gadgets for entertainment than work or communication.

Report: Samsung Gearing Up To Release Another Smart Watch In Early 2014

Having got the better of  in the race to be the first to release a smart watch, Samsung may already be speeding ahead to improve the product, post-launch.

A Free Amazon Smartphone? It's All About The Services

There's a fascinating scoop today from Jessica Lessin and Amir Efrati about the long-awaited, first smartphone from Amazon: according to their sources, the e-commerce giant wants to be able to give it to you for free.

Microsoft To Buy Nokia's Mobile Business For $5B, License Patents For $2.2B

Less than two weeks after announced its CEO was set to retire, the company has announced another sweeping change: it's buying 's storied handset business for 3.79 billion euros ($5 billion), licensing its patents and boldly challenging Samsung and Apple in the battle to win the global smartphone market.

Carl Icahn Raises Nuance Stake To 16.9%

Updated with comment from Nuance below.

Google Exec's Departure Marks Key Moment For Chinese Mobile Vendors

You may not have heard of Xiaomi, but the company has just typified the growing ambitions of Chinese smartphone manufacturers with a new, big hire.

Samsung Launches A Tablet For Kids

If there's anything more surprising that the rapid rise of tablets in the workplace, it's the way children have taken to swiping and tapping their way around iPads and Android tablets too. Seeing an obvious opportunity, Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids, a colorful tablet pre-loaded with kids apps and, crucially, access to a new Kids Store.

Carl Icahn's Team Speak Out On Nuance, See It 'Accelerating' As Computers Shrink

The management at may be nervous about the fact that corporate raider Carl Icahn has amassed a 16% stake in their company, considering his reputation for hostile takeovers and proxy battles. But they're one of several other tech giants -- including and key partner -- who now count Icahn as a major shareholder.

Nuance Seen On The Defensive With Poison Pill Move

UPDATE, Aug. 22, 11.40am PT: Activist investor Carl Icahn has said in a phone interview that "from a governance point of view, we're opposed to poison pills. We think they’re bad for the economy and shareholders in general."

Latest Batch Of Y Combinator Startups: Established Entrepreneurs Solving Real-World Problems

Y Combinator just wrapped up its 17th, bi-annual demo day in Silicon Valley, and there's a noticeable sheen to the type of entrepreneur standing on stage to pump up the room about their products. Many of them have already made millions on other ventures or had established careers, before packing it in to start a company that could change the world.