Week in review: Sony launches PlayStation Vita

The following is a roundup of my stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com.

Apple, sitting on $98 billion, takes no dividend action at annual meeting. (Feb. 23, 2012)

Headphone maker Skullcandy beats Q4 profit and sales targets, but disappoints with in-line guidance for 2012. (Feb. 23, 2012)

Dell stock tumbles 6% on mixed Q4 results and disappointing Q1 sales guidance.
At least one analyst is doubtful that Dell can grow earnings per share in 2012. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Dell posts its first year-over-year drop in earnings in eight quarters, forecasts lower-than-expected Q1 sales. (Feb. 21, 2012)

Sony launches PlayStation Vita handheld video game device; faces competition from Apple iOS gadgets for consumer dollars and time. (Feb. 21, 2012)

Photo: Sony’s PlayStation Vita handheld video game device.

Week in review: Ancestry.com, Apple, chip gear makers in the news

The following is a roundup of my stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com.

Computer maker Dell is expected to report its first year-over-year decline in earnings in eight quarters. Dell reports Q4 results after the close Tuesday. (Feb. 17, 2012)

Chip gear makers are riding an equipment upgrade cycle, driven by cloud and mobile computing trends. (Feb. 17, 2012)

Some news media mistake a Netflix statement as a strategy shift for its DVD business. (Feb. 17, 2012)

Apple is running out of cat names for its Mac OS X software releases. (Feb. 17, 2012)

Chip equipment supplier Applied Materials beats Q1 targets, issues bullish outlook driven by smartphones and tablets. (Feb. 16, 2012)

Microblogging platform Twitter is making changes to its privacy guidelines after getting caught copying address books on smartphones.
Meanwhile, Google speaks out about European online privacy regulations. (Feb. 16, 2012)

Online family-history service Ancestry.com isn’t getting a bump in subscribers from the new season of NBC’s celebrity genealogy show, “Who Do You Think You Are?” Stock falls 16%. (Feb. 16, 2012)

Text imaging technology provider Monotype matches Wall Street’s forecasts for Q4 earnings and beats on sales. (Feb. 16, 2012)

Cable channel operator Discovery Communications disappoints investors with its 2012 earnings forecast. (Feb. 16, 2012)

Apple’s new Mac operating system, Mountain Lion, will bring iPad apps to Macintosh computers. (Feb. 16, 2012)

Online genealogy service Ancestry.com posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings and matched forecasts on sales, but subscriber data worried investors. (Feb. 15, 2012)

Apple clawed back smartphone market share from Google Android devices in Q4 due to strong iPhone 4S sales. (Feb. 15, 2012)

Apple shares pass $500 threshold, despite Foxconn labor probe and expanded patent fight with Samsung. (Feb. 13, 2012)

Photo: Title card for NBC reality TV series “Who Do You Think You Are?”, which is sponsored by Ancestry.com.

Week in review: Redbox, Verizon, Amazon take on Netflix

The following is a roundup of my stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com.

Cadence Design Systems is benefiting from the semiconductor industry’s increased spending on research and development. (Feb. 10, 2012)

Apple is expected to announce iPad 3 in early March. Its latest tablet is predicted to have a faster processor, improved display and bigger battery. (Feb. 9, 2012)

IRobot stock short-circuits as 2012 outlook disappoints. (Feb. 8, 2012)

Amazon.com strikes content deal with Viacom for its streaming video service to take on Netflix. (Feb. 8, 2012)

Medical-records software firm Cerner posts strong fourth-quarter earnings, sales and bookings. (Feb. 8, 2012)

Harman CEO sees opportunity to grow car infotainment systems business. (Feb. 8, 2012)

Redbox movie rental kiosk operator Coinstar announces plans to buy NCR’s DVD kiosk business. (Feb. 6, 2012)

Verizon and Coinstar’s Redbox are teaming up to take on Netflix; Details of their competing offer are skimpy though. (Feb. 6, 2012)

Photo: Netflix on Nintendo’s Wii video game console.

Week in review: Netflix offers original content; NBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ returns

The following is a roundup of my stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com.

Netflix gets into original content to compete with HBO and Starz. First up, “Lilyhammer” starring Steven Van Zandt of HBO’s “The Sopranos.” (Feb. 3, 2012)

How NBC’s celebrity genealogy show “Who Do You Think You Are?” picks stars to profile. (Feb. 3, 2012)

Ancestry.com eyes lift from NBC’s celebrity family-tree show, “Who Do You Think You Are?” (Feb. 2, 2012)

Seymour Cray was the computer industry’s first iconic figure. His work at Control Data and Cray Research ushered in the supercomputer age. (Feb. 1, 2012)

Apple is the world’s top PC maker if you include tablets, but few do. (Feb. 1, 2012)

Microsoft is trying to bring “Minority Report” computers to life.
The software giant now is selling Kinect motion-sensing controllers for Windows personal computers. (Jan. 31, 2012)

Mobile chip designer ARM sees stock rise on Q4 earnings beat, favorable guidance. (Jan. 31, 2012)

Photos: Actress Marisa Tomei (top) is featured in the third season of NBC’s celebrity genealogy show, which premiered Friday; Actor Steven Van Zandt stars in the original Netflix series “Lilyhammer.”