The IDC report that we covered earlier today said that digital content doubles every 18 months, but there's a problem with this, a big problem.

Analyst Opinion - When I wrote last week’s column suggesting Apple consider a move downmarket to expand its computer/OS market share and avoid being perpetually marooned in niche territory, I suspected it might touch off a bit of a kerfuffle. But like any debate involving Apple, small kerfuffles quickly become big ones. Few companies these days generate the level of passion that Apple does.

Analyst Opinion - We had a major reorganization at AMD last week that should not only make them more efficient. It may also make them the leading change agent in the server space as we move to a more cloud-based computing model.  However, that begs a change on the client as well and interestingly enough, I was at Intel this week for an update on their Digital Home initiative and think this is the best effort I have seen from them in over a decade.

Opinion – Yawn. Apple replied to Microsoft’s Laptop Hunters ads. Apple replied with Megan to Lauren and a PC Choice Chat to highlight the weaknesses of a PC. And yes, Apple forgot to mention its own weaknesses. And we wonder how dumb computer buyers really are why Apple’s creative team is convinced that these ads are still funny. We got it, Apple. Time to move on.

Analyst Opinion - Saying Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer is prone to hyperbole is like saying deep fried bacon strips do little to encourage a heart-healthy lifestyle. We all know it’s obvious, so we’re hardly surprised when we read the headlines.

Analyst Opinion - Making games differently – from production, to financing and distribution: Many have noted that the gaming industry seems to be recession-proof. Monthly sales figures continue to show growth in the market. Even though NPD’s figures for March are off 17% from the same period last year, NPD themselves noted that Easter generally provides a spike in sales, which fell in April this year and March last year. If you look at overall Q1 08 figures, there was 0% change from Q1 09, while software was down just slightly at 2% for the quarter, hardware and accessories were up 1% and 3% respectively.

Opinion: That's what it says on the Internet, so it must be true.

Analyst Opinion - A couple of months back, I raised a bit of a ruckus with my column – Kindle shmindle – that suggested the high up-front cost of Amazon’s book reader would be its ultimate downfall. As Amazon prepares to launch an even bigger-screened version, supposedly to cater to the newspaper market, my original thesis still stands. Consumers don’t need yet another expensive, limited-function device to buy, maintain and keep charged.

A former Intel CEO has criticized the US patent system for "limiting" the reach of invention. Andrew Grove, who led Intel from 1987 to 1998, made the scathing remarks after receiving a lifetime achievement award at the 37th annual National Inventors Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

A senior European Union official has demanded that the Obama administration relinquish its control over the Internet. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which operates under the auspices of the US Commerce Department, is currently tasked with regulating critical aspects of the Internet - including the assignment of domain names.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has agreed to settle a controversial federal piracy lawsuit with the Santangelo family for $7000. The Santangelos already remitted half of the amount on April 20 and are expected to make six additional payments by October.

Analyst Opinion - If someone tweets it, is it news? Should Twitter be our first stop when we want to know what’s going on? Do we even have a choice anymore?

Often, single men find themselves at the local laundry emporium, a fistfull of quarters in hand, and very often, they find themselves hoping that the experience will be more fulfilling than merely removing skid marks and ketchup stains. They dream of finding single, lonely lingerie models in the same predicament. However, that is never the case so, thank the stars above that someone came up with HE detergent. High efficiency detergent to those unclear on the concept. It promises to change the laundry experience and your life. I kid you not.

Analyst Opinion - I spent last week at the press event for IFA, which is the European version of CES and began 85 years ago with an Albert Einstein keynote. This was the first time for me that I was looking at this show and while the two shows don't really compete, given they are focused on different markets, the IFA show appears to bring in 20% additional sales to participants while CES may actually be a 10% or better drag on sales for those who go to the show. The reason? Focus and timing. 

A recently conducted Harris Interactive poll indicates that most Americans believe technology can help solve complex social issues, including the country's failing education system and a stalled auto industry.

Analyst Opinion - We have all seen the excellent work various web site and analysts like us have done over the years in comparing the latest graphics AIBs, and, more recently, the new graphics-enabled motherboards. Some have been more thorough than others, but all contain performance measurements from 3Dmark/Vantage and/or FPS in game play. And for the high-end game enthusiast where performance is everything, that’s enough. But is it enough for the rest of us?

Researchers from Lehigh University, IBM’s T.J. Watson Research Center and at the Ioffe Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia said they have found a way to cool notebook chips much more efficiently than it is the case today.

According to a recent study conducted by a neuroscience group at the University of Southern California, social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook harm and cripple the moral values of their users. Why? The study claims that those sites do not provide the necessary room to feel compassion or admiration.

A study from Ohio State University, based on a study of 219 students, suggests that the more you use Facebook, the less you study, and the worse your grades get. However, the report’s author does say the report only shows a possible connection between Facebook use and lower performance in your studies. Sure, we all know the truth: Facebook makes you dumb, among other things.