LA Times suggests that Google PCs, running a Google OS, will be sold in WalMart stores for "perhaps as little as a couple of hundred dollars". This rumor has been going on for at least the past year, so 2006 may well be when it comes true. A more fun prediction is "Google Cubes", which will be a "small hardware box" for transferring music, video and other digital files between a computer and TV set.
LA Times has fun with several outlandish acquisition theories for Microsoft. First they say that Microsoft may offer to buy Yahoo for $80-90 billion. I think this is extremely unlikely, but the LA Times assures us there's a more realistic option: Microsoft "could buy Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp at a fraction of the price." I guess... but wait, there's more. Later in the article there's a suggestion that Microsoft may pursue "a jewel like Time Warner". Hmmm, well there wasn't much sparkle in that jewel for AOL.
Frankly I have a hard time believing Microsoft will spend billions of dollars on media companies, when history suggests they acquire less high profile companies and build on top of them. I expect them to do the same in the media sector. So I'm not sure where all this mega-acquisition speculation comes from - other than the fact that Microsoft has $40 billion in cash lying around.
No mention of Apple products, just the usual celebrity fawning over Steve Jobs - who will apparently "demand a seat on the Disney board". Yawn.
As idle speculation goes, this is actually fairly logical:
"Former ABC executive Lloyd Braun, who was hired by Yahoo more than a year ago to oversee the Internet leader's foray into original programming on the Web, will exit after clashing repeatedly with Silicon Valley's laid-back culture."
A more exciting story though is this: Braun triumphantly marries Yahoo's technology and media strategies together and Yahoo takes its destined place as the 5th network. That's my prediction - but if it doesn't come true I can always sell the movie rights ;-)
LA Times also predicts Yahoo will buy Viacom, which owns MTV and a raft of top entertainment brands. Now that would be a great buy!
Finally a rather unfair jab at Rupert Murdoch by the LA Times. They suggest Murdoch will "continue to be at the forefront of the major media giants' push into new media", however "his short attention span will begin to get the better of him". Hey, just because he's Australian... :-)
Overall a hugely entertaining article by LA Times and I'm sure at least some of it will come true!
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