It was a good year for Apple investors. The company’s stock ended 2004 up 201 percent thanks to the success of Apple’s iPod. Other companies having standout years include Kmart (up 313 percent), Google (more than doubled in value after its IPO), and Starbucks (up 88 percent).
Read MoreSonic Solutions today announced the completion of its purchase of Roxio’s consumer software division. Under the terms of the transaction Sonic is acquiring “substantially all the business and assets of the division, including all products, intellectual property, and trademarks, including the Roxio name.” More than 200 Roxio employees, based at several U.S. and international locations, will join Sonic.
Read MoreMorgan Stanley analyst Rebecca Runkle has lowered her 2005 PC growth forecast to 9 percent from 11 percent, citing better-than-expected performance in the PC market in 2004, as well as signs of a slowdown in the market late in the year. In Runkle’s view, however, Apple shows the best chance of gaining market share in 2005. She said Apple should continue to benefit from the momentum of the iPod and iMac G5. Runkle also said Dell and Gateway should do well.
Read MoreOlympus today announced the next generation in its Stylus series of point-and-shoot digital cameras: the Stylus 500. The new camera features a 2.5-inch “HyperCrystal” LCD, 5.0-megapixels of image resolution, 23 easy-to-use shooting modes, and a compact, durable, all-weather body, which is constructed of durable, lightweight metal with rubber gaskets throughout the interior.
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