Placebo Affect

I’ve been reading a lot of speculation that Microsoft will be licensing ActiveSync technology to Apple for the iPhone. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, I’m wondering if it will include the cost of Apple having to reveal their internal technology so Microsoft can basically re-brand the iPhone to a Microsoft product that runs Windows or Windows CE.

I have a Motorola Q right now and would change if Microsoft were to license ActiveSync to Apple so I can use the phone with my Exchange Server… but I worry that the ActiveSync may cause the iPhone to crash like my Q. After all the Motorola Q does run Windows.

With new competition like Apple’s iTunes and Amazon / Tivo allowing users to download movies on the fly is the only hope for Blockbuster to partner with large cable TV providers?

I thought years back that it would be Apple’s iTunes product that would eventually put Blockbuster under… but now I’m starting to wonder if it will be Amazon/Tivo. At present cable TV companies have a disadvantage as they cannot release movies as soon as normal video stores, but from what I’ve heard those rules are changing.

If this is all true what can Blockbuster video do to compete? How long will it be until Blockbuster stores can be replaced by DVD or new media rental vending machines. (There is an increasing number of these machines in many metro areas)

Why does Blockbuster seem to be stuck in their old business model? Can they adapt? Should they?