This column typically takes a look back, but a lot of the news last week was about companies that were planting seeds for even bigger announcements this week.
We can start with Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), which is staging an "Android press gathering" tomorrow. It's all but confirmed that this will be when the search engine giant introduces Nexus One, its first homegrown Android-powered mobile phone.
This news may be frustrating to G1 and Droid owners who figured that they were buying the next hot Google-powered handset. If Google wants to be the next Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), it had better make sure that it doesn't alienate its fan base by making older smartphones fall out of date every couple of months.
The other interesting development is that Ford (NYSE:F) CEO Alan Mulally will be a keynote speaker at the tech-heavy Consumer Electronics Show later this week. He will probably peel back the curtain on the next generation of the SYNC technology for in-dash entertainment that it has developed with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).
"In 2010, Ford vehicles will offer familiar terrestrial radio, HD Radio technology, [and] Sirius Satellite Radio as well as Internet radio through Ford SYNC from a Bluetooth-streaming audio-capable smartphone," reads a press release earlier this week.
This sounds like intriguing news for entertainment-starved drivers but a competitively challenging future for both terrestrial radio operators and Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI).
Stay tuned!
Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.
- After nearly three decades as chairman and CEO of Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ:WFMI), co-founder John Mackey is giving up his chairmanship. He'll still be CEO, but this move should please corporate governance advocates who believe that board directors should be as independent as possible.
- If you're hungry for stock ideas to get the new year started right, check out our The Best Stocks of 2010 feature, with a baker's dozen of stock recommendations for the year ahead.
Until next week, I remain,
Rick Munarriz
