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24 Jun 2011 12:35

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Biz: Ralph Nader, activist investor? A consumer advocate’s Cisco grievance

  • If they can’t give shareholders value, then they have to give cash.
  • Ralph Nader • Playing activist investor in the wake of frustration with Cisco’s stock. Nader, an investor in the company (he has 18,000 shares), wrote a letter a while back complaining about the company’s low dividends, despite the fact that their stock performance has been week and they have tons of cash in the bank, and the “powerlessness of owner shareholders” that resulted from this. It’s pretty weird that the consumer advocate, of all people, is taking on this role, but hey, maybe he just thinks their shares are unsafe at any speed. source

12 Apr 2011 10:04

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Tech: The rise and fall of the Flip Video recorder: That was quick

  • 2006 The first version of the “Pure Digital Point & Shoot” video camera came out, inspired by the success of a disposable video recorder sold at CVS. A year later, it’s renamed Flip.
  • 2009 A couple years after Flip caused a mini-revolution in the way digital video was created (It’s like it was designed for YouTube!), Cisco bought the company in question for nearly $600 million.
  • 2011 For some reason, the company decided to stop focusing on home users. Among its victims? Flip, which was nicked by the rise of the smartphone. Why don’t you sell the technology, Cisco? source