‘Tis the season to predict, and other stories – December 14, 2006

Predictions season is upon us. Gartner says the end is nigh for Microsoft Windows, blogs will plateau and we’ll all be trackable via our mobile phones by 2010. IDC thinks China and India will become IT superpowers, but will also begin “a more serious look internally, focusing on bridging urban-rural divides and developing infrastructure.” While we’re on the subject of analysts, The Register today has a lengthy article on the tricky relationship between analysts, the media and their clients.

Drama at Le Web 3 – or should I say farce? Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Participants were outraged at being bumped off the agenda in favor of last minute appearances from French politicians. The wifi didn’t work. Michael Arrington of TechCrunch fell out with his friend Dave Winer, fired his UK editor and sought solace in his blog. As ever, the comments on these blog postings are the best bit, so check them out if you have time.

HP dumps Wilson Sonsini. As its outside counsel, although the two companies will continue to do business together. The law firm was not involved in the spying scandal itself, but Mr Sonsini was responsible for advising the company in the aftermath and has been criticized for “failing to prevent the incident from damaging the H.P.” according to the New York Times. Never mind, its client list still reads like a who’s who of Silicon Valley…

Technorati Tags: Gartner, IDC, Le Web 3, HP, Sonsini