The decline of Microsoft continues - Netbooks and Appple the new winners

The numbers are remarkable given the previous growth of Microsoft - and its former stranglehold on the computer market. While Linux and Apple are increasing market share, Windows is declining.

So although Netbook sales are growing rapidly, Microsoft is missing out:

• 10 million Netbooks sold in 2008
• 20 million Netbook sales projection for 2009
• 30 percent of Netbooks run Linux

Even those Netbooks that run Windows have a significant negative impact for Microsoft as they are not able to charge full price for their OS - which is, anyway, a scandal at $200 to $400 for a laptop or desktop.

The switch to Linux and Apple is hurting Microsoft in other ways as well. Users are no longer forced to buy the over-priced Microsoft Office. They can run the free Open Office instead. So for 2008 the figures are:

• Microsoft Office sales down 23%
• Windows OS sales down 8%

Which is all good news for consumers, but bad news for the millionaire employees of Microsoft.

Trainee BBF Pets at the Farm -

As we know, Paris Hilton loves animals, especially little ones. And she is a very accomplished horse rider. As a test for the British townies she sent them to a farm. Turned out to be a bit of a horror story. Most trainee British Best Friends are so precious they can't cope being around ordinary animals - like horses, sheep and pigs. The prize was a spa treat for the ones who could cope.

Meanwhile, Paris had been receiving a fantastic therapeutic massage, which turned out to be a treat for us - even just viewing.

Next came a bit of work with Olivia to examine the BBFs real thoughts - some good old-fashioned psycho-social confrontations forced a few people out of cover. The results were very revealing, plotting the BBFs on a scale from most real to most fake:

Real <--------------------------------------------------> Fake

Samuel -- Flic -- Emma -- Ola -- Chrissie -- Meddy -- Laura -- Layla -- Carrie

We totally agree with the results at the fake end, because Carrie has annoyed us from the start. She never stops thinking about herself, never stops complaining, never stops being totally self-obsessed. Never-ending bleating is fake, and Carrie can't understand how fake that is.

Samuel received an evening treat at a sushi restaurant with Paris, one-on-one, and once again Paris looked gorgeous and is so open and outgoing.

Was intriguing to hear Paris's view on the sex tape scandal, how someone she really trusted would go behind her back and sell something so private, especially when everything occured when she was 17 and still rather naive.

If you think Paris looks great on a catwalk, in boots and leather at a firing range, with a shotgun in hand, she looks awesome. One of the strong impressions from the whole series is how intelligent and perceptive Paris is, in contrast to most of the shallow BBFs.

Photo shows Paris with sister Nicky - the British hopefuls are way off the quality needed to live alongside the stylish sisters

To add a bit more pressure on the BBFs, Paris announced that the finalists will join her in Los Angeles.

When asked why she should stay, all Carrie really said was "I want this" and this proves again she is the least worthy. We think the wrong choice was made to eliminate Layla, although Paris explained that Layla had got lost in the background and so people were not trusting her.

The biggest surprise was when Kat arrived back in the competition - the faces of the other contestants fell about a mile. Cool.

Web to take over from TV soon? Online viewing doubles in two years!

You might have thought the 13-17-year-old bracket have a preference to watch tv shows via the web. That is confirmed with the latest viewing figures for 2008. Almost 3 times more now prefer the online versions, a massive 28% increase over the 2006 figure.

What is more of a surprise is this preference has more than doubled in every age range.

percentage who access full TV programs online 2008 (2006)
13-17 years .. 28% .. (11%)
18-34 years .. 26% .. (12%)
35-49 years .. 16% .... (8%)
50-54 years .... 9% ... (1%)

Overall, for all age ranges, 21% now prefer online viewing (compared to 10% in 2006).

With up to a third of the TV audience online, no wonder Apple is reportedly working on a computer-TV combo - iViewer perhaps, or iStream?

If Apple can bring the convenience of the iPod and iTunes to the craziness that is TV programming, we'll sign up now.

Cheryl Cole tops 2008 celebrity blog - a taste of things to come?

Nadine Coyle (photo 1) has already set up shop - literally - in America. Rumours abound that Cheryl Cole (photo 2) is about to do the same. Even so, it is a pleasant surprise to see Cheryl in number one position on the list for an American celebrity blog of their top 10 girls of the year.

Along with the Girls Aloud girls, music stars are making the Top 10 lists in increasing numbers, which sees a big change in American taste. These are girls with big voices and, often, big brains. In an era when image counts for so much, these music stars are taking as much benefit from their musical DNA as their body shape - and Cheryl is a perfect example.

It is maybe not a surprise, then, that Hilary Duff (photo 3) is in the No. 2 slot. It is doubtful such a wholesome star would reach the Top 10 let alone the Top 100 in previous years. But all power to Hilary, from her Russian popstar role to her Maxim appearance - cute and sexy do go together.

And in No 4 slot is Jessica Simpson, and ongoing exposure from the part of Daisy Duke will surely have raised the chances of Jessica staying in the top 10 lists for a few more years yet.

So here is the Hollywood Tuna Top Ten Celebrities of 2008:

1. Cheryl Tweedy
2. Hilary Duff
3. Megan Fox
4. Jessica Simpson
5. Lucy Pinder
6. Miranda Kerr
7. Sophie Monk
8. Marisa Miller
9. Mila Kunis
10. Keeley Hazell

The dominance of the Playboy era is over, although there will always be the attraction of big breasts in these types of lists. For example, Lucy Pinder has zero appeal as a person, or even as an attractive face, and certainly has no talent except for her body-shape DNA.

Demographics in free fall - the credit crunch ends Gen X and Gen Y almost overnight

Just when you thought all the demographics were sweet and the marketing budget was plain sailing, along come a massive credit crunch - worldwide. But worse is that all your demographic profiles are defunct - extinct - a dead parrot.

Generation X is approximately those born between 1965 and 1979, who grew up with MTV in their teenage years and are now a key economic slice of 30-year-olds through 44-year-olds.

Their statistical significance is now suspect. Demographic profiling can cope with acceptable variations of a few percent. But when up to 20% of that profile are redundant, on reduced hours or reduced pay, or just plain hoarding money, budget forecasts are wrecked. Worldwide.

More important than this, perhaps, is the end of the Generation Y entry into the marketplace. The expected new flood of spenders from the 12-to-29 year-old range may not arrive for many years.

Further, 2008 could reliably be positioned as the end of Generation Z and so we may need to look for a new phrase. A couple spring to mind: post-bust or post-crunch or even big bang. Whatever is decided once the experts have time to address the problem, let's hope they retain a little humour in their deliverations.

Maybe, in light of the decade and the fact that so many people have been a bit astray of best practice, the newcomers could be called the naughties.

Do kids decide the future stars - The Nick Kids' Choice Awards say yes

The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, also known as the KCAs, announced in March/April of each year, are often an early indicator of stars of the coming year or two. As most of the votes come from the nick.com website, it's reasonable to assume these are media-savvy and YouTube-aware teens and pre-teens.

Also of interest is the results cover a wide range of ages of the winners, so demonstrate the power of marketing into even the younger age groups.

Back in early 2008 the winners included:
Reality Show: American Idol
TV Actress: Miley Cyrus
Movie Actress: Jessica Alba
Female Singer: Miley Cyrus
Song: Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne
Female Athlete: Danica Patrick
Wannabe Award: Cameron Diaz

The Wannabe Award is presented to the best celebrity role model or inspiration. Previous winners have included Paula Abdul, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah, Tia D. and Tamera Mowry (of Sister, Sister) and talk show host and actress Rosie O'Donnell.

As well as having considerable natural talent, a combination of staying fit alongside good marketing can make sure you photo stays in the news - and on the web. Our photos show Miley Cyrus in more relaxed mode (left) and Danica Patrick (right) in a promotional shoot. The 2009 nominations and voting are open, so we wait the results with interest.

Thrilling tennis at Australian Open - with teenage troubles left well behind by Dokic

The Top 10 players in the women's draw of the Australian Open are wonderful ambassadors for tennis, and it's great to see plenty of young talent snapping at their heels.

One favourite of the Aussie crowd is Jelena Dokic, who thrilled everyone as a teenager with her powerful play. Now 25 years old and over the blip of the past few years, Dokic is back as a contender, working her way up the rankings.

That journey is, however, perhaps harden than 10 years ago. The teenagers in the rankings from 10 to 50 are full of talent and confidence, attacking the top players and building great reputations. When Jelena Dokic, ranked 187, met Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the No. 11 seed, the sets showed the importance of the mental game today.

Wozniacki, with so much talent and court skill, won the first set despite some close games and break point opportunities for Dokic. The second set showed the power and baseline dominance of Dokic, and quite a few wobbles in the Wozniacki game. That left the scores at 6-3, 1-6.

Mid-way through the third set, Dokic was tested and responded with mental strength and hitting power. With some excellent position play and even aces, Dokic sped to lead by 4 games to 2.

With a marvelous display in the 7th game, Dokic took her lead to 5-2, and that left her serving for the match. She controlled everything - her nerves, the ball, the player on the other side of the net. "Guts in life and on the court," is how one reporter described Dokic. The final score (6-3, 1-6, 2-6) was both unexpected and very welcome, even if we feel some sympathy for Wozniacki.

A standing ovation for Dokic was deserved, whether you are Australian or not. Former Australian No. 1 Alicia Molik, now a commentator, gave Dokic a hug at the end, as they were so both emotional. Jelena said she took on a point-by-point strategy after losing the first set. Asked about the past few years, Dokic said maybe she got on the tour too early, but has matured and feels helped by the crowd always, and the whole Australian nation: "I have so many feelings and emotions going on right now, so not sure how to say." As Molic said, just be proud, because everyone else is.