Week in review: Data loss disasters
Microsoft grapples with a Sidekick headache, but Facebook and Apple have their own data pains. Also: Google and Intel earnings impress.
A massive data outage for Sidekick handheld users has become a massive PR headache for Microsoft and carrier T-Mobile.
A massive data outage in Microsoft's Danger unit left many T-Mobile Sidekick users without access to their calendar, address book, and other key data. However, things got even worse as Microsoft said in a statement that data not recovered thus far may be permanently lost. Microsoft and T-Mobile have not said how many of the roughly 800,000 Sidekick customers have lost data.
T-Mobile USA has, at least temporarily, stopped selling all models of the device as the company continues to investigate the recent problems.
T-Mobile later said that it may yet be able to recover Sidekick users' information. Those who do suffer permanent data loss will get a $100 "customer appreciation card" good toward T-Mobile service or products.
Not surprisingly, a number of lawsuits have been filed, including two in federal court in Northern California that allege both negligence and false claims on the part of Microsoft and T-Mobile.
• Sidekick's lesson: We learn by failing
• Unanswered questions loom large in Sidekick fiasco
• Sidekick users share their horror stories
• Deaf users sound off on Sidekick outage
• Microsoft: We've recovered most Sidekick data
• With outage, Sidekick service loses its footing
Microsoft wasn't alone in suffering high-profile data headaches:
Facebook database outage cut off about 150,000
A downed Facebook database left a small but vocal percentage of its userbase without access to the social network for as long as 10 days.• Growth of Facebook leaves MySpace in dust
Apple acknowledges Snow Leopard data loss issue
The company says it is aware of a problem related to guest account log-ins that "occurs only in extremely rare cases," and it does not yet have a fix for it.Google's Postini suffers prolonged e-mail delays
Service was disrupted for a better portion of a day on some of Google's Postini e-mail security service, with customers reporting significant delays in e-mail delivery.More headlines
Google revenue, profits increase
The search giant isn't growing as strongly as it was a year ago, but it beats revenue expectations amid signs the ad economy is getting stronger, and CEO Eric Schmidt says he believes the worst is over.• Levinson quits Google's board
• Business as usual in search market share
Intel earnings beat Wall Street predictions
The chipmaker's third-quarter revenue comes in at $9.4 billion, beating analysts' expectations, which hovered at just more than $9 billion.• Intel CEO remarks on Netbooks, Windows 7
• Intel, AMD feud over evidence in antitrust case
Critical Windows 7 holes fixed in record Patch Tuesday
Microsoft stitches up a pair of Windows 7 holes, along with fixing up zero-day flaws in SMB and IIS offerings.• Adobe fixes 28 holes in Reader and Acrobat
• Internet breaks in Sweden after DNS maintenance error
Microsoft wants multicore boost from Windows 7
The new operating system should be able to make better use of modern multicore chips--in part through changes to adapt Windows to big servers.• Using Windows 7 to 'Elevate Miami'
• Microsoft taps the 'Family Guy' to sell Windows 7
Financier Soros to invest $1 billion in clean tech
George Soros will invest $1 billion on clean-energy technology, and he plans to provide $10 million a year over the next 10 years for the newly created Climate Policy Initiative.• Where the clean-tech jobs are
Amazon offers same-day delivery to select cities
Online retailer upgrades its shipping options in time for the holiday season, also expanding its Saturday delivery options. Pricing may benefit Prime subscribers most.• Samsung delivers Blockbuster, Amazon on-demand video
Also of note
• New Wi-Fi spec challenges Bluetooth
• Cisco to buy mobile specialist Starent for $2.9 billion
• Steve Jobs bests Zuckerberg on teens' fave list