Microsoft lay-offs, Redditor spray-offs and YouTube pay-offs (Girt by CNET podcast 34)
Microsoft shed 7,800 workers as smartphone fortunes fall flat, Redditors go to war with Reddit CEO Ellen Pao and popular YouTuber PewDiePie gets a heck of a pay day.
If you're one of the 6.3 percent of Australia who currently uses a Windows phone, then you might want to sit down. Microsoft has laid off 7,800 people, mostly from its phone division, with the company pretty much regarding the $7.2 billion it spent on Nokia as a bad call. But that doesn't mean that Windows doesn't still have some love for smartphones.
It's been a big week for Reddit, with a protest currently in action from users over the sacking of the person in charge of finding talent for the high-profile Ask Me Anything (AMA) series of interviews. It's not looking great for Reddit CEO Ellen Pao, but she seems more than qualified to weather the storm.
If you're a fan of Let's Play videos -- where YouTubers take a guided playthrough of videogames -- then you'll know the name PewDiePie. If you don't then get ready to: The insanely popular streaming video sensation made an astounding $7.4 million last year. And trust us, gaming as a YouTube category isn't going anywhere.
Finally, it's been a big week for Smart TV in Australia, with LG launching its 4K OLED models and Sony showing off the power of the Android TV operating system.
Podcast
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Microsoft cuts
- Microsoft to cut 7,800 jobs, take $7.6B charge as phone woes drag on
- Microsoft takes another hit on phones, but don't count it out yet
- Smartphones aren't selling like they used to (it's an Android thing)
Reddit in revolt
- AMAgeddon: Parts of Reddit go dark over dismissal of key admin
- Revolt! Reddit uprising is determined to oust Ellen Pao
PewDiePie bonanza
- YouTube star PewDiePie: I do make a lot of money. So what?
- It's not just PewDiePie -- game-related vids are big business
- Game On: Where video games and YouTube collide
4K OLED and Android TV
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- Sony prices 2015 4K and Android TVs