Reinventing the Millennium

Sanjay's departure did not bring any shock to the scene.

However, there were a lot of regrets in the YouTube live channel. I thought that Sanjay, who was very aggressive on Twitter, could work with Mr. Fang offline, but I didn't expect that he would be so gentle.

"This Siri is quite interesting, we can give it a..." Google's Larry didn't even care about the departure of a guest, and was still studying Siri with great interest, "the position of chief intelligence officer."

"Does this mean my recommendation was successful?" Fang Zhuo smiled.

Larry nodded and said seriously: "We can cooperate in this field."

There is a similar project within Google, but it is very rudimentary and far inferior to the Siri in hand.

More importantly, Larry discovered a question. If the voice assistant can really bring convenience, what engine is its search results based on? It can present results directly without mentioning Google or other competitors behind it.

Will this happen? How long does it take for commercial development and how long does it take for user acceptance?

Just like Sanjay just now, Motorola had no choice but to sell out in just a few years. The development of the mobile era seems to be too rapid. Looking at this salon again, those Nobuyuki Idei and Kallasvuo who were included in the failure discussion by Mr. Fang, Sony and Kallasvuo behind them Nokia's business collapsed seemingly overnight.

Although Larry is the founder, he took over as CEO of Google from Schmidt in less than a year. It is still very touching to see the decline of the giant.

"No problem, we are happy to have more friends participate in this field." Fang Zhuo happily agreed.

Larry is indeed a better communicator than Schmidt. Regarding the development of Siri, former CEO Dai Ge’s suggestions using thousands of users as trainers made him feel very constructive.

For example, Steve Jobs also said that the technological prospects of large parameters + tags + natural language processing NLP + neural network algorithms are worth looking forward to.

Since it is worth looking forward to, the bigger the user base, the better, and the more training, the better.

It turns out that Apple is a closed ecosystem, and the development of Siri is not as good as Dai Ge expected. This may be related to the magnitude of training data. Slow progress over a long period of time can easily reduce enthusiasm for investment.

Larry continued to ask about Siri's operating logic.

Fang Zhuo gave a simple explanation. After Siri is awakened, it will perform local and online speech recognition. The "Siri Ah Siri" displayed this time is completely cloud recognition, so that it can rely on the server to perform more information analysis. Improve its "smart" performance.

Speech recognition + cloud computing server + natural language processing solution, this is the current synthesis of Siri.

Yike has its own Yike Cloud. A team has just been formed for natural language processing technology this year, and Siri’s underlying speech recognition comes from Nuance, the best company in the world.

Whether it is Dai Ge or American Vice President Schroeder, everyone is optimistic about each other's technological complementarity and future potential, and for now, this can at least be used as an additional selling point for mobile phone products.

Larry's interest was subdued only after seeing YouTube's real-time comments. The audience was obviously not here to listen to technical analysis today, even if Siri's previous performance was surprising enough.

"Oh, yes, we are in a salon today to talk about the gains and losses of the company's development." Larry said with a smile, "It's not entirely my fault that we didn't talk about this until now. You see, Mr. Fang is also very interested in discussing this with me."

He paused briefly and said his observation: "With the acquisition of Siri by Yike, we can see that Yike is undergoing profound changes. It is gradually changing from a mobile phone hardware company to a technology company. This is It’s extremely rare. To give an example that Mr. Fang often mentions, Nokia.”

"At its peak, Nokia's price-to-earnings ratio was only about 10. The market's perception of it was more towards mobile phone hardware companies, while Yike's price-to-earnings ratio has been rising from last year to this year."

“When Yike launched the Mars touch-screen mobile phone in 2007, it was almost a pure hardware company. Compared with Internet companies that often have higher price-to-earning ratios, companies like Yike and Nokia were unable to provide nearly zero marginal costs. Their advantages are at risk of being subverted by other rivals at any time."

“However, Yike launched cloud computing in the Chinese market, launched a system ecosystem, began to design its own chips, and began to get involved in the mobile Internet. This is an obvious change, an extremely difficult change, and it has also been recognized by the market. "

"So, from this point of view, I think Mr. Fang can convince me that he has included himself among the best CEO discussions in the world in the past ten years, or even one of the best."

Larry talked eloquently and mentioned the changes taking place in Yike Company.

As a partner of Yike, Google has the clearest understanding of Yike's development. Especially when Google withdraws from the Chinese market, Yike's top ecological niche is simply too good...

"No wonder Google has special expectations for you to take over Schmidt as CEO." Fang Zhuo saw Larry ending this paragraph and couldn't help but praise, "Well, Yike Company... As you said, it's... Make a positive transformation.”

He and Larry didn't have a preview of this salon, but they just made some optimizations to Siri. This was a bit surprising to hear from the Google CEO, and Larry wasn't that stereotyped.

"I think a technology company that can serve more fields and more groups is more in line with the aesthetics." Fang Zhuo temporarily organized the speech, "Of course, when we talk about the company's development and decline in the past ten years, it may not be that technology companies are more It can withstand risks. Nokia's Symbian was very smart a few years ago. We can't talk about positioning out of touch with the times."

He pointed to the mobile phone: "Just like Siri we just played, it feels novel now, but it may feel outdated in two years. However, technology companies don't know when they will face the impact of changing technology. This is different from hardware. The company is similar, I hope Yike can be better, longer, and more interesting."

Larry laughed and said, "Siri is quite interesting."

He mentioned Siri again from the bottom of his heart, and then faced the live broadcast camera and said: "I had a little chat with Mr. Fang on the road today. Yike has indeed been quite successful in the past ten years, but such success has also come after many times. dangerous situation."

"Well, there are two or three times when Yike is more dangerous." Fang Zhuo thought briefly and confirmed, "Three times, one was when he decided to develop the music player business in the United States. If Yike couldn't become famous at that time, Yike's Players will soon be lost in the Chinese market."

"The second time was when we decided to switch from music players to mobile phone products. This involves our old friend Apple. If we delay until it launches the iPhone, Yike's situation will be very passive."

"The third time is Yike's patent issue. On the one hand, there are lawsuits with Nokia, Apple, LG and other companies. On the other hand, it is faced with being shorted in the secondary market. This is called the crisis of the survival of this company."

At this point, Fang Zhuo repeated this sentence in Chinese. It is estimated that some domestic audiences will also be watching.

He spoke quickly and in a relaxed tone, but after listing it like this, especially since the patent litigation and two short-selling events were almost universally known, Yike was indeed at a critical moment.

How many institutions and investors have sentenced Yi Ke to death...and then came the well-known turning point.

Fang Zhuo took a sip of tea and moistened his throat. Many viewers were quite excited. As a bystander, listening to the founder's review at this moment, he felt that Yike had simply experienced three deaths before he arrived. Today's situation.

With each experience, Yike's size takes a big step forward.

Fang Zhuo observed the atmosphere at the scene, including the expressions of Larry and the guests with admiration. He smiled and said: "I think many successful companies that appear in our field of vision will have had similar experiences. Otherwise, they may have died or declined. ”

"For example, Nokia, forget it, let's not talk about it, for example, Motorola, forget it, Sanjay is gone, for example, this, this, Microsoft, Ballmer."

Microsoft's Ballmer was also successfully selected into the top ten failed CEOs this time, and only after Sanjay.

However, Fang Zhuo did not give many reasons in his tweet, just saying "Microsoft's slowness is disappointing."

At this moment, a message signed by Ballmer appeared in YouTube's real-time comments, "I'll tell you in person when I get there." However, because there were many comments, Fang Zhuo, Larry and the staff did not notice the ordinary "Ballmer" ".

Fang Zhuo had already started to comment on his views on Microsoft, but after only saying a few words, Larry's cell phone rang.

Just as Larry was about to click the button, he suddenly saw the name of the caller. He looked at the scene and Mr. Fang with a strange expression and said, "It's Ballmer."

Immediately, he answered the phone, ended the call a few seconds later, and said again: "Ballmer is already on his way, Mr. Fang, you are in trouble, hey, things are getting interesting, should we wait for Ballmer?" "

Larry's questions to the audience were met with unanimous responses.

"I can only say that our salon is really impromptu." Fang Zhuo commented unexpectedly.

Unlike a TV show, today you can talk about whatever you want and it will end when you want. Guests can leave when they want and come when they want.

The person who was just commented said that he is on his way. Unlike Sanjay, the former CEO of Motorola who shouted fiercely on Twitter, Ballmer has never expressed his opinion on being named one of the worst CEOs in the past decade. .

Therefore, not only the audience was surprised, but Fang Zhuo and Larry were also surprised.

The scene spread through Twitter and Facebook, and more people flooded into the YouTube live channel.

Unlike Sanjay who only became Motorcycle CEO in 2008, Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 and has been Microsoft CEO since 2000. He is undoubtedly one of the top leaders of this giant.

Ballmer didn't respond before, and no one thought someone like him needed to respond.

But today's on-site call and subsequent arrival seemed to prove that he also cared about being evaluated like this by the head of Yike.

"So, we..." Fang Zhuo changed his mind and said with a smile, "Let's not talk about Microsoft for now. We can talk about today's guests."

There were not only Larry, Fang Zhuo and Sanjay who had left at the salon, but also executives from Amazon, Sony and other companies.

However, with Sanjay leaving and Ballmer approaching, everyone looked at Mr. Fang... nervously, and the atmosphere was different from what they had imagined when they arrived.

Before you come: People named Fang also have two eyes and one nose.

After arriving: Mr. Fang, don’t look at me...

"Needless to say, Lehman brought its own fault." Fang Zhuo briefly described the members he included in the failure discussion group one by one, "Not to mention Motorcycle, Nokia, and Sony, oh, Panasonic, Panasonic and Sony can actually be our opponents. Let’s talk about the observations of Japanese companies together: Kodak, it is really the tears of the times, oh, Yahoo..."

In total, Fang Zhuo listed the worst CEOs of nine companies in his tweets, including Mo, Wei, Nuo, Suo, Song, Lei, Ke, Ya and My Space.

Some of them have had a lot of experience, some are just general research, some, like Microsoft, have a market value of up to 300 billion US dollars, and some, like Lehman, have gone bankrupt.

Most of them are in line with public perception, but Microsoft is more eye-catching.

"Talk about Yahoo! In 2006, it basically negotiated with Facebook to acquire it for US$1 billion, but at the last minute it lowered the acquisition price to US$850 million."

"Now everyone knows the scale of Facebook, and Yahoo has also begun to sell off its assets."

When Fang Zhuo saw the guests from different companies opposite him avoiding his sight, he started talking about Yahoo, a once brilliant company. As a former competitor, Google's Larry was also very interested.

Executives from other companies present saw that the topic was about Yahoo, and gradually joined the discussion, and the atmosphere gradually became peaceful. However, they spoke relatively restrainedly to avoid the topic suddenly shifting to themselves.

With Ballmer's preview, what happened to Yahoo was no longer the focus of the audience on site and on YouTube. Even the intrusion of two Japanese companies, Sony and Panasonic, couldn't arouse enough interest.

At 3:30 pm, when the guests present were making great efforts to express their insights on the company's operations and technological development, Microsoft CEO Ballmer arrived.

He made a beeline for the stage, burst into the camera, sparked a surge of YouTube comments, and headed straight for the Yi Ke boss on the couch.

Ballmer was so angry that when he arrived, he ignored Fang Zhuo's outstretched right hand and gave him a hug: "Don't eat the sour radish!"

Fang Zhuo responded: "Old dog!"

"It's time for your rocket to be repaired," Ballmer said as he sat down.

"It depends on the situation this year." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "We'll talk about it after the shutdown."

Ballmer is talking about the Rockets. He is a basketball fan. He has been fond of basketball since junior high school and joined the school team in high school. His two sons also like basketball very much under his influence, and some of them have become professional players. dream.

Before the patent dispute between Microsoft and Yike, Fang Zhuo and Ballmer had private exchanges about the NBA, and even gave his family front-row season tickets.

This year's NBA has entered a state of suspension due to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement after July 1.

Fang Zhuo changed the subject: "Ballmer, do you think it's my team or your company that has the bigger problem?"

Ballmer is a very passionate person. He just sat down and stood up again after hearing these words. He turned around on the stage, looked at the camera, the audience and Google's Larry, and said in great surprise: "Has Microsoft declined to the point where I can compete with Kallasvuo and Fuld?"

He turned around and looked at Mr. Fang again: "I just knew that you were joking when you talked about this matter, but Mr. Fang, are you serious?"

Fang Zhuo could not be more serious and asked: "You happened to be the CEO of Microsoft in January 2000. So, from January 2000 to December 2010, how do you evaluate your entire 10 years?" Job? Ballmer, hey Ballmer, don’t tell me, don’t you ever tell me, you think you do a great job!”

"So..." Ballmer heard this denial and said angrily, "Even if I'm not great, am I the worst?"

It’s okay to talk about little people. Fang Zhuo of Yike may be one of the most eye-catching business leaders in the past ten years. Unlike Sanjay who has a new job, Ballmer’s emotions are because of this unfair job. evaluate.

In his ten years as Microsoft CEO, revenue has tripled!

"This is my subjective evaluation." Fang Zhuo said this first, and then said unceremoniously, "But I think my subjectivity is based on objective facts. From the perspective of Microsoft, you have almost criticized the entire industry in the past ten years. Who is responsible for the collapse of the mobile era? Is it me?"

Ballmer frowned and said, "I don't agree with your comment..."

Fang Zhuo interrupted: "I heard that you opposed the in-depth alliance between Microsoft and Nokia? Are old and slow companies always attracting companies with the same taste?"

"Is it because of the threat posed by our union that you are biased against me?" Ballmer said.

threaten?

Fang Zhuo responded to this question with laughter.

The audience also laughed, and the real-time comments on YouTube also expressed their views on Microsoft WM.

The entire smart mobile market camp has been quite clear. Android, iOS and others, whether it is Symbian, BlackBerry or Microsoft WM, are now included in the others.

"Ballmer, I understand, when you are in a high position, you always hear more of what you want to hear, your team, your executives, they will tell you endlessly, 'Hey, Ballmer, We still have a chance, we are almost successful." Fang Zhuo said in a thick voice, "But I hope you can hear the voices of front-line consumers. Friends, please take out your mobile phones and give them to our Microsoft CEO. Sir, let’s see what brands they are.”

It is common for senior executives and terminals to have different cognitions. The longer the chain of giants is, the more often this happens.

Not only the audience, but the comments on the live broadcast channel also gave the answer in a flash.

Google's Larry watched the excitement and motioned to the staff to bring the notebook to Ballmer.

Almost, almost no answers for mobile phones equipped with WM system.

"Microsoft seems to be missing out on the entire mobile era." Fang Zhuo commented on Microsoft and then asked Ballmer, who was losing his temper. "So, I have a question that I am confused about. Since you are here today, I also want to ask you. ."

Ballmer frowned, sat down, and spoke briefly: "You tell me."

"Music players have become popular around the world since 2001. Why did Microsoft only launch your Zune player in 2006?" Fang Zhuo seemed to be asking the truth, "Well, not launching it in 2002 can be said to be observing the market. In 2003, Not launching it is polishing the product, not launching it in 2004 is cooperating behind the scenes, 2005? 2006? Oh, Mars and iPhone will be launched the next year."

"Everyone else is playing with their smartphones, but you're playing with your music player."

Google's Larry suddenly had an idea and asked on his phone: "Siri, Siri, what do you think of Microsoft's Zune player?"

Siri digested it for three seconds and replied in a soft voice: "Excuse me, do you want me to evaluate a product that was announced to be discontinued this year?"

The whole audience burst into laughter, and YouTube was filled with "LOL".

Ballmer's face darkened.

It was this year that Microsoft Zune was discontinued.

Fang Zhuo asked: "Is this the slowness of Microsoft or you, the CEO?"

There is no answer to the question, Ballmer and Microsoft are one.

"In 2006, still in the second half of the year, a player with no innovation, no price advantage, and no window period was grandly launched by Microsoft." Fang Zhuo smiled, "Ballmer, can you tell me, how did Microsoft Do you want to?"

Faced with such inquiries, Ballmer finally spoke: "This is indeed the company's slowness."

"Very well, Ballmer, I saw your evaluation of the first-generation iPhone, do you remember it?" Fang Zhuo began the second round of questioning.

Ballmer pondered.

Seeing that the old man had a bad memory, Larry immediately asked SIri again.

Siri's answer: "It won't make much of a fuss."

There was a lot of laughter again.

This time, Fang Zhuo even criticized the audience's laughter: "You guys are laughing, did you think the iPhone could make a big splash? Do you think a company that has just entered the mobile phone field can achieve great success?"

The audience was dumbfounded. Apple is very successful now, but no one seemed to be optimistic about it at the time. It was generally believed that the mobile phone market was a red ocean market dominated by Nokia.

Seeing that Ballmer's expression seemed to be improving, Fang Zhuo immediately said: "But, do I need to use the standards of ordinary consumers to measure the CEO of a company with a market capitalization of US$300 billion?"

Ballmer glanced at Mr. Fang and thought about it.

"From top to bottom, if you are slow first, then the vice president will be slow, then the department, the team, and the front line. If you are slow, the others will be slow!" Fang Zhuo's thoughts became smoother as he spoke, "In the past ten years, Microsoft's revenue is rising, but its market value has never increased much. Why does the secondary market react like this?"

He continued: "Microsoft once developed a touch-screen e-book, but then canceled it because it didn't look like Windows."

Ballmer nodded, yes.

"So, how many projects in Microsoft are stuck in front of the reason 'it doesn't look like Windows'?" Fang Zhuo asked curiously.

Ballmer recalled the company's situation and hesitated again.

Fang Zhuo saw Ballmer thinking. He picked up the tea cup but found that there was no coffee, and pointed at Larry.

Larry was stunned when he saw Mr. Fang questioning Ballmer. He came to his senses and quickly poured a cup of coffee with his own hands, hoping to see Mr. Fang continue his efforts.

Like Larry, the online and offline audiences were also fascinated. Why did Ballmer become silent when asked? What about that energy that just broke into the camera?

"If the alliance between Nokia and Microsoft fails again, what is your next plan?" Fang Zhuo sipped his coffee and asked the CEO.

When Ballmer heard this question, his first reaction was... Windows, Windows, Windows. At Microsoft, nothing is more important than Windows.

It didn't matter whether Fang Zhuo heard the answer or not. Seeing that he didn't answer, he continued: "One of you from Microsoft and I...well, I won't mention his name. He has worked with you and talked about your decision-making on hardware. Very confused.”

"You said you had a meeting and planned to make hardware, but when you woke up the next day, you regretted it and couldn't do it anymore. Is this true?"

Fang Zhuo asked about the authenticity.

Ballmer responded tactfully: "It seems that he has indeed worked with me..."

it is true.

"I think there is no need to continue our discussion." Fang Zhuo put down his cup and commented based on his own understanding, "Your slowness is Microsoft's slowness, and your aging is Microsoft's aging. If this continues, it will lead to chronic death. .”

He shook his head: "If I were you, I would already be thinking about the next CEO."

Ballmer laughed angrily at this statement: "Am I really that bad?"

"Please look at the VCR." Fang Zhuo looked at Larry, "Can we put the one we just had on this one? Let Ballmer answer my question again."

Ballmer waved his hand and admitted: "I admit that I was a little slow, but I still think your evaluation is too excessive."

Fang Zhuo said slowly: "Let's do this. I'll ask the question and you'll answer yes or no."

He asked: "Do you think Microsoft has been slow over the past decade?"

Ballmer nodded in acknowledgment.

Fang Zhuo asked again: "Do you think Microsoft needs to change?"

Ballmer had to nod. Slowness naturally needs to change.

Fang Zhuo asked again: "Do you think it needs to be changed from you as the CEO?"

Ballmer was silent for a while and then nodded. Change does not mean resignation.

Fang Zhuo then asked: "Do you think that you, who have been working at Microsoft for thirty years, have enough internal drive to shape a new organizational system?"

Ballmer frowned deeply and looked at the situation before answering. Does Microsoft need a new organizational system?

It seems necessary, but... can I start a new stage?

Ballmer fell into a long silence.

Fang Zhuo waited for a while and concluded: "A slow company that needs to change cannot get a decisive answer from the CEO. The views of the new era are destined to conflict within Microsoft. Conservatism is the company's biggest enemy. As a representative of the old-fashioned, this is why I think Ballmer should be rated as one of the worst CEOs of the past decade."

"You..." Ballmer raised his hand, "Reform and innovation are not that easy, let alone the company's business spread all over the world."

"Microsoft must not be able to find a talent who can take over for you." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "Ballmer, I have to say, if you intend to resign now, I am afraid that the stock price will rise tomorrow and let the market Speak."

Ballmer stared at Mr. Fang.

Fang Zhuo thinks this salon is really good.

"I don't have to stick to the position of CEO," Ballmer said, "but I don't think my leaving is a good thing for the company."

Fang Zhuo concluded: "Ballmer, what you are saying now is that as long as the company has a suitable candidate, you don't mind giving up as CEO, right? Is this your attitude and reflection?"

Ballmer pondered for a moment and nodded.

Fang Zhuo looked at the camera: "You heard it, Microsoft CEO is considering resigning, let everyone take a look at this matter."

When Larry heard this, he laughed and said: "We are just discussing. Our salon is to discuss successful and relatively less successful cases in business, such as Yike, such as Yahoo, such as Microsoft."

He felt very refreshed when he heard Mr. Fang criticize Ballmer, but he didn't think what would happen. Should Microsoft cooperate with Nokia, it would still cooperate, and it would still focus on Windows if it should focus on Windows.

Fang Zhuo also nodded and said: "Today is just communication, there is no preparation in advance, we just have a casual chat."

Ballmer let out a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, I didn't prepare in advance. If you had prepared in advance, today I would..."

Suddenly, an audience member shouted: "It's gone up! Microsoft's stock price has gone up!"

Fang Zhuo raised his eyebrows, was his reaction so sharp?

Ballmer looked at the audience in shock.

Soon, Microsoft's stock price, which had fallen slightly in recent days, rebounded, and the news was confirmed.

Larry was stunned, no way, he wouldn't really open a salon and kill the CEO of Microsoft!

Ballmer's face was livid. Although it was only a slight increase, this seemed like a denial of his career as a CEO for the past ten years. Lies will not hurt people, but the truth is the sharpest knife.

The secondary market is really responding, and salon exchanges seem to be more than just limited to exchanges.

Fang Zhuo shook hands with Ballmer, a basketball fan, and reassured him that he wasn't necessarily going for him. It might be that the king of retail investors had stock market bonuses.

However, the next day, as the salon and related news spread, Microsoft's stock price rose 5.7%, the largest increase in four years.

The giant company with a market value of US$300 billion rose 5.7%...

The giant company with a market value of US$300 billion but slightly falling in recent days suddenly rebounded and surged 5.7%...

After hearing the news, the secondary market reacted enthusiastically and voted with their feet. A Bao, if you should retreat, just retreat.

Soon, Ballmer's phone number was lost, but everyone understood what the CEO's move meant, what it meant, and your stock price was too high! Our CEO has no credit but hard work!

Alas, having said that... Why are you going to the Laoshizi Salon if you have nothing to do... Just leave Sanjie to test whether Mr. Fang's knife is fast or not!

Media news is flying all over the sky, and some people even claim that Microsoft's board of directors is already having relevant discussions.

But Fang Zhuo knew that this was definitely a rumor, so how could he discuss it like this?

He suddenly apologized and sent a message to Ballmer: The so-called CEO evaluation is purely my personal immature idea. Ballmer, you are already doing great at Microsoft.

It wasn't until the evening that Ballmer responded with a message: Mr. Fang, if I lose my mind and jump into the sea, you will be the murderer!

Fang Zhuo replied: If you say that, then you will definitely not jump. We are just chatting casually, so don't worry about it. Don't take it seriously if the media writes random things.

The media's random writings should not be taken seriously, but on the third day, the stock price was still rising.

On the fourth day, Ballmer returned to the company and held a board meeting to formally discuss whether changes and a new CEO were needed.

The news wasn't kept secret for long, and the response to it was that Microsoft's stock price continued to rise.

It seems that the reality is that Microsoft and CEO Ballmer are really considering it seriously, and the culprit of all this is...Mr. Fang and his evaluation of CEOs.

For a time, who is good and who is bad has become the hottest discussion. Many people are still complaining about Ballmer. Although Ballmer is bad, he is not that bad!

Fang Zhuo, he himself is unavoidably surprised. Ballmer is worthy of being the CEO of Microsoft, and he is indeed capable of action. Well, this, this, let’s take a look at the latest Japanese company’s fraud.

He opened the newly received salon murder, ah no, Japanese company fraud investigation report. (End of chapter)