Instagram … Two years ago we invested $250,000 in Instagram.  Thanks to the spectacular vision and effort of Kevin Systrom and the Instagram team, the investment will be worth $78,000,000 when the Faceboook acquisition closes.  The work that Kevin and team did will go down as legend in the industry and we thank them immensely.

Intel's Ivy Bridge chips launch using ‘3D transistors’  —  Intel's new Ivy Bridge processors use a new tri-gate transistor technology to boost processing power while reducing the amount of energy needed  —  Intel is launching its Ivy Bridge family of processors - the first to feature what it describes as a “3D transistor”.

The Flight From Conversation  —  WE live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating.  And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection.  —  At home, families sit together, texting and reading e-mail.  At work executives text during board meetings.

Adobe Officially Unveils CS6 And Its $49/Month All-Inclusive Creative Cloud Subscription Service  —  Today is a big day for Adobe.  Not only is the company officially unveiling the next versions of virtually all of the applications in its Creative Suite, but Adobe is also launching its Creative Cloud online offerings.

Will Stanford and Silicon Valley Transform Education?  —  Stanford University is so startlingly paradisial, so fragrant and sunny, it's as if you could eat from the trees and live happily forever.  Students ride their bikes through manicured quads, past blooming flowers and statues by Rodin …

NimbleTV Aims to Stream TV on Devices  —  In a move that could hasten the slow pace of so-called TV Everywhere, a technology start-up is introducing a way to move a whole subscription's worth of TV onto the Web, with or without the subscription company's permission.

In its 3rd year, Kickstarter successfully raises over $119 million, taking home $6 million in commission  —  It's easy to root for Kickstarter.  The company has made it possible to bring new, innovative products to market and finance projects that would never get off the ground before the popularization of crowdfunding.

Google Makes Its Big Video Push With AdWords For Video  —  A couple of weeks ago, early participants in the new AdWords for Video program gathered at the YouTube offices.  The ostensible justification for the meeting was a fancy photo shoot, but YouTube executives also gave a little pep talk …

Google and Facebook Grow Comfortable and Complacent  —  Google and Facebook, young and successful companies that they are, risk being left behind as technology shifts from PCs and Web browsers to mobile devices.  —  Earlier this month, when Google showcased a new design for Google Plus …

Nokia: Three Big Problems  —  Nokia's results for Q1 2012 are in: They're not good.  (See the earnings release here, Management's Conference Call presentation here.)  —  Compared to the same quarter last year, Nokia overall revenue is down 29%, to $9.7B.  And the company is now losing money, $1.8B, 18.5% of revenue.