Who would have thought a couple of years ago that Research In Motion (RIMM) would be on the ropes and Microsoft (MSFT) could be getting close? Well, me. but not many others. Microsoft's latest strategy of trying to make a no compromise tablet has resulted in, you guessed it, compromise. It's not as polished as an iPad, it's more limited in almost every possible way, it's slow, clunky, unresponsive at times, offers a worse display, weighs more, and is thicker. Plus it costs over $100 more when you factor in a Touch Cover or Type Cover keyboard. Plus, you can't even run Windows applications even though you get the actual Windows desktop.
The best part is the Surface Pro. An even more expensive version of the Surface, an even thicker version of the Surface, and an even heavier version of the Surface, and you get a fan to cool your heating tablet when you're doing your Excel speadsheets or when Outlook keeps freezing - oh my god why does it freeze so much when you're typing - and you get half the battery life of the current Surface model.
There's a very big issue with Microsoft's strategy of no compromise, because time and time again this company fails to realize that the reason Apple (AAPL) is winning is because Apple choses to compromise.
Apple chooses to throw out the USB port, the DVD drive, the kickstand, the fan, the Intel processor. Apple understands that laptops are still useful but at this point in the game, the only use for a multitouch laptop should be in the trackpad. Microsoft is trying to introduce the Surface Pro as your new laptop, except it doesn't work well is a variety of situations, especially on your lap. Plus, consumers don't care, and with enterprises and large companies (and small companies) not rushing out to buy brand new computers or brand new software licenses for their employees and workstations due to cost, and the fact that more and more employees are bringing in their own laptops and also asking for Macs, Microsoft has a tremendous problem.
Compounding Windows 8's failure is the fact that Microsoft is still not prepared for the consumerization of the enterprise world, Microsoft's bread and butter, and the reason why Microsoft has $60 billion in cash. As Windows licenses erode and Office sales slow, Microsoft isn't going to have another hugely profitable business to rely on - that's why this is so scary.
Switching to RIM, the company is actually doing a lot of things right in my book. I respect that everyone there has been huddled up, focused on a single product and operating system and put all of their time into getting it as right as they can. Whether that means anything at all, we'll soon see; RIM has probably been one of the worst players in the mobile space as far as execution is concerned but Thorsten Heins seems to have a better grasp on where the company can take advantage in different markets and at what price point, though RIM's market share is declining so rapidly that not even BrickBreaker can save the company there.
I have two concerns from a very high level (in-depth thoughts at a later date) about BlackBerry 10 and the devices RIM is introducing on the hardware front. First off, going with a touch only phone first sends the wrong message to me. What is RIM's biggest strength? Some would say email, some would say security, most would say the keyboard. Introducing a brand new operating system, with a brand new smartphone that doesn't feature RIM's fantastic keyboard feels like a marketing blunder. If there is one single reason BlackBerry owners (yes! they do still exist) still have a BlackBerry, it's for the keyboard.
Yes, I know, there is a QWERTY BlackBerry 10 smartphone coming just a couple of weeks or months after the first touchscreen device, but these two should have been joined at the hip at the very minimum.
My other concern is RIM is already showing a break in the company's focus by introducing two different screen sizes from the gate. The BlackBerry L-series will have a 1280 x 768 screen resolution and the BlackBerry N-series have a 720 x 720-pixel display. In my time playing with an N-series prototype, this square resolution felt incredibly awkward and it's now two screen sizes that RIM's developer community has to account for when making apps. Add this to the fact that RIM has enough trouble getting developers on board - of course Microsoft is having trouble there, too - and this feels like it's not the most optimal scenario.
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Study: DVRs now in half of US pay-TV homes
NEW YORK (AP) - A new survey finds that digital video recorders are now in more than half of all U.S. homes that subscribe to cable or satellite TV services.
Leichtman Research Group's survey of 1,300 households found that 52 percent of the ones that have pay-TV service also have a DVR. That translates to about 45 percent of all households and is up from 13.5 percent of all households surveyed five years ago by another firm, Nielsen.
The first DVRs came out in 1999, from TiVo Inc. and ReplayTV. Later, they were built into cable set-top boxes. The latest trend is 'whole-home' DVRs that can distribute recorded shows to several sets.
Even with the spread of DVRs, live TV rules. Nielsen found last year that DVRs accounted for 8 percent of TV watching.
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Leichtman Research Group's survey of 1,300 households found that 52 percent of the ones that have pay-TV service also have a DVR. That translates to about 45 percent of all households and is up from 13.5 percent of all households surveyed five years ago by another firm, Nielsen.
The first DVRs came out in 1999, from TiVo Inc. and ReplayTV. Later, they were built into cable set-top boxes. The latest trend is 'whole-home' DVRs that can distribute recorded shows to several sets.
Even with the spread of DVRs, live TV rules. Nielsen found last year that DVRs accounted for 8 percent of TV watching.
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For RIM, 2013 is do or die
Research In Motion (RIMM) is a company at a crossroads. 2012 cannot be salvaged, but the slow and stubborn RIM of old is a thing of the past and according to a number of industry watchers, the new RIM has a fighting chance. The struggling vendor's future hinges on its upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system and while the new OS looks promising in some ways, RIM faces an uphill battle and we've yet to see any truly compelling differentiation that might draw users away from Android and iOS. According to market research firm IDC, everything is riding on RIM's 2013 turnaround efforts and if they fail, it will likely be the beginning of the end.
Following a report issued on Friday covering predictions for the coming year, IDC slipped a quick note in the report's synopsis about Microsoft, RIM and the crucial coming year.
"In the battle for primacy over the mobile operating system market, 2013 will be a critical year for Microsoft (MSFT) and Research In Motion," IDC noted in its report. "Both vendors need to capture much greater interest from mobile app developers to expand the number of apps that run on devices powered by their respective operating systems. Failure to do so by the end of 2013 will likely be the beginning of their demise in this market. Meanwhile, hardware vendors like Samsung (005930) will explore their OS options, including Linux/Tizen, as a hedge against the growing market dominance of Android."
The situation is much more dire for RIM than Microsoft, of course. Early indications suggest Windows Phone 8 handsets are off to a healthy start but even modest performance in 2013 would hardly spell the end for the world's largest software company.
For RIM, on the other hand, 2013 is do or die. The Waterloo, Ontario-based smartphone maker is not in a position where it can sustain poor BlackBerry 10 sales in the coming year. For this reason, and because RIM's new mobile platform has not exhibited any compelling differentiation that might lead users away from rival smartphone platforms, RIM bears are already predicting the company's demise.
RIM is set to unveil the finished version of BlackBerry 10 on January 30th along with the first two smartphones that will launch with the platform.
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Following a report issued on Friday covering predictions for the coming year, IDC slipped a quick note in the report's synopsis about Microsoft, RIM and the crucial coming year.
"In the battle for primacy over the mobile operating system market, 2013 will be a critical year for Microsoft (MSFT) and Research In Motion," IDC noted in its report. "Both vendors need to capture much greater interest from mobile app developers to expand the number of apps that run on devices powered by their respective operating systems. Failure to do so by the end of 2013 will likely be the beginning of their demise in this market. Meanwhile, hardware vendors like Samsung (005930) will explore their OS options, including Linux/Tizen, as a hedge against the growing market dominance of Android."
The situation is much more dire for RIM than Microsoft, of course. Early indications suggest Windows Phone 8 handsets are off to a healthy start but even modest performance in 2013 would hardly spell the end for the world's largest software company.
For RIM, on the other hand, 2013 is do or die. The Waterloo, Ontario-based smartphone maker is not in a position where it can sustain poor BlackBerry 10 sales in the coming year. For this reason, and because RIM's new mobile platform has not exhibited any compelling differentiation that might lead users away from rival smartphone platforms, RIM bears are already predicting the company's demise.
RIM is set to unveil the finished version of BlackBerry 10 on January 30th along with the first two smartphones that will launch with the platform.
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Apple confirms iPhone 5 and iPad mini launch in China next month
Apple (AAPL) on Friday announced that the iPhone 5 and iPad mini will both become available in China beginning in December. The announcement follows news that Apple's latest iPhone had finally been approved for use on China Telecom's network. Wi-Fi-only versions Apple's iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad will launch on December 7th and the iPhone 5 will become available the following week on December 14th. Apple's press release follows below.
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iPad mini & iPhone 5 Arrive in China in December
CUPERTINO, California?November 30, 2012?Apple® today announced the Wi-Fi versions of iPad® mini and fourth generation iPad with RetinaT display will be available in China on Friday, December 7, and iPhone® 5 will be available on Friday, December 14. iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are currently available in 42 countries, and iPhone 5 is available in 47 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK.
iPad mini is a completely new iPad design that is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad, and features a stunning 7.9-inch Multi-TouchT display, FaceTime® HD and 5 megapixel iSight® cameras, ultrafast wireless performance* and an incredible 10 hours of battery life.** The fourth generation iPad features a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina display, new Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime HD camera and ultrafast wireless performance*. Both iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad come with iOS 6.
iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless*-all while delivering even better battery life.** iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: Shared Photo Streams, all-new Maps app, Passbook® organization and even more Siri® features and languages.
iPad mini with Wi-Fi models come in black & slate or white & silver for a suggested retail price of $329 (US) for the 16GB model, $429 (US) for the 32GB model and $529 (US) for the 64GB model. The fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi models come in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. In China, iPad mini and the fourth generation iPad will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), select Apple Authorized Resellers and by reservation from Apple retail stores. Reservation requests will be accepted daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Thursday, December 6 for pick up the following day. Additionally, iPad 2 will be available at just $399 (US).
iPhone 5 comes in either black & slate or white & silver for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model, $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. In China, iPhone 5 will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), select Apple Authorized Resellers and by reservation from Apple retail stores. Reservation requests will be accepted daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pick up the following day. iPhone 4S is available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 4 is available for free with a two-year contract from participating carriers.
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
Microsoft Surface Pro battery will last roughly four hours
Not only is Microsoft's (MSFT) Surface Pro tablet running Windows 8 expensive starting at $899 for a 64GB model, but it'll also have a less-than stellar battery life, according to the company's Surface Twitter account. Fielding a question regarding the battery life of the Surface Pro, Microsoft said "#Surface pro will have approximately half the batter [sic] life of Surface RT." The Surface RT can last about eight hours on a single charge, which means the Surface Pro will only last about four hours. The battery life might seem low at first, but remember, the Surface Pro has an Intel (INTC) Core i5 processor and higher 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution touchscreen display. While the third- and fourth-generation iPad with Retina display can easily get 10 hours of battery life despite pushing more pixels, they aren't powered by a laptop/desktop processor.
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RIM shares rise 6 percent as Goldman jumps on BB10 bandwagon
TORONTO (Reuters) - A wave of optimism surrounding the launch of Research In Motion's re-engineered BlackBerry line picked up momentum on Thursday with Goldman Sachs raising its rating on the smartphone maker and setting off a surge in its share price.
The brokerage firm joined a growing chorus of analysts who have warmed to the prospects of a successful introduction of the new BlackBerry 10 devices, which RIM hopes will let it claw back market share lost to Apple Inc's iPhone and smartphones powered by Google's Android platform. The BB10 devices are expected to hit store shelves early next year.
The shift in sentiment has been swift. A few weeks ago, most analysts believed RIM had squandered any chance it had to become a serious competitor because of repeated delays in the launch of the new smartphone.
But with a launch date now set for January 30 and some positive feedback about the devices from telecom carriers and developers, some analysts now think RIM might be able turn around its fortunes.
In a note to clients, Goldman analyst Simona Jankowski said preliminary specifications that have emerged on the BB10 devices appear impressive.
'With these devices RIM appears to finally be aiming for the leading edge hardware performance that was missing from its prior generations,' Jankowski Said.
GOLDMAN UPGRADE
Jankowski said she believes more applications will be available for BB10 than had been expected because BlackBerry users typically download a relatively high number of paid apps, which is an enticement to app developers.
Goldman, which raised its rating on RIM shares to 'buy' from 'neutral,' also increased its price target to $16 from $9.
By midday, RIM's shares had jumped up more than 6 percent on the Nasdaq to $11.78, while its Toronto-listed shares rose by a similar margin to C$11.72.
RIM shares, which have plunged about 90 percent from a 2008 high of more than $148, have risen some 75 percent in the last two months as the company moves closer to the launch of the new devices.
RIM promises its new devices will be faster and smoother than previous smartphones, and will have a large catalog of apps that are crucial to the success of any new line of smartphones.
Earlier this month, Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek, who has been one of RIM's biggest critics, raised his rating and price target on the stock.
Last week, National Bank analyst Kris Thompson raised his price target on the shares, stating that there is more money to be made in the stock ahead of the launch of the BB10 devices.
RIM Chief Executive Thorsten Heins told Reuters earlier this month that he sees the new BB10 devices providing RIM with a framework for growth over the next decade.
To be sure, not everyone has jumped on the bandwagon. Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair warned on Wednesday that rising expectations for the BB10 in 2013 have provided false hope for investors.
'We believe the run-up in the stock miscalculates the reality of consumer demand for BB10 next year. ... The fact is, the smartphone market has changed in the last 24 months, and RIM is not only late to the party, the party has moved to a different location and RIM is showing up at the wrong house,' Blair said.
(Reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Maureen Bavdek; and Peter Galloway)
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The brokerage firm joined a growing chorus of analysts who have warmed to the prospects of a successful introduction of the new BlackBerry 10 devices, which RIM hopes will let it claw back market share lost to Apple Inc's iPhone and smartphones powered by Google's Android platform. The BB10 devices are expected to hit store shelves early next year.
The shift in sentiment has been swift. A few weeks ago, most analysts believed RIM had squandered any chance it had to become a serious competitor because of repeated delays in the launch of the new smartphone.
But with a launch date now set for January 30 and some positive feedback about the devices from telecom carriers and developers, some analysts now think RIM might be able turn around its fortunes.
In a note to clients, Goldman analyst Simona Jankowski said preliminary specifications that have emerged on the BB10 devices appear impressive.
'With these devices RIM appears to finally be aiming for the leading edge hardware performance that was missing from its prior generations,' Jankowski Said.
GOLDMAN UPGRADE
Jankowski said she believes more applications will be available for BB10 than had been expected because BlackBerry users typically download a relatively high number of paid apps, which is an enticement to app developers.
Goldman, which raised its rating on RIM shares to 'buy' from 'neutral,' also increased its price target to $16 from $9.
By midday, RIM's shares had jumped up more than 6 percent on the Nasdaq to $11.78, while its Toronto-listed shares rose by a similar margin to C$11.72.
RIM shares, which have plunged about 90 percent from a 2008 high of more than $148, have risen some 75 percent in the last two months as the company moves closer to the launch of the new devices.
RIM promises its new devices will be faster and smoother than previous smartphones, and will have a large catalog of apps that are crucial to the success of any new line of smartphones.
Earlier this month, Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek, who has been one of RIM's biggest critics, raised his rating and price target on the stock.
Last week, National Bank analyst Kris Thompson raised his price target on the shares, stating that there is more money to be made in the stock ahead of the launch of the BB10 devices.
RIM Chief Executive Thorsten Heins told Reuters earlier this month that he sees the new BB10 devices providing RIM with a framework for growth over the next decade.
To be sure, not everyone has jumped on the bandwagon. Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair warned on Wednesday that rising expectations for the BB10 in 2013 have provided false hope for investors.
'We believe the run-up in the stock miscalculates the reality of consumer demand for BB10 next year. ... The fact is, the smartphone market has changed in the last 24 months, and RIM is not only late to the party, the party has moved to a different location and RIM is showing up at the wrong house,' Blair said.
(Reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Maureen Bavdek; and Peter Galloway)
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Bullish Goldman Sachs report sends RIM skyward
Riding on the coattails of a recent rebound, yet another analyst has upgraded Research in Motion. The struggling smartphone vendor that many had deemed down for the count has now seen a bit of a rebound over the past few weeks as Wall Street continues to become increasingly optimistic about the BlackBerry 10 operating system. Shares of RIM (RIMM) reacted positively again on Thursday following a rare upgrade from Goldman Sachs. An analyst for the firm became one of the first to slap a Buy rating on the BlackBerry-maker with a price target of $16 per share. Goldman Sachs also expects that in the coming fiscal year, RIM will finally return to profitability.
"We are upgrading Research in Motion to Buy from Neutral, as we see a positive risk/reward heading into its BlackBerry 10 launch on Jan. 30," Goldman analyst Simona Jankowski said in a note to clients, according to Reuters. "For the first time in 3 years, we think out-year Street estimates are too low as they don't capture" potential results from the forthcoming device."
RIM shares opened at $12.30 on Thursday, having gained nearly 12% in early morning trading following Goldman's positive report.
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"We are upgrading Research in Motion to Buy from Neutral, as we see a positive risk/reward heading into its BlackBerry 10 launch on Jan. 30," Goldman analyst Simona Jankowski said in a note to clients, according to Reuters. "For the first time in 3 years, we think out-year Street estimates are too low as they don't capture" potential results from the forthcoming device."
RIM shares opened at $12.30 on Thursday, having gained nearly 12% in early morning trading following Goldman's positive report.
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RIM jumps 10 percent in Toronto trade after Goldman upgrade
TORONTO (Reuters) - Shares in Research In Motion Ltd rose more than 10 percent at the open on the Toronto Stock Exchange after Goldman Sachs upgraded the BlackBerry maker's stock to a 'buy' from a 'neutral' recommendation.
The stock traded at C$12.02 ($12.10), up from a close of C$11.00 on Wednesday, after opening at C$12.18. The brokerage joined a growing chorus of analysts to turn positive on the company's prospects.
(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)
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The stock traded at C$12.02 ($12.10), up from a close of C$11.00 on Wednesday, after opening at C$12.18. The brokerage joined a growing chorus of analysts to turn positive on the company's prospects.
(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)
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Former Apple exec: Scott Forstall 'got what he deserved' when Apple fired him
When Apple (AAPL) fired former iOS boss Scott Forstall as part of an executive shakeup last month, he "got what he deserved." So says former Apple executive Tony Fadell, who left Apple back in 2008 and eventually founded Nest, the company behind the popular learning thermostat. In an interview with BBC, Fadell said there is likely no love lost between Forstall and the company he leaves behind. And he's certainly in a position to know - Fadell headed up Apple's iPod division before departing and the two executives reportedly bumped heads often.
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Samsung takes aim at Japanese rivals with Android camera
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung Electronics Co is taking aim at its Japanese rivals with an Android-powered digital camera that allows users to swiftly and wirelessly upload pictures to social networking sites.
The Galaxy camera lets users connect to a mobile network or Wi-Fi to share photographs and video without having to hook up the camera to a computer.
While it's not the first to the market, Samsung's financial and marketing clout suggest it could be the biggest threat to Japanese domination of a digital camera industry which research firm Lucintel sees growing to $46 billion by 2017 and where big brands include Canon Inc, Sony Corp, Panasonic Corp, Nikon Corp and Olympus Corp.
'Samsung has a tough row to hoe against the likes of Canon and Nikon in the camera brand equity landscape,' said Liz Cutting, senior imaging analyst at research firm NPD Group. 'Yet as a brand known more in the connected electronic device arena, Samsung has a unique opportunity to transfer strength from adjacent categories into the dedicated camera world.'
The Korean group, battling for mobile gadget supremacy against Apple Inc, is already a global market leader in televisions, smartphones and memory chips.
Samsung last year brought its camera and digital imaging business - one of its smallest - under the supervision of JK Shin, who heads a mobile business that generated 70 percent of Samsung's $7.4 billion third-quarter profit.
'Our camera business is quickly evolving ... and I think it will be able to set a new landmark for Samsung,' Shin said on Thursday at a launch event in Seoul. 'The product will open a new chapter in communications - visual communications,' he said, noting good reviews for the Samsung Galaxy camera which went on sale in Europe and the United States earlier this month.
AIMING AT 'PRO-SUMERS'
The Galaxy camera, which sells in the United States for $499.99 through AT&T with various monthly data plans, features a 4.8-inch LCD touchscreen and a 21x optical zoom lens. Users can send photos instantly to other mobile devices via a 4G network, access the Internet, email and social network sites, edit photos and play games.
The easy-to-use camera, and the quality of the pictures, is aimed at mid-market 'pro-sumers' - not quite professional photographers but those who don't mind paying a premium for user options not yet available on a smartphone - such as an optical, rather than digital, zoom, better flash, and image stabilization.
The appeal of high picture quality cameras with wireless connection has grown as social media services such as Facebook Inc drive a boom in rapid shoot-and-share photos.
'At a price point higher than some entry-level interchangeable-lens cameras, the Galaxy camera should appeal to a consumer willing to pay an initial and ongoing premium for 24/7 creative interactivity,' said Cutting.
Traditional digital camera makers are responding.
Canon, considered a leader in profitability in corporate Japan with its aggressive cost cutting, saw its compact camera sales eroded in the most recent quarter by smartphones, and has just introduced its first mirrorless camera to tap into a growing market for small, interchangeable-lens cameras that rival Nikon entered last year.
Nikon has also recently introduced an Android-embedded Wi-Fi only camera.
($1 = 1086.4000 Korean won)
(This story fixes typing error in paragraph 9)
(Additional reporting by Dhanya Skariachan in NEW YORK; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
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The Galaxy camera lets users connect to a mobile network or Wi-Fi to share photographs and video without having to hook up the camera to a computer.
While it's not the first to the market, Samsung's financial and marketing clout suggest it could be the biggest threat to Japanese domination of a digital camera industry which research firm Lucintel sees growing to $46 billion by 2017 and where big brands include Canon Inc, Sony Corp, Panasonic Corp, Nikon Corp and Olympus Corp.
'Samsung has a tough row to hoe against the likes of Canon and Nikon in the camera brand equity landscape,' said Liz Cutting, senior imaging analyst at research firm NPD Group. 'Yet as a brand known more in the connected electronic device arena, Samsung has a unique opportunity to transfer strength from adjacent categories into the dedicated camera world.'
The Korean group, battling for mobile gadget supremacy against Apple Inc, is already a global market leader in televisions, smartphones and memory chips.
Samsung last year brought its camera and digital imaging business - one of its smallest - under the supervision of JK Shin, who heads a mobile business that generated 70 percent of Samsung's $7.4 billion third-quarter profit.
'Our camera business is quickly evolving ... and I think it will be able to set a new landmark for Samsung,' Shin said on Thursday at a launch event in Seoul. 'The product will open a new chapter in communications - visual communications,' he said, noting good reviews for the Samsung Galaxy camera which went on sale in Europe and the United States earlier this month.
AIMING AT 'PRO-SUMERS'
The Galaxy camera, which sells in the United States for $499.99 through AT&T with various monthly data plans, features a 4.8-inch LCD touchscreen and a 21x optical zoom lens. Users can send photos instantly to other mobile devices via a 4G network, access the Internet, email and social network sites, edit photos and play games.
The easy-to-use camera, and the quality of the pictures, is aimed at mid-market 'pro-sumers' - not quite professional photographers but those who don't mind paying a premium for user options not yet available on a smartphone - such as an optical, rather than digital, zoom, better flash, and image stabilization.
The appeal of high picture quality cameras with wireless connection has grown as social media services such as Facebook Inc drive a boom in rapid shoot-and-share photos.
'At a price point higher than some entry-level interchangeable-lens cameras, the Galaxy camera should appeal to a consumer willing to pay an initial and ongoing premium for 24/7 creative interactivity,' said Cutting.
Traditional digital camera makers are responding.
Canon, considered a leader in profitability in corporate Japan with its aggressive cost cutting, saw its compact camera sales eroded in the most recent quarter by smartphones, and has just introduced its first mirrorless camera to tap into a growing market for small, interchangeable-lens cameras that rival Nikon entered last year.
Nikon has also recently introduced an Android-embedded Wi-Fi only camera.
($1 = 1086.4000 Korean won)
(This story fixes typing error in paragraph 9)
(Additional reporting by Dhanya Skariachan in NEW YORK; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Microsoft CEO defends its innovation record, financial results
BELLEVUE, Washington (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer defended his company's record on innovation and financial performance at the annual shareholders' meeting, but conceded that he should have moved faster to get into the booming tablet market dominated by Apple Inc's iPad.
Bill Gates, co-founder and now chairman of the world's largest software company, was one of the first to champion tablet-sized devices more than 10 years ago, but Microsoft failed to come up with a product that worked as well as the iPad. Gates was silent throughout the meeting, attended by about 450 shareholders.
'We're innovating on the seam between software and hardware,' said Ballmer, asked why his company had fallen behind rival Apple. 'Maybe we should have done that earlier.'
A month ago, Microsoft launched the Surface tablet - its first own-brand computer - but has not revealed sales figures.
In the tablet market, 'we see nothing but a sea of upside,' Ballmer said, an acknowledgement that until now Microsoft has effectively had zero presence in the tablet market.
'I feel pretty good about our level of innovation,' he added.
Ballmer said smartphones running Microsoft's new Windows software were selling four times as much as they did at this time last year. Microsoft has never given sales numbers of Windows phones, primarily made by Nokia, Samsung and HTC.
Windows currently has 2 to 4 percent of the global smartphone market, according to various independent data providers. Its overall market share will not likely grow in proportion to its own sales, given that sales of other smartphones - mostly running Google's Android system - are also growing quickly.
Ballmer, flanked by Gates and Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein, was asked by several shareholders to explain Microsoft's lackluster share price, which has been stuck for a decade, and has been outperformed by Apple and Google Inc stock in recent years.
'I understand your comment,' he told one shareholder. He went on to explain that Microsoft had 'done a phenomenal job of driving product volumes' and was focusing on profiting from that growth.
He suggested that whether investors recognized that value at any given time was out of his hands.
'The stock market's kind of a funny thing,' he said, adding that Microsoft had handed back $10 billion in dividends and share buybacks to investors in the last fiscal year.
Several shareholders at the meeting in Bellevue, an upscale suburb of Seattle, complimented the executives on how they had grown and managed the company.
Microsoft's shares rose almost 18 percent during fiscal 2012, which ended in June of this year, compared with a 3 percent rise in the Standard & Poor's 500.
Despite such fluctuations, Microsoft's shares stand around the same level they did 10 years ago.
To see a graphic on U.S. tech share price performance, 1990 to present, click on http://link.reuters.com/rug53t
(Reporting by Bill Rigby; Editing by Gary Hill)
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Bill Gates, co-founder and now chairman of the world's largest software company, was one of the first to champion tablet-sized devices more than 10 years ago, but Microsoft failed to come up with a product that worked as well as the iPad. Gates was silent throughout the meeting, attended by about 450 shareholders.
'We're innovating on the seam between software and hardware,' said Ballmer, asked why his company had fallen behind rival Apple. 'Maybe we should have done that earlier.'
A month ago, Microsoft launched the Surface tablet - its first own-brand computer - but has not revealed sales figures.
In the tablet market, 'we see nothing but a sea of upside,' Ballmer said, an acknowledgement that until now Microsoft has effectively had zero presence in the tablet market.
'I feel pretty good about our level of innovation,' he added.
Ballmer said smartphones running Microsoft's new Windows software were selling four times as much as they did at this time last year. Microsoft has never given sales numbers of Windows phones, primarily made by Nokia, Samsung and HTC.
Windows currently has 2 to 4 percent of the global smartphone market, according to various independent data providers. Its overall market share will not likely grow in proportion to its own sales, given that sales of other smartphones - mostly running Google's Android system - are also growing quickly.
Ballmer, flanked by Gates and Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein, was asked by several shareholders to explain Microsoft's lackluster share price, which has been stuck for a decade, and has been outperformed by Apple and Google Inc stock in recent years.
'I understand your comment,' he told one shareholder. He went on to explain that Microsoft had 'done a phenomenal job of driving product volumes' and was focusing on profiting from that growth.
He suggested that whether investors recognized that value at any given time was out of his hands.
'The stock market's kind of a funny thing,' he said, adding that Microsoft had handed back $10 billion in dividends and share buybacks to investors in the last fiscal year.
Several shareholders at the meeting in Bellevue, an upscale suburb of Seattle, complimented the executives on how they had grown and managed the company.
Microsoft's shares rose almost 18 percent during fiscal 2012, which ended in June of this year, compared with a 3 percent rise in the Standard & Poor's 500.
Despite such fluctuations, Microsoft's shares stand around the same level they did 10 years ago.
To see a graphic on U.S. tech share price performance, 1990 to present, click on http://link.reuters.com/rug53t
(Reporting by Bill Rigby; Editing by Gary Hill)
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Nokia sues RIM for breach of contract
HELSINKI (AP) - Nokia Corp. is suing Research in Motion, the maker of the Blackberry, for breach of contract in Britain, the United States and Canada over cellular patents the two companies agreed on nine years ago.
The struggling cellphone and RIM agreed in 2003 on a 'cross-license for standards-essential cellular patents.' Since then, RIM has sought to amend the deal, claiming the license should also have covered patents for non-essential parts. A Swedish tribunal earlier this month ruled against RIM's claims.
Nokia says Wednesday that it is now filing a lawsuit to enforce the tribunal's latest decision against RIM's claims. According to that decision, RIM is not entitled to manufacture or sell WLAN products, used widely in smartphones, without first agreeing royalties with Nokia, which is based in Finland.
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The struggling cellphone and RIM agreed in 2003 on a 'cross-license for standards-essential cellular patents.' Since then, RIM has sought to amend the deal, claiming the license should also have covered patents for non-essential parts. A Swedish tribunal earlier this month ruled against RIM's claims.
Nokia says Wednesday that it is now filing a lawsuit to enforce the tribunal's latest decision against RIM's claims. According to that decision, RIM is not entitled to manufacture or sell WLAN products, used widely in smartphones, without first agreeing royalties with Nokia, which is based in Finland.
This article is brought to you by COMPUTERS FOR SALE.
BlackBerry maker RIM loses patent dispute with Nokia
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Canada's Research In Motion (RIM) has lost a contract dispute over the use of Nokia patents in a case which could halt sales of its BlackBerry phones if it does not reach a deal to pay royalties to the Finnish company.
Nokia said on Wednesday a Swedish arbitrator had ruled that 'RIM was in breach of contract and is not entitled to manufacture or sell WLAN products without first agreeing royalties with Nokia.'
Wireless local access network (WLAN) technologies, usually marketed under the WiFi brand, are used across BlackBerry devices and by most other smartphones.
Nokia, which is trying to boost its royalty income as its phone business slides, said it had filed cases in the United States, Britain and Canada to enforce the arbitrator's ruling.
'This could have a significant financial impact to RIM, as all BlackBerry devices support WLAN,' IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said.
RIM declined to comment. At 6 a.m. EDT its Frankfurt-listed shares were down 5 percent at 8.245 euros. Nokia shares were down 1.6 percent at 2.526 euros.
'If a sales ban was imposed it would be a massive blow for RIM as it manages its transition to the new BlackBerry 10 software platform,' said Canalys analyst Pete Cunningham.
However, analysts think it is much more likely that RIM will reach a royalty agreement with Nokia to avert such an outcome.
RIM, a smartphone pioneer, hopes new devices using BlackBerry 10 software, due early 2013, will rescue it from a prolonged slump in the face of competition from the likes of Apple and Samsung.
RIM promises its new devices will be faster than previous smartphones, and will have a large catalogue of applications, which are crucial to the success of any new line of smartphones.
CONTRACT ROW
Nokia said it signed a cross-license agreement with RIM covering standards-essential cellular patents in 2003, a deal that was amended in 2008.
RIM sought arbitration in March 2011 with the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, arguing the license should be extended to cover WLAN patents.
The arbitration tribunal concluded a nine day hearing in September 2012 and it issued a decision on November 6, Nokia said in a U.S. court filing seeking to enforce the ruling.
During arbitration RIM did not contest it manufactures and sells products using WLAN technology in accordance with Nokia's WLAN products, Nokia said, quoting the tribunal decision.
Nokia, along with Ericsson and Qualcomm, is among the leading patent holders in the wireless industry. Patent royalties generate annual revenue of about 500 million euros ($646 million) for Nokia.
Based on a Nortel patent sale and Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility, some investors and analysts say Nokia's patent portfolio alone merits its current share price of around 2.50 euros.
However, the patent market has cooled since those deals were made and industry experts say that fair value of patents in large portfolios is $100,000 to $200,000, pricing Nokia's portfolio at up to 0.50 euros per share.
(Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Nokia said on Wednesday a Swedish arbitrator had ruled that 'RIM was in breach of contract and is not entitled to manufacture or sell WLAN products without first agreeing royalties with Nokia.'
Wireless local access network (WLAN) technologies, usually marketed under the WiFi brand, are used across BlackBerry devices and by most other smartphones.
Nokia, which is trying to boost its royalty income as its phone business slides, said it had filed cases in the United States, Britain and Canada to enforce the arbitrator's ruling.
'This could have a significant financial impact to RIM, as all BlackBerry devices support WLAN,' IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said.
RIM declined to comment. At 6 a.m. EDT its Frankfurt-listed shares were down 5 percent at 8.245 euros. Nokia shares were down 1.6 percent at 2.526 euros.
'If a sales ban was imposed it would be a massive blow for RIM as it manages its transition to the new BlackBerry 10 software platform,' said Canalys analyst Pete Cunningham.
However, analysts think it is much more likely that RIM will reach a royalty agreement with Nokia to avert such an outcome.
RIM, a smartphone pioneer, hopes new devices using BlackBerry 10 software, due early 2013, will rescue it from a prolonged slump in the face of competition from the likes of Apple and Samsung.
RIM promises its new devices will be faster than previous smartphones, and will have a large catalogue of applications, which are crucial to the success of any new line of smartphones.
CONTRACT ROW
Nokia said it signed a cross-license agreement with RIM covering standards-essential cellular patents in 2003, a deal that was amended in 2008.
RIM sought arbitration in March 2011 with the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, arguing the license should be extended to cover WLAN patents.
The arbitration tribunal concluded a nine day hearing in September 2012 and it issued a decision on November 6, Nokia said in a U.S. court filing seeking to enforce the ruling.
During arbitration RIM did not contest it manufactures and sells products using WLAN technology in accordance with Nokia's WLAN products, Nokia said, quoting the tribunal decision.
Nokia, along with Ericsson and Qualcomm, is among the leading patent holders in the wireless industry. Patent royalties generate annual revenue of about 500 million euros ($646 million) for Nokia.
Based on a Nortel patent sale and Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility, some investors and analysts say Nokia's patent portfolio alone merits its current share price of around 2.50 euros.
However, the patent market has cooled since those deals were made and industry experts say that fair value of patents in large portfolios is $100,000 to $200,000, pricing Nokia's portfolio at up to 0.50 euros per share.
(Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Cyber Monday sales best ever, for Amazon's Kindle too
(Reuters) - Internet sales jumped more than 30 percent on Cyber Monday, making it the biggest online shopping day ever, according to data released on Tuesday.
Monday was also a record day for sales of Amazon.com Inc's Kindle devices, the online retailer said, without specifying the number sold.
Still, eBay Inc, operator of one of the largest online marketplaces, outperformed its arch rival Amazon.com over the crucial first five days of the holiday shopping season, according to one closely watched measure.
Cyber Monday has been the biggest online shopping day in recent years, as workers return to offices and use their computers to make holiday purchases. This year, the boom in smart phone and tablet adoption has added extra fuel to online shopping.
Cyber Monday sales online jumped 30.3 percent from the same day last year, according to International Business Machines Corp, which analyzes transactions from 500 U.S. retailers.
Mobile devices accounted for 18 percent of visits to retailer websites and 13 percent of sales on Cyber Monday. That was up 70 percent and 96 percent, respectively, compared with the same day last year, IBM reported.
On Monday, when retailers offered big Cyber Monday online deals, web shopping peaked at 11:25 a.m. EST (1625 GMT), IBM said. That timing suggests shoppers continue to check out online offers while still at work, even though more people have high-speed Internet access at home than in previous years.
AMAZON'S KINDLE DEAL
Amazon.com cut the price of its 7-inch Kindle Fire tablet by $30 to $129 on Monday, and it was the company's most successful Cyber Monday deal ever, the retailer said.
Nine of the top 10 best-selling products on Amazon.com have been Kindles, Kindle accessories and digital content since the company unveiled new devices on September 6, it said.
Worldwide sales of Kindle devices more than doubled during the Thanksgiving weekend from the 2011 period, Amazon said.
'Demand for Kindle Fire is stronger than expected,' said Chad Bartley, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities. 'This suggests Amazon is competing effectively against Apple and Google in the near term, and increased device ownership could drive sales of digital media and physical products over the long term.'
Bartley raised his estimate for fourth-quarter Kindle Fire unit sales to 8 million from 5.5 million and increased his forecast for Amazon's fourth-quarter revenue to $22.75 billion from $22.25 billion.
Shares of Amazon were up 0.5 percent at $244.81 in afternoon trading on Nasdaq.
A FIRST FOR EBAY
Still, eBay sales may have outperformed Amazon during the early part of the holiday shopping season, according to ChannelAdvisor, which helps third-party merchants sell more via websites including eBay.com and Amazon.com.
ChannelAdvisor data excludes sales specifically by Amazon, so the data does not capture Kindle device revenue and many other transactions. About 60 percent of Amazon's unit sales are generated by the company itself, while 40 percent come from third parties operating on its platform.
ChannelAdvisor said client sales - or sales generated by third-party merchants using the company's service - soared 55.2 percent on eBay.com on Cyber Monday, compared with the same period in 2011. That was about five times faster year-over-year growth than the same day last year.
For the five-day period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, which ChannelAdvisor calls the 'Cyber Five,' client sales on eBay.com rose 38.3 percent compared with the same days in 2011.
ChannelAdvisor said client sales on Amazon.com jumped 42.4 percent on Cyber Monday compared with a year earlier. Over the 'Cyber Five,' client sales on Amazon.com rose 37.7 percent, the firm said.
This is the first time since at least 2007 that client sales on eBay.com have grown faster than client sales via Amazon.com during the holiday season, according to Scot Wingo, chief executive of ChannelAdvisor. The firm started tracking this in 2007, he noted.
EBay shares slipped 0.1 to $51.33 in afternoon trading on Tuesday. The stock rose almost 5 percent to a new multi-year high on Monday after ChannelAdvisor released its early Cyber Monday results.
EBay's holiday advertising campaign, which included TV commercials, likely attracted more shoppers to its online marketplace, Wingo said.
EBay was also 'aggressive' with holiday promotions and gift guides, and the company's category-specific websites focused on things like fashion and electronics, were well integrated with the broader holiday promotions, unlike last year, Wingo explained.
However, the main driver may have been mobile shopping, an area in which eBay and its payments division PayPal invested early and heavily, Wingo added.
'With less than 10 percent of commerce coming from mobile devices and far higher levels ahead, we believe this trend will carry eBay Marketplace and PayPal for the next few years,' Gil Luria, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote in a note to investors on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Alistair Barr in San Francisco and Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid, Lisa Von Ahn and Gunna Dickson)
Monday was also a record day for sales of Amazon.com Inc's Kindle devices, the online retailer said, without specifying the number sold.
Still, eBay Inc, operator of one of the largest online marketplaces, outperformed its arch rival Amazon.com over the crucial first five days of the holiday shopping season, according to one closely watched measure.
Cyber Monday has been the biggest online shopping day in recent years, as workers return to offices and use their computers to make holiday purchases. This year, the boom in smart phone and tablet adoption has added extra fuel to online shopping.
Cyber Monday sales online jumped 30.3 percent from the same day last year, according to International Business Machines Corp, which analyzes transactions from 500 U.S. retailers.
Mobile devices accounted for 18 percent of visits to retailer websites and 13 percent of sales on Cyber Monday. That was up 70 percent and 96 percent, respectively, compared with the same day last year, IBM reported.
On Monday, when retailers offered big Cyber Monday online deals, web shopping peaked at 11:25 a.m. EST (1625 GMT), IBM said. That timing suggests shoppers continue to check out online offers while still at work, even though more people have high-speed Internet access at home than in previous years.
AMAZON'S KINDLE DEAL
Amazon.com cut the price of its 7-inch Kindle Fire tablet by $30 to $129 on Monday, and it was the company's most successful Cyber Monday deal ever, the retailer said.
Nine of the top 10 best-selling products on Amazon.com have been Kindles, Kindle accessories and digital content since the company unveiled new devices on September 6, it said.
Worldwide sales of Kindle devices more than doubled during the Thanksgiving weekend from the 2011 period, Amazon said.
'Demand for Kindle Fire is stronger than expected,' said Chad Bartley, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities. 'This suggests Amazon is competing effectively against Apple and Google in the near term, and increased device ownership could drive sales of digital media and physical products over the long term.'
Bartley raised his estimate for fourth-quarter Kindle Fire unit sales to 8 million from 5.5 million and increased his forecast for Amazon's fourth-quarter revenue to $22.75 billion from $22.25 billion.
Shares of Amazon were up 0.5 percent at $244.81 in afternoon trading on Nasdaq.
A FIRST FOR EBAY
Still, eBay sales may have outperformed Amazon during the early part of the holiday shopping season, according to ChannelAdvisor, which helps third-party merchants sell more via websites including eBay.com and Amazon.com.
ChannelAdvisor data excludes sales specifically by Amazon, so the data does not capture Kindle device revenue and many other transactions. About 60 percent of Amazon's unit sales are generated by the company itself, while 40 percent come from third parties operating on its platform.
ChannelAdvisor said client sales - or sales generated by third-party merchants using the company's service - soared 55.2 percent on eBay.com on Cyber Monday, compared with the same period in 2011. That was about five times faster year-over-year growth than the same day last year.
For the five-day period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, which ChannelAdvisor calls the 'Cyber Five,' client sales on eBay.com rose 38.3 percent compared with the same days in 2011.
ChannelAdvisor said client sales on Amazon.com jumped 42.4 percent on Cyber Monday compared with a year earlier. Over the 'Cyber Five,' client sales on Amazon.com rose 37.7 percent, the firm said.
This is the first time since at least 2007 that client sales on eBay.com have grown faster than client sales via Amazon.com during the holiday season, according to Scot Wingo, chief executive of ChannelAdvisor. The firm started tracking this in 2007, he noted.
EBay shares slipped 0.1 to $51.33 in afternoon trading on Tuesday. The stock rose almost 5 percent to a new multi-year high on Monday after ChannelAdvisor released its early Cyber Monday results.
EBay's holiday advertising campaign, which included TV commercials, likely attracted more shoppers to its online marketplace, Wingo said.
EBay was also 'aggressive' with holiday promotions and gift guides, and the company's category-specific websites focused on things like fashion and electronics, were well integrated with the broader holiday promotions, unlike last year, Wingo explained.
However, the main driver may have been mobile shopping, an area in which eBay and its payments division PayPal invested early and heavily, Wingo added.
'With less than 10 percent of commerce coming from mobile devices and far higher levels ahead, we believe this trend will carry eBay Marketplace and PayPal for the next few years,' Gil Luria, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote in a note to investors on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Alistair Barr in San Francisco and Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid, Lisa Von Ahn and Gunna Dickson)
Seattle police plan for helicopter drones hits severe turbulence
SEATTLE (Reuters) - One of the latest crime-fighting gadgets to emerge on the wish lists of U.S. law enforcement agencies - drone aircraft - has run into heavy turbulence in Seattle over a plan by police to send miniature robot helicopters buzzing over the city.
A recent push for unmanned police aircraft in several cities is being driven largely by grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including more than $80,000 the city of Seattle used to buy a pair of drone choppers in 2010.
But getting aerial drones off the ground has run into stiff opposition from civil libertarians and others who say the use of stealth airborne cameras by domestic law enforcement raises questions about privacy rights and the limits of police search powers.
The aircraft would never carry weapons, but the use of drones for even mundane tasks raises ire among some because of the association of pilotless crafts with covert U.S. missile strikes in places such as Pakistan and Yemen.
In Seattle last month, a community meeting where police officials presented plans to deploy their two remote-controlled helicopters erupted into yelling and angry chants of 'No drones!'
'My question is simple: What's the return policy for the drones?' said Steve Widmayer, 57, one of numerous citizens who spoke out against the unmanned aircraft. He predicted the City Council would commit 'political suicide' if it backed the plan.
Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell said he hoped the council would set strict drone policies by January.
Police in Seattle, along with Florida's Miami-Dade County and Houston, are among a handful of big-city law enforcement departments known to have acquired aerial drones. But those cities have not started operating the robot aircraft.
FEAR OF FLYING ROBOTS
In Oakland, California, this month, an Alameda County sheriff's application for a federal grant to buy an aerial drone to help monitor unruly crowds and locate illegal marijuana farms drew opposition at a Board of Supervisors meeting.
'I do not want flying spy robots looking into my private property with infrared cameras,' Oakland resident Mary Madden said. 'It's an invasion of my privacy.'
County Board President Nate Miley said the issue would be taken up by the supervisors' Public Protection Committee.
The two Draganflyer X6 remote-controlled miniature helicopters purchased by Seattle have so far been mostly grounded, restricted to training and demonstration flights.
Equipped to carry video, still and night-vision cameras, they can remain aloft for only 15 minutes at a time before their batteries run out, police said.
Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said the aircraft would not be used in Seattle for surveillance or for monitoring street protests. Instead, his department's plans to deploy drones to search for missing persons, pursue fleeing suspects, assist in criminal investigations and for unspecified 'specific situations' subject to McDonagh's approval.
Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell said he hoped the council would set strict drone policies by January.
Months ago in Texas, Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office raised eyebrows by saying he hoped to equip his department's drones with rubber bullets and tear gas, though he told Reuters his thinking on armed aircraft has since evolved.
'From a law enforcement standpoint, that's never going to happen,' he said. McDaniel said his office received Federal Aviation Administration clearance earlier this month to begin operational drone flights but has not yet had occasion to do so.
Actual U.S. domestic use of law-enforcement drone aircraft remains extremely limited.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Department in Colorado has been operating two small drones, also bought with Homeland Security funds, since 2010.
It uses them largely to create three-dimensional images of crime scenes, said Benjamin Miller, director of the department's drone program. They are not used for surveillance, he said.
In North Dakota, the Grand Forks police department last year called in a high-flying Predator drone operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to monitor a tense standoff with a rancher over alleged stolen cattle.
The rancher, Rodney Brossart, and five family members are believed to be the first Americans nabbed by police with drone assistance - with the possible exception of operations along the southwest border with Mexico.
The use of drones there by the Customs and Border Protection agency - a part of Homeland Security - led to 7,500 arrests and the seizure of thousands of pounds of drugs up to the end of last year.
The nationality of those arrested in drone assisted operations in the borderlands is not clear, nor is if Customs and Border Protection partnered with local forces in any of those arrests.
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Jackie Frank)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
A recent push for unmanned police aircraft in several cities is being driven largely by grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including more than $80,000 the city of Seattle used to buy a pair of drone choppers in 2010.
But getting aerial drones off the ground has run into stiff opposition from civil libertarians and others who say the use of stealth airborne cameras by domestic law enforcement raises questions about privacy rights and the limits of police search powers.
The aircraft would never carry weapons, but the use of drones for even mundane tasks raises ire among some because of the association of pilotless crafts with covert U.S. missile strikes in places such as Pakistan and Yemen.
In Seattle last month, a community meeting where police officials presented plans to deploy their two remote-controlled helicopters erupted into yelling and angry chants of 'No drones!'
'My question is simple: What's the return policy for the drones?' said Steve Widmayer, 57, one of numerous citizens who spoke out against the unmanned aircraft. He predicted the City Council would commit 'political suicide' if it backed the plan.
Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell said he hoped the council would set strict drone policies by January.
Police in Seattle, along with Florida's Miami-Dade County and Houston, are among a handful of big-city law enforcement departments known to have acquired aerial drones. But those cities have not started operating the robot aircraft.
FEAR OF FLYING ROBOTS
In Oakland, California, this month, an Alameda County sheriff's application for a federal grant to buy an aerial drone to help monitor unruly crowds and locate illegal marijuana farms drew opposition at a Board of Supervisors meeting.
'I do not want flying spy robots looking into my private property with infrared cameras,' Oakland resident Mary Madden said. 'It's an invasion of my privacy.'
County Board President Nate Miley said the issue would be taken up by the supervisors' Public Protection Committee.
The two Draganflyer X6 remote-controlled miniature helicopters purchased by Seattle have so far been mostly grounded, restricted to training and demonstration flights.
Equipped to carry video, still and night-vision cameras, they can remain aloft for only 15 minutes at a time before their batteries run out, police said.
Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said the aircraft would not be used in Seattle for surveillance or for monitoring street protests. Instead, his department's plans to deploy drones to search for missing persons, pursue fleeing suspects, assist in criminal investigations and for unspecified 'specific situations' subject to McDonagh's approval.
Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell said he hoped the council would set strict drone policies by January.
Months ago in Texas, Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office raised eyebrows by saying he hoped to equip his department's drones with rubber bullets and tear gas, though he told Reuters his thinking on armed aircraft has since evolved.
'From a law enforcement standpoint, that's never going to happen,' he said. McDaniel said his office received Federal Aviation Administration clearance earlier this month to begin operational drone flights but has not yet had occasion to do so.
Actual U.S. domestic use of law-enforcement drone aircraft remains extremely limited.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Department in Colorado has been operating two small drones, also bought with Homeland Security funds, since 2010.
It uses them largely to create three-dimensional images of crime scenes, said Benjamin Miller, director of the department's drone program. They are not used for surveillance, he said.
In North Dakota, the Grand Forks police department last year called in a high-flying Predator drone operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to monitor a tense standoff with a rancher over alleged stolen cattle.
The rancher, Rodney Brossart, and five family members are believed to be the first Americans nabbed by police with drone assistance - with the possible exception of operations along the southwest border with Mexico.
The use of drones there by the Customs and Border Protection agency - a part of Homeland Security - led to 7,500 arrests and the seizure of thousands of pounds of drugs up to the end of last year.
The nationality of those arrested in drone assisted operations in the borderlands is not clear, nor is if Customs and Border Protection partnered with local forces in any of those arrests.
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Jackie Frank)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
TSX slips as miners, energy weakness weighs
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian stocks moved lower on Tuesday, weighed down by a drop in gold mining and energy shares, as bullion and oil dipped and investors brushed off a Greek debt deal to focus on a looming U.S. fiscal crisis.
Bombardier Inc jumped 8.3 percent to C$3.38 after the planemaker signed a $7.8 billion deal to supply business jets to a private Swiss charter operator.
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd slid 6.9 percent to C$11.07 after rising sharply since mid-month on optimism over its upcoming new devices.
Meanwhile, resource stocks that play a major role in the overall direction of the index were broadly lower, with the biggest drag coming from Goldcorp Inc, which slipped 1.5 percent to C$40.18.
'People generally feel that gold is going higher, but the stocks suffer on an ongoing basis because ... it's so easy to buy the commodity,' said Paul Harris, a portfolio manager at Avenue Investment Management, which manages $280 million.
Gold eased after U.S. consumer confidence rose to a four-and-a-half-year high in November and a Fed policymaker expressed concern about easing measures. Oil edged lower as global growth concerns offset an agreement over Greek debt.
After 12 hours of talks at their third meeting in as many weeks, Greece's international lenders agreed on a package of measures to reduce its debt by 40 billion euros.
'Maybe some people were expecting more positive news on Greece and so they sold off after it happened,' Harris said.
Attention will likely now turn more decidedly to the U.S. Congress, where politicians are haggling over how to solve the country's fiscal crisis while avoiding a 'fiscal cliff' of steep tax increases and spending cuts.
By 10:56 a.m. (1556 GMT) the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> was down 33.67 points, or 0.28 percent, at 12,151.49.
(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson and Jeffrey Benkoe)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
Bombardier Inc
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd
Meanwhile, resource stocks that play a major role in the overall direction of the index were broadly lower, with the biggest drag coming from Goldcorp Inc
'People generally feel that gold is going higher, but the stocks suffer on an ongoing basis because ... it's so easy to buy the commodity,' said Paul Harris, a portfolio manager at Avenue Investment Management, which manages $280 million.
Gold eased after U.S. consumer confidence rose to a four-and-a-half-year high in November and a Fed policymaker expressed concern about easing measures. Oil edged lower as global growth concerns offset an agreement over Greek debt.
After 12 hours of talks at their third meeting in as many weeks, Greece's international lenders agreed on a package of measures to reduce its debt by 40 billion euros.
'Maybe some people were expecting more positive news on Greece and so they sold off after it happened,' Harris said.
Attention will likely now turn more decidedly to the U.S. Congress, where politicians are haggling over how to solve the country's fiscal crisis while avoiding a 'fiscal cliff' of steep tax increases and spending cuts.
By 10:56 a.m. (1556 GMT) the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> was down 33.67 points, or 0.28 percent, at 12,151.49.
(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson and Jeffrey Benkoe)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
Could Siri Change the Way America Drives?
Despite doubts that Apple's favorite personal assistant would be hitting the road anytime soon, General Motors has unveiled a Siri button of sorts for its upcoming Chevrolet line-up. And while she might make driving in this country a lot safer, Siri's still a step away from the ultimate driving gadget.
RELATED: All of Apple's Big News Today: The iPhone 4S
Hooking up your Siri-compatible iPhone with Chevy's new Spark and Sonic models through the steering wheel controls will, indeed, let all that voice activated personal-assistant fun we find on our phones make its way into our cars. We could see this coming in handy to make some hands-free calls, or sending texts, or hearing about restaurant options in the area while on the road. Here's how General Motors thinks it will improve driver experience, from the company press release:
This news article is brought to you by ADVANCED DATING ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
RELATED: All of Apple's Big News Today: The iPhone 4S
Hooking up your Siri-compatible iPhone with Chevy's new Spark and Sonic models through the steering wheel controls will, indeed, let all that voice activated personal-assistant fun we find on our phones make its way into our cars. We could see this coming in handy to make some hands-free calls, or sending texts, or hearing about restaurant options in the area while on the road. Here's how General Motors thinks it will improve driver experience, from the company press release:
It looks like this could making driving a bit easier for people who like to talk and drive without breaking the law, what with texting-and-driving coming under such scrutiny over the past year. But imagine how much more useful this would be if Siri hooked up to the maps (a rumor that has yet to come true). It would turn an iPhone into a veritable GPS system.
- Make voice-activated, hands-free calls to Contacts on their iPhone
- Play songs in the iTunes library, and even switch music sources automatically from AM/FM/XM radio to iPod mode
- Listen to, and compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number or anyone in saved Contacts
- Access Calendar and add appointments
- Minimize distraction even more by keeping the screen of the iPhone from lighting up, even when Siri answers simple questions such as game scores or the dates of national holidays
- While in Eyes Free mode, Siri will not provide answers to complex questions that require displaying a web page.
This news article is brought to you by ADVANCED DATING ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Amazon says big weekend Kindle sales more than double 2011 level
(Reuters) - Cyber Monday was the biggest day ever for sales of Amazon.com Inc's Kindle electronic devices, the online retail giant said on Tuesday, without saying how many it actually sold.
On Monday, November 26, when retailers offered big deals online for 'Cyber Monday,' Amazon.com cut the price of the Kindle Fire tablet by $30 to $129 and it was the biggest Cyber Monday deal ever for Amazon.com, the company said.
Nine of the top 10 best-selling products on Amazon.com since it unveiled new Kindle devices on September 6 have been Kindles, Kindle accessories and digital content, Amazon said.
The Kindle is available at stores such as Best Buy Co Inc, RadioShack Corp and Staples Inc. However, Target Corp and Wal-Mart Stores Inc stopped selling Amazon's Kindle devices earlier this year, opting to focus on products such as Apple Inc's iPad.
Shares of Amazon were down 8 cents at $243.71 in premarket Tuesday trading.
(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid)
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On Monday, November 26, when retailers offered big deals online for 'Cyber Monday,' Amazon.com cut the price of the Kindle Fire tablet by $30 to $129 and it was the biggest Cyber Monday deal ever for Amazon.com, the company said.
Nine of the top 10 best-selling products on Amazon.com since it unveiled new Kindle devices on September 6 have been Kindles, Kindle accessories and digital content, Amazon said.
The Kindle is available at stores such as Best Buy Co Inc, RadioShack Corp and Staples Inc. However, Target Corp and Wal-Mart Stores Inc stopped selling Amazon's Kindle devices earlier this year, opting to focus on products such as Apple Inc's iPad.
Shares of Amazon were down 8 cents at $243.71 in premarket Tuesday trading.
(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid)
This article is brought to you by BUY A COMPUTER.
Black Friday Prank Dupes Target Shoppers
On Black Friday, the plan was simple for a couple of pranksters -- go to Target dressed as employees and have a little fun with shoppers. The faux workers, sporting Target-red t-shirts, pointed customers in the wrong direction and offered everything but a Kindle when asked about the tablet.
[More from Mashable: Line Extends Around Block for 99 Cent Store on Black Friday]
While these tricky fellows shouldn't expect Target to extend job offers, the duo did provide some much-needed tension breaking on the fiercest shopping day of the year.
SEE ALSO: This Prank Will Make You Think Twice About Public Calls
[More from Mashable: The Furby is a Holiday Hit]
Watch the video above as unsuspecting shoppers get pranked during their Thanksgiving weekend shopping sprees.
Click here to view this gallery.
This story originally published on Mashable here.
This article is brought to you by BUY AFFORDABLE COMPUTERS.
[More from Mashable: Line Extends Around Block for 99 Cent Store on Black Friday]
While these tricky fellows shouldn't expect Target to extend job offers, the duo did provide some much-needed tension breaking on the fiercest shopping day of the year.
[More from Mashable: The Furby is a Holiday Hit]
Watch the video above as unsuspecting shoppers get pranked during their Thanksgiving weekend shopping sprees.
BONUS: Pranks Gone Viral
1. Gmail Motion
Last year, Google announced a 'new feature' in Gmail that would allow your webcam to recognize simple actions like pretending to open an envelope in order to open your inbox. Because gesture recognition is indeed a hot trend, this video is almost real enough to believe.Click here to view this gallery.
This story originally published on Mashable here.
This article is brought to you by BUY AFFORDABLE COMPUTERS.
Friday, November 23, 2012
RIM shares play catch-up on the Nasdaq; trim gains in Toronto
TORONTO (Reuters) - Research In Motion's U.S.-listed shares played catch-up on Friday, surging more than 13 percent after the Thanksgiving holiday to match some of the gains the stock posted Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
RIM's Toronto-listed shares surged more than 17 percent on Thursday, after National Bank analyst Kris Thompson boosted his price target on RIM to $15 from $12. Thompson argued that there is money to be made in the stock ahead of the early 2013 launch of a make-or-break line of BlackBerry devices.
The Waterloo, Ontario-based company's stock was by far the most actively traded stock on the Nasdaq on Friday, with trading volumes topping those of U.S. tech giants such as Microsoft Corp, Intel Corp and Facebook.
RIM shares rose 13.6 percent, or $1.40, to close at $11.66 in a shortened trading day in U.S. markets. The stock, also one of the most actively traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the day, pared some of its gains from Thursday to slip 38 Canadian cents to C$11.62 by 1500 ET.
The BlackBerry maker, a one-time pioneer in the smartphone industry, hopes its new line of BlackBerry 10 devices will rescue it from a prolonged slump and help it win back market share lost to rivals such as Apple Inc's iPhone and the slew of devices that run on Google Inc's Android operating system.
Barry Schwartz, vice president and portfolio manager at Baskin Financial Services, believes that investors betting on RIM right now are speculating that the company can turn itself around, a tough task for any company in the ultra-competitive and fast-paced technology sector.
'It's very hard for a technology company to turn themselves around. Apple did it years ago, Palm did a face plant. So you are buying the stock on hopes that the phone will do wonders,' said Schwartz, who does not have any positions in the stock at this time.
'You really have to be betting the farm that BlackBerry 10 is going to be the be-all and end-all in smartphones and encourage people to switch from Apple, Samsung or Android to switch back to BlackBerry,' he said.
(Reporting by Euan Rocha;editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid)
This news article is brought to you by FREE ROMANTIC DATING SITE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
RIM's Toronto-listed shares surged more than 17 percent on Thursday, after National Bank analyst Kris Thompson boosted his price target on RIM to $15 from $12. Thompson argued that there is money to be made in the stock ahead of the early 2013 launch of a make-or-break line of BlackBerry devices.
The Waterloo, Ontario-based company's stock was by far the most actively traded stock on the Nasdaq on Friday, with trading volumes topping those of U.S. tech giants such as Microsoft Corp, Intel Corp and Facebook.
RIM shares rose 13.6 percent, or $1.40, to close at $11.66 in a shortened trading day in U.S. markets. The stock, also one of the most actively traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the day, pared some of its gains from Thursday to slip 38 Canadian cents to C$11.62 by 1500 ET.
The BlackBerry maker, a one-time pioneer in the smartphone industry, hopes its new line of BlackBerry 10 devices will rescue it from a prolonged slump and help it win back market share lost to rivals such as Apple Inc's iPhone and the slew of devices that run on Google Inc's Android operating system.
Barry Schwartz, vice president and portfolio manager at Baskin Financial Services, believes that investors betting on RIM right now are speculating that the company can turn itself around, a tough task for any company in the ultra-competitive and fast-paced technology sector.
'It's very hard for a technology company to turn themselves around. Apple did it years ago, Palm did a face plant. So you are buying the stock on hopes that the phone will do wonders,' said Schwartz, who does not have any positions in the stock at this time.
'You really have to be betting the farm that BlackBerry 10 is going to be the be-all and end-all in smartphones and encourage people to switch from Apple, Samsung or Android to switch back to BlackBerry,' he said.
(Reporting by Euan Rocha;editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid)
This news article is brought to you by FREE ROMANTIC DATING SITE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Research In Motion shares climb
TORONTO (AP) - Shares of Research in Motion Ltd. jumped Friday as investors seemingly grew more optimistic about a February launch of the Canadian company's much-delayed BlackBerry 10 smartphones.
RIM will release the latest version of its smartphone 'not too long' after a Jan. 30 launch event, the company's chief operating officer said earlier this month.
The Waterloo, Ontario, company seems to be preparing for a February global launch, a month earlier than many analysts were expecting, according to an analyst with National Bank Financial, a Canadian bank. Kris Thompson raised his shipments forecast for RIM for fiscal 2014 in a research note from Wednesday.
Thompson also increased his price target for the BlackBerry maker to $15 from $12.
RIM shares on the Nasdaq, which reopened Friday after markets were closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, were up $1.55, or 15 percent, to $11.81 shortly before noon.
The spike in the BlackBerry maker's shares came after a week of steady gains amid more positive sentiment.
The National Bank Financial analyst was bolstered by RIM's new management team, which he said is maintaining the BlackBerry smartphone subscriber base, managing costs and cash, and seemingly readying a February 2013 BB10 global product release, a month earlier than expected.
He said certification of the new BlackBerrys by wireless carriers is the key risk to his prediction and estimate of BlackBerry shipments. Carrier certification, which tests the new devices, can take time.
On Wednesday, shares in Research In Motion gained almost 5 percent on the Toronto Stock Exchange even though it was reported that the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board had dropped the BlackBerry maker in favor of Apple's iPhone 5.
Earlier this week, a prominent tech analyst gave RIM's new operating system a small but improved chance of success. Analyst Peter Misek of New York-based Jeffries & Company said he's still giving the BlackBerry 10 operating system only a 20 to 30 percent probability of success.
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
RIM will release the latest version of its smartphone 'not too long' after a Jan. 30 launch event, the company's chief operating officer said earlier this month.
The Waterloo, Ontario, company seems to be preparing for a February global launch, a month earlier than many analysts were expecting, according to an analyst with National Bank Financial, a Canadian bank. Kris Thompson raised his shipments forecast for RIM for fiscal 2014 in a research note from Wednesday.
Thompson also increased his price target for the BlackBerry maker to $15 from $12.
RIM shares on the Nasdaq, which reopened Friday after markets were closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, were up $1.55, or 15 percent, to $11.81 shortly before noon.
The spike in the BlackBerry maker's shares came after a week of steady gains amid more positive sentiment.
The National Bank Financial analyst was bolstered by RIM's new management team, which he said is maintaining the BlackBerry smartphone subscriber base, managing costs and cash, and seemingly readying a February 2013 BB10 global product release, a month earlier than expected.
He said certification of the new BlackBerrys by wireless carriers is the key risk to his prediction and estimate of BlackBerry shipments. Carrier certification, which tests the new devices, can take time.
On Wednesday, shares in Research In Motion gained almost 5 percent on the Toronto Stock Exchange even though it was reported that the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board had dropped the BlackBerry maker in favor of Apple's iPhone 5.
Earlier this week, a prominent tech analyst gave RIM's new operating system a small but improved chance of success. Analyst Peter Misek of New York-based Jeffries & Company said he's still giving the BlackBerry 10 operating system only a 20 to 30 percent probability of success.
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
TSX up for fifth day as RIM surges, volume light
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index climbed to a more than one-week high on Thursday as Research In Motion Ltd shares jumped 17 percent on growing hopes for its new BlackBerry devices and as earnings expectations lifted financial stocks.
The market was also supported by data that showed China's manufacturing sector was picking up steam, a sign of increased demand for Canadian resources.
Research In Motion was up 17.3 percent at C$12.00 after National Bank Financial raised its price target on the stock to $15, citing 'positive sentiment building in the industry' ahead of the launch of the company's BlackBerry 10 devices.
The stock played the second-biggest role of any single company in leading the market higher. It was the stock's biggest one-day gain since April 2009.
'The dominant news today is the performance of RIM,' said John Ing, president of Maison Placements Canada. 'The company has had nothing but bad news over the past year, and the stock has been oversold.'
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> ended higher for a fifth straight session. It closed up 53.04 points, or 0.44 percent, at 12,153.10. Earlier in the session, it hit 12,171.20, its highest level since November 13. All 10 main sectors were positive.
Volumes were lighter than usual due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, which closed stock markets there. About 124 million shares changed hands on the Toronto Stock Exchange, compared with a daily average of 281.9 million in October.
The financial sector also edged up for a fifth day, rising 0.3 percent ahead of the quarterly reporting season for Canadian banks, which starts next week.
Expectations for solid results and possible dividend increases at some of the banks have been fueling the sector, said Allan Small, senior investment advisor at DundeeWealth Inc.
'(Canadian banks) are still relatively cheap when you look at where they are trading on a multiple basis. There is definitely some value there,' he said.
Royal Bank of Canada, the country's biggest bank, was up 0.4 percent at C$57.81, and Toronto-Dominion Bank rose 0.4 percent to C$80.99.
Small said that the market's recent rise has also improved prospects for insurance companies, which have large portfolios of equities.
Sun Life Financial Inc rose 0.7 percent to C$27.10, and Great-West Life gained 0.7 percent to C$23.49.
The index's materials sector, which includes mining stocks, rose 0.2 percent, extending gains made in the previous session on higher prices for gold and other commodities.
Miner Barrick Gold Corp was up 0.4 percent at C$34.75. Fertilizer producer Potash Corp gained 1.1 percent to C$38.67, diversified miner Teck Resources Ltd jumped 2.6 percent to C$32.59, and Silver Wheaton Corp was up 0.7 percent at C$36.55.
In China, data showed expansion in the manufacturing sector accelerated in November for the first time in 13 months, a sign that the pace of economic growth has revived after seven consecutive quarters of slowdown.
Industrials advanced 0.8 percent, with Canadian National Railway Co rising 1.6 percent, to C$87.12.
($1=$1.00 Canadian)
(With additional reporting by Claire Sibonney; Editing by Peter Galloway)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
The market was also supported by data that showed China's manufacturing sector was picking up steam, a sign of increased demand for Canadian resources.
Research In Motion was up 17.3 percent at C$12.00 after National Bank Financial raised its price target on the stock to $15, citing 'positive sentiment building in the industry' ahead of the launch of the company's BlackBerry 10 devices.
The stock played the second-biggest role of any single company in leading the market higher. It was the stock's biggest one-day gain since April 2009.
'The dominant news today is the performance of RIM,' said John Ing, president of Maison Placements Canada. 'The company has had nothing but bad news over the past year, and the stock has been oversold.'
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> ended higher for a fifth straight session. It closed up 53.04 points, or 0.44 percent, at 12,153.10. Earlier in the session, it hit 12,171.20, its highest level since November 13. All 10 main sectors were positive.
Volumes were lighter than usual due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, which closed stock markets there. About 124 million shares changed hands on the Toronto Stock Exchange, compared with a daily average of 281.9 million in October.
The financial sector also edged up for a fifth day, rising 0.3 percent ahead of the quarterly reporting season for Canadian banks, which starts next week.
Expectations for solid results and possible dividend increases at some of the banks have been fueling the sector, said Allan Small, senior investment advisor at DundeeWealth Inc.
'(Canadian banks) are still relatively cheap when you look at where they are trading on a multiple basis. There is definitely some value there,' he said.
Royal Bank of Canada
Small said that the market's recent rise has also improved prospects for insurance companies, which have large portfolios of equities.
Sun Life Financial Inc
The index's materials sector, which includes mining stocks, rose 0.2 percent, extending gains made in the previous session on higher prices for gold and other commodities.
Miner Barrick Gold Corp
In China, data showed expansion in the manufacturing sector accelerated in November for the first time in 13 months, a sign that the pace of economic growth has revived after seven consecutive quarters of slowdown.
Industrials advanced 0.8 percent, with Canadian National Railway Co
($1=$1.00 Canadian)
(With additional reporting by Claire Sibonney; Editing by Peter Galloway)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
RIM shares rally as optimism about new devices grows
TORONTO (Reuters) - Shares of Research In Motion Ltd surged more than 15 percent in Toronto on Thursday on rising optimism about its soon-to-be-launched BlackBerry 10 devices, the company's response to Apple's iPhone and to Android-based smartphones.
National Bank Financial analyst Kris Thompson boosted his price target on RIM shares to $15 from $12. He said he believes there is more money to be made in the stock ahead of the early 2013 launch of RIM's make-or-break new line of devices.
It was the second vote of confidence this week for the Canadian company, which has struggled to compete with the iPhone and with devices running on Google's market-leading Android operating system. On Tuesday, Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek, who has been one of RIM's most influential critics, raised his rating and price target on the stock.
RIM shares climbed to their highest level since May on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday, rising C$1.55 to C$11.78 by early afternoon. The U.S. market, where trade volumes usually top those in Toronto, was closed for Thanksgiving.
Thompson, who has an 'outperform' rating on RIM stock, said he raised his price target due partly to the 'positive sentiment building in the industry' ahead of BB10's launch.
'The new management team is executing by maintaining the BlackBerry subscriber base, managing costs and cash, and seemingly readying a February 2013 BB10 global platform launch,' he said in a note to clients.
Earlier this week, Misek said a favorable reaction from telecom carriers to the new devices and the BB10 operating system that runs them was behind his decision to lift his rating and price target on RIM.
The BlackBerry maker, a smartphone pioneer, hopes BB10 will rescue it from a prolonged slump. RIM shares peaked at over $148 in 2008 before diving more than 90 percent.
The stock is up more than 75 percent in the past two months as the launch date for the BB10 devices nears.
RIM promises its new devices will be faster and smoother than previous smartphones, and will have a large catalog of applications, which are crucial to the success of any new line of smartphones.
Thompson said he now expects RIM to ship about 35.5 million devices in fiscal 2014, up from an earlier estimate of 31.6 million. RIM, whose sales slump has been particularly pronounced in North America, shipped 7.4 million devices in its most recent quarter, ended September 1.
RIM has said it plans to roll out a touchscreen version of its BB10 smartphone initially. Phones with the mini QWERTY keyboards that many long-time BlackBerry users rave about will come a few weeks later, while lower-end versions of both devices will be launched later in the year.
'The shipments boost reflects about one more month of BB10 product availability plus a little extra for the positive sentiment building in the industry from our discussions,' Thompson said.
Analysts had expected the new devices to go on sale in March. But RIM said earlier this month it plans to launch them on Jan 30, leading many to speculate they will hit store shelves around mid-February.
Chief Executive Thorsten Heins told Reuters last week he is confident that the new BB10s will provide RIM with a framework for growth over the next decade.
Earlier this month, the new platform and devices won U.S. government security clearance, which would allow both U.S. and Canadian government agencies to deploy the new smartphones as soon as they are available.
(Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio Janet Guttsman and; Peter Galloway)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
National Bank Financial analyst Kris Thompson boosted his price target on RIM shares to $15 from $12. He said he believes there is more money to be made in the stock ahead of the early 2013 launch of RIM's make-or-break new line of devices.
It was the second vote of confidence this week for the Canadian company, which has struggled to compete with the iPhone and with devices running on Google's market-leading Android operating system. On Tuesday, Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek, who has been one of RIM's most influential critics, raised his rating and price target on the stock.
RIM shares climbed to their highest level since May on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday, rising C$1.55 to C$11.78 by early afternoon. The U.S. market, where trade volumes usually top those in Toronto, was closed for Thanksgiving.
Thompson, who has an 'outperform' rating on RIM stock, said he raised his price target due partly to the 'positive sentiment building in the industry' ahead of BB10's launch.
'The new management team is executing by maintaining the BlackBerry subscriber base, managing costs and cash, and seemingly readying a February 2013 BB10 global platform launch,' he said in a note to clients.
Earlier this week, Misek said a favorable reaction from telecom carriers to the new devices and the BB10 operating system that runs them was behind his decision to lift his rating and price target on RIM.
The BlackBerry maker, a smartphone pioneer, hopes BB10 will rescue it from a prolonged slump. RIM shares peaked at over $148 in 2008 before diving more than 90 percent.
The stock is up more than 75 percent in the past two months as the launch date for the BB10 devices nears.
RIM promises its new devices will be faster and smoother than previous smartphones, and will have a large catalog of applications, which are crucial to the success of any new line of smartphones.
Thompson said he now expects RIM to ship about 35.5 million devices in fiscal 2014, up from an earlier estimate of 31.6 million. RIM, whose sales slump has been particularly pronounced in North America, shipped 7.4 million devices in its most recent quarter, ended September 1.
RIM has said it plans to roll out a touchscreen version of its BB10 smartphone initially. Phones with the mini QWERTY keyboards that many long-time BlackBerry users rave about will come a few weeks later, while lower-end versions of both devices will be launched later in the year.
'The shipments boost reflects about one more month of BB10 product availability plus a little extra for the positive sentiment building in the industry from our discussions,' Thompson said.
Analysts had expected the new devices to go on sale in March. But RIM said earlier this month it plans to launch them on Jan 30, leading many to speculate they will hit store shelves around mid-February.
Chief Executive Thorsten Heins told Reuters last week he is confident that the new BB10s will provide RIM with a framework for growth over the next decade.
Earlier this month, the new platform and devices won U.S. government security clearance, which would allow both U.S. and Canadian government agencies to deploy the new smartphones as soon as they are available.
(Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio Janet Guttsman and; Peter Galloway)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
TSX hits one-week high as RIM surges
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index hit a one-week high on Thursday as higher commodity prices boosted mining stocks and as Research In Motion Ltd shares jumped 11 percent on growing hopes for its new devices.
The market was also supported by data that showed China's manufacturing sector was picking up steam, a signal of increased demand for Canadian resources.
Research In Motion was up 11.1 percent at C$11.36 after National Bank Financial raised its price target on the stock to $15, citing 'positive sentiment building in the industry' ahead of the launch of its BlackBerry 10 devices.
The stock played the second-biggest role of any single company in leading the market higher.
'The dominant news today is the performance of RIM,' said John Ing, president of Maison Placements Canada.
'The company has had nothing but bad news over the past year, and the stock has been oversold,' he said.
At midmorning, the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> was up 63.94 points, or 0.53 percent, at 12,164. Earlier in the session, the index hit 12,171.20, its highest level since November 13.
The index's materials sector, which includes mining stocks, rose 0.7 percent, extending gains made in the previous session on higher prices for gold and other commodities.
Miner Barrick Gold Corp was up 1.2 percent at C$35.04. Fertilizer producer Potash Corp gained 1.4 percent to C$38.77, while Silver Wheaton Corp was up 1.18 percent at C$36.74.
The financial sector rallied for the fifth day, with investors optimistic about quarterly results from Canadian banks, which start reporting next week. The group was up 0.4 percent. Royal Bank of Canada, the country's biggest bank, was up 0.5 percent at C$59.90.
In China, data showed expansion in the manufacturing sector accelerated in November for the first time in 13 months, a sign that the pace of economic growth has revived after seven consecutive quarters of slowdown.
(Reporting by John Tilak; Editing by Peter Galloway)
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The market was also supported by data that showed China's manufacturing sector was picking up steam, a signal of increased demand for Canadian resources.
Research In Motion
The stock played the second-biggest role of any single company in leading the market higher.
'The dominant news today is the performance of RIM,' said John Ing, president of Maison Placements Canada.
'The company has had nothing but bad news over the past year, and the stock has been oversold,' he said.
At midmorning, the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> was up 63.94 points, or 0.53 percent, at 12,164. Earlier in the session, the index hit 12,171.20, its highest level since November 13.
The index's materials sector, which includes mining stocks, rose 0.7 percent, extending gains made in the previous session on higher prices for gold and other commodities.
Miner Barrick Gold Corp
The financial sector rallied for the fifth day, with investors optimistic about quarterly results from Canadian banks, which start reporting next week. The group was up 0.4 percent. Royal Bank of Canada
In China, data showed expansion in the manufacturing sector accelerated in November for the first time in 13 months, a sign that the pace of economic growth has revived after seven consecutive quarters of slowdown.
(Reporting by John Tilak; Editing by Peter Galloway)
This news article is brought to you by MUSIC UNITED 1 - where latest news are our top priority.
RIM shares rally as optimism around new devices grows
TORONTO (Reuters) - Shares of Research In Motion Ltd surged more than 11 percent on Thursday, after National Bank boosted its price target on the stock, citing 'positive sentiment building in the industry' ahead of the launch of BlackBerry 10.
National Bank Financial analyst Kris Thompson raised his price target on shares of the embattled BlackBerry maker to $15 from $12. Thompson argues there is more money to be made in the stock, ahead of the early 2013 launch of RIM's make-or-break new line of devices powered by its BlackBerry 10 operating system.
Shares in RIM, by far the most actively traded stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday, jumped C$1.19 to C$11.42 in early trading.
'The new management team is executing by maintaining the BlackBerry subscriber base, managing costs and cash, and seemingly readying a February 2013 BB10 global platform launch,' said Thompson in a note to clients.
The latest vote of confidence comes just a few days after one of RIM's most influential critics raised his rating on the stock.
RIM hopes BB10 smartphones will help claw back market share it has lost in recent years to Apple Inc's iPhone and devices that run on Google Inc's Android operating system.
(Reporting by Euan Rocha)
This news article is brought to you by GOING GREEN NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
National Bank Financial analyst Kris Thompson raised his price target on shares of the embattled BlackBerry maker to $15 from $12. Thompson argues there is more money to be made in the stock, ahead of the early 2013 launch of RIM's make-or-break new line of devices powered by its BlackBerry 10 operating system.
Shares in RIM, by far the most actively traded stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday, jumped C$1.19 to C$11.42 in early trading.
'The new management team is executing by maintaining the BlackBerry subscriber base, managing costs and cash, and seemingly readying a February 2013 BB10 global platform launch,' said Thompson in a note to clients.
The latest vote of confidence comes just a few days after one of RIM's most influential critics raised his rating on the stock.
RIM hopes BB10 smartphones will help claw back market share it has lost in recent years to Apple Inc's iPhone and devices that run on Google Inc's Android operating system.
(Reporting by Euan Rocha)
This news article is brought to you by GOING GREEN NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Some gifts fall into the love-it-later category
NEW YORK (AP) - Have you ever said 'thank you' through clenched teeth? The gift in that nicely wrapped box was so not what you wanted: comfy clothes instead of designer duds, or a kitchen gadget instead of a shiny piece of jewelry.
Sometimes, though, the best gifts are the ones you use, and, frankly, most of us probably wear hoodies more than haute couture.
With a closet full of beautiful boots and gravity-defying heels, flat-foot, furry Uggs weren't at the top of celebrity stylist-designer Rachel Zoe's shopping list. They were OK for other people - she might even have suggested them - but she didn't see them fitting into her closet until someone gave her a pair.
'Once you put them on, you can't go back,' Zoe says. 'In my house, it's now the family at-home shoe. I wear them all the time. My son has 10 pairs and my husband has 10 pairs.'
Bradford Shellhammer, founder of Fab.com, which sells unusual items like canvas carryalls screen-printed with images of designer handbags, says gifts fit into three categories: the things everyone knows you want, the bad surprises and the amazing things that make you wonder, 'How did I live without it?'
A. Mitra Morgan, founder and chief curator of decorative home-goods website Joss & Main, can't imagine her busy life without the wallet-phone case wristlet her mother gave her last year.
Morgan has almost unlimited access to the pretty things on so many gift lists. Her mother, however, thought her daily necessities were too scattered. She didn't know it at the time, Morgan admits, but mom was right.
Morgan received another love-it-later gift, this one from her husband. He gave her flat-bottomed pizza scissors.
'Coming from my husband, this was at the level of receiving a vacuum. I thought, 'Really, this is what we've come to?'' Morgan says. 'But it's awesome!'
Christine Frietchen, a shopping expert who is advising TJ Maxx and Marshall's this year on their gift-giving programs, says a gift is something you wouldn't get for yourself. And the best way to know you've given a successful gift, she says, is if the receiver becomes an evangelist for it.
Adam Glassman, creative director at O, The Oprah magazine, was never at risk of buying the Patagonia fleece sweatpants his brother got for him a few years ago. 'Never in my life did I think I'd need sweatpants, but I live in them,' he gushes. 'When I come home from work, they are my go-to item. I wear them more than any other clothes in my closet.'
The only gift he might treasure more is the Eddie Bauer silk long johns his other brother gave him, something else he didn't think he needed or wanted.
'Where was the Tom Ford, the Gucci?' Glassman says with a laugh.
But after a few winters of layering the long johns under his more fashionable pieces, he's now buying them as gifts for other people.
Shellhammer says friends and family can't ask for the items offered on Fab.com because the website sells things people don't know exist. Items such as a shower curtain with a map of Paris (what enthusiastic traveler wouldn't want one?) or a pug T-shirt for your favorite dog lover. (Shellhammer predicts the Mountain Pug Tee will be a top seller this season. The entire shirt becomes the face of a pug, wrinkles, jowls and all.)
And Shellhammer says it's OK to be playful and show a little sense of humor when giving a gift. You'd be surprised how many positive comments the website has received about a hedgehog dish brush, he says. 'It just gives you that crack of a smile.'
Brian Berger says the Yumaki toothbrush his business partner gave him is a present he'll always remember - and appreciate. And, it's something he uses every day.
His partner was trying to make a point as he and Berger recently launched a men's undergarment and socks business called Mack Weldon that also is courting customers with the idea of 'elevated basics,' Berger explains.
Some other gift ideas from the experts:
-Kitchen knives.
-Comfortable earbuds.
-Colorful tights and leggings.
-Berry bowls.
-Miniature flashlights that fit in pockets and purses.
-Pretty soaps.
-Personalized tote bags.
A lot of people do skimp on themselves, especially in a season where they are spending so much money, so an upgrade of something mundane to luxurious - or at least more fun - can be a very thoughtful gift, says gift advisor Frietchen.
'Have you ever had a really nice hairdryer, a REALLY good dryer? You think a hairdryer is a hairdryer until you have a good one in your hand. It can change your life,' Frietchen says.
This article is brought to you by BUY A USED COMPUTER.
Sometimes, though, the best gifts are the ones you use, and, frankly, most of us probably wear hoodies more than haute couture.
With a closet full of beautiful boots and gravity-defying heels, flat-foot, furry Uggs weren't at the top of celebrity stylist-designer Rachel Zoe's shopping list. They were OK for other people - she might even have suggested them - but she didn't see them fitting into her closet until someone gave her a pair.
'Once you put them on, you can't go back,' Zoe says. 'In my house, it's now the family at-home shoe. I wear them all the time. My son has 10 pairs and my husband has 10 pairs.'
Bradford Shellhammer, founder of Fab.com, which sells unusual items like canvas carryalls screen-printed with images of designer handbags, says gifts fit into three categories: the things everyone knows you want, the bad surprises and the amazing things that make you wonder, 'How did I live without it?'
A. Mitra Morgan, founder and chief curator of decorative home-goods website Joss & Main, can't imagine her busy life without the wallet-phone case wristlet her mother gave her last year.
Morgan has almost unlimited access to the pretty things on so many gift lists. Her mother, however, thought her daily necessities were too scattered. She didn't know it at the time, Morgan admits, but mom was right.
Morgan received another love-it-later gift, this one from her husband. He gave her flat-bottomed pizza scissors.
'Coming from my husband, this was at the level of receiving a vacuum. I thought, 'Really, this is what we've come to?'' Morgan says. 'But it's awesome!'
Christine Frietchen, a shopping expert who is advising TJ Maxx and Marshall's this year on their gift-giving programs, says a gift is something you wouldn't get for yourself. And the best way to know you've given a successful gift, she says, is if the receiver becomes an evangelist for it.
Adam Glassman, creative director at O, The Oprah magazine, was never at risk of buying the Patagonia fleece sweatpants his brother got for him a few years ago. 'Never in my life did I think I'd need sweatpants, but I live in them,' he gushes. 'When I come home from work, they are my go-to item. I wear them more than any other clothes in my closet.'
The only gift he might treasure more is the Eddie Bauer silk long johns his other brother gave him, something else he didn't think he needed or wanted.
'Where was the Tom Ford, the Gucci?' Glassman says with a laugh.
But after a few winters of layering the long johns under his more fashionable pieces, he's now buying them as gifts for other people.
Shellhammer says friends and family can't ask for the items offered on Fab.com because the website sells things people don't know exist. Items such as a shower curtain with a map of Paris (what enthusiastic traveler wouldn't want one?) or a pug T-shirt for your favorite dog lover. (Shellhammer predicts the Mountain Pug Tee will be a top seller this season. The entire shirt becomes the face of a pug, wrinkles, jowls and all.)
And Shellhammer says it's OK to be playful and show a little sense of humor when giving a gift. You'd be surprised how many positive comments the website has received about a hedgehog dish brush, he says. 'It just gives you that crack of a smile.'
Brian Berger says the Yumaki toothbrush his business partner gave him is a present he'll always remember - and appreciate. And, it's something he uses every day.
His partner was trying to make a point as he and Berger recently launched a men's undergarment and socks business called Mack Weldon that also is courting customers with the idea of 'elevated basics,' Berger explains.
Some other gift ideas from the experts:
-Kitchen knives.
-Comfortable earbuds.
-Colorful tights and leggings.
-Berry bowls.
-Miniature flashlights that fit in pockets and purses.
-Pretty soaps.
-Personalized tote bags.
A lot of people do skimp on themselves, especially in a season where they are spending so much money, so an upgrade of something mundane to luxurious - or at least more fun - can be a very thoughtful gift, says gift advisor Frietchen.
'Have you ever had a really nice hairdryer, a REALLY good dryer? You think a hairdryer is a hairdryer until you have a good one in your hand. It can change your life,' Frietchen says.
This article is brought to you by BUY A USED COMPUTER.
Exclusive: TV networks start seven-day ratings push with advertisers
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. television broadcast networks are taking the first steps to persuade advertisers to pay for commercial viewership that occurs up to seven days after a program airs, a shift that would provide a new revenue stream to help combat ratings erosion.
The networks argue that the rising popularity of digital video recorders is pushing a sizeable number of viewers to delay watching their favorite programs beyond the first three days, the time period most often used for calculating ad payments.
Some advertisers are ready to make the move to a seven-day metric. One of the big four networks, Walt Disney Co's ABC, earlier this year reached deals with some sponsors that bring in payments for eyeballs counted between days four and seven.
The other broadcasters have begun talks with advertisers and hope to convince them to switch to the longer window in time for the 'upfront' selling season that starts early next year, when billions of dollars in ad commitments will be made, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Since 2007, most TV ad time has been bought and sold based on 'C3,' a ratings measurement based of the average number of commercial minutes watched during a program either live or within three days of its airing.
TV networks want advertisers to shift to 'C7,' which captures commercials watched within seven days.
Advertisers hesitate to pay for the added days, particularly for time-sensitive ads pitching a department store's one-day sale or the opening of a summer movie blockbuster. Media buyers are pushing for precise measurements of each commercial viewed, rather than an average for an entire program, as well as a tabulation of how many people are watching on mobile devices.
The debate intensified after Nielsen data showed a sharp decline in three-day viewing at the start of the fall TV season compared with last year.
The drop is partly due to 'the greater penetration of DVRs and the greater usage of DVRs, which clearly have shifted the rating in the direction of C3, and ultimately, hopefully, C7,' Disney CEO Bob Iger told analysts on a November 8 conference call.
Most viewing of network prime time shows still takes place within three days. But the post-three day viewers are growing and can be significant. Ratings for ABC comedy hit 'Modern Family' increased by 5 percent, to 6.5 million viewers age 18 to 49 viewers, when counted by the C7 measurement instead of C3.
The later viewers also are among the most-coveted by advertisers, according to ABC research, which showed people who watched a show after three days were more highly educated and had higher incomes. For days four through seven, 'the people who are doing the viewing are some of the most desirable available from an advertiser's perspective,' said Charles Kennedy, senior vice president of research for ABC and the ABC Family cable network.
Earlier this year, ABC made deals with some sponsors to pay for ad time based on C7 numbers, ABC spokesman Kevin Brockman said. 'We expect to do more of them if they make sense for us and our clients,' Brockman said.
At CBS, the flagship network of CBS Corp, CEO Leslie Moonves has been outspoken in pressing for a C7 metric and said it 'represents a significant opportunity for us that is still in the very early stages.'
'As we move forward, we will make it a priority to get paid for all of the viewing that is going on across our shows, including DVR viewing beyond C3,' Moonves told analysts on a November 7 conference call.
Advertisers are not ready to commit to the switch and will be looking for something in return if they agree to a longer window. Timing is a big concern for many brands that want to get a message out to large numbers of consumers during a specific time period. Some commercials lose their value for sponsors over a few days.
'In moving to C7, you've got to be careful because you are taking away some of the advantage of why clients buy television,' said Sam Armando, director of strategic intelligence for SMGx, a division of media buying agency Starcom MediaVest Group.
Advertisers believe simply adding more days to the current metric fails to adequately capture viewership. Brands are lobbying for a more precise measurement that tracks viewership of each commercial, rather than an average for a program over a time period, they say. They also want information on how many people see their ads on programs watched on computers or Internet-connected mobile devices like phones and tablets.
'If the industry is going to make a move, we need to consider it all before we just make a little baby step to C7,' Armando said.
(Reporting By Lisa Richwine; Edited by Ronald Grover and Andrew Hay)
The networks argue that the rising popularity of digital video recorders is pushing a sizeable number of viewers to delay watching their favorite programs beyond the first three days, the time period most often used for calculating ad payments.
Some advertisers are ready to make the move to a seven-day metric. One of the big four networks, Walt Disney Co's ABC, earlier this year reached deals with some sponsors that bring in payments for eyeballs counted between days four and seven.
The other broadcasters have begun talks with advertisers and hope to convince them to switch to the longer window in time for the 'upfront' selling season that starts early next year, when billions of dollars in ad commitments will be made, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Since 2007, most TV ad time has been bought and sold based on 'C3,' a ratings measurement based of the average number of commercial minutes watched during a program either live or within three days of its airing.
TV networks want advertisers to shift to 'C7,' which captures commercials watched within seven days.
Advertisers hesitate to pay for the added days, particularly for time-sensitive ads pitching a department store's one-day sale or the opening of a summer movie blockbuster. Media buyers are pushing for precise measurements of each commercial viewed, rather than an average for an entire program, as well as a tabulation of how many people are watching on mobile devices.
The debate intensified after Nielsen data showed a sharp decline in three-day viewing at the start of the fall TV season compared with last year.
The drop is partly due to 'the greater penetration of DVRs and the greater usage of DVRs, which clearly have shifted the rating in the direction of C3, and ultimately, hopefully, C7,' Disney CEO Bob Iger told analysts on a November 8 conference call.
Most viewing of network prime time shows still takes place within three days. But the post-three day viewers are growing and can be significant. Ratings for ABC comedy hit 'Modern Family' increased by 5 percent, to 6.5 million viewers age 18 to 49 viewers, when counted by the C7 measurement instead of C3.
The later viewers also are among the most-coveted by advertisers, according to ABC research, which showed people who watched a show after three days were more highly educated and had higher incomes. For days four through seven, 'the people who are doing the viewing are some of the most desirable available from an advertiser's perspective,' said Charles Kennedy, senior vice president of research for ABC and the ABC Family cable network.
Earlier this year, ABC made deals with some sponsors to pay for ad time based on C7 numbers, ABC spokesman Kevin Brockman said. 'We expect to do more of them if they make sense for us and our clients,' Brockman said.
At CBS, the flagship network of CBS Corp, CEO Leslie Moonves has been outspoken in pressing for a C7 metric and said it 'represents a significant opportunity for us that is still in the very early stages.'
'As we move forward, we will make it a priority to get paid for all of the viewing that is going on across our shows, including DVR viewing beyond C3,' Moonves told analysts on a November 7 conference call.
Advertisers are not ready to commit to the switch and will be looking for something in return if they agree to a longer window. Timing is a big concern for many brands that want to get a message out to large numbers of consumers during a specific time period. Some commercials lose their value for sponsors over a few days.
'In moving to C7, you've got to be careful because you are taking away some of the advantage of why clients buy television,' said Sam Armando, director of strategic intelligence for SMGx, a division of media buying agency Starcom MediaVest Group.
Advertisers believe simply adding more days to the current metric fails to adequately capture viewership. Brands are lobbying for a more precise measurement that tracks viewership of each commercial, rather than an average for a program over a time period, they say. They also want information on how many people see their ads on programs watched on computers or Internet-connected mobile devices like phones and tablets.
'If the industry is going to make a move, we need to consider it all before we just make a little baby step to C7,' Armando said.
(Reporting By Lisa Richwine; Edited by Ronald Grover and Andrew Hay)
NJ jury convicts NY man in iPad data breach case
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a man of illegally gaining access to AT&T's servers and stealing more than 120,000 email addresses of iPad users including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and film mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Andrew Auernheimer, of New York, was convicted of identity theft and conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Prosecutors said the former Fayetteville, Ark., resident was part of an online group that tricked AT&T's website into divulging email addresses including those of Bloomberg, Weinstein, then-White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who's now Chicago's mayor, and other celebrities.
The group then shared the addresses with the website Gawker, which published them in redacted form accompanying a news article about the breach, prosecutors said.
A second man arrested with Auernheimer early last year, Daniel Spitler, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty that June.
At the time of the arrests, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said there was no evidence the men used the swiped information for criminal purposes. But authorities cautioned that it could have wound up in the hands of spammers and scam artists.
According to court papers, the men used a computer script they called the iPad3G Account Slurper to fool AT&T's servers into thinking they were communicating with an iPad. The theft of the email addresses occurred in June 2010.
Prosecutors said at the time of Auernheimer's arrest that he had bragged about the operation in a blog posting and in an interview with CNET published online after the Gawker article. Court papers also quoted him declaring in a New York Times article: 'I hack, I ruin, I make piles of money. I make people afraid for their lives.'
Auernheimer, after he was charged and released on bail, had declined to comment.
iPad maker Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif., referred questions to AT&T, which acknowledged a security weak spot on a website that exposed the email addresses. AT&T said the vulnerability affected only iPad users who signed up for its 3G wireless Internet service and said it had fixed the problem.
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Andrew Auernheimer, of New York, was convicted of identity theft and conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Prosecutors said the former Fayetteville, Ark., resident was part of an online group that tricked AT&T's website into divulging email addresses including those of Bloomberg, Weinstein, then-White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who's now Chicago's mayor, and other celebrities.
The group then shared the addresses with the website Gawker, which published them in redacted form accompanying a news article about the breach, prosecutors said.
A second man arrested with Auernheimer early last year, Daniel Spitler, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty that June.
At the time of the arrests, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said there was no evidence the men used the swiped information for criminal purposes. But authorities cautioned that it could have wound up in the hands of spammers and scam artists.
According to court papers, the men used a computer script they called the iPad3G Account Slurper to fool AT&T's servers into thinking they were communicating with an iPad. The theft of the email addresses occurred in June 2010.
Prosecutors said at the time of Auernheimer's arrest that he had bragged about the operation in a blog posting and in an interview with CNET published online after the Gawker article. Court papers also quoted him declaring in a New York Times article: 'I hack, I ruin, I make piles of money. I make people afraid for their lives.'
Auernheimer, after he was charged and released on bail, had declined to comment.
iPad maker Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif., referred questions to AT&T, which acknowledged a security weak spot on a website that exposed the email addresses. AT&T said the vulnerability affected only iPad users who signed up for its 3G wireless Internet service and said it had fixed the problem.
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Review: Gift guide to full-size tablets
NEW YORK (AP) - Tablets are at the top of many wish lists this holiday season. But what to get? The choice used to be pretty limited, with the iPad dominating the latecomers. But this year, the field is more even, as tablets from Apple's competitors have matured. In addition, Google and Microsoft are diving in with their own tablets, providing more choice.
The first step in the buying process is to decide on the size of the tablet. They fall into two rough categories: the full-sized tablet, pioneered by the iPad, and the half-size tablet, epitomized by the Kindle Fire.
Full-sized tablets, which generally have screens measuring about 10 inches on the diagonal, are better for surfing websites designed for PCs, and far better when it comes to displaying magazines and documents. Overall, they go further toward replacing a laptop. They cost $400 and up.
Half-sized tablets, which have screens measuring roughly 7 inches on the diagonal, are cheaper and lighter, but just as good as full-sized tablets for e-book reading. It's an excellent first computing device for a kid, or a gentle nudge into the digital world for an older adult with little computing experience. This year's crop costs $199 and up, but last year's models are available for less.
If you've settled on a large tablet, here are some top choices. A review of smaller tablets ran Monday.
- Apple iPad, fourth generation (starts at $499)
Apple usually updates the iPad once a year, so it was a surprise when it dropped a new model in October, with a faster processor and the new 'Lightning' connection and charging port, replacing the wide port inherited from the iPod. Like the third-generation iPad launched in March it has an ultra-high-resolution 'Retina' screen. The model's resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels is only surpassed by the Google Nexus 10.
That means the current iPad is two generations ahead of the iPad 2 that was on sale last holiday season. It packs enough improvements to make the upgrade worth it. The iPad 2 is still on sale for $100 less, but it's not a very good value for the money: if $400 is all you can spend, there are better tablets out there than the iPad 2.
While other tablets are starting to approach it in terms of hardware, the iPad still enjoys the best support by far from third parties, both in terms of quality applications and accessories like cases.
One caveat: the base model of the iPad has only 16 gigabytes of storage, which fills up fast these days. The thoughtful giver goes for at least a 32-gigabyte model, for $100 more.
Other than that, there are few downsides to the iPad: no one will frown when opening this package.
- Barnes & Noble Nook HD+ (starts at $269)
For a book store, Barnes & Noble makes some amazing tablets. The HD+ is its first model that approaches the iPad in size, with a screen that's 9 inches on the diagonal. That makes it slightly smaller than the iPad, and the resolution is lower as well, but still very respectable. At 1,920 by 1,280 pixels, it can show more detail than a living-room HDTV.
The Nook is family-friendly too. You can create user accounts and restrict them from certain content, so there's less risk that your kids will stumble on your copy of 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'
Like the basic iPad, the basic Nook HD+ comes with just 16 gigabytes of storage memory, but it can be expanded with a microSD memory card. That means another 32 gigabytes will cost you just $25 - a good deal.
But the Nook is the least versatile tablet in our roundup. The number of apps available is small, and it's focused on Barnes & Noble content like e-books, magazines and movies. It doesn't have any cameras, while the competitors have two each. It's best for someone who's likely to stick to media consumption, and doesn't need the latest apps and games.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (starts at $499)
If the Nook is for the avid reader or movie watcher, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is for the creative type. It's the only tablet in our roundup that comes with a 'pen' that can be used to write and draw on the screen. In our test, this worked well, though the number of apps that take advantage of the pen is still small. (Other tablets, like the iPad, only respond to finger-like objects, so third-party styluses for them are of necessity thick and clumsy.)
The Note 10.1 runs Google's Android software, giving it access to a wide array of apps originally written for smartphones. The selection is not on par with the iPad's but better than other alternatives.
The Note's screen falls into the low-resolution category, sporting 1,280 by 800 pixels. That's a third of what the iPad musters.
Like the Nook, the Note 10.1's storage memory can be expanded with cards.
The Note's appeal is somewhat niche, but it could be just the thing for the budding or established artist.
- Microsoft Surface (starts at $499)
Microsoft's first tablet seems at first like a throwback to the first iPad. It's thick, heavy and rugged. But it's really doesn't have much in common with the first iPad or any Apple- or Google-powered tablet. It runs Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 adapted for tablets. It comes with a version of Microsoft's Office suite and the ability to connect to wireless printers and some other peripherals, like USB drives. The covers for it have functional keyboard printed on the inside.
The screen resolution is 1,366 by 768 pixels, placing it in the low-resolution category.
The Surface screams 'work, work, work.' It's the tablet for those who are wedded to Word and want to take their writing on the go.
One thing to note about the Surface: the basic model starts out with '32 gigabytes' of memory, but of that, only 16 gigabytes are available to the user. It accepts memory cards of up to 64 gigabytes, however, so expanding the memory is cheap.
Note that even though it runs Windows, the Surface doesn't run standard Windows applications. It will run only programs specifically adapted for Windows RT. The selection is, for now, quite limited.
- Asus Vivo Tab RT (starts at $599 with a dock)
Asus has a quality line of Android tablets they call 'Transformer' because they dock into a keyboard with an extra battery. The combination folds up just like a small laptop and has excellent battery life. The Vivo Tab RT essentially takes a Transformer and stuffs it with Windows RT instead of Android.
The tablet part is smaller and thinner than the Surface. Together with the keyboard, it makes for a familiar little setup: a tiny laptop running Windows. Like the Surface, it has a memory card slot and a USB port. The screen resolution is the same.
The Vivo Tab is a good tool for those who want to get some work done on the commute or plane, or those who can't decide if they want a laptop or a tablet.
- Google Nexus 10 (starts at $399)
This is Google's first full-size tablet and the only tablet from any manufacturer that beats the screen resolution of the iPad. It boasts 2,560 by 1,600 pixels, a third more than the fourth-generation iPad.
It's also the only tablet in this roundup that has speakers on either side of the screen when it's held horizontally, making for good stereo reproduction when you're watching movies. It has a grippy, rubberized back and widely rounded corners. There's no memory card slot or an option for a cellular modem.
The array of third-party software is wide, just as it is for the Note 10.1. Most people don't associate Google with online books, music or movies, so it may feel odd that the Nexus steers buyers to Google's Play store. Of course, given the open nature of Google's Android operating system, there are apps available for other entertainment stores, including Amazon's, and for streaming services like Netflix.
The Nexus 10 is a snappy performer, and among the iPad's competitors, it comes the closest to matching the versatility of Apple products.
___
Peter Svensson can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/petersvensson
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The first step in the buying process is to decide on the size of the tablet. They fall into two rough categories: the full-sized tablet, pioneered by the iPad, and the half-size tablet, epitomized by the Kindle Fire.
Full-sized tablets, which generally have screens measuring about 10 inches on the diagonal, are better for surfing websites designed for PCs, and far better when it comes to displaying magazines and documents. Overall, they go further toward replacing a laptop. They cost $400 and up.
Half-sized tablets, which have screens measuring roughly 7 inches on the diagonal, are cheaper and lighter, but just as good as full-sized tablets for e-book reading. It's an excellent first computing device for a kid, or a gentle nudge into the digital world for an older adult with little computing experience. This year's crop costs $199 and up, but last year's models are available for less.
If you've settled on a large tablet, here are some top choices. A review of smaller tablets ran Monday.
- Apple iPad, fourth generation (starts at $499)
Apple usually updates the iPad once a year, so it was a surprise when it dropped a new model in October, with a faster processor and the new 'Lightning' connection and charging port, replacing the wide port inherited from the iPod. Like the third-generation iPad launched in March it has an ultra-high-resolution 'Retina' screen. The model's resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels is only surpassed by the Google Nexus 10.
That means the current iPad is two generations ahead of the iPad 2 that was on sale last holiday season. It packs enough improvements to make the upgrade worth it. The iPad 2 is still on sale for $100 less, but it's not a very good value for the money: if $400 is all you can spend, there are better tablets out there than the iPad 2.
While other tablets are starting to approach it in terms of hardware, the iPad still enjoys the best support by far from third parties, both in terms of quality applications and accessories like cases.
One caveat: the base model of the iPad has only 16 gigabytes of storage, which fills up fast these days. The thoughtful giver goes for at least a 32-gigabyte model, for $100 more.
Other than that, there are few downsides to the iPad: no one will frown when opening this package.
- Barnes & Noble Nook HD+ (starts at $269)
For a book store, Barnes & Noble makes some amazing tablets. The HD+ is its first model that approaches the iPad in size, with a screen that's 9 inches on the diagonal. That makes it slightly smaller than the iPad, and the resolution is lower as well, but still very respectable. At 1,920 by 1,280 pixels, it can show more detail than a living-room HDTV.
The Nook is family-friendly too. You can create user accounts and restrict them from certain content, so there's less risk that your kids will stumble on your copy of 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'
Like the basic iPad, the basic Nook HD+ comes with just 16 gigabytes of storage memory, but it can be expanded with a microSD memory card. That means another 32 gigabytes will cost you just $25 - a good deal.
But the Nook is the least versatile tablet in our roundup. The number of apps available is small, and it's focused on Barnes & Noble content like e-books, magazines and movies. It doesn't have any cameras, while the competitors have two each. It's best for someone who's likely to stick to media consumption, and doesn't need the latest apps and games.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (starts at $499)
If the Nook is for the avid reader or movie watcher, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is for the creative type. It's the only tablet in our roundup that comes with a 'pen' that can be used to write and draw on the screen. In our test, this worked well, though the number of apps that take advantage of the pen is still small. (Other tablets, like the iPad, only respond to finger-like objects, so third-party styluses for them are of necessity thick and clumsy.)
The Note 10.1 runs Google's Android software, giving it access to a wide array of apps originally written for smartphones. The selection is not on par with the iPad's but better than other alternatives.
The Note's screen falls into the low-resolution category, sporting 1,280 by 800 pixels. That's a third of what the iPad musters.
Like the Nook, the Note 10.1's storage memory can be expanded with cards.
The Note's appeal is somewhat niche, but it could be just the thing for the budding or established artist.
- Microsoft Surface (starts at $499)
Microsoft's first tablet seems at first like a throwback to the first iPad. It's thick, heavy and rugged. But it's really doesn't have much in common with the first iPad or any Apple- or Google-powered tablet. It runs Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 adapted for tablets. It comes with a version of Microsoft's Office suite and the ability to connect to wireless printers and some other peripherals, like USB drives. The covers for it have functional keyboard printed on the inside.
The screen resolution is 1,366 by 768 pixels, placing it in the low-resolution category.
The Surface screams 'work, work, work.' It's the tablet for those who are wedded to Word and want to take their writing on the go.
One thing to note about the Surface: the basic model starts out with '32 gigabytes' of memory, but of that, only 16 gigabytes are available to the user. It accepts memory cards of up to 64 gigabytes, however, so expanding the memory is cheap.
Note that even though it runs Windows, the Surface doesn't run standard Windows applications. It will run only programs specifically adapted for Windows RT. The selection is, for now, quite limited.
- Asus Vivo Tab RT (starts at $599 with a dock)
Asus has a quality line of Android tablets they call 'Transformer' because they dock into a keyboard with an extra battery. The combination folds up just like a small laptop and has excellent battery life. The Vivo Tab RT essentially takes a Transformer and stuffs it with Windows RT instead of Android.
The tablet part is smaller and thinner than the Surface. Together with the keyboard, it makes for a familiar little setup: a tiny laptop running Windows. Like the Surface, it has a memory card slot and a USB port. The screen resolution is the same.
The Vivo Tab is a good tool for those who want to get some work done on the commute or plane, or those who can't decide if they want a laptop or a tablet.
- Google Nexus 10 (starts at $399)
This is Google's first full-size tablet and the only tablet from any manufacturer that beats the screen resolution of the iPad. It boasts 2,560 by 1,600 pixels, a third more than the fourth-generation iPad.
It's also the only tablet in this roundup that has speakers on either side of the screen when it's held horizontally, making for good stereo reproduction when you're watching movies. It has a grippy, rubberized back and widely rounded corners. There's no memory card slot or an option for a cellular modem.
The array of third-party software is wide, just as it is for the Note 10.1. Most people don't associate Google with online books, music or movies, so it may feel odd that the Nexus steers buyers to Google's Play store. Of course, given the open nature of Google's Android operating system, there are apps available for other entertainment stores, including Amazon's, and for streaming services like Netflix.
The Nexus 10 is a snappy performer, and among the iPad's competitors, it comes the closest to matching the versatility of Apple products.
___
Peter Svensson can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/petersvensson
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
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