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California Unemployment office says Uber driver was an employee
If you ask Uber, none of their drivers are employees -- just independent contractors who happen to use their network to get fares. If you've been watching the news though, you know some drivers disagree: filing lawsuits both in California and the UK for the right to be recognized as employees. Those drivers just got some vindication, by way of the California unemployment office. According to the Employment Development Department, at least one former Uber driver qualifies for unemployment benefits.
XBLM sales surpassed Live subscriptions as Microsoft Xbox Div. income grew in fiscal year
Microsoft has posted financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year, which ended June 30. The Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD), of which the Xbox 360 and PC gaming business are a part of, posted revenues of $1.6 billion for the quarter, up from $1.25 billion during the same period last year. Revenue exclusive to the Xbox and PC gaming business was up to $228 million, a 30 percent increase. EDD also posted an operating loss of $172 million, which grew for the $141 million recorded during the same quarter last year. Factors contributing to the loss included increased marketing costs, increased third-party sales on Xbox Live Marketplace and the discontinuation of the KIN phone. Microsoft's full fiscal year 2010 report paints a brighter picture, with the EDD posting an operating income of $679 million, up from $108 million in fiscal 2009, an increase of 528 percent. The increased income was due primarily to reduced operating expenses. Revenue costs also decreased $528 million, thanks largely to lower Xbox 360 production costs. Fiscal 2010 revenues were essentially flat at just over $8 billion. Additionally, Microsoft moved 1.5 million Xbox 360 consoles during the quarter, compared to 1.2 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. In all, 10.3 million consoles were sold in fiscal 2010, down from 11.2 million the previous year. Meanwhile, Xbox Live now has 25 million members, and our cohorts at Engadget report that Xbox Live Marketplace revenue has exceeded Xbox Live subscription revenue for the first time.
Microsoft's Xbox division turns Q1 profit, ships 2.2 million consoles
Good news, everybody (concerned with the financial prosperity of a gigantic corporation)! Microsoft's fiscal Q1 2009 results, which cover the three-month period ending September 30th, 2008, show that its Entertainment and Devices Division -- the same one responsible for the entertaining device known as the Xbox 360 -- managed to turn a profit once again. According to Gamesindustry.biz, quarterly income rose to $178 million, an approximate 6.6% increase over last year's $167 million. In less financially fortuitous news, overall sales were down from $1.929 billion to $1.814 billion (no Halo 3 this year, remember?) compared to Q1 2008, and revenue from the Xbox 360 and PC platforms went down by 22%. Though Microsoft still shifted 2.2 million consoles, the EDD was greatly aided by sales of Mac software, mobile device applications and the Zune. Seriously, people, we can't keep making fun of it if you actually go and buy the darn thing.
The Xbox 360 turns a profit ... again
Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD) – responsible for everything from the Xbox 360 to the Zune – has once again posted a net quarterly profit. What's behind the good news? "Xbox platform and PC game revenue increased $418 million or 85% primarily as a result of increased Xbox 360 console sales, Xbox 360 video game sales, and Xbox Live revenue."Revenues are great and all, but what about profit? The EDD posted an operating profit of $89 million for the third fiscal quarter, and an operating income of $614 million for the nine-month period (a marked improvement from the $746 million loss during the same period last year). Just in case you're worrying that it can't keep it up, Microsoft expects fourth quarter revenue to increase "due to increased sales of Xbox 360 consoles and related games, accessories, and services." These things come in threes, right?
The Xbox turns a profit!
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/The_Xbox_Finally_Turns_A_Profit'; In the last six years, there's been one constant when discussing Microsoft's foray into the strange and seductive world of video game console manufacturing: they had yet to turn a profit on any of it. No more, with today's announcement of Microsoft's second quarter earnings which showed a relatively impressive six-month income of $524 million (compared to a $423m loss during the same period last year) from the the Xbox's Entertainment and Devices Division.Before you go thinking that was all thanks to the Zune and PC game sales, the company's 10-Q filing states that the EDD's increased revenue was "primarily due to increased Xbox 360 platform sales." During the last six months they say Xbox platform and PC game revenue increased 35% as a result of "increased Xbox 360 console sales, video game sales led by Halo 3, Xbox Live revenues, and Xbox 360 accessory sales." (Sounds like EDD bossman Robbie Bach nailed it).The 6.1 million Xbox 360 consoles and 4.82 million copies of Halo 3 sold in the first half of fiscal '08 sure helped, but so did "decreased Xbox 360 manufacturing costs" and "a decline in Xbox 360 platform marketing expenses" – it's costing less to build them and less to promote the brand. But they'll need to hold on far longer than one quarter to make their sojourn into the living rooms of America worthwhile; for the rest of fiscal '08 they "expect revenue to increase due to increased sales of Xbox 360 consoles and related games, accessories, and services." Yup, that sounds about right.[Via GameDaily]
Robbie Bach: 360 will be profitable in 2008
In an interview with eWeek, Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, disclosed that he believes the Xbox 360 will be profitable by next year. We reported recently that the EDD lost $315 million last quarter, down from $415 million the same time the year before. If losses continue to shrink at a similar rate every quarter, it's reasonable to assume that Bach is correct in his assessment. Bach notes that the Xbox 360 has multiple avenues to generate money. Among them are of course game sales, but Microsoft also makes money from selling ad space on Xbox Live (as well as collecting subscription fees) and selling peripherals. According to Bach, Microsoft is "humming pretty well in the business."Also discussed in the interview is the potential of the Zune and Microsoft's plans for XNA. Hit the "read" link to check it out.
Xbox 360 still bumming cash from Microsoft
Further cementing its image as Microsoft's loser brother who just needs a few bucks until "the band really takes off," the Entertainment and Devices Division of the company lost $315 million in the third fiscal quarter. Meanwhile, Microsoft's overall earnings rocketed up to $14.4 billion, a 32 percent jump from last year, thanks to the release of Vista.Revenue for the EDD (Zune, Xbox 360, PC gaming, etc.) also took a hit, dropping from $1.2 billion this same time last year to $929 million, a 22 percent change. Microsoft blames the loss on lower Xbox 360 sales, which seems pretty logical, seeing as the console has some new competition this year. They estimate shipments of 500,000 consoles this quarter, compared with 1.7 million in Q3 2006. Revenue in games also dropped on the PC and 360 by 44 percent, or around $393 million. On the plus side, EDD losses were an improvement from $402 million last year, which is sort of like earning $87 million! Or at least that's what EDD tells Mrs. Microsoft as she stands in the living room just out of the children's sight, nervously watching her husband peel off $20s. "I just need something to get me through the weekend. I'm seeing a new girl and I just want to show her a good time," EDD says, the faintest hint of whiskey on his breath. "I swear, Angela, I'm going to be profitable in fiscal '08, you'll see, you'll all see!"Read -- Microsoft Reports Record Profits (press release)Read -- Q3 Revenue at Xbox Division Falls on Slow 360 Sales (GameDaily BIZ)
