Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Acer Financials: meager 2011 Q4 profit, massive annual loss]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/acer-q4-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/acer-q4-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/acer-q4-2011/#commentsAcer was hoping for the gloom to lift after two bad quarters, but it can hardly call its latest financials stellar. It scraped a slender $2.4 million profit in the quarter, which wasn't enough to prevent the company posting an overall annual loss of $212 million. It blamed one off charges and operational and strategic adjustments (though no mention of the impending war with Lenovo over Gianfranco Lanci) for the bad year. The terse release (after the break) claims the business is becoming "more healthy and stable," which is a good way to paint a quarter-on-quarter drop of 98.4 percent turnover.

Continue reading Acer Financials: meager 2011 Q4 profit, massive annual loss

Acer Financials: meager 2011 Q4 profit, massive annual loss originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcerBusinessEarningsFinancialFinancialsGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLanciLenovoNumberNumbersQ4Q4 2011Q42011QuarterQuarterlyQuarterly EarningsQuarterlyEarningsReportReportsTaiwanWed, 15 Feb 2012 05:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer files suit against former CEO Gianfranco Lanci over non-compete breach]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/acer-gianfranco-lanci-suit/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/acer-gianfranco-lanci-suit/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/acer-gianfranco-lanci-suit/#comments Gianfranco Lanci may be gone from Acer, but the PC maker's former chief is not forgotten -- not financially, at least. The company is suing the exec over non-compete violations, after he jumped ship around this time last year. The exec recently landed a gig at Lenovo as head of its Europe, Middle East and Africa division, after doing some time as a consultant for the company. Acer filed the suit in Lanci's native Italy, alleging that he "has clearly breached the terms" of the 12-month non-compete. No word yet on how much the company is seeking with the claim.

Acer files suit against former CEO Gianfranco Lanci over non-compete breach originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acercompeteGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLanciitalylawsuitlenovonon-competesuitTue, 07 Feb 2012 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo taps former Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci to lead new Europe, Middle East and Africa division]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/lenovo-taps-former-acer-ceo-gianfranco-lanci-to-lead-new-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/lenovo-taps-former-acer-ceo-gianfranco-lanci-to-lead-new-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/lenovo-taps-former-acer-ceo-gianfranco-lanci-to-lead-new-europe/#comments It looks like former Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci's recent gig as a consultant for Lenovo has worked out pretty well -- Lenovo confirmed today that it's bringing on Lanci in a permanent position as the head of the its new Europe, Middle East and Africa (or EMEA) division. As The Wall Street Journal reports, that move is part of a broader reorganization within the company (going into effect April 2nd), which will see it have four units focused on different regions instead of the current three. Current Lenovo execs will head up the three other divisions.

Lenovo taps former Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci to lead new Europe, Middle East and Africa division originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerEMEAEuropeGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancilancilenovoMiddle East and AfricaMiddleEastAndAfricaminipostrestructuringSat, 07 Jan 2012 17:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci joins Lenovo as a consultant]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/ex-acer-ceo-gianfranco-lanci-joins-lenovo-as-a-consultant/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/ex-acer-ceo-gianfranco-lanci-joins-lenovo-as-a-consultant/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/ex-acer-ceo-gianfranco-lanci-joins-lenovo-as-a-consultant/#comments
We haven't heard much from outspoken former Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci since he left the company back in March of this year, but it looks like he's now ready to get back into the PC business in a slightly different role. Lenovo confirmed today that Lanci is joining the company as a consultant to "help develop and accelerate Lenovo's worldwide consumer business." Initially, those efforts will be mostly focused on Lenovo's integration of German PC manufacturer Medion, which it acquired in June for $907 million, but it sounds like this is more than just a short-term gig -- he does get to stay in Italy, though. Head on past the break for Lenovo's complete statement.

Continue reading Ex-Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci joins Lenovo as a consultant

Ex-Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci joins Lenovo as a consultant originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerconsultantGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancilancilenovomedionFri, 16 Sep 2011 20:33:00 EST<![CDATA[New Acer will be more like Apple, less like HP]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/new-acer-will-be-more-like-apple-less-like-hp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/new-acer-will-be-more-like-apple-less-like-hp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/new-acer-will-be-more-like-apple-less-like-hp/#comments The details behind the rift that saw Acer's CEO Gianfranco Lanci (pictured) suddenly resign yesterday are now starting to emerge. Simply put, Acer's board wants the Taiwanese company to be more like Apple and HTC, according to Bloomberg, raking in big profits on fat margins. Lanci's approach, however, was to aggressively increase volumes and use its scale to negotiate cheaper prices from suppliers in a race to steal market share from Dell and HP. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Acer's profit margin in the last fiscal year was just 2.3 percent compared to Apple's 21.5 percent. Daunting, to say the least.

With Lanci gone, JT Wang, Acer's chairman and temporary CEO, plans to put more effort into expanding its smartphone and tablet business while broadening efforts around enterprise sales. For Wang, Lanci's departure marks a break with the past, saying, "Recently the iPad [tablet computer] and other new form factors have had a very big impact on the PC market. We have to change our business strategy." While PCs will still be core to the business, Wang said "we won't be in a hurry to change to become the world number one." Unfortunately for Acer, its brand is more closely associated with low-cost laptops than with the premium devices required to significantly expand its profit margins. We'd wish 'em luck but we think Acer will be better served by an innovative CEO and focused R&D.

New Acer will be more like Apple, less like HP originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancijt wangJtWangmarginmarginsprofitprofit marginsProfitMarginsrestructurerestructuringtabletwangFri, 01 Apr 2011 05:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer CEO and President Gianfranco Lanci resigns amid disagreement about company's future direction]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/acer-ceo-and-president-gianfranco-lanci-resigns-amid-disagreemen/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/acer-ceo-and-president-gianfranco-lanci-resigns-amid-disagreemen/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/acer-ceo-and-president-gianfranco-lanci-resigns-amid-disagreemen/#comments Acer's board and CEO don't seem to have been getting along too brilliantly lately and now the situation's come to a point with the resignation of one Mr. Gianfranco Lanci from the company's helm. In a press release just distributed, Acer points out that Lanci held different views from the majority of board members about the "importance on scale, growth, customer value creation, brand position enhancement, and on resource allocation and methods of implementation." Following a few months of discussions that failed to deliver a consensus, both parties have decided it's best to part ways. For now, things continue as normal with Acer's goal still being globalization of its product portfolio, whose centerpiece will remain the personal computer, according to Chairman JT Wang. He'll be the man to take over for Lanci while Acer seeks out a replacement for the outspoken Italian.

Continue reading Acer CEO and President Gianfranco Lanci resigns amid disagreement about company's future direction

Acer CEO and President Gianfranco Lanci resigns amid disagreement about company's future direction originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerbreaking newsceogianfranco lanciGianfrancoLancijt wangJtWangpresidentresignresignationstan shihStanShihThu, 31 Mar 2011 04:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer confirms plans for Windows Phone 7]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/acer-confirms-plans-for-windows-phone-7/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/acer-confirms-plans-for-windows-phone-7/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/acer-confirms-plans-for-windows-phone-7/#comments We saw the briefest whisper of an indication a couple months ago, but now Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci has come out and said it: Acer's working on Windows Phone 7. In an interview with Ina Fried, Gianfranco touched briefly on the company's plans for Microsoft's new OS, after an ill-fated stint with Windows Mobile not so long ago. Naturally, the addition of Windows Phone 7 won't be coming at the expense of Acer's newfound love of Android, but Lanci oddly says he sees for WP7 "the same opportunity you can see on Android in terms of customization." We don't know what sort of customization he could be referring to, but we're trembling in anticipation. So, let's just tally them up: MeeGo, Chrome OS, Windows Phone 7, Android, and, of course, Windows itself... pretty nice collection you've got for yourself, Acer. What's next, BeOS?

Acer confirms plans for Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancioperating systemOperatingSystemoswindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Live from Acer's global press conference]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/23/live-from-acers-global-press-conference/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/23/live-from-acers-global-press-conference/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/23/live-from-acers-global-press-conference/#comments
 Hey, remember the time when Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci got on stage, ripped a netbook in two and unveiled its Android tablet? Us neither, but who knows, it might all happen in the next hour or so. We're there covering it live, and the action is supposed to start around 10:15AM 11:00AM ET. Join us!

Continue reading Live from Acer's global press conference

Live from Acer's global press conference originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerandroidGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancilanciliveblogTue, 23 Nov 2010 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer tablet PC line launching on November 23rd, priced from $299 to $699]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/acer-tablet-pc-line-launching-on-november-23rd-priced-from-29/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/acer-tablet-pc-line-launching-on-november-23rd-priced-from-29/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/acer-tablet-pc-line-launching-on-november-23rd-priced-from-29/#comments Not much more to tell you that you didn't already pick up from the headline. Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci told Dow Jones Newswire that it will be launching its first line of tablet PCs in New York City on November 23rd, priced from $299 to $699 each. That's all the man said, leaving us to speculate on the OS (though Android's been heavily rumored) and whether we're looking at the launch of an Acer 5-, 7-, or 10-inch tablet (or all of the above) priced with or without carrier subsidies. Still, with Android Gingerbread already on the lawn of the house that Google built we can expect to see a whole slew of Google sanctioned tablets launch before CES 2011 gets underway in January.

Acer tablet PC line launching on November 23rd, priced from $299 to $699 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerandroideventGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancigingerbreadgooglenew york cityNewYorkCitytabletWed, 27 Oct 2010 07:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer CEO teases 7-inch Android tablet, promises it for Q4 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/acer-ceo-teases-7-inch-android-tablet-promises-it-for-q4-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/acer-ceo-teases-7-inch-android-tablet-promises-it-for-q4-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/acer-ceo-teases-7-inch-android-tablet-promises-it-for-q4-2010/#comments Acer's been busy doing a presentation over in Beijing today, and the highlight of the show was the first sighting of the company's 7-inch Android tablet. It's described by Shufflegazine as "pretty fast with sensitive touch," though CEO Gianfranco Lanci was apparently reluctant to disclose any of the specs. He told the gathered press to expect it in the fourth quarter of this year, which sounds all kinds of 2000-and-late, but we have to consider the fact that only a couple of months ago Acer was telling us it wasn't going to enter the tablet realm at all. What's interesting is that Lanci described network operators as an "obvious" sales channel, suggesting the slate has an integrated 3G module, while it also looks like the silvery bottom of the device is occupied by a QWERTY keyboard not unlike that found on Amazon's Kindle. Interesting times lie ahead, that's for sure.

[Thanks, Imran]

Acer CEO teases 7-inch Android tablet, promises it for Q4 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-inchaceracer ceoAcerCeoandroidandroid tabletAndroidTabletceocomputexcomputex 2010Computex2010gianfranco lanciGianfrancoLancikeyboardqwertyqwerty keyboardQwertyKeyboardtabletteaseteaserThu, 27 May 2010 02:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer: we'll overtake Dell as world's number two PC maker... soon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/acer-well-overtake-dell-as-worlds-number-two-pc-maker-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/acer-well-overtake-dell-as-worlds-number-two-pc-maker-soon/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/acer-well-overtake-dell-as-worlds-number-two-pc-maker-soon/#comments
Acer's President Gianfranco Lanci is talking some big talk these days, but not completely without reason. The Taiwan-based computer manufacturer says it does not expect to see a decline in revenue this year over last, meaning that it should clear somewhere in the realm of $17 billion -- its 2008 revenue figure. Much of the good news (and sales) hails from Asia, where retail markets have not been as hard hit by the economic insanity of the last year. Moreover, Lanci also said that with these figures, Acer "can finally pass Dell" sometime between this quarter and the next. He also added that the company expects to "breach the gap with HP" when it comes to notebooks, netbooks, and smartphones. So... that means we can expect a ton of Acers this year, right? Right.

Update: Well, that was fast.

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Acer: we'll overtake Dell as world's number two PC maker... soon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerdesktopsGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancilaptopspcsalessales figuresSalesFiguresWed, 14 Oct 2009 11:24:00 EST<![CDATA[CE-Oh no he didn't! Part LXI: Acer chief says Japanese PC companies "the weakest today"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/07/ce-oh-no-he-didn-t-part-lxi-acer-chief-says-japanese-pc-compan/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/07/ce-oh-no-he-didn-t-part-lxi-acer-chief-says-japanese-pc-compan/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/07/ce-oh-no-he-didn-t-part-lxi-acer-chief-says-japanese-pc-compan/#commentsWe're pretty sure we've heard Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci say PC industry consolidation resulting in fewer players and lower component prices would be a good thing before, but he dressed it with a side of smackdown today: speaking to the New York Times, he said that Toshiba and Sony's PC businesses would be the first targets, since "the Japanese for sure are the weakest today." Ouch. It's especially harsh since Sony just broke down and released its first netbook this morning after claiming that the low-cost machines were a downward spiral, but that wasn't enough blood for Gianfranco: he also said that ASUS and Lenovo need to "think long and hard" about remaining independent companies. Yow -- sounds like someone's planning to do a little shopping, don't you think?

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CE-Oh no he didn't! Part LXI: Acer chief says Japanese PC companies "the weakest today" originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerce oh noce-ohce-oh noce-oh no he didntce-oh-noCe-ohNoCe-ohNoHeDidntceoCeOhNoconsolidationdellgianfranco lanciGianfrancoLancihewlett packardhewlett-packardHewlettPackardhplancimergersonytoshibaTue, 07 Jul 2009 20:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer already working on "several Android devices," smartphone included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/acer-already-working-on-several-android-devices-smartphone-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/acer-already-working-on-several-android-devices-smartphone-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/acer-already-working-on-several-android-devices-smartphone-in/#commentsOkay, now we get it -- the flood of Android phones we were expecting at MWC and CTIA this year are actually arriving a month or two late. Nice. Anywho, with Samsung just recently dishing out official dirt on its Google-fied I7500 and HTC pushing out its Magic overseas, Acer is making darn sure it's not left out as the bandwagon cruises by. During the firm's Q1 investor's conference today, Gianfranco Lanci (President and CEO) noted that "the entire industry is looking at Android," and that his company "is testing Android on a lot of different solutions." Specifically, he stated that it was "working on an Android solution for the smartphone, but it's too early to say if [Acer] is going to [put the OS] on a netbook in the near future." 'Course, he could be spitting out positive vibes to just make sure we don't forget about 'em, but here's hoping Mr. Lanci takes him own quotes seriously. We'll be watching -- like Rockwell, minus the catchy chorus.

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Acer already working on "several Android devices," smartphone included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerandroidGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancigooglemobilenetbookopen sourceOpenSourcesmartphoneWed, 29 Apr 2009 13:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer already working on "several Android devices," smartphone included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/acer-already-working-on-several-android-devices-smartphone-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/acer-already-working-on-several-android-devices-smartphone-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/29/acer-already-working-on-several-android-devices-smartphone-in/#commentsOkay, now we get it -- the flood of Android phones we were expecting at MWC and CTIA this year are actually arriving a month or two late. Nice. Anywho, with Samsung just recently dishing out official dirt on its Google-fied I7500 and HTC pushing out its Magic overseas, Acer is making darn sure it's not left out as the bandwagon cruises by. During the firm's Q1 investor's conference today, Gianfranco Lanci (President and CEO) noted that "the entire industry is looking at Android," and that his company "is testing Android on a lot of different solutions." Specifically, he stated that it was "working on an Android solution for the smartphone, but it's too early to say if [Acer] is going to [put the OS] on a netbook in the near future." 'Course, he could be spitting out positive vibes to just make sure we don't forget about 'em, but here's hoping Mr. Lanci takes him own quotes seriously. We'll be watching -- like Rockwell, minus the catchy chorus.

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Acer already working on "several Android devices," smartphone included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerandroidGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancigooglenetbookopen sourceOpenSourcesmartphoneWed, 29 Apr 2009 13:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer promotes Gianfranco Lanci to CEO, J.T. Wang becomes Acer Group CEO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/acer-promotes-gianfranco-lanci-to-ceo-j-t-wang-becomes-acer-gr/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/acer-promotes-gianfranco-lanci-to-ceo-j-t-wang-becomes-acer-gr/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/acer-promotes-gianfranco-lanci-to-ceo-j-t-wang-becomes-acer-gr/#commentsIt's not like Acer's Gianfranco Lanci (shown right) was hurtin' for cash -- after all, the guy was (and still is) president of the company -- but there's just nothing quite like slapping "and CEO" on the end of said title. Approved by the outfit's Board of Directors today, Mr. Lanci has been promoted to Chairman, while the previous CEO, J.T. Wang, will serve as Acer Group CEO. From what we can tell, there's no hard feelings about any of the moves, and c'mon, it is nice to move from one corner office to another every now and then, you know?

[Via PCWorld]

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Acer promotes Gianfranco Lanci to CEO, J.T. Wang becomes Acer Group CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerbusinessceoexecGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLanciindustrymanagementtexas instrumentsTexasInstrumentstiFri, 13 Jun 2008 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XL: Acer's Gianfranco Lanci says "entire industry" disappointed by Vista]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/23/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xxxx-acers-gianfranco-lanci-says-ent/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/23/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xxxx-acers-gianfranco-lanci-says-ent/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/23/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xxxx-acers-gianfranco-lanci-says-ent/#commentsAcer President Gianfranco Lanci doesn't look to have minced any words about his thoughts on Vista during a recent interview with the Financial Times Deutschland, reportedly telling the publication that "the entire industry is disappointed by Windows Vista." As if that wasn't a big enough shot across the bow, Lanci further went on to say that it's "not going to change in the second half of this year," adding that "I really don't think that someone has bought a new PC specifically for Vista." Lanci apparently didn't have quite everything out of his system just yet though, also lambasting Vista for not being ready when it was released, saying that "stability is certainly a problem." We some suspect he won't be too pleased with Microsoft's recent pronouncements on the matter either.

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CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XL: Acer's Gianfranco Lanci says "entire industry" disappointed by Vista originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerce ohce oh noce-ohce-oh noce-oh no he didntce-oh-noCe-ohNoCeOhceohnoGianfranco LanciGianfrancoLancimicrosoftvistaMon, 23 Jul 2007 17:49:00 EST