RadioShack
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Former Tandy CEO and PC innovator John Roach dead at 83
Roach led the push to bring the Tandy TRS-80 into American homes.
RadioShack is building a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange
RadioShack — yes, that RadioShack that used to sell electronic goods — is now a crypto business.
One of the UK's largest electronics retailers is broke
Many years ago, Maplin was the place to go if you needed a VGA to Scart cable, a weird battery or a new charger for your Samsung flip phone before there were industry standards for that kind of thing. It's the UK equivalent of RadioShack, and the only well-known highstreet chain still selling obscure electronics. Next to aisles of every cable and converter you could imagine, you'll often find random delights such as a smoke machines and soldering stations. In more recent years, Maplin started stocking products with a broader appeal, like Nest thermostats, Amazon Fire TV sticks and Google Home speakers. It even launched a smart home consultation service late last year, but the change in tack hasn't rescued the retailer from going broke.
Lawsuit claims Sprint caused RadioShack’s latest bankruptcy
In 2015, RadioShack filed for bankruptcy and shortly thereafter co-branded around 1,400 of its remaining stores with Sprint. Just over two years later, RadioShack has filed for bankruptcy again and a group of its creditors says it's largely Sprint's fault.
Circuit City is coming back
RadioShack's recent demise isn't keeping Circuit City from getting back into the retail business. According to Twice, a publication that covers tech industry news, Circuit City is preparing to return soon. The report claims the company, which filed for bankruptcy in 2008, will be opening a new store in Dallas, Texas this coming June, led by the efforts of a new ownership group. Circuit City's also said to have the support of many major brands, including Canon, Intel and Sony, after holding successful meetings at CES 2016.
Nick Cannon is the new Chief Creative Officer of RadioShack
RadioShack filed for bankruptcy a while back but, thanks to the deep pockets of the folks over at Standard General, a few stores will remain open. The retailer is trying to rebrand itself and its latest move is appointing TV personality Nick Cannon as its Chief Creative Officer. Cannon will work with RadioShack to create a line of exclusive products, curate music and even organize special performances and events. The retailer will also focus on its educational and STEM (science, tech, engineering and math) initiatives. There's been no official announcement as to what kind of exclusive products RadioShack and Cannon will come up with, but it better be revolutionary if the retailer hopes to forge a new, relevant identity.[Image credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic]
Amazon's Echo smart speaker is coming to retail stores
You no longer have to buy online to give the Amazon Echo a shot. Amazon will soon sell the smart, voice-guided speaker in more than 3,000 retail stores, including Brookstone, Fry's, Home Depot, PC Richard & Son, RadioShack, Sears and Staples (which previously sold it on the web). The rollout is taking place over the next few weeks, and a few big stores are conspicuously absent in the mix -- Best Buy, anyone? Still, this beats worrying about holiday shipping headaches.
Apple wants to stop RadioShack from selling your data
When RadioShack went bankrupt, it put shoppers' data up for sale alongside its brand name and stores. Well, Apple isn't happy with that data scattering to the four winds -- it's joining AT&T and other objectors by filing a motion to block attempts to sell customers' information. The Cupertino crew argues that the info isn't part of RadioShack's bankruptcy estate, and that selling off this content would breach both Apple's privacy policy as well as a reseller deal. There's no question that the motion is as much about protecting Apple's hide as it is yours (the company doesn't want to lose data to competitors), but it could mean a lot if it prevents a shady marketing firm from annoying you down the road. [Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images]
The RadioShack brand lives to see another day
RadioShack's brand will live on. According to The Wall Street Journal, the retailer's label assets have been purchased by Standard General LP, a hedge fund, for $26.2 million. Along with the trademark, other undisclosed intellectual property was also included in the bankruptcy auction, which took place Monday in New York. But what exactly is Standard General LP's vision? It plans to rebuild and rebrand. The firm is reportedly looking to overhaul RadioShack's brand around a "streamlined array of necessities," that are going to be sold alongside wireless products from Sprint. The carrier, of course, has kept close tabs on the electronics chain's Chapter 11 woes. Just last month, it opened its own stores inside existing RadioShack locations, which would otherwise now be defunct.
RadioShack files for bankruptcy as Sprint eyes its stores
As expected, RadioShack filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today. The electronics store has had 11 unprofitable quarters in a row that apparently even Weird Al and a drone, concept stores and Arduinos couldn't turn around. We've seen many electronics retailers fade out over the last few years, but most don't have a 94-year history behind them. In the immediate future, Reuters reports the company has a deal with its largest shareholder, Standard General to sell between 1,500 and 2,400 of its 4,000 stores. In turn, Sprint has an agreement to expand to about 1,750 of those stores, taking up about one-third of the space. TechCrunch posted a copy of the filing, and right now it's expected that the remaining stores will be closed, assuming the store's lenders approve of the deal -- leaving us with one fewer place to go when need a battery right now. [Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images]
Daily Roundup: the best ads of the Super Bowl, Raspberry Pi gets an update and more!
In today's Daily Roundup we have a bargain price for a multi-million dollar maritime vessel, some serious upgrades for Raspberry Pi's latest board and it wouldn't be a post-Super Bowl Monday without at least one mention of our favorite ads. Read on for these stories and more!
The end is reportedly near for RadioShack
Reports of RadioShack's demise are nothing new, but now it seems like the electronics retailer may be done for good. Bloomberg reports that company is in talks with Sprint to hand over around half of its remaining stores to the wireless company. The rest of RadioShack's locations will close, and those that are included in the deal will be painted yellow and black. This means the shops where most of us purchased parts for a project will cease to exist. Nothing's final, and until the ink is dry, another suitor could swipe up the company and allow it to keep on chuggin' along. RadioShack is facing bankruptcy after years of declining sales, so even if Sprint doesn't agree to buy those stores, a move of some kind is imminent for the company that's been selling tech since 1921. [Photo credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Weird Al wants to sell you a drone
Weird Al Yankovic has spent over 40 years skewering pop culture through song, and endearing himself to nerds of all stripes in the process. What, then, is next on his list of things to do? Pushing swag for Radio Shack, apparently. The Honorable Mr. Yankovic popped up in a new ad for the downtrodden gadget retailer with just a touch of Wonka insanity earlier this week, leading some reporter from Parks and Recreation through a veritable toyland of drones and, erm, batteries with a (pretty awful) song wafting through the air.
RadioShack closing 1,100 stores nationwide
Electronics and video game retailer RadioShack is closing 1,100 of its stores in the United States after a disappointing holiday sales performance, Reuters reports. RadioShack's stock dropped by 23 percent after the company announced a quarterly loss this week. Its planned store closures comprise 20 percent of the company's total retail locations. Over 4,000 RadioShack stores will remain following the upcoming round of closures. Though it's best known for selling electronic components, RadioShack expanded its retail offerings in 2007 to include video games, consoles, and trade-ins. [Image: RadioShack]
RadioShack plans to close over 1,000 'underperforming' stores
RadioShack's Super Bowl ad showing how cool and hip it is may've come a little too late, as the retailer has today announced its intention to close up to 1,100 "underperforming stores" across the US. The news was bundled in the company's 2013 financials, which tell a story of declining sales and continued losses. RadioShack's CEO blamed poor performance on "lower store traffic" and "intense promotional activity," among other things, but expressed faith in the retailer's changing brand identity to turn things around. On the upside, the fancy new "Concept Stores" are allegedly going strong, and around 4,000 locations on top of the thousand-odd facing closure will continue to operate as usual. Perhaps some of those underperforming stores should've been cleared out in the '80s, after all.
Super Bowl 2014 ad roundup: '80s stars raid a RadioShack, bears dance with Ellen and more
If you were one of those 110 million who tuned into this year's Super Bowl, you probably have some thoughts on those ads -- ads that cost a whole load of cash. This year, we had the predictable heart-tug from a soda brand, a shirtless Brooklyn Nine-Nine star singing along with the Muppets and a reunion with the boys of Full House over a cup of Greek yogurt. But since this is Engadget, let's start with what we know best: tech.
Your iPhone replaces the roomful of equipment found in this 1991 Radio Shack ad
iPhones are expensive, even with the subsidies your mobile carrier provides. But if you add up all the tools you now carry around in your pocket instead of having to toss in your backpack while you travel, the savings are pretty remarkable. A recent post from the Buffalo, NY blog Trending Buffalo finally puts a price and perspective on how much tech we're actually carrying. Writer Steve Cichon found and uploaded a Radio Shack ad circular from 1991 and, with the exception of 15" speakers and a radar detector, there was literally nothing found on the circular that your iPhone couldn't easily do. Thanks to the box in your pocket you've got a weather radio, AM/FM radio, headphones, calculator, video games, camcorder, cellular phone, Speed-Dial, voice mail, and tape recorder on you at all times. Adding it all up Cichon discovered buying all of that gear would set you back $3,054.82 in 1991. Adjusted for inflation that's around $5,100 in modern dollars. You can see the circular ad below. Head over to Trending Buffalo to check out Cichon's run down of costs, and how you can get the same functionality out of your iPhone.
PS Vita on sale for $160 at Radioshack [Update: 3G version in stock!]
Update: It looks like Radioshack has found a few extra PlayStation Vita units kicking around its warehouse. The 3G/WiFi edition is priced at $160. If the units sell out and you want to be notified of when either the Wi-Fi or 3G model is back in stock, you can opt-in to email notifications through the retailer's website. It's been a long time since we've seen a Radioshack but apparently they're still around. In fact, the electronics retailer is currently selling the Wi-Fi version of the PS Vita for $160 - and that includes free shipping on all orders over $25. The deal is impeccably timed to coincide with the launch of the PS4, which goes on sale in the US this Friday. Last week Sony prepared the handheld to play nice with the PS4 by issuing the 3.00 update for PS Vita, unlocking Remote Play features through a new "PS4 Link" app. The app unlocks playing "most" PS4 games on your Vita over Wi-Fi through Remote Play and opens up the handheld as a supplementary second-screen display for select PS4 games.
iPhone 5c now just $45 with contract at both Walmart and Radio Shack
If you're looking to pick up an iPhone 5c sometime soon, you'd be hard-pressed to find better deals than what's currently being offered at Walmart and RadioShack. Both retail outlets this weekend slashed pricing on the iPhone 5c from US$99 to $45, provided, of course, you sign up for a two-year contract. That translates into a solid 55 percent price drop for a brand-new device that has received nothing but glowing reviews since being released two weeks ago. Here are deal particulars to be aware of: The iPhone 5c price cut at RadioShack will run through November 2 while Walmart's deal will run through the holiday season. Keep in mind that Best Buy is also offering special iPhone 5c savings through Monday. We recently reported that iPhone 5c purchasers at Best Buy locations will receive a $50 gift card that can be used on other store items, though notably not towards the iPhone 5c purchase itself.
Bloomberg: Staples and RadioShack remove Amazon lockers from stores
Perhaps placing Amazon lockers right within the confines of a couple of its toughest competitors might not have been such a great idea after all. Several months ago, Staples and RadioShack agreed to add the online retailer's lockers inside a few brick and mortar locations so that Amazon customers could choose to pick up their goods at the store instead of missing a delivery, with the host retailer getting a small fee in exchange. According to Bloomberg however, Staples and RadioShack have now decided to yank the lockers from their stores. Staples claimed the Amazon deal "didn't meet the criteria" that was set up, while RadioShack stated that the lockers "didn't fit with its strategy." We can't say we're terribly surprised to see the rivals part ways, but hey, at least you can still find an Amazon locker in select 7-Elevens. [Image credit: Adam Matan, Wikimedia Commons]
