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An offset HDTV wall-mount
Mounting HDTVs on the wall is all the rage, but it isn't the easiest thing in the world and even when you employee a professional to run power and video cables up the wall, sometimes the structure of you wall just isn't right for the optimal placement. Cheif's new HDTV wall mount is designed for exactly that problem. Rather than install additional supports in the wall, the mount is designed to be mounted on the existing studs and then will slide in either direction so you can center the set in just the right spot. No word on the price, but it should be available this summer.
John Kneuer resigning as digital TV transition chief
It's been no secret that lawmakers have been sweating the fact that not a whole lot of Americans are truly informed about the quickly approaching 2009 digital TV cutover, and now it seems the effort to spread the word will be led by someone new. John Kneuer, the current head, will be stepping down this month "to pursue new opportunities," leaving the role of administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. An agency spokesman did note that the resignation was Kneuer's "own decision" and that his departure "would have no impact on the preparations for the transition. As it stands, Meredith Baker, deputy assistant secretary, will be stepping in to cover his duties, but the White House should be nominating an official replacement soon enough.
Analysts: Halo 3 will finally make Xbox division profitable
Four analysts at Goldman-Sachs have predicted that Bungie's Halo 3 will rake in over $170 million in revenue for the quarter. The analysts also assert that the game will put the Xbox division in the black for its first quarter ever with just the first week of sales. Other notes by the analysts: The figure is based on estimates that 4.2 million copies shipped in the quarter and an installed user base of 13.2 million by September. That would mean Halo 3 would be purchased by nearly one-third of Xbox 360 owners. It is assumed that Microsoft keeps 80 percent of the retail price on first-party titles. Halo 2 sold 7.5 million in its first quarter of release, with 2.38 million on the first day. That amounts to 38 percent of the user base. Recently Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division, stated that he expects the Xbox to be profitable next year. We have very little doubt that Master Chief can pull the Xbox brand out of the red for at least the first quarter or two, but can Microsoft fill the void with other titles and services once the momentum slows down? [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Jobs to spend more time at Apple
Steve Jobs told shareholders this week that, in light of Disney's acquisition of Pixar, he would actually be spending more time at Apple, in part because he'll be relinquishing his CEO position at Pixar in a couple of weeks once the merger finishes. Many have been speculating that Mr. Jobs would be spending more time at Disney, but he publicly responded "that couldn't be further from the truth... It'll require less of my time than Pixar did."This should be good news for anyone concerned about Mr. Jobs' continued involvement with Apple.[via Wired]
Does Apple need a Chief Security Officer?
MacSlash posted an interesting question to their readers that I thought would make for an interesting discussion here at TUAW: due to the rise in Mac OS X security-related stories, the debunked worm alarms and even hacking contests that get cancelled before they become useful experiments, does Apple need to appoint a public Chief Security Oficer?On one side of the topic, some argue that it would show a sign of weakness in Apple's security department. On the other side, some believe it would equate to Apple putting their best foot forward on security, a topic that will likely hit the company head-on sooner or later anyway. To clarify what this position would (theoretically) be: the Chief Security Officer would be a public figure for Apple who could speak as an authority on Mac security, putting rumors and mis-reported news to rest, announcing the company's position and status on security, etc. The MacSlash post also summarized an important public element of this topic quite well: "In matters related to product marketing, it's the public perception, not the reality that really matters....And once you've lost a user's confidence, it's hard to get it back. Just ask Microsoft."What do you think, TUAW readers? Should Apple get ahead of the game and appoint a public security official before something more serious strikes Mac OS X? Sound off.
