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[Former Olympus chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa comes down from the mount, into police custody]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/olympus-tsuyoshi-kikukawa-arrested-in-tokyo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/olympus-tsuyoshi-kikukawa-arrested-in-tokyo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/olympus-tsuyoshi-kikukawa-arrested-in-tokyo/#comments If you've been following the latest camera industry accounting scandal, then you're probably well aware that all is not well at Olympus. The Japanese company took its latest blow today when former chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa was arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of having falsified financial statements. The Tokyo prosecutor's office released a statement saying that two other former execs were also brought into police custody, including Hisashi Mori, a former executive vice president, and Hideo Yamada, a former auditor. Olympus is also faced with the possibility of being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange -- the decision has been deferred awaiting further evidence. So what does all this mean for the scandal-ridden camera maker's position in the industry? Little, perhaps, from a consumer perspective, considering that Olympus has continued to announce and ship new products, including the well-received EM-5. The fate of its former executives, however, is less auspicious.

Former Olympus chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa comes down from the mount, into police custody originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountingarrestarrestedbusinessfraudillegalindustryjapanlegalmoneyolympuspoliceproblemraidraidedscamscandalShuichi TakayamaShuichiTakayamatokyoTsuyoshi KikukawaTsuyoshiKikukawaThu, 16 Feb 2012 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Kodak gets court approval to borrow $950 million, end theater sponsorship]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/kodak-chapter-11-bankruptcy-financing-oscars/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/kodak-chapter-11-bankruptcy-financing-oscars/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/kodak-chapter-11-bankruptcy-financing-oscars/#comments
Kodak took another step along the road to recovery yesterday, after receiving court approval to borrow $950 million in restructuring funds. Nearly a month after the camera maker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, US Bankruptcy Judge Allen Gropper granted Kodak's request on Thursday, allowing the company to continue operations during its ongoing transition. Gropper's decision, handed down in a Manhattan court, follows a series of negotiations between Kodak and its lenders, and adds an extra $300 million to the $650 million awarded during January's Chapter 11 filing. The company is also allowed to end its sponsorship of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, after successfully arguing that doing so would be in the best interest of Kodak and its creditors. Under the deal, Kodak is obliged to pay $72 million over the course of 20 years. It currently shells out $3.6 million per year and still has $38 million in outstanding payments, but Kodak's lawyers argued that the agreement was too costly. Kodak Chairman and CEO Antonio Perez issued the following statement in response to yesterday's decision: "Today's agreement is another step towards ensuring that Kodak is positioned to execute on the goals the Company set out last month: Bolster our liquidity in the U.S. and abroad, monetize our non-strategic intellectual property, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable Kodak to focus on its most valuable business lines."

Continue reading Kodak gets court approval to borrow $950 million, end theater sponsorship

Kodak gets court approval to borrow $950 million, end theater sponsorship originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academy awardsAcademyAwardsAntonio PerezAntonioPerezapprovalbankruptcybusinesscamerachapter 11Chapter11corporatecreditordigital cameraDigitalCamerafinanceindustryjudgekodakkodak theatreKodakTheatreloanmoneyoscarsrestructuringThu, 16 Feb 2012 04:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Gartner: Apple leads the way among smartphone vendors, Android sees slight decline]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/gartner-q4-2011-apple-android-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/gartner-q4-2011-apple-android-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/gartner-q4-2011-apple-android-smartphone/#comments
Gartner's latest bundle of smartphone stats has just hit the wires, bringing with it some encouraging news for the folks in Cupertino. According to the firm's Q4 report, Apple finished 2011 as the world's top smartphone vendor by market share (19 percent), thanks to a Q4 that saw the company grab 23.8 percent of the market. During the quarter, Apple sold some 35.5 million handsets to end users, marking a mildly insane 121.4 percent increase from Q4 2010. This surge also helped Apple overtake LG to become the world's third largest seller of all mobile phones, with a 7.4 percent market share last quarter, trailing only Nokia (23.4 percent) and Samsung (19.4 percent). Nokia, in fact, saw some of its lead wither away during Q4, with sales dropping 8.7 percent over the year, to 111.7 million units. On the OS front, meanwhile, Android continues to dominate Q4 with 50.9 percent of the smartphone market, but that's slightly down from the previous quarter, when it grabbed a little less than 53 percent. Gartner attributes some of this to increased sales of the iPhone 4S, though it expects iOS' share to decline over the next "couple of quarters," as fewer users upgrade to the company's latest handset. For more insight and analysis, check out the full press release, after the break.

Continue reading Gartner: Apple leads the way among smartphone vendors, Android sees slight decline

Gartner: Apple leads the way among smartphone vendors, Android sees slight decline originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo beefed up its proprietary arsenal yesterday, with the acquisition of Mobiclip -- a Paris-based video codec provider. As Gamasutra reports, the deal was actually finalized back in October, but only became public this week, when Mobiclip confirmed its new ownership on its website. The company already has a history with Nintendo, having lent a hand with video rendering and playback on the DS and Game Boy Advance. Now that it's officially under its wing, Mobiclip will reportedly collaborate with Nintendo on its forthcoming Wii U, as suggested by a recently posted job listing for a "console software engineer."

Nintendo brings Mobiclip on board to help with Wii U development originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Government authorities and retailers have reportedly begun removing iPads from stores in China this morning, in apparent response to a ruling issued in December. According to China's Hebei Youth Daily, local representatives of the country's Administrations of Industry and Commerce (AIC) have started confiscating Apple's tablet from retail outlets, with some merchants voluntarily removing the device from their storefronts as a preemptive measure. The scope of this operation remains unclear, though China.com reports that as of 5:00 PM yesterday, authorities had seized some 45 iPad 2s. Retailers who voluntarily removed their iPads apparently did so to protect their stocks from confiscation, and are reportedly continuing to sell the tablet behind the counter. These reports come nearly two months after Apple lost a trademark lawsuit against Proview Technology, which successfully defended its ownership of the iPad name within China. We're still waiting to see whether this is part of a larger nationwide campaign and Apple has yet to comment, but we'll update this post as soon as we hear more.

Update: China's iFeng is now reporting that these seizures took place in the city of Shijiazhuang, as part of what appears to be an isolated campaign.

Update 2: Looks like the iPad is no longer on sale at Amazon China.

Reports: Authorities removing iPads from stores in China, following trademark ruling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Administrations of Industry and CommerceAdministrationsOfIndustryAndCommerceappleapple ipadAppleIpadasiabusinesschinachineseconfiscationcourtcupertinoindustryipadipad 2Ipad2lawsuitmoneyproviewproview technologyProviewTechnologyretailsalesseizuretrademarkMon, 13 Feb 2012 03:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel settles antitrust lawsuit with New York attorney general, pays hardly anything]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/intel-new-york-lawsuit-antitrust-settlement/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/intel-new-york-lawsuit-antitrust-settlement/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/intel-new-york-lawsuit-antitrust-settlement/#comments Intel's three-year tussle with the state of New York finally came to an end yesterday, with a settlement of relatively harmless proportion. Under the arrangement, Intel will have to shell out a mere $6.5 million to resolve a 2009 antitrust lawsuit filed by then-attorney general Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo, who has since ascended to the seat of governor, had accused the chipmaker of intimidating PC manufacturers and handing out billion-dollar kickbacks, as part of what he called a "systematic worldwide campaign" to assert its market dominance. The case has since been helmed by Cuomo's successor, current attorney general Eric Schneiderman, but its sails lost a lot of wind when U.S. District Judge Leonard Stark barred the state from seeking triple damages, limiting its claims to a three-year period, rather than the four-to-six that the state had been pursuing. As a result, Intel suffered only the slightest of financial blows.

According to Reuters, the $6.5 million sum represents just five hours worth of profit for the company, which reported a net income of nearly $13 billion last year. Intel was pleased with the news, pointing out that the agreement doesn't require it to admit any wrongdoing. Schneiderman, on the other hand, seemed notably less enthusiastic, with office spokeswoman Jennifer Givner telling reporters that the state's lawyers still think they have a case against Intel, but "in light of the court's decision believe that no purpose is served by pursuing the matter further."

Intel settles antitrust lawsuit with New York attorney general, pays hardly anything originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrew CuomoAndrewCuomoantitrustantitrust lawsuitAntitrustLawsuitbusinesschipchipmakercompetitioncpuindustryintellawlawsuitmoneynew yorknew york stateNewYorkNewYorkStatePCsettlementthreatFri, 10 Feb 2012 04:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/lenovo-q3-2011-earnings-report/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/lenovo-q3-2011-earnings-report/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/lenovo-q3-2011-earnings-report/#comments
Lenovo turned in another stellar earnings report yesterday, following up on a huge Q2 with an encouraging Q3. For the fiscal quarter ended December 31st, the PC maker saw its net profits reach $153 million, marking a 54 percent increase over last year's $99.7 million. Revenue also rose 44 percent last quarter to a record $8.4 billion, thanks in large part to a surge in PC sales. In mature markets, Lenovo saw revenues increase by a whopping 81 percent to $3.6 billion, while emerging market sales reached $1.3 billion, marking a 13 percent rise over the previous year and accounting for about 15 percent of the company's global revenue. The manufacturer saw particularly strong growth in China, where it now enjoys a market share of 35.3 percent, its highest ever. Lenovo attributed much of this to strong smartphone and tablet sales in China, while confirming plans to release a Smart TV within the country, as well (according to CEO Yang Yuanqing, it should hit the market in April). Laptops, however, remain the company's bread and butter, comprising 53 percent of its total revenue last quarter, with sales reaching $4.5 billion -- 30 percent higher than last year. For more numbers, check out the full press release, after the break.

Continue reading Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar

Lenovo releases Q3 earnings report, shipments rise, profits soar originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschinaearnings reportEarningsReportemerging marketEmergingMarketfinancialfinancialsfy 2011Fy2011industrylaptoplenovolenovo earningslenovo q3 2011LenovoEarningsLenovoQ32011moneyprofitq3 2011Q32011revenuesalesshipmentsmart TVsmartphoneSmartTvtabletThu, 09 Feb 2012 04:18:00 EST<![CDATA[StatCounter: Mobile web usage doubling every year, Nokia leads the way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/statcounter-mobile-web-usage-doubling-every-year-nokia-leads-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/statcounter-mobile-web-usage-doubling-every-year-nokia-leads-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/statcounter-mobile-web-usage-doubling-every-year-nokia-leads-t/#comments We already knew that Nokia sits atop the world's market when it comes to shipments and market share. As it turns out, though, the Finnish manufacturer leads the way in terms of mobile web browsing, too. That's according to the latest report from StatCounter, which found that Nokia handsets account for about 40 percent of the world's mobile browsing, followed by Apple, at around 29 percent. Coming in at a relatively distant third is Samsung, with an approximately 14 percent share. Android OEMs as a whole, however, account for a little under 25 percent of the world's mobile browsing, while RIM came in at just 8.3 percent (thought it still ranks second in the UK, behind Apple). Overall, global mobile web usage has just about doubled every year since 2009, which is both crazy and not crazy. For more numbers and insight, check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading StatCounter: Mobile web usage doubling every year, Nokia leads the way

StatCounter: Mobile web usage doubling every year, Nokia leads the way originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebrowserbusinessindustrymarket shareMarketSharemobile browsingMobileBrowsingmobilepostcrossmoneynokiaRIMsamsungsmartphonestatstatcounterstatisticsstatswebTue, 07 Feb 2012 23:51:00 EST<![CDATA[With federal loans blocked, Fisker halts work on Project Nina, lays off 66 workers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/with-federal-loans-blocked-fisker-halts-work-on-project-nina-l/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/with-federal-loans-blocked-fisker-halts-work-on-project-nina-l/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/with-federal-loans-blocked-fisker-halts-work-on-project-nina-l/#comments Fisker Automotive's bumpy 2011 appears to have given way to an even rockier 2012. A little more than a month after recalling 239 of its Karma plug-ins, Fisker has now stopped working on its second electric vehicle, following the US government's decision to suspend its federal loans. The manufacturer confirmed the news in an email yesterday, adding that a total of 66 workers in Delaware and California have been laid off, as a result. In 2009, the Department of Energy provided Fisker with $528.7 million in federal loans, but according to spokesman Roger Ormisher, access to those funds have been blocked since May. The money was supposed to be used to launch the Karma and Fisker's second, US-manufactured EV, known as the Nina. The Karma began rolling out to market in July, but did so well behind schedule, spurring the DOE to suspend its loan.

"Our loan guarantees have strict conditions in place to protect taxpayers," Department spokesman Damien LaVera explained in an email to Bloomberg. "The department only allows the loan to be disbursed as the company meets certain milestones and demonstrates results." Thus far, Fisker has drawn on only $193 million of federal funds and is looking to renegotiate the terms of the loan, in the hopes of accessing the remaining $336 million. The DOE, however, is still under intense scrutiny because of September's Solyndra debacle, so it's difficult to say what a renegotiated deal would look like. The manufacturer, for its part, says it's taking no risks, telling GigaOM that it "continues to pursue alternative funding sources." In the meantime, it'll continue to focus on the Karma for 2012, and hopes to revive Project Nina at a later date.

With federal loans blocked, Fisker halts work on Project Nina, lays off 66 workers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobusinesscaliforniacarcarsdealdelawaredelaydepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyDOEelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVfiskerfisker automotivefisker karmafisker ninaFiskerAutomotiveFiskerKarmaFiskerNinagovernmenthybridindustrykarmalayoffloanmoneyplug inPlugInproductionproject ninaProjectNinatransportTue, 07 Feb 2012 07:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Google hires Apple exec to work on 'secret project']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/google-apple-hires-simon-prakash/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/google-apple-hires-simon-prakash/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/google-apple-hires-simon-prakash/#comments
Google appears to have scored another coup in its ongoing rivalry with Apple, having reportedly lured one of the company's senior directors to its Mountain View headquarters. Simon Prakash, pictured above, has worked at Apple for more than eight years, most recently serving as the firm's senior director of product integrity. According to VentureBeat, however, that tenure has come to a close, now that Google has hired Prakesh to work on a "secret project." The report speculates that this project could be helmed by co-founder Sergey Brin, and that it may be mobile-related, though declarative statements were few and far between. Prior to arriving at Apple, Prakash served as director of engineering design validation at Cielo Communications, and held managerial positions at 3Com. VentureBeat claims he'll be starting work at Google today, though the company has yet to issue any statement on the matter. Once finalized, though, the hiring could help dispel some of those "no poach" accusations flying around federal courts.

Report: Google hires Apple exec to work on 'secret project' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3comallegationapplecielocompanycorporatecupertinodepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeDOJemployeeexecgooglehiringindustrymobilemountain viewMountainViewpoachpoachingreportrumorsergey brinSergeyBrinsimon prakashSimonPrakashMon, 06 Feb 2012 07:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone exec Brandon Watson leaves Microsoft, headed to Amazon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/windows-phone-exec-brandon-watson-leaves-microsoft-headed-to-am/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/windows-phone-exec-brandon-watson-leaves-microsoft-headed-to-am/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/windows-phone-exec-brandon-watson-leaves-microsoft-headed-to-am/#comments
There's some more corporate reshuffling going on in the Windows Phone universe this week, now that Brandon Watson has confirmed his departure from Microsoft. Watson, who served as head of the WP Developer Experience, announced the news on his Twitter page Friday, and later told ZDNet that he's heading to Amazon, where he'll be Director of the Kindle Cross Platform team. In an e-mail to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, Watson acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, but ultimately decided that "the opportunity placed in front of me that was too big to pass up." At Amazon, the exec will be charged with laying out a roadmap for Kindle app development across first- and third-party platforms, including, of course, Windows Phone and Windows 8. Microsoft has yet to announce a replacement, issuing the following statement: "We can confirm February 6th is Brandon Watson's last day at Microsoft. Brandon did a great job helping us build a vibrant developer community and we wish him well with his next adventure."

Windows Phone exec Brandon Watson leaves Microsoft, headed to Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon posted its Q3 earnings report this morning, and there isn't a whole lot to smile about. The cameramaker had to swallow a one-off loss of ¥10.9 billion last quarter (approximately $143.1 million), due to widespread flooding that devastated its Thailand manufacturing plant, in October. Today's report comes just a day after Sony issued similarly dire figures, which it largely attributed to last year's flooding, as well. For the third quarter ended December 31st, Nikon posted a ¥3.7 billion loss (about $48.6 million), compared with the ¥9.7 billion ($127.3 million) it saw in net profits over the same period in 2010. Operating profits also fell to ¥8.2 billion from ¥18.6 billion in 2010, while total revenue dropped from ¥253.8 billion in Q3 2010 to ¥215.4 billion, last quarter. The company remains optimistic about the future, though, forecasting net gains of ¥55 billion this year, coupled with an expected revenue of ¥925 billion. For the full report, check out the source links below.

Nikon posts Q3 2011 earnings, sees significant losses due to Thailand floods originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscameraearningsfinancialfinancialsfloodingfy 2011Fy2011industrylossmanufacturingmoneynikonprofitq3q3 2011q3 earningsQ32011Q3Earningsrevenuethailandthailand floodThailandFloodFri, 03 Feb 2012 03:15:00 EST<![CDATA[AU Optronics, Idemitsu Kosan announce 'strategic alliance' on OLED development]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/au-optronics-idemitsu-kosan-announce-strategic-alliance-on-ol/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/au-optronics-idemitsu-kosan-announce-strategic-alliance-on-ol/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/au-optronics-idemitsu-kosan-announce-strategic-alliance-on-ol/#comments
The OLED-infused future is fast approaching in Taiwan, where AU Optronics today announced a "strategic alliance" with Japanese firm Idemitsu Kosan. According to AUO, the partnership will see both companies collaborate on new OLED displays and patents, with Idemitsu filling the role of supplier. Taiwan-based AUO delivered the following statement: "This will accelerate business growth in AUO's small-sized OLED displays for smartphones and tablets, which have emerged as a new growth area in the display industry, and that of large-sized OLED displays for TVs." There's no indication as to when we might see the first fruits of this alliance, but as AUO VP Paul Peng recently reminded us, it may be a while.

Continue reading AU Optronics, Idemitsu Kosan announce 'strategic alliance' on OLED development

AU Optronics, Idemitsu Kosan announce 'strategic alliance' on OLED development originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allianceau optronicsAUOAuOptronicsbusinessdevelopmentdisplayhdpostcrossIdemitsu KosanIdemitsuKosanindustryjapanmanufacturingminipostmobilepostcrossmoneyOLEDOLEDspatentproductionsmartphonetablettaiwanTVThu, 02 Feb 2012 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony confirms Kazuo Hirai as new President and CEO, replacing Howard Stringer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/sony-confirms-kazuo-hirai-as-new-president-and-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/sony-confirms-kazuo-hirai-as-new-president-and-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/sony-confirms-kazuo-hirai-as-new-president-and-ceo/#comments
Sony has just confirmed Kazuo Hirai as its new CEO and President, validating rumors that have been swirling for a few weeks now. Outgoing CEO Howard Stringer, meanwhile, has been appointed Chairman of Sony's Board of Directors. The Hirai era officially begins April 1st, while Stringer will assume his new role sometime in June (until then, he'll remain executive chairman). Today's announcement, coming a day before Sony's earnings call, brings an end to more than a year's worth of speculation, though Hirai's selection hardly comes as a surprise, considering his recent string of promotions. In April, he was named Executive Deputy President; five months later, he was promoted to Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman. According to Stringer, in fact, Sony has been grooming Hirai since as early as 2009, when the Board began designing its succession plans. Kaz, he says, stood out from the crowd:

Kaz is a globally focused executive for whom technology and the cloud are familiar territory, content is highly valued, and digital transformation is second nature. I believe his tough-mindedness and leadership skills will be of great benefit to the company and its customers in the months and years ahead. I look forward to helping Kaz in every way I can so that succession leads inevitably to success. It was my honor to recommend him to the Board for the positions of President and CEO, because he is ready to lead, and the time to make this change is now.

Kaz, for his part, acknowledges that Sony is going through some "challenging" times at this juncture, but credits Stringer with steadying the ship, and seems clear-minded about the future. "The path we must take is clear: to drive the growth of our core electronics businesses - primarily digital imaging, smart mobile and game; to turn around the television business; and to accelerate the innovation that enables us to create new business domains," the 51-year-old PSN architect explained. "The foundations are now firmly in place for the new management team and me to fully leverage Sony's diverse electronics product portfolio, in conjunction with our rich entertainment assets and growing array of networked services, to engage with our customers around the world in new and exciting ways."

Click past the break for Sony's full press release.

Continue reading Sony confirms Kazuo Hirai as new President and CEO, replacing Howard Stringer

Sony confirms Kazuo Hirai as new President and CEO, replacing Howard Stringer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appointmentbreaking newsbusinessCEOchairman of the boardChairmanOfTheBoardcorporatehiraihoward stringerHowardStringerindustryjapanKaz HiraiKazHiraikazuo hiraiKazuoHiraimoneyplaystationplaystation networkPlaystationNetworkPresidentPSNsir howard stringerSirHowardStringerSONYWed, 01 Feb 2012 03:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple hires former Dixons CEO John Browett as senior VP of Retail]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/apple-hires-former-dixons-ceo-john-browett-as-vp-of-retail/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/apple-hires-former-dixons-ceo-john-browett-as-vp-of-retail/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/apple-hires-former-dixons-ceo-john-browett-as-vp-of-retail/#comments More than six months after Ron Johnson's departure, Apple has finally found a new retail chief to replace him, in one John Browett. The Cambridge- and Wharton-educated Browett will be coming to Cupertino in April after serving nearly five years as CEO of Dixons -- the Taj Mahal of British retail. Before that, he held a smattering of obscurely defined "executive positions" at Tesco plc and advised retail clients at Boston Consulting Group. In a statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook lauded his company's latest appointee, citing his "incredible retail experience" and commitment to customer service. Read more in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Apple hires former Dixons CEO John Browett as senior VP of Retail

Apple hires former Dixons CEO John Browett as senior VP of Retail originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple storeAppleStoreappointmentbusinessdixonshiringindustryjobretailsenior vice presidentSeniorVicePresidentSVPSVP of retailSvpOfRetailtescoukvp of retailVpOfRetailTue, 31 Jan 2012 02:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Canon announces middling Q4 2011 earnings report, president steps down]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/canon-announces-middling-q4-2011-earnings-report-president-step/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/canon-announces-middling-q4-2011-earnings-report-president-step/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/canon-announces-middling-q4-2011-earnings-report-president-step/#comments
In the wake of a relatively strong Q3, Canon today unveiled a slightly less rosy earnings report for the fourth quarter of 2011. Net sales for the quarter reached ¥964.8 billion (about $12.6 billion), up from the ¥916 billion the company reported last quarter, but down about 9.7 percent from Q4 2010. Quarterly operating profit, meanwhile, rose 14.2 percent on the year, to ¥94.6 billion ($1.2 billion). Profit for the full fiscal year, however, declined by 2.4 percent to ¥378.1 billion (approximately $4.9 billion), compared with the ¥387.6 billion ($5.1 billion) Canon raked in for all of 2010. Net income, on the other hand, rose by nearly 14 percent over Q4 2010 (¥61.4 billion from ¥54 billion), but only 0.8 percent over the full fiscal year (¥248.6 billion in FY 2011, ¥246.6 billion in FY 2010).

Looking forward to 2012, the cameramaker expects net income to increase to ¥250 billion, which would mark the second straight year of less than one percent growth. This forecast is lower than what many analysts expected, though Canon based its projections on assumptions that the yen will continue to rise against both the dollar and the euro, making Japanese exports more expensive in Western markets. It was against this backdrop of disappointment that company president and COO Tsuneji Uchida announced his resignation today, effective March 29th. The 70-year-old Uchida will be replaced by 76-year-old chairman Fujio Mitarai, with Uchida slipping into an advisory role. Coming off a year that saw a devastating tsunami in Japan and supply chain disruptions in flood-ravaged Thailand, Canon underscored its cautious outlook for 2012, in a statement: "The future remains increasingly uncertain amid growing concern over a global economic slowdown." Find Canon's full report at the source link, below.

Canon announces middling Q4 2011 earnings report, president steps down originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscameracanonearningsearnings reportEarningsReportfinancialfinancialsFujio MitaraiFujioMitaraify 2011Fy2011industryjapanmoneyprofitq4q4 2011Q42011resignationrevenuesalesshipmentTsuneji UchidaTsunejiUchidaMon, 30 Jan 2012 05:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Strategy Analytics: Nokia tops global handset shipments, Apple sees quarterly surge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/strategy-analytics-nokia-tops-global-handset-shipments-apple-s/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/strategy-analytics-nokia-tops-global-handset-shipments-apple-s/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/strategy-analytics-nokia-tops-global-handset-shipments-apple-s/#comments Fresh off the publication of its latest tablet report, Strategy Analytics has come out with a new batch of statistics on the global mobile market. In a report published yesterday, the research firm crowned Apple as the world's largest smartphone vendor by volume, on the strength of the 37 million iPhones it shipped during Q4 2011 -- good for 23.9 percent of the market. Samsung wasn't too far behind, though, with 36.5 million smartphones shipped during the quarter, comprising 23.5 percent of the market. Nokia finished in third place, with 19.6 million smartphones and a 12.6 percent market share, though it fared notably better among handset makers on a global (i.e., smartphone and feature phone) level. According to Strategy Analytics, the Finnish manufacturer shipped 417.1 million handsets for the full year, 113.5 million of which were shipped during the fourth quarter of last year. For the year, Nokia accounted for 26.9 percent of the market, followed by Samsung, which shipped 327.4 million units shipped during 2011 and finished with a 23.1 percent market share. As for Apple, it accounted for 8.3 percent of the market in Q4 (its best showing, according to Strategy's metrics), with 37 million quarterly shipments. You can find more details in the pair of press releases after the break, or at the source link below.

Continue reading Strategy Analytics: Nokia tops global handset shipments, Apple sees quarterly surge

Strategy Analytics: Nokia tops global handset shipments, Apple sees quarterly surge originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebusinesscellphonedataglobalhandsetindustrymarketmarket shareMarketSharemobilemobilepostcrossnokiasamsungshipmentsmartphonestatisticsStrategy AnalyticsStrategyAnalyticsFri, 27 Jan 2012 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM CEO Thorsten Heins clarifies comments on change, rejects Android speculation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/rim-ceo-thorsten-heins-clarifies-comments-on-change-rejects-and/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/rim-ceo-thorsten-heins-clarifies-comments-on-change-rejects-and/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/rim-ceo-thorsten-heins-clarifies-comments-on-change-rejects-and/#comments Freshly anointed RIM CEO Thorsten Heins sat down with Crackberry this week to discuss his vision for the future of BlackBerry, his thoughts on Android and, most strikingly, his recent comments about maintaining the status quo. Shortly after his appointment, Heins issued a video address in which he implicitly claimed that RIM doesn't need an overhaul. "If we continue doing well what we're doing, I see no problems with us being in the top three players worldwide in the next years in wireless," the exec said. At the time, we and many other observers read this as a sign that the Heins era would look a lot like the Balsillie-Lazaridis era, but according to the new CEO, that's not the case. "I was talking about drastic or seismic changes," he clarified. "What I was trying to address was that there was some suggestion that RIM should be split up or should even be sold. My true belief is that RIM has the strength and the assets that we can really succeed in this market." Heins went on to claim that there's already "a lot of change" going on at the company -- citing the company's adoption of QNX as a prime example -- and that there's "no standstill at any moment here at RIM."

During the same sitdown, Heins also reiterated his belief that RIM shouldn't outsource its software needs to Android, because BlackBerry, in his view, is a hallmark of differentiation. "Just take a look where the Android OEMs are," Heins said. "Take a look at their recent announcements and what you will immediately see is there is just no room for differentiation because they are all the same." The exec acknowledged that RIM may be taking the road less traveled, but seemed confident in its ability to rise to the challenge -- even if there are some bumps along the way. "This is not baking cookies," Heins elaborated. "This is building high tech products. From time to time your aspirations and your development timelines hit some bumps in the road that were not foreseen."

RIM CEO Thorsten Heins clarifies comments on change, rejects Android speculation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidblackberrybusinesscellphoneCEOexechandsetindustryJim BalsillieJimBalsillieMike LazaridisMikeLazaridismobilemobilepostcrossmoneyOEMqnxresearch in motionResearchInMotionRIMsmartphonestrategyFri, 27 Jan 2012 08:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Rhapsody officially acquires Napster International, eyes European launch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/rhapsody-officially-acquires-napster-international-eyes-europea/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/rhapsody-officially-acquires-napster-international-eyes-europea/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/rhapsody-officially-acquires-napster-international-eyes-europea/#comments
After having already acquired Napster here in the US, Rhapsody has taken its expansion one step further, with the acquisition of Napster International. Under the deal, announced today, Rhapsody will continue to offer Napster-branded services across the UK and Germany, as promised, and will eventually migrate Napster subscribers to its own infrastructure in March, with existing personal libraries remaining intact (Napster is already live in the UK, but has yet to make its official German launch). The move will also bring changes to Napster users' mobile apps and web clients, with Rhapsody promising improved offline playback and enhanced library management tools "in the coming months." For more details, check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Rhapsody officially acquires Napster International, eyes European launch

Rhapsody officially acquires Napster International, eyes European launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionappbusinesseuropeGermanyindustryinternetlibrarymobile appMobileAppmoneymusicmusic streamingMusicStreamingnapsterplaybackrhapsodyservicestreamingUKwebThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft paid Nokia $250 million to adopt Windows Phone, Q4 earnings report reveals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/microsoft-paid-nokia-250-million-to-adopt-windows-phone-q4-ear/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/microsoft-paid-nokia-250-million-to-adopt-windows-phone-q4-ear/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/microsoft-paid-nokia-250-million-to-adopt-windows-phone-q4-ear/#comments
Microsoft and Nokia have historically been pretty tight-lipped about the value of their Windows Phone partnership, but the cat leapt out of the bag this morning, courtesy of Espoo's Q4 2011 earnings report. As SlashGear's Chris Davies noticed, Nokia received about $250 million from Redmond during the fourth quarter of 2011, as part of the companies' "broad strategic agreement." Under the agreement, the manufacturer receives so-called "platform support payments" from Microsoft -- which, in turn, receives software licensing payments from Nokia. The $250 million Microsoft doled out last quarter is the first of these transactions. All told, Nokia expects the payments both to and from Microsoft to total "in the billions of US Dollars."

Microsoft paid Nokia $250 million to adopt Windows Phone, Q4 earnings report reveals originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdealearningsearnings reportEarningsReportespoofinancialfinancialsindustrymicrosoftmobilepostcrossmoneynokiapaymentq4q4 2011Q42011windows phoneWindowsPhoneThu, 26 Jan 2012 07:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia releases Q4 2011 earnings report: operating profits drop, Lumia sales break one million]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/nokia-releases-q4-2011-earnings-report-operating-profits-drop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/nokia-releases-q4-2011-earnings-report-operating-profits-drop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/nokia-releases-q4-2011-earnings-report-operating-profits-drop/#comments
Nokia released its latest quarterly earnings report today, following up on a somewhat disappointing Q3 with a similarly bleak Q4. The Finnish manufacturer finished 2011 with a little more than €10 billion ($13.1 billion) in net sales -- 11 percent higher than Q3, but 21 percent lower than 2010, when Nokia raked in about €12.7 billion (approximately $16.7 billion). Operating profit, meanwhile, rose by 90 percent over Q3, but is still down on the year by a whopping 56 percent; this quarter, in fact, saw an operating loss of €954 million (about $1.3 billion). Its net cash and liquid assets also dropped by €1.4 billion over the year, marking a 20 percent decline. The general takeaway, then, is that things are looking better than they were last quarter, but worse than they were last year.

To date, the company has sold "well over" one million Lumia devices, but this Windows Phone surge has apparently come at Symbian's expense. "In certain markets, there has been an acceleration of the anticipated trend towards lower-priced smartphones with specifications that are different from Symbian's traditional strengths," CEO Stephen Elop said in a statement. "As a result of the changing market conditions, combined with our increased focus on Lumia, we now believe that we will sell fewer Symbian devices than we previously anticipated." Looking forward, Nokia expects to break even during the first quarter of 2012, due in part to lower than expected seasonal sales and what it calls "competitive industry dynamics." For the full report, check out the source link below.

Nokia releases Q4 2011 earnings report: operating profits drop, Lumia sales break one million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsbusinesscellphoneearningsearnings reportEarningsReportespoofinancialfinancialshandsetindustryLumia 710Lumia710mobilepostcrossmoneynokiaprofitq4q4 2011Q42011revenuesalessmartphonestephen elopStephenElopsymbianwindows phoneWindowsPhoneThu, 26 Jan 2012 06:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Strategy Analytics: Apple still owns tablet market, but Android narrows the gap]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/strategy-analytics-apple-still-owns-tablet-market-but-android/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/strategy-analytics-apple-still-owns-tablet-market-but-android/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/strategy-analytics-apple-still-owns-tablet-market-but-android/#comments
Strategy Analytics has come out with another report on the state of today's tablet market, which, not surprisingly, remains dominated by Apple. Cupertino's iOS comprised about 58 percent of the global slate market during Q4 2011 -- well ahead of Android's record high 39 percent share, but down from the 68 percent it commanded during the final quarter of 2010. Android, in fact, has seen quite a jump over the past year, with total shipments reaching 10.5 million units during the last quarter, up from just 3.1 million last year (Apple, by comparison, shipped 15.4 million iPads during Q4, versus the 7.3 million it shipped last year). On a global level, the tablet market continues to blossom, with total shipments reaching an all-time high of 26.8 million units last quarter, representing a whopping 150 percent increase over last year. Read the full report at the source link below, or head past the break for a more succinct press release.

Continue reading Strategy Analytics: Apple still owns tablet market, but Android narrows the gap

Strategy Analytics: Apple still owns tablet market, but Android narrows the gap originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazon kindleAmazonKindleandroidapplebusinessgoogleindustryiosipadkindlemarketmarket shareMarketSharemoneyoperating systemOperatingSystemreportslatestatisticsstrategy analyticsStrategyAnalyticstabletThu, 26 Jan 2012 03:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Lytro open to partnering with smartphone makers, executive suggests]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/lytro-camera-smartphone-licensing-partnership/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/lytro-camera-smartphone-licensing-partnership/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/lytro-camera-smartphone-licensing-partnership/#comments Now that its famed light field camera has finally become official, Lytro is looking to the future, with an eye, apparently, toward the cellphone market. During a recent interview with PC World, Lytro executive chairman Charles Chi described his company's new sensor in greater detail, and talked at length about its purportedly superior battery life. He also divulged a few hints about Lytro's roadmap. When asked whether the firm would ever license its technology to a smartphone manufacturer, Chi confirmed that Lytro has "the capital to do that, the capability in the company to do that, and... the vision to execute," before launching into an explanation of what it would take for such an initiative to succeed:

If we were to apply the technology in smartphones, that ecosystem is, of course, very complex, with some very large players there. It's an industry that's very different and driven based on operational excellence. For us to compete in there, we'd have to be a very different kind of company. So if we were to enter that space, it would definitely be through a partnership and a codevelopment of the technology, and ultimately some kind of licensing with the appropriate partner.

Far from a confirmation, to be sure, but it seems like the handset market is at least on Lytro's radar. Read the full Q&A at the link below.

Lytro open to partnering with smartphone makers, executive suggests originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscameracellphoneCEOcharles chiCharlesChiindustryinterviewlicensinglight field cameraLightFieldCameralytrolytro light field cameraLytroLightFieldCameramanufacturingmobilepostcrosspartnershipsensorsmartphoneWed, 25 Jan 2012 10:24:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer mapped out in T-Mobile magenta]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/#comments
Wondering what AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer would mean for T-Mobile? Check out the above graphic, from GigaOM. Created by a reader named Andrew Shepherd, this map displays which regional coverage T-Mobile will gain from the transfer, which was submitted to the FCC this week following the companies' failed merger. As you can see, AT&T is poised to sacrifice some of its AWS spectrum in some key markets, including Boston, Seattle and the Bay Area. According to Shepherd, however, the carrier only gave up enough AWS spectrum in areas where it had enough 700MHz capacity to fill the gap, without posing too great a risk to its LTE expansion. For a closer look, check out the source link below.

AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer mapped out in T-Mobile magenta originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10mhz20Mhz700mhzattawsbusinesscarriercoveragedealfccgraphicindustryLTElte-advancedmapmobilepostminimoneynetworkspectrumspectrum transferSpectrumTransfert-mobileUSUSAwirelessWed, 25 Jan 2012 08:33:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM's Thorsten Heins formally introduced: liveblogging the media call]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/liveblog-rim-thorsten-heins-ceo-introduction-media-call/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/liveblog-rim-thorsten-heins-ceo-introduction-media-call/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/liveblog-rim-thorsten-heins-ceo-introduction-media-call/#comments If you missed it, RIM attempted to interrupt the Giants vs. 49ers matchup last night by dropping a wee bit of news: it's co-CEOs are gone, and taking the solo CEO badge is former COO Thorsten Heins. The new head honcho will be formally introduced in a media call slated to begin at 8:00AM ET on January 23rd, 2012, and we'll be liveblogging every moment of it for those who can't tune in. We've already learned a fair amount about the gentleman's plans courtesy of an introductory video, but we'll be listening in for any hints as to future QNX plans, PlayBook ambitions or BlackBerry wizardry. Join us after the break for the play-by-play!

January 23, 2012 8:00 AM EST

Continue reading RIM's Thorsten Heins formally introduced: liveblogging the media call

RIM's Thorsten Heins formally introduced: liveblogging the media call originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryblackberry 10blackberry osblackberry os 10Blackberry10BlackberryOsBlackberryOs10businessindustryJim BalsillieJimBalsilliekeynoteMike LazaridisMikeLazaridisqnxresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimsmartphoneThorsten HeinsThorstenHeinsMon, 23 Jan 2012 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitachi to halt domestic production of Wooo LCD and plasma TVs, Mitsubishi to axe optical discs?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/hitachi-to-halt-domestic-production-of-wooo-lcd-and-plasma-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/hitachi-to-halt-domestic-production-of-wooo-lcd-and-plasma-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/hitachi-to-halt-domestic-production-of-wooo-lcd-and-plasma-tvs/#comments Hitachi's line of domestically produced Wooo TVs is coming to an end, now that the manufacturer has confirmed plans to close a major plant in central Japan. In an announcement issued today, Hitachi said it will shutter its factory in Gifu, where some 100,000 LCD and plasma TVs are produced each month. Citing industry-wide price competition as the deciding factor, the company went on to clarify that the facility will shut down by September of this year, and that it will instead be used to manufacture projectors and chips. Hitachi will, however, continue to offer non-Wooo TVs manufactured by non-Japanese contractors. Japan's Asahi Shimbun, meanwhile, is reporting that Mitsubishi has decided to terminate domestic production of DVDs and Blu-Rays, due to declining sales of each. From now on, optical disc manufacturing will instead be outsourced to partner companies in India and Taiwan. For more details, check out the post-break press release.

Continue reading Hitachi to halt domestic production of Wooo LCD and plasma TVs, Mitsubishi to axe optical discs?

Hitachi to halt domestic production of Wooo LCD and plasma TVs, Mitsubishi to axe optical discs? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBluRaybusinessdvdhdpostcrosshitachiindustryjapanLCDLCD TVLcdTvmitsubishimoneyoptical discOpticalDiscplasmaplasma TVPlasmaTvpriceproductionTVwoooMon, 23 Jan 2012 06:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: RIM's new CEO isn't the shakeup it needed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/rim-new-ceo-thorsten-heins-still-in-trouble/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/rim-new-ceo-thorsten-heins-still-in-trouble/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/rim-new-ceo-thorsten-heins-still-in-trouble/#comments For a brief moment, I had hopes that RIM had made a move that would unseat it from the funk it's been sitting in for years. And then I watched the introductory video of newly-appointed CEO Thorsten Heins. Anyone who assumes that a simple CEO swap is the answer to all of RIM's issues is woefully misinformed, or worse, just blinded by false hope. Sure, removing Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis -- both of which have been rightly criticized for not responding to market pressures quickly enough -- is a start, but it's not like they're gone. In fact, the two are still situated at a pretty fancy table within Research in Motion's organizational chart.

Have a listen at this: Mike is hanging around as the Vice Chair of RIM's Board and Chair of the Board's new Innovation Committee. You heard right -- the guy who has outrightly failed to innovate at anything in the past handful of years is now championing an innovation committee. Sounds right up his alley, no? Jim's staying put as an outright director, and if you think anyone at RIM is going to brush aside the input of the founders, you're wrong. Jim and Mike may have new titles, but they're still here, and I have no reason to believe that they'll act radically different going forward than they have in the past. Oh, and about Thorsten Heins? Let's go there.

Continue reading Editorial: RIM's new CEO isn't the shakeup it needed

Editorial: RIM's new CEO isn't the shakeup it needed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryblackberry osBlackberryOsBreakingNewsbusinesseditorialindustryJim BalsillieJimBalsilliemanagingMike LazaridisMikeLazaridismobilepostcrossquitquittingreshufflingrimrim+ceorimceoThorsten HeinsThorstenHeinsvideowirelessMon, 23 Jan 2012 00:32:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM's Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are out, new CEO Thorsten Heins may license BlackBerry 10]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/22/rim-ceo-quits/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/22/rim-ceo-quits/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/22/rim-ceo-quits/#comments After months upon months of investor backlash, RIM's making some significant changes. And by "significant," we mean the co-chief executives (and founders) are out. As of tomorrow, both Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis will be stepping away from the top posts, enabling "a little-known company insider" to take over, according to The Wall Street Journal. Purportedly, this is all part of "a board and management shuffle," with COO Thorsten Heins (seen above) to step into what many expect to be an impossible role to thrive in. The Globe and Mail asserts that he'll be immediately seeking a Chief Marketing Officer to polish up the company's severely damaged brand, and he "will not rule out licensing RIM's new BlackBerry 10 operating system to other handset manufacturers." In an interview with the outlet, he stated that he'll be executing "flawlessly" and with vigor -- not unexpected, but still, bold words.

Startlingly, Heins also asserted that he's "confident" in the existing lineup of BlackBerry handsets and the software update recently made available for the PlayBook; call us crazy, but he'd be wise to just spout out reality and make clear that RIM's existing lineup is nowhere near competitive in the grand scheme of things. As for Mike and Jim? The former will become "vice-chair of the board with special duties to examine innovation," with the latter becoming a traditional director. In an interesting move, outgoing co-CEO Lazaridis stated the following: "I think it's that unwillingness to sacrifice our long-term value for short-term gain. That's why we didn't choose Android. That's why we decided to build the future on QNX." So wait, RIM had the chance to choose Android... and didn't? No time like the present to reach back and shake things up, Mr. Heins.

Update: Catch an introduction video to the new CEO just after the break!

Continue reading RIM's Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are out, new CEO Thorsten Heins may license BlackBerry 10

RIM's Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are out, new CEO Thorsten Heins may license BlackBerry 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryblackberry osBlackberryOsbreaking newsbusinessindustryJim BalsillieJimBalsilliemanagingMike LazaridisMikeLazaridismobilepostcrossquitquittingreshufflingrimThorsten HeinsThorstenHeinsvideowirelessSun, 22 Jan 2012 21:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon reportedly trials VoLTE services in two cities, eyes nationwide rollout next year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/verizons-reportedly-trials-volte-services-in-two-cities-eyes-n/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/verizons-reportedly-trials-volte-services-in-two-cities-eyes-n/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/verizons-reportedly-trials-volte-services-in-two-cities-eyes-n/#comments
Verizon's Voice over LTE (VoLTE) platform has been in the works for a while now, and according to industry insiders, it's about ready to hit the big time. Catharine Trebnick, an analyst at Northland Capital Markets, told Light Reading Mobile this week that the service has already launched on a trial basis in two cities, and that Big Red plans to roll it out on a nationwide level in 2013. According to Light Reading Mobile, Trebnick's claims were later corroborated by a second, anonymous source. Verizon, as you may recall, had previously pegged 2012 for the commercial launch of its new platform, and could still achieve that goal with launches in select markets, before going live on a nationwide basis next year, as rumored. The company, however, is playing its cards close to the chest, saying in a statement that it's "continuing to work on VoLTE and the services it brings, and will share any launch or availability plans in due course."

Verizon reportedly trials VoLTE services in two cities, eyes nationwide rollout next year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrierhandsetindustrylaunchLTEmobilepostmininetworkplatformproviderrumorverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessVoLTEvzwFri, 20 Jan 2012 15:35:00 EST<![CDATA[DOJ investigation yields fresh evidence against Google, Apple in antitrust lawsuit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/doj-google-apple-lawsuit-hiring-antitrust/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/doj-google-apple-lawsuit-hiring-antitrust/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/doj-google-apple-lawsuit-hiring-antitrust/#comments
Back in 2009, a small controversy began swirling around Google and Apple, amid allegations that the two companies had struck an informal agreement to not poach each other's employees. The Department of Justice launched an investigation into the matter in 2010, but details of the case were only made public for the first time yesterday. TechCrunch was the first to sift through the documents, and has uncovered some ostensibly incriminating evidence against not only Google and Apple, but Pixar, Lucasfilm, Adobe, Intel, and Intuit, as well. According to filings from the US District Court for the Northern District of California, these companies did indeed enter "no poach" agreements with each other, and agreed to refrain from engaging in bidding wars. The documents also suggest that they collectively sought to limit their employees' power to negotiate for higher salaries.

Some of the most apparently damning evidence derives from archived e-mails, including one that Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen penned to Steve Jobs in May 2005. In the message, sent under the subject "Recruitment of Apple Employees," Adobe's SVP of human resources explains that "Bruce and Steve Jobs have an agreement that we are not to solicit ANY Apple employees, and vice versa." Pixar's Lori McAdams expressed similar sentiments in an internal e-mail from 2007, writing: "I just got off the phone with Danielle Lambert [of Apple], and we agreed that effective now, we'll follow a Gentleman's agreement with Apple that is similar to our Lucasfilm agreement." This would suggest, as the DOJ writes, that there's "strong evidence that the companies knew about the other express agreements, patterned their own agreements off of them, and operated them concurrently with the others to accomplish the same objective." The DOJ announced in September that it had reached settlements with the six implicated firms, but a class-action lawsuit is scheduled to get underway next week in San Jose.

DOJ investigation yields fresh evidence against Google, Apple in antitrust lawsuit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeanti competitiveAntiCompetitiveantitrustappleclass actionclass action lawsuitClassActionClassActionLawsuitdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticedojemployeegooglehiringindustryintelintuitinvestigationlawlawsuitlegallucasfilmpixarsilicon valleySiliconValleyFri, 20 Jan 2012 08:27:00 EST<![CDATA[HP appoints Bill Veghte as chief strategy officer, will lead 'cloud and webOS open source initiatives']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/hp-bill-veghte-chief-strategy-officer-webos-cloud/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/hp-bill-veghte-chief-strategy-officer-webos-cloud/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/hp-bill-veghte-chief-strategy-officer-webos-cloud/#commentsBill Veghte was already having his checks cut by HP (after cutting ties with Microsoft), but now he'll be filling a slightly different corner office. The company today announced that he has been appointed chief strategy officer, but somehow, he'll also have enough time to hold onto his current role as executive vice president of HP Software. We're told that he'll be working with HP's senior business and technology brass in order to innovate in ways that perhaps it hasn't lately, with newly-appointed CEO Meg Whitman saying the following: "Every 10 to 15 years, fundamental shifts occur in the IT industry that redefine how technology is delivered. From mainframes to client/server to the internet, companies that identified the opportunity first and developed the right strategy came out on top. As we move forward, HP intends to stay on top, and I believe Bill has the knowledge and vision to keep us there." Strangely, the release (embedded in full after the break) mentions that Bill will be leading HP's "cloud and webOS open source initiatives," but it fails to elaborate on what exactly those "initiatives" may be.

Continue reading HP appoints Bill Veghte as chief strategy officer, will lead 'cloud and webOS open source initiatives'

HP appoints Bill Veghte as chief strategy officer, will lead 'cloud and webOS open source initiatives' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bill VeghteBillVeghtebreaking newsbusinesscloudexecutivehirehiringhpindustryinnovationpalmsoftwarewebosTue, 17 Jan 2012 16:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Google launches PSA-style 'Good to Know' ad campaign, wants to keep us safe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/#comments Google's no stranger to privacy-related controversy, which may explain the motivation behind its latest ad campaign. On Tuesday, the company will launch a series of ads across major newspapers, magazines and billboards, as part of its new "Good to Know" initiative, designed to make the internet "a safer, more comfortable place." According to Google, these ads will offer tips and advice on how to secure your personal information online, including details on how to protect your passwords from web predators. The entire campaign has a distinctly PSA flavor to it, though there's also a different subtext at work here, since Google is effectively branding itself as "the one you can trust." There are certainly some who would dispute that, but at a time when most privacy concerns are focused squarely on the government, it may be a good time for Google to crank up its PR machine. Find out more at the links below.

Google launches PSA-style 'Good to Know' ad campaign, wants to keep us safe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad campaignAdCampaignadvertisingawarenessbusinessgood to knowGoodToKnowgooglegoogle good to knowGoogleGoodToKnowindustrymagazinemoneymountain viewMountainViewnewspaperonlinepasswordprivacypsasafetysecuritysopaTue, 17 Jan 2012 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung looks to borrow $1 billion to expand production capacity in Austin, Texas]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/16/samsung-looks-to-borrow-1-billion-to-expand-production-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/16/samsung-looks-to-borrow-1-billion-to-expand-production-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/16/samsung-looks-to-borrow-1-billion-to-expand-production-capacity/#commentsWhen you're producing chips for the iPad and iPhone, you need a serious facility to meet those demands. And evidently, Samsung's not foreseeing its legal battles with Apple to cause any wrinkles in said plans. In fact, Bloomberg is reporting that Sammy has "sent requests for proposals to banks to borrow as much as $1 billion to expand production capacity at its factory in Austin, Texas," with the bonds to be issued by Samsung's US unit. It's bruited that the company -- which has around $19.2 billion in cash -- may sell its first overseas bonds since 1997 due to the impossibly low cost of borrowing money these days, and in a time where positive economic news is tough to come by, it's quite the relief to see a bit of forward progress come from historically low interest rates. Reuters is reporting that the investment will mostly be used to "boost production of mobile chips and next-generation OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display panels," but specific details beyond that remain murky.

Samsung looks to borrow $1 billion to expand production capacity in Austin, Texas originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbusinesschicpudebteconomyexpansionindustrymicroprocessorprocessorproductionsamsungsamsung semiconductorSamsungSemiconductorsemiconductorsilicontexasMon, 16 Jan 2012 20:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla loses two Model S executives, Elon Musk says it's no big deal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/tesla-loses-two-model-s-executives-elon-musk-says-its-no-big-d/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/tesla-loses-two-model-s-executives-elon-musk-says-its-no-big-d/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/tesla-loses-two-model-s-executives-elon-musk-says-its-no-big-d/#commentsA pair of bigwigs over at electric vehicle maker Tesla have drawn their final checks, with Peter Rawlinson and Nick Sampson calling it quits. The former was the automaker's vice president and chief engineer, while the latter "supervising vehicle and chassis engineering." Ricardo Reyes, a company spokesman, emailed the following: "Having completed conceptual and design engineering work on Model S, Peter has decided to step away to tend to personal matters in the U.K." The Model S, if you'll recall, is the un-launched four-door sedan that has heaps riding on its success, so it's no big shock to hear that the outfit's stock plunged around 20 percent following Bloomberg's report. Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive officer and biggest shareholder, stated that "the uncertainty around [the] Model S is now much diminished, as anyone who has seen the beta vehicles and toured the factory will appreciate; there is no question in my mind that we will start delivering vehicles in July, if not sooner." Musk took to Twitter to assure people that the shock reverberating from the news was "way overstated," insinuating that the company's still well in control of its destiny. Whatever the case, we'd still take a couple of those S sedans in our garage, regardless of who's heading up their deployment.

Tesla loses two Model S executives, Elon Musk says it's no big deal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobilebusinesscarelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleelon muskElonMuskEVindustrymodel sModelSNick SampsonNickSampsonPeter RawlinsonPeterRawlinsonstockteslaFri, 13 Jan 2012 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2012 sets all-time records for attendance, exhibitors and claimed floor space]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/ces-2012-sets-all-time-records-for-attendance-exhibitors/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/ces-2012-sets-all-time-records-for-attendance-exhibitors/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/ces-2012-sets-all-time-records-for-attendance-exhibitors/#comments CES 2013 has already been scheduled (it's January 8 - 11, for those curious), and it'll have new records to break once things get going again. A source close to the CEA informed us today that CES 2012 has broken a trifecta of records already, and the final tallies aren't even in yet. For starters, more people attended CES this year than ever before. That's people who actually showed up and claimed a badge -- not just those who registered and flaked -- with the final figure already confirmed to be upward of 153,000. That trumps the 152,203 that arrived in Las Vegas back in 2006, as well as the 149,529 that hit the ground here last year.

Furthermore, a record amount of exhibition space was claimed, with 1.86 million net square feet used this year; the prior record was set in 2008 when 1.857 million net square feet were claimed. Finally, a new record was set when looking at the total number of exhibitors, with over 3,100 outfits checking in this go 'round. The prior record? 3,072, which was set in 2008. There's no question that CES felt busier than ever for us this year, and now we've got the numbers to prove our suspicions -- naturally, we're already mentally gearing up for CES 2013. We'll be here, and hopefully so will you.

Update: The official PR is out! It's embedded after the break.

P.S. - You can relive our CES 2012 coverage right here in our hub!

Continue reading CES 2012 sets all-time records for attendance, exhibitors and claimed floor space

CES 2012 sets all-time records for attendance, exhibitors and claimed floor space originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attendancebusinessceacesces 2012Ces2012economyexclusiveindustryrecordFri, 13 Jan 2012 17:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Dish Network to close more Blockbusters than originally anticipated, CEO confirms]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/dish-network-to-close-more-blockbusters-than-originally-anticipa/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/dish-network-to-close-more-blockbusters-than-originally-anticipa/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/dish-network-to-close-more-blockbusters-than-originally-anticipa/#comments
Dish Network's curious Blockbuster project appears to be sputtering a bit, now that the company has confirmed that it will shutter more stores than originally anticipated. Speaking to Reuters at CES today, Dish Network CEO Joe Clayton confirmed that his company plans to close all Blockbuster shops that aren't turning a profit, and that some of the remaining stores will be converted into Dish customer service outlets. Back in July, the company announced plans to keep about 1,500 stores open, along with about 90 percent of Blockbuster employees, but those aspirations have since been derailed. "We are committed to keeping the profitable stores open that are generating positive cash flow, but there are ones that aren't going to make it," Clayton explained. "We will close unprofitable stores. We will close additional stores." The exec did not specify how many stores would be closed, nor did he offer any sort of timeline, but spokesman Marc Lumpkin said that the decisions would be made on a "case by case" basis.

Dish Network to close more Blockbusters than originally anticipated, CEO confirms originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockbusterbusinesscablecesces 2012Ces2012dish networkDishNetworkhdpostcrossindustryjoe claytonJoeClaytonmoneyprofitretailvideoFri, 13 Jan 2012 02:50:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM maintains top spot in global patent rankings, Canon overtakes Microsoft]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ibm-maintains-top-spot-in-global-patent-rankings-canon-overtake/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ibm-maintains-top-spot-in-global-patent-rankings-canon-overtake/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ibm-maintains-top-spot-in-global-patent-rankings-canon-overtake/#comments IBM has been selling off a sizable number of its patents these past few months, but according to a new research report, the company still ended 2011 with the world's largest artillery. For the 19th straight year, IBM has come out on top of IFI Claims Patent Services' annual rankings of the world's top 50 US utility patent holders, with a record 6,180 patents. That's up five percent from 2010, though there are several contenders hot on its heels. Second-place Samsung saw an eight percent spike in its holdings, while Canon overtook Microsoft for third place, on the strength of an eleven percent year-on surge. Qualcomm, meanwhile, was among the biggest gainers, with a full 40 percent increase, along with RIM, which enjoyed 38 percent growth. Perhaps the biggest winner? The continent of Asia, where a full 25 of the top 50 companies are based. More numbers for your enjoyment after the break.

Continue reading IBM maintains top spot in global patent rankings, Canon overtakes Microsoft

IBM maintains top spot in global patent rankings, Canon overtakes Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscanonibmIFI claims patent servicesIfiClaimsPatentServicesindustrylegalmicrosoftpatentpatent portfolioPatentPortfolioqualcommrankingsresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimsamsungUS patentUsPatentutility patentUtilityPatentWed, 11 Jan 2012 11:24:00 EST<![CDATA[With beta trial completed, Time Warner Cable launches HBO Go, Max Go]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/with-beta-trial-completed-time-warner-cable-launches-hbo-go-ma/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/with-beta-trial-completed-time-warner-cable-launches-hbo-go-ma/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/with-beta-trial-completed-time-warner-cable-launches-hbo-go-ma/#comments
Well, that didn't take very long. Just four days after launching a beta trial, Time Warner Cable has decided to bring HBO Go and Max Go to its HBO and Cinemax subscribers, fulfilling its promise to launch the services this month. With today's announcement, TWC customers will have instant streaming access to a chunk of the two channels' back catalogs, including 1,400 titles from HBO, and 400 from Cinemax. Both services, of course, will be available at no additional cost. Stream past the break for more details in the full PR.

Continue reading With beta trial completed, Time Warner Cable launches HBO Go, Max Go

With beta trial completed, Time Warner Cable launches HBO Go, Max Go originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscablecatalogcinemaxhbohbo goHboGohdpostminiindustrylaunchmax goMaxGoprogrammingproviderstreamingtime warner cableTimeWarnerCabletitlestvtwcWed, 11 Jan 2012 00:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin Media to double broadband speeds this year, BT smirks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/virgin-media-to-double-broadband-speeds-this-year-bt-smirks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/virgin-media-to-double-broadband-speeds-this-year-bt-smirks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/virgin-media-to-double-broadband-speeds-this-year-bt-smirks/#comments Virgin Media customers are in for a big treat today, because the UK-based ISP has just announced plans to double the average speed of its broadband service. Over the course of the next 18 months, top speeds will increase from 100 Mbps to 120Mbps, as part of a £110 million ($169 million) initiative. Users on 10Mbps, 20Mbps and 50Mbps plans, meanwhile, will see their speeds and bandwidth usage limits doubled, at no extra charge. The upgrade is slated to begin rolling out in February, and should be complete by the middle of next year. Competing company BT, meanwhile, was quick to point out the similarity between Virgin Media's new campaign and its own upgrade. "It is no surprise to see that Virgin are following our lead by doubling speeds," BT said in a statement. "We announced we would do this for our fiber products last autumn and so they are trying to catch up with us."

Virgin Media to double broadband speeds this year, BT smirks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadbandbroadband upgradeBroadbandUpgradeBTbusinessindustryinternetinternet service providerInternetServiceProviderispspeedspeedsukupgradevirgin mediaVirginMediaWed, 11 Jan 2012 00:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung eyes Nokia's cellphone throne, seems pretty confident about it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/samsung-eyes-nokias-cellphone-throne-seems-pretty-confident-ab/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/samsung-eyes-nokias-cellphone-throne-seems-pretty-confident-ab/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/samsung-eyes-nokias-cellphone-throne-seems-pretty-confident-ab/#comments
Nokia has enjoyed a healthy 14-year reign as the world's top cellphone manufacturer, but Samsung thinks that run will come to an end this year. Speaking to reporters at CES last night, Samsung CEO Choi Gee-Sung said his company overtook Espoo in revenue last quarter, and predicted that it'll soon pass Nokia in shipments, as well. Choi's forecast was apparently based on the Korean firm's strong momentum, coupled with Nokia's recent struggles. The executive went on to say that Samsung's sales have grown at a surprisingly quick rate, and that the company plans to ramp up investment in the coming years. "With the current sales growth rate, we are likely to... achieve the 2015 sales target of $200 billion earlier [than expected]," Choi explained. Consider the gauntlet laid.

Samsung eyes Nokia's cellphone throne, seems pretty confident about it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschoi gee-sungChoiGee-sunghandsetindustrymobilepostcrossmoneynokiaphonesalessamsungshipmentshipmentssmartphoneTue, 10 Jan 2012 14:50:00 EST