Auctions
Latest
Sotheby's wants AI to find your next art purchase
Most folks don't know much about art, but do know what they like. Auction firm Sotheby's has embraced that idea with its acquisition of Thread Genius, a company that uses AI to find art based on images of paintings, watches, furniture and other items. Sotheby's said it will marry the tech with data it already stores to help clients find objects that match their taste and budgets (terms of the sale weren't disclosed).
eBay and PayPal officially part ways today
We knew eBay and PayPal were headed to splitsville this year, and now it's actually happening. The auction site and the payment service separated into two disparate companies today, PayPal is getting its own stock ticker, starts trading on the New York Stock Exchange come Monday and, according to Business Insider that doesn't look so good for eBay. As the site tells it, PayPal's been the reason for "most" of eBay's gains for the past three years, and "nearly all" of it for 2015. eBay revenues have already jumped seven percent thanks to higher demand for PayPal, according to Reuters. Maybe the online auction house can use the $925 million it got from the PayPal sale to figure out a way to become profitable -- crazier things have happened. [Image credit: Associated Press]
eBay and Sotheby's high-end auctions will launch next month
You wouldn't expect to be let in to a fine art auction wearing nothing but tighty whities, but starting April 1st, no one's going to be able to stop you. Sotheby's has teamed up with its digital counterpart, eBay, to launch its long-promised digital sales channel. Now, online collectors flush with Beanie Baby sales cash can fight as equals against entitled Manhattan socialites for Ansel Adams' photography and Andy Warhol watches.
Original Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne auctioning off early Apple documents
The story of Ronald Wayne almost sounds like the plot of a screwball comedy. One of the three original co-founders of Apple, Wayne sold his 10 percent stake in the company for $800 early in the company's life, and then forfeited any future claims towards profits for $1,500 later on. Despite these missteps, Wayne is incredibly important in Apple's early history, writing the manual for the Apple I and drawing the company's first logo. Now Wayne is selling off early documents from his time at Apple, including blueprints, proofs for the original Apple I manual, and drawings. Here's the lot description from Christie's. APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY (founded 1 April 1976). The personal archive of Apple Co-Founder Ronald Wayne.COMPRISING: Ronald WAYNE (b. 1934). Proof sheets for the Apple-1 Operation Manual. Palo Alto: Apple Computer Company, [1976]. Eleven sheets, printed on rectos only. Comprising front cover, text and warranty. A COMPLETE SET OF PROOFS collected by Ronald Wayne, with the exception of the folding schematic that would have been printed by a different process. [With:] Ronald WAYNE. Personal archive of preparatory drawings and blueprints for the casing of the Apple II Computer. [Palo Alto, ca 1976-77]. Comprising: 8 original pencil sketches on paper, 11 x 16 in. (6) and 17 x 22 in. (2); and 17 blueprints, 22 x 34 in. (5), 16 1/2 x 22 in. (2) and 8 1/2 x 11 in. (10). Wayne's drawings and blueprints show the enclosure, panels, door, hinges, pivots etc. The final version of the Apple II was introduced on 16 April 1977 at the West Coast Computer Faire. Although the final version contained certain recognizable elements of Wayne's early renderings, such as the gently sloping front panel holding the keyboard, the result was quite different. This series of renderings illustrates the rigorous industrial design process employed in Apple's formative years: a process that can certainly still be seen in the company's adventurous, innovative leap forwards in its combination of applied science and design. [With:] Apple-II. Advance Order Information. Palo Alto, 1977. Bifolium (275 x 428 mm; 10 3/4 x 16 3/4 in.). THE EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE ORDER FORM FOR THE APPLE II. As most examples would have been filled out and returned to the company, an original example, unmarked, is a very rare ephemeral piece of Apple history. The lot is expected to sell for $30,000 - $50,000. If you'd like to place a bid, head over to Christie's.
Pathfinder Online's latest alpha patch is live
After no small amount of hand-wringing, the latest alpha patch is live for Pathfinder Online, with the intent of eventually cracking open the servers for stress testing. It's a pretty important patch even without the aim of a stress test, though, as it expands the map size to its full early access scope and fixes a variety of issues with advancement and the game's overall systems. Even if you didn't get to play recently, the development is humming along. Obviously those who didn't get to play also didn't get to experiment with the game's recent auction house functionality, which is explained in depth on the official site. Setting up an auction requires a starting price and a minimum price. Over the auction's duration, the price slowly decreases from the starting price down to the minimum; if no buyers are found at that discount rate, the auction ends unsuccessfully. Check out the full development blog for more details.
38 Studios' intellectual property auction in December, Project Copernicus on the table
The tragic tale of 38 Studios' unreleased MMO, Project Copernicus, isn't over just yet. The Associated Press reports that "[a]bout two dozen parties, including some overseas" have "expressed interest" in bidding for the intellectual property of 38 Studios, which includes the unfinished game. The auction, which was set to take place on November 14th but was delayed due to unexpectedly high demand, is scheduled for December 11th. Nick Jimenez, executive vice president of auctioneer Global Heritage Partners (which is handling the sale of the studio's intellectual property), stated that the potential buyers in the auction "are from North America, Europe, and Asia" and that "[s]ome have expressed interest in buying all the intellectual property, and some are eyeing parts of it." It's unclear what his means for the future of Copernicus, or at least of Copernicus as we know it, but be sure to keep an eye out for future developments.
FCC votes in favor of rethinking spectrum holding rules, goading broadcasters into wireless selloffs
FCC meetings can be momentous occasions under the right circumstances, although it's seldom the case that we see the agency pass two potentially far-reaching measures in one sitting, like we just saw on Friday. To start, regulators have voted in favor of a proposal that will review spectrum sale rules and might drop the case-by-case determinations in favor of a more consistent screening mechanism. The reexamination will also consider a change to the ownership rules surrounding wireless frequencies that treats bands below 1GHz differently than those above -- the better to address a chorus of smaller carriers that don't like all the prime spectrum going to the companies with the most existing clout, namely AT&T and Verizon. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski argues that reform could spur innovation through more competition, although dissenting Commissioner Robert McDowell is worried that consistent rules will somehow create "uncertainty." Side-by-side with the review, the FCC is proposing an incentive-based reverse auction strategy to have TV broadcasters voluntarily give up their spectrum for cellular and data use. The multi-phase approach would have TV providers set the price at which they're willing to sell their spectrum to the FCC; those that just can't bear to part with their airwaves would be corralled into a tighter band range to make for larger available frequency blocks in the auction that follows. As with other FCC proposals, there's likely to be a long interval between the auction vote, the review and any definitive rulemaking, let alone an impact -- auctions by themselves can take years to play out. Still, any success with the measures could head off spectrum crunches while simultaneously preventing any solutions from consolidating too much power and creating their own problems. [Tower photo via Shutterstock]
Blizzard raises over $330,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Were you lucky enough to get a server blade? What's a server blade, you ask? Server blades are pieces of hardware, and in the case of WoW, they're pieces of hardware that once housed realms from World of Warcraft. In October of last year, it was announced that Blizzard would be auctioning off these collectible and frankly, awfully pretty items via eBay. As for the proceeds, they were headed toward St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer and other catastrophic diseases that affect children. It was an amazing fundraiser for an equally amazing cause, and today Blizzard posted the results of the auctions. Over $333,000 was raised for the cause, and Blizzard has posted a heartfelt thank-you on the official site. $330,000 is a pretty astonishing number. Frankly, it's moments like this that make me step back, smile just a little and take a whole lot of pride in the gaming community.
You think your Leica's expensive? This one cost $2.8 million (video)
If you've ever baulked at the price of Leica's rebadged Panasonic cameras, then spare a thought (or some change) for the anonymous buyer of this 1923 0-Series snapper. Vienna's WestLicht Photographica auctions flogged the prototype for €2.16 million ($2.77 million) and is now the most expensive camera ever sold -- beating this $1.9 million 0-Series from last year. If you'd like to see the surprisingly relaxed way the auctioneer handles the recession-baiting sale, head on past the break for the footage. [Thanks, Rakesh]
FCC seeks to streamline licensing requirements for 800MHz band
A new proposal set forth by the FCC would modify the Commission's licensing requirements of the 800MHz band by replacing its current site-based model with more contemporary geographic guidelines. Commissioners argue the change is needed, as site-based rules were originally established to consider the propagation of analog signals -- now obsolete by anyone's standards. The move would bring the licensing requirements of the 800MHz spectrum to parity with the 700MHz, AWS and PCS bands and reduce a boatload of paperwork along the way by eliminating current data collection requirements. The proposal would also create a new, two-stage auction process for the unlicensed areas, based on the new geographic approach. The FCC is now seeking public comment, and its PR can be found after the break.[Tower photo via Shutterstock]
The Lawbringer: Guardian Cub pros and cons
Pop law abounds in The Lawbringer, your weekly dose of WoW, the law, video games and the MMO genre. Mathew McCurley takes you through the world running parallel to the games we love and enjoy, full of rules, regulations, pitfalls and traps. How about you hang out with us as we discuss some of the more esoteric aspects of the games we love to play? Blizzard recently treated WoW fans to a preview of the Guardian Cub tradable pet, going on sale soon at the Blizzard pet store. Immediately upon hearing that the pet was tradable, readers began inundating me with email and Twitter messages to talk about said cub on The Lawbringer, as this is sort of the thing I fancy myself a connoisseur of. So here we go -- let's talk about the ramifications of these adorable little pets on our server economies. The Guardian Cub represents a sea change in the nature of the gold selling war from Blizzard's perspective, one that has been coming for a long, long time. With a Blizzard-sanctioned way for players to dip their toes into the waters of pay-for gold, gold buying looks a little less attractive to players who would otherwise have to risk their computer's integrity and credit card security. Players have sharp opinions one way or the other on player-bought gold, so I'm going to do my best to hit the right points to discuss my opinion on the whole premise. I mean, it's right there in the FAQ. This pet has the added incentive of being a safe and secure way to potentially, maybe, make some gold off your purchase.
1923 Leica 0-series becomes world's most expensive camera, fetches $1.89 million at auction
Just when we thought ancient wooden boxes were all the rage among camera collectors, a compact beauty has shattered our theories -- this 1923 Leica 0-series just sold at auction for €1,320,000, or about 1.89 million in US money. Curiously enough, the exact same auction house reportedly sold the exact same camera four years ago: No. 107, the first Leica to be exported, allegedly for a patent application inspection in New York. In 2007, it fetched a relatively paltry €336,000, which was apparently still a world record for Leica cameras at the time. Quite the return on that investment, no? Find more pictures and details at the links below.
WAR temporarily disabling in-game auction house
If you were planning on making a few coin off your jars of squig juice or stacks of dem bones, you might have to hold off for a few days, as Mythic will be temporarily disabling Warhammer Online's in-game auction house beginning Friday afternoon. The functionality is being removed in order to patch in the latest tweaks coming your way with the 1.3.6 update. The patch brings a streamlined auction house UI, as well as a standardized 48-hour auction duration. Additionally, pricing has been simplified to buy-out only. Previously existing auctions will continue to be available featuring the bidding and buy-out functionality, but new auctions will not be available until after the patch. Check out the official announcement at the Warhammer Herald.
The Mog Log: Can't hardly wait edition
While our column last week was all about Final Fantasy XI, we're turning this week to Final Fantasy XIV and the release date that is approaching oh so quickly. But not quickly enough. Somehow knowing that it's just around the corner in September just makes the interim that much harder. I mean, we have to go through how many more weeks of the agonizing anticipation? At least it gets released after PAX, so I won't have to worry about the timing of that with traveling out to Seattle, but holy wow guys the game is coming out in two months. If it weren't already wholly obvious, I'm pretty excited. The game is shaping up to be amazing by every standard I care to use, and the fact that it's this close to release is unexpectedly wonderful news. But while I would have happily discussed some of the release details last week, there were other events that needed attention first. Now that I can sit back down and take a closer look, however, there were a couple parts that really stood out to me. I mean, even beyond the squealing joy of its oncoming release.
Gold Capped: The pinch
Want to get Gold Capped? Every week, Basil "Euripides" Berntsen takes a short break from trying to build a raiding guild on Drenden (US-A) to write up a guide that will help you achieve the goal of acquiring 214,748 gold, 36 silver and 48 copper. Well, technically that's just a symbolic milestone. The goal is making gold, no matter how much you have or how much you want. Got feedback, questions or hate mail? Email Basil! I've spent the last few months describing different ways to make money. I've also touched on auction house "PvP" a bit but haven't talked about it in depth. The reality is that when you post something for sale, every sale you make is a sale your competitors don't make. The reason I got involved with the AH and in-game economy at the beginning was that I needed money and hated farming. The reason I stayed? My competition. You know that feeling you get when you are in a battleground and everything just lines up, and you win? That feeling is what I get when I empty my mailboxes every morning. Playing the AH would be much less rewarding if there were no competition.
Gold Capped: Buying with Auctioneer's snatch list
Want to get Gold Capped? This column will show you how, and is written by Basil "Euripides" Berntsen, also of outdps.com, the Hunting Party podcast, and the Call to Auction podcast. Auctioneer has a myriad of uses. I've covered selling, and this week, I'll be covering buying. This addon has way more functionality than most people use, but because of the incredible quantity of complex options, many people never do any of the really cool things with it. The best way to buy lots of types of items with Auctioneer is with their "snatch" search. The way it works is it goes through your most recent snapshot of the auction house, and presents you with a box that allows you to buy or bid on items you've defined as a "good deal."
NES harmonicas hit eBay, three lucky gamers cheer
Remember the HarmoNESica? A brief refresher, then: it's what happens when you've got a copy of Super Tecmo Bowl, a Pocket Pal harmonica, and the desire to create a unique musical instrument. But if you don't have any of the aforementioned ingredients and just want the end result, eBay's got you covered as usual -- three HarmoNESicas have been gathering bids at the online auction house this week. Whether your pleasure be Dick Tracy, Super Mario Bros. 3 or The Legend of Zelda, there's a harmonica to match; and if (for some reason) you want to actually play one of the games, you'll find the ROM guts tastefully included. But before you make your bid, remember: there's more than one way to skin an NES cartridge.
Gold Capped: Selling with Auctioneer's Appraiser
Want to get Gold Capped? This column will show you how, and is written by Basil "Euripides" Berntsen, also of outdps.com, the hunting party podcast, and the call to auction podcast. Auctioneer is a wonderful addon I've mentioned a few times already, and today we're going to talk about how to use it to sell your goods efficiently. First up, go download and install it. Now, when you open the auction house, you will see a different interface. We'll be going over a bunch of other useful functionality this has in another post, but today, we're focusing on selling. Do a quick scan by clicking on the fast forward arrow: You should make a point of scanning the AH this way as often as possible, but generally not more than a few times a day. I do it every two days, or whenever I need the data. This allows auctioneer to learn what items are worth in your economy, by keeping track of the listing price over time.
The case for open orders on the auction house
There are changes afoot- PTR build 11599 had variables introduced that mention the mobile auction house. This means that we're probably due for a major AH redesign, and I am talking about more than just the nice "quality of life" changes which bring some popular addon functions into the default UI. I suspect Blizzard is going to have to redo some things from the ground up, so I figured I'd take this opportunity to pitch an idea. Selling on the auction house is a "fire and forget it" asynchronous activity. You choose how often you want to check back and relist, but many people make all the money they need by simply posting 48 hour auctions. This should be how buying works. I think that it would make sense to allow people to post an open order the same way we can post auctions, which would allow people who are selling to choose whether to sell to an existing open order or put the auction up.
Atomic Zune HD explodes all over Ebay
Hey, remember that totally wild, awesome looking "Atomic" Zune HD we spied evidence of in the source files a week or so ago? Well, we later saw an image or two of it, but now one's shown up in the flesh on ebay -- and for a starting bid of a mere 265 bones you might be able to snag it! This one's a 32GB model, and while we still don't know if it's going to be officially released or not, we get the feeling that it probably will. Regardless, we'd advise starting a bidding war anyway. Oh, and we're totally winning this one so hands off.[Via Anything but iPod]
