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Yamaha's PJP-25UR speakerphone does VoIP
Certainly not the first of its kind, Yahama's PJP-25UR is arriving a little late to the VoIP speakerphone party. Nevertheless, this sleek (comparatively speaking, of course) looking alternative is sure to have top-level managers smiling, as it provides a pair of swing-out microphones to compliment the main mic in the middle, stereo speakers, an audio in / out jack and the ability to get all the juice it needs from a powered USB port (or optional AC adapter). The 1.25-pound unit is slated to ship out in December and put a ¥63,000 ($547) dent in the corporate budget, but that's a small price to pay for all the surefire productivity that comes from yet another mundane meeting, right?[Via Digital-Lifestyles]
Apple expands campuses in Austin and Cupertino
As AAPL continues to fly, Apple is apparently eating up all the real estate they can find. AppleInsider reports that Apple is going to expand their Austin, TX campus by building an 80,000 square foot building (at 12565 Riata Vista Circle). Apple's not saying what they're using it for, but the Austin Statesman reports that there have been ads floating around for iPhone tech support jobs.And speaking of Jobs, the man himself apparently showed up in a Cupertino, CA City Council meeting recently, saying that they bought up "every little scrap of building we could find in Cupertino," which makes Apple Cupertino's "largest taxpayer," according to Jobs himself. Jobs shouldn't worry though-- the money is going to a great cause. All this real estate purchasing is funding none other than the self-proclaimed "ranked #1 library in the US: the Santa Clara County Cupertino Library.
Business-centric iPhone, wireless speakers rumored
No sooner than JP Morgan squashes the iPhone nano rumor and gives legs to the 3G hunch, here we have more "Taiwanese sources" shooting off about future Apple and iPhone-related products. Granted, the vast majority of these propositions are bordering on laughable, but the suggestion of an "iPhone for business" isn't too far fetched -- especially considering that Apple has already hinted at appeasing the suits in due time. Additionally, these anonymous voices insinuated that Apple was working on a wireless audio system "that would allow music to be played directly from an iPod, iPhone, or range of Apple computers." We're not saying we believe any of it (yet), but feel free to affix your skepticism filter and hit the read link for the full report.[Thanks, Steven]
Rumor: Marketers head for the hills, a fond farewell to Kaplan and Harrison
It's a wild week in the world of Nintendo's upper management in marketing ... we think. Recently, Nintendo's marketing department was told they'd need to ship off to either New York or San Francisco from their current homes in Redmond. According to Game Informer, as astounding 90% decided to remain in the area and take severance pay. What's even more shocking are that Beth Llewelyn (senior director of public relations), Perrin Kaplan (vice president of marketing and corporate affairs) and George Harrison (senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications) are among the dearly departed. From Nintendo, we mean.Those are some big names dropping from Nintendo's ivory towers, and we've got to sad we're sad to see them go. George was always a nice, candid fellow, and who can forget drunk Perrin (pictured above)? Now that was a classic. We would like to reiterate that Game Informer's claim has not yet been corroborated, so we'll post an update with confirmation or denial when we get it.[Thanks, Jensonb!]
TUAW Podcast #23: There and Back Again with the iPhone
The TUAW podcast is back in effect ladies and gents, though this week we're a tad late due to some technical difficulties. Nevertheless, expect a steady new stream of podcasts and screencasts from here on out, starting with today's entry: TUAW Podcast #23: There and Back Again with the iPhone. Fellow TUAW blogger Michael Rose and I explore the iPhone's past, including how far back speculation about one of Apple's most anticipated devices actually reaches, as well as when Apple first gave away any hints that it was even considering such a device (hint: it's older than the 4.5 years Jobs mentioned at Macworld 07). We then take a look at the state of the iPhone now, less than a month from its expected release, why the corporate and enterprise worlds are taking an unexpected interest in it, what happened with the 'iPhone/Leopard delay' email hoax Engadget experienced on Wednesday and how powerful that kind of news can really be. Heck, even a tech-savvy dolphin makes it into the show - where else are you going to hear that?Michael wanted to clear up one specific piece of data we spoke about, however: we were discussing some differences between the iPod and iPhone, and Michael indicated the MP3 player retail market hit $600m in March. Turns out he was a tad high, as these numbers from Bloomberg put the number for MP3 players sold at retail at just under $225m. Just wanted to make sure we're keepin' it real.You can snag a copy of this 36 minute, 17 MB AAC (m4a) podcast from our iTunes Store Podcast directory, this direct link or our own podcast rss feed. Enjoy! Update: It took a couple of days for iTunes to catch up with our podcast feed, but as of Monday the show is appearing on the iTunes store. Sorry for the delay.Show NotesLinks mentioned in the podcast:- Engadget official response to Apple delay memo issue: http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/17/regarding-yesterdays-apple-news/- MacRumors iPhone speculation from 2002: http://www.macrumors.com/2002/08/18/apple-iphone-rumors-speculation/- Jason O'Grady isn't buying (still?): http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/index.php?p=335- Fierce Wireless timeline of iPhone speculation: http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/timeline-apple-iphone-rumors-1999-present- The Onion's Flappy the Dolphin on the iPhone: http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/test_driving_the_new
Dell joins the Microsoft-Novell alliance, hopes for Windows / Linux harmony
The adoration for Linux that has been flowing from Round Rock of late is both refreshing and curious, and Dell has just taken its respect for the open-source OS to another level by signing on with Microsoft and Novell. While Linux users have long griped (and protested) about Microsoft, it's been no secret that Michael Dell has a thing for Ubuntu, and now it sounds like Dell will be "buying SUSE Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft," and moreover, "will be setting up a services and marketing program aimed at getting users of open-source platforms to switch to the new SUSE Linux offering." With the agreement inked, the Texas Powerhouse becomes the "first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and Novell in the collaboration," and judging by all the other recent Linux happenings in the Dell arena, we'd say this deal aligns perfectly with its current strategy.
IBM gearing up to lay off over 100000 American employees?
We'll admit, even we're a bit frightened that immensely intelligent humanoid bots may one day oust us from these seats, but according to whispers going around at IBM's HQ, something just as momentous could be going down as early as this year. Shortly after Lenovo told 1,400 of its US-based employees to politely hop off the payroll, IBM's LEAN plan could call for over 100,000 American workers to be canned in favor of (surprise, surprise) hiring overseas. Already, the firm has laid off 1,300 employees in 2007, but according to a recent report, an ongoing "planning meeting" for how to handle the company's Global Services could eventually axe "up to 150,000 US jobs" while hiring cheaper labor in China and India. Interestingly, this news could actually be sweet music to Wall Street, at least in the short term, but we can't imagine how this logistical nightmare will ever bode well for Big Blue's future.
Buffalo's BSKP-CU202/SV Skype phone does conference calling
Conference calling on PSTN is so pre-tech-burst, and Buffalo's making quite sure you're well aware of a VoIP alternative to dialing into those oft held (and frequently toned out) corporate calls. The BSKP-CU202/SV speakerphone boasts a unique, if not awkward design, boasts about its Skype support, and packs six total watts of power to belt out those brutal demands coming from the other end. Reportedly, no drivers are required for this gizmo to work, and it draws all the current it needs to operate from your PC's USB port. Users should also enjoy the echo cancellation technology that's built right in, and just in case you need to swap over to a private conversation, an integrated headphone jack is handily included on the rear. Look for this to hit corporate cubes in Japan soon for a modest ¥9,800 ($82), and feel free to click on through for a few more snaps.[Via EverythingUSB]
Lenovo laying off 1,400 employees, looking overseas
Tough news on the Lenovo front, as the "world's third ranking PC manufacturer" is looking to axe 1,400 of its US-based employees -- and fast. Reportedly, the firm has decided to lay off a good chunk of its American-based work force "within the next 30 to 60 days" as it turns around and creates around 750 new positions in Brazil, China, India and Slovakia. The company stressed that its return to profitability last year was greatly assisted by the laying off of upwards of 1,000 employees, and insinuates that the latest cost-cutting measures are just attempts to "make the organization more efficient by reducing expenses." The cuts also include a whopping 20-percent of the work force at Lenovo's Research Triangle Park (RTP) location and around five-percent overall, but should net some $100 million in savings for the new fiscal year. Sadly, it just seems to get more cutthroat every year in the corporate arena, regardless of accomplishments.[Via TWW]
Apple under European antitrust scrutiny
The AP reports that the European Commission has launched an antitrust probe into iTunes. According to the article a single track costs $1.56 in the UK, $1.44 in Denmark and $1.32 in Germany and Belgium, while at the same time users are restricted to the iTunes store of their country of origin. "Consumers are thus restricted in their choice of where to buy music and consequently what music is available, and at what price," the commission said in its statement. Apple's spokesman said it was prevented from creating a single European store by its contracts with music labels and publishers and the rights they negotiated with them. This investigation is apparently separate from the whole ongoing Apple/DRM foofaraw.
Friday Video: Makin' those Miis
Yeah, you've probably seen this one already, and that's okay. You don't have to watch it again if you don't want to (but we think it's pretty cool). But Nintendo's latest Wii ads are not only effective, but they reflect the Mii craze that is such a big part of the Wii's success. And since people are using Mii-like images on corporate websites now, Nintendo's boardroom ad is simply brilliant, and that's why it's in the spotlight this week. Check it out after the jump.
Apple is America's most profitable retailer
In May of 2001, the first Apple Store descended upon Tysons Corner Center of McLean, Virginia. Six years later, there are now 174 Apple Stores spread across the globe, with the Fifth Avenue location in New York City attracting 50,000 customers per week. Sales average $4,032 per square foot (while shops like Tiffany & Co. stand at a measly $2,666), and in 2004, Apple reached $1 billion in annual sales faster than any US retailer, while sales hit $1 billion per quarter last year. In short: Apple has become one of the most successful retailers in America. It's not sheer chance or luck that has driven the success of Apple's retail venture, however: Apple has reinvented the design and operation of the retail store from the ground up, as is noted in this excellent and enlightening Fortune Magazine article. Check it out for a fascinating look behind the scenes of the development of the Apple Store, and how Steve Jobs and co. have landed a spot in Fortune's top 10 Most Admired Companies.
RFID staples, omnipotent pens to grace offices of the future?
We already know just how snazzy your office's bizhub will be in a decade or so, and we think we've even got your desk and kitchen nailed down too, but a recent brainstorming in Popular Science brushed a few less sensational, albeit quite intriguing, office mainstays for 2017. Although we've got a few years yet before we can definitively say whether or not these folks will pull a psychic-AT&T on us, but if Swingline has its way, the traditional red stapler that continually jams and collects more dust than it does anything else will be quite controversial. Sure to enrage pro-privacy employees who've already been unknowingly chipped with an RFID tag upon agreement to come on board, the staples of the future could actually contain micro-RFID tags; these chips could then be traced to find out just how long it really sits in one's "to do" stack, or if "inexplicably missing" really means "intentionally destroyed." As cruel as we know that sounds, at least you can pen all the curses you wish on even the most ink-resistant material in your manager's suite, as the future-generation Staedtler pen is being designed to "write on almost anything by optimizing molecular bonds with a surface" in order to produce the right mixtures needed to adhere to a given medium. Of course, the transparent monitors that will come with your 2015 upgrade kit will effectively kill your ability to surf Engadget while being guarded by the plastic backing of your current LCD, but the face recognizing desk locks should at least keep Gary from snagging your chocolate when you're out on break. Click on through for a few more mockups of tomorrow's office gizmos.
Panasonic's Conference Speakerphone packs a SIM card
Any of us blessed (or cursed) to spend the majority of our waking hours theoretically locked in a corporate boardroom know very well the form and function of a desktop speakerphone, but Panasonic and Willcom and teaming up to deliver a rendition that relies on cellular technology rather than landlines. Oddly enough, it appears the forthcoming Conference Speakerphone will actually pack a SIM card, speaker, several built-in microphones, a mobile microphone, and even an SD slot for users to easily record conversations. Actually, if someone utilized a third-party battery pack, this entire unit could be taken on the go and used as what would quite possibly be the world's largest cellphone of the decade. The appeal is that Willcom will reportedly be offering a "flat-rate talk plan" that allows companies to equip their employees with these machines and then communicate gratis, similar to many mobile networks with free in-network calling. Although the Conference Speakerphone is slated to ship this Spring, the value here is definitely questionable, as picking up a numerous ¥100,000 ($828) devices can seriously squash that meager IT budget.[Via DigitalWorldTokyo]
Wii + UPS = BFF [update 1]
Fearless Joystiq reader Travisty of Justice braved the rain and was on hand in Atlanta today to witness UPS officially deliver the first shipment of Wiis to Best Buy. It's a snoozetastic corporate photo op, but hey ... you're just a few short days away from seeing those in stores. Baby steps.He ventured outside to talk to the folks waiting through drizzle in the PS3 line, but when he asked if they were buying one to keep or to sell on eBay, they gave him the brushoff. Maybe they were afraid this Best Buy would boot them out of line. Release the corporate hounds!Check out the video of the event after the jump. Someone, please start hiring spokespeople with a little razzle-dazzle, okay?[Thanks, Travisty][Update: fixed spelling, d'oh!]
Join the PlayStation Mayhem
Sony has an RSS feed called the "PlayStation Mayhem." You can check it out by typing http://psp.us.playstation.com/rss into your PSP browser, or check it out on your PC by clicking here.What Sony says:"PlayStation Mayhem is your source on the streets for all that's poppin' in games, gadgets, style, new music, celebs, insider PlayStation dish and more. Join the Mayhem each week for exclusive and original interviews, crazy stunts and cool new stuff you won't get anywhere else."What the Mayhem says:"Yo yo yo dude... we be the PlayStation MAYhem. Mah man, PlayStation is THE SHIZNITZ. We ain't playin' cuz we too busy playin' our PSP."What PSP Fanboy says:"It's somewhat sad to see corporate white guys pretending to be 'cool' and 'hip'. I'm glad Sony's trying to use all the features of the system, but this is a bit too forced for my tastes. It's like Dell using FTW."[Comic via Penny Arcade]
