torsdag 28. januar 2010
Holy wow! AT & T innrømmer NYC / San Fran 3G Tjenesten sugd i 2009
En fersk AT & T inntjening kaller besto av mye snakk snakk snakke, men ett lysbilde skiller seg ut: det vesentlig innrømmer at 3G i San Francisco og New York suger vel AKA var begge langt under de offisielle resultatene målet. Selv om jeg ikke kan finne ut hva selve "Performance Objective" virkelig er basert på dette bildet, de linjene synes å gå opp. Mens noen kan gjøre opp en statistikk for AT & T for å komme ut og si "vi suge på disse områdene er store nyheter. Fint om dere, gutter.
Amazon Fourth Quarter Sales Opptil 42 prosent, sier Bezos "Millioner av mennesker Own Kindles"
Høytiden var gode til Amazon, som nettopp annonsert fjerde kvartal 2009 inntekter. Salget var opp 42 prosent til $ 9.5 milliarder kroner i kvartalet, og resultat etter skatt skutt opp 71 prosent til $ 384 millioner. For hele året var Sales $ 24.5 milliarder, og resultat etter skatt var NOK 902 millioner. Amazon fremhevet suksess tenne sine i sin opptjening, og dette er ikke overraskende gitt alle forhold til iPad som Apple annonserte i går. Den ene sitatet fra konsernsjef Jeff Bezos i utgivelsen er om tenne: «Millioner av mennesker nå er eier Kindles. Og tenne eiere lese mye. Når vi har begge utgavene, selger vi 6 tenne bøker for hver 10. fysiske bøker. Dette er year-to-date og inkluderer bare betalt bøker - gratis Kindle bøkene ville gjøre antallet enda høyere. Det har vært en spennende 27 måneder. "Utover å være vag om hvor mange" millioner "av mennesker eier en Kindle (er det to millioner eller 20 millioner?), Amazon nevner også at det nå er 410.000 bøker tilgjengelig på tenne. Dybden og bredden av at katalogen er tenne største styrke.
Hvorfor bærere ikke vil tillate 3G VoIP før. Og hvorfor er de nå å sette det gratis
Jeg har brukt VoIP apps på de siste par gjentakelser av av iPhone, samt en rekke andre enheter inkludert noen fra Nokia, HTC og Samsung. De apps alltid bare jobbet over WiFi og har stort sett jobbet som annonseres. Erfaring viser at hvis det er én ting Mobiltlf bedrifter er gode på det sikre en samtale kan komme fra punkt A til punkt B (selv AT & T har vært suger vinden i det siste). Det er hva de har gjort i nesten to tiår. Nå som Apple har opphevet forbudet VoIP over 3G - merk det er Apple løfte disse begrensningene, ikke AT & T - du må lure på hva som skjer. Vil ikke 3G rive ned nettverket rundt våre ører? Vil ikke hunder og katter begynne å leve sammen?
Predicatable ryktet: Activision som ønsker å få DJ Hero til mobile plattformer
De ryktene: Activision er ute for å bringe DJ Hero til mobile enheter. Du kan anta at iPhone ville bli blant de plattformene støttes. Fakta: DJ Hero gjorde ikke så godt, men Activision putte en helvetes mye penger i det, så det ønsker å gjøre så mye av det tilbake som mulig.
Offisiell Nexus En desktop dock nå tilgjengelig
Rett fra kilden, kan du nå få den offisielle $ 45 skrivebordet dokk for din flunkende nye Nexus One. Når du dock telefonen, starter klokken automatisk. Se fremtiden!
Why Asia’s not so excited about the iPad
I’ve been watching Asia’s reaction to Apple’s iPad unveiling, and it’s been mixed. Search trends from Google indicate that while Singaporeans were interested in finding out more about the device and its availability, Indians were not really bothered. That could have something to do with the fact that the iPhone has seen very limited uptake in India thus far, owing to the hefty unsubsidized, yet carrier-locked, price tag of ~$800.
Moreover, Apple’s announcement didn’t cover any content partnerships the company has in mind for the Asian markets. (For these markets, Apple would have to negotiate with content owners in each geography due to the linguistic differences, so partnership details may still take a while to emerge.)
In terms of the iPad’s features, since SIM cards are very popular in Asia, it wasn’t lost on most people that the iPad is going to use a micro-SIM rather than a regular SIM. That is now being interpreted as a sure sign that the device is going to have exclusivity with specific carriers within the region. Micro-SIMs are not something you can purchase at a neighborhood retail outlet. In fact, compared to pre-event expectations, I’d say the overall tone in Asia is underwhelming. The lack of a expandable memory slot, coupled with multitasking are likely to be the bane of Apple in these markets as well.
Writing from a geographic area where Apple hasn’t been able to make headway, yet continues to be closely watched, I can’t help but wonder if the company is sacrificing innovation at the altar of conservatism. The iPad undoubtedly has top-of-the-line hardware and a ready content/application ecosystem to feed on, but does that mean Apple has genuinely innovated in creating a device category that can potentially replace the legions of traditional media players? Or does it mean that Apple has created a device that can move an entire content stream from other devices/screens onto the iPad? I don’t believe so.
Innovation begins where conventional thinking ends. With the iPhone, Apple had done just that. They questioned the fundamental thinking of handset vendors on why keypads should be there, on why compelling third-party applications can’t be built easily, and on many more issues. However, with the iPad, the company appears to have fallen for the trap of sticking to conventions and building products that do more of the same. True, the iPad indeed boasts a variety of features, targeted at e-book readers, regular content-viewing consumers, and ‘business’ consumers (although I’m highly skeptical we’re going to see too many people suited up and using iWork on the iPad). Apple has also thrown in a 3G radio and sewn-up a flat-rate data plan with its carrier partners. But somewhere, all of these bells and whistles fall short.
Apple’s iPad adopts a position that is confusing, both to the industry observer and the consumer. While the Kindle and the iPod tried to push consumers to adopt different screens/devices for different needs, the iPad, by attempting to do bits of everything, runs the risk of falling into a no-man’s land! For instance, consider its suggested role as a netbook replacement. You cannot run regular Mac OS X apps! Similarly, take its comparison to a portable high-res media player. The device lacks widescreen display, and you can’t connect it to your large-screen TV.
For more, consider its role as an evolved music player. You’re stuck with the amount of memory you opt for, no expandable memory slots for you. Its positioning as a gaming device is probably the only thing that makes sense. Social gaming apps are likely to get a shot in the arm with this category. However, serious gaming remains a big if. Such hazy positioning makes for a potent combo when one takes the pricing of the device into consideration. Although it might start at $499, once you add 3G capability, a 3G data plan (the $15 plan for 250MB from AT&T is a joke for this kind of a device) and the keyboard, and suddenly even the entry-level iPad looks much pricier. Beyond the consumer, Apple also runs the risk of cannibalizing sales of its profitable Mac lines.
Apple has historically shown that it has been ahead of the innovation curve, at least in the decade gone by. Starting with the iPod, the iPhone, and the Macs, Apple products have always been known for going the extra mile in building innovative solutions for consumer challenges — and in the process, profitable business lines for themselves. However, with the iPad, all I see is a product that does a little of many things, a product that tries to build on past glory (not necessarily a bad thing) and most importantly, a product that is representative of other technology companies and not Apple.
Make no mistake, the iPad will likely sell in strong numbers. It will likely strike it rich in some of the Western Europe markets as well. But as far as I am concerned, this is a step back for the innovative company I have long admired.
Moreover, Apple’s announcement didn’t cover any content partnerships the company has in mind for the Asian markets. (For these markets, Apple would have to negotiate with content owners in each geography due to the linguistic differences, so partnership details may still take a while to emerge.)
In terms of the iPad’s features, since SIM cards are very popular in Asia, it wasn’t lost on most people that the iPad is going to use a micro-SIM rather than a regular SIM. That is now being interpreted as a sure sign that the device is going to have exclusivity with specific carriers within the region. Micro-SIMs are not something you can purchase at a neighborhood retail outlet. In fact, compared to pre-event expectations, I’d say the overall tone in Asia is underwhelming. The lack of a expandable memory slot, coupled with multitasking are likely to be the bane of Apple in these markets as well.
Writing from a geographic area where Apple hasn’t been able to make headway, yet continues to be closely watched, I can’t help but wonder if the company is sacrificing innovation at the altar of conservatism. The iPad undoubtedly has top-of-the-line hardware and a ready content/application ecosystem to feed on, but does that mean Apple has genuinely innovated in creating a device category that can potentially replace the legions of traditional media players? Or does it mean that Apple has created a device that can move an entire content stream from other devices/screens onto the iPad? I don’t believe so.
Innovation begins where conventional thinking ends. With the iPhone, Apple had done just that. They questioned the fundamental thinking of handset vendors on why keypads should be there, on why compelling third-party applications can’t be built easily, and on many more issues. However, with the iPad, the company appears to have fallen for the trap of sticking to conventions and building products that do more of the same. True, the iPad indeed boasts a variety of features, targeted at e-book readers, regular content-viewing consumers, and ‘business’ consumers (although I’m highly skeptical we’re going to see too many people suited up and using iWork on the iPad). Apple has also thrown in a 3G radio and sewn-up a flat-rate data plan with its carrier partners. But somewhere, all of these bells and whistles fall short.
Apple’s iPad adopts a position that is confusing, both to the industry observer and the consumer. While the Kindle and the iPod tried to push consumers to adopt different screens/devices for different needs, the iPad, by attempting to do bits of everything, runs the risk of falling into a no-man’s land! For instance, consider its suggested role as a netbook replacement. You cannot run regular Mac OS X apps! Similarly, take its comparison to a portable high-res media player. The device lacks widescreen display, and you can’t connect it to your large-screen TV.
For more, consider its role as an evolved music player. You’re stuck with the amount of memory you opt for, no expandable memory slots for you. Its positioning as a gaming device is probably the only thing that makes sense. Social gaming apps are likely to get a shot in the arm with this category. However, serious gaming remains a big if. Such hazy positioning makes for a potent combo when one takes the pricing of the device into consideration. Although it might start at $499, once you add 3G capability, a 3G data plan (the $15 plan for 250MB from AT&T is a joke for this kind of a device) and the keyboard, and suddenly even the entry-level iPad looks much pricier. Beyond the consumer, Apple also runs the risk of cannibalizing sales of its profitable Mac lines.
Apple has historically shown that it has been ahead of the innovation curve, at least in the decade gone by. Starting with the iPod, the iPhone, and the Macs, Apple products have always been known for going the extra mile in building innovative solutions for consumer challenges — and in the process, profitable business lines for themselves. However, with the iPad, all I see is a product that does a little of many things, a product that tries to build on past glory (not necessarily a bad thing) and most importantly, a product that is representative of other technology companies and not Apple.
Make no mistake, the iPad will likely sell in strong numbers. It will likely strike it rich in some of the Western Europe markets as well. But as far as I am concerned, this is a step back for the innovative company I have long admired.
NDS shows off user interfaces for smarter TVs (video)
NDS is a London-based company no one has heard about. But it has 4,200 employees and a billion dollars a year in revenue. It has made its living over the past two decades providing technology to the TV industry. Among its contributions is conditional access, the security software that governs your cable or satellite TV subscriptions, and electronic program guides to your TV channels.
NDS’s software is used in 25 million digital video recorders and 116 million set-top boxes. It customer’s include Sky and DirecTV.
“We’re kind of like an arms dealer,” said Nigel Smith, chief marketing officer at NDS, in an interview.
Its owners are Permira and News Corp. These days, the company’s job is to help TV companies deal with the onset of digital TV and broadband. With too many channels, consumers now find the old cable TV interfaces and remote controls don’t work.
The company often noodles around with futuristic TV ideas that its partners are free to adopt under their own brand names. We recently got a tour of a bunch of these new ideas. They include using your iPod Touch or iPhone to control your TV, not merely by doing an app but by integrating it closely with a set-top box. You can load recorded videos to the iPod and watch them on the go and then finish them at home. Using voice recognition, you can speak the name of a show into your phone and the program guide can pull up that show for you; that’s easier than typing something on a keyboard or remote. For now, this demo is a proof of concept.
“What we think might happen is the TV can become the companion to the device you carry,” said Smith. “The phone is a bridge between a more personal device and a more communal device.”
Another idea is Substitution Advertising. With this, the set-top box collects intelligent data about your viewing habits. (It doesn’t share private data). So when a show comes on, it can show you a relevant ad, just as Google does when you search for an item. In the demo, the set-top box can cache a couple of different versions of an ad for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Depending on whether you are a family or a single, it will show you a different ad. This targeted form of advertising should raise the amount of money an advertiser is willing to pay and people are less likely to skip more relevant ads.
Another thing that NDS has created is a recommendation engine interface. The interface is a tool for the cable company to use to bundle recommended shows together so that when a user clicks on a show, the set-top box can recommend a related show. The interface itself doesn’t have a recommendation algorithm, but others such as Netflix have such technologies. For now, it’s a prototype.
The company also has new interfaces for program guides. One is a see-through guide that lets you see the whole picture of the channel you are viewing. But the guide is transparently layered on top of the picture so you can choose a channel while watching the show in the background. It’s prettier than looking at a picture-in-picture. The interface can also be a bridge to social media such as Facebook or Twitter, much like the Yahoo Widget Engine. The interface can tap fancier graphics using Adobe Flash.
NDS is also getting ready for the day when we all watch shows in 3-D. It has created a prototype program guide that shows you graphics in 3-D. For instance, captions for foreign movies can show up 3-D text, but only in parts of the picture where there is room to see the words.
Check out our video interview with Nick Thexton, senior vice president of R&D and new initiatives, and Nigel Smith, chief marketing officer at NDS.
NDS’s software is used in 25 million digital video recorders and 116 million set-top boxes. It customer’s include Sky and DirecTV.
“We’re kind of like an arms dealer,” said Nigel Smith, chief marketing officer at NDS, in an interview.
Its owners are Permira and News Corp. These days, the company’s job is to help TV companies deal with the onset of digital TV and broadband. With too many channels, consumers now find the old cable TV interfaces and remote controls don’t work.
The company often noodles around with futuristic TV ideas that its partners are free to adopt under their own brand names. We recently got a tour of a bunch of these new ideas. They include using your iPod Touch or iPhone to control your TV, not merely by doing an app but by integrating it closely with a set-top box. You can load recorded videos to the iPod and watch them on the go and then finish them at home. Using voice recognition, you can speak the name of a show into your phone and the program guide can pull up that show for you; that’s easier than typing something on a keyboard or remote. For now, this demo is a proof of concept.
“What we think might happen is the TV can become the companion to the device you carry,” said Smith. “The phone is a bridge between a more personal device and a more communal device.”
Another idea is Substitution Advertising. With this, the set-top box collects intelligent data about your viewing habits. (It doesn’t share private data). So when a show comes on, it can show you a relevant ad, just as Google does when you search for an item. In the demo, the set-top box can cache a couple of different versions of an ad for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Depending on whether you are a family or a single, it will show you a different ad. This targeted form of advertising should raise the amount of money an advertiser is willing to pay and people are less likely to skip more relevant ads.
Another thing that NDS has created is a recommendation engine interface. The interface is a tool for the cable company to use to bundle recommended shows together so that when a user clicks on a show, the set-top box can recommend a related show. The interface itself doesn’t have a recommendation algorithm, but others such as Netflix have such technologies. For now, it’s a prototype.
The company also has new interfaces for program guides. One is a see-through guide that lets you see the whole picture of the channel you are viewing. But the guide is transparently layered on top of the picture so you can choose a channel while watching the show in the background. It’s prettier than looking at a picture-in-picture. The interface can also be a bridge to social media such as Facebook or Twitter, much like the Yahoo Widget Engine. The interface can tap fancier graphics using Adobe Flash.
NDS is also getting ready for the day when we all watch shows in 3-D. It has created a prototype program guide that shows you graphics in 3-D. For instance, captions for foreign movies can show up 3-D text, but only in parts of the picture where there is room to see the words.
Check out our video interview with Nick Thexton, senior vice president of R&D and new initiatives, and Nigel Smith, chief marketing officer at NDS.
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