Sponsoer by :

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Apple gets no love from Wall Street for new iPhone (AP) : Technet

Sponsored

Apple gets no love from Wall Street for new iPhone (AP) : Technet

Apple gets no love from Wall Street for new iPhone (AP)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 04:33 PM PDT

By RACHEL METZ and JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writers Rachel Metz And Jordan Robertson, Ap Technology Writers – Tue Oct 4, 7:33 pm ET

CUPERTINO, Calif. – The most closely kept secret about the iPhone 5? There isn't one — yet.

The new iPhone is faster, has a better camera and allows you to sync content without needing a computer. It includes a futuristic, voice-activated service that responds to spoken commands and questions such as "Do I need an umbrella today?" It will now be available to Sprint customers as well as those from AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

But there's a catch. Apple named it 4S when most people were expecting the iPhone 5. Immediately, tech bloggers and Apple fans alike began to wonder if this new iPhone was not as cool as they had hoped. Investors were disappointed, too. Apple's stock fell more than 5 percent before getting a late bump.

If Tuesday's unveiling seemed like a letdown, it was because Apple didn't do a good job of managing expectations. That's a familiar problem for Apple, whose penchant for secrecy invites hyperbolic speculation between its product announcements. Given that it had been 16 months since the previous iPhone hit the market, imaginations had even more time to run wild this time.

"This is the typical Apple scenario: People keep wanting it to do the impossible," said Tim Bajarin, a Creative Strategies analyst who has been following the company for decades.

Apple's approach to the event didn't do any favors for Tim Cook in his first major public appearance since he succeeded Steve Jobs as CEO six weeks ago. Jobs, the Apple visionary and co-founder, relinquished the reins to focus on his health problems.

Cook handled his presentation in a pedestrian fashion that lacked Jobs' flair. The format and stage setting were similar to the presentations that Jobs had orchestrated so masterfully, giving Cook little opportunity to make his own mark, said Adam Hanft, a marketing consultant who runs his own firm in New York.

"It wasn't fair to Tim in his inaugural because there he didn't have any product to show off that was a real barnburner," Hanft said.

"This allowed him to get his sea legs, but he still needs to find his voice and style. They need to come up with a new setting that is equally Apple-like aesthetically, but not the same that they had while Steve was there."

Even though the iPhone 4S is an improvement over its predecessor, it isn't being perceived as a breakthrough partly because it's not being branded as an iPhone 5, as most people had been expecting, said Prashant Malaviya, a marketing professor at Georgetown University.

Not all investors were disappointed.

Stephen Coleman, chief investment officer for Daedalus Capital and an Apple investor since 2004, calls his Apple stock "the safest investment that I own." He said Tuesday's upgrades were "incremental" — and praised Apple for not messing too much with a model that's working.

"To those who say they're underwhelmed, I'd say they've been fast asleep," Coleman said. "Anyone who's been paying attention at all would have to be dazzled by the product, and earnings."

The stock has risen more than 15 percent this year, at one point hitting an all-time high of $422.86. It has nearly quadrupled since the first iPhone was announced in 2007. The device has been the cornerstone of one of the most remarkable runs in technology history. Apple is now one of the world's most richly valued companies, holding its own against oil companies and international conglomerates.

"What is there to lament?" Coleman said. "For people like me, it's peace on earth. This is one of the great economic stories of our time."

The new iPhone has an improved camera with a higher-resolution sensor. The processor is faster — the same A5 chip found in the iPad 2 — so the phone will be able to run smoother, more realistic action games. It's also a "world phone," which means that Verizon iPhones will be useable overseas, just as AT&T iPhones already are.

The fact that a more radical revision of the phone was a no-show leaves room for speculation that Apple will reveal a new model in less than a year, perhaps one equipped to take advantage of Verizon's and AT&T's new high-speed data networks.

There had also been speculation that Apple would include a chip that could talk to payment terminals at retail stores, turning the iPhone into a mobile wallet. Competitors are starting to include this capability in their phones, though the payment systems are still immature. The iPhone 4S doesn't have this.

The iPhone 4S will come with new mobile software that includes such features as the ability to sync content wirelessly, without having to plug the device to a Mac or Windows machine. The phone includes Siri, which lets people speak questions and commands and represents an advanced version of speech-recognition software found on other phones.

Apple also unveiled software that can send greeting cards through the postal system for $2.99 each.

Cook said the most recent iPhone, which came out in June 2010, sold more quickly than previous models, but the iPhone still has just 5 percent of the worldwide handset market. Among smartphones, devices running Google Inc.'s Android software make up 43 percent of the market in the second quarter, while the iPhone captures 18 percent, according to Gartner Inc.

Apple is hoping to grow that share with the iPhone 4S — something it can do by luring new customers from Sprint and elsewhere, even if existing owners don't see a need to upgrade.

Bajarin, the longtime Apple watcher, is confident that Apple will quickly overcome the perception problem once technology reviewers get a better handle on all the new bells and whistles. He believes that the improved camera and speech-recognition technology are compelling enough additions to make the iPhone 4S another hit for Apple.

"People are going to get over their initial disappointment and want this phone," he said.

Apple's new mobile software, iOS 5, will also be available on Oct. 12 for existing devices — the iPhone 4 and 3GS, both iPad models and later versions of the iPod Touch.

Apple said Oct. 12 will also mark the launch of its new iCloud service, which will store content such as music, documents and photos on Apple's servers and let people access them wirelessly on numerous devices. One component is a $25-per-year service, called iTunes Match, that will allow people to play their personal jukeboxes on any device with iTunes software instead of keeping them tethered to a personal computer that must be synced with other devices.

The new phone will come in black or white. It will cost $199 for a 16 gigabyte-version, $299 for 32 GB and $399 for 64 GB — all with a two-year service contract requirement. Pre-orders will begin Friday with availability on Oct. 14.

The previous version, iPhone 4, will now cost $99 for 8 GB. The 2009 model, the iPhone 3GS, will be given away for free with 8 GB. Both also require a two-year service contract.

Don't expect to see an iPhone available with prepaid, contract-free service plans any time soon — at least not with AT&T. Ralph de la Vega, AT&T's head of wireless and consumer services, said in an interview that the carrier has no plans to offer iPhones with prepaid plans, because even phones that are free with two-year contracts — namely the iPhone 3GS — would cost customers a significant amount up front. Wireless companies typically subsidize the cost of phones and make that back from monthly service fees over the life of the contract.

Apple also unveiled a new line of iPods, including a Nano model with a multi-touch display that promises to be easier to navigate.

Apple's stock fell $2.10, or 0.6 percent, to close Tuesday at $372.50 after dropping earlier to $354.24.

___

AP Technology Writers Michael Liedtke in San Francisco and Peter Svensson in New York contributed to this story.

Why Apple falls after new product announcements (AP)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 09:17 PM PDT

By CHIP CUTTER, AP Business Writer Chip Cutter, Ap Business Writer – 47 mins ago

NEW YORK – Here's a market riddle for you: Why does Apple's stock fall on the same day the company reveals a new product?

A hot gadget would seemingly give investors reason to buy more shares. But, since early 2007, the stock has fallen about half the time following a major product announcement. That's either because of high investor expectations or sheer bad timing, such as when Apple debuts a product on a day that the rest of the stock market is falling.

Apple Inc.'s stock lost $2.10, or 0.6 percent, dipping to $372.50 on Monday after the company revealed the newest iPhone model, the 4S. That version will be faster and more powerful than previous models. But some analysts had anticipated a more dramatic upgrade.

"Expectations for Apple's product roll-outs have become really unrealistic," said Channing Smith, a portfolio manager of the Capital Advisors Growth fund, which owns Apple stock. "What are (investors) expecting?"

Here's a look at how Apple's stock has performed after major product announcements over the past four years.

Oct. 4, 2011 — Apple reveals the iPhone 4S. But it's not the iPhone 5 that some analysts and tech bloggers anticipated. Apple's stock falls more than the broader market, dropping 0.6 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rises 2.3 percent.

March 2, 2011 — Apple CEO Steve Jobs briefly returns from medical leave to introduce the second version of the iPad tablet computer. It is noticeably thinner than the original tablet and also faster. Apple's stock rises $2.81, or 0.8 percent, to $352.12.

June 7, 2010 — Apple introduces the fourth version of its iPhone. It comes with a second camera on the front that can be used for videoconferencing. The device also has longer battery life. Apple's stock falls $5.02, or 2 percent, to $250.94. On the same day, the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index both plunge to their lowest level of the year because of concerns about Europe's economic problems.

Jan. 27, 2010 — Apple unveils the iPad, a tablet-style computer that resembles the iPhone. Prices will start at $499, far below the $1,000 that some analysts were expecting. Apple's stock rises $1.94, or 0.9 percent, to $207.88. The S&P 500 rises 0.5 percent.

June 8, 2009 — Apple announces the new iPhone 3GS, a newer version that will come with a faster processor, longer battery life and other features such as an internal compass. It also slashes the entry price for an iPhone in half. Apple falls 82 cents to $143.85.

June 9, 2008 — Apple introduces the iPhone 3G, an upgraded phone with a faster Internet connection, GPS capabilities and a lower price. But Apple's stock falls $4.03, or 2.2 percent, to $181.61 as investors worry that the reduced price could hurt Apple's profit margins.

Jan. 15, 2008 — Apple debuts new MacBook Air, an ultra-slim notebook computer that weighs just 3 pounds, and an online movie rental service. The stock falls $9.74, or 5.5 percent, to $169.04 on a day when many technology stocks plunge on concerns about a slowdown in consumer spending.

Jan. 9, 2007 — Apple unveils the first iPhone, to be priced at $499. Jobs says the phone will "reinvent" wireless communications and "leapfrog" past the current generation of smartphones. Apple's stock rises $7.10, or 8.3 percent, to $92.57.

At a Glance: The iPhone 4S vs. older iPhones (AP)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 02:03 PM PDT

By The Associated Press The Associated Press – Tue Oct 4, 5:03 pm ET

Apple unveiled a faster, more powerful iPhone on Tuesday called the iPhone 4S. It's not the radical update _the iPhone 5 — that some people had expected. The 4S will be available on October 14. Consumers can begin pre-ordering the new device beginning on Friday.

Based on details the company provided, the new iPhone is still an upgrade from previous versions. Here's a look at the key differences between the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 4 and the 3GS.

iPhone 4S tech specs:

• Capacity: 16 gigabyte model for $199, 32 gigabytes for $299 and 64 gigabytes for $399

• Size: height: 4.5 inches; width: 2.31 inches; depth: 0.37 inch (the same as the iPhone 4)

• Weight: 4.9 ounces

• Display: retina display, 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display

• 8-megapixel camera

• Video recording: high-definition (1080p — comparable to the resolution of a 40-inch flat panel TV) up to 30 frames per second with audio

• Battery: talk time is up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G. Internet works for up to p to 6 hours on 3G, and up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi, one hour shorter than the iPhone 4. Up to 10 hours of video playback.

• Dual-core A5 processor (which is twice as fast, and renders graphics 7 times faster than the previous model's A4 processor)

• Video calling: Facetime

• Wireless carriers: AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel

_Release date: October 14, 2011

iPhone 4 tech specs:

• Capacity: 8 gigabyte flash drive (Apple is no longer selling the bigger versions)

• Size: height: 4.5 inches; width: 2.31 inches; depth: 0.37 inch

• Weight: 4.8 ounces

• Display: retina display, 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display

• 5-megapixel still camera

• Video recording: high-definition (720p — comparable to an older-model flat panel TV) up to 30 frames per second with audio

• Battery: talk time is up to 7 hours on 3G and up to 14 hours on 2G. Internet works for up to 6 hours on 3G and up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi. Up to 10 hours of video playback.

• Video calling: Facetime

• Less powerful A4 processor, not dual core

• Price: $99 with a two-year contract

• Wireless carriers: AT&T, Verizon Wireless

_Release date: June 24, 2010

iPhone 3GS tech specs:

• Capacity: 8 gigabyte flash drive

• Size: height: 4.5 inches; width: 2.4 inches; depth: 0.48 inch

• Weight: 4.8 ounces

• Display: 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display.

• 3-megapixel camera

• Video recording: up to 30 frames per second with audio, no HD

• Battery: talk time is up to 5 hours on 3G, up to 12 hours on 2G. Internet use is good for up to 5 hours on 3G and up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi

• Video calling: None

• No dual-core processor

• Price: free with a two-year contract

• Wireless carrier: AT&T

_Release date: June 19, 2009

Apple debuts Siri, a voice guide for the iPhone 4S (Yahoo! News)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 07:18 PM PDT

Apple announces new iPod prices and features (Yahoo! News)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 06:06 PM PDT

iPhone History: The Story So Far [INFOGRAPHIC] (Mashable)

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 07:56 PM PDT

Chris Taylor Chris Taylor – Mon Oct 3, 10:56 pm ET

In a scant few hours now, we'll dive into chapter five in one of the most compelling stories of our digital-dominated era: The Life And Times of the iPhone. So for those of you who haven't been paying attention, and even those of you who have (hands up who remembers the ROKR iTunes phone), here's a recap -- courtesy of Thinglink, a startup that makes interactive photos and ads. Hover over the infographic to reveal pictures, videos and links from iPhone history. (The launch date of each phone is at the top of its screen.) Take note of the chips used in each iteration, and find out more about the real genius behind the iPhone's design. Wax nostalgic in the comments about your favorite moments. And get ready for a whole new chapter Tuesday morning, whether it's the iPhone 5, the 4S, or both.

[More from Mashable: Would An iPhone 4S Be Such A Disappointment?]



[More from Mashable: iPhone 5 Scam: Fake Apple Announcement Email Leads to PC Virus [WARNING]]

This story originally published on Mashable here.

John Lennon's TM letter to fan on auction block (AP)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 06:13 PM PDT

Yahoo readies books for potential buyers -sources (Reuters)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 03:02 PM PDT

By Nadia Damouni Nadia Damouni – Tue Oct 4, 6:02 pm ET

(Reuters) – Yahoo Inc's long-time advisers Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Allen & Co are preparing to give potential buyers financial information, in a sign the troubled Internet giant is ready to put itself on the block, sources close to the situation said.

Over the last few weeks, potential buyers including large technology and media companies, private equity and international companies have proposed many different options regarding Yahoo's various businesses, one of the sources said.

"Almost everyone on the street has some angle they are trying to play," the source said.

Jack Ma, the founder and CEO of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, told an audience at Stanford University that he would be "very interested" in buying the entire Yahoo.

The executive, who was speaking at the China 2.0 conference, said he had not visited Yahoo to discuss a deal since he arrived in the United States 15 days ago.

The struggling company is expected to take months to decide its future. Yahoo announced it had retained Allen & Co to help it conduct a long-term "strategic review."

Private equity firm Silver Lake Partners is among the parties that have been in touch with Allen & Co, according to a source familiar with the matter.

A Silver Lake spokesman declined to comment.

In a memo to employees last month, Yahoo executives said its advisers were "fielding inquiries from multiple parties that have already expressed interest in a number of potential options."

Goldman and Yahoo declined to comment. Allen & Co was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Nadia Damouni in New York and Alexei Oreskovic in San Francisco; Editing by Gary Hill and Richard Chang)

Apple iPhone voice raises pitch in war vs Google (Reuters)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 05:15 PM PDT

By Alexei Oreskovic Alexei Oreskovic – Tue Oct 4, 8:15 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Apple Inc beefed up its new iPhone with faster chips and better cameras, seeking to set its handset apart from the rising tide of Google Android smartphones.

But the one feature that got the most "oohs" and "ahhs" from the audience at Tuesday's iPhone unveiling was the built-in voice-recognition technology, dubbed "Siri".

Apple demonstrated a variety of scenarios in which users of the new iPhone 4S seemed to hold a conversation with the device, managing calendar appointments, finding restaurants and inquiring about the weather.

"That was a pretty big step forward," said Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett, who attended the launch at Apple headquarters. "To be able to just converse with your gadget. You've got more options than just poking and swiping at it with your finger."

Whether such high-tech wizardry is enough to make the iPhone 4S a must-have in consumers' eyes, and set it apart from the competition, remains to be seen.

"It's not clear that Siri is sufficient to make or break a purchase decision," said John Jackson, an analyst at CCS Insight. "It's a better mousetrap. History tells us users don't use this technology in great numbers."

Voice recognition technology isn't new. Software companies have offered technology allowing people to do dictation, with varying results, on their personal computers for more than a decade. Even low-tech gizmos like vehicle-GPS units made by Garmin and others can be voice-enabled.

Google introduced voice recognition technology to its Android smartphone software more than a year ago, and the company recently introduced a voice-recognition capability into its flagship Web search engine.

But Gillett said Apple had taken the technology beyond merely recognizing spoken words. The Siri technology could take actions based on people's words, making it closer to a true "personal assistant," he said.

IT TALKS BACK!

During demonstrations, an Apple executive asked the phone whether he needed a raincoat today, and the phone responded: "It sure looks like rain today."

A separate video of Siri technology in action, screened during the event, depicted a jogger telling his phone to book an appointment at noon, with the phone responding, in a robotic female voice, that he already had an appointment at that time.

Siri will initially be available with support for English, French and German with more languages soon, Apple said. The company acquired Siri, the maker of the technology, early last year.

Apple's iPhone, first introduced in 2007, is the No. 1 selling smartphone in the world. But phones based on Google Inc's Android operating system, which is available for free to handset vendors such as Motorola, HTC Corp and Samsung Electronics, have a greater combined market share than Apple's iPhones.

Inside iPhone 4S is a dual-core A5 processor, designed by Apple, with improved graphics capabilities for video games, as well as special image processing capabilities for improving photo and video performance. The camera got a boost to 8 megapixel resolution, up from the prior model's 5 megapixels.

Apple also provided more details on forthcoming Internet-based "cloud" features on Tuesday. Users of iPhones and iPad tablets will be able to store their music, photos and other data on Apple's remote servers, similar to services offered by Google and Amazon.com Inc.

For all the hardware improvements, Gartner analyst Van Baker said it was the Siri technology that will really make the iPhone 4S stand apart.

"It is very cutting-edge," he said. "They have raised the bar."

(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; Editing by Richard Chang)

Japan's KDDI to sell new iPhone: Apple (Reuters)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 04:38 PM PDT

– Tue Oct 4, 7:38 pm ET

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan's second-largest mobile phone carrier, KDDI, will sell Apple's new iPhone, the California-based company said at a presentation for the iPhone 4S.

The plan for the new smartphone, which will go on sale starting on October 14, will end rival carrier Softbank's reign as the sole Japanese provider of the hugely popular gadget.

(Reporting by Poornima Gupta; Writing by Isabel Reynolds; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Social media, mobile tech on the rise for weddings (AP)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 02:40 PM PDT

By LEANNE ITALIE, Associated Press Leanne Italie, Associated Press – Tue Oct 4, 5:40 pm ET

NEW YORK – As her grandfather sat pleasantly perplexed at her wedding, Lauren Barnes reached into the recesses of her strapless white gown, whipped out her iPhone and accepted her groom's Facebook relationship change to "married."

"Nothing's official," she said, "until it's Facebook official!"

In today's $78-billion-a-year business of getting hitched, those wacky viral videos of whole wedding parties dancing down the aisle seem positively 2009. Social media, mobile tools and online vendors are abundant to offer the happy couple extra fun, savings and convenience, though most of the nation's betrothed aren't ready to completely let go of tradition.

Some send out video save-the-dates, include high-speed scannable "QR" barcodes on invitations, live-stream their ceremonies for far-flung loved ones to watch online, and open their party playlists to let friends and families help choose the tunes.

They invite guests to live tweet the big day using special Twitter keywords, called hashtags, and create interactive seating charts so tablemates can chat online ahead of time.

One couple featured a "guest of the week" on their wedding blog. Another ordered up a cake with an iPad embedded at the base to stream photos at the reception. A third Skyped in a "virtual bridesmaid" who couldn't make it, so she was walked down the aisle by a groomsman via iPad.

For Steve Poland, 31, in Buffalo, N.Y., it was the whole shebang for his Sept. 10 wedding.

"We used the Twitter hashtag `polandwedding,' our nuptials were read from an iPad by our friend, who got ordained online, and our wedding invites were printed by the hip Us.moo.com as postcards that we mailed out. I was really hoping to use Turntable.fm as our music, but it didn't work out," he said.

Oh, and Poland and his wife, Caryn Hallock, spent part of their honeymoon in a Hawaii tree house they found on Airbnb.com.

According to surveys by the magazine sites Brides and The Knot, tech is on the rise in the world of weddings, with 65 percent of couples now setting up special sites to manage RSVPs, stream video of the ceremony and-or reception, and keep guests in the loop.

One in five couples use mobile apps for planning. That includes chasing down vendors, and virtually trying on and locating dresses. Seventeen percent of couples use social media to plan, shop or register for gifts, along with sharing every detail online. About 14 percent to 18 percent of brides buy a dress online, according to Brides.

Nearly 1 in 5 couples go paperless for invitations or save-the-dates. Many of those who have preserved the tradition of paper invites have dispensed with the inserts usually tucked inside envelopes, opting for e-mail or Web tools for RSVPs, maps, and details on destinations or related events.

From proposals on Twitter to Foursquare check-ins from the church or honeymoon, weddings seem ready-made for social media sharing — or oversharing, depending on whether you're invited.

Alexandra Linhares, 23, is nervous about that.

She just moved to Marietta, Ga., but she's getting married in April back home in Highlands Ranch, Colo. She and fiance Bradley Garritson, 24, are taking care not to gush too much to their hundreds of Facebook friends. Other couples turn off their Facebook walls so premature messages of congrats don't show up before they've announced their engagements.

"There are a lot of people I work with on Facebook and who follow me on Twitter," Linhares said. "We don't want to hurt anybody's feelings."

But apps and online services have saved her life, logistically speaking.

"Since we're planning a wedding from thousands of miles away, we're relying heavily on technology to help us," she said. "We have a private Facebook group that we use to communicate with everyone in our bridal party since we're all in different states and countries."

Linhares found her gown with the help of an app. She and Garritson rely on Skype meetings to interview vendors. They're keeping track of RSVPs on their phones, along with the usual tangle of deadlines. And they're using an app to keep track of their budget. The couple went to the cloud — for online data storage and sharing — to maintain a master spreadsheet everyone can access at any time, avoiding the need to push updates around in e-mail.

Such tools can be a godsend, so long as older or not-so-techie folk aren't stranded on the wrong side of the firewall. "But that list of people is shrinking fast," said Anja Winikka, site editor for The Knot.

Brides found that 17 percent of couples register for gifts exclusively online. Sites have popped up making it easier to combine multiple registries into one — like MyRegistry.com — and ask for cash at the same time for honeymoons or home repairs.

Cris Stone, 33, will marry Jerry Delp, 44, in San Antonio, Texas, in May.

"I already have a wedding website," she said. "People will be able to watch the wedding via live streaming, though it's only for the ceremony because I consider that the most important part of the wedding."

John Ham, co-founder of Ustream, said about 10,000 weddings have been broadcast live from the site — Ustreamtv.com — over the last 12 months. "People want to participate in the moment," he said.

Stone is using DepositaGift.com. It offers a button on her wedding site so people can give cash for the couple's home remodel "without ever worrying about checks or actual cash envelopes," she said.

"It's proven extremely popular so far, and surprisingly not with the younger crowd as we had originally assumed, but with the 40 to 55 set who like not worrying about losing the envelope," Stone said.

She jiggered her Deposit a Gift so people can contribute $25 increments of brick, for instance, or $100 toward the cost of new windows.

Nicole Endres, 25, in Centreville, Va., and fiance Dan Rodriguez, 28, asked for cash, among other gifts, on their wedding website using Honeyfund.com, to help pay for their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

"We can transfer it straight from PayPal to our bank account, instead of taking checks to the bank," Endres said.

On invitations, some couples are using the small, square QR codes to lead guests online for additional details, and sharing photos and video on Tumblr, Flickr, Picasa or numerous other fast, free sites.

As for the Barnes and James Williams nuptials held Sept. 3 on the grounds of the Long Beach Art Museum, their officiant and friend Andrew Pachon used an iPad for the ceremony, but that and the Facebook fiddle to "married" was about it in the way of tech flourishes.

Williams and Barnes, a 29-year-old physician from Long Beach, had Pachon explain toward the end of the ceremony that the couple wanted to share the moment with their 400-plus Facebook friends.

Before the ceremony, Williams had sent his bride a Facebook request to change his relationship status to "married to Lauren Barnes." Once they were hitched, she accepted using her iPhone — at 5:48 p.m. to be exact. There was a flurry of "likes" from gathered guests and the masses in cyberspace.

But not grandpa, who still managed to have a good time.

Microsoft Kills Zune While Apple Doubles Down on iPods (NewsFactor)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 04:26 PM PDT

Mark Long, newsfactor.com Mark Long, newsfactor.com – Tue Oct 4, 7:26 pm ET

Microsoft is discontinuing its line of Zune media players but will continue delivering Zune content services.

"Going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy," Microsoft said on its Zune player support page this week.

By contrast, Apple is clearly doubling down on its market-leading lineup of iPods. The company announced major updates of its iPod Touch and iPod Nano models on Tuesday at the same media event during which the company unveiled its new iPhone 4S model.

Among other things, users of the iPod Touch will be able to automatically and wirelessly store their personal content in Apple's iCloud service as well as push it to other computing devices such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac or PC. "When content changes on one device, all your other devices are updated automatically and wirelessly," Apple said Tuesday.

Apple's iPod Nano Upgrade

Apple's new iPod Touch will be offered at $199, $299, and $399 for the 8 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB models, respectively, beginning Oct. 12 -- the same day Apple will launch its latest upgrade to iOS, iOS5, and its new iCloud service. Moreover, Apple's upgraded iPod Nano with multi-touch capabilities is available now at a price of $129 for the 8 GB model and $149 for the 16 GB model.

Among other things, the new iPod Nano ships with the Nike+ fitness training app as an integral feature, with no additional sensors required to track the time, pace and distance of a run, or the number of calories burned. The device also will enable users to choose from among 16 new digital clock faces, ranging from classic analog looks to favorite Disney characters like Mickey or Minnie Mouse.

Some industry observers had speculated that Apple might be ready to discontinue its iPod Shuffle and iPod Classic models, and perhaps even introduce a new iPod Touch 3G. However, Apple said Tuesday it would continue selling the iPod Shuffle at $49 as well as a 160 GB version of the iPod Classic priced at $249.

The Clear Market Leader

As Apple's recent iPod shipment numbers demonstrate, the iPod continues to be a significant part of the company's revenues. At the company's media event on Tuesday, CEO Tim Cook said Apple now controls a 78 percent share of the global music player market. Additionally, the company has shipped more than 320 million iPods since the first model was introduced in October 2001.

Though Apple sold 9 million iPods during the company's latest business quarter, unit shipments declined 20 percent year over year. Still, Apple managed to ship 19.45 million iPods during last year's holiday shopping season and believes its refreshed Touch and Nano models will help drive sizable sales during the final three months of 2011.

Still, during the coming holiday shopping season Apple's iPod models will face stiff competition from the company's own iPhone offerings, which likewise integrate music and video playback capabilities. Pricing on the new iPhone 4S will start at $199, and Apple's wireless partners will be offering the older iPhone 4 for just $99 as well as the iPhone 3GS for free when subscribers sign up for two-year service contracts.

Is the iPhone 4S worth buying? (Appolicious)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 01:08 PM PDT

Intel acquires Israeli mobile navigation firm Telmap (Reuters)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 05:27 PM PDT

By Tova Cohen Tova Cohen – Tue Oct 4, 8:27 pm ET

TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Chipmaker Intel Corp has agreed to acquire mobile navigation software maker Telmap, the chief executive of the Israel-based company said on Sunday.

Details of the deal were not disclosed but Israeli media said Intel is paying about $300 million to $350 million.

Telmap CEO Oren Nissim declined to comment on the price and said the deal was expected to close before the end of the year.

Telmap will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intel, which has two plants and four development centers in Israel, and will retain its brand, management and 210 employees.

"The unique thing about this transaction is that here comes a giant and says 'We really like what you're doing, we believe in your strategy, we want to enhance and go forward. We're not here to swallow you up,'" Nissim told Reuters.

Teaming up with Intel will enable Telmap to provide a "true alternative" to offerings from giants such as Nokia and Google, Nissim said.

"I think to a large extent that from a strategic perspective came the only company that could have come," he said of Intel.

Intel expects Telmap to become much bigger and reach places it hasn't before, whether it be in Europe, Asia-Pacific or the United States, Nissim said, adding Telmap will stay in Israel but expects to recruit workers abroad.

Peter Biddle, general manager of Intel's AppUp developer program, in a blog posted at AppUp's annual gathering of developers in Seattle, said the deal was a step toward expanding Intel's mobile software services capabilities.

"Telmap delivers great multi-platform consumer experiences every day, and we're looking forward to combining that focus and excellence with Intel's to significantly grow their business," he wrote.

"But Telmap isn't just a great consumer service provider -- with Telmap we can directly provide developers with location-based services spanning devices, operating systems and CPU architectures."

Telmap, which offers location-based services to provide details on traffic data, speed cameras and local offerings, expects to post revenue of $33 million in 2011 and be profitable for the second consecutive year.

Intel, the world's No. 1 chipmaker, has become a larger provider of software and services following its acquisitions of McAfee and Wind River.

"In mobility Intel fully understands that consumers are after where value is being created for them, which is at software, services, content," Nissim said.

"Many things in mobility are happening around a person's whereabouts. A lot of application developments are being done and Intel wants to be close to that pillar," he said.

In addition to its core business, Telmap will open up its platform to third-party developers who will be able to enhance their applications with location-based services, Nissim said.

(Reporting by Tova Cohen; Editing by Robert Birsel and Jane Merriman)

(This story was corrected to clarify the name of Intel's AppUp general manager to Peter Biddle)

Microsoft kills Zune media player line after 5 yrs (AP)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 01:03 PM PDT

By PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer Peter Svensson, Ap Technology Writer – Tue Oct 4, 4:03 pm ET

NEW YORK – Microsoft is discontinuing the Zune media player, which it launched five years ago in the hope of taking on the iPod.

The player was well reviewed when it launched in 2006, and it grabbed as much as 10 percent of the market for media players. But enthusiasm faded, and the Zune has become one of many failed iPod wannabes.

Microsoft Corp. hasn't released a major update to the line in two years. Some of the look and functionality of the Zune has been moved over to Microsoft's smartphone software, which it says "will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy."

Microsoft says it will continue to support existing players.

Apple suppliers fall as new iPhone disappoints (Reuters)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 07:49 PM PDT

– 2 hrs 16 mins ago

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Shares of Apple's suppliers declined on Wednesday, after the company failed to wow fans and investors with its newest iPhone, while rivals HTC and Samsung Electronics rose on expectations they would be better placed to grab market share.

The new iPhone 4S is identical in form to the previous model, disappointing fans who had hoped for a thinner, bigger-screened design.

By 10:20 p.m. EDT, Apple's biggest supplier Hon Hai was down 0.6 percent, while casing company Foxconn Technology fell 2.9 percent. Camera module maker Largan Precision dipped 2.9 percent. The broader market lost 0.50 percent.

"The casing companies should be the most-hit, correcting from the previous rise, because the market has expected a metal case for the new iPhone," said Mike Fang, a fund manager of Paradigm Asset Management.

Fang did not expect iPhone shipments to drop on the disappointment over its appearance however, as a cheaper price would allow sales to expand at a faster pace. "The demand is still there from users upgrading from iPhone 3S because it's two generations behind," he added.

Shares of Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC climbed 1.2 percent, while Korean rivals Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics rose 1.1 percent and 2.3 percent respectively, in a broader Korean market down 2 percent.

Apple's failure to introduce a phone with distinctly new features may prompt mobile carriers to aggressively promote other LTE models, especially ahead of the Christmas season, some analysts said.

LG Electronics introduced a LTE smartphone in Korea this week, showcasing a 4.5-inch display and a dual-core processor.

In Japan, the country's second-largest mobile carrier KDDI will sell Apple's new iPhone, ending rival operator Softbank's highly profitable reign as the sole provider in Japan.

(Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Jonathan Standing and Anshuman Daga)

Is Apple iPhone 4S Worth the Upgrade? (NewsFactor)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 01:32 PM PDT

Jennifer LeClaire, newsfactor.com Jennifer Leclaire, newsfactor.com – Tue Oct 4, 4:32 pm ET

It's not an iPhone 5, but it is a marked improvement over the last model. Apple on Tuesday rolled out the iPhone 4S, complete with a fresh operating system and other bells and whistles that aim to woo new and existing iPhone users alike. But is it worth an upgrade from an iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4?

The iPhone 4S may be tempting for consumers. It offers a dual-core A5 chip that promises up to twice the processing power and up to seven times faster graphics. An all-new camera offers advanced optics and full 1080p HD resolution video recording. A new dual-antenna design lets the phone switch between two antennas automatically to send and receive. And a voice-control app called Siri Assistant takes voice commands to find information and perform other tasks on the go.

For its part, iOS 5 has more than 200 new features of its own. And iCloud brings a set of cloud services that work with the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store digital content in the cloud and push it to various devices.

Steve Jobs-Like Remarks

Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, made the types of statements former CEO Steve Jobs used to make, calling the iPhone 4S, iOS 5 and iCloud combination a breakthrough. He also took a jab at the competition (read: Android.)

"While our competitors try to imitate iPhone with a checklist of features," he said, "only iPhone can deliver these breakthrough innovations that work seamlessly together."

The iPhone 4S comes in either black or white and will sell for $199 for the 16 GB model and $299 for the 32 GB model with a two-year contract. There's also a new 64 GB model that's going for $399. The iPhone 4, meanwhile, is getting a price drop to $99 for an 8 GB model, and the iPhone 3GS is free with a two-year contract.

"This is definitely an evolutionary upgrade with revolutionary features," said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner. "The same way that users upgraded from 3G to 3GS, I think we are going to see that pattern here."

Should You Upgrade?

The camera on the iPhone 4S is all new, with an 8-megapixel sensor that offers 60 percent more pixels. More pixels means higher quality. iPhone 4S includes a new custom lens with a larger f/2.4 aperture and an advanced hybrid infrared filter that works to produce sharper, brighter and more accurate images. With the iPhone 4S, Apple said, the camera app launches much faster and the shot-to-shot capability is twice as fast.

Meanwhile, new features in the camera and photos apps give users instant access to the camera right from the lock screen, and users can also use the volume-up button to quickly snap a photo. Optional grid lines help line up the shot and a simple tap locks focus and exposure on one subject. The new Photos app lets users crop, rotate, enhance and remove red-eye, and organize photos into albums.

"The faster processor is going to give way to a lot of new applications that just won't run well on the older devices. The new imaging and the new voice assistance all make it kind of worthwhile," Gartenberg said. "What's nice is that Apple is keeping the old models in the line all the way back to the 3GS. It means that we are going to see new customers coming in at these new price points. So I'd say it's a pretty successful day for Apple."

IBM buys Q1 Labs to expand in security software (Reuters)

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 10:53 AM PDT

By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed Saqib Iqbal Ahmed – Tue Oct 4, 1:53 pm ET

(Reuters) – IBM Corp (IBM.N) will buy security software provider Q1 Labs as it looks to expand in a market which has seen recent high-profile cyber attacks on victims from Sony Corp (6758.T) to the British police.

Last year, Intel Corp (INTC.O) paid $7.68 billion for data security firm McAfee Inc, and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ.N) bought security software company ArcSight Inc for $1.5 billion.

Also on Tuesday, McAfee said it would buy NitroSecurity, a privately-owned provider of security information and event management tools. NitroSecurity and Q1 Labs, which is also privately owned, make software to help businesses analyze security logs and spot hacking threats and attacks.

IBM, which did not say how much it was paying for Q1 Labs, sees the security software and services business as a $94 billion market opportunity and has been buying analytics companies to beef up its security offerings.

In five years, it has spent more than $14 billion on 25 deals focused on analytics to help customers deal with the huge volumes of unstructured data from sources such as social media, biometrics and criminal databases.

In August, it bought British security analytics software firm i2, also for an undisclosed sum, and last month acquired Toronto-based risk analytics software firm Algorithmics for $387 million in cash.

Symantec Corp (SYMC.O), with a 19 percent share, dominated the global security software market -- worth $14.7 billion by revenue -- last year, according to research firm Gartner. McAfee followed with about a 10 percent share, ahead of Trend Micro (4704.T) and IBM, with 5 percent.

Waltham, Massachusetts-based Q1 Labs -- which provides software for collecting, storing, analyzing and querying log, threat, vulnerability and risk-related data -- will become part of IBM's newly-formed security systems division.

Q1 Labs, founded in 2001, has more than 1,800 clients globally, and counts Polaris Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, BDC Venture Capital and Globespan Capital Partners among its investors.

Q1 Labs CEO Brendan Hannigan will head up the new IBM division, helping clients tackle corporate security breaches, growing mobile security concerns and advanced security threats.

IBM shares were down 1.3 percent at $171.04 on Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, underperforming the broader share market (.DJI), which was down 1 percent.

(Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in Bangalore; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
at 10:27 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

My Blog List