UK division of Leica sees slower sales despite new camera launch December 8, 2013 THE UK division of Leica Cameras, the iconic camera brand used by celebrated photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, reported a slowdown in sales last year despite rolling out a new flagship camera. Leica Camera, which is owned by German parent company Leica AG and distributes cameras in the UK, reported a 12 per cent dip in turnover [...]
Merck picks up AZ Electronic in £1.6bn purchase December 5, 2013 LONDON-listed chemicals company AZ Electronic Materials has agreed a £1.56bn takeover by German manufacturer Merck. AZ, a maker of chemicals for Apple’s iPad displays and memory chips, saw its share price rise over 50 per cent to 395p a share on news of the deal yesterday, just shy of the 403.5p per share that the [...]
Icahn pushes for bigger slice of Apple turnover December 4, 2013 VETERAN investor Carl Icahn has announced that he will push for Apple to increase its stock buyback programme, forcing a shareholder vote on the issue. Icahn is calling for Apple to increase its existing buyback scheme by $50bn (£30.53bn). The proposal would not force Apple to act, but could put pressure on the board to [...]
EU antitrust probe gives green light to Nokia for handset sale December 4, 2013 EUROPEAN Union antitrust regulators have approved Nokia’s €5.44bn (£4.5bn) sale of its devices and services division to Microsoft. “The commission concluded that the transaction would not raise any competition concerns,” the European Commission said in a statement yesterday. The deal has now passed final regulatory approval, having been given the go ahead by the US [...]
Ways to keep your mobile data away from thieves December 4, 2013 As a new face-recognition security app hits an iPhone near you, we assess your top security options FaceCrypt PlusApp Store, £4.99FaceCrypt is an ingenious app that allows you to keep all of your passwords behind digital walls 10 feet thick (the algorithm needed to unlock it is military grade). To access your files, just flash [...]
What Tim might be Cook-ing up on his Christmas wish list December 3, 2013 With Apple’s recent purchase of Topsy, Tim Cook is clearly enjoying a touch of retail therapy in the lead up to Christmas. The Capitalist thought it would be fun to try to second guess what else might be on Cook’s list. 1 Snapchat – Topsy is one of Apple’s first forays into social media, so [...]
Gifts for him December 3, 2013 Your guide to what to buy the men in your life this Christmas check out our “gifts for her” guide next week ◆ Technology ◆ Accessories ◆ Drinks ◆ Toys ◆ Food Tech the halls… Our selection of the very best gadgets on sale this Christmas Garmin windshield projecting sat-nav £129.99 garmin.com Bowers & Wilkins [...]
Apple pays $200m for analytics firm Topsy December 2, 2013 APPLE yesterday splashed out on social media analytics firm Topsy, a business which was only founded in 2007. The technology giant, led by Tim Cook (right), is said to have paid $200m (£122.3m). Topsy specialises in analysing Twitter data and providing insights into sentiment on a variety of topics. Apple’s previous foray into social media was [...]
Britons plump for pricier new iPhone model December 1, 2013 APPLE’S iPhone 5S had outsold the company’s 5C model three to one in the UK, despite the higher price of the more powerful handset. According to sales figures from Kantar Worldpanel Comtech, released today, the more expensive 5S has proved much more popular among British consumers. However, in the US, Apple has had more success [...]
Awkward laughs prove to be just what the doctor ordered November 28, 2013 THEATRE IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) St James Theatre | By Simon Thomson Four Stars IT’S THE dawn of the electrical age in a spa town near New York, and the enterprising Doctor Givings is treating hysterical patients. With vibrators. This is the West End transfer of Sarah Ruhl’s Tony-and-Pulitzer-nominated comedy In [...]