Why CES needs a kick in the behind January 11, 2012 How many big names can a band lose before they have to call it a day? Axl Rose just about managed to keep Guns ‘n’ Roses going, despite being the last original member, but only because his ego generates enough gravity to glue the fabric of the universe together. The Sugarbabes went one step further, [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING January 10, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES MICROSOFT ALLEGES PIRACY IN CHINA LAWSUITS Microsoft has stepped up its fight against software piracy in China with unprecedented lawsuits against Chinese electronics retailers. The company is suing Shanghai Gome, a branch of one of the country’s largest electronics and appliances chains, and Beijing Chaoyang Buynow, one of China’s largest computer malls. The [...]
Kodak unveils new structure and Apple spat January 10, 2012 KODAK announced a new business structure yesterday that divides its film group into its two other business units as the once-iconic photography company tries to refocus as a digital company to help fend off financial difficulties. Its US-listed shares jumped after the news and closed up 50 per cent. Separately, the company filed a lawsuit [...]
Angry Birds leads iPhone app boom as boss gets paid $376m January 9, 2012 FACEBOOK and the Angry Birds game were the most downloaded apps of 2011, Apple revealed yesterday, and the remaining eight of the top 10 were all games. Early last month Apple said its 2011 app downloads had smashed through the 100m mark. The technology giant’s chief executive Tim Cook received almost $1m (£646,700) in cash [...]
Netflix and Lovefilm battle for UK market January 9, 2012 US video streaming service Netflix began its attempt to take over the UK market yesterday, ruffling the feathers of home competitors such as Lovefilm and Sky Movies. British customers can pay £5.99 per month for unlimited access to Netflix’s online emporium of films and TV programmes that can be streamed on a range of gadgets [...]
The man gunning for Sky in the battle to be king of the movies January 9, 2012 IT’S a brave man who takes on BSkyB. The UK’s undisputed champion of subscription TV continues to go from strength to strength, seemingly impervious to the problems facing its biggest shareholder. But there is a new kid in town who wants to muscle in on the action. Netflix launched its video streaming service in the [...]
Charting on the move is the smart way to trade January 8, 2012 THE cyberspace race of mobile trading technology continues apace, with GFT announcing the release of an iPad version of its DealBook trading platform. GFT’s iPad offering includes full-screen charting, real-time quotes and real-time news via CNBC. The many and varied ways a spread betting provider can help trading on the move has become a key [...]
Samsung set for record profits January 5, 2012 Samsung this morning said its profits for the last quarter of 2011 would jump 73 per cent to a life-time high, aided by record-breaking sales of its smartphones. The South Korean firm, which surged past Apple as the world’s top smartphone maker in the third quarter, said its quarterly operating profit would come in at [...]
Apple could take aim for Premier League football January 4, 2012 APPLE could launch an audacious bid for Premier League football rights, according to industry sources. The Cupertino-based firm is said to be examining whether a bid for the rights could be a driving force for its long-rumoured Apple TV, which is expected in the first half of this year. The next three seasons of the [...]
Pressure for shake-up at RIM grows January 4, 2012 THERE was growing pressure yesterday on BlackBerry maker Research in Motion to unveil a boardroom shakeup that could see its co-chairmen ousted. An increasing groundswell, led by activist investor Jaguar Financial, is calling for a break-up or sale of the company following a dire year. The board has launched a review of the unusual company [...]