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 [...]
Change at top can’t come too soon January 4, 2012 THERE will be few tears shed in the telecoms world if RIM’s Mike Lazaridis and James Balsillie are ousted from their roles as co-chairmen. The pair, who are also co-chief executives, have enjoyed a stranglehold over the company for too long, thanks to a bizarre boardroom structure that flies in the face of corporate governance [...]
Banks drag FTSE down as UniCredit prices at discount January 4, 2012 CONCERNS over the Eurozone sent Britain’s top shares into reverse yesterday after the previous session’s sharp gains, as Italian lender UniCredit priced a rights issue at a huge discount, and a German bond auction failed to excite. The FTSE 100 fell 31.46 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 5,668.45, albeit in light volume, at 79 [...]
RIM’s 2011 has been a nightmare – and it better wake up soon January 4, 2012 At a time of year when success stories are being lauded in a frenzy of year-end round-ups, spare a thought for those standing in the shadows, solemnly planning their new year’s resolutions. Sony’s should be “must remember to lock the back door,” given its unfortunate hacking incident, adding to the woes of its TV department, [...]
TECHNO FASHION | THE GADGETS YOU CAN WEAR January 4, 2012 WATCH2PAY, £99 This collaboration between watch manufacturer LAKS and MasterCard allows you to make contactless payments in shops like Pret by simply scanning it at the till. It’s no Rolex but early adopters can jump on the NFC bandwagon with this while Apple takes its time putting the technology into its iPhones. watch2pay.com IPHONE GLOVES, [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING January 3, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES MINISTER ATTACKS GREEN LOBBY The climate change minister has rounded on the “environmental Taliban” of green campaigners, insisting they are wrong to accuse the government of abandoning its commitment to a low carbon agenda. Greg Barker said: “There is nothing environmental about exporting manufacturing jobs abroad.” Barker has led the contentious efforts to [...]
Samsung edges Apple to top spot January 3, 2012 Samsung’s Galaxy S II handset fought off competition from Apple’s iPhone 4S to maintain its top spot in the mobile phone war over Christmas. The phone has now led tables for eight consecutive months, according to uSwitch.com’s tracker, which is based on internet searches as well as sales. The race appears to have been close-run, [...]
Why 2012 will be Groundhog Year January 2, 2012 WELL good riddance to all that. Few would disagree that 2011 was truly an annus horribilis, a year defined by feckless politicians and unruly mobs. I, for one, felt a sense of relief when the chiming bells heralded the start of a new year; at certain times over the last twelve months, it felt as [...]