Patent wars hit record high as tech firms fight January 27, 2013 THE GLOBAL technology patent wars hit a new high in 2012, with a record number of applications made for international computing patents. A flurry of costly court cases between smartphone and tablet companies such as Apple, Samsung and Nokia has upped the value of patents in the last 12 months, and this was responsible for [...]
Samsung posts record profits January 24, 2013 Samsung Electronics reported a record quarterly profit of $8.3bn (£5.3bn) and kept its 2013 investment plans at the previous year’s level, defying expectations that it may reduce spending amid weaker demand for computer chips. The South Korean firm said October to December operating profit increased 89 per cent from a year ago to 8.84 trillion [...]
Nokia hangs up on dividend to preserve cash January 24, 2013 NOKIA returned to profit in the final quarter of 2012, as sales of its Lumia smartphones finally picked up. However, the Finnish company said it would not be paying a dividend for the first time in over 20 years, as it struggles to preserve its cash pile. Following a cost-cutting plan that saw tens of [...]
Android maintains command of smartphone sales at Christmas January 22, 2013 SALES of phones running Google’s Android operating system continued to grow over the Christmas period, despite the release of Apple’s iPhone 5. Data from researchers Kantar Worldpanel found that Android increased its market share in key territories – the US, the UK, China and the EU – although Microsoft’s Windows Phone software is showing signs [...]
RIM chief Heins says BlackBerry could feature on rival devices January 21, 2013 BLACKBERRY software could be licensed to other phone manufacturers, the chief executive of owner Research in Motion (RIM) has said. Thorsten Heins, who was made RIM’s chief executive 12 months ago, said offering the BlackBerry operating system to other parties, such as Samsung and HTC, was a possibility, and that the Canadian company could even [...]
Apple’s record results to be hit by profit fears January 20, 2013 APPLE is expected to report record quarterly sales this week, with the iPhone and iPad proving more popular than ever. However, profits have taken a hit, with the company’s margins expected to be lower on the recently-released iPhone 5 and iPad mini than on previous models. The two devices were released separately towards the beginning [...]
The greatest show on earth January 16, 2013 The biggest, loudest, wackiest technology showcase in the world, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), came to a close in Las Vegas this week, leaving geeks drooling over the gadgets we can expect to see over the next 12 months. The six-day event saw an estimated 20,000 new products from the over-3,000 exhibitors. This year’s event [...]
HMV’s demise shows why even giant firms have feet of clay January 14, 2013 SO that’s it, then: HMV has finally gone into administration, the latest, most tragic victim of the revolution that is sweeping away erstwhile giants. This comes just days after Jessops, the camera firm, was liquidated, and after the demise of Comet, the electrical retailer. So who’s responsible? Quite simply, all of us. Consumers are all-powerful, [...]
Apple shares dip below $500 on demand concerns for iPhone January 14, 2013 SHARES in Apple fell to below $500 for the first time in almost a year yesterday, on reports that the company had cut orders for iPhone parts following weak demand. The world’s highest-valued company fell almost four per cent in New York, wiping over $18bn (£11.1bn) off its value, with investors fearing Apple’s most profitable [...]
Big screens and popular designs are helping Samsung take a bite out of Apple’s smartphone lead January 14, 2013 TAKE note. 2013 has already been dubbed the year of the phablet – the hideous nickname given to oversized mobile phones that are closer in form factor to a tablet computer. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show featured new phablets from the likes of Lenovo, Sony and Huawei. Some have gone so far as to call [...]