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Around all the excitement over the
public ripping apart of the iPhone, analysis of the components has thrown up interesting information about the gross profit margin that Apple is making on every iPhone sold.
55%.
Yes, for every iPhone purchased - and estimates for weekend sales hover around the half a million mark - Apple is making a profit of 55% of the retail price.
If you add up the price of all the component parts then technology-research firm iSuppli found that producing the device costs Apple about $266 for the hardware.
The $599 price tag for the 8GB version means a markup of $333.
Of course, Apple has to recoup all of its development and marketing costs first, but as Joey from Friends would say “These babies sell themselves” so that shouldn’t take too long.
The 55% profit margin is higher than that estimated for both the iPhone and iTV.
Source: SmartPhone Reviewer
July 4th, 2007
Research In Motion today introduced the BlackBerry CurveT smartphone - the smallest and lightest full QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone. With its smooth and friendly design encompassing a large display, easy-to-use keyboard and intuitive trackball navigation system, this powerful new smartphone makes it easy to stay connected to the people and information that matter most.
“The BlackBerry Curve offers a unique blend of communications, multimedia and web features to provide people with an exceptional mobile companion for both work and leisure,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at RIM. “The BlackBerry Curve delivers RIM’s industry leading email and messaging capabilities in a highly approachable smartphone design that is packed with consumer-friendly features including a 2 megapixel camera, enhanced media player and high-performance browser.”
SMOOTH DESIGN & EASY TO USE
The BlackBerry Curve features a liquid silver finish, chrome highlights, smooth edges and soft curves. It is a full-featured smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard and large display and yet it boasts an impressively small and lightweight design at 4.2′’ x 2.4′’ x 0.6′’ and approximately 3.9 oz. The ultra-bright 320×240 display brings images and video to life and includes RIM’s light sensing technology that automatically adjusts backlighting levels for indoor, outdoor and dark environments. The handset also features RIM’s innovative trackball navigation system that makes scrolling and selecting fast and easy.
MULTIMEDIA TO GO
The BlackBerry Curve comes with a 2 megapixel camera, complete with 5x digital zoom, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder. The camera can capture images in up to three picture quality and size resolutions that can be shared instantly by email, MMS or BlackBerry® Messenger and transferred over Bluetooth® or USB cable. Photos can also be immediately set as a unique caller ID or Home Screen image.
The audio system is crisp and clear, playing music and videos through the handset’s integrated speaker or through the 3.5 mm stereo jack. The Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP) is supported, and dedicated volume controls are conveniently located on the side of the handset.
A powerful new desktop media manager is also included with the BlackBerry Curve. The Roxio® Media Manager for BlackBerry®, which was developed with Sonic® and based on the award-winning Roxio Easy Media Creator® 9, introduces a new level of simplicity, allowing users to easily search for media files on their computer, view and organize them, create MP3 music files from CDs, add audio tags, create playlists and automatically copy or convert pictures, music and videos for optimal playback on the BlackBerry Curve.
The media manager also includes Roxio Photosuite® 9 LE, a comprehensive tool that makes it easy to edit pictures and create photo albums. With PhotoSuite, pictures can be cropped, rotated and straightened, and flaws can be fixed by removing redeye or changing the brightness, contrast and saturation levels. Pictures can even be enhanced with color filters and special effects.
The media player on the BlackBerry Curve has been refined, allowing users to search for music by simply typing the title, genre, artist or album name. Videos can also be played in full screen mode.
MORE STORAGE FOR YOUR TUNES, FLICKS AND PICS
For added storage of music, videos and pictures, the BlackBerry Curve comes with a microSD expansion slot. It supports up to 2GB cards that are available today and will automatically support 4GB cards that are expected to become available later this year.
BRING THE WEB WITH YOU
The BlackBerry Curve features a high-performance browser that can download and display HTML web pages quickly and efficiently. Users can bookmark their favorite sites and set up RSS feeds to stay connected to the timely news and information that matters most during their day. The highly responsive browser, large and vivid screen and super-easy trackball navigation provides an exceptional mobile experience.
FULL FEATURED PHONE
The BlackBerry Curve offers many convenient phone features including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), Bluetooth® 2.0 support for hands-free use with headsets, car kits and Bluetooth peripherals, quad-band operation for global roaming(2), dedicated ’send’, ‘end’, and ‘mute’ keys, smart dialing, speed dialing, conference calling, call forwarding, noise cancellation technology to offset background noise, a low-distortion speakerphone for hands-free conversations and support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ring tones.
INDUSTRY LEADING EMAIL & MESSAGING
The BlackBerry Curve delivers all the renowned BlackBerry email and messaging capabilities and even features a new integrated spell checker with a user-customizable dictionary to help maintain spelling accuracy on the go. The BlackBerry Curve is supported on BlackBerry® Internet Service, giving users access to up to 10 work or personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts), as well as BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, enabling advanced security and IT administration within IBM® Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange and Novell® GroupWise® environments.
ACCESSORIZE
The BlackBerry Curve also comes with a variety of accessories: a stereo headset, travel charger, carrying pouch and USB cable are all included in the box. Additional accessories for BlackBerry handsets, including premium leather holsters and totes, an automotive charger, and Bluetooth headsets are available through retail outlets or online at: www.shopblackberry.com.
AVAILABILITY
The BlackBerry Curve (model number: 8300) will be available through wireless carriers around the world, including AT&T in the U.S., beginning this spring.
May 5th, 2007
Hitachi has announced the imminent release of the world’s first one terabyte hard drive. The Deskstar 7K1000 will retail for only $399 which weighs in at just 40 cents per gigabyte.
Seagate had earlier announced their own terabyte drive, but failed to provide a release date or a price, and in our book that makes them the loser.
“The industry’s first one-terabyte hard drive represents a milestone that is 50 years in the making, and it reasserts the hard drive’s leadership as the highest-capacity, lowest-cost storage technology,” said Shinjiro Iwata, chief marketing officer, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. “In the 51 st year, Hitachi is leading a new era for hard drives — not only providing large amounts of affordable storage, but also customizing and optimizing hard drives to deliver products that are smarter, more durable and more useful to the consumer.”
Interestingly for those who own, or are thinking of buying, a PVR, Hitachi also announced the Deskstar’s cousin, Cinemastar, aimed squarely at the home electronics market. Like Deskstar, Cinemastar has a one terabyte capacity.
January 6th, 2007
If you needed a sign that the Nintendo Wii is going to belie its ridiculed name and challenge both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, then take a look at the news from the States where games retailer Gamestop has already sold out its preallocated supply. It did so on the very first day that preordering opened.
Preorders for the PS3 are still open, several days after they commenced.
So, at a glance the news looks extremely good for Wii. Anecdotal reports from across the pond suggest queues for Wii were longer than for the PS3 and more diverse as well. However, the headline stat does not provide the complete picture. Because of production delays with the PS3, Sony has reduced the number of PS3s available for preorder by a fourth. Each Gamestop store may only be getting a number of units in the low teens. At least Sony is being open about the figures.
Wii is suffering no reported production problems, but even so, Nintendo has not yet confirmed store by store availability. So each Gamestop manager has to guess, and with the prospect of sobbing children and angry parents on their threshold if they get it wrong, most will be guessing on the conservative side.
So Wii’s selling out its preorder allocation is not too surprising, as no one is entirely sure what that allocation is.
Most analysts expect Wii to be a plucky loser to the PS3 and today’s news only goes a little way to challenging that expectation.
October 17th, 2006
A Florida judge has struck a blow against the needless censorship of games, by throwing out a complaint against Rockstar’s, soon to be released, Bully.
Attorney Jack Thompson has demanded a ban on the sale of Bully in Florida, claiming that it breaches a nuisance law that prohibits activities that can injure the health of the community (yes, even if you argue successfully that Bully is a disturbing premise for a piece of entertainment, it’s hardly a nuisnace to the community).
Thompson referred to Bully as a “Columbine simulator” which doesn’t stand up to any scrutiny. For a start, Bully doesn’t involve firearms. The most dangerous weapon that the protaganist has access to is a baseball bat. Columbine involved a group of reclusive youths from a firearms obsessed society living out a violent fantasy. Bully is about a downtroden pupil at a private school using his fists to firstly defend himself, then to rise through the ‘ranks’ until he’s the biggest bully in the school. And a bully is all he remains, not a murderer.
Judge Friedman said that, although Bully contains violence, the video game exposes players to less violence than they would encounter watching television. He spent an hour and a half watching a Rockstar employee playing the game before coming to a decision.
October 17th, 2006
Logitech today unveiled a new game controller with an innovative built-in fan-based cooling system, designed to keep the hands of gamers cool and dry – even during intense competition. The Logitech ChillStream controller for PC is the only new game controller to offer this exclusive, patented technology.
“We’re always evaluating the different kinds of materials and technologies that can help make the gaming experience more comfortable,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “But for intense action-games, there is nothing that can substitute for moving air – it’s the best way to keep hands cool and dry. This new controller offers Logitech’s unique ChillStream hand-cooling technology without compromising on the size and design of the controller. And the fan is extremely quiet – you’ll know it’s on only because you can feel the air cooling your hands.”
Logitech’s exclusive ChillStream Technology includes a built-in 40 mm fan that circulates up to 3.41 cubic feet of air every minute, while generating very little noise. Because of the fan’s compact size, Logitech can deliver the ChillStream feature in a standard-size controller. Three narrow vents on each side of the controller push air directly onto the four fingers, the base of the thumb and the palm of the hand – the three areas of the hand that need cooling most. The air stream has three settings – high, low, and off. The air vents are recessed from the surface of the controller and rubber linings surrounding the vents are flush with the surface – making the vents barely noticeable to the touch during gaming.
The plug-and-play, full-speed USB Logitech ChillStream controller for PC works on Windows XP computers (with the latest service pack), and will work with Windows Vista when Microsoft’s new operating system becomes available. The controller’s stylish silver-and-black color scheme is
accented by the metal grille covering the air intake at the base of the controller. The controller features Logitech’s patented floating D-pad, which uses four points of contact instead of a single pivot point – a design that resists side-to-side tipping inherent in other controllers, making the controller more precise. The controller’s analog stick has been machine-tested to perform at least one million circular revolutions, ensuring that it can handle the rigors of gaming over a long period of time.
The Logitech ChillStream controller for PC will be available in the U.S. and in Europe, beginning in September. It has a suggested retail price of $39.99 in the U.S.
August 22nd, 2006
The number of Playstation3 units expected to be available by the end of the year is 2 million. However, according to Sony Computer Entertainment American president Kaz Hirai, not a single console has yet rolled off production lines, meaning that Sony is going to have to knock out one new unit every minute from now until Christmas to meet its target.
“We haven’t started manufacturing yet. Some of our ops guys were actually just in China, and also in Japan just reviewing the [production] lines and everything else,” said Hirai in an interview with Gamespot. “But they are, again, preparing as we speak to get the manufacturing going.
He then went on to admit that a date had not yet been set for production to start.
Sony appears to harbour no aspirations of actually meeting demand. “I think it’s going to be very much of a challenge to be able to meet every single unit demand that’s out there in the market,” said Hirai. “That’s just a logistical impossibility.”
August 21st, 2006
Mustek today announced the availability of a new Personal Media Bundle Pack for $299.Designed to liberate the most popular forms of entertainment - video, music and digital photography - from the living room to wherever the on-the-go consumer travels, the bundle combines Mustek’s PVR-H140 personal media center with the MBT-SA120 Bluetooth stereo headset and audio dongle to add wireless freedom, excellent sound quality and comfort.
The groundbreaking PVR-H140 comes equipped with WMA support and a spacious 40GB of internal memory to hold up to 120 hours of full-motion video, 10,000 MP3 songs, and tens of thousands of digital photos. Its 3.6-inch TFT color screen delivers brilliant, high-resolution playback of movies in virtually every video format. In addition, the PVR-H140 has a unique software converter allowing television programs and movies to be recorded directly from a TV, VCR, DVD or cable/satellite signal to its hard-drive for playback – no PC required.
Sporting a lightweight, ergonomic behind-the-neck design, the Mustek MBT-SA120 is fully compatible with Bluetooth (V1.2) enabled cell phones and PDAs, as well as audio players, Windows® notebook PCs, stereo systems and game consoles with A2DP or AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile) that stream high-quality audio over Bluetooth.
Comfortably engaging both ears, the stylish headphones have a built-in microphone, along with an integrated antenna, two-color LED status indicator, last call redial, voice calling, and a variety of one-push function keys for playing, pausing, pairing, stop and volume control to make it a breeze to receive, make and hang-up calls while listening to music.
August 10th, 2006
Sony is making sure home movies meet the high-def expectations of home theater fans with its new HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1 Handycam camcorders.These are the first consumer camcorders to record in full 1080i HD resolution and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, offering a choice in recording media. While the HDR-UX1 model records directly to readily-available, three-inch DVD discs for effortless playback and sharing, the HDR-SR1 camcorder’s built-in 30GB hard drive facilitates mass video storage as well as in-camcorder and PC editing.
“With more families adopting high-definition televisions and acquiring HD content, we want to give them a variety of ways to enjoy their home video in the same high quality,” said Linda Vuolo, director of marketing for camcorders at Sony Electronics. “Our HD camcorder line offers people greater functionality and more choice to make high-def video creation fun and easy.”
High-Def is Not Just For Sports
Sony’s new HD camcorders bring home movies fully into the home theater fold. They feature HDMI(TM) outputs for simple, one-cord connection to an HD television with no data conversion and subsequent degradation of picture quality.
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound assures a life-like audio experience when viewing your home movies. This experience can be further enhanced with the sold-separately Sony ECM-HW1 Bluetooth® wireless microphone, which amplifies the center channel sound of the multi-point surround system and even lets you record them wirelessly up to 100 feet away.
The HDR-SR1 hard disk drive model is the perfect choice for that week-long vacation in Hawaii when the convenience of long recording times and not having to manage removable media is much appreciated. This model records more than ten hours of high-def video in long play mode. You can extend the recording time of the HDR-UX1 model up to an hour in long play mode by using Sony’s new +R double-layer, single-sided DVD.
Effortless HD Playback
HD content recorded on DVDs with either the HDR-UX1 or HDR-SR1 models can be played back on Blu-ray Disc devices, such as the forthcoming Sony BDP-S1 player and PLAYSTATION® 3 video game console. Standard DVD drives on compatible PCs can also play back these DVDs with the bundled software.
Both support the new AVCHD(TM) camcorder recording format based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec for video compression and Dolby digital audio. This technology makes it possible to not only achieve high-quality HD video and audio, but also produce camcorders that are power efficient and compact.
Both models allow for quick data transfer from the camcorder to a compatible PC for playback and editing. The hard disk drive unit also features Sony’s One Touch Disc Burn button for easy DVD creation using a PC.
Imaging Technologies for Like No Other
These lightweight camcorders feature Sony’s ClearVid CMOS Sensor(TM) and Enhanced Imaging Processor technologies. Together, they provide high-resolution and heightened sensitivity for virtually smear-free video with vivid color and clarity.
Other benefits include four-megapixel digital still capture, a Dual Record function that allows you to shoot video and simultaneously capture 2.3 megapixel stills, and a Smooth Slow Record function to shoot video in slow motion.
Both models are also equipped with an advanced Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens to ensure true-to-life color saturation and minimize unwanted glare and flare from reflected light. Even while shooting, the camcorders’ extra-large, 3.5-inch SwivelScreen(TM) LCD screens display video with high-contrast and optimal color due to Sony’s Clear Photo Plus LCD(TM) technology. Video is easy to view on screen from any angle and in virtually any environment. The screens double as touch-sensitive control panels, giving easy access to many of the camcorders’ settings.
The HDR-UX1 camcorder will be available in September for about $1,400, and the HDR-SR1 will hit stores in October for about $1,500. Options will include a full line of accessories, including lights, lenses, microphones, InfoLithium® batteries, chargers and cables.
Both models will be available online at Sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders will begin on July 21st at www.sonystyle.com/handycam.
July 18th, 2006
Imation today announced the availability of its Blu-Ray media to major IT and data storage channel partners at its “Blue Technology” conference.Imation designed the conference and tour of its new advanced optical manufacturing facility at Imation world headquarters in Oakdale, Minn. to educate Imation channel partners on blue-laser optical technologies, and their application for high definition media in the enterprise. These leading optical media distributors and their customers know the challenge of keeping up with today’s exploding data storage requirements, which are expected to triple by the end of the decade. Now, with Imation Blu-ray media, professionals have a simple solution for managing their growing quantity of critical data storage. Available in recordable (BD-R) and rewritable (BD-RE) formats, Imation Blu-ray discs store up to 25 GB of digital files — five times the capacity of standard DVDs — and are ideal for reliable business backup, including medical and government imaging, photography, videography, as well as high definition video recording.
“Businesses are producing and storing more data than ever before, whether due to multi-media content, migration to a more paperless environment, email proliferation, or more stringent compliance requirements,” said Jim Milligan, general manager, Imation Commercial and OEM Division. “Imation’s Blu-ray media will enable businesses to spend less time worrying about managing their data, and spend more time on their core competencies.”
BD-R and BD-RE, Imation’s first high-definition recordable media, offer high quality, “single session” optical backup. They are an ideal and efficient backup and archive solution for organizations of all sizes with high-capacity data storage needs. Blu-ray discs also allow for recording of high-definition television and video content, with crystal-clear picture and sound quality.
Imation Blu-ray discs are produced with a unique protective coating that provides scratch-resistance, anti-static dust resistance, and smear- resistance, ensuring a more durable and protected media surface. For even greater storage, Imation will also manufacture double-layer Blu-ray media later this year, delivering 50 GB of capacity on a single disc — 10 times the capacity of standard DVD discs.
Individually packaged Imation Blu-ray recordable (BD-R) single layer (25 GB) and re-writable (BD-RE) single layer (25 GB) discs will be available in August for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $19.99 and $29.99, respectively. For more information on Imation Blu-ray discs and where to buy them, go to http://www.imation.com/products/dvd_media/ .
With more than 25 years of optical disc technology expertise, dating to the introduction of the first video disc in 1982, Imation continues to pioneer superior optical media production technologies. In 2005, the company invested more than $10 million in advanced research, development, and modular manufacturing capabilities for “blue laser” high-density optical products, and is among the first companies to bring this new format to market. Imation also will bring HD DVD media to the SMB and enterprise markets, giving customers a choice for their high definition recording needs. Imation is a contributing member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, which supports the Blu-ray format, and the DVD Forum, which supports the HD DVD format.
July 14th, 2006
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