Archive for category: Mobile

Verizon says global capabilities coming to select Android handsets this summer

Verizon says global capabilities coming to select Android handsets this summer


Verizon Adding Global Capabilities

Verizon Wireless on Monday confirmed that the DROID RAZR, RAZR MAXX, HTC Rezound, and DROID 4 will receive global roaming capabilities later this summer, enabling the handsets to access voice and data services in more than 200 countries, Droid-Life reported. “Customers will see a notification on their device when the software update is available for their device,” a Verizon spokesperson said. “After the software update, customers will be able to take their smartphone overseas and use voice service in more than 220 countries and receive data in more than 205 countries.” While the carrier didn’t give a specific timeline, there is a possibility the update may be included with the smartphone’s upcoming Ice Cream Sandwich updates, which are also slated for a summer release.

Read

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 23, 2012 0 comments Read More
OmniVision’s 16-megapixel smartphone camera sensors support 4K resolution

OmniVision’s 16-megapixel smartphone camera sensors support 4K resolution


OmniVision's 16-Megapixel Camera

OmniVision on Tuesday announced the OV16820 and OV16825 smartphone camera chips. The two sensors support up to 16-megapixels and can capture video at a 4k resolution, known as Quad Full High Definition (QFHD), at 60 frames per second. “It was an industry-wide assumption that smartphones would cut into DSC/DVC sales; but at higher resolutions, we’re seeing a very distinct divide between the two markets and both remain strong,” said Devang Patel, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. “Industry experts have observed that mainstream DSC products are shifting to 16-megapixel resolutions and are offering improved image quality and optics. The OV16820 supports such offerings, allowing DSC/DVC manufacturers to provide consumers a high-resolution, feature-rich point and shoot photography experience, while the OV16825 provides top-tier imaging and video recording capabilities for flagship smartphones.” OmniVision’s press release follows below.

OmniVision Launches 16-Megapixel CameraChip™ Sensors For DSC/DVC and High-End Smartphone Applications

OV16820 and OV16825 Provide 16-Megapixel Burst Photography, Support Emerging 4K2K Standard in High Resolution Recording

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today announced the OV16820 and OV16825, two 16-megapixel CameraChip sensors that support 16-megapixel burst photography and can capture 4K2K video, or Quad Full High Definition (QFHD), at 60 frames per second (FPS). Built on the high-performance 1.34-micron OmniBSI-2™ pixel architecture, the OV16820 and OV16825 were developed by OmniVision to support emerging standards in high-resolution video recording for the digital still and video camera (DSC/DVC) markets and the high-end smartphone market, respectively.

“It was an industry-wide assumption that smartphones would cut into DSC/DVC sales; but at higher resolutions, we’re seeing a very distinct divide between the two markets and both remain strong,” said Devang Patel, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. “Industry experts have observed that mainstream DSC products are shifting to 16-megapixel resolutions and are offering improved image quality and optics. The OV16820 supports such offerings, allowing DSC/DVC manufacturers to provide consumers a high-resolution, feature-rich point and shoot photography experience, while the OV16825 provides top-tier imaging and video recording capabilities for flagship smartphones.”

The 1/2.3-inch OV16820 and OV16825 image sensors are capable of operating in full resolution (4608 x 3456) video at 30 FPS, 4K2K (3840 x 2160) video at 60 FPS, and 1080p HD video at 60 FPS with extra pixels for electronic image stabilization (EIS). Additionally, the sensors enable full resolution 16-megapixel burst photography, a critical feature for DSC applications. All required image processing functions, including defective pixel and noise canceling, RAW scaling, image size, frame rate, exposure, gain, cropping and orientation are programmable through the serial camera control bus (SCCB) interface.

The sensors are offered with industry-standard connectivity, including up to 8-lane MIPI and LVDS output interfaces for high data transfer rates. The OV16820 is available for sampling in a ceramic land grid array (CLGA) package while the OV16825 will be available in die form (RW/COB). Both are expected to enter volume production by the fourth quarter of 2012.

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
Best Buy tops expectations in Q1, online revenue and mobile sales up

Best Buy tops expectations in Q1, online revenue and mobile sales up


Best Buy Q1 2012 Earnings

Best Buy on Tuesday reported results for the first quarter of 2012. The electronics retail giant posted better-than-expected earnings per share, despite declining store sales. Revenue came in at $ 11.6 billion, ahead of analysts’ consensus of $ 11.52 billion, and non-GAAP earnings came in at $ 0.72 per share, up 11% from the same quarter in 2011 and beating the Street’s estimates of $ 0.59 per share. Domestic online revenue rose by 20%, and domestic mobile-phone sales increased by 13%. “Best Buy is in a turnaround, and the strategic priorities we laid out at the beginning of the year are just the first phase of the changes to come,” said Mike Mikan, CEO (interim) of Best Buy. “We know we have to better adapt to the new realities of the marketplace, and we are creating a long-term plan designed to make Best Buy more relevant with customers and position the company for sustained, profitable returns in the years ahead. First quarter results were in-line with our expectations, and we are reaffirming our previously provided annual guidance for fiscal 2013.” Best Buy’s press release follows below.

Best Buy Reports Fiscal First Quarter Results

GAAP diluted EPS of $ 0.47; adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted EPS up 11 percent to $ 0.72
Company building a new turnaround plan
Full year guidance outlook unchanged

FISCAL FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE SUMMARY(1)
(U.S. dollars and square footage in millions, except per share and per square foot amounts)
Three Months Ended
May 5, 2012 April 30, 2011 Change
Revenue $ 11,610 $ 11,369 2%
Comparable store sales % change(2) (5.3%) (3.0%) N/A
Gross profit as % of revenue 25.0% 25.7% (70bps)
SG&A as % of revenue 21.7% 21.6% 10bps
Restructuring charges $ 127 $ 4 N/A
Operating income $ 262 $ 460 (43%)
Operating income as a % of revenue 2.3% 4.0% (170bps)
Diluted EPS from continuing operations $ 0.47 $ 0.64 (27%)
Adjusted (non-GAAP) Results(3)
Operating income $ 389 $ 464 (16%)
Operating income as a % of revenue 3.4% 4.1% (70bps)
Diluted EPS from continuing operations $ 0.72 $ 0.65 11%
Key Metrics(4)
Total U.S. big box retail square feet 42.4 42.5 0%
Revenue per square foot (Domestic segment) $ 854 $ 854 0%
Adjusted operating income per square foot (Domestic segment) $ 42 $ 48 (13%)
Adjusted return on invested capital(5) 11.2% 11.2% 0bps

Fiscal First Quarter 2013 Highlights

  • Domestic segment online revenue growth of 20 percent
  • Domestic segment mobile phones comparable store sales growth of 13 percent
  • Domestic segment connections growth of 11 percent
  • Domestic segment Services revenue increased approximately 11 percent, including the impact of the mindSHIFT acquisition
  • Domestic segment comparable store sales growth in tablets, mobile phones, eReaders and appliances more than offset by declines in notebooks, gaming, digital imaging and televisions
  • Closed 41 (effective May 12, 2012) of the 50 U.S. big box store closures planned for fiscal 2013
  • As expected, the International segment operating loss was driven primarily by lower revenue in Europe and China and increased competitive conditions in Europe

MINNEAPOLIS, May 22, 2012 — Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) today reported GAAP net earnings from continuing operations of $ 161 million, or $ 0.47 per diluted share, for the three months ended May 5, 2012 compared to net earnings from continuing operations of $ 255 million, or $ 0.64 per diluted share for the prior-year period. Excluding previously announced restructuring charges, adjusted (non-GAAP) net earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter was $ 246 million, or $ 0.72 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net earnings from continuing operations of $ 258 million, or $ 0.65 per diluted share, for the prior-year period.

“Best Buy is in a turnaround, and the strategic priorities we laid out at the beginning of the year are just the first phase of the changes to come,” said Mike Mikan, CEO (interim) of Best Buy. “We know we have to better adapt to the new realities of the marketplace, and we are creating a long-term plan designed to make Best Buy more relevant with customers and position the company for sustained, profitable returns in the years ahead. First quarter results were in-line with our expectations, and we are reaffirming our previously provided annual guidance for fiscal 2013.”

Revenue

Three Months ended May 5, 2012 Prior-Year Period
($ millions) Revenue Change YOY Comp. Store Sales Comp. Store Sales
Domestic $ 8,822 5.1% (3.7%) (3.8%)
International 2,788 (6.3%) (10.5%) (0.2%)
Total $ 11,610 2.1% (5.3%) (3.0%)

Total company revenue was $ 11.6 billion during the fiscal first quarter, an increase of 2.1 percent compared to the prior-year period, and included a comparable store sales decline of 5.3 percent. As a result of the company’s fiscal year change, the first quarter of fiscal 2013 included February 2012, which included a fifth (“extra”) week. Excluding the extra week, total company revenue declined 4.3 percent compared to the prior-year period. Areas of comparable store sales growth in the Domestic segment included tablets and mobile phones within the Computing & Mobile Phones revenue category, eReaders within the Consumer Electronics revenue category and Appliances. These increases were more than offset by comparable store sales declines primarily in notebooks within the Computing and Mobile Phones revenue category, gaming within the Entertainment revenue category, and digital imaging and televisions within the Consumer Electronics revenue category. The Domestic segment online channel revenue grew 20 percent compared to the prior-year period.

International segment comparable store sales declined 10.5 percent. As the company previously discussed, first quarter sales were expected to be lower driven by declines in the Five Star business stemming from the expiration of government sponsored programs and a slowdown in the Chinese economy. The impact of the change in these programs was similarly felt by other retailers in China. Additionally, softness in notebooks, home theater and gaming resulted in comparable store declines in Canada, and the difficult macro environment and changes in network subsidies for the pre-pay U.K. phone market led to lower mobile phone sales in our Europe business.

Gross Profit

Three Months ended May 5, 2012
($ millions) Gross Profit Change YOY % of Revenue
Domestic $ 2,233 4% 25.3%
International 674 (13%) 24.2%
Total $ 2,907 (0%) 25.0%

Domestic segment gross profit dollars increased 4 percent, including the extra week, and included a rate decline of 30 basis points compared to the prior-year period. The primary factors influencing this Domestic segment rate decline were lower computer repair revenue and the continuing shift from one-time transactions to ongoing “Tech Support” memberships, partially offset by favorability from a higher sales mix of mobile phones.

International segment gross profit dollars declined 13 percent and included a 180 basis point rate decline. This rate decline was due primarily to a more competitive pricing environment and the increased mix of lower margin smartphones in our Europe business.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”)

Three Months ended May 5, 2012
($ millions) SG&A Change YOY % of Revenue
Domestic $ 1,811 2% 20.5%
International 707 4% 25.4%
Total $ 2,518 2% 21.7%

Total company SG&A spending increased 2 percent compared to the prior-year period. Excluding the effect of the extra week, total company SG&A spending experienced a slight decline.

Year-over-year SG&A comparisons for both Domestic and International segments were impacted by the absence of the Best Buy Mobile profit share payment as a result of the purchase of Carphone Warehouse plc’s (“CPW”) share of the Best Buy Mobile profit share agreement in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. These intercompany profit share payments previously increased Domestic segment SG&A expense while lowering International segment SG&A and had no impact on the company’s consolidated operating income.

Operating Income

Three Months ended May 5, 2012
($ millions) Operating Income Change YOY % of Revenue
Domestic $ 295 (19%) 3.3%
International (33) n/a (1.2%)
Total $ 262 (43%) 2.3%
Adjusted operating income – Domestic $ 422 14% 4.8%
Adjusted operating income – International (33) n/a (1.2%)
Adjusted operating income(2) $ 389 (16%) 3.4%

Operating income of $ 262 million included $ 127 million in restructuring charges primarily related to employee severance and fixed asset impairments, as a result of actions taken during the quarter to reduce headcount and close stores. Excluding these charges, adjusted operating income for the quarter declined 16 percent to $ 389 million driven by declines in the International segment.

Please see the table titled “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” attached to this release for more detail.

Share Repurchases and Dividends
The company repurchased $ 115 million, or 4.6 million shares, of its common stock at an average price of $ 25.07 per share during February 2012, the first month of the fiscal first quarter. Consistent with previous guidance, the company continues to expect repurchases of approximately $ 750 million to $ 1.0 billion in fiscal 2013. On May 10, 2012, the company paid a quarterly dividend of $ 0.16 per common share outstanding, or $ 55 million in the aggregate.

Fiscal 2013 Annual Guidance Unchanged
The company is maintaining its fiscal 2013 outlook of adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted EPS in the range of $ 3.50 to $ 3.80, including the impact of expected share repurchases and excluding fiscal 2013 restructuring costs.

The company’s estimates for pre-tax restructuring charges in fiscal 2013 related to its strategic imperatives outlined on March, 29, 2012 is a range of $ 300 to $ 350 million, including store closures, severance, asset impairments and other costs. Including these charges, the GAAP diluted EPS annual guidance is expected in the range of $ 2.85 to $ 3.25. Please see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Guidance” attached to this release for more detail.

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
Microsoft says 350 million Windows 7 devices will ship by the end of 2012

Microsoft says 350 million Windows 7 devices will ship by the end of 2012


Microsoft Windows 7 Sales Estimates

Despite the fact that Windows 8 is expected to launch in October, Microsoft still has high hopes for its Windows 7 operating system. The software giant predicts that 350 million Windows 7 devices will ship by the end of 2012, Bloomberg reported. “It makes Windows the most popular single system,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said at a forum in Seoul, South Korea, although he didn’t provide any figures for comparison. Windows 7 was released in October 2009 and within two years, the operating system surpassed Windows XP to become the world’s most popular OS.

Read

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
80% of mobile banking apps may have security flaws

80% of mobile banking apps may have security flaws


Mobile Banking Security Flaws

Neal O’Farrell, executive director of the nonprofit Identity Theft Council, spoke about the seriousness of mobile security as part of San Francisco Small Business Week, Cult Of Mac reported. “There were more data breaches than U.S. residents last year and more cases of identity theft than just about all other crimes combined,” O’Farrell said, adding that unless users are encrypting their devices, they are essentially asking for trouble. “You’ve got to wake up [and] protect yourself, even if you use a Mac,” he said, citing the massive Flashback virus that affected more than 600,000 Mac computers. O’Farrell went on to warn that, “Eight out of ten mobile banking apps have security flaws, but Apple and the banks don’t want you to know that.” He didn’t give specifics, but did state, “I’ll wait another 20 years to stick my toe in that pond.” O’Ferrel is a security consultant who has advised organizations including Toyota, Merrill Lynch, Cost Plus World Market and the Bulgarian Government.

Read

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
WikiLeaks launches encrypted social network

WikiLeaks launches encrypted social network


Wikileaks Supporters Launch Social Network

Backers of the whistle-blowing organisation WikiLeaks recently launched Friends of WikiLeaks (FoWL), an encrypted social network for like-minded individuals. “Friends of WikiLeaks is a network of people from across the globe who defend WikiLeaks, its people, its alleged sources and its mission,” the website’s homepage says. “We publicly and privately promote WikiLeaks and individuals and organisations aligned with the mission of WikiLeaks. This site will help you to join with people like you in your area and across the world. You will make new friends and new allies, care for treasured values and fight in common cause.” Instead of having users find people to friend, as is the case with Facebook and Google+, Friends of WikiLeaks will assign users 12 friends each, six of which will be from a similar geographic location, and six others from other parts of the world who speak the same language. If a group is assigned an inactive user, the group can boot the user and the service will automatically assign a new “friend” to the group.

Read

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
Amazon Appstore now allows Android users to Test Drive apps

Amazon Appstore now allows Android users to Test Drive apps


Amazon Appstore Test Drvie

The Amazon Appstore was updated on Monday to include the company’s popular Test Drive feature on Android devices. The retail giant previously allowed users to test apps using desktop browsers prior to purchasing them, but now trials can be tested on devices. “Today we begin the beta rollout of Test Drive on Android phones,” Amazon said. “Now customers can instantly try apps on their phone — where a majority of app purchases take place — without downloading or installing anything.” The Test Drive feature is currently available on more than 5,000 apps and is compatible with select Android handsets, however Amazon promises the feature will be rolled out to “many more” devices in the coming months.

Read

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
‘Anonymous’ hackers release 1.7GB of stolen DOJ data

‘Anonymous’ hackers release 1.7GB of stolen DOJ data


Anonymous DOJ Hack

Hackers associated with well known hacker-activist group “Anonymous Operations” have released a massive cache of data they say was obtained when they hacked a website belonging to the United States Department of Justice. “Today we are releasing 1.7GB of data that used to belong to the United States Bureau of Justice, until now,” Anonymous wrote in a statement on its website. The hackers claim the file contains emails as well as “the entire database dump” from the DOJ website.

“We do not stand for any government or parties, we stand for freedom of people, freedom of speech and freedom of information,” the hackers wrote. ”We are releasing data to spread information, to allow the people to be heard and to know the corruption in their government. We are releasing it to end the corruption that exists, and truly make those who are being oppressed free.”

The Justice Department confirmed the breach in a statement given to ZDNet. “The department is looking into the unauthorized access of a website server operated by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that contained data from their public website,” a DOJ spokesperson said. “The Bureau of Justice Statistics website has remained operational throughout this time. The department’s main website, justice.gov, was not affected.”

The 1.7GB file containing data Anonymous says it obtained during the DOJ breach is available for download as a torrent.

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III preorders now live in the U.S.

Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III preorders now live in the U.S.


Samsung Galaxy S III Preorders

Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S III smartphone won’t be available in the United States until this summer, but the unlocked international version of the phone is now available for preorder from Amazon in both blue and white. The phone costs $ 799.99 and it will not support Verizon Wireless or AT&T’s 4G LTE networks, instead relying on AT&T’s HSPA+ network or slower GSM networks for service. The device will feature Samsung’s quad-core Exynos processor, however, which will likely be replaced by a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset once the smartphone launches stateside. Unlocked Galaxy S III preorders will be delivered on June 1st according to Amazon, but most users will likely want to wait for subsidized local versions, which will most likely arrive on all four major carriers later this year.

Read [1] Read [2]

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More
Apple’s next iPhone to feature 3.95-inch upgraded Retina display, report claims

Apple’s next iPhone to feature 3.95-inch upgraded Retina display, report claims


Apple iPhone 5 Rumor

Apple’s next-generation iPhone will feature an upgraded high-definition Retina display, according to a report published on Tuesday morning. Without stating where its information came from, 9to5Mac on Tuesday reports that Apple is still testing multiple potential designs for the next-generation iPhone, which BGR reported will launch this fall. The site claims that Apple is still testing several new iPhone models enclosed in locked shells, and at least one of these potential new iPhones includes an upgraded 640 x 1,136-pixel Retina display that measures 3.95 inches diagonally.

With an aspect ratio of close to 16:9, the new Retina display is said to be the same width as the current model but taller, and Apple is reportedly toying with adding a fifth row of icons to the home screen in a version of iOS 6 that could be exclusive to the new iPhone in order to take advantage of the new display real estate.

Beyond potentially posing issues for app developers, the site’s claims contradict earlier reports from both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, which stated that Apple has already placed orders with its suppliers for new display panels that will be included in the next iPhone. If the Cupertino, California-based company is still testing different displays, panel orders could not yet have been placed.

BGR exclusively reported this past December that a completely redesigned iPhone will launch this fall with a new antenna system and an aluminum case.

Read

BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

May 22, 2012 0 comments Read More