Microsoft reports 2010 Q4 earnings: $4.52b profit, record $16.01b in revenue

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At this time last year Microsoft reported its first annual sales decline, ever.  Things are definitely looking up in 2010 for the company that built Windows.  Today Microsoft posted its fourth quarter earnings and right off the bat you can see how the 175 million Windows 7 licenses (sold to date) have helped the company cash in a ton of the green stuff.  Microsoft posted a record revenue of $16.04 billion for the fourth quarter ended June 30; that’s a 22 percent increase over the year-ago quarter.  Profits reached a high of $4.52 billion.  For fiscal year 2010, Microsoft posted $62.48 billion of revenue and $18.76 in annual net income.  Says Microsoft CFO Peter Klein, “This quarter’s record revenue reflects the breadth of our offerings and our continued product momentum.  The revenue growth, combined with our ongoing cost discipline, helped us achieve another quarter of margin expansion.”

Check out the Q4 revenue breakdown by category.  Windows and Windows Live racked in $4.55 billion (that’s a 43.5 percent increase from last year).  The Microsoft Business Division (which includes Office sales) scored $5.25 billion (a 15 percent increase).  The Entertainment and Devices Division (which includes Xbox 360, Zune, and Windows Mobile) picked up $1.6 billion (a 27.3 percent increase).  However there was a quarterly operating loss of $172 million.  The axing of Kin resulted in a $251 million increase in costs.  The Online Services Division (which includes Bing) brought in $565 million; online advertising revenue increased by 19 percent.  This category was also in the red, reporting a quarterly operating loss of $696 million.  Bing continues to gain marketshare against search giant Google.  Last, the Server and Tools Division (which includes Window Server, SQL Server, and Enterprise CAL Suites) brought in $4.01 billion (a 17 percent increase).

Chew on this: 1.5 million Xbox 360 consoles were sold this last quarter and over 25 million people have signed up for Xbox Live.  If the launch of Windows Phone 7 is a success and Kinect for Xbox 360 catches on with gamers, Micro$oft might just be able to pull themselves out of the red that the Entertainment and Devices Division has been stuck in for far too long.

[Via SeattlePiBlogs; Microsoft]

Apple reports 2010 Q3 earnings: $3.25b profit, Macs up 33%, iPhones up 61%, iPods down 8%, iPad…

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The third quarter of 2010 has come to a close.  And you know what that means: Apple gets to flaunt how much money its racked in thus far.  Yesterday Apple posted its Q3 earnings and–you guessed it–it was another record quarter for the tech company.  Apple posted a $3.25 billion profit on $15.7 billion in revenue.  Compare this to one year ago, that’s up from a profit of $1.83 billion on $9.73 billion in revenue.  Says CEO Steve Jobs: “It was a phenomenal quarter that exceeded our expectations all around, including the most successful product launch in Apple’s history with iPhone 4.  iPad is off to a terrific start, more people are buying Macs than ever before, and we have amazing new products still to come this year.” (Emphasis added, of course.)

Now let’s break it down by product category.  Apple sold 3.47 million Macs during the quarter (representing a 33 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter); 8.4 million iPhones (representing a 61 percent unit growth); 9.41 million iPods (representing an 8 percent unit decline).  This is the first quarter that includes iPad sales, so how did they do?  3.27 million iPads were sold, nearly matching the total amount of Macs sold.  Boom.  And here’s an interesting stat: international sales accounted for 52 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer expects revenue of about $18 billion and diluted earnings per share of about $3.44.  Antennagate or no Antennagate, Apple isn’t going anywhere people.       Job(s) well done.

[Via Engadget]

Taiwanese news outlet tells the story of iPhone 4’s woes the only way it can

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..with Sims-like animations!  Taiwan’s NMA News is back again to shed some light on what’s being dubbed “Antennagate”, the negative firestorm surrounding the iPhone 4.  You don’t have to understand the language to find this news coverage over-the-top, absurd, and yet so right about everything.  I mean, who can complain about their animated coverage concerning the Conan O’Brien vs. Jay Leno debacle and the Tiger Woods scandal?

[Via Gizmodo]

Cell phone makers respond to Jobs’ claims surrounding Antennagate [Update: Apple throws Moto’s Droid X into the mix]

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Last week Apple CEO Steve Jobs held a press conference to address the iPhone 4 deathgrip situation.  During the presentation he spit out phrases like “phones aren’t perfect” and claimed that the antenna problem is “a challenge for the entire industry.”  To provide factual evidence to back these statements, Jobs showcased videos of the iPhone 3GS, BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris, and Samsung Omnia II all dropping their signal strength when gripped in a certain way.  (Apple uploaded these videos to their YouTube page.)  Over the course of the next few days following the press conference, RIM, HTC, Samsung, and Nokia shared their thoughts on the matter.  You can be sure they did not take Apple’s “all smartphones have weak spots” accusation lightly.

The first cell phone manufacturer to counter-attack Apple’s claims was Nokia, a company Apple interestingly did not make an example of at the press conference.  Though they agree with the fact that “antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held”, a non-direct jab at Apple comes later in the statement:  “… we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.”  Since Apple did not mention Nokia during the presentation, Nokia kindly left Apple out of their brief statement.  Little did they know that Apple would post a video of the Nokia N97 Mini getting deathgripped on their YouTube site just four days later.

Now let’s hear what the other cell phone makers had to say about their honorary mention.  RIM co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie start the statement off like this: “Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable.”  Other choice quotes:  “Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation.”  ..  “One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity.”  Yeah, they just said that.

Things cool down a bit with the reactions from HTC and Samsung.  In an exclusive statement to Pocket-lint, HTC’s Eric Lin compared the Droid Eris’ complaint rate to iPhone 4’s.  At the conference, Jobs said that over 0.55 percent of iPhone 4 customers called AppleCare to complain about the antenna problem to date.  Lin shared that “approximately .016% of customers” feel the need to call in about Droid Eris antenna-related issues.  That’s around 34x lower then Apple’s rate.  Although HTC has yet to push out more formal response to the debacle, I’d say they win the point on this one.  Samsung rounds things out with a terse reply saying that the Omnia II’s antenna is located at the bottom of the device, a logical “design [that] keeps the distance between a hand and an antenna.”  Look after the break for the full statements from Nokia, RIM, and Samsung.

All in all I believe that these cell phone makers are justified in responding to Apple’s “Antennagate” mess.  It may be true that most smartphones have weak spots, but it was an obvious design flaw on Apple’s part to both place that spot where a hand is apt to grip the device and point out its exact position with a black strip.  And to reiterate RIM’s closing words, all of these other smartphones do not require a case to function properly.  Handing out free cases is a temporary fix.  To remedy a hardware problem a new, better design must be conjured up.  When it comes time for Apple to reevaluate the situation in September, I hope they have a more permanent fix in the works.

Update: Today (7/26) Apple posted yet another video in attempt to prove that the antenna problem affects most smartphones.  This time around it’s Motorola’s Droid X, one of Verizon’s current flagship phones.  Watch the bars drop from 3 to 0 after the break.

[Via Engadget, here, here, here, here & here] Continue reading Cell phone makers respond to Jobs’ claims surrounding Antennagate [Update: Apple throws Moto’s Droid X into the mix] →

Apple’s answer to iPhone 4 deathgrippers: free cases

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Today Apple held a press conference to address the iPhone 4 antenna problem that’s been making waves in the news recently.  Just to recap, the antenna problem occurs when an iPhone 4 user grips the lower left side of the phone.  AT&T signal strengh drops from five bars to none at a rapid rate when the user touches and/or grips that specific part of the phone.  An official statement from Apple advised users to hold their phones differently or slap on a case.  A case would cover the vulnerable lower left side and result in better signal strength during day-to-day use.  Today Jobs announced that Apple will begin offering their Bumper case for free for all iPhone 4 owners who purchase their device before September 30.  In regards to extending the free case offer Apple says they will evaluate the situation again in late September.  If you’ve already purchased a Bumper case, you can receive a full refund on it.  Since Apple cannot manufacture enough Bumpers fast enough, they will offer a choice of free cases to choose from (these have not been specified yet).  Starting late next week you can apply for a free case at Apple’s online store.  And if you’re totally unsatisfied with your purchase you can get a full refund on the phone; Apple’s got a 30 day return policy and a restocking fee will not be applied.

What led Apple to making this decision to offer free cases?  Read on to find out. Continue reading Apple’s answer to iPhone 4 deathgrippers: free cases →

iPhone 4 sales, international ship date, proximity sensor update & white model get discussed [Update: White iPhone delayed until end of year]

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At the press conference that formally addressed the iPhone 4 antenna problem Apple alloted some time to discuss other news surrounding the magical (if it’s in a case) phone.  Apple has sold over three million iPhone 4s since it launched three weeks ago.  He also says the 4 has received “the highest customer satisfaction of any iPhone or smartphone.”  Next up, the iPhone 4 will ship in 17 more countries on July 30, including a bunch of European countries, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong.  Noticably missing from the list was South Korea who was on the late-July shipping list back at WWDC.  Apple also addressed the problem some users are having with the proximity sensor; it involves intermittent malfunctions where the display stays on during a device-to-ear phone call, and this results in accidental hang-ups when the phone is pressed up to the face.  The next iOS 4 software update promises to remedy it.  Lastly, you can expect the white iPhone 4 to ship at the end of this month, a tad later than expected.

Update: Today (7/23) Apple announced in a brief press statement that the white iPhone 4 model will not ship at the end of this month.  Due to manufacturing problems, it “will not be available until later this year.”

[Via Engadget, here & here]

Check out Apple’s $100 million phone test labs

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To prove that they invest a lot of time, energy, and money in making sure their phones are ready for launch, Apple showed off their state of the art testing facilities.  Apple spend $100 million to create 17 anechoic chambers.  These buildings are the largest on the Cupertino campus.  These chambers are “designed to stop reflections of either sound or electromagnetic waves”, and this makes for the perfect environment for cell phone testing.  “You have to build these rooms or you don’t get accurate results,” Steve Jobs pointed out at today’s press conference regarding the iPhone 4’s antenna problem.  The chambers are “connected to sophisticated equipment that simulates cellular base stations, WiFi networks, Bluetooth devices – even GPS satellites” to ensure that all aspects of the phone are tested properly and thoroughly.  Apple also said that they have 18 PhD scientists and engineers on hand when it’s testing time.

Apple released three stills of these strikingly designed sound proof rooms; check ’em out in the gallery below.  Also head over to Apple’s site to watch a brief video that takes you into some of the chambers and does a great job of describing how they’re utilized.

Update: Apple uploaded the behind-the-scenes video to their YouTube page.  I went ahead and embedded it for you; it’s sitting after the break.

[Via Apple; Engadget]

Continue reading Check out Apple’s $100 million phone test labs →

New Droid X trailer captivates sci-fi lovers

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The “See You Tomorrow” teaser trailer–erm, commercial–is making its rounds on the ‘Net and TV.  It promotes Verizon’s latest smartphone from Motorola, the Droid X.  The 8-megapixel packin’ 4.3-inch beast of a phone is now shipping for Verizon Wireless customers; $199.99 with a new two-year contract.

2010 Emmy nods: Glee, Lost, Modern Family lead the pack

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Earlier this month the 2010 Emmy nominations were announced.  Let’s start with the drama categories.  Outstanding drama nominees include Lost, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Mad Men, True Blood, and The Good Wife.  Lost received 12 Emmy nominations.  In addition to the outstanding drama nod, Matthew Fox is up for outstanding actor, Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson are up for outstanding supporting actor, and Elizabeth Mitchell is up for outstanding guest actress.  Also executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof were nominated for writing the show’s series finale, “The End.”  Jon Hamm, Kyle Chandler, Bryan Cranston, Hugh Laurie, and Michael C. Hall join Fox in the outstanding actor category.  24’s Gregory Itzin got a nod for outstanding guest actor.

Moving on to the comedy categories.  Outstanding comedy nominees include Glee, Modern Family, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Nurse Jackie, 30 Rock , and The Office.  Glee received a total of 19 nominations.  Matthew Morrison is up for outstanding actor, Lea Michele for outstanding actress, Chris Colfer for outstanding supporting actor, Jane Lynch for outstanding supporting actress, Mike O’Malley for outstanding guest actor, and Kristin Chenoweth for outstanding guest actress.  Modern Family also led the way with 14 Emmy nominations.  Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson are all up for outstanding supporting actor, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara will duke it out for outstanding supporting actress, and Fred Willard got a nod for outstanding guest actor.  Only patriarch Ed O’Neill was left out.  The Glee (Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan) and Modern Family (Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd) pilot episodes received nods for best writing.  Here’s a few more worthy mentions: Amy Poehler (Parks & Rec) is up for outstanding actress, Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) is up for outstanding actor, NPH (How I Met Your Mother) is up for outstanding supporting actor, and SNL‘s Kristen Wiig nabbed a nod for outstanding supporting actress.  And finally, The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien (that’s right–suck it Leno!) got a nod for outstanding variety, music, or comedy series along with SNL, The Daily Show with John Stewart, and The Colbert Report.

Now it’s time to talk snubs.  There’s no better place to start than Fringe‘s John Noble.  Academy, what in the hell is wrong with you?  Are you out of your bloody minds?  John Noble, the man who plays the brilliant mad scientist and deadly serious Secretary Walter Bishop, is by far one of the greatest actors on television right now.  With the introduction of an alternate universe, Noble masterfully portrays two distinctly different characters with grace, pose, and ease.  His acting chops have been on a steady increase since season one, but it was his emotional portrayal as a broken father in season two’s episode “Peter” when I realized just how good Noble is.  I thought to myself, if John Noble does not get an outstanding actor Emmy nod for performance in this episode then the awards show is a real crockpot!  So I am very angry with the academy’s decision to overlook such a wonderful talent.  Yes, I am aware that the academy does not respect the sci-fi genre like it does straight dramas and comedies, but this is that one time they should’ve made an exception.  Moving on… where’s the love for Parks & Rec and Community in the outstanding comedy series category?  After a lackluster first season, Parks picked itself up to quickly become one of the funniest sitcoms, like ever.  I’m glad Poehler got a nod for her great work, but it would have been nice for the entire hilarious ensemble cast to be recognized.  Last, this was the final year for Lost and 24.  I am elated that Lost picked up so many nods, but I’m somewhat disappointed that 24 wasn’t nominated in the big categories.  I agree that the final season was not nearly as spectacular as season’s past, but Kiefer Sutherland continued to dominate as the indestructable Jack Bauer with yet another exciting performance.  You know I’ll be cheering for Itzin (who played President Charles Logan to perfect, yet again) when the nominees for outstanding guest actor in a drama roll around.

The 62nd Annual Emmy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, airs live on August 29 on NBC at 8PM.  Look after the break for the full nomination list and my predictions.

[Via IGN] Continue reading 2010 Emmy nods: Glee, Lost, Modern Family lead the pack →

Hulu Plus launches on PS3, exclusive to it until 2011

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On July 14 Hulu Plus, the $9.99/month service that grants you access to boatloads of Hulu content on and beyond the PC, launched on the PlayStation 3.  Currently only “a select group” of PlayStation Plus subscribers can gain access to Hulu Plus since it’s still in a preview phase.  Remember, PlayStation Plus subscribers pay an additional $50/year for the recently launch Sony service that provides gamers with exclusive game demos, trials, and other content.  If you’re a member of the PS Plus community you can download the free Hulu Plus application in the PlayStation Store and request an invitation to the preview.  If you’re selected, good for you!  If you’re not selected, and if you’re not a paying PS Plus subscriber, there’s no need to worry.  “As Hulu Plus becomes generally available in the coming months”, all PS3 owners will have access to Hulu Plus.  PlayStation 3 will be the only console-bound home for Hulu Plus through 2010.  It is expected to land on Xbox 360 and Wii sometime next year.  Full PR after the break.

[Via PlayStationBlog; Engadget] Continue reading Hulu Plus launches on PS3, exclusive to it until 2011 →

Creator Mike Judge wants Beavis and Butt-head back on the airwaves

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Remember Beavis and Butt-head?  Of course you do!  It was that odd-ball animated show created by Mike Judge (King of the Hill) that aired on MTV from 1993-1997.  In 1996 the show jumped to the big screen in Beavis and Butt-head Do America.  According to REVIEWniverse, Judge is ready to bring the show back.  In fact, he’s currently penning 30 new episodes.  Judge said that he plans to keep the show in its original aesthetic, faded color palatte and all.  The show’s format will also remain the same: “original sketch-music videos-sketch” with modern music videos for the duo to rip on.  Judge hopes that MTV will pick up the show; the network has not commented on the matter.

[Via REVIEWniverse; IGN]