The 404 689: Where it's a work in progress (podcast)
The vouchers are delivered in the form of a text message, and the technology relies on GPS satellites to keep track of your location in relation to the partnered storefronts. Britain's O2 network is the first to test out the opt-in service, where customers can sign up for a six-month trial that releases information about their age, gender, and interests to relevant retailers. We're all in agreement that this crosses the privacy line, but is anyone else worried that tech companies are just poaching ideas straight from "Minority Report?"While other fathers teach their sons how to throw a baseball or catch a fish, Luke Geissbuhler went the NASA route and helped his son send an iPhone into space. They fitted a small weather balloon with an HD camera, an Apple iPhone (to track GPS location), and several handwarmers before launching the contraption into space.Sixty minutes and 90,000 feet later, the balloon actually broke the thermal wind barrier and burst after 10 more minutes, but not before it recorded 100 minutes of footage from take-off to landing. In their self-shot video, the father/son team reported that the contraption had to survive "100 mph winds, temperatures of 60 degrees below zero, speeds of over a 150 mph, and the high risk of a water landing." Somebody needs to give Papa Geissbuhler the official "Best Father of All Time" award, right now. Check out the rest of the full show below for more stories, including Sprint adding 4G access in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and don't forget to add @BlakeStevenson and RT this message for a chance to win Blake's awesome 404 Halloween poster!Episode 689PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Nokia's music service- DRM still equals fail
Nokia's music service: DRM still equals fail
Yesterday we inflated a very appealing balloon. We told you Nokia was launching a new music service that offered the very attractive "unlimited downloads" model of purchasing music. Disappointingly, it turns out that Nokia's free lunch comes with a big fat side order of fail.We knew the unlimited downloads would be DRMed, and we accepted that, with some skepticism. But it transpires that although your music is still valid when your "subscription" ends, in order to acquire more music you'll need to purchase a whole new device! This is because the subscription is between Nokia and Universal, not the record label and the consumer. Not only that, but in order to put those downloads on a consumer-friendly CD you'll need to pay additional fees for every single blinkin' track.What's more, none of these downloads will be transcodable into other formats thanks to the DRM, so be prepared for a hard time listening to your "free" music on your favorite MP3 player or in the car.Ars Technica dug up some further info so pop over and take a glance if you're after some more details, but forget about Nokia's new service offering anything more than a crippled train wreck of a service. Just stick to whatever you're doing now, which hopefully involves not supporting DRMed media with your money. We recommend checking out iTunes Plus, eMusic or 7digital, supporting EMI's releases (it's the only major label that understands DRM) and buying major-label releases from used CD outlets, sellers and online stores, such as Amazon's Marketplace.Update: Nokia has responded to some of the specific criticisms of the service raised by Ars Technica's piece. It confirmed that consumers would have to buy a new device at the end of the year's subscription period if they wanted to continue downloading music, but added that it was in negotiations with several record labels over this business model.Nokia also said that handsets with the "Comes With Music" service will be available SIM-free from Nokia stores at a "competitive" price, but made no comment on whether it would be available on contracts.(Source: Crave UK)
Yesterday we inflated a very appealing balloon. We told you Nokia was launching a new music service that offered the very attractive "unlimited downloads" model of purchasing music. Disappointingly, it turns out that Nokia's free lunch comes with a big fat side order of fail.We knew the unlimited downloads would be DRMed, and we accepted that, with some skepticism. But it transpires that although your music is still valid when your "subscription" ends, in order to acquire more music you'll need to purchase a whole new device! This is because the subscription is between Nokia and Universal, not the record label and the consumer. Not only that, but in order to put those downloads on a consumer-friendly CD you'll need to pay additional fees for every single blinkin' track.What's more, none of these downloads will be transcodable into other formats thanks to the DRM, so be prepared for a hard time listening to your "free" music on your favorite MP3 player or in the car.Ars Technica dug up some further info so pop over and take a glance if you're after some more details, but forget about Nokia's new service offering anything more than a crippled train wreck of a service. Just stick to whatever you're doing now, which hopefully involves not supporting DRMed media with your money. We recommend checking out iTunes Plus, eMusic or 7digital, supporting EMI's releases (it's the only major label that understands DRM) and buying major-label releases from used CD outlets, sellers and online stores, such as Amazon's Marketplace.Update: Nokia has responded to some of the specific criticisms of the service raised by Ars Technica's piece. It confirmed that consumers would have to buy a new device at the end of the year's subscription period if they wanted to continue downloading music, but added that it was in negotiations with several record labels over this business model.Nokia also said that handsets with the "Comes With Music" service will be available SIM-free from Nokia stores at a "competitive" price, but made no comment on whether it would be available on contracts.(Source: Crave UK)
Epoch 2- the robot shooter action continues
Epoch 2: the robot shooter action continues
Uppercut Games' Epoch, released two years ago, seemed to come out of nowhere: a third-person shooter, based on the Unreal Engine, starring a robot in a post-apocalyptic wasteland following a directive to get to the country's princess â€" the person he was charged to protect.Epoch 2 picks up the story where Epoch left off. Having reached Princess Amelia, Epoch must collect the resources to revive her from cryosleep â€" all while the battle between the warring Omegatroniks and Alphatekk robot factions rages.(Credit: Uppercut Games)What made Epoch so great in the first game was a combat system designed specifically for touchscreens, and the gameplay in Epoch 2 is every bit as slick. The gameplay is based around cover, with automatic targeting and firing so that you don't have to stress about aiming and shooting while dodging enemy fire.If this makes the game sound easy, it's no pushover. When you have several enemy bots firing on you at once from different directions, you'll need all your concentration and dexterity to dodge, cover and reload without being killed. Swiping up and down on the screen lets you pop out to shoot, take cover or perform acrobatic leaps out of the firing zone, and swiping from side to side lets you roll into a new position.You can also throw weapons, such as grenades, to give your firepower a bit of a boost. New weapons have been added, as well as new pieces you can find on the battlefield to upgrade Epoch. The combat itself also has some new moves, such as the Smackdown, which allows you to leap in and deliver a finishing move to a damaged enemy, and the Fast Reload system, which allows you to, well, reload your gun quickly, saving precious seconds under fire.(Credit: Uppercut Games)New moving stages, such as barges and trains, provide a dynamic platform for the action, and new bosses with new abilities provide interesting challenges. It's a lot bigger and a lot longer: Uppercut Games said that the story campaign is three to four times as long as the original Epoch; and, like the original game, the graphics are utterly superb.Epoch 2 is available now from the iTunes App Store for AU$6.49. We expect, like Epoch, it will be available for Android on Google Play in the coming months; in the meantime, you can install update 1.5 for a new arena map.
Uppercut Games' Epoch, released two years ago, seemed to come out of nowhere: a third-person shooter, based on the Unreal Engine, starring a robot in a post-apocalyptic wasteland following a directive to get to the country's princess â€" the person he was charged to protect.Epoch 2 picks up the story where Epoch left off. Having reached Princess Amelia, Epoch must collect the resources to revive her from cryosleep â€" all while the battle between the warring Omegatroniks and Alphatekk robot factions rages.(Credit: Uppercut Games)What made Epoch so great in the first game was a combat system designed specifically for touchscreens, and the gameplay in Epoch 2 is every bit as slick. The gameplay is based around cover, with automatic targeting and firing so that you don't have to stress about aiming and shooting while dodging enemy fire.If this makes the game sound easy, it's no pushover. When you have several enemy bots firing on you at once from different directions, you'll need all your concentration and dexterity to dodge, cover and reload without being killed. Swiping up and down on the screen lets you pop out to shoot, take cover or perform acrobatic leaps out of the firing zone, and swiping from side to side lets you roll into a new position.You can also throw weapons, such as grenades, to give your firepower a bit of a boost. New weapons have been added, as well as new pieces you can find on the battlefield to upgrade Epoch. The combat itself also has some new moves, such as the Smackdown, which allows you to leap in and deliver a finishing move to a damaged enemy, and the Fast Reload system, which allows you to, well, reload your gun quickly, saving precious seconds under fire.(Credit: Uppercut Games)New moving stages, such as barges and trains, provide a dynamic platform for the action, and new bosses with new abilities provide interesting challenges. It's a lot bigger and a lot longer: Uppercut Games said that the story campaign is three to four times as long as the original Epoch; and, like the original game, the graphics are utterly superb.Epoch 2 is available now from the iTunes App Store for AU$6.49. We expect, like Epoch, it will be available for Android on Google Play in the coming months; in the meantime, you can install update 1.5 for a new arena map.
Entertainment-discovery app Shazam raises $30M on $1B valuation
Entertainment-discovery app Shazam raises $30M on $1B valuation
Entertainment-discovery app Shazam is worth a serious sum of cash, the company revealed on Tuesday.Shazam raised $30 million on a $1 billion valuation in its latest funding round, the company announced in a blog post Tuesday. While Shazam has not revealed who provided the funding, the company's chairman, Andrew Fisher, told Bloomberg Television in an interview on Tuesday that there were "a couple of billionaires who participated in the funding round."In 2013, the company received $40 million in funding from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim."Shazam's new investors are a combination of institutional investors and family offices, some of whom like to keep a low profile," a company spokesperson told CNET. "Therefore, due to confidentiality agreements we cannot give any further details."Shazam was founded in 1999 and launched in the UK in 2002 on PCs and Macs, but rose to prominence on mobile devices soon after the iPhone 2 launched in 2008. Shazam was capable of "listening" to a song being played on a radio and identifying it for the user. Starting in 2008, Shazam allowed users to instantly buy those songs via iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store, giving users quick access to tracks.Since then, Shazam has grown in leaps and bounds and now has 100 million monthly active mobile users. The company's app has also expanded beyond just music to identify television shows. Upon recognizing the item, users are provided with everything from the name of the track or show to videos, biographies, and lyrics. Users can also buy the particular item from online marketplaces. The service also now integrates with streaming-music offerings Spotify and Rdio, as well as Apple's iOS 8 and Siri.Shazam's latest funding round comes in the wake of the company's CEO Rich Riley saying in July that he had hopes of taking the company public at some point in the next couple of years. In his interview with Bloomberg, Fisher said that the cash infusion will provide a boost to the company's balance sheet as it looks towards an initial public offering.Though valuations are based partly on guesswork, investors are obviously seeing value in Shazam. Last March, the company announced that it had raised $20 million on a $500 million valuation. At that time, its total funding had hit $92 million since its founding.Update, 9:51 a.m. PT: Adds statement from Shazam.
Entertainment-discovery app Shazam is worth a serious sum of cash, the company revealed on Tuesday.Shazam raised $30 million on a $1 billion valuation in its latest funding round, the company announced in a blog post Tuesday. While Shazam has not revealed who provided the funding, the company's chairman, Andrew Fisher, told Bloomberg Television in an interview on Tuesday that there were "a couple of billionaires who participated in the funding round."In 2013, the company received $40 million in funding from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim."Shazam's new investors are a combination of institutional investors and family offices, some of whom like to keep a low profile," a company spokesperson told CNET. "Therefore, due to confidentiality agreements we cannot give any further details."Shazam was founded in 1999 and launched in the UK in 2002 on PCs and Macs, but rose to prominence on mobile devices soon after the iPhone 2 launched in 2008. Shazam was capable of "listening" to a song being played on a radio and identifying it for the user. Starting in 2008, Shazam allowed users to instantly buy those songs via iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store, giving users quick access to tracks.Since then, Shazam has grown in leaps and bounds and now has 100 million monthly active mobile users. The company's app has also expanded beyond just music to identify television shows. Upon recognizing the item, users are provided with everything from the name of the track or show to videos, biographies, and lyrics. Users can also buy the particular item from online marketplaces. The service also now integrates with streaming-music offerings Spotify and Rdio, as well as Apple's iOS 8 and Siri.Shazam's latest funding round comes in the wake of the company's CEO Rich Riley saying in July that he had hopes of taking the company public at some point in the next couple of years. In his interview with Bloomberg, Fisher said that the cash infusion will provide a boost to the company's balance sheet as it looks towards an initial public offering.Though valuations are based partly on guesswork, investors are obviously seeing value in Shazam. Last March, the company announced that it had raised $20 million on a $500 million valuation. At that time, its total funding had hit $92 million since its founding.Update, 9:51 a.m. PT: Adds statement from Shazam.
Samsung claims iPad Mini, latest iPod violate its patents
Samsung claims iPad Mini, latest iPod violate its patents
Samsung charged Wednesday that Apple's iPad Mini, fourth-generation iPad and fifth-generation iPod Touch violate its patents. The company asked a federal district court to add the products to its latest patent fight with the Cupertino, Calif., computer giant.The Samsung complaint, which we've embedded below, alleges that Apple's latest products infringe the same patent as previous versions of its devices. Samsung essentially claims that "all Apple products including a built-in speaker and an external audio output port" infringe this particular patent, and thus argues that the newest Apple products should be included in the case.Samsung previously moved to expand the case to include the iPhone 5, which Apple released after the initial suit was filed. The court agreed on Nov. 15.Apple, of course, previously claimed that a slew of Samsung devices, including Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Nexus smartphones, infringe its patents. The current case is separate from a similar lawsuit that concluded in August with a verdict in Apple's favor that, should it withstand challenge, would require Samsung to pay more than $1 billion to its rival.Yesterday, the judge in this case ruled that Samsung can review the details of a settlement between Apple and Taiwanese handset maker HTC that ended a similar patent battle between those companies.Apple and Samsung are due back in court on Dec. 6 for follow-up action on their earlier trial. Some of the issues at stake in that hearing include Apple's request to ban U.S. sales of at least eight Samsung devices and Samsung's motion to toss out the jury verdict entirely.Here's the Samsung filing from Wednesday:Hat tip: The Verge
Samsung charged Wednesday that Apple's iPad Mini, fourth-generation iPad and fifth-generation iPod Touch violate its patents. The company asked a federal district court to add the products to its latest patent fight with the Cupertino, Calif., computer giant.The Samsung complaint, which we've embedded below, alleges that Apple's latest products infringe the same patent as previous versions of its devices. Samsung essentially claims that "all Apple products including a built-in speaker and an external audio output port" infringe this particular patent, and thus argues that the newest Apple products should be included in the case.Samsung previously moved to expand the case to include the iPhone 5, which Apple released after the initial suit was filed. The court agreed on Nov. 15.Apple, of course, previously claimed that a slew of Samsung devices, including Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Nexus smartphones, infringe its patents. The current case is separate from a similar lawsuit that concluded in August with a verdict in Apple's favor that, should it withstand challenge, would require Samsung to pay more than $1 billion to its rival.Yesterday, the judge in this case ruled that Samsung can review the details of a settlement between Apple and Taiwanese handset maker HTC that ended a similar patent battle between those companies.Apple and Samsung are due back in court on Dec. 6 for follow-up action on their earlier trial. Some of the issues at stake in that hearing include Apple's request to ban U.S. sales of at least eight Samsung devices and Samsung's motion to toss out the jury verdict entirely.Here's the Samsung filing from Wednesday:Hat tip: The Verge
Samsung chip architect leaves for Apple
Samsung chip architect leaves for Apple
Apple taps Samsung for the processors inside its popular portable devices, and it's apparently fond of the company's employees as well.The Wall Street Journal notes that Jim Mergard, who joined Samsung last June to be its chief system architect, has left to go work at Apple. Before Samsung, Mergard spent 16 years at Advanced Micro Devices, where he was a vice president and chief engineer. The move is the latest in a series of behind the scenes shuffles among some heavy hitters in the chip market. In early August Advanced Micro Devices hired former Apple chip architect Jim Keller to be its corporate vice president and chief architect, reporting to former Apple hardware chief Mark Papermaster. The month before it was AMD chip designer John Bruno, who left AMD to go to Apple as a system architect. Related storiesIn tit for tat, AMD grabs Apple chip designerAnother AMD engineer goes to AppleApple, of course, uses Samsung's technology in its devices, part of a multibillion-dollar a year relationship. Besides screens and system memory, Apple also uses the company's processors -- that includes the A6, the custom ARM-based processor inside the iPhone 5, which Apple promotes as one of its headlining features. Apple designs those chips, while Samsung manufactures them. Apple's last big investment into semiconductors was in early 2010 with the acquisition of Texas-based Intrinsity. Before that it was the 2008 buy of chip-design firm P.A. Semi.Updated at 4:02 p.m. PT to clarify Apple's A6 processor design.
Apple taps Samsung for the processors inside its popular portable devices, and it's apparently fond of the company's employees as well.The Wall Street Journal notes that Jim Mergard, who joined Samsung last June to be its chief system architect, has left to go work at Apple. Before Samsung, Mergard spent 16 years at Advanced Micro Devices, where he was a vice president and chief engineer. The move is the latest in a series of behind the scenes shuffles among some heavy hitters in the chip market. In early August Advanced Micro Devices hired former Apple chip architect Jim Keller to be its corporate vice president and chief architect, reporting to former Apple hardware chief Mark Papermaster. The month before it was AMD chip designer John Bruno, who left AMD to go to Apple as a system architect. Related storiesIn tit for tat, AMD grabs Apple chip designerAnother AMD engineer goes to AppleApple, of course, uses Samsung's technology in its devices, part of a multibillion-dollar a year relationship. Besides screens and system memory, Apple also uses the company's processors -- that includes the A6, the custom ARM-based processor inside the iPhone 5, which Apple promotes as one of its headlining features. Apple designs those chips, while Samsung manufactures them. Apple's last big investment into semiconductors was in early 2010 with the acquisition of Texas-based Intrinsity. Before that it was the 2008 buy of chip-design firm P.A. Semi.Updated at 4:02 p.m. PT to clarify Apple's A6 processor design.
Samsung asks judge to lift ban on Galaxy Tab 10.1
Samsung asks judge to lift ban on Galaxy Tab 10.1
Samsung, aiming to find a silver lining in its devastating court loss to Apple, has asked a court to remove its previously ordered sales ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.The company yesterday filed that motion with a federal court in San Jose, according to Bloomberg, which obtained the court documents. The company cited Friday's landmark ruling, in which a jury found that Samsung had not actually violated a patent that caused a ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1.Back in June, Apple posted a $2.6 million bond that paved the way for it to enforce a preliminary injunction against Samsung's tablet in the U.S. Since then, Samsung has tried to lift that ban, saying that the infringement didn't hold up. Until now, it didn't have enough firepower to win that argument. It's possible now that it might.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM3D TV FAQVerizon Wireless revamps unlimited calling, data plansThe possibility of reinstating sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 might be the sole good news Samsung has seen since last Friday. That's when a jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages from Samsung. The jury found Samsung in violation of five of six Apple patents.According to Bloomberg, Samsung has requested damages from Apple since its Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been banned without cause. The company also asked Judge Lucy Koh to rule on the request without a hearing, according to Bloomberg.CNET has contacted Samsung for comment on the Bloomberg report. We will update this story when we have more information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Samsung, aiming to find a silver lining in its devastating court loss to Apple, has asked a court to remove its previously ordered sales ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.The company yesterday filed that motion with a federal court in San Jose, according to Bloomberg, which obtained the court documents. The company cited Friday's landmark ruling, in which a jury found that Samsung had not actually violated a patent that caused a ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1.Back in June, Apple posted a $2.6 million bond that paved the way for it to enforce a preliminary injunction against Samsung's tablet in the U.S. Since then, Samsung has tried to lift that ban, saying that the infringement didn't hold up. Until now, it didn't have enough firepower to win that argument. It's possible now that it might.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM3D TV FAQVerizon Wireless revamps unlimited calling, data plansThe possibility of reinstating sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 might be the sole good news Samsung has seen since last Friday. That's when a jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages from Samsung. The jury found Samsung in violation of five of six Apple patents.According to Bloomberg, Samsung has requested damages from Apple since its Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been banned without cause. The company also asked Judge Lucy Koh to rule on the request without a hearing, according to Bloomberg.CNET has contacted Samsung for comment on the Bloomberg report. We will update this story when we have more information.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Samsung appoints Kwon Oh-hyun new CEO
Samsung appoints Kwon Oh-hyun new CEO
Samsung has replaced CEO Choi Gee-sung with the head of its components operation.Samsung's components business chief, Kwon Oh-hyun, will now head up the company as chief executive officer. Kwon will continue to run Samsung's component business, but will now be tasked with handling "corporate-wide affairs," Samsung said today. However, the presidents of Samsung's TV and appliances and telecom and IT divisions will not report to Kwon.Although Choi is no longer chief executive, he hasn't been let go. Quite the contrary, he will now head up the Samsung Group Corporate Strategy Office, a central body that rules over the organization's dozens of companies. Samsung Group is controlled by the chairman of Samsung Electronics, Lee Kun-hee.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM3D TV FAQVerizon Wireless revamps unlimited calling, data plansAccording to Reuters, Choi has acted as a mentor to Lee Kun-hee's son Jay Y. Lee, who is expected to take over the group when he's ready for the job. One source, speaking to Reuters, said that Choi will aid Jay Y. Lee in understanding the strategy behind Samsung's many businesses, not just electronics.Choi made headlines last month after meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook in San Francisco to discuss their patent lawsuit battles. Although the discussions were meant to help the companies come to some form of an agreement, that apparently hasn't happened. Whether Kwon will be actively involved in the legal cases surrounding patents and Apple is unknown at this point.Updated at 7:15 a.m. PTto include Samsung's confirmation of its executive changes to CNET.(Via The Wall Street Journal and Reuters)
Samsung has replaced CEO Choi Gee-sung with the head of its components operation.Samsung's components business chief, Kwon Oh-hyun, will now head up the company as chief executive officer. Kwon will continue to run Samsung's component business, but will now be tasked with handling "corporate-wide affairs," Samsung said today. However, the presidents of Samsung's TV and appliances and telecom and IT divisions will not report to Kwon.Although Choi is no longer chief executive, he hasn't been let go. Quite the contrary, he will now head up the Samsung Group Corporate Strategy Office, a central body that rules over the organization's dozens of companies. Samsung Group is controlled by the chairman of Samsung Electronics, Lee Kun-hee.Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM3D TV FAQVerizon Wireless revamps unlimited calling, data plansAccording to Reuters, Choi has acted as a mentor to Lee Kun-hee's son Jay Y. Lee, who is expected to take over the group when he's ready for the job. One source, speaking to Reuters, said that Choi will aid Jay Y. Lee in understanding the strategy behind Samsung's many businesses, not just electronics.Choi made headlines last month after meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook in San Francisco to discuss their patent lawsuit battles. Although the discussions were meant to help the companies come to some form of an agreement, that apparently hasn't happened. Whether Kwon will be actively involved in the legal cases surrounding patents and Apple is unknown at this point.Updated at 7:15 a.m. PTto include Samsung's confirmation of its executive changes to CNET.(Via The Wall Street Journal and Reuters)
Samsung aims to overtake Apple as top tablet maker
Samsung aims to overtake Apple as top tablet maker
Samsung has overpowered Apple in the smartphone market and now it has its sights set on the tablet arena.In an Analysts Day event held Wednesday in Seoul, Korea, JK Shin, head of Samsung's mobile division, said that the company wants to steal the No. 1 tablet crown from Apple, according to the Associated Press. The executive didn't reveal a specific deadline for this goal, but did add that Samsung aims to be the "most beloved" company in mobile.Shin said that Samsung's tablet sales are expected to shoot past 40 million this year, doubling the amount in 2012. Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM "Samsung tablet shipments started to grow remarkably since the second half of last year," Shin said, according to the AP.Samsung does have its work cut out if it expects to outshine Apple anytime soon.Apple has sold 48.2 million iPads in the first three quarters of 2013, and analysts predict sales of anywhere from 24 million to 27 million for the holiday quarter. Even at the low end, that would add up to more than 72 million iPads sold this year. In 2012, Apple sold 65.7 million tablets.But Apple's firm grip among tablet buyers has been slipping. Still the top player, it continues to shed market share to its Android rivals, most notably Samsung. Last quarter, Apple's slice of the market fell to 29.7 percent, from 33.5 percent in the prior year's quarter, according to research firm IHS. Over the same time, Samsung's share rose from 19.9 percent to 22.2 percent.
Samsung has overpowered Apple in the smartphone market and now it has its sights set on the tablet arena.In an Analysts Day event held Wednesday in Seoul, Korea, JK Shin, head of Samsung's mobile division, said that the company wants to steal the No. 1 tablet crown from Apple, according to the Associated Press. The executive didn't reveal a specific deadline for this goal, but did add that Samsung aims to be the "most beloved" company in mobile.Shin said that Samsung's tablet sales are expected to shoot past 40 million this year, doubling the amount in 2012. Related storiesDialed in 110: Lessons for Android (podcast)Samsung's diva actKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIM "Samsung tablet shipments started to grow remarkably since the second half of last year," Shin said, according to the AP.Samsung does have its work cut out if it expects to outshine Apple anytime soon.Apple has sold 48.2 million iPads in the first three quarters of 2013, and analysts predict sales of anywhere from 24 million to 27 million for the holiday quarter. Even at the low end, that would add up to more than 72 million iPads sold this year. In 2012, Apple sold 65.7 million tablets.But Apple's firm grip among tablet buyers has been slipping. Still the top player, it continues to shed market share to its Android rivals, most notably Samsung. Last quarter, Apple's slice of the market fell to 29.7 percent, from 33.5 percent in the prior year's quarter, according to research firm IHS. Over the same time, Samsung's share rose from 19.9 percent to 22.2 percent.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)