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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

By 
CHENDA NGAK / 
CBS NEWS/ August 13, 2013, 11:17 AM

Apple reportedly releasing new iPads after iPhone

Apple will launch its new iPad and iPad mini ahead of the "holiday shopping season," according to a new report.
Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg reported Monday that Apple plans to release the new tablets after the new iPhone is reportedly announced on Sept. 10. The tech giant is expected to put the tablets on the market in time for the holiday shopping season.
The fifth-generation iPad is said to take on a slim design that is more like the iPad mini and a thinner bezel than the current model, but will not change its display size. The smaller tablet will likely get a high-resolution screen.
According to the Wall Street Journal, unnamed sources say that the iPad mini will come with a high-resolution "retina" display, but will maintain its 7.9-inch screen size.
Both tablets will come with an updated version of Apple's mobile operating system iOS 7, which has been completely redesigned. The new design is noticeably flatter, with redesigned icons, buttons, color schemes and slightly translucent-looking keyboard.
There are no details on when Apple will hold a press event. Last year, the tech giant unveiled the fourth generation iPad and iPad mini on Oct. 23.

apple reportedly releasing new ipads after iphone after some days.

By 
CHENDA NGAK / 
CBS NEWS/ August 13, 2013, 11:17 AM

Apple reportedly releasing new iPads after iPhone

Apple will launch its new iPad and iPad mini ahead of the "holiday shopping season," according to a new report.
Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg reported Monday that Apple plans to release the new tablets after the new iPhone is reportedly announced on Sept. 10. The tech giant is expected to put the tablets on the market in time for the holiday shopping season.
The fifth-generation iPad is said to take on a slim design that is more like the iPad mini and a thinner bezel than the current model, but will not change its display size. The smaller tablet will likely get a high-resolution screen.
According to the Wall Street Journal, unnamed sources say that the iPad mini will come with a high-resolution "retina" display, but will maintain its 7.9-inch screen size.
Both tablets will come with an updated version of Apple's mobile operating system iOS 7, which has been completely redesigned. The new design is noticeably flatter, with redesigned icons, buttons, color schemes and slightly translucent-looking keyboard.
There are no details on when Apple will hold a press event. Last year, the tech giant unveiled the fourth generation iPad and iPad mini on Oct. 23.

No comments
Posted at 9:43 AM |  by Unknown

Facebook Buys Translation, Voice-Recognition Firm

Facebook logo
Facebook this week acquired Mobile Technologies, maker of translation and voice-recognition tools like Jibbigo, in an effort to boost the social network's global presence.
"It has always been our mission to make the world more open and connected," Facebook product management director Tom Stocky said in astatement. "Although more than a billion people around the world already use Facebook every month, we are always looking for ways to help connect the rest of the world as well."
Voice technology could be the answer. Features like Siri and Google Now have already made it easier for people to navigate mobile devices, and the addition of similar services to Facebook "will help us evolve our products to match that evolution," Stocky said.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But the social network will continue to support Mobile Technologies's Jibbigo app, a Facebook spokesman told CNET.
Jibbigo
The Jibbigo app offers speech-to-speech translations at your fingertips, online and off, so users can understand their surroundings even without a network connection (for an added price). Just speak to the device or enter text to see and hear the translation in more than 25 languages.
"Facebook, with its mission to make the world more open and connected, provides the perfect platform to apply our technology at a truly global scale," Mobile Technologies said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to develop our technology at Facebook and finding new and interesting ways to apply it to Facebook's long-term product roadmap."
Neither Facebook nor Mobile Technologies immediately responded to PCMag's request for comment. According to CNET, the acquired staff will move to Facebook's Menlo Park, Calif., campus once the deal closes.

The No. 1 social network has been busy this summer, rolling out new features and creating new in-house positions. On Monday, Facebook previewed two mobile Pages updates, which will add OpenTable restaurant reservations and TV/movie listings later this week.

x

Facebook Buys Translation, Voice-Recognition Firm

Facebook Buys Translation, Voice-Recognition Firm

Facebook logo
Facebook this week acquired Mobile Technologies, maker of translation and voice-recognition tools like Jibbigo, in an effort to boost the social network's global presence.
"It has always been our mission to make the world more open and connected," Facebook product management director Tom Stocky said in astatement. "Although more than a billion people around the world already use Facebook every month, we are always looking for ways to help connect the rest of the world as well."
Voice technology could be the answer. Features like Siri and Google Now have already made it easier for people to navigate mobile devices, and the addition of similar services to Facebook "will help us evolve our products to match that evolution," Stocky said.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But the social network will continue to support Mobile Technologies's Jibbigo app, a Facebook spokesman told CNET.
Jibbigo
The Jibbigo app offers speech-to-speech translations at your fingertips, online and off, so users can understand their surroundings even without a network connection (for an added price). Just speak to the device or enter text to see and hear the translation in more than 25 languages.
"Facebook, with its mission to make the world more open and connected, provides the perfect platform to apply our technology at a truly global scale," Mobile Technologies said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to develop our technology at Facebook and finding new and interesting ways to apply it to Facebook's long-term product roadmap."
Neither Facebook nor Mobile Technologies immediately responded to PCMag's request for comment. According to CNET, the acquired staff will move to Facebook's Menlo Park, Calif., campus once the deal closes.

The No. 1 social network has been busy this summer, rolling out new features and creating new in-house positions. On Monday, Facebook previewed two mobile Pages updates, which will add OpenTable restaurant reservations and TV/movie listings later this week.

x

No comments
Posted at 9:40 AM |  by Unknown

Samsung brings dual view feature to OLED TV

A new OLED high definition TV from Samsung delivers vibrant video, but also has a "marriage saver" feature that lets two people watch different programs simultaneously.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

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The OLED TV competition is heating up.
Samsung has joined LG Electronics in offering the long-awaited organic light-emitting diode TVs. Samsung's new 55-inch curved display, priced at $9,000 (actually $8.999.99), is shipping to retailers and is also available to order on Samsung.com.
The TV and electronics maker, which like LG is based in South Korea, had originally priced to arrive in the U.S. at $15,000 – the same price as that of LG's curved OLED display that began arriving in stores last month. Samsung says it improved its manufacturing process enough to yield displays more efficiently and decided to drop the price, undercutting LG in the process.
And Samsung's set has a unique Multi View feature that lets two people watch different programming simultaneously on the display while wearing 3-D glasses. "Some of us at Samsung call it 'the marriage saver' because my wife and I can be sitting on the couch watching two different programs on the same OLED TV," says David Das, vice president of home entertainment for Samsung Electronics America.
Each person has personal ear bud headphones built into the 3-D glasses (two pairs come with the set) that deliver individual audio streams to the viewer.
The display, like the new LG OLED TV, has a concave shape. "It actually mimics that of an arena or amphitheater," Das says.
Consumers have coveted OLED TVs since the first were shown more than five years ago, because the super-thin displays reproduce super-saturated colors, ultra-distinct blacks and whites and virtually no motion blur. But they have been hard to manufacture.
Analyst Ken Park of DisplaySearch projects that as few as 20,000 OLED displays will be shipped globally this year, with about 800,000 expected in 2014, before approaching 4.5 million in 2015. "Consumers may find it difficult to pay for hugely expensive OLED TVs, so volume will be limited until mass production is fully stabilized," Park says.
But OLED's promise remains because of the picture quality. "The images were very bright, well above what we've seen from any plasma TV, so you get an unparalleled contrast range that makes images pop off the screen," says Jim Willcox, senior electronics editor at Consumer Reports, who got to test the display. (His full report is on the Consumer Reports web site.)
Willcox calls the display "arguably the best all-around TV we've ever tested." He is looking forward to putting LG's competing curved display through the paces.
But because of the high price and difficulty of manufacturing, he says, "all OLED TV manufacturers face formidable challenges before these sets can become a mainstream choice for consumers."
Samsung also announced that retailers were also now offering two new Ultra HD displays, a 55-inch model ($5,500) and 65-inch model ($7,500). Consumers could be overwhelmed by choice with new OLED and Ultra HD sets joining traditional big-screen flat panel displays at retail, so Samsung will have detailed descriptors in stores.
"We feel that each of these technologies meets a certain consumer's needs," Das says. "Ultra HD offers the highest resolution, four times that of full HD and in OLED, it is this amazing picture quality. It stops people in their tracks."
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider

Samsung brings dual view feature to OLED TV

Samsung brings dual view feature to OLED TV

A new OLED high definition TV from Samsung delivers vibrant video, but also has a "marriage saver" feature that lets two people watch different programs simultaneously.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

SHARE 5COMMENTMORE
The OLED TV competition is heating up.
Samsung has joined LG Electronics in offering the long-awaited organic light-emitting diode TVs. Samsung's new 55-inch curved display, priced at $9,000 (actually $8.999.99), is shipping to retailers and is also available to order on Samsung.com.
The TV and electronics maker, which like LG is based in South Korea, had originally priced to arrive in the U.S. at $15,000 – the same price as that of LG's curved OLED display that began arriving in stores last month. Samsung says it improved its manufacturing process enough to yield displays more efficiently and decided to drop the price, undercutting LG in the process.
And Samsung's set has a unique Multi View feature that lets two people watch different programming simultaneously on the display while wearing 3-D glasses. "Some of us at Samsung call it 'the marriage saver' because my wife and I can be sitting on the couch watching two different programs on the same OLED TV," says David Das, vice president of home entertainment for Samsung Electronics America.
Each person has personal ear bud headphones built into the 3-D glasses (two pairs come with the set) that deliver individual audio streams to the viewer.
The display, like the new LG OLED TV, has a concave shape. "It actually mimics that of an arena or amphitheater," Das says.
Consumers have coveted OLED TVs since the first were shown more than five years ago, because the super-thin displays reproduce super-saturated colors, ultra-distinct blacks and whites and virtually no motion blur. But they have been hard to manufacture.
Analyst Ken Park of DisplaySearch projects that as few as 20,000 OLED displays will be shipped globally this year, with about 800,000 expected in 2014, before approaching 4.5 million in 2015. "Consumers may find it difficult to pay for hugely expensive OLED TVs, so volume will be limited until mass production is fully stabilized," Park says.
But OLED's promise remains because of the picture quality. "The images were very bright, well above what we've seen from any plasma TV, so you get an unparalleled contrast range that makes images pop off the screen," says Jim Willcox, senior electronics editor at Consumer Reports, who got to test the display. (His full report is on the Consumer Reports web site.)
Willcox calls the display "arguably the best all-around TV we've ever tested." He is looking forward to putting LG's competing curved display through the paces.
But because of the high price and difficulty of manufacturing, he says, "all OLED TV manufacturers face formidable challenges before these sets can become a mainstream choice for consumers."
Samsung also announced that retailers were also now offering two new Ultra HD displays, a 55-inch model ($5,500) and 65-inch model ($7,500). Consumers could be overwhelmed by choice with new OLED and Ultra HD sets joining traditional big-screen flat panel displays at retail, so Samsung will have detailed descriptors in stores.
"We feel that each of these technologies meets a certain consumer's needs," Das says. "Ultra HD offers the highest resolution, four times that of full HD and in OLED, it is this amazing picture quality. It stops people in their tracks."
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider

No comments
Posted at 9:38 AM |  by Unknown

Piper Jaffray Expects The iPhone 5S And 5C To Generate Earnings Growth In The March Quarter 
ene Munster, senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, has a $655 price target for Apple AAPL +1.45%. He put out a note with his expectations for the next iPhone announcement along with thoughts on additional new products from Apple over the next year since there have been numerous reports that Apple will announce new iPhones on Tuesday, September 10. (Note that my family and I own Apple shares).
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 28: The new ...
The iPhone 5.  (Image credit: Getty Images for Telecom via @daylife)
Munster expects an iPhone 5S and cheaper iPhone (I’d say mid-priced since along the lines of the iPad Mini Apple will probably lean to a higher price vs. lower one) to be announced in September, an iPad update in October, a TV announcement late in the year and a larger screen iPhone and iWatch in mid-2014.
iPhone expectations
I would agree that it makes sense to announce a 5S and the rumored 5C phone together as for one reason you want to make sure they are positioned against each other as well as you can. That is easier to do at the same time vs. separate events.
Munster estimates that 70% of fiscal 2014 iPhone sales will come from upgrades of previous iPhones which provides some stability to revenue and earnings projections. He projects that the company should have flat EPS in the December quarter compared to a year ago at $13.82 vs. last years $13.81 and have a 15% increase in the March 2014 quarter to $11.57.  The average sell-side EPS is $13.38 for the December quarter and $10.49 in the March 2014 quarter.
The key to Apple’s results will be its gross margin with the Street having it stabilize around 36% over the next two years. If Apple can price the 5C well enough to generate decent margins but not cannibalize too many 5S’ then earnings will not just stabilize but have a chance to move higher.
Munster is expecting that the lower priced iPhone will only have a 15% gross margin and cannibalize 25% of typical iPhones vs. a prior expectation of 50%. While Apple may go as low as 15% gross margins I believe that is a fairly conservative number (as does Munster) but I do think that the cannibalization rate could be higher than his projected 25% (I would expect more in the range of 30% to 40%). The keys will be in which countries and what carriers offer it, how limited in functionality it is such as 3G but no 4G connectivity and other lower tech specs such as smaller screen, slower processor, camera and memory.
I’m not convinced a plastic case will be as big a turnoff as some seem to think. Apple doesn’t do cheap (meaning the 5C will still feel solid) and other smartphone vendors seem to be doing quite well with plastic phones.
To determine how many users will upgrade to the next phone Munster assumes after a two year contract that 80% to 90% stay with the iPhone family (feels like a reasonable assumption to me) and that they upgrade over the next year (I would assume a lower rate than the 100% conversion he uses). Based on 125 million iPhones sold in fiscal 2012 and using the mid-point retention rate he projects that there will be 106 million iPhones bought by existing users. With an overall iPhone estimate of 152 million Munster expects that 70% of the fiscal 2014’s iPhone sales are “in the bag”.
iPad and other new products
It probably works better to have a separate event to announce new iPads. It generates more buzz and the company can focus its resources on the iPhone and iPad to maximum effect by holding them on different dates. It also makes it easier on their manufacturing partners so that they are not having to ramp production of multiple products at the same time.
The wild cards are new product categories that Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has alluded to as I don’t think his pronouncements about new products are limited to iPhones and iPads. I expect a larger screen iPhone next year (and you have to assume that Apple is feverously working on it due to share loss). Since it is easier to change the internal workings of a phone vs. altering the total size of one the company is on a yearly cadence for upgrades but is slower than one would like when it comes to a new form factor.
Munster has speculated on a TV for few years and hedges he bet (70% odds) of a first half launch in 2014. With a price tag of $1,500 to $2,000 I would estimate that Apple’s share of the market will be fewer than the 10 million unit potential (or 9% market share) Munster foresees (but does not include in his financial projections).
A wearable device is the other product line that gets a lot of press. However, I’m not convinced a $150 device (typical pricing for these items currently) will have a huge uptake unless it either delivers some very interesting functionality beyond how many calories or Fuel Units I expend or becomes an visible accessory that people want to show off (similar to the white ear buds the iPod had). 

Piper Jaffray Expects The iPhone 5S And 5C To Generate Earnings Growth In The March Quarter

Piper Jaffray Expects The iPhone 5S And 5C To Generate Earnings Growth In The March Quarter 
ene Munster, senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, has a $655 price target for Apple AAPL +1.45%. He put out a note with his expectations for the next iPhone announcement along with thoughts on additional new products from Apple over the next year since there have been numerous reports that Apple will announce new iPhones on Tuesday, September 10. (Note that my family and I own Apple shares).
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 28: The new ...
The iPhone 5.  (Image credit: Getty Images for Telecom via @daylife)
Munster expects an iPhone 5S and cheaper iPhone (I’d say mid-priced since along the lines of the iPad Mini Apple will probably lean to a higher price vs. lower one) to be announced in September, an iPad update in October, a TV announcement late in the year and a larger screen iPhone and iWatch in mid-2014.
iPhone expectations
I would agree that it makes sense to announce a 5S and the rumored 5C phone together as for one reason you want to make sure they are positioned against each other as well as you can. That is easier to do at the same time vs. separate events.
Munster estimates that 70% of fiscal 2014 iPhone sales will come from upgrades of previous iPhones which provides some stability to revenue and earnings projections. He projects that the company should have flat EPS in the December quarter compared to a year ago at $13.82 vs. last years $13.81 and have a 15% increase in the March 2014 quarter to $11.57.  The average sell-side EPS is $13.38 for the December quarter and $10.49 in the March 2014 quarter.
The key to Apple’s results will be its gross margin with the Street having it stabilize around 36% over the next two years. If Apple can price the 5C well enough to generate decent margins but not cannibalize too many 5S’ then earnings will not just stabilize but have a chance to move higher.
Munster is expecting that the lower priced iPhone will only have a 15% gross margin and cannibalize 25% of typical iPhones vs. a prior expectation of 50%. While Apple may go as low as 15% gross margins I believe that is a fairly conservative number (as does Munster) but I do think that the cannibalization rate could be higher than his projected 25% (I would expect more in the range of 30% to 40%). The keys will be in which countries and what carriers offer it, how limited in functionality it is such as 3G but no 4G connectivity and other lower tech specs such as smaller screen, slower processor, camera and memory.
I’m not convinced a plastic case will be as big a turnoff as some seem to think. Apple doesn’t do cheap (meaning the 5C will still feel solid) and other smartphone vendors seem to be doing quite well with plastic phones.
To determine how many users will upgrade to the next phone Munster assumes after a two year contract that 80% to 90% stay with the iPhone family (feels like a reasonable assumption to me) and that they upgrade over the next year (I would assume a lower rate than the 100% conversion he uses). Based on 125 million iPhones sold in fiscal 2012 and using the mid-point retention rate he projects that there will be 106 million iPhones bought by existing users. With an overall iPhone estimate of 152 million Munster expects that 70% of the fiscal 2014’s iPhone sales are “in the bag”.
iPad and other new products
It probably works better to have a separate event to announce new iPads. It generates more buzz and the company can focus its resources on the iPhone and iPad to maximum effect by holding them on different dates. It also makes it easier on their manufacturing partners so that they are not having to ramp production of multiple products at the same time.
The wild cards are new product categories that Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has alluded to as I don’t think his pronouncements about new products are limited to iPhones and iPads. I expect a larger screen iPhone next year (and you have to assume that Apple is feverously working on it due to share loss). Since it is easier to change the internal workings of a phone vs. altering the total size of one the company is on a yearly cadence for upgrades but is slower than one would like when it comes to a new form factor.
Munster has speculated on a TV for few years and hedges he bet (70% odds) of a first half launch in 2014. With a price tag of $1,500 to $2,000 I would estimate that Apple’s share of the market will be fewer than the 10 million unit potential (or 9% market share) Munster foresees (but does not include in his financial projections).
A wearable device is the other product line that gets a lot of press. However, I’m not convinced a $150 device (typical pricing for these items currently) will have a huge uptake unless it either delivers some very interesting functionality beyond how many calories or Fuel Units I expend or becomes an visible accessory that people want to show off (similar to the white ear buds the iPod had). 

No comments
Posted at 9:35 AM |  by Unknown

BlackBerry hits 88MPH, goes back to the future with NEW old 9720 mobe

Brainwave: Crank out a cheap QWERTY BB7 phone for Asia, Latin America

BlackBerry has announced a new phone for emerging markets: the BlackBerry 9720. It's not part of the shiny new BlackBerry OS 10 line-up of mobiles because it's powered by the ancient BlackBerry 7 OS, which last saw action in 2011.
It's the consequence of a mismatch between BlackBerry's swanky modern QNX-based operating system and the company's customers. BB OS 10 requires devices with 2GB of memory and a dual-core processor to run all its bells and whistles; the sort of hardware that sports a mid to high-end price tag.
However plenty of BlackBerry's punters can't afford that: those expecting low-cost handsets in emerging markets. While BlackBerry promised that BB OS 10 would be available across all price points in 2013, it hasn't been able to come up with the goods. Even the cheapest of the three BB OS 10 devices released to date -the Q5 - is still far too expensive to appeal to the $150 segment: it costs about £290 SIM-free in the UK (that's about $450 in the US).
Hence, the volte face. The 9720 will not be available in the West but in Asia and Latin America. It's a QWERTY handset with thumbpad and 2.8-inch screen similar to the low-cost Curve range, and sports a built-in FM radio. It has a 320 x 480 pixel display, an 800MHz processor with 512MB RAM, 5Mp camera and a 1,450mAh battery.
Its ancient OS has been tweaked to allow access to BlackBerry Messenger, FaceBook and Twitter. BlackBerry would rather not devote resources to its legacy OS, but has little other choice.
BB OS 10 turned out to be too much for BlackBerry's PlayBook, too. Having promised owners of the tablet a new version of the operating system, BB CEO Thorsten Heins announced the slab was being discontinued, in part owing to the poor performance of the OS.
The company, which has watched its market share nosedive in just five years, announced it was up for grabs yesterday. ®BlackBerry hits 88MPH, goes back to the future with NEW old 9720 mobe

BlackBerry hits 88MPH, goes back to the future with NEW old 9720 mobe


BlackBerry hits 88MPH, goes back to the future with NEW old 9720 mobe

Brainwave: Crank out a cheap QWERTY BB7 phone for Asia, Latin America

BlackBerry has announced a new phone for emerging markets: the BlackBerry 9720. It's not part of the shiny new BlackBerry OS 10 line-up of mobiles because it's powered by the ancient BlackBerry 7 OS, which last saw action in 2011.
It's the consequence of a mismatch between BlackBerry's swanky modern QNX-based operating system and the company's customers. BB OS 10 requires devices with 2GB of memory and a dual-core processor to run all its bells and whistles; the sort of hardware that sports a mid to high-end price tag.
However plenty of BlackBerry's punters can't afford that: those expecting low-cost handsets in emerging markets. While BlackBerry promised that BB OS 10 would be available across all price points in 2013, it hasn't been able to come up with the goods. Even the cheapest of the three BB OS 10 devices released to date -the Q5 - is still far too expensive to appeal to the $150 segment: it costs about £290 SIM-free in the UK (that's about $450 in the US).
Hence, the volte face. The 9720 will not be available in the West but in Asia and Latin America. It's a QWERTY handset with thumbpad and 2.8-inch screen similar to the low-cost Curve range, and sports a built-in FM radio. It has a 320 x 480 pixel display, an 800MHz processor with 512MB RAM, 5Mp camera and a 1,450mAh battery.
Its ancient OS has been tweaked to allow access to BlackBerry Messenger, FaceBook and Twitter. BlackBerry would rather not devote resources to its legacy OS, but has little other choice.
BB OS 10 turned out to be too much for BlackBerry's PlayBook, too. Having promised owners of the tablet a new version of the operating system, BB CEO Thorsten Heins announced the slab was being discontinued, in part owing to the poor performance of the OS.
The company, which has watched its market share nosedive in just five years, announced it was up for grabs yesterday. ®BlackBerry hits 88MPH, goes back to the future with NEW old 9720 mobe

No comments
Posted at 9:32 AM |  by Unknown

Microsoft takes a U-turn again, says Xbox One will work even without Kinect

  • Anupam Saxena, August 13, 2013
    ps4-vs-xbox.jpg
    It looks like Microsoft is taking another U-turn by clarifying that its new Xbox One console will even work without plugging in the new Kinect sensor.

    In an interview with IGN, Microsoft's Marc Whitten, Chief Xbox One Platform Architect, responded to a question on whether the console would work even without the Kinect sensor plugged in, saying that it would indeed function but features that make use of the sensor won't work. He explained,"That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn't plugged in, although you won't be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor."

    Previously, Microsoft had mentioned that the Xbox One will not function without the Kinect sensor, as noted by an IGN report. 

    Xbox's UK marketing director Harvey Eagle had said that "Kinect does require to be connected to Xbox One in all cases, yes."

    It's interesting to note that Microsoft includes Kinect in the standard Xbox One package, which implies it's not optional. The Xbox One costs $500, and one of the reasons given for the high price is the inclusion of the Kinect sensor. It's worth noting that PlayStation 4, Xbox One's competitor in the next-generation gaming console wars, does not include a bundled motion sensor, and is priced $100 cheaper than Microsoft' console. (Also see: PS4 priced $100 cheaper than Xbox One)

    Whitten also informed that users will get the ability to completely turn the sensor off in the console's settings. In this mode, the sensor will not collect any information but the console will support using the sensor for IR blasting. Also, if the user tries to access any feature that requires Kinect functionality, the console will prompt the user to turn it back on.

    Microsoft had also clarified earlier that a simple "Xbox off" voice command, will switch off Kinect while users enjoy the entertainment features of the console and the only command that the sensor will recognise that time would be "Xbox on". Users could even switch off this feature, if they wished to. 

    It's not the first time that Microsoft has retracted from its original stance with the Xbox One. In June, Microsoft took a U-turn by backing off plans for the Xbox One consoles to require constant Internet connections and put restrictions on playing second-hand disk games after wide spread outrage among the media and gaming community and the good response to PlayStation 4 pre bookings that does not have any such restrictions.http://gadgets.ndtv.com/games/news/microsoft-takes-a-u-turn-again-says-xbox-one-will-work-even-without-kinect-405334

Microsoft takes a U-turn again, says Xbox One will work even without Kinect

Microsoft takes a U-turn again, says Xbox One will work even without Kinect

  • Anupam Saxena, August 13, 2013
    ps4-vs-xbox.jpg
    It looks like Microsoft is taking another U-turn by clarifying that its new Xbox One console will even work without plugging in the new Kinect sensor.

    In an interview with IGN, Microsoft's Marc Whitten, Chief Xbox One Platform Architect, responded to a question on whether the console would work even without the Kinect sensor plugged in, saying that it would indeed function but features that make use of the sensor won't work. He explained,"That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn't plugged in, although you won't be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor."

    Previously, Microsoft had mentioned that the Xbox One will not function without the Kinect sensor, as noted by an IGN report. 

    Xbox's UK marketing director Harvey Eagle had said that "Kinect does require to be connected to Xbox One in all cases, yes."

    It's interesting to note that Microsoft includes Kinect in the standard Xbox One package, which implies it's not optional. The Xbox One costs $500, and one of the reasons given for the high price is the inclusion of the Kinect sensor. It's worth noting that PlayStation 4, Xbox One's competitor in the next-generation gaming console wars, does not include a bundled motion sensor, and is priced $100 cheaper than Microsoft' console. (Also see: PS4 priced $100 cheaper than Xbox One)

    Whitten also informed that users will get the ability to completely turn the sensor off in the console's settings. In this mode, the sensor will not collect any information but the console will support using the sensor for IR blasting. Also, if the user tries to access any feature that requires Kinect functionality, the console will prompt the user to turn it back on.

    Microsoft had also clarified earlier that a simple "Xbox off" voice command, will switch off Kinect while users enjoy the entertainment features of the console and the only command that the sensor will recognise that time would be "Xbox on". Users could even switch off this feature, if they wished to. 

    It's not the first time that Microsoft has retracted from its original stance with the Xbox One. In June, Microsoft took a U-turn by backing off plans for the Xbox One consoles to require constant Internet connections and put restrictions on playing second-hand disk games after wide spread outrage among the media and gaming community and the good response to PlayStation 4 pre bookings that does not have any such restrictions.http://gadgets.ndtv.com/games/news/microsoft-takes-a-u-turn-again-says-xbox-one-will-work-even-without-kinect-405334

No comments
Posted at 9:31 AM |  by Unknown

Friday, April 5, 2013

             Is Microsoft going towards death??

sources claimed that the new interface of windows 8 and windows 8 OS mobile are badly exposed due to their less effectiveness and less ease of user interface.it was executed badly and now results are revealing due to Microsoft journey towards failure. Microsoft was under serious consequences  of market appreciation and sale of Samsung and apple which was touching to new glories.it is important now that will Microsoft survive or nor??.
the bloggers answered that it depends upon now approach of Microsoft. If Microsoft attracted the consumers and they gave them what they want then Microsoft will survive otherwise it will lead him to his death. The world's biggest IT tycoon now is fighting the war of his existence due to failure of policies. Market analysts claimed that nothing have been left for Microsoft in market. After badly rejected by customers and industry due to better policies of his rivals Microsoft can cause the wall street to crash if the same circumstances sustain in information technology market.

microsoft is dead!!

             Is Microsoft going towards death??

sources claimed that the new interface of windows 8 and windows 8 OS mobile are badly exposed due to their less effectiveness and less ease of user interface.it was executed badly and now results are revealing due to Microsoft journey towards failure. Microsoft was under serious consequences  of market appreciation and sale of Samsung and apple which was touching to new glories.it is important now that will Microsoft survive or nor??.
the bloggers answered that it depends upon now approach of Microsoft. If Microsoft attracted the consumers and they gave them what they want then Microsoft will survive otherwise it will lead him to his death. The world's biggest IT tycoon now is fighting the war of his existence due to failure of policies. Market analysts claimed that nothing have been left for Microsoft in market. After badly rejected by customers and industry due to better policies of his rivals Microsoft can cause the wall street to crash if the same circumstances sustain in information technology market.

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Posted at 3:55 AM |  by Unknown
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