Google Reveals $14 Billion Revenue In Q1 Earnings

Google presented its Q1 2013 earnings today and, overall, the company looks to be in good shape. Revenues of $13.97 billion were down slightly from the always-hot previous quarter, but that number was in line with analysts’ expectations. More impressive was the $3.35 billion net income, which was up over 30% from the same period a year ago.

Motorola Mobility continued to shed money, gross revenue of $1.02 billion and a net loss of $271 million. Patrick Pichette, Google’s CEO, said, ”We’re pleased with the velocity of change at Motorola Mobility. We’re excited about the future, but results will continue to be variable.” The amounts of lower, both in revenue and money lost, than the previous quarter, which means internal money-saving measures, in addition to the substantial number of jobs shed, are making a difference.

The company hasn’t released a product since September of last year, but 2013 promises to be one of big changes in the company. Now fully integrated into Google, we’re hearing rumours that the X-Phone will be “phenomenal” and come in up to 20 colours (don’t hold your breath), in addition to being much more manageably-sized. Motorola has also promised to stick fairly close to the stock Android experience, though whether that, along with Google’s help, will be enough to regain much of its lost brand recognition and market share remains to be seen.

Last year was Google’s first $50 billion revenue year, and CEO Larry Page said that the three pillars of the business — Chrome, Android and Ads — would continue to be the focus in 2013. The company is activating 1.5 million Android devices every day and with the release of Google Glass to developers this week, there’s yet another platform on which users can expect to see Google dominate.

Leaked : Alleged Low-Cost iPhone's Rear Plastic Shell

Despite nothing resembling an acknowledgment from Apple that the company is indeed planning to unveil a low-end iPhone, the rumor just won’t go away. Now, we have our first look at what may in fact be the shell of the budget iPhone.

Spotted by case manufacturer Tactus apparently during a factory tour of a plant that provides parts to Foxconn, the shell shown is a polycarbonate build, finished in white, and not dissimilar to the back casings of the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Where it differs is in its flatness – the 3GS and 3G had curved designs – which could effectively cut manufacturing costs due to the simplicity to produce such shapes, as well as setting the style apart from the older models in what would be set to become Apple’s premium range. The people at Tactus also say that this shell is a bit taller, wider and thicker than the iPhone 4, but shorter than the iPhone 5.

The source of this leak is also claiming it’ll come with an A5 chip, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and come in five color options: black, white, blue, red and yellow. Its release date is being expected to be on October 15 and priced at only $300, which is certainly a much lower price than the current iPhone 5.

Last week Tactus leaked a purported iPad 5 mold case.

We’re still treating budget iPhone rumours with a pinch of salt, but at least this time there’s a physical object to go with the rumours, regardless of whether its been faked or not!

So what do you guys think? Would you be disappointed if Apple released an iPhone looking like that?

[Tactus]

Analyst Predicts Delays For iPhone 5S, Low-Cost iPhone, iPad Mini 2

Last week, Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities released a report suggesting that three upcoming devices from Apple, the iPhone 5S, iPad Mini 2 and the low-cost iPhone will see a delayed launch, as the company is facing separate production issues for the three devices. 

Now, backing Kuo’s claim, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, in his separate report suggests that the next couple of quarters could be quite difficult for Apple, as the company is facing a variety of production issues for the upcoming iPhone 5S, low-cost iPhone and the iPad Mini 2.

Misek, who recently visited Asia, says that Apple is facing pre-production issues for the iPhone 5S, and added that the mass production of the upcoming smartphone is at least a month away. He goes on to add that with the delay in iOS 7, a July launch for the iPhone 5 successor is out of the frame. 

Coming to Apple’s upcoming low-cost iPhone, Misek says that it will most probably see a delayed launch as well, and will not surface anytime before the fourth quarter of this year. 

Finally, he says that the next version of Apple iPad Mini will be delayed due to the issues pertaining to the Retina Display. However, he predicts that the iPad Mini 2 will be unveiled later this quarter.

Peter Misek’s comments are perfectly in line with those of Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities. Kou in his report had stated that the iPhone 5S is getting delayed due the Fingerprint sensor inside the iPhone 5S , as it is posing a number of technical challenges for Apple. 

Kou blames the same Retina Display issue for the delay in the launch if the iPad Mini 2, which Misek has mentioned in his report.  

As for the low-cost iPhone, Kuo says that Apple is facing issues pertaining to the plastic shell of the device. In a bid to keep the costs down, the low-cost iPhone is rumored to feature a plastic shell, which will be available in different colors and Apple is working quite hard to keep the shell as thin as possible. The coating and surface treatment for such a shell will take up more time, leading to the delay.

Apple Ordered To Remove Obscene Content From It's App Store In China

Apple’s woes in China continue to crop up as after it’s CEO, Tim Cook was forced to apologize over the poor customer service issue, the Cupertino-based giant has now been ordered to remove ‘obscene content’ from it’s App Store by Chinese Authorities. 

According to Bloomberg, the order came as a part of a move that asked 198 websites to remove certain content, which was termed as obscene. The order was issued by The National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications. However, no details about the content were provided. 

This isn’t the first time when the authorities have asked for an app to be removed, as earlier this month, another app was pulled for providing access to banned books. This came just days after the customer service issue surfaced in China. 

Just a short while back, the warranty issue had surfaced in China, accusing Apple of arrogance and providing poor customer services to it’s users.

On April 2, Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized for Apple’s warranty and repair policies and assured that the company will improve it’s customer service in China. The company later offered complete replacements of iPhones which were experiencing problems.

Commenting on the matter, Mark Tanner, founder of China Skinny, a Shanghai-based research and and marketing agency, said, 

Anyone operating in China on that scale needs to realize that government relations are a huge part of doing business. These types of campaigns have a lot of sway with Chinese consumers.

Apple would surely want to end all it’s troubles with the Chinese authorities and further look to strengthen the hold on it’s second biggest market after the Unites States.

The Eye Tribe brings eye control to Android, opens it to developers in June

The Eye Tribe is one of the most exciting innovators in the interface space with its eye tracking and eye control technology, and now the company is finally ready to roll it out on Android smartphones and tablets. Founded by PhD students from the IT University of Copenhagen, The Eye Tribe technology tracks your eyes to control your device with an accuracy equal to that of a fingertip. How does it do that? There is some magic to that but also sub-millimeter pupil tracking.

Along with the official announcement of the eye control technology, The Eye Tribe has also said a developer SDK will be coming to Android in June.

“What we show today is only the tip of the iceberg of what eye control will be used for in applications and games,” The Eye Tribe co-founder Sune Alstrup Johansen said.

Ther There lots of application for the technology - from logging in using your eyes, to hands free scrolling using only your eyes and novel game controls.

The Eye Tribe has won investors’ approval and raised a total of $3.3 million in funding.

source: The Next Web

You Can Buy Your Very Own Pair Of Google Glass! If You Have Rs 4,87,4400

Google Glass is nearing it’s completion and will very soon be available to to the 2,000 developers who had pre-ordered the device last year. Also, the people who’d taken part in Google’s #ifihadglass contest, and won a pair of these technological marvels, are beginning to receive their units. 

Google’s #ifihadglass contest advertised for “bold, creative individuals” to start carrying pre-production builds of Glass later this year. The contest apparently also looked for prosperous individuals willing to pay $1,500 for the prize, plus travel expense to pick it up.

If you weren’t one of the lucky winners, the chosen ones, then you don’t need to feel disappointed. You can own your very own pair of Google Glass now! If you have Rs. 4,87,4400/- that is.

As Engadget reports, a seller on eBay has put up his unit for sale and has priced it at $90,000. The seller is an eBay member since 2004, and has a 100% positive feedback.

It’s not quite clear how Google will respond to this listing, as it had clearly laid out the terms to the developers receiving the devices that they were not to be gifted or sold. 

Guess we will find out!

In terms of specs, Google Glass will feature a 640 x 360 display, which according to Google is “equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away,” The device will come with a 5 megapixel camera, that’s capable of shooting videos in 720p. 

The device gets 16GB of onboard storage, out of which only 12GB is accessible by the user and it will sync with Google’s cloud storage service.

[Engadget]

TomTom makes own-brand GPS sports watches

TomTom makes own-brand GPS sports watches, no Nike swoosh in sight

When it comes to GPS sport devices, TomTom has decided that it doesn't need to linger under Nike's wing anymore. An update to the Dutch company's website has just revealed a pair of wearables that is meant to bring a whole new level of "simplicity" to exercisers. The TomTom Runner (pictured left) is, unsurprisingly, designed for joggers, while the waterproof Multi-Sport (right) can be used by swimmers and cyclists as well. Both will be available in the summer, but as soon as we know how much the units will cost, we'll fill you in.