Sony warns of income drop as demand for disc-based media evaporates

Sony warns of income drop as demand for disc-based media evaporates
Sony is warning of heavy cash losses, saying that its withdrawal from the PC business and a shrinking demand for disc-based media has hit the company's coffers.Sony, which invented such iconic tech products as the Walkman and the PlayStation, has struggled recently in the face of stiff competition from the likes of Apple and Samsung, in February revealing it would sell its Vaio PC business.The latest financial statement is a revision of Sony's February earnings forecast. Back then the company predicted it would rake in an operating income of ¥80 billion (roughly $783 million) over the financial year, but now expects to collect just ¥26 billion (about $255 million).Sony blames the expected cash dip on two things. Firstly, on "additional expenses" incurred in ditching the PC business, and secondly on charges related to its disc-making business, which Sony says is facing rapidly diminishing demand, particularly in Europe. "Primarily due to demand for physical media contracting faster than anticipated, mainly in the European region, the future profitability of the disc manufacturing business has been revised," Sony's statement reads. With the rise of on-demand streaming video from services such as iTunes, and subscription companies like Netflix, Sony's DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing business is facing obsoletion. Sony will unveil its actual earnings for the fiscal year on 14 May. Do you still buy Blu-ray discs and DVDs? Let me know in the comments below, and relive Sony's glory days with our video feature on the historic Sony Walkman. 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


iOS 4.3 hitting March 11

iOS 4.3 hitting March 11
We previewed iOS 4.3 back in January, and now the time has almost come: the latest version of Apple's iOS software will be available March 11.What's new this time around? Well, not as much as iOS 4.2, but there are some notable upgrades--especially if you're an iPad owner.New features in iOS 4.3 (photos)See full gallery1 - 4 / 7NextPrevSupport for additional multifinger multitouch gestures and swipes adds four-finger fast-swapping between open apps and a one-handed way to flick the app dock up, instead of double-clicking the home button. In fact, you'll probably be using that lone physical button a whole lot less now.There's also a new app, Photo Booth, that will add tools for taking and tweaking self portraits, similar to what exist already on Mac OS X. Obviously, this app's limited to the camera-equipped iPad 2.Home Sharing will allow other PC or Mac iTunes libraries with Home Sharing turned on to be accessible on your iPad, locally streamed.Wi-Fi hot-spot support will finally enable AT&T iPhones to share their wireless connection with other devices, much like the Verizon iPhone 4.For Apple TV owners, there are some improvements to video streaming and AirPlay support. AirPlay will also support photo slideshows, as well as well video and audio streaming from third-party apps to other devices.The built-in Safari browser should also see performance improvements running JavaScript, thanks to a new nitro JavaScript engine.DragCloseThis 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.Other small changes include yet another font switch for Notes, extra notification beep settings, and--thank goodness--an ability to restore the use of the physical iPad's orientation lock switch, which has been co-opted to become a "silencer" switch since iOS 4.2.Meanwhile, make sure you check out the rest of the news of today's iPad 2 announcement.


Vic Gundotra- How we claim 170M Google+ users (Reporters' Roundtable)

Vic Gundotra: How we claim 170M Google+ users (Reporters' Roundtable)
Google execs see Google+'s features as a layer of social functionality on top of Google's services. More specifically, users' social signals, like those from the +1 feature, don't just show up on Google+. Rather, the change Google's core function, search -- at least for people you're socially connected to.As Bradley Horowitz says, "The +1 button gives you the opportunity to provide contextual value. It changes what used to be spam into a gesture of generosity."Google's Google+ leaders say they are happy with the way people are using the service, while effectively avoiding a discussion about the success of Google+ as a standalone destination.Meanwhile, however, it's clear that Google+ is being prepped as a platform for major new initiatives. Horowitz said that a big reason for the redesign was to "make space in an information architecture sense, for where to put new stuff." He wouldn't say what this new stuff is, but in the new page design there's a lot of white space where information from other services could show up. The new, customizable nav bar could also handle apps, either from Google or other developers.Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe to the Roundtable:iTunes:MP3 |320x180 |640x360Podcast RSS:MP3 |320x180 |640x360


Verizon offers free iPhone 6 with trade-in, 2-year contract

Verizon offers free iPhone 6 with trade-in, 2-year contract
Hot on the heels of Apple announcing its new line of smartphones, Verizon is already offering up deals.The wireless carrier announced Tuesday that it will give customers a free 16GB iPhone 6 when they trade in their old phone and re-up their contract for two more years. That means a savings of $199, which is the cost of the iPhone 6 with a two-year contract.Related StoriesApple supersizes the iPhone 6, joins the big-screen era at lastWhen and where to buy the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 PlusApple iPhone 6, 6 Plus get updated cameras with optical image stabilization, faster autofocusSprint CEO tries to get back in the game with Apple's iPhone 6Verizon said eligible trade-in devices include the iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, and 5S. This offer does not apply to Apple's new iPhone 6 Plus.Apple unveiled both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus on Tuesday. The iPhone 6 is equipped with a 4.7-inch Retina display, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch Retina display. In addition to being slimmer and lighter, both models also include an improved camera, graphics, and battery life.Sprint announced Tuesday that it plans to introduce a new $50 unlimited data plan for Apple's two new smartphones. T-Mobile also said on Monday that it will match any other carriers' trade-in deals, along with bestowing customers with a $50 credit.The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have...See full gallery1 - 4 / 22NextPrev


Check your processor- Toshiba T135-S1310 thin-and-light worth a buy

Check your processor: Toshiba T135-S1310 thin-and-light worth a buy
I had a hard time coming up with a title to this post: Intel processors are confusing? Dual-core ultra-low-voltage processors make a difference? How about, what a difference a config makes? All could apply to the Toshiba Satellite T135, a Windows 7 thin-and-light that we've reviewed two configurations of here at CNET. Although similar in design and shape, the small shift from an SU2700 to an SU4100 Intel Pentium processor in the slightly more expensive Satellite T135-S1310 makes a world of difference. Here's why it's worth a look.First of all, the Intel Pentium SU4100 in the T135-S1310 is a dual-core processor. The SU2700 in the previously reviewed laptop, the T135-S1300, isn't. You wouldn't know the difference from the "Pentium Inside" sticker below the keyboard, but the dual-core T135-S1310 is far better at multitasking, and also gave a significant boost in dedicated media tests like our iTunes benchmark. For all intents and purposes, it behaves much like an ultra-low-voltage Core 2 Duo processor.What do you get in the T135-S1310? For just $100 more than the S1300, the S1310 includes an extra 80GB of hard drive space, an extra gig of RAM at a faster speed, Bluetooth, and the far better SU4100 processor. Throw in $10 for a red or white paint job, or stay at $699 for the black config. Either way, with the mere change of a number, the Toshiba T135-S1310 has suddenly become a highly recommended budget thin-and-light with Windows 7 Home Premium preinstalled and excellent battery life. Just make sure you get this model, and not the very similar-looking (and similar-named) Toshiba T135-S1300.We still don't like the keyboard very much, though.Read the rest of our review.Toshiba Satellite T135-S1310: Windows 7...See full gallery1 - 4 / 5NextPrev


CES- Tiwi from Inthinc prevents texting while driving (podcast)

CES: Tiwi from Inthinc prevents texting while driving (podcast)
A 2009 study (PDF)from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a "crash or near crash event" than "nondistracted driving." As reported by CNET's Jennifer Guevin, the study also found that "texting took a driver's focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds--enough time...to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph." Teenage drivers are especially vulnerable.In addition to being less experienced drivers, they are more likely to text than adults.A Federal Communications Commission consumer advisory on texting while driving quotes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as reporting that driver distraction was the cause of 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008, resulting in5,800 fatalities and 515,000 injuries.The American Automobile Association says that "taking your eyes off of the road for two seconds doubles your risk of getting into a crash."Inthinc, a Salt Lake City company, was at the Consumer Electronics Show with a solution for parents and companies whose employees have company issued phones.The product, which is called Tiwi and costs $299 plus a $29.95 monthlysubscription fee, can disable a cell phone for calling or texting, according to CEO Todd Follmer.It can also report the person's speed, whether they're engaged in aggressive driving, and even if they're using their seat belt.Parents or employers can check in via an Internet portal. Inthinc CEO Todd FollmerInthincTo learn more, I spoke with CEO Todd Follmer at the Showstoppers press event at CES 2011.Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)


Apple scores $30 million to sell iPads to LA schools

Apple scores $30 million to sell iPads to LA schools
Apple will add $30 million to its coffers in a deal to outfit students in the LA school district with an iPad.On Tuesday, following a collective thumbs-up for Apple from both students and senior staff, the Los Angeles Board of Education voted 6-0 to approve the contract, The Los Angeles Times reported.Among the devices considered, the iPad came out on top in both quality and price, at least according to the school district's requirements. The vote means that an iPad will be doled out to every student across 47 campuses of the LA district, one of the largest school districts in the U.S.Despite the unanimous vote, some board members expressed concerns about the cost and the commitment to Apple, the Times added. One member asked whether devices other than tablets would be more appropriate for the students. Another was worried because the board didn't have all the details on the overall costs.The school district will pay $678 per iPad, a cost higher than the retail price, since the tablets will come with educational software and include a three-year warranty.Not surprisingly, a representative from Microsoft also questioned the deal. Robyn Hines, senior director of state government affairs for Microsoft, said that schools shouldn't focus just on one platform and that students should be exposed to products they'll use in the business world, such as those from Microsoft.Apple, naturally, applauded the deal."Education is in Apple's DNA," Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller said in a statement, "and we're thrilled to work with Los Angeles Unified public schools on this major initiative...Schools around the world have embraced the engaging and interactive quality of iPad with nearly 10 million iPads already in schools today."


Apple schedules media event for September 11 in China

Apple schedules media event for September 11 in China
Hours after inviting the media to an event to be held September 10 at Apple's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, the company has sent out similar invitations to a media event to be held the next day in China.Chinese media outlets, including Sina Tech (English translation), reported receiving the invitations on Wednesday to an Apple event at Beijing's World Trade Center on September 11. The invitations to the Beijing event are identical to those sent out for the US event, except they are printed in Chinese.Thought to be the first time the iPhone maker has scheduled a standalone event in China, the move suggests that Apple is increasing its focus on the country. It also seems to lend credence to reports that Apple is getting ready to launch a much-rumored iPhone 5C -- said to be a budget-friendly version of the smartphone made of plastic that might have greater appeal in the Chinese market. The company is also said to be prepping a high-end model. A series of leaks in the run-up to next week's event have shown colors of both models, though not a fully functioning device.While China is considered a key market for Apple, the company's growth in the country has been hobbled by its inability to strike a deal with China Mobile, the biggest carrier in the largest smartphone market in the world with 740 million subscribers. Although Apple CEO Tim Cook has visited China twice this year, meeting with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua as recently as July, no deal has yet been announced.UBS forecast last month that Apple could sell 17 million iPhonesthrough China Mobile next year, with the bulk of those expected to be the 5C.[Via The Next Web]


Apple says it's unaware of NSA iPhone backdoor program

Apple says it's unaware of NSA iPhone backdoor program
Apple says it has never worked with the US National Security Agency to give the agency backdoor access to the iPhone, responding to leaked documents that were published by German news magazine Der Spiegel on Monday.The statement comes after documents shared by security researcher Jacob Appelbaum and Der Spiegel disclosed an NSA program called DROPOUTJEEP, which is said to allow the agency to do things like intercept text messages, access contact lists, and activate the phone's microphone and camera. The company also said it was unaware of such a program. According to a slide leaked by Der Spiegel, which is dated from 2008 -- when the phone was running earlier versions of iOS -- the DROPOUTJEEP software implant can remotely push and pull files from the device and "all communications with the implant will be covert and encrypted." The implant described in the slide also requires physical access of a phone, but the slide also says that a remote installation capability was being pursued.Here is the full statement Apple provided to CNET:Apple has never worked with the NSA to create a backdoor in any of our products, including iPhone. Additionally, we have been unaware of this alleged NSA program targeting our products. We care deeply about our customers' privacy and security.Our team is continuously working to make our products even more secure, and we make it easy for customers to keep their software up to date with the latest advancements.Whenever we hear about attempts to undermine Apple's industry-leading security, we thoroughly investigate and take appropriate steps to protect our customers. We will continue to use our resources to stay ahead of malicious hackers and defend our customers from security attacks, regardless of who's behind them.


Apple says it's 'blown away' by iPhone 5 preorders

Apple says it's 'blown away' by iPhone 5 preorders
Just how many iPhone 5s did Apple sell since pre-orders began in the wee hours of Friday?We don't have a number, but the company now says it was off the charts."Preorders for iPhone 5 have been incredible," an Apple spokeswoman told AllThingsD. "We've been completely blown away by the customer response."New preorders for the device began being pushed back earlier today. Apple was the first to do so, exhausting its initial supply of launch day deliveries within the first hour of going on sale. The carriers, including AT&T and Verizon followed, extending new orders by two or more weeks. In the early rush for the device, some carrier sites buckled, something that happened with both the iPhone 4S and the 4 before it.Related storiesCNET's iPhone 5 preview (hands-on)iPhone 5 preorders indicate hot demandApple's iPhone 5: Everything you need to know (FAQ)The iPhone 5, which was announced earlier this week and hits stores September 21, is thinner, longer, lighter, and comes with a faster processor and faster LTE wireless networking. And it comes with greater sales ambitions: Apple is releasing it for sale in more countries sooner. Some analysts expect that faster opening of sales will mean more revenue for Apple in the fourth quarter of 2012.This is not the first time Apple says it has been "blown away" by pre-orders. Apple sold more than 1 million iPhone 4Ses in its first 24 hours of pre-sales last October, and said that it had been the "most for any new product" the company had launched. The year prior Apple sold 600,000 iPhone 4s during the same time period. Eyes on Apple's new iPhone 5 (pictures)See full gallery1 - 4 / 22NextPrev


Apple says it did not give FBI or 'any organization' device IDs

Apple says it did not give FBI or 'any organization' device IDs
Apple says it doesn't know anything about a massive list of unique identifiers released on the Web earlier this week. In a statement this morning, Apple said it did not furnish a list of Unique Device Identifiers (UDIDs) to the FBI or anyone else, and that the feature was soon to be removed."The FBI has not requested this information from Apple, nor have we provided it to the FBI or any organization," Apple said in a statement provided to AllThingsD. "Additionally, with iOS 6 we introduced a new set of APIs meant to replace the use of the UDID and will soon be banning the use of UDID."Earlier this week Anonymous-affiliated group AntiSec said it had obtained 12 million Apple UDIDs from the laptop of FBI Supervisory Special Agent Christopher K. Stangl by exploiting a Java vulnerability. In a statement yesterday theFBI rebutted that claim, saying it did not know anything about the laptop.The list itself originally included user names, device names, device types, ZIP codes, cell phone numbers, addresses, and Apple Push Notification Service tokens. Some of that information was scrubbed by AntiSec, and only a portion of the list -- about a million UDIDs -- was shared.Apple's iOS 6 is expected to be released alongside the company's next iPhone later this month. Developers have been working on beta versions of the software since early June. CNET's Elinor Mills contributed to this report.