What They’re Watching
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, April 13, 2012 · 
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Online blogs and trade news sources began reporting on April 10 that Sony would layoff roughly 6% of its global workforce as part of its reorganization. Sony reported a $6.4 billion loss for fiscal 2012 precipitating the cuts along with several product changes yet to come. Among those, Sony will focus its television manufacturing to high-end organic light emitting diode (OLED) sets and “Crystal LED” displays. Read more
Google TV Slowly Adding More Partners
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 6, 2012 · ·
LG Electronics joins Samsung, Sony and Vizio as a partner in the development of Google TV. This past October Google released the long awaited 2.0 version of the middleware to less than stellar reviews.
While the Google TV idea holds promise for combining content from the Web and from conventional television distribution, it remains to be seen if the addition of another electronics manufacturer and new chip sets can help propel Google to a wider and deeper market penetration. Logitech announced this past year that it was dropping out of Google TV development after developing the “Revue” box which reportedly created a $100 million loss for Logitech.
Google notes in blog postings that there are more than 150 individual apps built specifically for the Google TV platform with additional Android apps available to enhance the television experience.
It will be interesting to see what the Google TV partner companies demonstrate at CES 2012.
Windows Phone 7 on October 11
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, October 1, 2010 · ·
According to the Wall Street Journal, Windows Phone 7, originally announced as a new platform in February will debut on October 11. The WSJ article reports that AT&T will serve as Microsoft’s exclusive “operator partner” for Windows Phone 7. Three WP7 phones will be introduced to the public on November 8 from HTC, Samsung and LG Electronics.
Windows has promised a more user-friendly design. Windows Phone 7 is distinguished by a series of “hubs” that integrate content from the Web, applications and services. Games from Microsoft XBox platform are brought to the mobile platform in addition to music and video. The new phones will also include a built-in FM radio.
Productivity features, including Office, OneNote and SharPoint, also will be integrated along with Pictures and a simplified photo and video handling tool.
24 Carriers Form Global App Alliance
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 15, 2010 · ·
Twenty-four of the world’s largest telecom operators are teaming up to create an “open international applications platform” — in other words an app market. The initiative is obviously modeled after Apple’s successful Applications Store.
The announcement was made this morning at Mobile World Congress. The GSMA and three device manufacturers—LG, Samsung and Sony Ericsson— also support the initiative. Together, these telecom companies reach more than 3 billion subscribers worldwide, making this a noteworthy undertaking. (And begging the question, might the app model be the telecom storefront of the future?) Read more