Smart Phones Continue Sales Growth
Smart phone sales continue to remain healthy and have jumped by 50% in the first quarter compared to last year to about 54 million units. The emerging markets like China and India continue to enjoy huge demand, as per reports.
Smart phones have operating systems and also offer download of multiple applications. They comprised around 20% of all the handset sales. This is helping the global handset industry come out of recession after a weak performance last year.
Penske on Profits More Than Expected
The number two auto dealership group Penske is on an earnings rise in its first-quarter with profit up to $20.4 million, from last year's $16.3 million. It is 2 cents more than expected by the Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Stating on this achievement, Chief Executive Officer Roger Penske said, "An improving overall retail environment and the continued strong performance of our premium-luxury brands in all of our markets contributed to our strong operating results".
Virgin Media chief pockets £3.6m in salary
Neil Berkett, the chief executive of the cable-television & internet provider Virgin Media, received a pay package of 5.7 million dollars (equivalent to 3.6 million pounds) for last year. The figure was lower than his 2008 pay package of 6.9 million dollars as the firm had opted to pay freeze to control costs.
But, Mr. Berkett will now enjoy an increase of 100,000 pounds in basic salary for 2010.
Yahoo chief pockets more than $47m in salary
Carol Bartz, who joined internet giant Yahoo last year, pocketed a pay package of more than $47 million (equivalent to £31 million) for the year of 2009.
According to the US Securities & Exchange Commission filing, Carol Bartz received an annual pay of less than $1 million, but she received $42.1 million in stock and stock options, $1.5 million in performance-related bonus, while other compensations totaled $2.61 million, taking the total pay package to more than $47 million.
Adobe finds a friend in Google after being dumped by Apple
Andy Rubin, vice president for engineering for Google, has announced that firm’s next version of Android operating system would feature Adobe’s Flash Player, which is used to embed video in web pages.
In an interview with the New York Times, Andy Rubin said that Google was happy team up with Adobe to bring its Flash Player to the Android platform.
Speaking on the topic, he added, “Our engineering teams have been working closely to bring both AIR and Flash Player to Google's mobile operating system and devices.”
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 appraisal
Sony Ericsson’s newly released Android-based Xperia X10 smartphone comes with a series of stunning features such as 4-inch capacitive touchscreen, 8.1 megapixel digital camera, light weight and super-fast WiFi internet access.
The Xperia X10 is 119mm by 63mm by 13mm in dimensions, which makes it slightly larger than iPhone 3G that measures 115.5mm by 62.1mm by 12.3mm.
Vodafone announces the local winner of Appstar competition
Vodafone has named Mark Salvin, a computer science student at Southampton University, as the winner of its Appstar competition.
The 18-year-old student has pocketed 25,000 euros for developing a mobile widget for Vodafone’s recently launched Appstar competition.
Vodafone had asked designers to create an app for its 360 interface. Mark Salvin developed and submitted a mobile App known as Jogger Tracker, which makes use of GPS to gauge information such as distance traveled during a run and the amount of calories burnt.
Humax to fix faulty PVRs within weeks
Set-top-box maker Humax has said that an update is on its way to fix troubles being faced by the owners of the Humax Freeview PVRs.
Following the digital switchover, owners of the PVR-9150T, PVR-9300T and PVR-9200T Freeview+ digital TV recorders, have been facing problems such as sluggish performance and freezing.
Humax accepted that some of its customers have faced problems and said that it was working hard to fix the problem.
However, the company added that it was taking a longer than expected time as the issue was complex.
Vodafone to offer BlackBerry Pearl 3G
Network provider Vodafone has announced that it would offer RIM’s recently introduced BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone.
The Pearl 3G is going to RIM's first ever BlackBerry which will be devoid of a full QWERTY keyboard and the company's much hyped SureType.
The Pearl 3G reportedly includes a 624MHz processor, 239ppi equivalent display, 256MB of flash memory, HSDPA, GPS, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, microSD expansion. In addition, the device has a 3.2-megapixel camera with auto-focus, flash and video recording.
Google.com offers virtual keyboard in 35 languages
Internet search giant Google has integrated a virtual keyboard in thirty-five languages in its search engine with a view to help non-English users.
Non-English users often face problems entering searches into Google if they use a foreign keyboard. But now, Google. com will offer a virtual keyboard to the right of the search box, which will allow users to click the characters present in the virtual keyboard with the help of mouse.
The move will help Google also as it will enhance the number of users using Google as their search engine.
JooJoo tablet’s 3G version to come soon
Fusion Garage has plans to launch a 3G version of their JooJoo tablet within the next quarter, firm’s chief executive Chandrasekar Rathakrishnan announced.
He further said that the 3G enabled JooJoo tablet would be made available via mobile operators rather than directly from the firm, which would make the device cheaper.
After poor sales in the US, the device has now been put for sale in France, Germany and the UK. The WiFi model of the device cost £319 in the UK.
UK sales of Android phones quadruples last month
Google's Android operating system appears to be getting more and more popularity in the UK as the number of Android phones sold in the country quadrupled last month.
Figures released by retail watcher GfK shows that around 20 per cent of the smartphones being sold in the UK are Android.
Google Nexus One smartphone, which is newly released via Vodafone, was reportedly running out of stock due to strong demand for the product.
APB release dates, price announced
The UK-based independent game developer Realtime Worlds has announced the launch dates for action-game MMO All Points Bulletin.
Much-anticipated All Points Bulletin (APB) will hit North America on June 29, while gamers in mainland Europe and the UK will get it on July1 and July 2 respectively.
Realtime Worlds is releasing the game in partnership with the New York-listed games giant Electronic Arts.
Treasury Yields Touches its Lowest Level
Treasury 10-year note yields are reported to be close to their abysmal level in a month prior reports economists posted will reflect U. S. economic growth moderated and consumer prices jumped at the slowest momentum on record.
The yields marked a plunge in April nudged by Europe’s debt crisis which triggered demand for the safest assets and the Federal Reserve reiterated this week its promise to keep interest rates near zero for more time.
Cancer Test Could Prevent Needless Breast Surgery
Thousands undergoing needless mastectomies could be spared the suffering with the help of a new test for breast cancer, scientists say successfully predicts whether women treated for an early form of breast cancer will develop dangerous tumours.
Often, patients are advised to go in for breast removal as a preventative measure, however, the new test will help avoid an unnecessary and traumatic procedure.
Multi-Purpose Green Decontaminants For Terrorist Attack Sites Developed
A set of ultra-strength cleaners for use in the aftermath of a terrorist attack have been created by chemists and military scientists in the USA.
Study lead George Wagner indicates the cleaners are so tough, they can neutralize nerve gas, mustard gas, radioactive isotopes and anthrax. However, he also said they were non-toxic and based on ingredients found in foods, cosmetics and other consumer products, explaining the serious drawbacks of chlorine and lye-based decontamination agents.
Full Genome Screened For Diseases
A scientist is the first human guinea pig and person to have all his DNA screened for unknown disease risk factors.
The results revealed heightened risks of heart disease, cardiac arrest, diabetes and prostate cancer, as well as information about likely responses to certain medicines.
Researchers say as the costs of genetic mapping plummets, similar assessments could be offered to the general public within the next decade.
Robot Used In Heart Surgery
The first remote life saving heart operation using a robotic arm was carried out by cardiologists in Leicester. Dr André Ng, consultant cardiologist and senior lecturer in cardiovascular sciences at Leicester university used the remotely controlled robotic arm to carry out a heart rhythm treatment procedure using the Catheter Robotics Remote Catheter Manipulation System.
The operation went well and the entire procedure was completed within an hour.
Tobacco Store Owner Doubts Non-Branded Cigarette Packaging Will Stop Smoking
Under a wide-ranging set of anti-smoking measures unveiled by the government Thursday, Australia could become the first nation to ban brand images and colours on cigarette packages.
The Federal Government has not only raised taxes on cigarettes by $2, it also wants plain cigarette packaging from 2012, which strategy a New South Wales south coast tobacco store owner does not think will prove effective in reducing the number of smokers.
Scientists Develop A Spray To Make Men Cuddle Their Partners More
Women who have always wanted their husband or boyfriend to show his caring side more often, have had their prayers answered as scientists have come up with a spray that makes men more affectionate and in tune with the feeling of others.
German researchers have found a substance many women said they have always wanted: a spray to make men more emotionally sensitive. They claim just a puff or two of the ‘cuddle chemical’ will make even the most masculine of men as sensitive as a woman.