Monthly Archives: September 2012
Microsoft said to have finalized Windows Phone 8 OS
By Mary Jo Foley for All About Microsoft
Chalk up another one for those Windows Phone tipsters.
Back in July, I heard whispers that Microsoft would release to manufacturing (RTM) the Windows Phone 8 operating system in September. The plan, as of then, was that the first Windows Phone 8 devices would ship in November 2012.
On September 14, Microsoft’s phone team shipped the OS, codenamed “Apollo,” according to a couple of my contacts.WPCentral is reporting they are hearing the same. And WMPoweruser has posted pictures via LiveSino.net, of what appear to be Windows Phone team members signing an RTM wall.
I asked a Microsoft Windows Phone spokesperson on September 14 if the OS had RTM’d and was told Microsoft “had nothing to share at this time.”
If the OS has, indeed, been proclaimed “done,” it’s time for handset makers and carriers to do their final testing and preloading of the OS onto new phones.
Microsoft wouldn’t allow its phone partners to let folks try the WP8 devices that Samsung and Nokia recently unveiled. I’d expect at least part of the reason for that was the OS wasn’t yet fully baked. (This also is probably at least part of the reason Microsoft has delayed making the Windows Phone 8 software development kit available to more than just its own employees and a select group of Connect testers.) Read More
Apple Shifts iPhone Chip Suppliers
By JUNG-AH LEE
SEOUL—Apple Inc. AAPL +0.62%has recently shifted some memory-chip orders for its coming iPhone from Samsung Electronics Co. 005930.SE +4.52%to other Asian chip makers, people familiar with the matter said Friday, suggesting that the U.S. company is diversifying its component suppliers as patent disputes between the two technology giants escalate.
As patent disputes continue, Apple shifts its chip orders for the new iPhone from Samsung to other companies. The WSJ’s Yun-Hee Kim explains the future of their rocky relationship.
A person familiar with the situation said Apple AAPL +0.62%has been ordering more memory chips used to store data in its smartphones from South Korea-based SK Hynix Inc. 000660.SE +7.66%However, Samsung will still be supplying the main processors used to power the new iPhone, another person familiar with the situation said.
“Orders to SK Hynix for both mobile DRAM and NAND flash memory chips from Apple have risen in recent months,” said one of the people, who declined to be named.
Spokesmen for SK Hynix and Samsung declined to comment. A spokesman for Apple in Korea also declined to comment.
Bloomberg NewsAn Apple Inc. iPhone 4S smartphone.
Samsung, which competes with Apple in the smartphone market, is also one of Apple’s biggest component suppliers. In addition to memory chips and processors, it also supplies the displays used in Apple’s iPads. However, the new iPhone is expected to be equipped with displays from Japan’s Sharp Corp., 6753.TO +3.00%Korea’s LG Display Co., 034220.SE +2.04%and Japan Display Inc., according to other people familiar with the situation, as it uses a different panel manufacturing technology that Samsung doesn’t use. Apple is also likely diversifying its supply chain for chips in anticipation of strong demand for its product.
Analysts said that the ongoing high-profile litigation between the two companies may have accelerated Apple’s move to reduce its dependence on Samsung. Read More
U.S. Spent $21B to Fight Global Cybercrime Last Year
Every second, 18 people fall victim to cybercrime, and the U.S. is shelling out $21 billion a year to stop that.
According to the most recent Norton Cybercrime Report, the $110 billion global price tag of consumer cybercrime is equal to the amount of money Americans spent annually on fast food.
Based on data collected last year from 13,018 online adults ages 18 to 64 in 24 countries, antivirus firm Norton reported that two out of every three Internet users have been victimized at some point in their lifetime. On a grander scale, almost half of all online adults have been attacked by malware, viruses, hacking, scams, fraud, or theft.
But, as consumers go mobile, so do cybercriminals. Two out of three adults use a mobile device to access the Internet, which has led to the number of mobile-based vulnerabilities to double since 2010.
According to the Norton report, a majority of Internet users are concerned that cybercriminals are now setting their sights on social networks, which, based on data, might not be such a crazy idea. In 2011, four out of 10 social network users were the victim of social networking platform hacks.
Mobile users don’t have to live a life of fear, though. Norton suggested that cybercrime can be prevented, if people know how to handle their mobile devices.
According to the survey, 35 percent of adults have lost their phone or tablet, or had it stolen, and when two-thirds of people don’t set any sort of security solution on their device, it’s not hard for anyone to wiggle their way in.
A whopping 44 percent of people aren’t even aware, Norton said, that security for mobile devices exists.
It’s not only a matter of safeguarding your cell phone, but for those two-thirds of people surfing unsecure or public Wi-Fi networks, it could mean open access to personal emails, social networks, online shopping, or bank accounts. Read More
Oil pipeline operators’ 2011 profits soar to record
Oil pipeline operators’ net income soared to an all-time high of $6.1 billion, a 33.3% increase from 2010 achieved on the back of a nearly 12% increase in operating revenues. The resulting earnings as a percent of revenue of 48.6% were also a record. The strong bottom line coincided with a more than 47% drop in changes to carrier property, as companies pulled back from major additions.
Natural gas pipeline operators meanwhile saw their profits slip more than 6% from 2010’s high to less than $4.9 billion. The dip in net income came despite a 3.8% increase in revenues, which reached more than $20.5 billion, their highest level since 2007 (Fig. 1).
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Natural gas pipeline companies’ weaker bottom lines, in contrast to oil carriers, came at least in part as a result of surging capital expenditures, with additions to plant totaling more than $14.4 billion (a 178% increase from 2010). Roughly $6.35 billion of this total, however, comprised just two projects; expansion at Florida Gas Transmission and building the Ruby Pipeline. Expenditures on operations and maintenance rose 5.3% to slightly more than $7 billion. Proposed newbuild mileage, however, was just 50.3% of 2010’s announced build, while planned horsepower additions of 184,405 were 79% of 2010’s total.
The easing in anticipated demand saw overall estimated $/mile pipeline costs slip nearly 30% to $3.1 million. Pipeline labor remained the single most expensive per-mile item, despite easing in absolute terms by the same 30% to roughly $1.38 million/mile.
The balance between estimated and actual costs narrowed for both pipeline and compressor projects completed in the 12 months ending June 30, 2012. Actual land pipeline costs varied from projected costs by only $50,000/mile, with lower than expected material and miscellaneous costs cancelling out labor costs that remained higher than expected. Actual compressor station costs were 7.2% less than estimated costs for projects completed by June 30, 2011. The only cost area that was higher than anticipated was land. Read More
Workday files for IPO as Oracle Fusion Gains Momentum
By : Josh Bersin
This week Workday released its S-1 (IPO filing)and we also had a detailed briefing from Oracle on the company’s progress with Fusion and Taleo.
Workday’s Progress
Workday now has 325 customers and is generating over $230M in runrate business, with revenue growth around 100% over the last few years. This week they announced that they closed Google as a customer, demonstrating their success in winning large complex deals.
Rant4u 