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Continue reading Parrot AR.Drone to get official launch, price, street date at E3 2010 (update: Android client video!)

Parrot AR.Drone to get official launch, price, street date at E3 2010 (update: Android client video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 12:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, it looks like the rumors were true. Not only is Microsoft’s J Allard now officially leaving the company, but so is Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, amid what’s described as a broader restructuring that will effectively dissolve the division and give CEO Steve Ballmer more direct oversight of Microsoft’s consumer initiatives like Xbox and Windows Phone as of July.

Contrary to earlier reports, Allard says that he’s not leaving due to the cancellation of the Courier, but instead says that after nineteen years with the company, he simply wants to devote more time to his personal interests, “particularly adventure sports.” Allard also insists that he won’t be moving on to Apple, Google or any other Microsoft rivals — in fact, he’s staying on as an advisor to Steve Ballmer. Robbie Bach’s departure is equally curious — despite being just 48, his move is being described as a “retirement,” and he says that the decision was his own and that he wasn’t encouraged to leave. He’ll also apparently remain with Microsoft through the fall to aid in the transition.

When all’s said and done, mobile communications VP Andy Lees and interactive entertainment head Don Mettrick will each separately report to Ballmer — both have headed their divisions for some time now, so we’d assume that things will otherwise proceed as planned. Still, the loss of talent at the top is certainly noticeable — we’ll see how Microsoft responds now that Ballmer is firmly driving its mobile and gaming efforts.

We’ve got Ballmer’s full letter to the company and Microsoft’s official PR after the break, so take a peek.

Update: Mary Jo Foley has J Allard’s parting email to his employees.

Continue reading Microsoft’s Robbie Bach and J Allard leaving as part of broader shakeup; Xbox and Windows Phone teams now reporting directly to Ballmer

Microsoft’s Robbie Bach and J Allard leaving as part of broader shakeup; Xbox and Windows Phone teams now reporting directly to Ballmer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 11:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you set your heart on the sexy, swiveling Lenovo IdeaCentre A300 desktop when you saw it at CES, the time has come to lay down your cash — the all-in-one PC is now available for order. It’s kind of a shame that it’ll take eighteen days to arrive on your doorstep after you write the check, and we’re not terribly jazzed that there are only two last-gen Core 2 Duo Mobile configurations on offer for hundreds of dollars more than Lenovo originally promised, but hey — form over function, right? Just make sure you opt for the $950 version if you plan to watch any LOST reruns on the glossy 21.5-inch screen, as Lenovo no longer includes a TV tuner in the base model. Yeah, what with the company calling it a “hi-def TV” and all, we’re as surprised by that omission as you.

Lenovo IdeaCentre A300 now on sale, offers less value for more money originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 5-inch Android-based Streak is expected to hit stores in Britain in early June, and the U.S. by the end of summer. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20005865-260.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Circuit Breaker/a/p

The problems that have emerged in China at one of Foxconn’s largest factories continue — with reports this morning that an eleventh person has fallen from a building there, making him the ninth person to die there this year. Foxconn’s CEO Guo Tai-ming yesterday released a statement to the Chinese press addressing the situation publicly for the first time. He stated: “We believe that we are definitely not a sweatshop. It’s very difficult to manage a manufacturing team of 800,000 something. With the others around the world it adds up to almost 900,000, so there’s a lot to be done every day. However, we believe that we’ll soon be able to stabilize this situation.”

The video also, however, details a new undercover report — this time eight men who met online — three of whom ended up being recruited by Foxconn. Their claims? New employees must sign a voluntary affidavit committing to between 60 and 100 hours of overtime each month — far more than the legal limit of 36 hours. Managers often verbally abuse workers, and randomly deduct pay from their performance bonuses. The 900 yuan minimum wage per month (around $132) is very low in comparison to the company’s profits and standing in the country. Possibly the most interesting tidbit unearthed here is the claim that over the past three months, Foxconn has lost about 50,000 workers each month, and as such, has become desperate to make up for the lost manpower. Recruitment standards — which used to include proof of secondary education — have been all but dropped, and new recruits need only show identification to obtain a position. Finally, Foxconn has apparently hired about 50 new counselors over the past two days, and the front-line managers are also now trying to communicate with the workers to get a feel for the situation. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for further developments, but in the meantime, hit up the source link to view the full news report in Chinese.

Foxconn CEO: ‘We are definitely not a sweatshop’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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