Hasta La Gadget!

With a net profit of just T$68 million ($2.3 million USD) this current reporting quarter, Acer appears to be having some pre-Windows 8 jitters. In this PC market that’s not doing particularly well no matter which way you spin it, it seems as though the imminent launch of Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system is having more than just a tiny effect on sales across the PC universe. Sales figures will be expanded upon later this week – on Thursday, the 24th, mind you, perhaps well hidden behind the Windows 8 launch event taking place that same day.

This update comes from Acer itself, though they’ve not accompanied the drastically lower-than-estimated third quarter net profit. Analysts with Thompson Rueters I/B/E/S quoted by Rueters had a mean estimate of T$756 profit for Acer, this an undeniably different ballpark than the company is quite obviously playing in. KGI Securities analyst Angela Hsiang spoke on the subject as well, noting that in conversations with the company, it was tax rates and exchanges that had a lot to do with the less-than-fantastic quarter.

“The lower-than-expected net profit was due to a forex loss of over T$100 million and a higher tax rate at 34 percent; previous guidance was around 20 percent.” – Hsiang

The second quarter of this year had Acer in at a net profit of T$56 million, while the third quarter of 2011 had them ringing in a net loss of T$1.1 billion. Needless to say, this business can be a little nerve-racking when it comes to reporting quarterly earnings to investors. Certainly an up-swing will be looked for in the near future with Acer’s investors if they’re not already pulling their hair out in patches.

Total revenue was also added to the report with a boost of 11.4 percent compared to a year ago in this 3rd quarter. Compared to the quarter before this one this year, consolidated revenue has gone down 5.6 percent, here now with T$104.4 billion. Now we must turn to Acer’s Windows 8 lineup to see how the business will fare in the consumer sector – onward and upward!

Acer Q3 2012 earnings show measly sum pre-Windows 8 launch is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

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Yesterday I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and witnessed something that transcended the quality of the legendary masterpieces hanging in its galleries: a woman systematically and without remorse taking pictures of every single masterpiece in those hallowed halls. Using her iPad. More »

Orange was one of the vanguards of high-quality cellphone calls, having kicked off HD Voice with a Moldovian launch back in 2009. The premium chatter has always stopped at the border, however — even two Orange customers couldn’t see the improvement if they were in different countries. The carrier is bridging that gap with claims that it’s the first to support improved voice on the international level: starting today, Moldovans and Romanians on Orange can give each other a ring and expect the extra-smooth calling they’re used to from local conversations. We don’t yet know if and when other countries will hop on the bandwagon. We’ve reached out, but it’s possible that any upgraded links between other countries will come only from case-by-case negotiations. Those in Bucharest might want to track down any relatives in Chișinău for a quick chat in the meantime.

Continue reading Orange begins first HD Voice calls between countries, decides clarity knows no borders

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Orange begins first HD Voice calls between countries, decides clarity knows no borders originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re just a day away from Apple‘s event tomorrow where it’s rumored the company will announce the iPad mini. Anticipation is obviously building, but the rumors haven’t yet ceased. Over the weekend, photos of supposed Lightning connectors for the iPad mini and for the 10-inch iPad leaked out, revealing that not only will the iPad mini receive Lightning, but a possible iPad 3 refresh with Lightning may be in the cards as well.

A photo of the iPad mini Lightning connector shows both the front and back of the component, and reveals that the component’s connection to the logic board goes off towards the left, which could mean that the iPad mini’s logic board might be located on the left side of the device. That information alone isn’t too exciting, but it tips to some impressive design work that allows heat to disperse better when holding the device with your right hand.

That kind of layout is also similar to the third-generation iPad, which has the logic board sitting to the left of the device’s battery. And speaking of the third-gen iPad, another photo was leaked that shows a Lightning connector different from the iPad mini version, which could mean that the 10-inch iPad will see a Lightning refresh at tomorrow’s event.

However, the source that provided the photos claims that the component won’t be used in a refreshed third-generation iPad, but they didn’t explain their claim any further. So, at this point, we’re not really sure what the second Lightning connector would be used for other than the larger 10-inch model. We’ll simply have to wait and see what Apple has in store tomorrow. Stay tuned!

[via BGR]

Leaked photos reveal iPad Lightning connector refresh is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.