Square Looks Out For Buyers

Square Looks Out For BuyersSquare, the mobile credit card processing company is currently going through financial difficulties, is on the lookout for someone to fork out enough money to take over the company. In fact, it seems as though Square has already been talking to a number of firms, at least according to a report in the WSJ. Earlier this year, one of the companies that certainly had the financial means to pick up Square, Google, did express an interest in Square, but there were no talks of a buy-out.

Square’s credit card readers will actually hook up to the earphone jack on Android and iOS powered smartphones and tablets, enables users to accept credit cards as well as debit cards located outside of a store or office. Once a card is swiped, Square would then start to process the transaction, it will send back a confirmation number, apart from arranging to have the funds deposited with the vendor’s bank.

Sources familiar with Square’s financials touted that the company had bled $100 million in 2013, and since 2009, the company has already raised $340 million from different funding rounds, with more than half of that money allegedly used up already. Who do you think will eventually pick up Square? Have you made use of Square’s services before?

Square Looks Out For Buyers , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Gadgets, ,

Original Apple TV iTunes Connectivity Issue Irritates Users Globally

Owners of first-generation Apple TV set top boxes (sold from 2007 through 2010) have been reporting issues that are keeping them from connecting to iTunes. The issue is said to be affecting users of the original Apple TV around the world. Without being able to connect to iTunes, users can’t buy content and may not have access to all their content.

original apple tv 1st genmagnify

Users are reporting that none of the normal troubleshooting procedures are fixing the connectivity issue. Neither rebooting nor restoring the set-top box seem to resolve the issue.

In addition, users of the iPhone on iOS6 or older recently found that they no longer had access to FaceTime. Some believe that the two issues are related and some sort of change at Apple has made the errors rear their heads. Some rumors suggest updates to protect Apple servers from Heartbleed led to these problems. Apple had a fast fix for the FaceTime issue with people needing to update their operating system. No such quick fix for the Apple TV has surfaced so far.

Apple hasn’t confirmed the issue officially, and as of this report, the problem appears to be unresolved.

[via MacRumors]

A $15 USB Adapter That Fixes an Annoying iMac Design Flaw

A $15 USB Adapter That Fixes an Annoying iMac Design Flaw

No product has even been made better when functionality follows form, and Apple’s decision to only include USB ports on the back of its iMacs has been frustrating desktop computer users for years. An ugly USB extension cable makes life with an iMac considerably more enjoyable, and now, thanks to Bluelounge’s new Jimi, it doesn’t even have to be ugly.

Read more…




EE’s slow killing of Orange and T-Mobile shows it’s ready to bet big on 4G

Orange, T-Mobile and EE have managed to coexist together for a number of years now, despite them all being essentially the same company, and all selling similar services. While Orange and T-Mobile used to be large, established names in their own…

Analysts Believe Apple Sales Will Be Flat This Quarter

Analysts Believe Apple Sales Will Be Flat This Quarter

Apple is due to report its second quarter results on Wednesday. The company’s own guidance for this quarter puts revenues between $42 billion and $44 billion. This announcement actually caused Apple stock to dip as analysts initially expected earnings guidance to be north of $46 billion. 37 different analysts polled by Fortune are of the view that Apple sales will be flat this quarter with revenue expected to be around $43.5 billion. During last year’s second quarter the company’s revenues stood at $43.6 billion.

There is already rising speculation that investors aren’t happy with the way Apple has plateaued. They’re not seeing any significant growth, even though Apple is in no risk of losing its market share and has been posting net profits quarter after quarter. Some might consider this as a best case scenario, that at least revenues aren’t free-falling, but major investors might not see it that way.

Previously an analyst claimed that investors have low expectations from the iPhone 6 because apparently they’re of the view that it won’t be enough to push Apple towards growth. They won’t lose money if sales remain flat and Apple continues to sell millions of units like it does every quarter. But they certainly won’t make more.

iPhone aside, there’s widespread belief that Apple needs to introduce truly new products in order to kickstart growth. While the CEO has said that Apple intends to enter new product categories in 2014, so far nothing new has materialized.

Analysts Believe Apple Sales Will Be Flat This Quarter , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Apple, ,

Microsoft and Nokia finally tying the knot on April 25th

Let the wedding bells ring! Microsoft announced this morning that it finally has something we’ve been curious about since September: the actual date the company will complete its proposed acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services business. In a…

Wolfenstein gameplay for 30 minutes: Bethesda Twitches big

Making certain the presentation of their game is left up to their own crew, Bethesda Softworks have released a 30-minute gameplay video of Wolfenstein. This game goes by the full … Continue reading

Bing Does Predictions

Bing Does PredictionsWhen it comes to search engines, one must give a nod to their ability to process trillions of signals in order to give a reflection on what is happening in the actual world that we live in. In fact, during the presidential elections in 2012, Bing saw plenty of positive as well as negative queries concerning the presidential candidates from various parts of the U.S. This particular model was looked into further by teams within Bing to see how Bing’s power is able to function as a model outcomes of events, where it could lead to predictions concerning election results or a sporting event.

In fact, in its first iteration that has already gone live on Bing.com today, we see the search engine attempt to predict just which contestants will most likely to be eliminated or move on to the next round of voting shows such as The Voice, American Idol and Dancing With The Stars. In order to kick off this particular feature, perform a search for “The Voice” or a current contestant on the program, and depending on your search, you will be able to check out a carousel which offers Bing’s estimation of who is on top, the person who is in most likely in danger of elimination. [Press Release]

Bing Does Predictions , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Computers, , ,

Microsoft Nokia Deal Closes April 25th

Microsoft Nokia Deal Closes April 25thBack in September last year Nokia announced that it is going to sell its devices and services business to Microsoft for north of $7 billion. A multinational deal of this scale requires regulatory approval, provided that the company’s shareholders don’t vote against it. Nokia’s shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of the deal, which then received the aforementioned approval. Microsoft previously said that it expected to close the deal this month and today it has confirmed that the deal closes on Friday, April 25th, 2014.

The announcement comes following revelation that Nokia’s phone business will be called Microsoft Mobile once the deal is closed. The original deal between Microsoft and Nokia didn’t address management of online assets. Both companies have agreed that Microsoft is going to manage Nokia.com doman as well as social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter for “up to a year.”

The deal has also been adjusted to bring 21 Nokia employees in China working on mobile phones to Microsoft, where they’ll continue their work. The biggest adjustment made in the deal is that Nokia’s Korean manufacturing facility, which would have gone to Microsoft, will now not be acquired by Redmond.

It is unclear right now if Microsoft will immediately stop using Nokia branding for smartphone after the deal closes. Presumably it may want to stick with the existing branding for some time to ensure that there’s a smooth transition.

Microsoft Nokia Deal Closes April 25th , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, , ,

Microsoft puts squeeze on Motorola Solutions for Android patents

Microsoft has inked another deal to squeeze cash out of an Android and Chrome OS device manufacturer, adding Motorola Solutions to its roster of firms coughing up for patent licensing. … Continue reading