Hasta La Gadget!

This week Google‘s own CEO and co-founder spoke about subjects ranging from the company’s future with Motorola to the importance of “moon shots” in the tech industry, keying in on how Google’s ability to sell the products they make is beyond vital to the market’s future. In his conversation with Wired, he revealed first his admiration for Tesla Motors (a company he’s invested in since 2006), then how he came to understand the life story of Nikola Tesla (the inventor and all-round excellent fellow), this understanding changing his whole life’s path.

Page described how investors “always” speak to him about how they’re “going to spend too much money on these crazy things”, this referring to one-thought-crazy projects like YouTube, Chrome, and Android. Page continued, “Those are now the things they’re most excited about. … If you’re not doing some things that are crazy, then you’re doing the wrong things.” Continuing on with talk of Tesla Motors, Page praised their focus on commercialization.

“Take one company I admire, Tesla. They’ve not only made a really innovative car, but they’re probably spending 99 percent of their effort figuring out how to actually get it out to people.” – Page

With Tesla on the brain, Page spoke about the inventor whose tragic story may have incidentally made Google a possibility by turning its co-founder towards not just invention, but the marketing of inventions.

“When I was growing up, I wanted to be an inventor. Then I realized that there’s a lot of sad stories about inventors like Nikola Tesla, amazing people who didn’t have much impact, because they never turned their inventions into businesses.” – Page

Have a peek at the timeline below to see more of the musings of Larry Page over the past few weeks and months. Also have a peek at the Nikola Tesla Museum story from August of 2012 to get a better idea of what Nikola Tesla really did for our modern world, and see one more connection between the Tesla motor company and the inventor by the same name.

Why Google may have never been if not for Nikola Tesla is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The good news just keeps on coming for RIM as we get ever closer to the company’s BlackBerry 10 reveal at the end of the month. Just recently we heard that RIM enjoyed 15,000 app submissions for BlackBerry 10 in the span of just a couple days, and today, RIM revealed that it has signed up more that 1,600 companies for its BlackBerry 10 training program. These businesses that signed up will receive training on what’s new and what’s changed with BlackBerry 10, prepping them to use the new mobile OS in day-to-day operations.

Getting 1,600 companies to sign up for its training program is no joke, and shows that there’s a significant amount of interest in BlackBerry 10 before it even launches. RIM hasn’t talked about which companies have signed up for BlackBerry 10 training and will probably never reveal those details, but we wouldn’t be surprised to find out that a number of big names are on the sign up sheet. Regardless of the names that are on the list, today’s announcement proves that a fair few companies have taken an interest in the new BlackBerry.

That’s hardly surprising when you remember that BlackBerry once ruled the business world. With the coming of iOS and Android, however, RIM saw its market share shrink quarter after quarter, and now the company seems to be on the brink of disaster. There’s a lot riding on BlackBerry 10, make no mistake, but at the moment, it seems that RIM may be heading toward a success rather than a letdown.

Early reactions appear to be pretty good, with major carriers across the US pledging to carry BlackBerry 10 handsets. We’ll find out plenty more about BlackBerry 10 later this month, at RIM’s launch event on January 30. SlashGear will be there covering the whole thing, so be sure to check back with us for all of the news you need to know from the BlackBerry 10 launch event.

[via The Wall Street Journal]

RIM gets 1,600 companies to sign up for BlackBerry 10 training program is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Like any company heading into the new year, LG is planning to have a great 2013, and the company is looking to sell 75 million handsets during the 12-month period, 45 million of which are projected to be smartphones. Previously in 2012, LG sold 55 million phones, so their 2013 goal is certainly reachable, but it’ll take some work.

The Korea Times reports that the company is predicting a record year in 2013, and stepping into the Windows Phone 8 market may help LG hit that 75 million mark. Those phones, along with the already-popular Optimus series, could help the company reach record sales this year, but they would still be far behind competitors.

Samsung alone plans to push a half billion phones in 2013, with sales said to have reached 420 million devices in 2012. The Galaxy S III alone has already sold 40 million units, and it’s only been out on the market for less than a year. With the company’s line of Galaxy devices, along with new handsets for 2013, Samsung might also see record sales this year.

According to a senior executive from one of LG’s local partners, LG has some new Windows Phone 8 smartphones in the works, and said that the company plans to unveil a 5.5-inch phablet-style flagship handset at Mobile World Congress next month, which could easily be the Optimus G2 that was initially rumored to show up at CES 2013.

[via The Korea Times]

LG plans to sell 75 million phones in 2013 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Jerry McDougal was in the running for Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple, but in a somewhat surprising move, he elected to resign instead. Replacing him will be Apple’s former Vice President of Finance Jim Bean. The new Retail VP has worked at Apple for 15 years, with an Apple spokesperson stating that he understands the company’s culture.

McDougal’s resignation was given earlier in the month. He had been slated as a potential replacement for John Browett, who was fired by Apple late last year. Little is known about the executive’s departure, with no official statement being offered. Unnamed sources who claim to be familiar with the situation stated that he wanted more family time.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling offered this statement. “Retail has an incredibly strong network of leaders at the store and regional level, and they will continue the excellent work they’ve done over the past decade to revolutionize retailing with unique, innovative services and a focus on the customer that is second to none.”

As far as Jim Bean goes, he joined Apple back in 1998, and will have the title Vice President of Retail. Spokesman Dowling had this to say about him: “Jim Bean is moving to Retail to help support our store teams. Jim has been at Apple for 15 years and is a great leader who understands our culture and focus on customer service.” In light of the departure, Apple is still on the hunt for someone to replace John Browett.

[via AllThingsD]

Jerry McDougal, Apple’s Vice President of Retail, resigns is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

American businessman and former Apple CEO, John Sculley, has something to say about Apple’s current situation. In an interview with Bloomberg, Sculley said that Apple has to overhaul its supply chain to meet the demand for cheaper smartphones in new markets. “Apple needs to adapt to a very different world,” he said. “As we go from $500 smartphones to even as low, for some companies, as $100 for a smartphone, you’ve got to dramatically rethink the supply chain and how you can make these products and do it profitably.” (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple To Sell Products In China On Instalment Plans, Apple’s Rumored Cheaper iPhone Could Feature A Plastic Body,