Google Earth’s tour guide feature swells to the tune of 100K new attractions

Google Earth's tour guide feature expanded to the tune of 100K new attractions

Hate flying? Google Earth could keep you visiting attractions anyway for the next, oh, rest of your life or so, thanks to 100,000-plus new tours it just added across sites and cities in over 200 countries. That’s on top of the 11,000 tours that came with its recent launches on iOS, Android and more recently, the desktop app. The option provides a virtual video flyby of the selected area, adds Wikipedia snippets and concludes with user-provided Panoramio photos of the area. You’ll need not lift a finger to get it, as all the tours are automatically available — provided you’re running the current Google Earth 7.0 for desktop or mobile. Check the video after the break to see how to use it.

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Via: TNW

Source: Google Earth (Google+)

Lenovo’s Q3 sees sales reach $9.4 billion, profits rise to $200 million

DNP Lenovo Q3 results

While big chunks of the industry may be feeling gloomy, the artist formerly known as IBM’s PC Division keeps on raking in money. Lenovo’s third quarter earnings report reveals that the company sold $9.4 billion worth of hardware, keeping $200 million of that back for itself in net profit. It’s also seen its Chinese smartphone business turn a profit, and is now eyeing Russia as the next land ripe for conquering. Lenovo’s corporate mattress is so stuffed that it probably smells of money, as the company has squirreled away $4.2 billion for a rainy day, or, you know, something else.

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Source: Lenovo

WindowsAndroid runs Google’s mobile OS natively on the Windows kernel

WindowsAndroid runs Google's mobile OS natively on the Windows kernel

Sure, you could enjoy Android on your PC through dual-booting or virtualization, but the folks at Socketeq have whipped up yet another alternative: a port of Mountain View’s mobile OS, fittingly dubbed WindowsAndroid, that runs natively on the Windows kernel (under Vista, 7 and 8) instead of Linux. Not only does the operating system run speedily since its free of virtualization chains, but it serves up the appropriate tablet or smartphone UI based on window size, and plays nice with keyboards and mice, to boot. Socketeq’s solution serves up the full Android experience, but you’ll have to separately flash the Google apps that typically come baked in, according to Android Police. Ice Cream Sandwich is the freshest flavor of Android to have undergone the kernel-replacement treatment, and it’s currently being offered as a free “first-try” download at the source.

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Via: Android Police

Source: Socketeq

MIDI spans 30 years at NAMM with Commodore 64 and Animoog (video)

MIDI spans 30 years at NAMM with Commodore 64 and Animoog (video)

You may have heard that the Musical Instrument Digital Interface protocol (aka MIDI) celebrates its 30th birthday this year. And where better than NAMM would the MIDI Manufacturer Association be able to fully demonstrate (and celebrate) the persevering protocol’s coming of age? Part of the MMA’s installation was a set-up destined to get geek hearts racing. A 1983 Commodore 64 connected to a Sequential Circuits Model 64 sequencer cartridge (with MIDI interface). From these vintage parts, the regular 5-pin MIDI cable heads out through the decades and into an IK Multimedia iRig MIDI, into an iPad, finally feeding its information into the Animoog app from equally longevous Moog. Watch old meet new in the gallery and video below.

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

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Dual OS phone with Android and desktop Ubuntu not likely to arrive before 2014

DNP Converged Android and Ubuntu smartphone 'coming soon'

It’s beautiful. It even works. But if there’s a downside to the notion of an Android phone that runs full-blown desktop Ubuntu when docked to a big screen and keyboard, it’s the need for patience. Nearly a year after the first announcement, we’ve had an update from one of the key project leads, Richard Collins, to the effect that work on a converged Ubuntu for Android device is running on schedule, but won’t culminate in an actual product until shortly after the launch of the first Ubuntu-only smartphone:

“We are planning to very quickly follow our initial launch [of an Ubuntu-only handset] with the converged device which will have high-performing system components that will allow Ubuntu to run as a desktop OS when docked.

Considering that the first Ubuntu smartphone isn’t expected until early 2014, pending agreements with manufacturer and carrier partners, we could be looking at another 12-month wait. Still, the company probably wouldn’t flesh out its roadmap like this unless things were going well behind the scenes. It’s also possible that Canonical will release early builds of the dual OS for us to try — just like it’s going to cater for experimental GNex owners next month. In fact, Collins told us that we “might not have much longer to wait” before we see something new on Ubuntu for Android, even if it isn’t a finished product. Read our full interview with him right here.

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Intel gets go-ahead for $4 billion chip plant in Ireland, will produce its next-gen 14nm processors

Intel has been planning to make its Ireland base one of three global manufacturing sites for its 14nm chips since May last year, and its now been given the okay by Ireland’s lead planning agency. The new $4 billion plant will create around 4,300 jobs for the region in Co. Kildare, where Intel already has around 4,000 on staff. The two-year plan involves redeveloping its existing operation, expanding and shifting to make its smaller, more efficient 14nm process. Intel’s plans don’t stop there, however. It still plans to roll out 10nm products sometime in 2015.

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Via: Silicon Republic

Source: Pleanala

Orange Amps updates its OPC once more: Intel i7, 16GB RAM and a graphics boost

Orange Amps updates its OPC once more: Intel i7, 16GB RAM and a graphics boost

Orange Amps trotted out a few updates to its PC / amplifier hybrid over a year ago, but the music outfit has announced some more quite noteworthy tweaks at NAMM 2013. The orange clad units will now sport third-gen Intel i7 processors, a maximum capacity of 16GB of RAM (doubled from the previous 8GB limit) and users will have their choice of either NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 650 Ti or AMD’s HD 7750 to power graphics matters. Of course, the OPC will still feature the same array of inputs for tracking in addition to its built-in speaker for keeping an ear on how things are progressing and an attractive software suite. A fully loaded model will hit the ol’ wallet for £1,197 ($1,896), but individual component upgrades are available should you be looking to save a little coin.

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New 3rd Generation Orange OPC Upgraded And on Demonstration at Winter NAMM 2013

Orange Amplification has upgraded the multi-award winning state-of-the-art Orange Personal Computer to the 3rd Gen Intel i7 processor and doubled the maximum 8GB of RAM to a massive 16GB.

The 3rd Gen Intel i7 processor has up to twice the HD Media and 3-D graphics performance and delivers stunning visual experiences from mainstream gaming to HD video editing. Creating and editing videos and photos, surfing the Web, watching HD movies or playing mainstream games are now quicker, crisper and more life-like. The additional 16 GB RAM will further help the speed of the OPC and enable users to multi-task with no noticeable slow down in performance.

Users can now also purchase the OPC with the latest generation Nvidia 650 ti or AMD HD 7750 Graphics Card for even more advanced graphical performance.

Already described as an ‘affordable guitarists dream’ by Guitar World Magazine and a computer ‘[packed] full of high-performance components’ by CNET, the OPC now has a huge speed boost with the upgraded 3rd gen Ivy Bridge Intel CPUs with the added benefits of built-in studio quality speakers, ultra-low latency (1ms), ¼ jack inputs/outputs and an incredible £500 of recording software already installed and configured. The latest upgrade means the OPC now has more power and speed for a wider range of creative needs from recording, video editing, gaming, music playback and 3D modeling to provide unbeatable value.

The latest upgrade on the OPC follows a succession on world class reviews in 2012 which saw Expert Reviews.com give it a 5 star review, Guitar World awarding the OPC their coveted Gold Award, CNET.com presenting it their editors choice and Stuff magazine describing the OPC as an ace-sounding all-in-one studio crammed into a ’70s rock icon’!

To take a look at the OPC and all the other Orange Amps and products go to Orange Music Booth 4890 Hall C. You can find out more about the OPC software and hardware and also buy direct from our website www.orangeopc.com

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Via: Music Radar

Source: Orange Amplifiers, Orange OPC

Apple’s Q1 2013 earnings reveal Mac and iPod sales down year-over-year

Apple's Q1 earnings reveal Mac and iPod sales down yearoveryear

Apple’s just released its latest figures for Q1 2013 and buried within the overall positive earnings — about $54.5 billion in revenues and a profit of $13.1 billion — is a surprising sales figure. For the company’s recently ended quarter, Mac sales totaled 4.1 million — that’s in stark contrast to the 5.2 million sold in the previous year-ago quarter. This startling nugget comes despite the fact that Apple issued a refreshed iMac just before the close of the holiday season — normally a boon time for sales. But as the company’s earnings call revealed, these late 2012 iMacs were apparently subject to manufacturing constraints, thus preventing Apple from shipping units to all markets. As for its lagging iPod performance, that category also saw a steep decline, dropping down by nearly 3 million in year-over-year sales and amassing just 12.7 million units sold on the backs of its latest iPod touch and iPod nano. While this dip in sales is far from a warning bell for Cupertino (hello! record quarterly profit), it certainly doesn’t bode well for the halo its products have typically enjoyed.

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Apple Reports Record Results
47.8 Million iPhones Sold; 22.9 Million iPads Sold

CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan 23, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Apple(R) today announced financial results for its 13-week fiscal 2013 first quarter ended December 29, 2012. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $54.5 billion and record quarterly net profit of $13.1 billion, or $13.81 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $46.3 billion and net profit of $13.1 billion, or $13.87 per diluted share, in the 14-week year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 38.6 percent compared to 44.7 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 61 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Average weekly revenue was $4.2 billion in the quarter compared to $3.3 billion in the year-ago quarter.

The Company sold a record 47.8 million iPhones in the quarter, compared to 37 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold a record 22.9 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 15.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 4.1 million Macs, compared to 5.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 12.7 million iPods in the quarter, compared to 15.4 million in the year-ago quarter.

Apple’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $2.65 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on February 14, 2013, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 11, 2013.

“We’re thrilled with record revenue of over $54 billion and sales of over 75 million iOS devices in a single quarter,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’re very confident in our product pipeline as we continue to focus on innovation and making the best products in the world.”

“We’re pleased to have generated over $23 billion in cash flow from operations during the quarter,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “We established new all-time quarterly records for iPhone and iPad sales, significantly broadened our ecosystem, and generated Apple’s highest quarterly revenue ever.”

Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2013 second quarter:

* revenue between $41 billion and $43 billion

* gross margin between 37.5 percent and 38.5 percent

* operating expenses between $3.8 billion and $3.9 billion

* other income/(expense) of $350 million

* tax rate of 26%

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q1 2013 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PST on January 23, 2013 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq113 . This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

This press release contains forward-looking statements including without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, other income/(expense), and tax rate. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and the Company’s reaction to those factors, on consumer and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the ability of the Company to deliver to the marketplace and stimulate customer demand for new programs, products, and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that product introductions and transitions, changes in product pricing or mix, and/or increases in component costs could have on the Company’s gross margin; the inventory risk associated with the Company’s need to order or commit to order product components in advance of customer orders; the continued availability on acceptable terms, or at all, of certain components and services essential to the Company’s business currently obtained by the Company from sole or limited sources; the effect that the Company’s dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties may have on the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; the Company’s reliance on third-party intellectual property and digital content; the potential impact of a finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the Company’s dependency on the performance of distributors, carriers and other resellers of the Company’s products; the effect that product and service quality problems could have on the Company’s sales and operating profits; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters, and other circumstances that could disrupt supply, delivery, or demand of products; and unfavorable results of other legal proceedings. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012, and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 29, 2012 to be filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website ( www.apple.com/pr ), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

(C) 2013 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in
thousands and per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
————————————-
December 29, December 31,
2012 2011
—————- —————-
Net sales $ 54,512 $ 46,333
Cost of sales (1) 33,452 25,630
——– ——–
Gross margin 21,060 20,703
——– ——–
Operating expenses:
Research and development (1) 1,010 758
Selling, general and administrative (1) 2,840 2,605
——– ——–
Total operating expenses 3,850 3,363
——– ——–
Operating income 17,210 17,340
Other income/(expense), net 462 137
——– ——–
Income before provision for income taxes 17,672 17,477
Provision for income taxes 4,594 4,413
——– ——–
Net income $ 13,078 $ 13,064
======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 13.93 $ 14.03
Diluted $ 13.81 $ 13.87
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic 938,916 931,041
Diluted 947,217 941,572
Cash dividends declared per common share $ 2.65 $ 0
(1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:
Cost of sales $ 85 $ 63
Research and development $ 224 $ 160
Selling, general and administrative $ 236 $ 197

Apple Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in
thousands)
December 29, September 29,
2012 2012
—————— ——————
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 16,154 $ 10,746
Short-term marketable securities 23,666 18,383
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $119 and $98, respectively 11,598 10,930
Inventories 1,455 791
Deferred tax assets 2,895 2,583
Vendor non-trade receivables 9,936 7,762
Other current assets 6,644 6,458
——— ———
Total current assets 72,348 57,653
Long-term marketable securities 97,292 92,122
Property, plant and equipment, net 15,422 15,452
Goodwill 1,381 1,135
Acquired intangible assets, net 4,462 4,224
Other assets 5,183 5,478
——— ———
Total assets $ 196,088 $ 176,064
========= ========= ========= =========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 26,398 $ 21,175
Accrued expenses 13,207 11,414
Deferred revenue 7,274 5,953
——— ———
Total current liabilities 46,879 38,542
Deferred revenue – non-current 2,938 2,648
Other non-current liabilities 18,925 16,664
——— ———
Total liabilities 68,742 57,854
——— ———
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value; 1,800,000 shares authorized; 938,973 and 17,167 16,422
939,208 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
Retained earnings 109,567 101,289
Accumulated other comprehensive income 612 499
——— ———
Total shareholders’ equity 127,346 118,210
——— ———
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 196,088 $ 176,064
========= ========= ========= =========

Apple Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
Three Months Ended
————————————-
December 29, December 31,
2012 2011
—————- —————-
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period $ 10,746 $ 9,815
——– ——– ——– ——–
Operating activities:
Net income 13,078 13,064
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating
activities:
Depreciation and amortization 1,588 721
Share-based compensation expense 545 420
Deferred income tax expense 1,179 1,456
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net (668) (3,561)
Inventories (664) (460)
Vendor non-trade receivables (2,174) (1,206)
Other current and non-current assets 413 (962)
Accounts payable 6,145 4,314
Deferred revenue 1,611 1,296
Other current and non-current liabilities 2,373 2,472
——– ——–
Cash generated by operating activities 23,426 17,554
——– ——–
Investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities (37,192) (40,175)
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 3,460 3,038
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities 23,002 21,472
Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net (284) 0
Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2,317) (1,321)
Payments for acquisition of intangible assets (138) (108)
Other (52) (34)
——– ——–
Cash used in investing activities (13,521) (17,128)
——– ——–
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 76 91
Excess tax benefits from equity awards 404 333
Dividends and dividend equivalent rights paid (2,493) 0
Repurchase of common stock (1,950) 0
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (534) (355)
——– ——–
Cash (used in)/generated by financing activities (4,497) 69
——– ——–
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 5,408 495
——– ——–
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 16,154 $ 10,310
======== ======== ======== ========
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 1,890 $ 1,474

Apple Inc.
Q1 2013 Unaudited Summary Data
(Units in thousands, Revenue in millions)
Q1’13 (a) Q4’12 (a) Q1’12 (a) Sequential Change Year/Year Change
——————- ——————- ——————- —————— —————–
Operating Segments Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue
———– ———– ———– ———- ———
Americas $ 20,341 $ 13,810 $ 17,714 47% 15%
Europe 12,464 8,023 11,256 55% 11%
Greater China (b) 6,830 5,427 4,080 26% 67%
Japan 4,443 2,367 3,550 88% 25%
Rest of Asia Pacific 3,993 2,110 3,617 89% 10%
Retail 6,441 4,229 6,116 52% 5%
—— —— —— ———- ———
Total Apple $ 54,512 $ 35,966 $ 46,333 52% 18%
— ——
Q1’13 (a) Q4’12 (a) Q1’12 (a) Sequential Change Year/Year Change
——————- ——————- ——————- —————— —————–
Product Summary Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue
—— ———– —— ———– —— ———– —– ———- —– ———
iPhone (c) 47,789 $ 30,660 26,910 $ 16,645 37,044 $ 23,950 78% 84% 29% 28%
iPad (c) 22,860 10,674 14,036 7,133 15,434 8,769 63% 50% 48% 22%
Mac (c) 4,061 5,519 4,923 6,617 5,198 6,598 – 18% – 17% – 22% – 16%
iPod (c) 12,679 2,143 5,344 820 15,397 2,528 137% 161% – 18% – 15%
iTunes/Software/Services (d) 3,687 3,496 3,020 5% 22%
Accessories (e) 1,829 1,255 1,468 46% 25%
—— —— —— ———- ———
Total Apple $ 54,512 $ 35,966 $ 46,333 52% 18%
— ——

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Gartner report finds Samsung topped Apple as biggest chip buyer in 2012

They were neck and neck in 2011, spending 18.6 and 18.8 billion on semiconductors worldwide, but a new Gartner report out today finds that Samsung has pulled ahead of Apple as the world’s biggest chip buyer by a decent margin. According to the research group, Samsung’s chip purchases shot up nearly 29 percent to $23.9 billion in 2012, or 8 percent of the worldwide market, while Apple’s purchases rose 13.6 percent to $21.4 billion, or a share of 7.2 percent. Doing that math, that means the two companies account for over 15 percent of worldwide semiconductor purchases (or more than $45 billion), with each well ahead of runners-up HP, Dell and Sony, who stood at shares of 4.7, 2.9 and 2.7 percent for the year.

Despite the significant growth of those two leaders, though, overall semiconductor purchases actually dropped three percent in 2012 to a total of $297.6 billion. The biggest decline among the top ten companies? That would be Nokia, which fell from fifth to tenth place with chip purchases dropping a whopping 42.6 percent to five billion, compared to 8.6 billion in 2011.

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Via: Cult of Android, Bloomberg

Source: Gartner

Intel will discontinue desktop motherboards following Haswell release

The decline in desktop PC sales is beginning to ripple throughout the industry, as Intel has revealed plans to wind down its desktop motherboard division over the next three years. According to AnandTech, the company will release boards that are based on the Haswell architecture before completely suspending development. Moving forward, Intel will instead focus its efforts on creating form factor reference designs for the Ultrabook, tablet and desktop markets. Curiously, one product that’s currently immune from the announcement is the Next Unit of Computing (NUC), a miniature barebones system that will see continual development from Intel. While custom PC builders will likely take a moment to reflect upon the news, it’s said that the transition is unlikely to affect the company’s workforce. Instead, current employees will be absorbed into other divisions within Intel. After all, there’s no point in showing talented engineers to the door, even in an age of market shifts.

[Image credit: huangjiahui, Flickr]

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Source: AnandTech