Visit our other websites:    On CE ... eSP ... Mobile Channels ... ECI news ... rAVe Europe ... Digital Signage News EMEA

Valve to Sell Home Theatre Gaming PCs

E-mail Print PDF

Valve head honcho Gabe Newell confirms a long running rumour at the Spike Video Game Awards (VGAs)-- the Half Life developer will sell home theatre PCs (HTPCs) sometime during 2013.

Steam LivingroomNewell tells Kotaku the decision follows the "stronger than expected" rection to "Big Picture," a TV-friendly interface for Valve's online software storefront, Steam. This only means PC gamers want to enjoy games through the creature comforts of their sofas and big screen TVs, just like their console brethren do.

Yes, Newell says, this also means Valve will compete with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo in the war for the world's living rooms.

Big Picture is tailored for joypad input, with a new web browser and typing through a "Daisywheel" system.

Small Firm Beats Biggest CE Retailer

E-mail Print PDF

Here is a legal equivalent of the biblical David vs. Goliath-- TechForward, a small California-based software developer, sues Best Buy, the biggest CE retailer in the world, and wins a verdict worth $27 million.

Best BuyThe case involves the Guaranteed Buyback program, the system allowing customers to  pay an upfront fee on purchase in return for a guaranteed payout should a purchase be returned, first seen at CES 2008.

TechForward accused Best Buy of "misappropriating" grade secrets and breach of contract when the retailer told the developer its help was no longer needed-- before launching an own CE buy-back program (with a Super Bowl commercial complete with Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne) on February 2011.

The project's failure forced TechForward out of business, but in an unusual development the developer found help from First Round Capital and New Enterprise Associates, two venture capitalists angered by the retailer's behavior.

IDC: Record Shipments for Connected Devices

E-mail Print PDF

Global smart connected device (the combination of PCs, tablets and smartphones) shipments grow by 27.1% Y-o-Y during Q3 2012, with shipments reaching a record of 303.6 million units worth $140.4 billion, IDC reports.

The analyst has further positive forecasts for the segment-- Q4 2012 shipments will grow by 26.5% Y-o-Y (or 19.2% Q-o-Q) to 362m units as demand for tablets and smartphones fuels sales during the holidays.

According to the analyst Q4 2012 tablet Y-o-Y growth will reach 55.8%, while smartphone growth should total 39.5%. On the other hand PCs should "decline slightly" on a Y-o-Y basis.

IDC Forecast

When it comes to vendors, Samsung and Apple continue to dominate the global market, taking over 21.8% and 15.1% share respectively. Lenovo (7%), HP (4.6%) and Sony (3.6%) follow.

IDC expects the global smart connected device to "continue to surge" in the future-- shipments should reach over 2.1 billion units by 2016 with a market value of $796.7bn.

The analyst describes the 2012-2016 period as a "multi-device era," even as the market continues to shift away from PC towards mobile devices. However the cloud eases the purchase and usage of different devices for different situations.

Go WW Smart Connected Device Market Grew 27.1% in Q3 (IDC)

Update: John McAfee in Guatemala, Pleads Asylum

E-mail Print PDF

McAfee ArrestJohn McAfee-- antivirus company founder, alleged fraudster, murder suspect, man on the run-- now lies in police custody due to illegal entry in Guatemala after Vice Magazine revealed his location by accident.

"Now that I'm here I can speak freely. I can speak openly," McAfee tells reporters in Guatemala City before claiming he will expose corruption within Belize's government.

Belize president Dean Barrow however does not mince his words, saying "I don't want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers."

Just when you thought the John McAfee saga could not get any stranger, guess what? It just did.

Where on Earth is John McAfee?

E-mail Print PDF

John McAfee-- antivirus company founder, alleged fraudster, murder suspect. Man on the run. After the shooting of his neighbour on the Belizean island of Ambergis Caye, McAfee ran for it, even leaving the country for supposedly safer shores.

Mcafee ViceBut did the metadata on a very recent photo just reveal his current location?

On 3 December 2012, after a length of radio silence, McAfee posted a blog post saying "I am currently safe... We are not in Belize, but not quite in out of the woods yet."

Joining McAfee was Vice Magazine, with an announcement claiming "We Are With John McAfee Right Now, Suckers." The magazine says it is making an "absolutely epic" documentary on the stranger-than-fiction story. But that is not the interesting part! No, what is interesting is the photo the story includes, one of McAfee and Vice editor-in-chief Rocco Castoro.

The metadata embedded in the photo reveals not only how it was taken with an iPhone 4S, but also where it was taken-- Guatemala, at Parque Nacional Rio Dulce. Near Ranchon Mary restaurant. By the pool.

Page 656 of 932