Tag Archives: CEO

Aug 21

Acer Still Supports Windows RT

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Acer plans to produce Windows RT devices at some point, according to a company spokesperson.

That statement comes after Acer’s CEO blasted Microsoft for building the Surface RT tablet. On Monday, Microsoft excluded Acer from its list of Windows RT device makers.

“Acer plans to incorporate Windows RT into our product roadmap, but we have not yet confirmed the timing of our product launches,” an Acer spokesperson told Computerworld on Thursday.

In June, Acer President Jim Wong said the Taiwan-based manufacturer would release ARM-based devices running Windows RT in the first quarter of 2013. he didn’t specify it would be a tablet, calling it a “portable device.”

The latest statement from Acer comes after a Monday blog from Microsoft indicated that Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung will produce ARM-based PC designs.

Neither Acer nor Toshiba was listed by Microsoft as producers of Windows RT devices, even though both had indicated intentions earlier to build Windows RT tablets.

Analysts posited that Microsoft’s blog might only refer to makers that will have Windows RT devices ready in time for an October 26 release, along with Microsoft’s own Surface RT 10.6-in. tablet and the Windows 8 OS.

After the blog appeared, Toshiba confirmed it won’t be delivering a Windows RT tablet — for now — because of delays in obtaining components.

Earlier this month, Acer CEO JT Wang ignited a controversy when he said Microsoft’s Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets will drive a wedge between Microsoft and its hardware partners. in an interview, he urged Microsoft to “please think twice” about building Surface.

Analysts have noted that hardware partners will have to pay Microsoft for a Windows RT license atop their costs to build such tablets, and won’t have the ability to recoup losses through apps sales and content as Microsoft would.

Microsoft is also rumored to be selling its Surface RT tablet for $199 to compete against the Galaxy Nexus 7 by Google and others. if true, that price will cause hardware partners further concerns, analysts said. Microsoft’s cost to build each Surface RT is probably as much as $600, several analysts said.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt’s RSS feed. his e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

See more by Matt Hamblen on Computerworld.com.

Read more about tablets in Computerworld’s Tablets Topic Center.

Acer Still Supports Windows RT

Aug 18

Lenovo Not Worried About Microsoft’s Surface ...

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Lenovo said on Thursday the company was not worried about Microsoft’s new Surface tablet, with its CEO stating the PC maker is confident it provides better hardware than its competitors including Microsoft. 

“They (Microsoft) are strong in the software, but I don’t believe they can provide the best hardware in the world. Lenovo can,” said Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing during an earnings call.

“Although we don’t like Microsoft providing the hardware, but even though they are starting this hardware business, we think for us that just adds one more competitor,” he added.

Earlier this month, the CEO of rival PC maker Acer said the company was opposed to Microsoft selling its Surface tablet, which he said would be negative for the industry’s ecosystem. 

In the past, Microsoft has relied on PC vendors to push out its Windows product through their notebook and desktop products. but for its upcoming Windows 8 release, the software giant has decided to sell its own “Surface” tablet device using the OS, which would compete with its partners products.  

Reports have also emerged that a version of Microsoft’s Surface tablet will be priced at US$199. during Thursday’s earnings call, however, Lenovo’s CEO said, “Regarding of the Surface, to be frank, we are not that worried about that.” 

“We are still confident in ourselves. we are providing much better hardware than our competitors including Microsoft,” he said. 

Microsoft could not be reached immediately for comment. Windows 8 and the Surface tablet are scheduled to be released on Oct. 26. 

Lenovo Not Worried About Microsoft’s Surface Tablet, Expects to Beat It

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Aug 15

Armodilo Tablet Display Stands Now Support the ...

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Armodilo display Solutions is excited to announce that it has added support for another Android tablet to it tablet display stand lineup, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1).

Waterloo, ON (PRWEB) August 14, 2012

Armodilo Tablet display Stands are the only small footprint tablet kiosks on the market designed to accommodate a wide variety of tablet devices quickly and easily right out of the box, now including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1).

“The ease of upgradeability makes Armodilo a clear choice when deciding on what type of tablet display stand to roll out”, states Iles Guran, Founder and CEO. “The elegance of the Armodilo display systems is that they’re upgradeable and modular — it’s easy to upgrade to a new tablet device by simply switching the Tablet Fit-Kit™ rather than purchasing and implementing a whole new set of display stands / kiosks”, adds Iles.

Upgradeability is an important factor when looking at solutions to roll out large numbers of tablet kiosk systems since upgrading tablet devices on other similar systems often requires purchasing completely new display stand, a costly and time consuming process.

All Armodilo Tablet display Stands use its patent pending Tablet Fit-Kit system to offer multi-tablet support, giving an unprecedented choice for tablet devices on a single tablet display solution.

Each Armodilo Tablet display Stand comes pre-configured with a specific Tablet Fit-Kit for a specified tablet device. The Tablet Fit-Kit consists of a custom set of tablet inserts and a custom frame. Changing tablet devices in the future is easily achieved by switching the Tablet Fit-Kit™.

Current Tablet Fit-Kit configurations support the full range of Apple® iPad devices, the Motorola® Xoom and both Samsung® Galaxy Tabs, including the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1). Custom tablet configurations are also possible for larger installations.

Along with the versatility of the Tablet Fit-Kits, is the high quality design of the display stands. “The inviting nature of our display stands along with the high design and production quality make them a clear choice for discerning brands” adds Iles. Aluminum construction makes the display stands lightweight and extremely strong, eliminating the cheap feel you get with some other systems.

Armodilo Tablet display Stands are available in two flavours: the award winning Armodilo(ex) systems, which features a three-in-one display stand fit into a custom carrying case — perfect when high mobility is required and the new Armodilo(rt) line of display stands available in one of three configurations, suited for more permanent installation environments.

About Armodilo display Solutions

Based on over a decade of design experience, Armodilo display Solutions was launched in 2011 as a division of Bonzai Design Group inc. Our founding company, Bonzai Design, specializes in visual design — translating concepts & ideas into striking visual campaigns. We help clients develop high-end identity, packaging and branding programs. With over a decade of branding and marketing experience, Bonzai Design has directly applied its design thinking approach to its tablet kiosk line.

For more information about Armodilo, contact:

Iles Guran Founder & President at Armodilo display Solutions

sales(at)armodilo(dot)com / 1-800-975-5946

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebSamsung-Galaxy-Tab-2/Tablet-Display-Stand/prweb9792905.htm

Copyright 2012 Midland Daily News. All rights reserved. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Armodilo Tablet Display Stands Now Support the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1)

Aug 15

Acer urges Microsoft to "think twice" on ...

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The PC hardware manufacturer Acer has asked Microsoft to reconsider its move into the tablet market with Surface, the Financial Times reports.

Microsoft unveiled the Surface tablet in June, marking the company’s entry into hardware production. the move caused consternation among existing PC companies, some of which have shared a close and mutually beneficial relationship with Microsoft for several decades.

“We have said [to Microsoft] think it over,” said Acer CEO J. T. Wang. “Think twice. It will create a huge negative impact for the ecosystem and other brands may take a negative reaction. It is not something you are good at so please think twice.”

While Microsoft is certainly unproven in terms of hardware production, the main concern for companies like Acer is that a powerful ally will become another competitor in an increasingly difficult business. For Campbell Kan, Acer’s president for personal computer global operations, the Surface could prompt an exodus away from Microsoft’s Windows OS.

“If Microsoft … is going to do hardware business, what should we do?” he asked. “Should we still rely on Microsoft, or should we find other alternatives?”

The Surface is largely a response to increased competition from Apple and the failure of PC companies to create strong competitors for the iPad. However, there is a growing concern that products like Surface and to some extent Windows 8 signal a significant change in direction for Microsoft’s PC business, towards the “walled garden” approach of Apple or its own Xbox Live console service.

Acer urges Microsoft to "think twice" on Surface

Aug 08

Inkling Adapts to iPhone in Time for School

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As students around the country start planning their back to school purchases, Inkling has added a new tool to their fall shopping carts. The company known for highly innovative digital textbooks formatted to the iPad will be rolling out the capability that lets students read their same content on their iPhones as well, seamlessly incorporating the iOS-based phone into the Inkling Habitat platform with real-tume syncing across the devices.

Notice that this feature is in addition to the existing accounts students can use on tablets or web-based laptops. while students with only an iPhone at their disposal can take advantage of the content that Inkling has optimized for its smaller screen, those with other devices can pick up on one tablet in the classroom and study on their iPhones as they travel home from class.

Inkling 3.0, which is available for free from the App Store, makes it possible for iPhone users to utilize the same textbooks that the view on tablets or laptops, but the content has been shifted for the screen, rather than simply minimized for the phone.

“As a company, we really think that we’re reinventing the world of publishing,” said Matt MacInnis, CEO of Inkling, in an interview with GoodeREader just prior to today’s launch. And when considering that other reading apps for the iPhone only shrink the text rather than reformat the content, he may be right. “What’s being used today for digital publishing is out of date. Anytime you have to declare the inches in a document before you can publish it digitally, something if fundamentally wrong.”

Digital textbooks have remained a hot-button topic in publishing because the industry has not kept up with the capabilities, especially in terms of the expectations of lower cost for the materials. Inkling has changed a fundamental pricing structure to academic materials by offering their digital textbooks at a per-chapter rate, with many chapters of college-level texts being available for as little as three or four dollars; this chapter by chapter format also allows users to save precious storage space on their phones by allowing them to download one chapter for use at a time.

While Inkling has made a name for itself in both revolutionizing and the pricing of digital textbooks, the technology they’ve developed is also lending itself to other reference materials like Frommer’s travel guides, making the iPhone the ideal tool for carrying on the go. Depending on the guide, users can view images which turn into an interactive map, click on video links, and even see the real-time five day weather forecast for their travel destinations.

Aside from the large numbers of students returning to school with a variety of devices, iPhone users outnumber iPad owners four-to-one, making the iPhone market a much broader customer base. The features that Inkling ebook users have come to expect, such as the test yourself option and cloud-based bookmarking, are there.

“There is a lot of thought going into each and every one of the elements,” MacInnis said.

Inkling Adapts to iPhone in Time for School

Aug 02

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Allegedly Launching on ...

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Your wish is RIM CEO Thorsten Heins’s command. after confirming a 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook would hit the market, it looks as though the device will finally be out as early as next Tuesday, July 31. how much? $550 for the 32GB version.

According to a document purporting to include pre-release details, the device will also come equipped with a 7-inch display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 5-megapixel rear camera (3-megapixel front), a 4,800 mAh battery and 1GB RAM. also: did I mention it’ll reportedly retail for $550? Boy, it’ll sure take some convincing to entice potential Nexus 7 owners.

The only attached carrier at the moment is Bell, but that’s likely to change. There’s no mention of NFC, which has been rumored since the 4G-model was outed earlier this year, and no other storage variants to be seen. because Mobile Syrup’s document is pre-release, information could potentially change before the tablet is released, but this looks to be about everything folks need to make a decision.

My only question is: Will this receive BlackBerry 10?

[via MobileSyrup]

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4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Allegedly Launching on July 31 for $550

Jul 21

How the BlackBerry Died: The Five Mistakes That ...

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Rest in peace, sweet smartphone.

  • Yesterday at 3:32 PM

1. it had an identity crisis.

For years, RIM has been seemingly divided on the question of what the BlackBerry should be — a popular device that can compete with the iPhone or a business tool aimed at the enterprise market. even RIM’s former co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis were split on the issue, with Balsillie reportedly favoring the mass approach and Lazaridis wanting to concentrate on corporations.

When your CEOs can’t agree on the direction of your core product, trouble usually follows.

2. it didn’t play well with others.

3. it couldn’t cut and run.

4. it picked a dud CEO.

So, when it came time to replace the bumbling co-CEOs, RIM could have made a flashy, attention-grabbing pick (like Yahoo did by hiring Marissa Mayer) who could have displayed appropriate frustration with the company’s stagnation, cleaned house, and given it a much-needed burst of good publicity.

(To be fair, Heins has since backtracked from his statement.)

5. it forgot the geeks.

BlackBerry? the audience tittered.

An AppGuppy worker smiled sheepishly and said, “We’re kind of removing that now.”

What sensible programmer, after all, would build an app for an operating system that might never see the light of day?

Make no mistake: RIM still has a few arrows left in its quiver, including a pile of cash estimated at $2.2 billion and a valuable proprietary network. but cash dwindles, and networks become less valuable as other carriers catch up. The RIM subscribers (and giant corporations) who went through the hassle of switching to iPhones or Androids in the past few years aren’t coming back, even if BlackBerry 10 is the best operating system since MS-DOS.

So, let the last rites for RIM begin. because, when you have to hire Questlove to convince people that your product is still cool, a graceful end is about the best you can wish for.

How the BlackBerry Died: The Five Mistakes That Killed a Once-Great Device

Jul 21

Next Issue Media CEO Morgan Guenther on ...

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GoodeReader reported yesterday on the iOS launch of Next Issue’s subscription reading service from a number of mainstream publishers. CEO Morgan Guenther spoke to GoodeReader about the original Android launch of the service in April as well as yesterday’s Apple launch for all iPad models.

“We’re once again focused on the top-tier premium titles,” said Guenther, “and they’re all optimized for the tablet itself. We’ll have the thirty-two that we launched with on Android, but we’re adding some of the Conde Nast titles that we didn’t get the first time. We’re focused in this case on going where the readers are.”

Next Issue took much the same approach as they did in April, which was quite innovative for the industry. “Instead of living in a world where every magazine is a separate application and you download apps for every magazine, we created a single app for all magazines with a single unifying navigation. It’s a much easier way to move from magazine to magazine. We’ve got the same cloud-based storage to handle the 350 issues that are available at launch since the catalog goes back to January 1st.”

“We targeted on the Android tablets a very small subset of those tablets, we think there were only about two or three million tablets total in the US that could access our application, and that was for a reason. we really wanted to get it out on a couple of key devices, and then go from there. We’ve learned a lot from the process. The difference with Apple is we’ve got ubiquity across all the models. It’s simple because there’s one hardware and one software platform. We’re not dealing with different device sizes, it’s a very mature platform. Our estimated market this year will be 60 million devices by the end of the year.”

Users will access the free app from the app store, then sign up for one of the two plan options to use the app itself for magazine reading. Next Issue designed a unique consumer proposition and the roadmap for the year is to double the size of the title catalog by August with 65 to 70 magazine. The first dedicated marketing campaign for the subscriptions will take place sometime around Labor Day and follow through with the end-of-the-year gift giving season as consumers are expected to make tablet purchases for the holidays.

In the coming year, plans are underway to incorporate an outside publisher and a social reading aspect, as well as tap international markets.

One of the issues that has affected digital magazine subscriptions is not being provided enough user data to make advertising decisions.

“I think the publishers for a large part have worked through their concerns. They’ve worked through their issues and everybody thinks Apple is just an awesome platform for both their stand-alone digital editions and for something like this. There’s been a lot of good dialog with the publishers.”

Next Issue Media CEO Morgan Guenther on Subscription-Based Digital Magazines

Jul 18

Next Issue Subscription Magazine App Available for ...

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Next Media, the company behind a monthly-fee based subscription service that allowed Android device users to pay on flat fee to read any magazine from a host of publishers, has now incorporated iOS devices into the fold with the launch of its App Store magazine app. by working with Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corp, and Time, subscribers now have access to thirty-nine different titles for one price, based on the plan the readers choose, with more titles expected by the end of the year.

Aside from the ease of having one payment for access to the content, readers will also have only one app to navigate in order to read their favorite titles. Those titles include the current issues and the back list from popular magazines like GQ, Self, Vogue, and Wired, among others. Next Issue will also offer thirty-day free trials on the unlimited plans, and current print subscribers can add the digital subscription for free or for a nominal cost.

“With the unlimited plans offering access to our entire catalog from a single intuitive App and personal library, we’re delivering magazines the way consumers want to read them,” said Morgan Guenther, CEO of Next Issue Media. “It’s like having an entire magazine rack stocked with only the very best titles, but you can browse or read any issue, any time, on your iPad.”

As for the pricing, Next Issue features tiered levels of subscriptions. The Unlimited Basic plan includes titles published monthly and bi-weekly, including back issues, for $9.99 per month, while the Unlimited Premium plan includes all titles in the catalog, including weeklies and back issues, for $14.99 per month. Individual magazine subscriptions are still available and range from $1.99 to $9.99 per month, while individual magazine issues are available from $2.49 to $5.99 per issue.

The complete list of Basic plan titles currently available includes All You, Allure, better Homes and Gardens, Bon Appétit, Brides, Car and Driver, Coastal Living, Condé Nast Traveler, Cooking Light, ELLE, Esquire, Essence, Fitness, Fortune, Glamour, Golf, Golf Digest, GQ, Health, InStyle, Money, Parents, People en Español, People StyleWatch, popular Mechanics, Real Simple, Self, Southern Living, Sports Illustrated Kids, Sunset, This old House, Vanity fair, Vogue and Wired.  The Premium plan includes these titles, as well as Entertainment Weekly, People, Sports Illustrated, The new Yorker and TIME.

Apps like Next Media’s help readers and publishers work together to reach the intended audience in a more streamlined way while allowing consumers to select the content they would like to read. Partnerships like this one between Next Media and the periodicals publishers only strengthen the market for digital content while affording readers a single location to find digital reading material.

Next Issue Subscription Magazine App Available for iPad

Jul 08

RIM US head: BlackBerry 10 is ‘an entirely ...

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As you may already know thanks to RIM CEO Thorsten Heins’ op-ed piece in The Globe and Mail, the company is on something of a PR blitz. Following its latest earnings disappointment, and the news that the BlackBerry 10 platform and devices have been delayed until 2013, it seems the Waterlooians are on a mission to change increasingly dour public opinions about their business.

We had a chance to speak with Richard Piasentin (RIM’s Managing Director for the US) about where the company is headed in the near and long term. though he was mum on any meaty details about the outlook for BlackBerry 10 or company strategy, there was no shortage of bullishness in the message he delivered. “I want to convey that fighting spirit that’s in BlackBerry… RIM knows what it’s doing,” he said via phone. “This isn’t just a new product; it’s an entirely new way of interacting with the world around us.” he added, “It’s better that we get it done right than we get it done fast.”

Piasentin wouldn’t talk specifics on nearly any question asked — such as how RIM would battle Apple, Google, and Microsoft’s ecosystems, its relationships with carriers in the US, or what features would bring users back to the platform — but he had no shortage of positivity to share on what the company is building. “People don’t get it till it’s totally done — that’s why we’re making some very difficult decisions right now,” he told us, “We believe RIM is at the beginning of a transition that will change the way people communicate.”

Lofty stuff, and stuff that’s hard to take at face value as we’ve watched the company stumble through the last few years. given its recent track record of missed goals, a shrinking marketshare, and rumors of a split or sale, RIM has its work cut out for it on battling back into the hearts and minds of the consumer. The message is consistent, but it also reflects a business clearly at a point of inflection. “BlackBerry 10 represents our future as a company, and the future of mobile computing,” Piasentin stoically declared.

Hey, no pressure.

RIM US head: BlackBerry 10 is ‘an entirely new way of interacting with the world around us’