2007/04/25

Apple Reports Second Quarter Results

Apple have posted their 2nd quarter results for the fiscal year 2007.

Earnings Grow 88 Percent Year-over-Year


The Company posted revenue of $5.26 billion and net quarterly profit of $770 million, or $.87 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $4.36 billion and net quarterly profit of $410 million, or $.47 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 35.1 percent, up from 29.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 43 percent of the quarter�s revenue.


Apple shipped 1,517,000 Macs and 10,549,000 iPods during the quarter, representing 36% growth in Macs and 24% growth in iPods over the year-ago quarter.


"The Mac is clearly gaining market share, with sales growing 36% more than three times the industry growth rate" said Steve Jobs "We're very excited about the upcoming launch of iPhone in late June, and are also hard at work on some other amazing new products in our pipeline."


Peter Oppenheimer, Apple CFO said it was "the most profitable March quarter in Apple's history".

Though Apple are growing, they still only account for a low percentage of the total number of PC's sold.

New version of Asterisk released

Following security announcements a new version of Asterisk has been released (both for the 1.2 and 1.4 branches). New versions of Zaptel are also available.

Asterisk is an open source PBX which has an incredible wealth of functionality, however it's not for the feint hearted.

XNA Game Studio Express Update - Xbox

XNA Game Studio Express Update - Xbox

Microsoft have updated their XNA Game Studio Express which allows developers a cost effective entry to developing Xbox360 games.

The refresh contains a packager allowing which can create both Xbox360 and PC games (only packing the game, not the source).

It also allows: -

* Official XNA Game Studio Express compatibility with Windows Vista

* Support for 3D audio using XACT

* Support for fonts in the XNA Framework

* Various other product enhancements and performance tuning

In order to share games, users must sign up to the XNA Creators Club which is available via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for $49 (U.S.) for 4 month sub, or $99 (U.S.) for 12 months.

By allowing smaller players (including home users) to develop games, there could be some interesting projects which could become a reality.

2007/04/24

Top Wireless Companies, FierceWireless - Fierce15, 2007 - FierceWireless

Top Wireless Companies, FierceWireless - Fierce15, 2007 - FierceWireless:

Firce Wireless have announced the 15 companies that are going to make the biggest difference to the wireless market. US market of course ...


Ecrio
Gogomo
Integrated Mobile
Interop Technologies
iSkoot
JumpTap
Metrico Wireless
Millennial Media
Neonode
Obopay
Omnilink Systems
SNAPin
Sonopia
TeleNav
Tensorcomm

Research In Motion

Research In Motion

RIM the makers of the Blackberry have announced there'll be a software version for Windows Mobile 6.0, though no specifics about which devices it will support.

RIM are unlikely to sell the product directly, but allow carriers to bundle it with Smartphones.

WM6 already supports Microsoft's push Email over ActiveSync from an Exchange server, but this will allow WM6 users to integrate directly into a familiar Blackbery environment.

It's also cheaper for RIM who don't have to continually develop new handsets.

Funny or Die

Funny or Die

Will Farrell (US comedian) has set this site up with backing from Sequoia ventures (who invested in YouTube).

Though Farrell and friends will contribute content, it's also user contributed and more importantly rated.

Any video that gets below a 1 rating goes into "The Crypt" and then can only be resurrected when 1,000 or more people request it - which should mean bad stuff gets relegated quickly and they save on huge storage costs.

Whether it can actually compete with YouTube is yet to be seen, though Farrell's "Landlord" video has been view 3m times already.

2007/04/23

Free Wi-Fi software nixes need for routers - Network World

Free Wi-Fi software nixes need for routers - Network World

The Technion Institute in Isreal has developed Wipeer software that links PCs using WiFi.

The software is available as a free download and connects indoors up to 300ft and 900ft outdoors.

Technion are also looking at adding cellular support in for even more connectivity options.