Microsoft sells 60 million copies of Windows 7
Microsoft has announced their quarterly earnings today, claiming their highest-ever quarterly revenue, thanks directly to strong sales of the Windows 7 operating system.
The company sold 60 million copies of the new OS, and overall net income jumped 60 percent year-on-year to $6.66 billion USD.
In comparison, Vista took four months to sell 40 million copies, and sales slowed from there on out.
Additionally, Zune HD sales were not revealed, but total Xbox and Zune revenue dropped 11 percent year-on-year.
Sky to be first in UK with dedicated 3D channel
The UK cable provider Sky has announced it will be the first in the region to offer a dedicated 3D channel when it launches Sky 3D in April.
The first 3D live sports event will be a football match between Arsenal and Manchester United. There will be one Sky Sports broadcast completely devoted to the 3D showing, with 8 different 3D camera setups.
As long as you have a 3D HDTV, Sky+HD customers can watch the programming from their homes as well starting in April. The programming will be free and current set-top boxes are capable of receiving 3D content.
RIAA prepares for third trial in file sharing case
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is preparing for a third trial to once again determine damages, which have so far ranged from $54,000 to $1.92 million, to be paid by Jammie Thomas-Rasset who has been accused (and found guilty) of sharing 24 songs illegally on file sharing networks. Last year, the mother of four from Minnesota was ordered to pay $1.92 million in damages for sharing the music.
Last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis reduced the damages to $54,000, declaring that the $1.92 million figure was “monstrous and shocking.” The RIAA was given until Wednesday to accept the decision or to reject it, which would result in a new trial. The trade group announced it will reject the decision and go to another trial, as Thomas-Rasset turned down an opportunity to settle the case.
Attorneys for Thomas-Rasset said she would not accept a settlement offer from the RIAA, which would have her paying $25,000 to a charity for struggling artists. “Jammie is not going to agree to pay any amount of money to them,” Attorney Joe Sibley said, adding that it doesn’t matter to Thomas-Rasset whether the damages are $25,000 or $1.92 million.
“For her, it’s all the same. She just doesn’t have the money to pay any of those, and it would be financially ruinous,” Sibley said. She will continue to fight the case on principal, believing that the statutes that allow for such hefty damages in these types of cases are wrong.
[More]>>
Samsung now mass producing 3D LED TVs
Samsung has announced that they have begun mass producing displays for 3D LED HDTVs, a move that puts a lot of support behind the technology that many critics have called a “gimmick.”
Being in mass production should mean lower prices for the end user in a short time frame. 3D TVs have so far come with a heavy price tag.
“Recently, 3D displays have captured the industry spotlight. Samsung Electronics aims to lead the global 3D TV panel market in pioneering mass production for 3D LED and LCD TVs,” reads the press release.
The displays being produced are 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch.
Netflix gains 1.1 million customers in Q4
Netflix has reported its highest number of new customers in a single quarter in the company’s history, adding more than 1.1 million new subscribers in the fourth-quarter. It took four years to hit 1 million subscribers after Netflix launched in 1999. Investors applauded as the company revealed its results for the quarter, including a 36 percent rise in the Q4 profits for the rental-by-mail service.
Netflix now has more than 12 million subscribers, with a boost in new subscribers in response to new plans that bundle the rental-by-mail service with unlimited video streaming over the Internet, for prices as low as $9 per month. The good news didn’t stop there for investors either; Netflix management expects Q1 2010 to be even more successful, projecting between 1.2 and 1.5 million new subscribers by the end of March.
Fourth-quarter revenue climbed 24 percent to $444.5 million, missing analyst expectations by $1 million. The shortfall however was overshadowed by pledges from management to boost profit margins to 11 percent from its previous 10 percent target.
Netflix got a big boost in the fourth quarter when services available through the PlayStation 3 (PS3), while already being available through Xbox 360 and it is reportedly heading for the Wii console.
Get Games adding 150 games
Get Games, the digital download site launched in November has announced that it has added 19 games this week, with 150 more expected in the upcoming weeks.
The site launched with little content outside of Serious Sam HD but now seems to be making some headway.
Popular titles Machinarium, Trine and EuFloria are available for £29.95 each and other titles are available for cheaper.
“Our goal is to work with people professionally and to run a nimble and efficient business which should result in a service that makes sense for the content owner as well as the retailer, a relationship which too often seems to be out of step in traditional retail and digital distribution at the moment,”says founder Rupert Loman.
Google Voice released for iPhone
Google has announced the launch of a new version of Google Voice for the Apple iPhone, one that cannot be downloaded through the app store but instead used through the web browser.
In July, the original Google Voice app was rejected from the app store and faced large criticism, prompting the FCC to look into Apple’s rejection process.
The Voice service allows users to make cheap long-distance calls online, and the ability to forward phone calls from one number to multiple phones.
Google says the new version is a “Web app” that is “much more interactive than the previous browser-based version of the service, with the ability to listen to voice mails directly from within the browser and to dial phone numbers on an interactive on-screen keypad.”
The new version will work for iPhone 3.0 and above firmware and for WebOS based Palm smartphones.
Apple Tablet pics leaked?
In the latest (likely fake) leak of Apple Tablet pictures, TechCrunch has posted a couple of pictures showing the “iPad” next to a MacBook Pro.
The pics:
Nexus One going on sale at Wal-Mart?
Although it is available online through the new Google Android store, it appears as though Wal-Mart stores may be getting the smartphone soon too.
More interesting however is the fact that in the specs sheet listed, AT&T and Sprint bands are listed, meaning the phone may be soon available for four major carriers.
Check the full Wal-Mart page here: Nexus One Wal-Mart page
Verizon considering prepaid BlackBerry service?
According to new sources, Verizon will begin offering prepaid BlackBerry data service sometime in the next three months.
Although there weren’t too many details revealed, the plan will cost $35 on top of your normal voice plan. Most likely, only a few BlackBerrys will be available for the new deal.
The move is the first time Verizon will offer a smartphone as a “prepaid” device, and most American carriers have been reluctant to make such offers, instead opting for long-term contracts with locked in prices.
