Filed under: Gaming

No need to phone in the shock police — you had to know this was coming. After all, what kind of stockholder-pleasing company would Nintendo be if it wasn’t already thinking about how to top the Wii? According to information in a recent Forbes piece surveying the field of gaming consoles, Nintendo is “already working on the Wii’s successor.” President Satoru Iwata shared that the Big N was “always preparing for the next hardware,” though it would be unwise to expect said hardware anytime soon. With Wii consoles still hard (or at least not “easy“) to come by in some locales, we’d say Nintendo is in no hurry to move beyond its current cash cow. Still, even Iwata admits that it “will be difficult” to exceed expectations now that the Wii has proven so successful. Not really, though — throw in high-def support and you’ve got an entirely more lovable machine.

[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

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Filed under: Cellphones

Germany wanted $6.2 million in research subsidies back from Nokia, and in addition to the “tens of millions” that the company has already relinquished after the highly-disputed Bochum plant closing, it’ll be coughing up another €1.3 million ($2.04 million) to hopefully close the door on the matter. Said payment will be addressed to North Rhine-Westphalia, which was quite angry after the handset maker decided to hack 2,300 jobs from Germany and relocate operations to Romania for “lower labor costs.” The sum here is in addition to the €20 million “Growth for Bochum” foundation that the outfit started, but apparently that show of goodwill didn’t really change the hearts of those already bitter.

[Via PhoneScoop, image courtesy of Reuters]

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Filed under: Cellphones

So Palm, what exactly have you been up to lately? Besides pumping out that tired, ho hum 800w, of course. The snoopers over at monoNews went and dug through your latest 10-K filing, and it seems as if that noteworthy Elevation Partners deal wasn’t the only agreement you were wrapped up in during the past little while. As a matter of fact, we’re seeing that during February of 2007, you “acquired the assets of two sole proprietorships [at a cost of $19.2 million] focused on mobile computing and media devices, one a developer of user interface environments and the other a developer of email software applications.” Oh, and in October of last year, you “acquired substantially all of the assets [for $500,000] of a corporation focused on developing solutions to enhance the performance of web applications.” Curiously, you nonchalantly failed to mention any names, but it’s pretty clear that those new pick-ups weren’t utilized in the last 16 months or so.

[Via mocoNews, image courtesy of DayLife]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Wireless, Networking

So we waffled on whether to go with a sad Moto or happy Moto face, but as we’ve stated in the past, we suppose we’ll keep on keepin’ on with the former until something marvelous happens. Nearly four months to the day after Motorola split in two, along comes word that the separated home and networks division will now be segmented into three distinct units: broadband home solutions, broadband access solutions and cellular networks. According to a statement put out by the firm, the “organizational change will ensure that home and networks mobility remains agile, focused and ideally aligned to realize its growth potential,” which is about as canned a statement as you could ever hope for. We’ve heard that three’s company, but who knows how it’ll play out here.

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Gateway, long known for its (once) very active direct sales model, is continuing to morph as it attempts to revitalize itself. The most recent strategic change is pretty remarkable — the outfit is completely and thoroughly ditching the aforesaid direct sales model. From here on out, prospective customers will only be able to snag a Gateway PC from retailers, e-tailers and other channel partners. According to the official verbiage, the change will deliver “significant cost savings, ultimately resulting in an improved value proposition for consumers.” This all seems to have quite a bit to do with the recent Acer acquisition, with Mark Hill, Acer Group US General Manager, stating that Gateway is “shifting its distribution method to better align with Acer’s successful global strategy, which was built upon an indirect model.” At this point, we suppose it can’t hurt to give it a whirl.

[Via Electronista, image courtesy of The New York Times]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Details are scarce right now, but you can make of it what you will. Sprint hasn’t been in the best of situations since it acquired Nextel in 2005, and while this move may not be seen by everyone as definitively negative, it certainly is questionable. The flagging carrier sold off “nearly all” (around 3,300) of its wireless communication towers to TowerCo for some $670 million in cash. According to Sprint Nextel’s Bob Azzi, the move to lease rather than own these network facilities will enable it to “better focus on its core business of providing communications services to consumers, businesses and government customers.” He continued by noting that the transaction “provides Sprint Nextel with additional liquidity [for] greater flexibility in managing the company.” Whatever you say, sir.

[Via InformationWeek]

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Filed under: Laptops

MSI has been pretty successful with the Wind, wouldn’t you say? Yeah, so would LG. Reportedly, LG is hoping to solicit MSI’s services in order to craft its own X110 netbook. The mini laptop will purportedly boast an 8.9-inch panel, 120GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM and Windows XP runnin’ the show. Interestingly, the price is expected to hover between $625 and $790 as it focuses on “design and material quality” rather than low cost. Anxious to see how that move plays out, aren’t you?

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Back in May, TiVo’s VP of product marketing got all of our hopes up that the next announcement involving it and Amazon would include HD Unbox content. As you can very clearly see, this is most certainly not the case. Instead, we have the immense pleasure of informing internet-connected Series2, Series3 and TiVo HD owners that they can now buy wares from Amazon without leaving their couch. If browsing through Amazon’s extraordinarily huge store with just a remote sounds appealing to you, you’re in luck (and mildly insane). Also of note, the new Product Purchase feature will enable advertisers to “market products sold through Amazon on any broadcast or cable network, any TV show, or via any of TiVo’s extensive interactive advertising features.” In other words, next time you see Dwight using that iconic shredder, you can buy that bad boy right then and there. Take that, Staples.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Don’t say the writing wasn’t already littering the walls, because it was. Just months after AMD hacked its workforce by 10% and let its CTO walk away without being replaced, the company’s second CEO after Jerry Sanders has spent his last day in AMD’s biggest corner office. Hector Ruiz has decided to walk away from his role in the flagging outfit, leaving his right hand man (that would be Dirk Meyer) to take over whatever there is to take over. Of note, Mr. Ruiz will still have ties with the company as he remains on its board of directors as “executive chairman,” though it’s hard to say how much influence he’ll have from there. Really though, what’s next?

[Thanks, nehemoth]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We highly doubt Art Lebedev chose the opening day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on purpose here, but nevertheless, the design studio made famous by its Optimus Maximus keyboard will be opening up shop in the Big Apple on August 8th, 2008. At first, the store will actually be held within RCS Computer Experience at 575 Madison Ave. and E. 56th Street (on the second floor, just opposite the escalator), but if sales start pouring in, we reckon it could land its own place in due time. It is noted that this location will devote almost all of its shelf space to Optimus Maximus keyboards, but a few other electronics gizmos should be available as well. So, who’s camping out for the opening?

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

So yeah, apparently that whole attempt to “streamline operations” back in April didn’t go over so well, as Syntax-Brillian — you know, that firm neck deep in panel partnerships and responsible for Olevia HDTVs — has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Arizona-based company has also “entered into a deal to sell certain of its assets to a newly created company called Olevia International Group LLC,” which has agreed to pick up some $60 million of its secured debt. We’re also told that operations in Tempe have ceased, and “about eight employees” (including the finance chief, general counsel and finance staff) are sticking around with nothing better to do.

[Thanks, Paul]

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Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

There’s always that guy (or girl) who dominates meetings, saying the same thing over and over again, or just repeats what others say. We all find it annoying, and we all wish there was some way to make that blabbermouth aware of his (or her) social transgressions. Enter the Reflect table. Reflect monitors conversations and visualizes — literally — who has the table using an array of color LEDs. Microphones listen to all the talk and show who is currently talking, who talks the most, and who’s being left out. This could be great for business meetings to tone down the “thinking outside the box,” but could also be a terrifying ordeal on a first date.

[Via MAKE]

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Filed under: Robots

Just think — Zappos has been shipping out shoes .9284 minutes after you order them for years with mere humans running the show. Now, your new kicks will likely be at your doorstep moments after you think of ordering them. Said e-tailer has just completed implementation of Kiva Systems’ Mobile Fulfillment System, which will see “a fleet of Kiva’s mobile robotic drive units and inventory storage pods” hit the company’s Shepherdsville, Kentucky facility. The move is being made to keep its distribution system in tip-top shape even with the addition of new products outside of just footwear, and unless some of those mechs grow a mind of their own, we’d say things should pan out just fine.

[Via CNET]

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Filed under: Laptops

Just a few months ago, we were all checking out Maxdata’s Belinea s.book 1 Mini-Note and expecting huge, just huge things from the company. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find those hopes and dreams essentially smashed. According a post on the outfit’s website, it has “filed for insolvency proceedings at the Local Court in Essen due to pending illiquidity.” Maxdata blames the “high pressure of competition and the immense fall in prices in the IT industry” as the primary reasons for its downfall, and it also makes note that a restructuring effort that launched in 2006 was ineffective (you think?). As it stands, management is now attempting to continue business “with the support of the insolvency administrator, securing as many jobs as possible” and retaining the Maxdata / Belinea brands. Good luck out there, it’s a long climb back to the top base.

[Thanks, Jari]

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Filed under: Cellphones

Not like we were really suspecting any issues or anything, but the European Commission has just made public its “unconditional approval” of Nokia’s “voluntary tender offer for all the shares in Trolltech ASA.” In other words, Nokia’s acquisition of Trolltech is officially complete, with today being the final day in which the latter company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Such a cute couple, don’t you think?

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Filed under: Cellphones

Not like we were really suspecting any issues or anything, but the European Commission has just made public its “unconditional approval” of Nokia’s “voluntary tender offer for all the shares in Trolltech ASA.” In other words, Nokia’s acquisition of Trolltech is officially complete, with today being the final day in which the latter company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Such a cute couple, don’t you think?

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Filed under: Cellphones

Not like we were really suspecting any issues or anything, but the European Commission has just made public its “unconditional approval” of Nokia’s “voluntary tender offer for all the shares in Trolltech ASA.” In other words, Nokia’s acquisition of Trolltech is officially complete, with today being the final day in which the latter company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Such a cute couple, don’t you think?

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Famed chip maker Intel is doing more than just buying up Renewable Energy Certificates like they’re going out of style. It’s cranking things up with a spin-off outfit that will soon be creating photovoltaic cells for solar module makers. Intel Capital is pouring some $50 million into SpectraWatt Inc., and it’s being joined by Cogentrix Energy, PCG Clean Energy and Technology Fund and Solon AG. Aside from making that dough, the new company will also “concentrate development efforts on improvements in current manufacturing processes and capabilities to reduce the cost of photovoltaic energy generation,” and if everything goes smoothly, it should break ground on its manufacturing and development facility in Oregon in 2H 2008 (with product shipping in mid-2009).

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

It’s not like Acer’s Gianfranco Lanci (shown right) was hurtin’ for cash — after all, the guy was (and still is) president of the company — but there’s just nothing quite like slapping “and CEO” on the end of said title. Approved by the outfit’s Board of Directors today, Mr. Lanci has been promoted to Chairman, while the previous CEO, J.T. Wang, will serve as Acer Group CEO. From what we can tell, there’s no hard feelings about any of the moves, and c’mon, it is nice to move from one corner office to another every now and then, you know?

[Via PCWorld]

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Filed under: Cellphones

Verizon has certainly courted Alltel before, but this time, the two could finally be rounding third base. According to a breaking report at CNBC, Verizon is “in deep in talks to acquire Alltel,” which of course is America’s fifth largest wireless carrier. It’s no secret that Alltel has been riding fairly high of late, and unless your memory is totally shot, you’ll likely recall that it was just recently “taken private by TPG and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners in a $27.5 billion deal.” Not surprisingly, officials at both outfits refused to comment on the rumblings, but if this does indeed go down, analysts are expecting Verizon to pay around 8x Alltel’s current EBITDA, whereas TPG / Goldman Sachs paid 9.2x. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

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