Monthly Archives: December 2009

Report: ULV Laptops Will Slow Netbook Sales

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For as long as netbooks have existed, people have been buying more and more of them. More than 33.3 million netbooks will have shipped by year’s end, amounting to a 103 percent increase over last year. Revenue will be up about 72 percent indicating some price cuts. But according to DisplaySearch, as laptops with ultra low voltage (ULV) CPUs become cheaper, netbook sales will slow considerably.

They project netbook shipments to only grow by about 20 percent next year. Still, the situation can’t be bad when 20 percent growth is a big drop. As ULV laptops creep below $500, consumers will begin purchasing them in larger numbers. ULV computers have similarly good battery life, but better performance than netbooks running Atom chips.

The report also suggests that the uptick in ULV sales will likely mean manufacturers will take a revenue hit of only 1% or so. While netbooks will remain big sellers, they probably won’t have another year like 2009.

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Chrome OS May Become Hackers’ Favorite Prey in 2010, Says McAfee

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Google's Chrome OS has garnered a lot of attention in recent times. Early glimpses, however, don't quite justify the hype. Many tech savants have already written off the operating system as nothing more than a sexed up browser. However, it is still a little early for obituaries as Google may have a trump hiding up its sleeve. McAfee is one company that acknowledges the possibility of Chrome OS living up to all the hype.

According to  its latest report titled "2010 Threat Predictions,"the operating system may become a prime target for hackers in the eventuality of it becoming rife. The security company fears that Chrome OS's dependence on HTML5 - allows web apps both online and offline access to a user's PC - will endear it to hackers. "When a technology is widely used and adopted, the bad guys will latch onto it before the good guys do,"said McAfee's director of security research, David Marcus. McAfee also expects the popularity of Adobe software among hackers to soar to such levels that it may become the most targeted application software in 2010.

The report had a word of caution for users of social networking sites as well. They might become more vulnerable in the new year as such sites come under increased attack. The report specifically mentioned the use of URL-shortening services in spreading malicious links through the social web.

Nexus One Pricing Details Leak Out?

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It looks like the pricing details for the Nexus One Android phone have been leaked. Gizmodo is reporting that the handset will indeed be sold by Google, unlocked for $530. T-Mobile will subsidize the phone down to $180 with a two year contract, but it will still be sold through Google. So clearly, Google will not be selling the phone at cost or giving it away as some had speculated. This bit isn’t all that surprising, assuming the information is correct.

What is strange are some of the rules for purchase. First, there’s only one plan, the $39.99 Even More + Text + Web for $79.99 total cost. If you are on a family plan, Flexpay, SmartAccess, or KidConnect plan, you must purchase the phone for the full $530 unsubsidized price. Only 5 Nexus One phones can be purchased per Google account. Not that that would stop you from making more accounts. Weirdly, you also have to acknowledge in the terms of sale that the phone is made by HTC, not Google.

Finally, if you opt for the subsidy and cancel the account before 120 days have elapsed, you have to pay the difference between the subsidized and unsubsidized price. If that isn’t workable, you can return the phone to Google. This charge is authorized at the time of purchase. If these details turn out to be accurate, are you interested? More importantly, do you buy that this is the real deal pricing?

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Time Warner Cable Might Lose Fox Stations in Dispute Over Fees

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For the last two decades, cable companies haven’t paid so-called retransmission fees to over the air broadcasters. In return, the broadcasters have received prime locations on cable systems. With the recent decline in ad revenues, that’s seeming like a less favorable arrangement for the likes of Fox. News Corp (owner of Fox and associated channels) is now going after Time Warner Cable demanding those fees be paid. If Time Warner doesn’t relent by week’s end, News Corp plans to pull their content from Time Warner’s system.

News Corp owns 27 stations including Fox, FX, and National Geographic. The fees would likely cost Time Warner about $1 per subscriber each month. The cost would likely be passed on to customers. However, Time Warner has thus far refused to pay up, triggering an ad war. Both sides have started running opposing ads designed to get customers riled up.

The whole thing feels like another attempt by Rupert Murdoch to extract more value from his existing properties. “We realize this is going to be a tough challenge, but we’re determined to take a leadership position in creating an economic template for the future,” Murdoch recently said to investors.

The tide has been turning this way in recent years, but most broadcasters only get pennies per subscriber. CBS reportedly struck deal with Time Warner for about $.50 per subscriber. The demands from News Corp are substantial by comparison. Who’s in the right here? Do you think they’ll reach a deal at the last minute; is someone just bluffing?

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T-Mobile Internally Confirms Google Phone’s Early January Launch

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With not many days to go for Nexus One's rumored January 5 release, it is quite natural for the tech rumor mill to be in overdrive. T-Mobile has internally confirmed its involvement in Google's foray into the handset market, says a TmoNews report. However, the carrier was careful not to mention the phone's name. An internal T-Mobile USA support page is said to read: “Google... is scheduled to launch a new Android device in early January.”

The document reportedly goes on to state that T-Mobile will only be managing “billing, coverage, features and rate plans,” with Google and HTC directly handling support. In another relevant development, albeit a more significant and credible one, Google today scheduled a special Android press event for Jan 5 at its global headquarters.