Author: Ultra Slacker

Posted on

Unauthorized Cell Phone Unlocking becomes Illegal Starting Today.

Starting January 26, 2013 unlocking cell phone without carrier authorization is illegal under DMCA in the United States. Any handsets purchased before this day can still be unlocked without violating DMCA.

T-Mobile released a statement regarding the issue.

T-Mobile recommends customers contact the device manufacturer or AT&T directly to request the unlock code for their device. Customers would then purchase a SIM card, select a T-Mobile SIM card only Value plan that suits their needs and T-Mobile will help the customer configure their device for its network. T-Mobile offers step-by-step instructions at retail and on the T-Mobile customer support forums online.

Posted on

Google Currents 2.0

Google Currents 2.0

What’s New in Version 2.0

  • Edition sidebar – quickly access your editions within categories such as business, sports, etc.
  • Fast scan – Vertical swipe to scan an edition, horizontal swipe advances to next edition
  • Breaking stories – ranked by Google News. Links to full length content.
  • Saved stories – star for future reference
  • New catalog design

IMG_1355

Posted on

Belkin to acquire Linksys from Cisco

Belkin announced its intention to acquire Cisco’s Home Networking Business Unit including Linksys brand.

Specific financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed. The transaction is subject to various standard closing conditions and is expected to close in March 2013.

Can Belkin save Linksys brand?

Annecdotaly we  have been watching the decline in quality of Linksys products for the past several years. We purchased quite a few units of Linksys Wi-Fi Router E3200 for the past two years and witnessed every single one of them failed one after another.

Posted on

Apple Earnings FY 2013 Q1: Mac Sales

Captain Obvious knows that Wall Street investors and analysts are irrational. That’s because they are greedy, stupid or both. As a matter of fact, they are acting like white-collar criminals if they have not  become ones already. Apple stock (AAPL) is sure taking the pummeling after Apple revealed its quarterly earning results.

From Apple PR:

The Company sold 4.1 million Macs, compared to 5.2 million in the year-ago quarter.

Mac sales are down year-over-year and it is attributed to the availability of new iMacs which did not become available until November 30, 2012. Apple announced new iMac lines during its October 23, 2012 special event. Between October 23 and November 30, 2012 iMac lines were unavailable on Apple’s own online store. This greatly reduced the number of iMac sold.

Apple iMac December 2012 Tweet

It doesn’t take a financial analyst or investor to figure this out.

Posted on

Apple Reports Fiscal Year 2013 First Quarter Results

From Apple PR:

47.8 Million iPhones Sold; 22.9 Million iPads Sold

CUPERTINO, California—January 23, 2013—Apple® today announced financial results for its 13-week fiscal 2013 first quarter ended December 29, 2012. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $54.5 billion and record quarterly net profit of $13.1 billion, or $13.81 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $46.3 billion and net profit of $13.1 billion, or $13.87 per diluted share, in the 14-week year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 38.6 percent compared to 44.7 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 61 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Note that Fiscal Year 2013 First Quarter is a 13-week quarter compared to 14-week quarter of Fiscal Year 2012 First Quarter.

The Company sold a record 47.8 million iPhones in the quarter, compared to 37 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold a record 22.9 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 15.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 4.1 million Macs, compared to 5.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 12.7 million iPods in the quarter, compared to 15.4 million in the year-ago quarter.

Apple was expected to sell less Macs because new iMacs were missing in action for the first 2 months of the quarter.In addition to that supplies of new iMacs were constrained. As of January 23, 2013 iMac ship times is at 2-3 weeks, indicating either increasing demand or supply constraints; or both. Sales of iPods follow the downward trend as sales of iPads increase.

Proudly powered by WordPress