Category Archives: Tech News

Lenovo buys IBM

Lenovo Group Ltd. (992 ▲2.75% 10.46) buys International Business Machines Corp. (IBM ▼-1.20% 187.81)’s low-end server business.

Lenovo will pay $2.07 billion in cash and the rest with stock of the Beijing-based PC maker, the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong exchange on Thursday.

The acquisition will allow Lenovo to diversify revenue away from the shrinking PC business and remodel itself as a growing force in mobile devices and data storage servers. Analysts said Lenovo will likely find it easier than International Business Machines (IBM) to sell the x86 servers to Chinese companies as Beijing tries to localise its IT purchases in the wake of revelations about U.S. surveillance.

Samsung profits decline – should we be worried?

Samsung’s profits declined with a reduced operating profit of 8.3 trillion won (roughly $7.7 billion) on a record 59.28 trillion won ($54.95 billion) of revenue. That’s an 18 percent profit decline since last quarter. However, according to Samsung, the dip wasn’t due to weaker smartphone sales: the company says its smartphones sold well and its tablet sales actually doubled thanks to the company’s latest additions to the Galaxy Tab lineup.

Samsung does say that its marketing budget ballooned a bit during the holiday season, but apparently that’s not the main reason that profits fell. The company primarily blames a negative currency impact of 700 billion won ($649 million) for the decline, and a one-off expense (reportedly special employee bonuses for the 20th anniversary of the company’s “new management” strategy”) for 800 billion won ($741 million) more.

Samsung also says that an oversupplied TV panel market hurt its bottom line, even though Samsung’s own Smart TVs and 60+ inch TVs did better than before. Combined with appliances, the company’s Visual Display and Digital Appliances business made 88 percent more profit than in the previous quarter. On the display panel side, though, Samsung says it’s planning to expand its OLED business into mass-market smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices in the future. The company’s also working on a bendable TV, a smartphone with a wraparound display, and plans to go “back to basics” with its next flagship Galaxy.

So should we be worried. Short answer no. Samsung is still raking in the money. However, the new iPhones released by Apple in September 2013 did hurt Samsung’s bottom line, and Apple’s launch into China won’t help matters. But whichever way you cut it, Samsung is still making a lot of money. It really needs the Samsung S5 to sell millions and I am sure it will but competition is all over the place, so maybe it just won’t sell as many as it would like.

Apple aiming to revolutionise payment systems – but will it succeed?

The Wall Street Journal reported details of an Apple patent illustration for a touchless mobile payment system. | Source: USPTO
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports Apple CEO Tim Cook and SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue met with technology industry leaders to discuss a possible mobile payments system rollout.

In addition Apple has asked executive Jennifer Bailey to build out an in-company payment business. Bailey was previously in charge of running the company’s online stores. Apple is a late-comer to the mobile payments game as rival Google has been experimenting with so-called e-wallet technology for some time. In some implementations, Android handsets carry NFC technology that, in concert with Google Wallet, allow for touchless payments at supported POS systems. Despite early efforts and proliferation of smart devices that would serve as optimal platforms for the tech, a clear market frontrunner has yet to emerge.

With its various online properties, like iTunes and the Online Apple Store, Apple would have a huge installed customer base if it were to roll out a payments system. The sheer volume of credit cards on file would go a long way in convincing retailers to adopt an Apple-branded solution.

BUT.

Unlike Google, Apple has a lot smaller number of users with iPhones, mainly due to the high costs, whereas android handsets are abundant. So would retailers be willing to implement a system that will only work on a single operating system? Maybe in the USA where iPhones are more prolific.

What’s your view?

Brando Shopping – Screen Protection – review

Brando Shopping sell a range of screen protection, from the classic screen protector to Tempered Glass Protector.

Brando Workshop 0.2mm Premium Tempered Glass Protector, is designed 33% slimmer yet still provides extremely high protection for your phone display screen. It really is super slim design and offers the LCD a “nude” yet durable protection. Tempered glass protects LCD from scratches, shock or any kind of damages while maintaining touch screen’s sensitivity. It is extremely easy to install, no residue if removed. The ultimate screen protector for your LCD.

Brando Shopping also provide a range of ultra clear protectors and mirrored style too. I’ve used their screen protectors for over 10 years on so many devices I’ve lost count.

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The tempered glass protector is shown above fitted to my Note 3 but if you look at the bottom left hand side it looks like I left smudges. I had several attempts at installing this to get it straight, but I am still keeping this one fitted as in use with the screen on you don’t notice it. I have had no issues with S-Pen either. Superb idea.

At some point in the future I will fit the ultra clear protector by Brando, but based on my earlier devices these have always worked a treat.

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Brando Shopping – Short Lightning Cable review

Brando Shopping sell a short lightning cable which is ideal when you don’t won’t long lengths of cable getting in the way. I so prefer this shorter length of cable.

Features
USB 2.0
Lightning Connector
Useful / fashion / convenient and durable
Charge and sync at the same time
Designed for iPhone 5s
Perfect for travel
Length: 21.5cm long
Weight: 4 grams

Compatible Models
iPad Air
iPad mini with Retina display
iPad 4
iPad Mini
iPhone 5
iPhone 5c
iPhone 5s
iPod Touch 5G

Available from Brando Shopping

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