Kindle Fire popularity is hurting profits

Over the Christmas shopping season one of the most popular gifts of the tech sort were eReaders like the Amazon Kindle line. Amazon reportedly sold more than a million Kindle's in a single year. The problem with selling a huge number of the Kindle Fire tablet is that Amazon takes a bit of a loss on each one it sells.

The Fire sells for $199 and costs them about $202 to make. The fact that big sales of the Fire add up to a loss has Goldman Sachs hinting that Amazon might miss its sales estimates for Q4. The stock has fallen 4%, talk about going broke making money.

The saving grace here could be the fact that Amazon is hoping taking a bit of a loss on the Kindle Fire will add up to big sales on the backend as the users start to consume lots of content. The Fire was the best selling product on the Amazon mobile site during the holidays. Amazon didn't split Fire sales out, but confirmed it had sold more than one million Kindles a week in December.

 

LG Display has announced that it will be unveiling the world's largest OLED TV screen at the 2012 CES show that kicks off in a week or so. The new screen is huge with 55-inch measurement. The screen is also very thin at 5mm making it take up little space on the TV or the wall. The OLED screen will be very bright and will be able to react to signals 1000 times faster than LCDs for a very smooth image.

The new panel will use an oxide TFT technology backplane that is different from the LTPS backplane that older OLED screens use. This makes the production of the screens easier and cheaper. It should lead to cheaper TVs using OLED screens as well.

The LG screen will use white OLED tech. This tech vertically accumulates red, green, and blue diodes. This allows for a lower error rate, higher productivity, and clearer screen definition. There is no word on what the screen will cost the end user.

Rumor are flowing that at CES 2012 in a month we will see some new smartphones land from some major mobile industry players like Sprint, Samsung and Intel. The new handset that is rumored to be debuting from Sprint, Samsung, and Intel is said to be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. I would wager that we would see a bunch of new ICS smartphones at the show.

The smartphone from Samsung is said to be powered by an Intel processor. That will be interesting; Intel processors are generally avoided because they consume too much power for small portable devices. The phone is said to be coming to the Sprint network.

I would expect that the majority of the high-end smartphones we see at CES 2012 would be powered by the new quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. I can see Samsung as a maker for a high-end smartphone debuting a new processor, but the Sprint network as the carrier seems a bit of a stretch to me.

Guess you better get a new phone

Samsung has confirmed that it will not be releasing Android 4.0 to any of its phones under the Galaxy S brand, which was once heralded as its most prestigious smartphone line.
The newest version of Android, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, seems to be a much more restrictive update than previous ones, as manufacturers have been dodgy about solidifying any update plans.

Samsung blamed the fact that its Galaxy S phones run an interface called Touchwiz, which eats up  more RAM than other Android phones and would make it impossible to run the RAM-intensive Ice Cream Sandwich.

The Galaxy S brand isn't exactly old. Last year, it was the epitome of Android and became the platform of choice for some 10 million customers.

It is another reason to criticize custom Android skins, like Touchwiz, which are nothing more than data-gobbling ways for manufacturers to make their Android phones look different from competitors, when the default Android interface is perfectly fine for most users.

Samsung isn't the only one; HTC also runs a proprietary interface on its phones essentially just for the purpose of it distinguishing them as HTC phones.

Nevertheless, that's the speed of technology these days. On the flip side, Samsung has previously confirmed it plans to bring Ice Cream Sandwich to its Galaxy S II handsets.

 

Not by number of players, but by player-voted quality

In case you haven't had enough of the year-end lists of what was big in technology for 2011, here's another one.
Facebook has revealed what it claims are the top Facebook games of the year, but they aren't based on the numbers you would expect.

If you thought games like Farmville or Words With Friends made the top of the list, believe it or not you'd be wrong. Although those are the kinds of titles that get all the media attention, Facebook users are happier spending their time on other titles.

Case in point - the #1 game, as rated by users, is Gardens of Time. From publisher Playdonm, Gardens of Time is the epitome of casual games - it's a "hidden object game" with an interesting background storyline. It is perhaps more fitting for a #1 spot because of its highly casual nature. Games like those from Zynga are a bit more complex and may intimidate some Facebook users.

However, at #2 is a much more involved game - The Sims Social. Drawing on its massive license appeal, the Facebook version of EA's life simulation game has made great inroads on Facebook over the last year.

Zynga finally comes into the list at #3, with Cityville. The company then manages to take three of the next five, with Indiana Jones Adventure World at #5, Words with Friends at #6, and Empires & Allies at #8.

It should be noted these numbers are not based on number of players; instead, they're actually meant to represent the "best" games.

Scores are calculated by looking at games "with more than 100,000 monthly active users and giving priority to those games with the highest user satisfaction scores. The result is a list of the games that received the most user recommendations in 2011," said Facebook.

Here's the complete top 10:

1. Gardens of Time (Playdom)
2. The Sims Social (EA)
3. Cityville (Zynga)
4. DoubleDown Casino (DoubleDown Interactive)
5. Indiana Jones Adventure World (Zynga)
6. Words With Friends (Zynga)
7. Bingo Blitz (Buffalo Studios)
8. Empires & Allies (Zynga)
9. Slotomania-Slot Machines (Playtika)
10. Diamond Dash (wooga)

 

Schweppes Cover Quenches Facebook Timeline Thirst

The beverage industry is seizing the opportunities presented by Facebook’s new timeline profile, as Schweppes followed Mountain Dew’s lead by launching an application to help users create their cover images. The app, created by social media marketing age......read more

The Spy Net Video Watch is available at Walmart for $45.54.

It is that time of year again time to get together with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season. It’s a great time of year to see loved ones we may not get to see all the time. It is also a fun time to buy special gifts for the people you care about. If you have a want to be spy then this cool Spy Net Video Watch may just be the perfect gift for you to give this year.

The Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch is a gadget that is loaded with many fun features for children. Featuring a working video camera and microphone, your child will feel as though he is a secret agent on a covert mission with this video spy watch. It not only has the ability to record audio and video, it also takes pictures. The videos and photographs can be viewed on its 1.4 TFT screen. You can also transfer them to a computer using the included USB cable. This video spy watch with onboard memory provides hours of entertainment as it includes a rechargeable battery. It is also a functional watch that provides the date and time and includes an alarm feature.

The Spy Net Video Watch is available at Walmart for $45.54.

Find more Holiday 2011 Gift ideas in our huge Holiday Gift Guide for 2011. We will continuously add new hot gift tips until Christmas in our Holiday Gift Guide hub. Make sure to also check out our Black Friday 2011 Hub for the best deals during the Holiday Shopping Season.

Technology news

The holiday shopping season is upon us. It seems like we just finished getting ready for Christmas 2010 and here we are again with the latest holiday season ready to spring. Stores are already selling holiday decorations and counting down the days until Christmas, less than two months away.

If you are like me it's time to start getting your Christmas gifts purchased so you can sit back and enjoy the rest of your holiday. One of the top gifts this holiday season will be a new eReader. If you aren't sure what to get someone on your shopping list that enjoys reading and surfing the web some of the latest eReaders will do both.

You need to be sure and order the highly anticipated models like the Kindle Fire early because odds are there will be a shortage. Read on for my list of the top five eReaders for the Christmas season 2011. Any of these readers will be a great choice of people on your shopping list, or even as a holiday treat for yourself!


1. Kindle Fire - This is hands down my pick for the most popular and best eReader of the year. The Kindle Fire hasn't shipped yet and this is likely to be one of the most difficult to find gadgets around this season. You can pre-order the Fire right now for $199, though you might not get the tablet before Christmas at this point. The Fire will connect to the Amazon digital bookstore to buy books and it is a fully fledged 7-inch Android tablet supporting apps, gaming, and more. It has a dual-core processor and promises a lot more than reading alone.

2. Kindle Touch - If the Kindle Fire is too much for your budget and you want to find a tablet that will be available in more quality the Kindle Touch is worth a look. This black and white touchscreen device can show graphics from the books and more. It will ship later this month and you can pre-order it for $99 with ads. If you or the person you give it too doesn't like the ads, they can be removed for an additional fee. The ad-free version is $139.

3. iPad 2 - I can guarantee you that if you put the iPad 2 in any form under the tree this year you will make someone very happy. This is hands down the best tablet on the market and will connect to the Apple digital bookstore. I have used that digital bookstore extensively and it has a huge amount of different books for you to choose from. The iPad 2 will also allow you to download game apps and a lot more as well as surf the web and check email. This is a fantastic gift even though it's not cheap at about $500 for the base version.

4. Nook Color - The Nook Color is a very nice eReader that connects to the Barnes & Noble digital bookstore. This bookstore has plenty of titles to choose from. The Nook Color has a nice 7-inch color touchscreen and you can use the tablet to surf the web, play games, and listen to music as well. The Color has integrated WiFi and the tablet runs Android making it a very hackable little device.

5. Kindle - This is the 6-inch black and white eReader that started the eReader market back up. This is one of the most basic eReaders on the market, but it is also one of the cheapest quality eReaders. You have to be wary of buying off brand readers that might sell for less than the $79 ad-supported price of the Kindle. The ads are removable for a fee and this eReader has access to the packed Amazon digital bookstore. This eReader has WiFi integrated and you can use it to borrow books from a public library that supports that.

To read more tech new visit: http://www.i4u.com/

With purchase of this notebook you will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift card.

The Samsung NP300V5A-A03 is available at Amazon for $479.99.

It is that time of year again, time for the Christmas season to begin. It is a special time of year when we come together with family and friends to celebrate the meaning of the season. It is also a fun time of year when we can give the people we care about gifts to show how much they mean to us. If you know someone who is looking for a notebook this Samsung NP300V5A-A03 may be the perfect choice. Plus with the purchase of this notebook you get a $50 Amazon gift card to keep for yourself or give as a gift.

From students to social networking enthusiasts, home office to the kitchen table, the Samsung Series 3 laptop was designed to keep you connected, entertained, and looking stylish. Offering a seamless blend of style and capability, this model (NP300V5A-A03US) features a 15.6-inch high-def display, a generous 500 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of installed RAM for excellent multitasking. It's powered by a second-generation Intel Core i3 dual-core processor ("Sandy Bridge"), which provides breakthrough digital media management, content creation, and 3D gaming capabilities. And you'll enjoy a rich set of new features for a stunning and seamless visual PC experience with no additional hardware. It comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. This is a great gift idea be sure and buy yours today.

The Samsung notebook NP300V5A-A03 is available at Amazon for $479.99.

Find more Holiday 2011 Gift ideas in our huge Holiday Gift Guide for 2011. We will continuously add new hot gift tips until Christmas in our Holiday Gift Guide hub. Make sure to also check out our Black Friday 2011 Hub for the best deals during the Holiday Shopping Season.

To read more technology news visit: http://www.i4u.com/

Real record inserts for the vinyl fans out there

If you are the music loving sort that enjoys things that are a bit retro, you will want to check out the new case for the iPhone 4S from Griffin. The case is called the Third Man and it has a back cut from a real vinyl record. The record is cut from a 7-inch single and you can see the label on the record as well.


The outside of the case is made from a molded plastic material that comes in white, yellow, or black colors. The molded material on the edge of the case has cut outs for all of the controls and ports on the iPhone. The records are real records too.

The white vinyl record is The White Stripes "Candy Cane Children," the black case has the record from The Raconteurs "Steady, As She Goes." The yellow case is from The Dead Weather and is called "Treat Me Like Your Mother." Each of the cases is $29.95 and the inserts can be changed. A complete set of inserts is $19.99...read more

 

With the bundle you get your choice of DVD systems, bag, and headphones.

The assorted dual screen portable DVD players are available at Walmart starting from $59.98.

It is the Christmas season time to get serious about your plans. It is a special time to be with family and friends and celebrate the meaning of the season. It is also a wonderful time of year when we can buy the people we care about special gifts to show how much we care. If you know someone who is looking for dual portable DVD players then these assorted dual screen portable DVD players may be the perfect gift.

Play two movies at once or one movie on two screens perfect for family travel! The Sylvania dual DVD players actually consist of two 7" portable DVD players to let passengers indulge in enjoying their own DVD movies and music on the road when used as car DVD players. The mounting kits make installation faster and easier, too. The Sylvania 7" Dual Screen Portable DVD Player features two screens and all the cables you need to entertain the whole back seat. The 7" widescreen TFT LCD screens and mounting cables fit perfectly on the back of your car's headrests. This would make a great gift for someone on your Christmas list.

The assorted dual screen portable DVD players are available at Walmart starting from $59.98.

Find more Holiday 2011 Gift ideas in our huge Holiday Gift Guide for 2011. We will continuously add new hot gift tips until Christmas in our Holiday Gift Guide hub. Make sure to also check out our Black Friday 2011 Hub for the best deals during the Holiday Shopping Season.

 

Massive OLED HDTV may debut at CES

One of the things I always like to check out at CES is the TV section. You can count on the cool new set rolling out at CES each year. Samsung is rumored to have a very interesting OLED TV set coming to CES 2012. The TV is supposed to be a gigantic OLED screen beast measuring 55-inches.
I don’t even want to think how much that set would cost. The price of OLED screens has fallen a lot in the last few years since the tiny 20-inch sets were selling for well over $1000. The TVs are said to start shipping in Q2 2012.
There are no firm details on the sets at this time. We already know that OLED screens have much better Color than normal LCDs and are much thinner than normal LCDs as well. I'm betting these sets will be very expensive though.