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☆ Microsoft’s Cloud Doesn’t Quite Cover All
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Demand for Windows operating-system software has fallen with sales of the personal computers that use it. Microsoft ’s latest results are like a blast from the past—and not in a good way. The software titan has come a long way from the days when it depended on its ubiquitous Windows operating system. But it is still a lucrative business—enough so that a slump in personal computer sales can weigh on Microsoft’s financial results. And a slump this is; IDC reported earlier this month that PC unit sales slid 28% year over year during the December quarter—the biggest drop tracked by the market research firm’s numbers going at least back to 2015.

☆ Deutsche Bank downgrades Logitech, says computer and video businesses won't fare well in tough economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Logitech 's stock should fall tougher economic conditions hit personal computer and video spending, Deutsche Bank said Friday. Brown also lowered his price target by CHF14 to CHF54, which presents a downside of 4.7% over Thursday's close. The stock is down nearly 9% so far in 2023, even as the broader market has turned up to start the year. Industry research data IDC's PC tracker showed personal computer shipments were down 28% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with the same period a year prior. To be sure, Logitech sales have a historically low correlation to personal computer shipments, but Brown warned the correlation is growing stronger as the broader economic worsens.

☆ Assassin's Creed maker Ubisoft sinks to more than seven-year low after slashing guidance, cancelling games
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The stock has since pared losses slightly and was last trading at around 20 euros, down 16% from the Wednesday close. In a trading update on Wednesday, Ubisoft lowered net bookings guidance for the third quarter of 2022 to 725 million euros, down from an earlier target of 830 million euros. The company forecast full-year net bookings would likely fall 10% after an earlier projection called for an increase of 10%. Ubisoft said Wednesday that it would depreciate around 500 million euros of capitalized research and development and narrow its focus to fewer titles. The company hopes to cut costs by about 200 million euros through a mix of targeted restructuring, divestment of "non-core" assets, and employee attrition.

☆ Barclays cuts Apple price target on concerns over demand weakness, slowing services growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Barclays recently cut its Apple price target from $144 per share to $133 per share, noting it's concerned that Apple Services estimates are "at risk." The firm lowered its revenue estimate by 7% for the quarter to account for slowing services growth, production problems and weakening demand. "What started out as production driven cuts has moved to demand weakness across product categories," they wrote in a Tuesday note. Apple struggled with iPhone 14 Pro shipments during the holiday season because of Covid restrictions on its primary factory in China. Foxconn has attempted to entice workers back with bonuses, and Reuters reported that Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory is almost back to full production.

☆ CIOs Contend With Pushback on AI Rollouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Isabelle Bousquette | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Overall enterprise adoption of AI has grown threefold since 2019 as algorithms grow in scale and sophistication, according to International Data Corp. That left executives underwhelmed by the results and disillusioned, according to Todd Lohr, KPMG LLP’s U.S. technology consulting leader. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CIO Journal The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. In 2022, organizations spent on average 4% to 6% more on AI than the previous year, according to IDC. Other emerging technologies are more likely to be cut than AI, given its cost-savings potential, she noted.

☆ Tech’s biggest show is set to kick off in Las Vegas. Here’s what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Consumer Electronics Show, now in its 56th year, kicks off this week in Las Vegas with a familiar mix of cutting edge technology and oddball gadgets. And this year’s event, in particular, could show how companies are thinking about products as pandemic concerns recede for some consumers but recession concerns remain. This year, featured speakers will include executives from traditional tech companies such as Samsung, Sony and Amazon, as well as other brands like John Deere, Delta and BMW. Still, the topic of virtual reality products will remain a focus for some companies. HTC is expected to launch the Vive Focus 3 this week at the show, with an emphasis on the metaverse.

☆ ESG will be a heavy focus for tech leaders in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Bob Violino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Reducing the carbon footprint of IT operationsThere are a number of drivers moving ESG forward. One area of focus will be the need for reporting on ESG progress, as required by regulations. Nearly half of the respondents said their organization could not accurately report its carbon footprint. Efforts appear to be underway to enhance ESG reporting strategies. By 2024, IDC said, 75% of large enterprises will implement ESG data management and reporting software as a response to emerging legislation and increased stakeholder expectations.

☆ China risks loom over U.S. tech giants Tesla and Apple as share prices plunge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But in October, the world's biggest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, China, was hit with a Covid outbreak. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory is almost back to full production. In early November, after Foxconn imposed Covid restrictions at the factory, Apple said the plant was operating at a "significantly reduced capacity." The world's biggest iPhone factory, located in China and run by Foxconn, faced disruptions in 2022. Apple could report a 1% annual decline in revenue in the December quarter, according to Refinitiv consensus estimates.

☆ Meta is building virtual world open to app makers, CEO tells antitrust court
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Katie Paul | Industry Insight | Saw Law Firms Move Past The Pandemic Into A More Client-Focused Service Environment | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg leaves federal court after attending the Facebook parent company's defense of its acquisition of virtual reality app developer Within Inc., in San Jose, California, U.S. December 20, 2022. REUTERS/Laure AndrillonSAN JOSE, Calif., Dec 20 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) boss Mark Zuckerberg defended his acquisition of a virtual reality fitness app to an antitrust judge on Tuesday, arguing that his company was helping to build a nascent virtual reality industry, not dominate it. On fitness apps, he said, "it's less important that we own the experiences than that they exist." Platform companies have built "the key apps, what they call the killer apps," Zuckerberg said, "but they're not the only apps available." Within developed Supernatural, a VR app it advertises as a "complete fitness service" with choreographed workouts.

☆ Listen up: Headphones are getting really weird
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Bone conduction headphones, which rely on sound being transmitted through vibrations on the user’s skull, are gaining popularity. Bone conduction headphones ‘having a moment’Bone conduction headphones, in particular, are “having a moment,” Konig said. Rather than sitting inside or on top of the ear canal, bone conduction headphones rest in front of the ear, leaving it uncovered. Beyond consumer appeal, Cozza believes bone conduction headphones could be used by frontline workers who could listen to communications and instruction and at the same time be aware of sounds around them. But some audiophiles say the sound quality on bone conduction headphones and open earbuds is less than stellar.

☆ Apple is going to keep cozying up to the Chinese government, no matter how much it says it's investing in America, India, and other countries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Emilia David | Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Apple, which enjoys about 50% market share in the US and many other countries, still has room to run in China. Apple willing to play ball with China's governmentWhile pursuing the Chinese consumer, Apple has made concessions to the Chinese government. But in China, it offloaded iCloud servers to a Chinese state-owned company to comply with Chinese regulations. Popal said Huawei was the first Chinese brand to shake off the perception that Chinese phones were cheap. But with hundreds of millions of potential customers left to convert to iPhone users in China, Apple will absorb the hits.

WASHINGTON/SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Federal Trade Commission, which enforces antitrust law, is about to engage in a real-life courtroom fight over virtual reality. On Thursday, a high-profile trial kicks off in which the FTC will try to prevent Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) from buying virtual reality app developer Within Inc. The FTC sued in July to stop the deal, saying Meta's acquisition of Within would "tend to create a monopoly" in the market for virtual reality (VR) fitness apps. The majority of the more than 400 apps available in the Quest app store are produced by external developers. Meta owns the most popular virtual reality app in the Quest app store, Beat Saber, which it acquired in 2019.

☆ Apple made a big move into women’s health just as startups go through a funding winter. 4 health investors and founders predict who’ll survive.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The tech giant's moves into women's health coincides with a funding winter for startups in the sector. Insider spoke to VCs about the challenges and opportunities this creates for women's health startups. When Apple rolled out the Apple Watch Series 8 in September this year, it cemented its growing footprint in the global women's health market. The aim is to give consumers a more consolidated view of their health data, an Apple representative said — but it's a step that could spell trouble for women's health startups. Funding into women's health has taken a dipThe tech giant's gradual monopoly over health data comes at a time when its apparent competitors — consumer women's health startups — are feeling the tech downturn.

☆ Forget smartwatches, consumers are buying up these quirky, alternative wearable devices
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

People turned to activity trackers, smartwatches and other devices to keep tabs on their steps, vital statistics and more. Rather than sitting inside or on top of the ear canal, bone conduction headphones rest in front of the ear, leaving it uncovered. Bone conduction headphones by Shokz. Shokz ($125) pioneered bone conduction headphones, but the market has since expanded with other brands offering similar designs. But some audiophiles say the sound quality on bone conduction headphones and open earbuds is less than stellar.

☆ This startup comes up with cash offers for homeowners in 24 hours. Check out the pitch deck Rive used to raise a $24 million Series A to make buying and selling real estate easier.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Finnish proptech Rive has just closed a 23 million euros (around $24 million) Series A funding round. We got an exclusive look at the 14-slide pitch deck Rive used to raise the cash. While listing some properties on the market, Rive also has a portfolio of its own. Rive gives sellers cash offers with time frames that suit their moving plans. Check out the 14-slide pitch deck the company used to raise the cash below.

☆ Kindle’s 15-year anniversary is a reminder simplicity is king
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It’s like holding nothing but the words.”Amazon (AMZN) launched the original Kindle on November 19 2007, pushing the publishing industry to further embrace digital books and also kickstarting the e-commerce giant’s hardware efforts. Amazon can keep Kindle prices relatively low because the business model is all about selling books, not selling hardware, McQueen said. Likewise, the original Kindle had access to 90,000 books in the Kindle Store compared to 13 million books now in the Kindle Store. Amazon’s current lineup of hardware devices includes the Fire tablet, the Firestick media streaming gadget and the Echo smart speaker. “The more interesting question is will Kindle be broadly considered retro tech like vinyl record players or arcade cabinets of today?”

☆ Investors Cool on Internet-of-Things Startups, a Tech Conduit for Retailers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Angus Loten | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Slumping markets have investors pulling back from funding startups that make internet-connected devices for retailers, threatening to choke an innovation pipeline for emerging tools like smart shopping carts and inventory management robots. Total venture-capital funding for startups developing IoT technology specifically for retailers is on pace to drop 65.1% from 2021 to $188.2 million by the end of the year—one of the hardest hit subsectors in the IoT market, the firm said. Like most commercial software applications, connected devices in recent years have become an integral part of retailers’ day-to-day operations. He said the company would continue to invest in these and other tech tools that help customers, despite tougher economic conditions. IoT technology is critical for the food company, Mr. Basu said, because it also enables Goya to implement cybersecurity projects in its plants.

☆ India's smartphone shipments drop 10% in Q3 as prices hit record -IDC
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Nov 14 (Reuters) - India's smartphone market fell by 10% year-on-year last quarter to 43.5 million units, marking the lowest third-quarter shipment since 2019, and a high inventory pile-up is expected to lead to a muted fourth quarter, market research firm IDC said on Monday. Despite the festival season beginning earlier than usual, the unrelenting rise in prices pulled down shipments in the world's second-biggest smartphone market, IDC said. The average selling price jumped 15% year-over-year, and 6% from the previous quarter, to a record $226, IDC said. Moreover, the inventory pile-up and post-festive tapering in demand will lead to a muted fourth quarter, said Navkendar Singh, associate vice president, devices research, IDC. IDC expects 2022 shipments of around 150 million units, a decline of 8-9% over the previous year, and Singh does not expect 2023 to be any better.

☆ If you want to land a job or get a raise in the tech industry, you have to past a test — and pretty much everyone is cheating on the exams
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Rob Price | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

It was one in a long line of tech certifications that Bill freely acknowledges he earned, at least in part, by cheating. And he's far from alone: In the tech industry, it's an open secret that there are thousands, if not millions, of cheaters just like Bill. The rise of exam dumps for tech certifications could have devastating consequences. But the cheating is clearly having a corrosive effect on the tech industry, particularly the hiring process. But the perception that workers from poorer countries are more likely to be cheaters can also fuel racism against foreign-born tech workers.

[1/2] Handout image shows 4th Gen AMD EPYC processor, launched by AMD on November 10, 2022, in this undated handout image. AMD/Handout via REUTERSNov 10 (Reuters) - Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD.O) launched its latest data center chip on Thursday and said Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Azure, Alphabet-owned (GOOGL.O) Google Cloud and Oracle Corp would be some of its customers. "What that means for enterprises and for cloud data centers is that it translates into lower capex, lower opex and lower total cost of ownership," she said. Genoa launches at a time when rival Intel Corp's (INTC.O) latest data center chip, code named Sapphire Rapids, has struggled with delays. "IDC expects AMD will stay on track, continue building up market share in public cloud deployments," said Ashish Nadkarni, datacenter and cloud analyst at IDC.

☆ Project Eleven: Google is quietly working on a wearable device for preteens as it chases a surging number of younger tech users
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Blake Dodge | Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Google is working on a wearable for preteens in an effort called "Project Eleven." Google is developing a wearable device for preteens under its Fitbit group as it attempts to capture a growing demographic of younger users who own wearable tech, three employees familiar with the project told Insider. Apple in 2021 accounted for about 30% of global wearable shipments, according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker. Are you a Google employee with a tip? Are you a Google employee with a tip about health projects?

☆ Taiwan smartphone chipmaker MediaTek launches new chip
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Jane Lanhee Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The company said the 5G chip was made at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's (2330.TW) using its second generation 4-nanometer chip production technology, which refers to the transistor size. Phil Solis, smartphone chip analyst at IDC, said the new chip was key for MediaTek's strategy to move upstream. "This product will help MediaTek expand in the U.S. and European markets and help change consumer's perception about MediaTek," Solis told Reuters. "MediaTek is far behind Qualcomm in terms of revenue, and that is what MediaTek is attempting to change," said Solis. MediaTek said the new chip's power efficiency helped achieve longer battery life and create a better gaming experience on the smartphone.

☆ China’s Lenovo posts first revenue drop in 10 quarters as COVID lockdowns weigh
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Nov 3 (Reuters) - China's Lenovo Group (0992.HK) reported its first revenue decline in 10 quarters as a pandemic-fuelled sales boom comes to an end, with sales especially falling in China as COVID lockdowns took a toll. Lenovo had already seen growth for its first-quarter revenue grind to a halt, at only 0.2%. Global PC shipments declined 15% year-over-year in the third quarter, according to a report published by data firm IDC last month. The report also showed that Lenovo, HP, and Dell saw year-over-year shipments fall by 16%, 28% and 21%, respectively. Chipmaker Qualcomm expects a slump in sales as its forecast for holiday-quarter revenue fell about $2 billion short of Wall Street estimates.

☆ China aims to ship 25 million virtual reality devices by 2026
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Nov 1 (Reuters) - China released its first action plan dedicated to virtual reality on Tuesday, with an aim its industry ship more than 25 million devices with a value exceeding 350 billion yuan ($48.20 billion) by 2026. The paper includes augmented reality and mixed reality in its definition of virtual reality. It did not specify whether the 25 million devices target referred to annual or accumulative shipments between now and 2026. In the first half of this year, China shipped just over half a million virtual reality and augmented reality devices, research firm IDC said. It also makes reference to global tech giants including Meta (META.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Google (GOOGL.O) and Tencent , citing them as companies rapidly pursuing virtual reality opportunities.

☆ With product innovation lagging, Silicon Valley bets on a fresh coat of paint
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN Business —When Google unveiled its new Pixel 7 smartphone lineup earlier this month, the devices looked largely the same as the year prior. Google has also swapped the stormy black (a stormy black) option on the Pixel 6 for obsidian (still black) on the Pixel 7. The emphasis on a new color palette for devices isn’t unique to Google. Apple’s new iPhone 14 lineup comes in Starlight (a champagne color) and midnight (black), and the company has previously unveiled two shades of green (“green” and “alpine green”) and purple (“purple” and “deep purple”). “Color names that are descriptive but odd can spark positive reactions because the consumer likes being able to ‘solve the puzzle,’” she said.

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