Archive for July, 2011

China sales of iPhone and iPad helps Apple profits beat estimates

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Apple’s stock price surged past $400 for the first time, after record sales of iPhones and iPads pushed third-quarter profit beyond estimates. Net income during the period was $7.31 billion ($7.79 per share), which is more than double of last year’s $3.25 billion ($3.51 per share). This was helped by iPhone sales in China, where total revenue jumped sixfold to $3.8 billion.

Apple's Q3 2011 Unaudited Summary DataOverall sales jumped 82 percent to $28.6 billion. Analysts had predicted a profit of $5.87 per share and a revenue of $25 billion. Apple sold 20.3 million iPhones and 9.3 million iPads in the third quarter, which ended June 25. Mac computer sales were 3.95 million

Having overcome supply shortages for the iPad 2 after its March debut, saw sales of the iPad soar, reported Adam Satariano of Bloomberg. The tablet is now Apple’s second-largest source of revenue – behind the iPhone – less than two years after its initial launch.

After the results were released, Apple shares shot up 7.5 percent to $405 in extended trading. The stock is up 17 percent this year.

The report eased investors’ concerns that sales would suffer from the lack of a new iPhone, which isn’t expected until September. The Cupertino, California-based company also has been operating without the day-to-day attention of Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January.

“China was very key to our results,” said Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who has been handling day-to-day leadership at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, since Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs’s medical leave in January.

Apple’s results assuaged worries by investors that sales would suffer because a new iPhone will only be available in September. Its foray into China and other fast-growing economies helped compensate slower growth in the U.S. Sales in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong accounted for $8.8 billion in the first three quarters of the fiscal year, Apple revealed.

The Wall Street Journal has cited unmamed sources familiar with the issue that since Jobs went on leave, some members of Apple’s board have discussed CEO succession with executive recruiters. The talks included at least one head of a high-profile technology company, the Journal added.

The results also substantiated the belief that tablets are cannibalizing sales from traditional personal computers. Apple claims that 86 percent of Fortune 500 companies are testing or deploying the iPad, and disclosed that sales of the tablet beat those of the Mac computer among primary and secondary schools.

Akamai Launches Global NetAlliance Partner Program

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

The company helps systems integrators, application and infrastructure service providers, and technology partners to address the challenges of doing business in the cloud.

Information about the program and how to joinAkamai has announced its NetAlliance Partner Program for global IT solution providers. This program will help partners to integrate Akamai services into their offerings, and to pass the value of Akamai’s globally-distributed platform on to customers. With this program, Akamai is recruiting partners across platforms to help its customers leverage the Cloud for business success.

The Akamai NetAlliance partner program is designed to enable new members to:

“As the demands on today’s enterprise rapidly evolve, IT decision makers must find the optimal solutions for cloud computing, security, mobile strategies, and site and application performance,” said Brad Rinklin, vice president of Global Marketing & Alliances for Akamai.
  • Leverage integrated solutions with leaders in the public, private and hybrid-cloud markets
  • Add and scale revenue streams to their business with Akamai solutions that have a low barrier-to-entry
  • Help customers reduce costs and improve efficiencies in their datacenter consolidation by off-loading traffic to Akamai
  • Integrate a secure Internet platform to their cloud offerings by providing unmatched quality and performance
  • Increase global reach through Akamai’s global Internet platform
  • Access robust market development funds and Akamai training/certification programs
“Our focus on creating a diverse channel has allowed us to bring customers best-of-breed solutions for leveraging cloud business models without compromising security, reliability or performance. The Akamai NetAlliance Partner Program is about creating an eco-system of proven technology leaders in all regions of the world who are committed to advancing how business is conducted online,” Rinklin added.

Having built global alliances with IT leaders including HP, Jive Software, Rackspace® Hosting, Telefónica and Verizon, Akamai has also established partnerships with leading regional technology providers and integrators around the world to collaborate on solutions for today’s enterprise.

Some of those existing alliances across Asia Pacific Japan; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and South America, include 77 Agency, Arturai, Boreus, DMX Technologies Sdn. Bhd, Exceda, Kinmax Technology Inc., and Mikotek International Corporation, among others.

“2011 is a big year for extending Akamai’s channel as we made significant global investments to help our partners scale their business with our NetAlliance Partner Program,” said Martin Häring, vice president of International Marketing and Channels at Akamai.  “Our partners leverage Akamai’s innovative services to overcome inefficiencies inherent across the Internet. In collaboration with NetAlliance partners, Akamai is transforming the Internet into a reliable, high-performance platform for cloud services or any other Internet-based enterprise application.”

Apple updates Mac mini

Monday, July 18th, 2011

The Mac mini will be updated with next generation Intel core processors, new discrete graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and Lion, the Mac’s newly released operating system.

Starting at a suggested retail price of S$788 (inc GST), the new Mac mini will be available from July 20, 2011.

The new Mac mini delivers up to twice the processor and graphics performance of its predecessor, while maintaining its compact form factor of just 19.7 cm2 and 3.6 cm thin.The new Mac mini delivers up to twice the processor and graphics performance of its predecessor, while maintaining its compact form factor of just 19.7 cm2 and 3.6 cm thin.

Available in three different configurations, customers can choose a Mac mini with the latest dual-core Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics, or a quad-core Intel Core i7 powered server configuration.

Suggested retail price of the new Mac mini starts at S$788 (incl GST).

Suggested retail price of the new Mac mini starts at S$788 (incl GST).

Designed without an optical disc drive, Mac mini can access the optical drives on other PCs and Macs, and works with the MacBook Air SuperDrive. Configure-to-order options include up to 8GBs of memory, a faster 7200 RPM hard drive and a 256GB solid state drive.

Plenty of expansion possibilities for the Mac mini.

Plenty of expansion possibilities for the Mac mini.

Mac mini now comes with Thunderbolt I/O technology for greater expansion possibilities. With a Thunderbolt port, Mac mini can connect to peripherals such as high-performance storage devices, RAID arrays and the new Apple Thunderbolt Display.

The new Mac mini is up to twice as fast in terms of processor and graphics performanceThe Thunderbolt display is a 27-inch IPS widescreen display that will enhance the experience for making FaceTime HD video calls, surfing the Web and viewing movies and photos.

Ultra-fast Wi-Fi, enables wireless download of apps from the Mac App Store, data back-up to Time Capsule and quick and easy file sharing using AirDrop. Mac mini includes Bluetooth for wireless peripherals and four USB ports for easy connectivity for wired and wireless devices.

Every new Mac mini comes with Mac OS X Lion, the latest major release of the Mac’s operating system, and iLife apps for creating and sharing photos, movies and music.

Pricing & Availability

The new Mac mini will be available through the Apple Store and Apple Authorised Resellers.

SRP in SGD
(incl GST)
Mac mini Configuration Optional upgrades
S$788 2.3 GHz
Dual-core Intel Core i5
2 GB memory
500 GB hard drive
8 GB memory
750 GB hard drive
S$1,088 2.5 GHz
Dual-core Intel Core i5
4 GB memory
500 GB hard drive
2.7 GHz
Dual-core Intel Core i7
8 GB memory
750 GB hard drive
256 GB solid state drive
S$1,348 2.0 GHz
Dual-core Intel Core i7
Lion Server
4 GB memory
dual 500 GB hard drive
8 GB memory
2 x 750 GB hard drives
2 x 256 GB solid state drives

Apple to introduce world’s first Thunderbolt display

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

The 27-inch 16:9 IPS monitor will be available at S$1,348 (incl GST) within the next two months.

Apple announces the world's first Thunderbolt display.

Apple announces the world's first Thunderbolt display.

The display features Thunderbolt I/O technology and serves as a docking station for a Mac notebook. With a single cable, users can connect a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac to the 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display and access its FaceTime camera, high quality audio, and Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt ports.

A single cable connects a Mac notebook to the Thunderbolt displayDesigned specifically for Mac notebooks, the new display features a thin aluminium and glass enclosure, and includes a MagSafe connector that charges a connected MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

The 27-inch 16:9 IPS monitor will be available at S$1,348 (incl GST) within the next two months.With a 16:9 edge-to-edge glass design, the Thunderbolt Display uses IPS technology to provide a brilliant image across a wide 178 degree viewing angle. Any Thunderbolt-enabled Mac notebook can dock with the display to quickly and easily replicate a full-fledged desktop solution.

The Thunderbolt Display includes a built-in FaceTime HD video camera for video conferencing, a 2.1 speaker system for high quality audio, an integrated MagSafe charger to keep Mac notebooks charged, three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, one Gigabit Ethernet port and a Thunderbolt port for daisy chaining up to five additional Thunderbolt devices.

The Thunderbolt IPS display sports a high resolution of 2560 by 1440 and viewing angle of 178 degrees.

The Thunderbolt IPS display sports a high resolution of 2560 by 1440 and viewing angle of 178 degrees.

The Thunderbolt Display aspires to be the world’s first display to include Thunderbolt I/O technology.

The two 10-Gbps channels of data transfer for Thunderbolt is up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0.Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to a blistering 10Gbps each, each Thunderbolt port delivers PCI Express directly to external peripherals such as high performance storage and RAID arrays, supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Data transfer for Thunderbolt is up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0.

Thunderbolt-based Macs with discrete graphics can drive two external displays giving professional users over 7 million additional pixels of display real estate and the ability to daisy chain additional Thunderbolt devices, as well as video and audio capture devices.

Two high-resolution Apple Thunderbolt Displays can be connected to the MacBook Pro.

Two high-resolution Apple Thunderbolt Displays can be connected to the MacBook Pro.

The Thunderbolt Display includes an ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an optimum viewing experience.

MacBook Air updated with Next Generation Processors, Thunderbolt I/O, Backlit Keyboard and Mac OS X Lion

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

With up to twice the performance of its predecessor, flash storage for instant-on responsiveness and a compact design, the MacBook Air starts at a suggested retail price of S$1,288 (incl GST) and is available from July 20, 2011.

Apple MacBook Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch modelsMacBook Air is available in compact 11-inch and 13-inch models that feature a durable aluminium unibody enclosure measuring only 0.3 cm at its thinnest point and 1.7 cm at its thickest. Flash storage allows MacBook Air to turn on instantly and deliver fast data access, improved reliability and energy efficiency.

The 11-inch model weighs 1.08 kilograms and provides up to 5 hours of battery life, while the 13-inch weighs 1.35 kilograms and provides up to 7 hours of battery life.
The MacBook Air line of notebooks are slim and sleek in design
With the latest Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors, the new MacBook Air is up to twice as fast as its predecessor. MacBook Air also features Intel HD Graphics 3000 and offers up to 4GB of 1333 MHz memory.

The left side of the MacBook Air houses the plugs for the MagSafe charger, USB, headphone and microphone.

The left side of the MacBook Air houses the plugs for the MagSafe charger, USB, headphone and microphone.

Thunderbolt I/O technology provides additional expansion possibilities to MacBook Air users. Through a single cable, users can connect to high performance peripherals and the new Apple Thunderbolt Display, a docking station for Mac notebooks. Thunderbolt can easily be adapted to support legacy connections such as FireWire and Gigabit Ethernet.

The right side of the MacBook Air houses the USB and Thunderbolt plugs.

The right side of the MacBook Air houses the USB and Thunderbolt plugs.

MacBook Air comes with a full size backlit keyboard and an glass Multi-Touch trackpad. The backlit keyboard uses a sensor to automatically detect a change in ambient lighting and adjusts the keyboard brightness according to the environment.

New Multi-Touch gestures are available as part of Mac OS X LionThe Multi-Touch trackpad supports Lion’s new Multi-Touch gestures such as momentum scrolling, tapping or pinching your fingers to zoom in on a web page or image, and swiping left or right to turn a page or switch between full screen apps.

MacBook Air features 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 technologyMacBook Air also features a thin but brilliant, high resolution LED backlit display. Ultra-fast Wi-Fi, enables wireless download of apps from the Mac App Store, data back-up to Time Capsule and quick and easy file sharing using AirDrop. MacBook Air includes Bluetooth for wireless peripherals and two USB ports for easy connectivity for wired and wireless devices.

Every new MacBook Air comes with Mac OS X Lion, the latest Mac operating system, and iLife apps for creating and sharing photos, movies and music.

Pricing & Availability

The 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air are available for order on the Apple Store and Apple Authorised Resellers.

11-inch, 1.6 GHz MacBook Air
S$1,288 2 GB memory, 64 GB flash storage
S$1,588 4 GB memory, 128 GB flash storage
13-inch, 1.7 GHz MacBook Air
S$1,688 4 GB memory, 128 GB flash storage
S$2,088 4 GB memory, 256 GB flash storage

All the prices above include GST. Configure-to-order options and accessories include a 1.8 GHz Core i7 processor, additional flash storage, MacBook Air SuperDrive and a USB Ethernet Adapter.

Apple to release Mac OS X Lion on the Mac App Store

Friday, July 15th, 2011

The eighth major release of the Mac’s operating system will be available as a $29.99 download from the Mac App Store from July 20, 2011.

Mac OS X Lion - the latest operating system for Apple Macs

Mac OS X Lion - the latest operating system for Apple Macs

Some of the 250 new features include: new Multi-Touch gestures; system-wide support for full screen apps; Mission Control, an overview of everything running on your Mac; the Mac App Store that’s built right into the OS; Launchpad, a new home for all your apps; and a completely redesigned Mail app.
New Multi-Touch gestures in Mac OS X Lion
Additional new features in Lion include:

  • Resume, which conveniently brings your apps back exactly how you left them when you restart your Mac or quit and relaunch an app;
  • Auto Save, which automatically and continuously saves your documents as you work;
  • Versions, which automatically records the history of your document as you create it, and gives you an easy way to browse, revert and even copy and paste from previous versions; and
  • AirDrop, which finds nearby Macs and automatically sets up a peer-to-peer wireless connection to make transferring files quick and easy.
“Lion makes upgrading a Mac easier than ever before; just launch the Mac App Store, buy Lion with your iTunes account, and the download and install process will begin automatically,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Mac OS X Lion is available as an upgrade to Mac OS X version 10.6.6 Snow Leopard from the Mac App Store for $29.99. At around 4GB, Lion is about the size of an HD movie from the iTunes Store. Users who do not have broadband access at home, work or school can download Lion at Apple retail stores and later this August, Lion will be made available on a USB thumb drive through the Apple Store for S$88 (incl GST). Mac OS X Lion Server requires Lion and is available from the Mac App Store for $49.99 (US).

Lion requires an Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor and 2GB of RAM. Lion is an upgrade and can be installed on all authorized personal Macs. Details regarding Business and Education licensing can be found at apple.com/macosx.

Mac OS X Lion, latest operating system for Apple MacsThe OS X Lion Up-to-Date upgrade will be available through the Mac App Store at no additional charge to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller on or after June 6, 2011. Users must request their Up-to-Date upgrade within 30 days of purchase of their Mac computer. Customers who purchased a qualifying Mac between June 6, 2011 and July 20, 2011 will have until August 19, 2011 to make a request.

Company byte: Seagate Technology

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

NASDAQ-listed Seagate Technology (STX) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hard disk drives. It is currently incorporated in Dublin, Ireland but its principal executive offices are located in Scotts Valley, California in the United States.

Seagate is a worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions.Seagate was originally incorporated in 1978 as Shugart Technology. It is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of hard disk drives and storage solutions.

In fiscal 2011, the company had a revenue of $11 billion, net income of $0.5 billion and shipped 199 million units (approximate data from Seagate’s website).

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Company byte: Kroll Ontrack

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Kroll Ontrack provides technology-driven services and software to help legal, corporate and government entities as well as consumers manage, recover, search, analyze, produce and present data efficiently and cost-effectively.

“Kroll Ontrack has become a leading provider of legal technologies, with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. It has patented technologies and capabilities in recovering seemingly deleted files, including internet-based information cleared from the cache.” – WikipediaIn addition to its suite of software, Kroll Ontrack provides data recovery, data destruction, paper and electronic discovery, document review, computer forensics and ESI consulting.

Kroll Ontrack is the technology services division of Kroll Inc., the global risk consulting company. Kroll is a subsidiary of Altegrity, an industry-leading provider of information solutions.

Companies or individuals can contact Kroll Ontrack for free consultation on the best way to erase data from all types of media. Those in Singapore can call (+65) 6296 5131 or visit their website here. Kroll Ontrack provides several options for data erasure such as Ontrack Eraser Software and Ontrack Eraser Degausser. Both solutions set out to data in a fast, secure and user-friendly way.

Company byte: Porsche Design

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a special focus on products that are technically inspired. The brand Porsche Design was founded in 1972 in Stuttgart-Germany by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, designer of the Porsche 911 sports car.

Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a special focus on products that are technically inspiredThe product portfolio includes watches, sunglasses, luggage, electronic products, a line of fragrances for men as well as a sport and fashion collection.

Product portfolio includes the P'9981 smartphone, watches, sunglasses, luggage, electronic products, a line of fragrances for men as well as a sport and fashion collection(Update: Porsche Design has launched the P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry.)

Porsche Design products try to embody functionality, timelessness and purist design. They impress by the technical innovations they incorporate.

All products of the brand are designed at the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria, and are sold worldwide in the brand’s own stores, in franchise stores, shop-in-shops, quality department stores and exclusive retailers.

Company byte: Research In Motion

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Research In Motion Limited (RIM) is a Canadian multinational  telecommunications company that makes the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer, as well as BlackBerry smartphones.

Update (30 January, 2013):

Along with the launch of the new BlackBerry 10 platform, President & CEO Thorsten Heins has announced that the company will change its name from Research In Motion to BlackBerry.

Research In Motion, maker of BlackBerry smartphones and the PlayBook tabletRIM was founded in 1984 by Mike Lazaridis, who currently serves as its co-CEO along with Jim Balsillie.

The company designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. The introduction of the BlackBerry solution in 1999 provides platforms and solutions for access to information, including e-mail, voice, instant messaging, short message service (SMS), Internet and intranet-based applications and browsing.

Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario in Canada, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM).

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