Home

Go to our podcast page in the making - http://zunited.net/podcast


This week on the Zunited Podcast we talk about Microsoft's best quarter revenue ever, Apple's new mouse and their battery sales, Andrioid's further fragmentation. Then we discuss Kin and Windows Phone 7 plus AT&T.

MICROSOFT:
Microsoft Reporting Best Quarter Profits Ever - http://zunited.net/content.php?r=251...-16.04-billion
http://altfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/6549-105872-12428-5
Sponsor: Hold your meetings online for just $49 a month Try GoToMeeting free.
HP Slate killed again, kinda - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/h...for-enterpris/

WINDOWS PHONE 7:
HP excommunicating windows phone 7, Focusing on WebOs - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/24/h...webos-instead/
LG Aiming to ship a couple of windows phone 7 devices by the end of the year - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/l...vices-by-year/
ATT claims it will be the premier carrier for windows phone 7 - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/a...ndows-phone-7/

HARDWARE:
Intel will transfer your files at 50 GB per second - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/i...t-on-future-c/

APPLE:
Apple Magic Trackpad arrives, but what do I do with it? - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/a...irst-hands-on/
Apple Battery Charger - http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC500?mco=OTY2ODE5Mg
100 million Facebook pages leaked to a torrent site - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/1...e-creating-th/

Emails

Microsoft announced on Thursday one of its best fiscal quarters to date. The software giant reported a profit of $4.52 billion in this final quarter of the fiscal year, beating out estimates made by Wall Street.

Wall Street analysts wrongfully predicted Microsoft's revenue would not exceed $15.75 billion, instead Microsoft reports it made a strong (and slightly higher) $16.04 billion in this fourth quarter.

Microsoft's gains are coming amidst a time when most, if not all, tech companies are reporting gains: Intel just reported its most successful quarter in history, Apple announced record-setting revenue gains on Macs and iPhones (but still behind Microsoft with a reported $15.7 billion), and computer shipments are up 22% from this time last year--a market Microsoft claims is up between 22-24%.

That known, Kevin Turner, COO, credits Windows 7 and Office 2010 for the bulk of its success; most especially since it had the most gain across the board with $1 billion, a 26% increase. Even their Entertainments and Devices division was going strong with a 30% increase, keeping in mind their grave cost and losses--dare we mention Kin?

It's no doubt Microsoft is thriving; Turner expects even greater increases this time next year with the introduction of Kinect and Windows Phone 7.

Go to our podcast page in the making - http://zunited.net/podcast


SORRY! There, done. In this mini-episode, Jon and Michael discuss free features for Windows Phone 7, Ballmer explicitly stating there will be Windows 7 slates by year's end, how Kinect is a cash cow, if the patent wars will ever end as Microsoft is sued yet again, and Apple's company image. Send us an email at podcast@zunited.net and remember to support us by supporting our sponsor GoToMeeting.com




Free "Find My Phone" service for WP7 - http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/...e_skin;content

Ballmer: "Windows 7 slates by end of 2010" - http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/...e_skin;content

Kinect a cash cow for Microsoft, says analyst - http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20010374-17.html

Microsoft sued over email delivery patents - http://zunited.net/content.php?r=243...livery-patents

Consumer Reports doesn't recommend iPhone - http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fas..._cr_posts.html

Early Friday, NTP, a small tech company, sued several mobile handset makers over patents they allegedly hold over delivering email to mobile handsets.

NTP has been known to sue other mobile handset makers in the past; previously they targeted Research in Motion (makers of the BlackBerry) where they stated that BlackBerry infringed on countless patents which they held.

This time NTP is quite fearless, going after Apple; Google; HTC; LG; Motorola; and even Microsoft by filing a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. NTP states "the companies are infringing eight of [their] patents related to the delivery of e-mail over a wireless network." While the case may seem to be a non-issue, the NTP vs RIM case settled in a $612+ million deal where RIM now licenses NTP's patents.

If NTP does have a standing case, don't expect a result to come any time soon. Their battle with RIM went on for five years.

[Source: CNET]

Go to our podcast page in the making - http://zunited.net/podcast


Yes, we're a little late for this episode, but we have a good reason: okay, we don't, but we've been getting some things in order and no we're back. For the delay, we decided to make this one just a bit longer than usual so we hope you enjoy. This week, Michael, Jon, and "Sakai" talk about Microsoft cutting jobs (again), the Zune Marketplace finally accepting credit card charges, Kinect and Windows Phone 7 rumors, plus the death of the Kin. No surprise there. And of course we couldn't end our show without poking fun of the iPhone (only poking its right side, of course) and your emails. Enjoy!




Sponsor: Hold your meetings online for just $49 a month Try GoToMeeting free.
Microsoft cutting jobs - http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20009910-56.html
Zune credit card charges, no points needed - http://zunited.net/content.php?r=227
Windows Phone 7 due October - http://zunited.net/content.php?r=231
Kinect from $150 to $120 - http://zunited.net/content.php?r=233
Hulu on Xbox in 2011 - http://zunited.net/content.php?r=237
Ding dong the wicked Kin is dead - http://zunited.net/content.php?r=239
No iPhone for left-handed people and software won't fix that - http://www.toptechnews.com/news/iPho...d=0210022CJFQF
Apple confirms app store fraud - http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/a...ms-said-fraud/
Emails

Hulu today announced what tech journalists have previously described (and what has been rumored since late last year), Hulu Plus. The service is a $9.99/month ad-based subscription model that will allow users to watch full seasons of all television shows and even entire series of many shows. In addition to the content, now there will be more places to watch.

Many had been speculating that Hulu would arrive on Xbox and that it would be announced at the E3 keynote alongside Kinect and the new Xbox 360, unfortunately that did not occur, but rumor did not die down. Early Tuesday, Hulu said that as of today (with pending Hulu Plus invitations) customers can watch on iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, Internet-connected Samsung TVs and Blu-Ray players; coming in the following months would be on "many more devices" including PS3s this July. According to the Hulu Plus Walkthrough Video (above), Xbox will be getting Hulu in early 2011 at around the 00:36 mark.

There are currently no further details.

When Microsoft announced the real name of its much-anticipated Project Natal, now Kinect, and its release date, this November 4th, came the backlash of its ambivalent price. The glorified motion-censor camera was cataloged on websites like Amazon and Best Buy for pre-order with a $149.99 price tag. Even Microsoft's Official Online Store lists Kinect for pre-order at just shy of $150.

The store does state that "official pricing has not been announced" and that $149.99 is just "an estimate and subject to change." Much evidenced by the fact that Microsoft has not confirmed any price, even though the listings seemed to be sufficient evidence for tech blogs, nor will any representative comment on it. Stephen Toulouse, Director of Policy Enforcement for Xbox LIVE, stated the following through Twitter:

Now, Product-Reviews.net is citing Xbox Evolved which claims "a Microsoft representative told the employees of a Texas Gamestop that Kinect would be $119."

There is no evidence of a Microsoft Rep telling anyone or establishment that the Kinect price will drop from its current estimation nor is there any record of Product-Reviews.net or Xbox Evolved being correct with speculation; Gamestop online still lists the price as $149.99. Gamestop online guarantees "if the price drops before the release date, you will be charged the lower price," as do all the other online stores.

It appears Microsoft may be stuck in the pricing game with consumers scolding the high price and rumors circulating that each Kinect device could be costing up to $150 to manufacture. 1Up does make a valid point, stating that Microsoft has in the past (especially with Xbox) sold hardware at a loss to gain market share and to make profit through software. There are currently 16 announced games for Kinect.