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<title>Haaze.com / Tonylasky / Published News</title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 07:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Why the 3DS isn't selling well]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=why-the-3ds-isnt-selling-well</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=why-the-3ds-isnt-selling-well</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 07:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tonylasky</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=why-the-3ds-isnt-selling-well</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Nintendo)Nintendo is not happy with sales thus far for the Nintendo 3DS despite claims that the 3D handheld broke records in the first week of its launch. Since then, most headlines about the 3DS cite Nintendo being disappointed with sales post-launch. The original DS is certainly a tough act to follow, but there are other reasons why we think the 3DS is off to a bumpy start. The priceOverall we liked the 3DS, but we felt that it was a bit too pricey for a handheld console that doesn't necessarily provide all-in-one functionality like other devices out there. Now with theWii dropping to just $150, the 3DS is now $100 more expensive than its home console cousin. The gamesThe launch game lineup for the 3DS wasn't exactly exciting, so we'd understand if a large population of potential customers are waiting for a killer app. To the surprise of many, Nintendo did not put forth a notable first-party effort, offering only three titles at launch. We liked Pilotwings Resort, but haven't dusted off Nintendogs + Cats or Steel Diver in weeks.The 3D controversyThere's no denying that when it's initially experienced, the 3DS' 3D effect is spectacular. That said, for some gamers it's a short-lived novelty. While claims of headaches and nausea seem to have subsided, there are still very real and annoying issues regarding viewing angle and motion. A sneeze can knock the 3D out of sync and playing it on something like a subway is beyond frustrating. It's also very confusing when games try to combine motion controls with 3D. The two essentially cancel the other out. If you move around the 3DS console to control say, Super Monkey Ball 3D, it's guaranteed to un-sync the 3D effect. Other shortcomingsMost of the online functionality of the 3DS is currently, well, offline. Even though we were told that May would see the debut of a 3DS store, we're still waiting. Of course the month is still young, but there hasn't been any sign of what's to come. Also, the 3DS' battery life is astonishingly short, something we've never really had to deal with in a Nintendo product before. We finished our official review stating that the 3DS has a bright future. We still stand behind that sentiment, but it's tough to see a light at the end of the tunnel when there continues to be a severe drought in the games department. Sure, the redesigned 3D rendition of Ocarina of Time will most likely sell systems, but we still think gamers need more of an incentive to take the plunge. Why don't you think the 3DS is selling as well as Nintendo had expected Do you own a 3DS Are you satisfied with your purchase Sound off below in our comments section.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple shareholders nix CEO succession disclosure]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-shareholders-nix-ceo-succession-disclosure</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-shareholders-nix-ceo-succession-disclosure</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:10:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tonylasky</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-shareholders-nix-ceo-succession-disclosure</guid>
<description><![CDATA[CUPERTINO, Calif.--Apple shareholders today rejected a proposal that would have required the company to disclose its succession plan for senior management.The proposal was one of two by shareholders aimed at adding transparency and a new voting standard to what is considered one of the most secretive technology companies. In its proxy materials ahead of the meeting, Apple's board had urged shareholders to vote against both proposals.As expected, Jobs was not present during the meeting. In his place was Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who has filled in for Jobs since January when Jobs, a pancreatic cancer survivor who has received a liver transplant, announced his latest medical leave. A group of shareholders had asked the company to reveal its plans for replacing Jobs, a request Apple had rallied against, saying such a revelation would give competitors an &quot;unfair advantage&quot; by publicizing the company's confidential objectives and plans. Nonetheless, earlier in the month Institutional Shareholder Services endorsed the proposal, which was originally put forward by the Central Laborers' Pension Fund, a holder of about 11,500 shares of Apple stock. The second proposal, which concerned majority voting of board members, passed, giving share owners the power to cast Nay votes against unopposed directors. Apple said its objection to the measure was based on differences in majority voting requirements by state, which, the company said, could add a &quot;layer of complexity&quot; to implementation. During the question and answer session that followed, Cook was joined on stage by Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, and Peter Oppenheimer, senior vice president and CFO. Cook talked up Apple's services over the past year, including its opening of 44 new retail stores and shipping of 40 million iPhones, doubling unit sales from the previous year. Cook also said the company had made great advances in China, tripling revenue there since last year.Pixelated motif on signage at Apple's Cupertino, Calif., campus.(Credit:Josh Lowensohn/CNET)Cook paid special attention to iOS, including theiPhone andiPad, saying that the OS continued to be &quot;years ahead&quot; of competitors' platforms. Cook also brought up next week's press event, saying that the invitation had provided some clues about what Apple planned to announce. Even so, audience members peppered the company about its strategic plans for iOS, including things like whether it would ever allow plug-ins, or how Apple could avoid the sort of hardware-specific software distribution limitations it experienced during theMac versus PC era in the early '90s, which went Microsoft's way. Schiller responded by saying that that had been &quot;a different time,&quot; and that the iPhone was a &quot;post-PC&quot; product. Apple's senior vice president of iOS Software, Scott Forstall, jumped in on the third-party plug-ins question, saying that plug-ins had been kept off the platform for stability and security, citing some of the difficulties in moving from Mac OS 7 to 8 as being a leading factor in that decision.  One audience member also brought up the conditions for workers at overseas factories where Apple products were produced, as well as asking if Cook, Schiller, or Oppenheimer had seen the play &quot;The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,&quot; playing about an hour away from Apple's campus, at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. All three said they hadn't, with Schiller seeming visibly frustrated by the question. Cook followed by offering details about Apple's considerable efforts to go through its supply chain to find problems that could be fixed, as well as noting that the company had helped reimburse close to $300 million in fees paid by workers. &quot;I am really proud of the changes we've forced,&quot; Cook said.Also of special interest was a question about whether Apple would ever offer a way for consumers to ditch their television sets to watch streaming TV shows on their computers instead. Schiller answered by saying that Apple was always adding &quot;new types&quot; of media. Even so, he said, counting out the TV at this point for live events would be a rash decision.And speaking of entertainment devices, Cook fielded a question about whether Apple had plans to get more serious about gaming, particularly with a dedicated device, by saying that the company was already in the gaming business with the iPod Touch, and had great success with a large library of games on the App Store. &quot;There's a segment who are using it as a primary gaming device,&quot; he said. &quot;We think that's a good place to be, where we are right now.&quot;One audience member also questioned what Apple was up to with its license of Liquidmetal, a query Cook politely shot down, saying the company does not discuss what it does with its investments short of saying that such investments were often for personnel, infrastructure, and intellectual property. Correction, 1:18 p.m. PT: This story initially misstated the nature of one of the shareholder votes. Apple shareholders at the meeting today voted against requiring the company to make public its plans for CEO succession. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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