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Matt's take on interesting news.

Sony Cuts PlayStation 3 Prices as Many Xboxes Fail

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/09/business/09sony.html

Facing slower-than-expected sales of its PlayStation 3 video game system, Sony said it would announce Monday that it planned to lower the price of its console in the United States by $100, to $500, effective Thursday. The lower price of the 60-gigabyte device comes as a rival system, the Microsoft Xbox 360, is inundated with reports of widespread product failures. Microsoft announced last week that it would spend up to $1.15 billion to repair the machines.

My View: While this may increase the PlayStation's sales, the Xbox already has a huge market share and there is no way that people are willing to dish out an additional $500 plus accessories for a new console just because they won't be able to play their Xbox for a few weeks when they send it back. Plus, with the release of Halo 3 coming, many people will be buying the new Xbox just for the game. I don't see Microsoft having any problems other than all of the cash they have to dish out for the repairs.

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:: Permanent Link :: Posted 7/10/2007 :: 0 Comments :: Links to this post ::

Chiefs Defend Slow Network for the iPhone

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/technology/29phone.html

On the eve of the Apple iPhone's sale, the top executives of Apple and AT&T defended their decision to rely upon AT&T's slow Edge wireless data network, rather than a faster network that is less widely available. Apple's chief, Steven P. Jobs, saw the choice of network as a trade-off. Early reviews of the iPhone, while positive, have faulted the slower network because it will limit the palm-size wireless computers greatest strength - making the Internet easily accessible on the go.

My View: This is one thing that upsets me about companies today... they have no vision beyond the world of today. First of all, why on Earth is AT&T developing their own cellular and high-speed networks when standards like 3G have large support bases all over the world (minus the US). Secondly, why on Earth would Apple not support AT&T's faster network (as proprietary as it is)? Steve Jobs reasoned that people could use Wi-Fi connections for faster internet access, but as he argued against using the 3G standard, who is going to find a free Wi-Fi network in Ottumwa, Iowa? Silliness, I say, total silliness. One day cellphones will be like computers where you have a little bit of choice over these kinds of standards.

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:: Permanent Link :: Posted 6/29/2007 :: 0 Comments :: Links to this post ::

Outcome of an Ad Contest Starts an Uproar on YouTube

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/technology/27malibu.html

Some YouTube users cried foul this week when they saw the winning video in a Malibu Caribbean Rum user-generated advertising contest. The contest, which began in early May, solicited videos about Malibu Banana Rum set to the tune of "Banana Boat Song," also known as "Day-O." It offered a prize of $25,000 or, if the winner preferred, a banana grove in a tropical location.

My View: The only words that come to mind is the acronym "lol." It reminds me a lot of the recent story about the man that sued his drycleaner for $54 million over a pair of lost pants. Other than "lol-ing" at the people that are complaining, I don't really have too much to say about this.

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:: Permanent Link :: Posted 6/28/2007 :: 0 Comments :: Links to this post ::

The iPhone's features: What's new, what's not

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9733965-1.html

Unless you've cut yourself off from all media access this year, you know that on Friday, June 29 Apple will release its iPhone with AT&T. Ever since the device's unveiling last January, the tech world has been running in circles asking what the iPhone will be like, what it will do, and how it will do it. But because Apple hasn't been the leakiest of faucets when it comes to specs, the hype has resulted in a lot of speculation instead.

My View: Apple has definitely outdone themselves. To know that there are people standing in lines for a $500 cellphone is quite impressive. You typically see this kind of behavior for video game consoles. Upon reading the article, I found that while the iPhone doesn't actually have too many new innovations, it's the ease of use that Apple worked on. As you probably know by now, I'm not much of an Apple fan, but if this phone really is as packed with features yet as easy to use as they say, I will definitely have to give Apple a bit more attention.

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:: Permanent Link :: Posted 6/27/2007 :: 1 Comments :: Links to this post ::

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