By John Letzing and Greg Morcroft
Shares of Internet search firm Google Inc. (GOOG) fell nearly 7% Friday to a six-month low after the Web search giant reported lower-than-expected earnings for the first quarter.
In early trading, shares of Google were down $39.51 to $539. It was the first time for the stock to drop below the $550 mark since mid-October when the stock got a boost from better-than-expected results for the third quarter of 2010.
Late Thursday, Google reported an adjusted profit of $8.08 a share, which missed the projection of $8.11 a share from a FactSet Research survey of analysts. Earnings rose 17% from the same period last year--and revenue beat analysts' forecasts--thanks to improving demand for the company's online advertising.
But heavy spending on new hires and other investments crimped the bottom line. Google added more than 1,900 employees to its headcount during the quarter, which made for the highest rate of new hires since the first quarter of 2008. Operating expenses rose to 33% of revenue for the quarter compared to 27% of revenues for the same period last year.
"We believe Google is likely to be range-bound for the foreseeable future," wrote Mark Mahaney of Citigroup, who downgraded the stock to a hold rating on Friday, saying the stock is now a "show-me story."
Mountain View, Calif.-based Google said its first-quarter net income rose to $2.3 billion, or $7.04 a share, from $1.96 billion, or $6.06 a share, in the same period a year earlier. Net revenue for the period ended March 31 rose to $6.5 billion, Google said. Excluding one-time items, earnings for the period were $8.08 a share.
Analysts polled by FactSet Research had expected first-quarter earnings excluding items of $8.11 a share and $6.3 billion in net revenue.
-By John Letzing and Greg Morcroft; 415-439-6400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com
Friday, April 15, 2011
Obama: Raise debt ceiling or risk global recession
CHICAGO (AP) — Failure by Congress to raise the U.S. debt limit "could plunge the world economy back into recession," President Barack Obama declared Friday, and he acknowledged that he must compromise on spending with Republicans who control the House to avoid such a crisis.
"I think it's absolutely right that it's not going to happen without some spending cuts," the president told The Associated Press in an interview in his hometown, agreeing with Republican House Speaker John Boehner's assessment.
Obama urged swift action to raise the ceiling on the money the nation can borrow, saying he doesn't want the United States to get close to a deadline that would destabilize markets. He said he was confident Congress ultimately would raise the limit.
"We always have. We will do it again," he said.
The president also said that he doesn't expect either side to get everything it wants in deficit negotiations and that he's pushing for "a smart compromise that's serious."
He warned of dire consequences if the debt ceiling is not raised before it hits its limit of $14.3 trillion in mid-May. But he said some questions about where the government trims its operations will have to be left until after the November 2012 presidential election.
The interview came a day after the Democratic president held the first major fundraising events of his re-election campaign, which was launched a week ago. To win a second term, Obama must convince a nation suffering from stubbornly high unemployment that he deserves more time to help the economy recover from a recession he inherited from George W. Bush.
"I think the economy's going to continue to improve, and I think that I can make an effective case ... that not only have I been able to yank this economy out of that hole" but also that he has been able to start making wise fundamental changes. He pointed to overhauling the health care system, investing in clean energy and making college more affordable.
"I'm the person who is best prepared for us to finish the job so that we're on track to succeed in the 21st century," Obama said.
The 2012 presidential race is the first in which the ultraconservative tea party coalition, which rails against the growth of government, excessive spending and Obama's presidency, will play a major role.
Obama said his views differ from the tea party in terms of the proper role of the government in society, but he also said he welcomes active public participation in democracy.
On the subject of the country's continuing war efforts, Obama refused to estimate how many troops he would pull out of Afghanistan this summer, saying he's waiting for a recommendation from Gen. David Petraeus, who is overseeing the mission.
"I'm confident that the withdrawal will be significant," he said, "a real process of transition" and "not a token gesture."
On Libya, Obama said he doesn't anticipate any stepped-up U.S. military role, even as he conceded that a stalemate exists on the ground. He credited the United States and NATO with averting a "wholesale slaughter" of civilians and said Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is under increasing pressure to leave.
The president said Gadhafi is "getting squeezed in all different kinds of ways," running out of money and supplies.
"I think it's absolutely right that it's not going to happen without some spending cuts," the president told The Associated Press in an interview in his hometown, agreeing with Republican House Speaker John Boehner's assessment.
Obama urged swift action to raise the ceiling on the money the nation can borrow, saying he doesn't want the United States to get close to a deadline that would destabilize markets. He said he was confident Congress ultimately would raise the limit.
"We always have. We will do it again," he said.
The president also said that he doesn't expect either side to get everything it wants in deficit negotiations and that he's pushing for "a smart compromise that's serious."
He warned of dire consequences if the debt ceiling is not raised before it hits its limit of $14.3 trillion in mid-May. But he said some questions about where the government trims its operations will have to be left until after the November 2012 presidential election.
The interview came a day after the Democratic president held the first major fundraising events of his re-election campaign, which was launched a week ago. To win a second term, Obama must convince a nation suffering from stubbornly high unemployment that he deserves more time to help the economy recover from a recession he inherited from George W. Bush.
"I think the economy's going to continue to improve, and I think that I can make an effective case ... that not only have I been able to yank this economy out of that hole" but also that he has been able to start making wise fundamental changes. He pointed to overhauling the health care system, investing in clean energy and making college more affordable.
"I'm the person who is best prepared for us to finish the job so that we're on track to succeed in the 21st century," Obama said.
The 2012 presidential race is the first in which the ultraconservative tea party coalition, which rails against the growth of government, excessive spending and Obama's presidency, will play a major role.
Obama said his views differ from the tea party in terms of the proper role of the government in society, but he also said he welcomes active public participation in democracy.
On the subject of the country's continuing war efforts, Obama refused to estimate how many troops he would pull out of Afghanistan this summer, saying he's waiting for a recommendation from Gen. David Petraeus, who is overseeing the mission.
"I'm confident that the withdrawal will be significant," he said, "a real process of transition" and "not a token gesture."
On Libya, Obama said he doesn't anticipate any stepped-up U.S. military role, even as he conceded that a stalemate exists on the ground. He credited the United States and NATO with averting a "wholesale slaughter" of civilians and said Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is under increasing pressure to leave.
The president said Gadhafi is "getting squeezed in all different kinds of ways," running out of money and supplies.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc vs. Samsung Galaxy S II
Which is better? Sony Ericsson's glitzy Xperia Arc or Samsung's stalwart Galaxy S II. We take a look and find out
Published on Apr 15, 2011
We examine the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc to see if it can stand up to Samsung’s Galaxy S II.
Form:
Samsung Galaxy S II – 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm, 116 g
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc - 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm, 117 g
Both these handsets have virtually the same physical proportions, however, while the size may be more or less the same, stylistically they are quite different.
The Samsung Galaxy S II is the more understated of the two phones with its continuous solid black colouration, sharp lines and angular design.
The Xperia Arc, meanwhile, has the characteristic flashiness of the Xperia line and shares much in its visual design with the Xperia Play.
Silver accents on the Xperia Arc are a prominent feature, often silver bodywork on smartphones comes off as tacky and cheap but that’s not the case here and it complements the unusual lines of the phone’s design.
The Arc has quite sharply angular corners but this is offset by the overall curved shape from which it gets its name.
Both phones are incredibly thin and very lightweight which is always a plus.
These phones represent a stylistic change in mobile handsets in general from smaller, more rounded and inconspicuous devices towards sleeker, sharper and more dynamic design.
Each handset here shows a different way of interpreting the same ethos, on the one hand you have the Xperia Arc which is flashier, louder and showier with its chrome trim and curved shape.
On the other there's the Samsung, completely jet black and with an emphasis on subtle understatement.
Which you prefer is a matter of personal preference but in either case it is nice to see this progressive visual trend. In our case we prefer the Samsung’s subtlety but that’s not to say the Xperia Arc’s loudness doesn’t have its place.
Winner - Draw
Display:
Sony has equipped the Xperia Arc with a 4.2-inch LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 854 pixels. Screen features include a scratch-resistant surface, multi-touch and accelerometer.
The handset uses the Timescape user interface (UI) under the Sony Mobile Bravia engine.
Samsung has also stuck to its own screen technology with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 800 pixels. The Super Amoled Plus screen features a Gorilla Glass display which is more resistant to cracks and scratches.
Accelerometer, gyro sensor and multi-touch are standard features and there’s also the TouchWiz 4.0 UI and Swype text input.
Both S-LCD and Super Amoled Plus screens have similar advantages in terms of brightness, colour depth and power efficiency and the differences in physical screen size and resolution are minimal.
Overall we feel both these handsets have excellent screen setups and would be quite happy to have either.
Winner – Draw
Processor:
The processing power is where things really start to differentiate between these two handsets.
Sony previously said that the Xperia Arc didn’t need a dual core processor and has instead given it a 1 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor on the MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset. This is backed up by an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).
For sticking with single core the Qualcomm Scorpion with Snapdragon was certainly a sensible choice as this combo provides the phone with a pretty good amount of power and it should perform well in all areas.
Samsung, though, has been a bit more forward-thinking and progressive by opting for a dual-core unit with a 1.2GHz Dual Core Exynos CPU, while graphics power comes from a Mali-400MP GPU.
This will outperform the Arc, the Exynos CPU is an excellent piece of hardware and will continue to be competitive for some time.
Opting for dual core should mean the Galaxy S II will be much more efficient.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S II
Published on Apr 15, 2011
We examine the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc to see if it can stand up to Samsung’s Galaxy S II.
Form:
Samsung Galaxy S II – 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm, 116 g
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc - 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm, 117 g
Both these handsets have virtually the same physical proportions, however, while the size may be more or less the same, stylistically they are quite different.
The Samsung Galaxy S II is the more understated of the two phones with its continuous solid black colouration, sharp lines and angular design.
The Xperia Arc, meanwhile, has the characteristic flashiness of the Xperia line and shares much in its visual design with the Xperia Play.
Silver accents on the Xperia Arc are a prominent feature, often silver bodywork on smartphones comes off as tacky and cheap but that’s not the case here and it complements the unusual lines of the phone’s design.
The Arc has quite sharply angular corners but this is offset by the overall curved shape from which it gets its name.
Both phones are incredibly thin and very lightweight which is always a plus.
These phones represent a stylistic change in mobile handsets in general from smaller, more rounded and inconspicuous devices towards sleeker, sharper and more dynamic design.
Each handset here shows a different way of interpreting the same ethos, on the one hand you have the Xperia Arc which is flashier, louder and showier with its chrome trim and curved shape.
On the other there's the Samsung, completely jet black and with an emphasis on subtle understatement.
Which you prefer is a matter of personal preference but in either case it is nice to see this progressive visual trend. In our case we prefer the Samsung’s subtlety but that’s not to say the Xperia Arc’s loudness doesn’t have its place.
Winner - Draw
Display:
Sony has equipped the Xperia Arc with a 4.2-inch LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 854 pixels. Screen features include a scratch-resistant surface, multi-touch and accelerometer.
The handset uses the Timescape user interface (UI) under the Sony Mobile Bravia engine.
Samsung has also stuck to its own screen technology with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 800 pixels. The Super Amoled Plus screen features a Gorilla Glass display which is more resistant to cracks and scratches.
Accelerometer, gyro sensor and multi-touch are standard features and there’s also the TouchWiz 4.0 UI and Swype text input.
Both S-LCD and Super Amoled Plus screens have similar advantages in terms of brightness, colour depth and power efficiency and the differences in physical screen size and resolution are minimal.
Overall we feel both these handsets have excellent screen setups and would be quite happy to have either.
Winner – Draw
Processor:
The processing power is where things really start to differentiate between these two handsets.
Sony previously said that the Xperia Arc didn’t need a dual core processor and has instead given it a 1 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor on the MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset. This is backed up by an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).
For sticking with single core the Qualcomm Scorpion with Snapdragon was certainly a sensible choice as this combo provides the phone with a pretty good amount of power and it should perform well in all areas.
Samsung, though, has been a bit more forward-thinking and progressive by opting for a dual-core unit with a 1.2GHz Dual Core Exynos CPU, while graphics power comes from a Mali-400MP GPU.
This will outperform the Arc, the Exynos CPU is an excellent piece of hardware and will continue to be competitive for some time.
Opting for dual core should mean the Galaxy S II will be much more efficient.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S II
Global PC sales on the decline… and the iPad’s to blame
According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the rise of tablets like the iPad means that we’re living in a post-PC era.
It looks like consumers agree. According to recent numbers released by analyst firm Gartner, worldwide PC shipments totaled just 84.3 million units in the first quarter of 2011. That’s a 1.1 percent decline from the first quarter of 2010, and the first year-over-year decline in the PC market in six quarters.
According to Gartner’s principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa, weak demand for consumer PCs was ultimately the biggest obstacle in their growth this quarter. Although low prices have historically been enough to stimulate growth, that doesn’t attract buyers anymore as consumers now turn their attention to “media tablets” like the iPad 2.
Gartner’s not spelling this out explicitly, so we will: they’re saying the iPad is killing the PC. Sure, they claim that consumers are more and more frequently turning to “media tablets” instead of laptops and PCs, but the only “media tablet” shipping and selling in bulk right now is the iPad. It owns well over 90% of the tablet market, in fact. You can’t get any more clear… tablets are muting demand for the PC.
It gets worse. Even though decline in the global PC market was just 1.1%, Gartner says it would have been far, far worse if not for steady growth in the professional PC sector. Would even this demand lose its urgency if there was a more serious enterprise alternative (or deployment) of the iPad?
Of course, at the end of the day, the iPad isn’t really killing the PC, but it is showing that most people don’t need a PC for most things. That’s something Apple’s got to be pleased with, even as PC manufacturers panic.
It looks like consumers agree. According to recent numbers released by analyst firm Gartner, worldwide PC shipments totaled just 84.3 million units in the first quarter of 2011. That’s a 1.1 percent decline from the first quarter of 2010, and the first year-over-year decline in the PC market in six quarters.
According to Gartner’s principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa, weak demand for consumer PCs was ultimately the biggest obstacle in their growth this quarter. Although low prices have historically been enough to stimulate growth, that doesn’t attract buyers anymore as consumers now turn their attention to “media tablets” like the iPad 2.
Gartner’s not spelling this out explicitly, so we will: they’re saying the iPad is killing the PC. Sure, they claim that consumers are more and more frequently turning to “media tablets” instead of laptops and PCs, but the only “media tablet” shipping and selling in bulk right now is the iPad. It owns well over 90% of the tablet market, in fact. You can’t get any more clear… tablets are muting demand for the PC.
It gets worse. Even though decline in the global PC market was just 1.1%, Gartner says it would have been far, far worse if not for steady growth in the professional PC sector. Would even this demand lose its urgency if there was a more serious enterprise alternative (or deployment) of the iPad?
Of course, at the end of the day, the iPad isn’t really killing the PC, but it is showing that most people don’t need a PC for most things. That’s something Apple’s got to be pleased with, even as PC manufacturers panic.
BlackBerry PlayBook vs iPad 2
Apple´s iPad 2 is lighter,thinner and faster than its predecessor.But will Apple´s tablet be able to stand in front of Blackberry Playbook?Let´s take a closer look on both tablets.iPad 2 runs with iOS 4.3 operating system.Apple´s iOS 4.3 brings a faster Safari browser experience,enhancements to AirPlay and new iTunes Home Sharing feature to the tablet.
It has an 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor and 512 MB of RAM.iPad 2 is 9.5 tall,7.31 inches wide and 0.34 inches thick.Has two poor-quality camaras,a front-facing camera for FaceTime video-chatting and a rear camara for taking photos and videos,has 1080p HDMI output.Unfortunately has no Flash support,no microSD card slot and no USB ports.It has a battery life of up to 10 hours and its prices start from $499.
Blackberry Playbook runs with QNX based operating system which is a departure from its older Blackberry OS.has a 1GHz dual-core processor,16 GB of RAM.Has a 7-inch screen and its dimensions are 5-1-inches tall,7.6-inches wide and 0.4-inches thick.It has Flash support and a USB port,1080p HDMI output,dual 1080p HD camaras for video conferencing and video capture(3MP front camara and 5 MP rear camara).
It has a battery of up to 6 hours.People Magazine said that Playbook´s dismal battery performance is because it incorporates Adobe Flash. Its price starts from $499.
It has an 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor and 512 MB of RAM.iPad 2 is 9.5 tall,7.31 inches wide and 0.34 inches thick.Has two poor-quality camaras,a front-facing camera for FaceTime video-chatting and a rear camara for taking photos and videos,has 1080p HDMI output.Unfortunately has no Flash support,no microSD card slot and no USB ports.It has a battery life of up to 10 hours and its prices start from $499.
Blackberry Playbook runs with QNX based operating system which is a departure from its older Blackberry OS.has a 1GHz dual-core processor,16 GB of RAM.Has a 7-inch screen and its dimensions are 5-1-inches tall,7.6-inches wide and 0.4-inches thick.It has Flash support and a USB port,1080p HDMI output,dual 1080p HD camaras for video conferencing and video capture(3MP front camara and 5 MP rear camara).
It has a battery of up to 6 hours.People Magazine said that Playbook´s dismal battery performance is because it incorporates Adobe Flash. Its price starts from $499.
BlackBerry PlayBook vs iPad 2
Apple´s iPad 2 is lighter,thinner and faster than its predecessor.But will Apple´s tablet be able to stand in front of Blackberry Playbook?Let´s take a closer look on both tablets.iPad 2 runs with iOS 4.3 operating system.Apple´s iOS 4.3 brings a faster Safari browser experience,enhancements to AirPlay and new iTunes Home Sharing feature to the tablet.
It has an 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor and 512 MB of RAM.iPad 2 is 9.5 tall,7.31 inches wide and 0.34 inches thick.Has two poor-quality camaras,a front-facing camera for FaceTime video-chatting and a rear camara for taking photos and videos,has 1080p HDMI output.Unfortunately has no Flash support,no microSD card slot and no USB ports.It has a battery life of up to 10 hours and its prices start from $499.
Blackberry Playbook runs with QNX based operating system which is a departure from its older Blackberry OS.has a 1GHz dual-core processor,16 GB of RAM.Has a 7-inch screen and its dimensions are 5-1-inches tall,7.6-inches wide and 0.4-inches thick.It has Flash support and a USB port,1080p HDMI output,dual 1080p HD camaras for video conferencing and video capture(3MP front camara and 5 MP rear camara).
It has a battery of up to 6 hours.People Magazine said that Playbook´s dismal battery performance is because it incorporates Adobe Flash. Its price starts from $499.
It has an 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor and 512 MB of RAM.iPad 2 is 9.5 tall,7.31 inches wide and 0.34 inches thick.Has two poor-quality camaras,a front-facing camera for FaceTime video-chatting and a rear camara for taking photos and videos,has 1080p HDMI output.Unfortunately has no Flash support,no microSD card slot and no USB ports.It has a battery life of up to 10 hours and its prices start from $499.
Blackberry Playbook runs with QNX based operating system which is a departure from its older Blackberry OS.has a 1GHz dual-core processor,16 GB of RAM.Has a 7-inch screen and its dimensions are 5-1-inches tall,7.6-inches wide and 0.4-inches thick.It has Flash support and a USB port,1080p HDMI output,dual 1080p HD camaras for video conferencing and video capture(3MP front camara and 5 MP rear camara).
It has a battery of up to 6 hours.People Magazine said that Playbook´s dismal battery performance is because it incorporates Adobe Flash. Its price starts from $499.
iPhone 5 and Motorola Droid Bionic: Release date rumors
Two smartphones are in headlines today, facing rumors of release date cancellation and delays. First, the much-anticipated as still good as rumor iPhone 5. According to a report by CNET, Asian-based website Digitimes is claiming that Apple suppliers that are expected to assemble the iPhone 5 are still clueless if Apple is really “cooking” a new device.
The report cited anonymous sources from touchscreen manufacturers, these companies are still manufacturing iPhone 4, and not iPhone 5 because the current iPhone generation still “continues to sell.” Is it possible that Apple is not into introducing a new generation because the iPhone 4 is still selling like hotcakes?
Meanwhile, Motorola Droid Bionic might be dead, according to a rumor reposted by PhAndroid. The phone was unveiled last quarter at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada together with Samsung Droid Charge and the HTC Thunderbolt, but Moto’s LTE-ready phone is still not active in the market (advertising, leaks, etc), indirectly suggesting that the Droid Bionic might have been ditched altogether.
iPhone 5 and Motorola Droid Bionic are considered as early rivals specs wise, although most of the tech specifications of iPhone 5 are still rumors: Like LTE/4G, larger screen size, dual-core processor, NFC etc. Verizon Wireless and AT&T are expected to sell the iPhone 5 (if ever), and Verizon is the exclusive carrier of the Motorola Droid Bionic if the phone will still push through.
The report cited anonymous sources from touchscreen manufacturers, these companies are still manufacturing iPhone 4, and not iPhone 5 because the current iPhone generation still “continues to sell.” Is it possible that Apple is not into introducing a new generation because the iPhone 4 is still selling like hotcakes?
Meanwhile, Motorola Droid Bionic might be dead, according to a rumor reposted by PhAndroid. The phone was unveiled last quarter at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada together with Samsung Droid Charge and the HTC Thunderbolt, but Moto’s LTE-ready phone is still not active in the market (advertising, leaks, etc), indirectly suggesting that the Droid Bionic might have been ditched altogether.
iPhone 5 and Motorola Droid Bionic are considered as early rivals specs wise, although most of the tech specifications of iPhone 5 are still rumors: Like LTE/4G, larger screen size, dual-core processor, NFC etc. Verizon Wireless and AT&T are expected to sell the iPhone 5 (if ever), and Verizon is the exclusive carrier of the Motorola Droid Bionic if the phone will still push through.
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