Tuesday, July 31, 2012

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Miramax arrives on Lovefilm to let you relive the golden age of Weinsteins
Jul 31st 2012, 15:42

Miramax arrives on Lovefilm to let you relive the golden age of Weinsteins

Miramax has reached a deal with Lovefilm to get its back-catalog of award-winning films available on-demand in the UK and Germany. It's an unsurprising move given the company has similar deals in place with Netflix and Hulu to let you watch classics like Pulp Fiction, Clerks and Trainspotting whenever the urge takes you. While there was no official confirmation of a launch window, a cursory check of our own account reveals that some of the titles (including Kill Bill) are already popping up on the instant service.

Continue reading Miramax arrives on Lovefilm to let you relive the golden age of Weinsteins

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Miramax arrives on Lovefilm to let you relive the golden age of Weinsteins originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube will throw another $200 million at wannabe channel producers
Jul 31st 2012, 15:19

DNP YouTube will throw another $200 million at wannabe channel producers

Google's about to expand its original content experiment by spreading another $200 million around the video production community. The original $150 million, which created nearly 100 new YouTube channels with notables like Amy Poehler and NBA Star Blake Griffin, apparently caught on with advertisers who were willing to pay a premium to appear alongside branded, non-crummy content. It's also popular with the creative set, who like the instant feedback and flexibility to take a show 180 degrees if needed in order to draw eyeballs. Mountain View could possibly bring the more polished programs to French and British viewers by next year, on top of new US channels, according to WSJ sources. So if your talent needs an outlet, but the Sears gift card and allowance from your Mom won't cover the necessary explosions, you may want to get your pitch in order.

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YouTube will throw another $200 million at wannabe channel producers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Power goes out in India, affecting 600 million
Jul 31st 2012, 15:01

Power goes out in India, affecting 600 million

A power outage struck India's northern and eastern electrical grids earlier today, hitting around 600 million people -- that's roughly half of country's population of 1.2 billion -- cutting off electricity to businesses, transit and traffic lights, to name but a few. The power failure hit around 1pm local time "without warning" according to the electric company. The incident follows another major outage the day prior, which affect around 300 million people. Regions have taken to seeking out alternative energy sources such as hydro power, with local business utilizing backup diesel generators and the like, which have helped keep hospitals and airports in service.

[Photo by NASA]

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Power goes out in India, affecting 600 million originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe New York Times  | Email this | Comments

Sprint starts rolling out Ice Cream Sandwich update to HTC EVO 3D
Jul 31st 2012, 14:41

Sprint starts rolling out Ice Cream Sandwich update to HTC EVO 3D

It's official: we can finally add Sprint's three-dimensional EVO to that endeavoring list of slabs running Ice Cream Sandwich. According to multiple tipsters, and promptly confirmed by The Now Network's legitimate support page, Google's ICS assortment is now being delivered OTA -- a wee bit earlier than expected, no less -- to the now-discontinued HTC EVO 3D. As we could imagine, the tasty software update brings previously known features to the 4.3-inch device, including folders, improved browser, resizable widgets and the crowd-pleasing Face Unlock method. Needless to say, Sprint certainly took its sweet time to dish out the long-awaited 4.0 nuggets -- but better late than never, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Sprint starts rolling out Ice Cream Sandwich update to HTC EVO 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSprint  | Email this | Comments

Pantech Marauder QWERTY slider gets official for Verizon, runs $50 after rebate
Jul 31st 2012, 14:23

Pantech Marauder QWERTY slider gets official for Verizon, runs $50 after rebate

We just saw some evidence a few days ago a new QWERTY slider from Pantech would soon be hitting Verizon, and it turns out that was indeed the case. The carrier has now officially announced the Pantech Marauder, an LTE-equipped device that will set you back just $50 after a $50 mail-in rebate (on a two-year contract) when it becomes available on August 2nd. Not surprisingly, that won't exactly buy you the highest-end phone around -- you'll get a 3.8-inch WVGA screen, a 5-megapixel camera, an unspecified 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, mobile hotspot functionality, and Android 4.0. Somewhat notably, the phone also offers you a choice of Standard and Starter modes, the former of which is apparently stock Android (or something close to it) while the latter provides a simplified UI aimed at new smartphone users. Assuming they aren't scared off by a name like "Marauder," that is.

Continue reading Pantech Marauder QWERTY slider gets official for Verizon, runs $50 after rebate

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Pantech Marauder QWERTY slider gets official for Verizon, runs $50 after rebate originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceVerizon  | Email this | Comments

Google brings NYC subway alerts to Maps, makes public transit a little more bearable
Jul 31st 2012, 14:02

Google brings NYC subway alerts to maps, makes public transit a little more bearable

Google has offered up New York City subway information via Maps for some time now, but as anyone who's navigated the 100-plus-year-old transit system will happily tell / complain to you, such information is only so useful without info on the requisite service changes -- a lot of work goes into maintaining something that old. Google's upping its game by bringing services changes to Maps for Android and its web-based counterpart. Clicking on one of the 468 stations in Maps will bring up relevant maintenance information, as well as step-by-step instructions for navigating around it. Until Boingo rolls out WiFi to more stations, however, you might want to check your status before going underground.

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Google brings NYC subway alerts to Maps, makes public transit a little more bearable originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle  | Email this | Comments

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BBC shows off 33-megapixel Super Hi-Vision Olympic footage, we ask: why?
Jul 31st 2012, 13:30

BBC shows off 33megapixel Super HiVision Olympic footage, we ask why

The first live Super Hi-Vision broadcast for public consumption was of the Olympic opening ceremony in London last week. We didn't get to see that premiere, or the second or third screenings either -- but the fourth? Oh yes. We grabbed a seat right up front of a small theater inside BBC Broadcasting House, watched a live 33-megapixel feed from the Aquatics Center and absorbed some very fond memories in the process. At the same time, a question hung over the footage like a watermark: why bother? The world is barely getting to grips with the notion of 4K, so why did the BBC and Japanese broadcaster NHK go to the expense of sending a dedicated SHV video truck, a 22.2-channel SHV audio truck, and the world's only three 8K Ultra HDTV cameras to London? Fortunately, we caught up with someone in charge who was able to respond to that question. Read on for what they said, plus a slightly fuller sense of what the footage was like to watch.

Continue reading BBC shows off 33-megapixel Super Hi-Vision Olympic footage, we ask: why?

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BBC shows off 33-megapixel Super Hi-Vision Olympic footage, we ask: why? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV
Jul 31st 2012, 13:10

Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV

We haven't seen any official information yet, but tipsters report and we've confirmed on our own that Hulu Plus is quietly rolling out to Apple TV set-top boxes this morning. It was on our hockey pucks when we turned them on, while reports on Twitter indicate losing the connection before the icon appeared once the box came back online. We're checking it out now, and like Netflix, it allows users to pay for the service via iTunes if they choose. The menus and UI are all appropriately Apple TV styled, if you're not seeing it yet on your box then it should probably be there after a reboot. Otherwise it's the same old Hulu Plus, just (finally) on Apple TV without any hacks or redirects needed, any new users can snag a 1 week free trial by signing up on the website or through the device itself.

Update: We have official confirmation now, check the Hulu Blog for more information, or after the break for two quick demo videos.



[Thanks, Rune]

Continue reading Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV

Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceHulu Blog  | Email this | Comments

OUYA partners with Square Enix, names Final Fantasy III as launch title
Jul 31st 2012, 13:06

OUYA partners with Square Enix, names Final Fantasy III as launch title

We've been saying for a while now that a large deal of the success of Kickstarter blockbuster OUYA will hinge on the console's game selection. News just got a fair bit brighter on that front -- particularly for RPG fans. The company announced via its Kickstarter page (as per usual) that it has partnered with Square Enix. The first fruits of that burgeoning relationship will be Final Fantasy III, making the game a launch title for the console. The company is promising that the title will be "updated to exploit OUYA's high-definition resolution in glorious graphic detail" -- and, as is OUYA's M.O., players will be getting a free demo of the game. Oh, and for those keeping track, the product's Kickstarter page is currently at a mind-boggling $5,820,345 with eight days to go.

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OUYA partners with Square Enix, names Final Fantasy III as launch title originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceKickstarter  | Email this | Comments

T-Mobile urges the FCC to approve Verizon's spectrum deal, wants its cut
Jul 31st 2012, 12:33

T-Mobile urges the FCC to approve Verizon's spectrum deal, wants its cut

It's strange to see another network provider stepping up to the plate for Verizon, but some of T-Mobile's big hitters have visited the FCC to do just that. The company wants Verizon's acquisition of AWS spectrum licenses from SpectrumCo, Cox and Leap to be pushed through as quickly as possible, and its motives are pretty obvious: it comes just a month after the companies agreed to some friendly bandwidth-sharing once the deal's done. T-Mobile has also challenged comments from the Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG), which argues that Verizon's acquisition will hurt competition. Oh, how things have changed since T-Mobile was battling in completely the opposite direction.

T-Mobile urges the FCC to approve Verizon's spectrum deal, wants its cut originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TmoNews, FierceWireless  |  sourceFCC (1), (2), (3)  | Email this | Comments

The mighty Kuratas gets assembled on video
Jul 31st 2012, 12:11

DNP Kuratas

It'll cost you $1.35 million to own one, but putting together a Kuratas isn't any easier. The latest video of the monstrous mech shows it being transported and assembled. That means flatbeds, cranes and a whole lot of socket wrenches. Of course, at the end of the day, you've got a 13-foot tall robot you can climb inside. Certainly puts that Ikea bookshelf project into perspective, huh?

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The mighty Kuratas gets assembled on video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSuidobashi (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

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Sony Xperia Tablet leaked from internal slides: Surface-style keyboard and tentative $450 price tag
Jul 31st 2012, 11:24

Sony Xperia Tablet leaked from internal slides Surfacestyle keyboard and tentative $450 price tag

Sony's next-generation tablet appears to have leaked on internal slides spotted by German news site, Mobiflip. In short, it's thinner and lighter than the Tablet S, while internal specifications also trump it, including a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, Android 4.0 ("or later"), 3G connectivity and three storage options; 16, 32 and 64GB. The whole tablet follows the same folded magazine design of Sony's existing tablet, is splashproof and houses a 6,000mAh battery that the slides suggest will manage 10 hours of WiFi-based web browsing. There's even some tentative prcing, with the different-sized models marked up at $450, $550 and $650, respectively. The pictures also cover Sony's plans to add a lightweight keyboard to its next tablet, similar to Microsoft's Surface plans, but with some Smart Cover-esque kickstand skills thrown in for good measure. We've added a shot of the keyboard cover after the break, but you can take a tour of the rest of the slides -- which include a raft of accessories and docks -- at the source link below.

Continue reading Sony Xperia Tablet leaked from internal slides: Surface-style keyboard and tentative $450 price tag

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Sony Xperia Tablet leaked from internal slides: Surface-style keyboard and tentative $450 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceMobiflip (translated)  | Email this | Comments

Spotify adds radio streaming to its Android app
Jul 31st 2012, 11:11

Spotify adds radio streaming its Android app

Catching up to its iOS sibling, Spotify's announced that its premium users can now enjoy the same not-so-random radio playback functionality on Google-powered mobile devices. This includes creating "radio stations" from any artist, album or playlist you suggest and the ability togradually improve Spotify's playlist-making skills by offering thumbs-up (or down) feedback on its efforts. Visit the source for the Android app's latest version.

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Spotify adds radio streaming to its Android app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSpotify, Spotify (Google Play)  | Email this | Comments

Engadget Mobile Podcast 147 - 07.31.2012
Jul 31st 2012, 11:02

We're later than usual with this week's Engadget Mobile Podcast, but can you blame us? Just look at all of those long, complicated topics below. Earnings, specs, leaks, beams, Notes...it's a mobile casserole, just like Mom used to make, with a little dash of something unquantifiable...just a hint...oh, it's a healthy dose of Lutz to round things out. Grab a plate and gather 'round because this dish needs to be eaten while it's hot, hot, hot!

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen
Guest: Zach Lutz
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)

00:01:22 - Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile review
00:34:04 - Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) MDP benchmarks blow away the competition (update: video)
00:45:26 - AT&T's Garnet Red Galaxy S III for vampires: we go hands-on
00:53:12 - HTC explains decision to skip Android 4.0 for Desire HD: we'd rather not wipe your data
00:56:07 - HTC One X might drop to $100 on contract at AT&T, tempt our wallets (update: confirmed)
01:26:06 - Windows Phone 8 SDK leaks show quiet upgrades to backup, media and the kitchen sink
01:30:23 - Samsung's Q2 2012 earnings show $5.86 billion operating profit, that's a lot of Galaxy S IIIs
01:30:51 - LG Q2 2012 earnings show a loss on cellphones, but higher profits overall thanks to home theater
01:31:11 - Apple announces Q3 2012 earnings: $35 billion revenue, $8.8 billion in net profits
01:39:48 - Apple v. Samsung court filings reveal Sony-inspired iPhone, kickstand-equipped iPad and other prototypes
01:46:30 - Motorola to allow bootloader unlocking from Photon Q 4G LTE onwards
01:47:10 - Sony Xperia 'Mint' leaked and reviewed: 4.3-inch (?) HD screen, 13MP camera, 1.5GHz S4 processor
01:51:32 - AT&T reveals new multi-beam antenna tech for live events, could offer data speeds five times faster (video)

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 147 - 07.31.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Media files:
EngadgetMobile_Podcast_147.mp3 (audio/mpeg, 71.2 MB)
Panasonic Photosynthesis System converts carbon dioxide to organic material with plant-like efficiency
Jul 31st 2012, 10:41

Panasonic Artificial Photosynthesis System converts carbon dioxide to organic material with plantlike efficiency

Greenery may fulfill a superficial need to improve the landscape aesthetic, but plants play a much more critical role in regular life function, converting carbon dioxide to oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. Panasonic is among the companies attempting to replicate this natural procedure through artificial means, and it looks like the Japanese electronics maker is well on its way towards a viable solution. Presenting at the International Conference on the Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy this week, Panasonic announced the development of an Artificial Photosynthesis System, which uses a nitride semiconductor to convert water and carbon dioxide -- a byproduct of factories and power plants -- into an organic material called formic acid, which is used in the manufacturing of dyes and fragrances. Covering the planet in formic acid wouldn't necessarily represent progress, but assuming demand isn't exceeded, it certainly beats CO2. Best yet, Panasonic claims that the system converts the substances at plant-like efficiency rates, or 0.2 percent. Hit up the PR after the break for a more granular look at the company's creation.

Continue reading Panasonic Photosynthesis System converts carbon dioxide to organic material with plant-like efficiency

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Panasonic Photosynthesis System converts carbon dioxide to organic material with plant-like efficiency originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourcePanasonic  | Email this | Comments

Wikipad specs get real: 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 display, 1.4 GHz Tegra 3, Jelly Bean
Jul 31st 2012, 10:14

Wikipad-specs-get-real

The Wikipad gaming tablet has been ticking off boxes on its way to becoming a real product, and after bedding down with Gaikai game streaming and settling in to a 10.1-inch form factor, the rest of the hardware is now set. The chunky handheld will brandish an IPS display with 1,280 x 800 resolution, NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30 quad-core 1.4GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, at least 16GB storage and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Other notable items include 8-megapixel rear / 2-megapixel front cameras, six hours continuous gaming battery life and a 2D-only screen instead of the 3D originally touted -- at least, for the first model. The controller remains the same with a pair of triggers, bumpers, joysticks and start/select buttons, and will cover the slate's speakers and route sound out the front. The rest of the story is yet to come, namely exactly what that price will be and when you'll actually be able to pew-pew with it, but the company has promised to 'fess up soon. Meanwhile, though airy for a tablet at 560 grams (1.2 pounds), it's not exactly PS Vita or Nintendo 3DS XL territory -- but then a heavyweight contender could be exactly what handheld gaming needs.

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Wikipad specs get real: 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 display, 1.4 GHz Tegra 3, Jelly Bean originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 06:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Community  |  sourceVentureBeat  | Email this | Comments

First GHz Edition Radeon HD 7970 hits shelves, throws $699 wrench into AMD's pricing strategy
Jul 31st 2012, 09:54

First GHz Edition Radeon HD 7970 hits shelves, throws $699 spanner into AMD's pricing strategy

The GHz Edition was supposed to deliver a significant mid-cycle performance bump to AMD's flagship 7970, without any attendant rise in cost. Instead, according to AnandTech, it looks like third-party vendors are looking to exploit the GE has a chance to max out every other spec in addition to the updated silicon and then charge a premium. Sapphire's new Toxic card is a case in point -- a 6GB double-helping of VRAM and a "Lethal" BIOS mode that takes base clock up to 1150MHz and memory clock to 6.4GHz (compared to 6GHz on the stock card). Those who can splutter up $699 will surely love it, but it's no substitute for the $499 upgrade that AMD originally intended.

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First GHz Edition Radeon HD 7970 hits shelves, throws $699 wrench into AMD's pricing strategy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 05:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AnandTech  |  sourceNewegg  | Email this | Comments

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Twitter quietly adds clickable stock symbols
Jul 31st 2012, 09:22

Twitter adds clickable stock symbols  quietly

It might not pack the same thrill as the rumors of in-feed video, but Twitter has added clickable stock symbols on tweets. This now throws up search results for both the stock and the company, using a new 'cash' tag, like $FB, to differentiate from typical links and tags. As noted by TNW, it's bad news for the founder of StockTwits, a service that offered similar functionality to gather tweet-based financial nuggets. The new feature is live across Twitter's web client -- though it hasn't hit TweetDeck just yet -- and should make discovering exactly how many millions companies have made (or lost) all a bit faster.

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Twitter quietly adds clickable stock symbols originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 05:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch, TNW  |  sourceTwitter  | Email this | Comments

Verizon may cut what's left of Alltel data starting January 10th, 2013
Jul 31st 2012, 08:49

Verizon may cut what's left of Alltel data starting January 10th

Alltel customers brought under the Verizon umbrella have been getting more and more signals that it's time to let go of that legacy phone. The latest red flag is a letter that Droid-Life understands is making its way to holdout customers. According to one copy, Verizon will start shutting down the remnants of Alltel's data service on or near January 10th, 2013. Alltel's mobile data should be completely inert after April that year -- and those still clinging to the past will be down to basic phone calls and SMS until they get Verizon-blessed devices. At least corporate customers are getting incentives to cross the divide, so you can't accuse Verizon of forgetting to use the carrot along with the stick. We'll admit that we aren't exactly mourning the eventual loss ourselves: customers by that point will have had four years to make the leap, which in this era can feel like an eternity.

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Verizon may cut what's left of Alltel data starting January 10th, 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 04:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDroid-Life  | Email this | Comments

Toshiba slips into the red as latest earnings reveal $153 million loss
Jul 31st 2012, 08:23

Toshiba slips into the red as it records a $153 million loss

Toshiba's most recent fiscal results (the first of its 2012 financial year) show that while the company pulled in $16 billion in turnover, it slumped to a $154 million loss for the last three months. While its "social infrastructure" unit (power plants, LED light bulbs and radiation detectors) generated a $107 million profit, the consumer electronics and white-goods sectors continued to lose sales. The company attributes the loss to further restructuring costs as well as pointing an accusatory digit toward the European financial crisis and concerns about power generation capacity in Japan. Despite the gloom, the company says that it still expects to hit a target of $81 billion turnover and $3.8 billion profit before March 2013.

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Toshiba slips into the red as latest earnings reveal $153 million loss originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 04:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceToshiba (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

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