| Microsoft announces Q3 2012 earnings: $17.41 billion in revenue, $6.37 billion income Apr 19th 2012, 20:21  Microsoft has announced its earnings for the third quarter of its fiscal year this afternoon, and it's reporting some record numbers: a six percent increase year-over-year to $17.41 billion in revenue and a 12 percent increase to $6.37 billion in operating income. Breaking things down by division, that includes $4.57 billion in revenue from Server & Tools, $5.81 billion from the Business Division (which includes Office), $4.62 billion from Windows and Windows Live, and $707 million from Online Services -- all increases from four to 14 percent. The one division seeing a big drop is Entertainment & Devices, which dropped a hefty 16 percent year-over-year to $1.62 billion -- something Microsoft blames on a "soft gaming console market," though it notes that the Xbox 360 remains the top console in the US for the 15th consecutive month. Developing... Continue reading Microsoft announces Q3 2012 earnings: $17.41 billion in revenue, $6.37 billion income Microsoft announces Q3 2012 earnings: $17.41 billion in revenue, $6.37 billion income originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Hands-on with AT&T Labs prototypes: ShadowPuppets and haptic steering wheel Apr 19th 2012, 20:08  We're not done with the AT&T prototypes yet. After putting our rears in the seat of a Porsche 911 and turning our questionable English into even more questionable Spanish, Ma Bell gave us a glimpse at some super rough devices fresh from the labs. The first one we got our hands on, really didn't need us to put our hands on it. ShadowPuppets sticks a webcam to a pico projector (literally... with gaffers tape) to create a touchless "multitouch" interface for your phone. Rather than have friends gather around your tiny iPhone display or force a person to awkwardly reach across you and tap on your handset, this concept lets anyone simply cast shadows to control the interface. It's not terribly dissimilar from a number of other projects out there, except it's specifically geared at turning smartphone interaction into a social experience. The demo required the assistance of an Alienware laptop, and the pinch to zoom function was a little wonky to say the least. Still, it was pretty easy to see how this might prove useful in daily life. The other concept on hand was the haptic feedback steering wheel the company dreamed up with help from Carnegie Mellon. While the research may sound compelling, the device it self couldn't be any rougher around the edges... literally. The design consisted of roughly cut chunks of foam taped (this time with packing tape, we believe) haphazardly to a game controller. On each piece of foam was a tiny vibrating actuator connected to an Arduino that dangled below in a vaguely menacing tangle of cables. The sensation as the vibrations travel in circular patterns (clockwise to indicate a right turn, counter clockwise for left), was strange to say the least. But, as the cycles sped up and the turn approached we grew less uncomfortable with the feeling of a vibrating steering wheel. And we actually found the increasing tempo an easier way to discern when a turn was approaching than hearing a robotic voice shout out, "turn left in 500 feet." Check out the gallery above for some not so glamorous shots of the future of tech. Hands-on with AT&T Labs prototypes: ShadowPuppets and haptic steering wheel originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | ASUS to sell pink and gold Zenbooks in the UK, where good taste is alive and well Apr 19th 2012, 19:57  You know what ASUS' Zenbooks needed, right? Like, even more than a cushier keyboard or Ivy Bridge refresh? The Malibu Beach House treatment, obviously. For those of you in dreary 'ol Blighty waiting for an Ultrabook with tropical coloring (but no sequins), take note: ASUS is going to start selling its candy-colored, oh-so classy Zenbooks in the UK. Specifically, that includes the 13-inch UX31 in hot pink, and the 11.6-inch UX21 in Rose Gold. Both will be available by the end of April, with the UX31 available through PC World and Curry's, and the UX21 through Littlewoods and Argos. Find the PR after below, and pay no mind to the lady editor behind the curtain doing a facepalm. Continue reading ASUS to sell pink and gold Zenbooks in the UK, where good taste is alive and well ASUS to sell pink and gold Zenbooks in the UK, where good taste is alive and well originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | NAB 2012 wrap-up Apr 19th 2012, 19:30  "That's a wrap!" Finally, an appropriate use for that industry cliché, since, ya know, we really are at a motion picture / television conference. As our first trip to the National Association of Broadcasters' annual event in Las Vegas fires its last frame, we're going to roll to the credits, honoring all those products that enabled us to justify spending a week in Sin City on the company dime. From Canon's 4K-capable 1D C (that'll sadly run you far more than $4k) to RED's Dragon sensor upgrade set to render "obsolescence obsolete," there's plenty to look forward to in the world of cinematography. We also happened upon a few consumer-facing gadgets, including Ceton's new DVR companion apps for Android and iOS, that Lenscaster SLR lens mount for iPad and a new Dolby 3D standard that could help propel glasses-free 3D into mass production. That's but a small sampling of the gadgets at NAB 2012, however, so jump past the break for all our hands-ons from the show. Continue reading NAB 2012 wrap-up NAB 2012 wrap-up originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | |
