…and it comes with a big price tag! I’ll let you decide if the onslaught of features being released with Nokia’s N96 is worth the $895.00 price tag, but I will tell you this: she sure is pretty.

Nokia has gone the extra mile to make an all inclusive device that [...]]]>

…and it comes with a big price tag! I’ll let you decide if the onslaught of features being released with Nokia’s N96 is worth the $895.00 price tag, but I will tell you this: she sure is pretty.

Nokia has gone the extra mile to make an all inclusive device that includes every option a wireless enthusiast could ask for. The Nokia N96′s wrap sheet includes: the ability to hold over 20,000 images and 18,000 songs, a 5 megapixel camera including video capability, 2.8 inch QVGA display, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and by the way of microSD – expandable memory. If I missed something, don’t worry, this device almost certainly has it. Really, its aim seems to be “one device to do it all.”

Where can you find it? Well the device had already been unleasehed in both India and the UK, as well as in limited quanities in the US. If you gotta have it, look to the Noka flagship stores in NY as well as Chicago — or of course, online.

Perhaps the most emblematic symbol of the [...]]]> We all have experienced for years the wired tangle of cables and wires that enabled many of the devices used in our modern lives. Wireless technology has improved that and allowed for the introduction of cell phones, mp3 players, PDAs, digital cameras, GPS units and many additional gadgets.

Perhaps the most emblematic symbol of the wireless revolution, the mobile phone, was originally designed as a cumbersome electronic device used for the transfer voice communication. At that time, no one imagined that a mobile phone could support additional services including: SMS, emailing, Internet access, gaming, bluetooth, infrared data transfers, camera, video recording, etc’.

Notably, although these are impressive technological achievements, the wireless innovation of today will become obsolete as continued improvements are made in the coming future. However, regardless of what progress is achieved, the consumers are still set to benefit.

Cell phone headsets provide such an example, starting with the wired kind that was available since the mid 90′s. Whether you’re a busy student, a frequent driver, or a professional business executive, the concept of a headset often appeals to many individuals. The headset was designed to free up the users’ hands as well as reduce the chance of radiation by providing some distance from the phone set. The wired solution is now superseded by the bluetooth version which offers the above advantages as well as becoming increasingly more of a high tech fashion accessory.

The theft lasted for more than a year and included a $47,900 camera from an HBO crew and a camcorder from a CNN employee. More than 100 items have been stolen. Among the [...]]]>

Pythias Brown, a baggage screener at Newark Liberty International Airport, is currently accused of stealing electronic gadgets from the luggage of passengers.

The theft lasted for more than a year and included a $47,900 camera from an HBO crew and a camcorder from a CNN employee. More than 100 items have been stolen. Among the items seized from Brown’s house were 66 cameras, 31 laptop computers, 20 cell phones, 17 sets of electronic games, 13 jewelry pieces, 12 GPS devices, 11 MP3 players, 8 camera lenses, 6 video cameras and 2 DVD players.

The spotlight was place on Brown when he tried to sell the items on eBay. Investigators placed the winning bid on the camera and later connected Brown’s address and credit card number as well as the post office video images from where the camera was sent, to the camera’s serial number.

Since the story broke out, Brown has been placed on administrative leave and is expected to soon be dismissed. If convicted, he is facing up to 10 years in prison.

RIM’s popular Blackberry gets a makeover and targets a new audience with their first flip phone offering. With a sleeker design, that also means a smaller keypad, the new device is suited more for the personal user than the business tycoon. In fact, the new model, called the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220, does not [...]]]>

RIM’s popular Blackberry gets a makeover and targets a new audience with their first flip phone offering. With a sleeker design, that also means a smaller keypad, the new device is suited more for the personal user than the business tycoon. In fact, the new model, called the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220, does not contain a full QWERTY keyboard, instead opting for a 20 button keypad.

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 also offers a 16GB memory card, two megapixel camera, built in Wi-fi, satellite navigation system and more. The release date should land in fall, and pricing has not yet been disclosed.

It’s a smart move by RIM – spreading their eggs into multiple baskets in an effort to protect their market share from significant competitors. My personal opinion is that the new phone will do well, especially amid recent Iphone connectivity blunders.

Various rumors are circulating the web about the release date of Google’s Android phone offering, some claiming it will be available (through T-Mobile) in just four weeks, some say five, and others still predict a much longer wait.

The Google Android device, called G1, will be sold by T-Mobile, with a hefty $399 price [...]]]>

Various rumors are circulating the web about the release date of Google’s Android phone offering, some claiming it will be available (through T-Mobile) in just four weeks, some say five, and others still predict a much longer wait.

The Google Android device, called G1, will be sold by T-Mobile, with a hefty $399 price tag for those paying full retail. You’ll have to sign a contract or be an existing T-mobile customer to get a better deal.

The phone is said to include a 3.0 megapixel camera, a touchscreen display, 3G connectivity and a full QWERTY keypad. Oh, and get this: you’ve got to have a Gmail account in order to fully activate the phone’s service.

Personally, I’m a Google-dork and tend to like everything they produce, however I thumb my nose at the requirement of having a Gmail account in order to activate services with the G1. That’s going a little too far, and I’d wager that this restriction will be removed.

Anyhow, no doubt the G1 release will make waves, but I’m not fully convinced yet that this is a good wave to surf.

Wow. There’s plenty of buzz surrounding Blockbuster’s offer to buy Circuit City. Blockbuster’s reasoning is full of the usual business jargon: cutting costs, benefiting from complementary products, exploiting the growing convergence of media content and electronic devices, etc. All this will result in a “game-changing retail concept [...]]]>

Wow. There’s plenty of buzz surrounding Blockbuster’s offer to buy Circuit City. Blockbuster’s reasoning is full of the usual business jargon: cutting costs, benefiting from complementary products, exploiting the growing convergence of media content and electronic devices, etc. All this will result in a “game-changing retail concept with a sustainable competitive advantage.”

I admit that I’m interested in seeing this deal happen just because it’d create something we haven’t seen before. Imagine movies and video games for sale/rent in the same store you buy electronics/gadgets. Sounds kind of fun, but a sustainable competitive advantage? I’m not so sure.

For more details, see below for text of press releases / letters from each company on the pending deal.

The full text of Blockbuster’s February 17 letter to Circuit City:

February 17, 2008
Mr. Philip J. Schoonover
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Circuit City Stores, Inc.
9950 Mayland Drive
Richmond, VA 23233

Dear Phil:

Since early December, we have had a number of conversations regarding the potential combination of our businesses. As a follow-up to those discussions, I would like to formally reiterate our interest in pursuing an acquisition of Circuit City. The purpose of this letter is to ensure that there is no ambiguity and to outline our proposal.

Our vision for the “new” Blockbuster is to be the most convenient source for media entertainment. We have undertaken a series of strategic initiatives including enhancement of our core rental business; a transition from solely rental to a concentration on consumer retail; and development of the fast-growing digital download market. We are pleased that these strategic initiatives have begun to improve our financial results and anticipate further improvement going forward.

The combination of Blockbuster and Circuit City will result in an $18 billion retail enterprise uniquely positioned for the convergence of media content and electronic devices. We would seek to differentiate products in both Blockbuster and Circuit City stores by offering exclusive content and content-enabled devices. Both companies would benefit from complementary products, marketing, management strengths, technology and distribution and the resulting synergies would significantly improve consolidated financial performance. Overall, I strongly believe that a combination of Blockbuster and Circuit City would deliver significant value to our respective shareholders, enhance the overall customer experience, and energize our employees.

Based on our review of publicly available information, we are confident that we can provide a substantial premium to your shareholders with an all cash offer in the range of $6.00 to $8.00 per share, subject to due diligence. We are also willing to pursue alternative structures which would enable Circuit City shareholders to receive stock and participate in what we believe would be an exciting future for the combined enterprise. Given current debt market conditions, we believe most of the cash necessary would

be generated through the issuance of additional Blockbuster equity, most probably in a rights offering to our existing shareholders. We believe they, and the market, will recognize the merits of this transaction and we are confident that we can raise the required equity. The borrowing capacity of the combined business would provide the remaining cash proceeds.

Time is of the essence and we are focused on minimizing the risk of business disruption. We are prepared to commence a very short due diligence process immediately, on the basis of exclusivity, with the intention of entering into a definitive agreement shortly thereafter. Attached, as an appendix to this letter, you will find a concise list of the most critical due diligence items which we would need to review in order to confirm our final offer. We have reviewed this potential transaction with our board of directors, and it is with their full support that we make this request to move forward. Given the importance of this opportunity to Blockbuster and the strong desire to complete it as soon as possible, we would be grateful for your response no later than 5:00 PM CST on February 21, 2008.

Again, I thank you for the time you have spent discussing this opportunity with me. I am prepared to discuss the details of this proposal at your earliest convenience and believe that we will be able to quickly come to a mutually beneficial agreement. I look forward to working together on this exciting opportunity.

Very truly yours,
Jim Keyes
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Blockbuster Inc.

APPENDIX

Critical Due Diligence Items

* Long-term corporate strategic plan and outlook (including 2008 in detail)
* Detailed store-level performance / economics
o Sales
o Store level G&A
o EBITDA (4-Wall)
o Cash Flow
* Detailed review of real estate footprint
o Lease abstracts
o Locations relative to Best Buy stores
* Corporate headcount with breakdown by division / department
* Detailed G&A expense structure
* Detailed organizational structure
* Monthly working capital schedules for past three years and projected months of 2008
* Current inventory and accounts receivable aging schedules
* Key terms of material supplier / vendor contracts
* IT system overview and structure
* Briefs outlining any outstanding / pending litigation claims or regulatory matters

Circuit City Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited Proposal from Blockbuster:

Circuit City Stores, Inc. today confirmed that it received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Circuit City for at least $6.00 per share in cash. Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the Circuit City Board of Directors, in consultation with its outside legal and financial advisors, will continue to carefully consider and evaluate Blockbuster’s unsolicited proposal. Circuit City advises shareholders to take no action at this time with respect to the unsolicited proposal from Blockbuster.

The Company noted that its Board of Directors has previously reviewed a similar private proposal from Blockbuster. Circuit City, Blockbuster and their respective financial advisors have been in a process of exchanging information regarding the proposal, but to date Blockbuster has been unable to satisfy Circuit City and its advisors that Blockbuster’s proposal could be financed. In particular, Blockbuster’s proposal appears to contemplate a rights offering of unprecedented size relative to the issuing company’s market capitalization and at a price that is at a significant premium to Blockbuster’s current market price. Circuit City’s advisors have noted that most rights offerings, of which there have been very few in the United States, occur at discounts to market.

In addition, Circuit City and its advisors have a number of other fundamental questions regarding the structure, sources and uses of funds and consents required with respect to the proposed transaction. Among those questions are whether the proposed acquisition would require a refinancing of the existing Blockbuster debt, and if so, what would be the terms and structure of any new debt; how large a rights offering would be required to fund the transaction and what steps Blockbuster has taken to provide a backstop to ensure successful execution of the rights offering contemplated; and what precise internal and external approvals Blockbuster anticipates for a proposed transaction, including approval of the contemplated rights offering by Blockbuster shareholders and registration of the offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While willing to engage in discussions to further understand Blockbuster’s proposal, having shared certain information with Blockbuster, Circuit City is unwilling to provide Blockbuster with additional detailed due diligence information and embark on a highly conditional undertaking until these questions are answered satisfactorily.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as Circuit City’s legal counsel and Goldman Sachs is serving as financial advisor.

According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), which cites its favorite source of “people familiar with the matter,” Google is working on a new search service for cellphones that will help consumers search for and buy ringtones, games, and other mobile content. Google has even considered including a “social-networking component” [...]]]>

According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), which cites its favorite source of “people familiar with the matter,” Google is working on a new search service for cellphones that will help consumers search for and buy ringtones, games, and other mobile content. Google has even considered including a “social-networking component” (whatever that means in this context). The new service sounds basically like Froogle, er, Google Product Search but for the cellphone.

Google already has cellphone versions for most of its popular services, including search, Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube. But Google will now effectively broker the sale of mobile content (likely via Google Checkout), which would divert consumers away from the likes of Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. Those companies have their own storefronts for selling you stuff, of course. And they get a significant chunk of such transactions.

Considering global sales of music, video, ringtones, and other mobile content was $27.4 billion last year (and growing rapidly), it’s no wonder Google wants in on the action. But when will the search giant work on what we really need?

Did you know the Google directory also contains a cell phone directory too?

1. iPod. An obvious first pick. But I [...]]]> Face it. A lot of technology and what’s on the Internet is just a plain old waste of time. There are some advances, however, that have managed to fill needs we didn’t even know we had. How in the world did we ever live without these?

1. iPod. An obvious first pick. But I seriously have no clue how anyone who likes music can live without one of these babies (or another quality mp3 player). I have vague memories of not hating my life before I got one, but then again it’s hard to be sure. Recently my old iPod Mini bit the dust and it took me about a month to replace it. My brand spankin’ new 80 gig iPod Video finally came a few weeks ago, and I was complete again. Because of the iPod, the music industry finds itself needing to be reinvented. Digital music downloads (fully and, ahem, partly legal) have become ubiquitous and podcasting is now a popular new information medium thanks largely to the iPod.

2. TiVo. No longer must we be jerked around by TV programming schedules and advertisers! By letting us choose when we want to watch our favorite shows, TiVo (as do DVRs in general) helps us watch more of the TV we want to watch, while magically seeming to reduce our total time in front of the tube. Huzzah! (Or maybe I’m just fooling myself with the whole “reduce total TV time bit” . . . )

3. MapQuest. Does anyone even remember how they got anywhere, say, ten years ago? Not me. I don’t recall using maps that much, and ten years ago we didn’t all have cell phones like we do today to call from the road. Did we give out a lot more directions to people? I honestly don’t even know. Actually, I tend to use Google Maps these days, but still—MapQuest gets the props for changing the paradigm of travel directions. That we get so upset at the tiniest map error just shows how completely online directions have insinuated themselves into our lives.

4. Netflix. The option never to walk into another Blockbuster alone is amazing! Also, I never realized how lacking my local video stores were in titles until I started looking around online at what the possibilities were. Even if you prefer Blockbuster Online, the movie rental business has been completely revamped in the last several years, and for the better. ]]> http://www.techconsumer.com/2007/07/10/four-technology-and-internet-innovations-that-unexpectedly-changed-my-life/feed/ 8