Game Accessories Maker Mad Catz Acquires Tritton Technologies

0

San Diego
– Mad Catz Interactive, a maker of video game accessories, announced on Tuesday
that it has acquired Tritton Technologies, the maker of a line of gaming audio
headsets, in a deal worth up to $9 million over five years.

The exact terms
call for a $1 million cash payment at closing, and a maximum of $9 million in
cash over the next five years, subject to the sales performance of Tritton’s
products.

Vista, Calif.-based Tritton, whose gaming headsets retail for between
$69 and $169, saw sales of $8 million in 2009.

"Tritton has developed an
attractive portfolio of premium products and a brand that resonates strongly with
gaming enthusiasts," said Mad Catz president and CEO Darren Richardson.

"Additionally, this acquisition further diversifies Mad Catz’ revenue base
and is consistent with our strategy to create shareholder value by leveraging
our global capabilities with high-value products that enhance the gaming
experience."

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/wzl1m

http://www.trittontechnologies.com

http://www.madcatz.com

HP

0

HP to Automate Data Centers, Cut 9,000 Jobs

0

Herndon,
Va.
– Technology giant HP (NYSE:  HPQ) said on
Tuesday that it will spend $1 billion to automate much of its data center
technology, resulting in the elimination of 9,000 jobs over the next few years.
The company said the move will provide new offerings and improved service
delivery to clients of its Enterprise Services business — launched last year
following its $13.9 billion acquisition of EDS.

The unit is based in Texas, but has major operations in Herndon, Virginia.
HP did not disclose the number of expected cuts by location.

"Over the
past 20 months, we focused on integrating EDS and improving
profitability," said Tom Iannotti, the senior vice president and general
manager of HP Enterprise Services.

"Now that the integration is largely
complete, we have identified significant opportunities to grow and scale the
business."

The company plans to consolidate the unit’s commercial data centers,
management platforms, networks, tools and applications.

Once completed, the
move is expected to save HP approximately $1 billion a year.

 

Related Links:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2010/100601a.html

Report: Microsoft's Project Natal to Sell for $149

0

Los Angeles – An anonymous source
tells Edge-Online.com that Microsoft’s (NASD: MSFT) Project Natal motion-based game system
will begin selling in the U.S.
from October for $149, or in a bundle with the Xbox 360 Arcade for $299. The
report notes that the $149 price point is higher than both previous price
rumors for the device, and for Sony’s rival motion-based game system, Move,
which will sell for under $100 and include a game.


 

Related Links:
http://www.edge-online.com/news/natal-to-cost-149-%E2%80%93-source

Nokia, Opera Pledge Support for Adobe Flash

0

San Francisco
– Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and mobile browser developer Opera Software have stated they will
support the new version of Adobe’s (NASD: ADBE) Flash development platform, CNET News com
reported. The two companies join Google, which also recently said its Android
operating system will support Flash, in giving Adobe traction in its dispute
with Apple (NASD: AAPL), which publicly stated its problems with Flash and banned it from
the iPhone and iPad. CNET also note that Time Warner and NBC Universal have
said they won’t port their Flash-based video libraries to support the iPad.


 

Related Links:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20006259-266.html

Boxee Adds Live Concert Streams From Wolfgang's Vault

0

Los Angeles
– Boxee, the provider of a Web-to-TV streaming service, said this week that it
has added live music content from Wolfgang’s Vault. Under the deal, Boxee users
can listen to up to 10 hours of live vintage and recent concert recordings per
month, while unlimited access costs $48 for an annual subscription.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/wvs48

(Boxee blog)

http://snipurl.com/wvs2h
(PaidContent)

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com

Sirius XM Releases Android Mobile Streaming App

0

New York
Satellite radio firm Sirius XM (NASD: SIRI) on Friday announced the release of a mobile
radio streaming application for Google Android-powered smartphones. Non-Sirius
XM-subscribers get a week of free streaming access, while Premium Online subscribers
can access the app at no additional charge.


 

Related Links:
http://www.siriusxm.com/android

Kobo Offers E-book Reader Software for iPad

0

Toronto
– Kobo, a maker of e-book reader software, announced on Friday that it has
released its iPad app in all markets where the iPad is available. The company released
regional versions for Canada,
the U.K. and Australia, and said a New Zealand app is coming soon.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/wvscj

http://www.kobobooks.com

Survey: Executives' Outlook Positive for First Time Since Crisis

0

Arlington, Va.
– For the first time since the start of the financial crisis, sentiment among U.S. senior
executives about the next year’s economic outlook has crossed into positive
territory, according to a new survey by the Corporate Executive Board (CEB).

Seventy percent of the 400 executives interviewed as part of CEB’s quarterly
Business Barometer said that they expect their companies’ revenues to increase,
with most (54%) expecting growth in excess of 5% over the next 12 months.

While
64% anticipate greater cost pressures, most believe they’ll remain minimal.

The
barometer currently stands at a reading of 51, compared with 49 last quarter
and 43 in the fourth quarter of 2009.

"While modest, the improvement in
executive sentiment is a positive sign that confidence in the recovery is
growing as business fundamentals continue to improve," said Oleg
Polishchuk, senior director of the CEB.

 

Related Links:
http://news.executiveboard.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1294

Danish Supreme Court Orders ISP to Block The Pirate Bay

0

Copenhagen, Denmark – Denmark’s Supreme Court has ruled
that local ISP Telenor must continue to block access to file-sharing hub The
Pirate Bay, upholding the rulings of two lower courts.

International record
label trade group IFPI filed suit two years ago.

The court cited the
"large-scale infringement of intellectual property rights" associated
with The Pirate Bay.

"The court’s decision is commendably clear. It confirms
that the ISP’s are part of the solution to the piracy problem," said Johan
Schluter, attorney for the record labels.

"The decision is an important
step in the right holders’ efforts to create an efficient market for movies,
music and literature on the Internet."

The IFPI added that it
"expect[s] the other Danish ISPs to follow the decision of the Supreme
Court and block their customers’ access to The Pirate Bay."

 

Related Links:
http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/20100528.html

http://snipurl.com/wvrno
(TorrentFreak)