Opinion - SlashGear

‘opinion’ Stories

Columns

Apple Fall 2011: Worst Case Scenario (for Apple’s Competitors)

Avi Greengart, Sep 21st 2011 Discuss [37]

In my last column, I discussed what I consider a fairly plausible, if unsurprising, set of expectations for Apple this fall. I called it a Best Case Scenario (for Apple’s Competitors). Click through to read it, or if you need the Cliff’s Notes version, that would be:

1. The existing iPhone 4 remains on the market or is replaced with an 8 GB version.
2. Apple introduces the iPhone 5 with a larger display, dual core processor, and camera spec bump. And it’s thinner.
3. Apple updates the iPod line with new colors, tweaked designs, and a smaller nano that is designed to work well as a watch.

Read The Full Story

Columns

Apple Fall 2011: Best Case Scenario

Avi Greengart, Sep 18th 2011 Discuss [9]

In my recent report on Steve Jobs’ resignation, I noted that many pundits seem to think that without Steve at the helm, Apple will lose some of its competitive edge. While anything can happen in the long run, in the short term this is dangerously stupid thinking. Let’s recap:

Steve did not invent Apple products alone. Nearly his entire executive staff — including everyone involved in iOS product design, development, and manufacturing — is still at Apple, and it’s not like they will suddenly forgot the lessons learned from working with Steve over the past decade (the man makes a strong impression).

Read The Full Story

Columns

iPhone 5 will Officially Kill Off the Nintendo 3DS

Don Reisinger, Sep 17th 2011 Discuss [271]

Is it finally time to admit that portable 3D gaming just doesn’t work?

If you’ve been following the gaming business over the last year, you know that the Nintendo 3DS, which allows gamers to play titles in 3D without the need for special glasses, has faced a difficult market. In the second quarter of this year, Nintendo sold just 710,000 3DS units worldwide. Even worse, it could only get 110,000 units into homes in the U.S.

Read The Full Story

Columns

Microsoft is the Gaming Business’ New King

Don Reisinger, Sep 15th 2011 Discuss [35]

When I look around the gaming industry right now, it’s tough to find any single company that really “gets” it. Nintendo has the Wii, which was performing well for quite some time, but that device’s popularity has started to wane. And the 3DS has pretty much disappointed everyone from Nintendo’s CEO Satoru Iwata to his company’s most ardent supporters.

Read The Full Story

Columns

Windows 8 proves there’s more to tablets than iPad

Chris Davies, Sep 13th 2011 Discuss [25]

Windows 8 is here, and it’s all eyes on Microsoft’s tablet strategy as the industry gages whether it’s game-on or game-over against Apple’s iPad might. You’d be forgiven for your skepticism, mind: Microsoft’s previous idea of finger-friendliness was to ratchet up the font size and hope for the best. Yet with this latest demonstration, Windows 8 has shown itself to be not just shaping up as a solid OS, but as a truly interesting alternative to the current tablet template.

Read The Full Story

Columns

Will Apple CEO Tim Cook make a Game Console?

Don Reisinger, Sep 10th 2011 Discuss [43]

As many of you know, I’ve often been critical on these pages of Apple’s inability to fully capitalize on the living room. I’m a firm believer that the company has a real opportunity to be a dominant force in home entertainment, and yet, it hasn’t done anything to prove that. So far, the Apple TV is the best offering it has, and most would agree, that that device is still just a “hobby.”

Read The Full Story

Columns

Buying Hulu is a Bad Idea for any Company

Don Reisinger, Sep 8th 2011 Discuss [14]

There are times when I sit here and see the latest reports on the news and scratch my head. That has happened quite often as of late as the growing number of reports and rumors come in on all the companies looking to buy streaming-video provider Hulu.

Read The Full Story

Columns

Congratulations AT&T, you killed HTC’s tablet

Chris Davies, Sep 5th 2011 Discuss [24]

HTC just can’t catch a break with its US tablet plans. The HTC Flyer, when it launched as the EVO View 4G in the US, came with its most obvious component – the digital stylus that differentiated it from all the other Android tablets on the market – as an optional accessory. Now, AT&T has released the HTC Jetstream, a 10-inch Honeycomb model, and it’s time for another face-smack moment. The carrier is asking $699.99, and that’s with a two-year data agreement. It’s almost like AT&T doesn’t want the Jetstream to succeed.

Read The Full Story

Columns

Apple can learn some lessons from Sony

Don Reisinger, Sep 3rd 2011 Discuss [31]

In most markets it competes in, Apple easily defeats all others. In the mobile space, for example, the company’s iPhone 4 and iPad 2, are easily besting all others in total sales, due mainly to their strong features.

However, there is one space that Apple is lagging far behind: the living room. Currently, the company is trying to cement itself in the living room with the help of the Apple TV, a set-top box that, for years, has been called a hobby by Apple itself.

Read The Full Story

Columns

My Life Relies Upon Tech – And That’s OK

Don Reisinger, Sep 1st 2011 Discuss [5]

The last weekend was an adventure.

As I watched the news reports suggesting Hurricane Irene was on its way to my doorstep, I couldn’t help but think that it had little chance of affecting me. After all, I’ve never had to deal with a hurricane at any point in my life living here, and there was simply no reason to believe, I thought, that that would change.

Read The Full Story

Columns

To Snark, or Not to Snark

Philip Berne, Aug 28th 2011 Discuss [6]

I used to be the kind of guy who would yell at customer service representatives on the phone. I would call up my bank, or my airline, and scream at the person on the other end as if it were his fault that I had accidentally paid my electric bill too early, thus insuring the account had insufficient funds for the next 4 visits to Starbucks. I don’t think I ever ended one of those conversations without threatening to never, ever do business with that company again. I’m sure Delta was quaking in their boots thinking about losing the $389 in ticket sales I generate for them once a year. But somehow, they survived.

Read The Full Story

Columns

How will Steve Jobs’ resignation affect the Apple TV?

Don Reisinger, Aug 27th 2011 Discuss [18]

Much of the talk surrounding Steve Jobs’ decision to resign as CEO of Apple and assume the role of chairman of the company’s board of directors has centered on the iPhone maker’s financial performance and future in the mobile market.

To some extent, that’s understandable. Shareholders care more about Apple’s financial performance than anything else. And the only way for the company to maintain its strong financial picture is to continue to deliver outstanding mobile products, like the iPhone and iPad, that people actually want to buy.