jenniferleclaire.com » 2008

National Geographic Launches Video-Game Division

National Geographic on Tuesday announced a new twist for the science and educational organization — video games.National Geographic Games (NGG) will publish and develop games across major gaming console, handheld, online and mobile platforms. National Geographic also said it will work with premier game publishers and developers to create games based on its core themes and media properties.

The goal is to extend National Geographic’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet and reach a new generation of consumers and families.

“This is a combination of what I call the mainstreamization of video games,” said Michael Cai, a video-game analyst at Parks Associates. “Many different types of media companies and household brands are leveraging video games to a certain degree, whether it’s driving people to their portals or using video games as an advertising vehicle.”

Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.

Add comment November 19th, 2008

AT&T’s Samsung Eternity Supports Mobile TV

AT&T and Samsung on Monday introduced the Samsung Eternity, yet another touchscreen phone. The differentiator is that the phone supports AT&T Mobile TV, and the wireless carrier is offering a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.The black-and-chrome device has a 3.2-inch touchscreen and haptic support that vibrates to confirm selections on the touchscreen.

Three dedicated keys on the lower portion of the device streamline navigation. The phone also supports an accelerometer that automatically detects the device’s motion and the orientation. That makes it possible for users to tap into capabilities like autorotation of the display, motion-sensing games, and photo scrolling by tilting the device.

“Eternity can provide endless entertainment options for AT&T customers,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of devices for AT&T’s mobility and consumer operations. “Our customers are looking for mobile phones to be a remote control for their life, bringing music, the Internet, GPS navigation, and even TV with them on the go.”

Click here to read the rest of my story on CIOToday.

November 18th, 2008

Consoles Weather Economic Storm

The economy may be slowing, but the video-game industry seems to be wearing its bulletproof vest — with the notable exception of Sony .According to the NPD Group, sales of U.S. video games and hardware rose 18 percent from the year-ago period. Specifically, hardware sales were up five percent to $494.7 million.

“In the U.S., third-quarter total industry unit sales grew eight percent versus 2007, even as the economy showed accelerating signs of recession,” said Anita Frazier, an NPD analyst.

“As would be expected at this point in the console life cycle, games sales are starting to take the spotlight even as the average retail prices of games increased slightly,” she continued. “Heading into the critical fourth quarter, the U.S. game industry is on solid ground.”

Click here to read the rest of my story on Sci-Tech Today.

Add comment November 18th, 2008

Google’s Voice-Search App Is Slow in Arriving

The hype machine was churning Friday when The New York Times and others noted that Google had offered its voice-recognition technology to Apple’s iPhone before its own Android mobile platform.While Google employees even posed for photos showing an iPhone running its voice-search app, the free application the world expected to appear on Apple’s App Store still hadn’t shown up as of Monday morning.

So instead of reviews about Google’s app, there’s speculation about what’s taking Apple so long to get the app posted so iPhone users can begin downloading and using it.

“We’re seeing so much talk about the application not being available partly because Google got so much press,” said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy at Jupitermedia. “But Google is the one that said it was going to be available on Friday. Apple’s process moves as fast as Apple’s process moves.”

Click here to read the rest of my story in NewsFactor.

Add comment November 18th, 2008

Google Offers Search By Voice, and iPhone Gets It First

Google is pushing its voice-recognition technology to Apple’s iPhone first, before devices running its own Android mobile platform.The New York Times offered photographs of Google employees Vic Gundotra and Gummi Hafsteinsoon using an iPhone for a voice search. The free application was expected to be available on Apple’s App Store on Friday. Google reportedly will soon offer the technology for other devices, presumably including the T-Mobile G1, which uses Android.

“This is an expansion of types of applications Google has already been developing,” said Greg Sterling, principal analyst at Sterling Market Intelligence. “Google has GOOG411, which is the underlying technical engine. They also have a voice-search client for the BlackBerry which is limited to maps. So this is an evolutionary step.”

Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.

November 15th, 2008

Online Microsoft Store Opens for U.S. Customers

Microsoft on Friday opened an online store for U.S. customers. The company already has online marketplaces in the United Kingdom, Germany and Korea.The home page for the Microsoft Store features the Microsoft Xbox 360 hit Gears of War 2, but also offers various flavors of the Microsoft Office productivity suite. Microsoft also features the Zune and a small ad for Vista Ultimate.

“With this launch, our customers in the U.S. are able to buy first-party software and hardware directly from Microsoft, offered in a comprehensive online catalog,” Trevin Chow, Microsoft’s senior program manager, wrote on his blog. “On our store, you’ll find products from many categories, ranging from Office 2007 Home and Student and Zoo Tycoon 2 to Xbox 360 wireless controllers and the new Zune with that cool Buy from FM feature.”

Click here to read the rest of my story on NewsFactor.

Add comment November 15th, 2008

Sun Laying Off Up To 6,000 Workers in Restructuring

Sun Microsystems on Friday said it will lay off 15 to 18 percent of its workforce. The announcement comes as part of a series of changes the company is making as it continues an uphill struggle.Beyond laying off up to 6,000 employees, Sun will also break up its software into new business groups — Application Platform Software, Systems Platforms, and Cloud Computing & Developer Platforms. Sun’s intention is to boost its open-source momentum and attract new sectors of the market that view technology as a competitive weapon.

Sun expects the changes to align its costs with the global economic climate and accelerate the introduction of compelling open-source innovations. But some analysts are skeptical that these changes will fix the internal problems.

“Today, we have taken decisive actions to align Sun’s business with global economic realities and accelerate our delivery of key open-source platform innovations, from MySQL to Sun’s latest Open Storage offerings,” Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz said.

Click here to read the rest of my story on CIOToday.

Add comment November 15th, 2008

Archive for November, 2008

National Geographic Launches Video-Game Division

AT&T’s Samsung Eternity Supports Mobile TV

Consoles Weather Economic Storm

Google’s Voice-Search App Is Slow in Arriving

Google Offers Search By Voice, and iPhone Gets It First

Online Microsoft Store Opens for U.S. Customers

Sun Laying Off Up To 6,000 Workers in Restructuring