Apple regains number one smartphone spot – Apple Business – Macworld UK
Apple has emerged as the number one smartphone vendor worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2011, by a small margin, after losing ground to Samsung in the previous quarter, according to research firms Strategy Analytics and IHS iSuppli.
But the Korean giant has emerged as the market leader for the first time in 2011, the research firms said Thursday. Samsung shipped nearly 100 million smartphones during the year.
Samsung had a close to 20 percent share for the year, in comparison to Apple’s 19 percent share, according to Strategy Analytics.
Samsung had overtaken Apple in the third quarter, as customers waited for the iPhone 4S. Apple’s introduction of the new phone in the fourth quarter unleashed tremendous pent-up demand for the iPhone as consumers awaited the arrival of the latest model, said IHS iSuppli.
Besides competing in the market, Apple and Samsung are in fierce patent litigation, with Apple trying to block Samsung devices in many markets.
Global smartphone shipments grew 54 percent annually to reach a record 155 million units in the fourth quarter, said Strategy Analytics.
Apple’s smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter were 37 million, up 128 percent from the same quarter a year ago, it said. Shipments by Samsung in the quarter were 36.5 million, up 241 percent.
Nokia’s global smartphone market share halved from 33 percent in 2010 to 16 percent in 2011, mainly on account of a lackluster touchscreen smartphone portfolio and a limited presence in the U.S. market, Strategy Analytics said. Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft will be very much in focus during 2012, and the industry will be watching closely to see how swiftly the two companies can expand in the high-value 4G LTE (long term evolution) market that is rapidly emerging across the U.S., Japan and elsewhere, it added.
Other major Android licensees like Sony Ericsson and Motorola did not match Samsung’s strong smartphone performance in the fourth quarter or for the entire year, indicating that the Android smartphone market is becoming too crowded “as the various licensees compete for limited consumer mindshare and shelf space”, IHS iSuppli said.
Sony Ericsson shipped 9 million phones in the fourth quarter, a 20 percent decrease year-on-year, citing fierce competition and price erosion as reasons for the poor result. Its results for the quarter, which included a net loss and a drop in revenue, highlighted the struggles of many vendors who rely on Google’s Android to power its smartphones.
Global handset shipments meanwhile were 445 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 11 percent from the same quarter in the previous year. Nokia is still the leader with a 25.5 percent share for the quarter and close to 27 percent share for the full year, but its share has fallen from over 30 percent in the previous year. Strategy Analytics said. Samsung was the number two, followed by Apple.
Apple regains number one smartphone spot – Apple Business – Macworld UK
Related Websites
Categories: Technology Tags: 5 million, Apple, isuppli, patent litigation
Can the Film Industry learn from Modern Warfare 3?
After shifting 6.5 million copies in 24 hours, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 earned $400 million in sales, smashing records for a single day release of any entertainment product. the question is can the film industry learn from the success of the gaming industry?
The gaming industry has crossed over to cinema turning towards ‘Hollywood’ style marketing campaigns to promote new game releases. with ‘epic’ trailers, and superb sound design, trailers for video games are becoming a big viral phenomenon to spread the word, and get people excited about new games.
Modern Warfare 3 Trailer
Hollywood studios have long used trailers as a means to promote their big releases, but why is it that no movie has ever grossed $400 million in one day? one thing’s for sure; the price of a game is roughly 3-5 times more than a movie ticket. However, the experience of a game lasts much longer than a 2-hour film. so in terms of product duration, games are always going to exceed the running user time of a film.
However, could we not envisage an immersive experience for film releases that brings the value and hype up to a new level to warrant a higher price? Going to the cinema is an outing for friends and family, but tickets remain below the price of a physical DVD or Bluray. why would you want to spend more than the actual product when you could just buy it and skip the cinema?
3D has come closer to that reality, but charging too high a price for a movie ticket has put audiences off, and a slate of bad releases, according to DreamWorks Animations CEO, has done damage to the brand of 3D. although 3D provides a new interactive experience, you are still getting the same value: a 2-hour movie that happens to have more of a visual ‘wow’.
So is there really any way for Hollywood to achieve the same success with movie releases? perhaps. Digital sales could boost profitability on day 1 of release.
Here’s how:
People wishing to go to the cinema can check out the screening on the very day, but those who wish to stay at home could pay a ‘premium’ price to get a digital download (more than a DVD or a movie ticket). with the rise of home cinemas, audiences could share the box office experience in their own living room, which could boost box office revenues for studios and reduce losses to digital piracy.
The flip side to this is that digital copies would be available on the web and box office takings would fall. if there was a better way to control digital sales and piracy, this kind of ‘premium’ digital downloading could be rolled out as an alternative to the cinema.
In the end its only a matter of time before audiences fully embrace digital downloads, and the tangible product of a DVD or Bluray disappears.
Can the Film Industry learn from Modern Warfare 3?
Related Websites
Categories: Movie and Dining Reviews Tags: 5 million, duration, film industry, hollywood style, marketing campaigns, video games
Battlefield 3 sells 5 million units in first week, becoming fastest-selling game in EA’s history
by Maria Santiago
Electronic Arts has announced that based on internal estimates, Battlefield 3 has sold through 5 million units in the first week globally, making it the fastest-selling game in EA’s history. the outstanding retail performance is driven by critic’s reviews averaging above 85 on console and above 90 on PC.
Word-of-mouth from gamers is also driving sales — Battlefield 3 now has more than 2.5 million “likes” on Facebook.
Following the tradition of all games in this storied franchise; Battlefield 3 includes a superior multi-player experience. Consumers have logged-on in unprecedented numbers to team up and join the battle. Server stability was solid in the first weekend, delivering EA’s highest-ever usage rates.
While some players experienced intermittent disruption of online services due to high volume, internal estimates show that servers and service uptime stabilized to roughly 98.9% throughout the weekend, ensuring that players were connected and enjoying the game. with a commitment to support the game as a software service, EA is listening to consumer feedback and is making daily updates and improvements to ensure an optimal online experience for all.
Battlefield 3 continues to set new EA records this weekend:
- 2.5 million Facebook “likes” with hundreds of thousands of fans actively engaged
- Over 200K followers on Twitter
- Battlefield 3 fans executed 73 million savior kills, 48 million revives and destroyed 67 million vehicles
“From Tokyo to Los Angeles, Sydney to London, millions of fans have been playing all weekend long – we are overwhelmed by the global response to Battlefield 3,” said Patrick Soderlund, Executive Vice President of the EA Games label. “It is extremely gratifying to deliver an entertainment experience that delights our fans, and to have the opportunity to introduce new people to the franchise. Already, we are seeing unprecedented play times and online activity which is very rewarding. This launch solidifies Battlefield as a leading entertainment brand.”
Battlefield 3 employs the state-of-the-art Frostbite 2 game engine that creates a massive sense of scale, completely destructible environments and enables players to pilot a range of vehicles from jets and tanks to choppers and jeeps. with the addition of Battlelog, the Battlefield social network service, fans can stay connected as they rise to the challenge to become one of the world’s best soldiers.
To accompany the game, Orion Publishing released a novel called Battlefield 3: the Russian written by the highly decorated ex-SAS operator and best-selling author of Bravo Two zero, Andy McNab, with co-author Peter Grimsdale. McNab worked with the creative team at DICE to ensure the authenticity of today’s warfare is experienced in the single player, co-op and multiplayer campaigns.
The Battlefield franchise began in 2002 and has risen to international acclaim over the last decade. Developed by DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, the series has sold 50 million units life-to-date. since the launch of the first title, Battlefield 1942, DICE has released 17 games and expansion packs in the Battlefield franchise; all with the series’ signature open sandbox gameplay, vast array of military vehicles and an emphasis on social multiplayer with friends. with the release of Battlefield 3, DICE takes the franchise — and the shooter category — to new heights with the introduction of the advanced Frostbite 2 game engine technology and the Battlelog social network.
Battlefield 3 is available now in North America and Europe for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PC. Battlefield 3 is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB. Fans of the game and DICE can purchase merchandise online at the all-new DICE store at www.store.dice.se.
Related articles
Battlefield 3 sells 5 million units in first week, becoming fastest-selling game in EA’s history
Related Websites
Categories: Technology Tags: 5 million, daily updates, multi player, retail performance, storied franchise
NFL notes: Braylon Edwards suit
San Francisco receiver and former Jet Braylon Edwards has filed a $14 million slander lawsuit, claiming allegations that he was directly involved in a fight at a suburban Detroit restaurant cost him a big guaranteed contract from another NFL team.
Edwards accuses the South restaurant and bar in Birmingham and three of its employees of slander, extortion and malicious prosecution.
Edwards said he had an offer from an NFL team with $15 million guaranteed, the suit says, but he “was forced to take a contract with a different NFL team “for only $1 million” in guaranteed money. last month, Edwards signed a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the 49ers.
Veteran cornerback Will Allen has re-signed with the Miami Dolphins after they were riddled for 517 yards passing by Tom Brady in the season opener.
The former Giant, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, rejoined Miami on Wednesday after being cut last week.
Allen started 53 games for Miami from 2006-09 after playing for the Giants from 2001-05.
Cornerback Charles Woodson was fined $10,000 for throwing a punch in Green Bay’s season opener against new Orleans, a person familiar with the situation told The associated Press.
Woodson was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter after throwing a punch at Saints tight end David Thomas.
Neal out indefinitely
Packers coach Mike McCarthy says defensive end Mike Neal will miss a “significant” amount of time after having surgery this week.
Neal hurt his left knee during a non-contact drill in training camp. Coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, he was widely expected to play an increased role after Cullen Jenkins left as a free agent.
Urlacher bereavement
Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has left the team following the death of his mother.
Urlacher’s mother, Lavoyda, died unexpectedly at her home in Texas. It wasn’t clear whether Urlacher will be back for practice or in time for Sunday’s game at new Orleans.
Six straight losing seasons, a poor economy and the NFL lockout are blamed for Buffalo’s lowest season-ticket sales figures in 10 years.
Chief executive officer Russ Brandon says the Bills have sold 37,555 season tickets leading up to their home opener against Oakland on Sunday. that number is about 1,000 more than the Bills sold in 2001, but about 6,500 short of last year’s total.
— The associated Press
NFL notes: Braylon Edwards suit
Related Websites
Categories: News and Events Tags: 5 million, detroit restaurant, edwards, extortion, suburban detroit
Charts: Lady Gaga leads 2010 sales figures across the world
If you haven’t already seen them, the “United World Chart” was just released, which “encircled the weekly charts from January 16, 2010 till January 8, 2011…the figures are cumulative sales of an album included sales outside the weekly top 40″ and the acts on the top 40 of the list are pretty easy to understand (Justin Bieber at 3, Katy Perry at 11, Black Eyed Peas at 7 and 31, etc.) but the numbers are still pretty grim. Topping the chart for the year was Lady Gaga’s sophomore The Fame Monster disc with only 5.8 million copies sold–around the world. We’re not experts on chart numbers and Soundscan or anything like that, but those numbers seem super weak for the recording industry.
In any event, we were super thrilled to see some of our favorite artists from the zeitgeist on the chart, like Kanye West, Mumford & Sons, Sade (who is in the top 10), Muse, Florence & The Machine and Gorillaz all selling quite well.
Here’s the top 10 Chart:
01 Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster – 5.8 million 02 Eminem, Recovery – 5.7 million 03 Justin Bieber, My World + My World 2.0 – 5.6 million 04 Lady Antebellum, need You Now – 3.6 million 05 Taylor Swift, Speak Now – 3.5 million 06 Susan Boyle, The Gift – 3 million 07 The Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. – 3 million 08 Michael Buble, Crazy love – 3 million 09 Sade, Solider of love – 2.3 million 10 Alicia Keys, The Element of Freedom – 2.3 million
Charts: Lady Gaga leads 2010 sales figures across the world
Related Websites
Categories: News and Events Tags: 5 million, alicia keys, kanye west, sade, sophomore, soundscan
