Monday, April 30, 2012

They Ain?t Making Any More of Them: The Great Engineering Shortage of 2012

3483548677_3dc371b216_zEditor?s note: This post is authored by guest contributor Jon Bischke. Jon is a founder of Entelo and is an advisor to several startups. You can follow Jon on Twitter here. Corner any up-and-coming Kevin Systrom wanna-be and have a heart-to-heart about the challenges of building a successful company and at some point you'll likely wander into the territory of bemoaning how tough it is to hire people with technical skills. At a party recently a startup founder told me "If you could find me five great engineers in the next 90 days I'd pay you $400,000." Which is crazy talk.

beyonce dance for you nba lockout over nba lockout news nba lockout news gifts for mom gifts for mom pepper spray

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact cameras on the way

Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact cameras on the way

Canon reported its Q1 2012 earnings this week, and things certainly appear to have gone better than the last time we checked in when it replaced the company president. While revenue declined slightly, net profit reached 61.54 billion yen ($766 million), up 11 percent from a year ago. There's no executive moves to report, however on the earnings call executive VP and CFO Toshizo Tanaka noted a unit sales increase of 30 percent for SLR cameras including the new EOS 5D Mark III as well as the cheaper T3i, Mark II and 60D models, combined with strong sales for WiFi-connected point-and-shoots. As far as new products, while its new cinema cameras got a glancing mention the plan this year includes compact cameras "offering the image qualities that approaches SLR cameras", with improved design and network connectivity features. All the numbers and earnings call talk are in black and white at the links below, although we prefer to spend our time speculating about the future of mirrorless cameras.

Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact cameras on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCanon Q1 2012 earnings call, Q1 2012 results (PDF)  | Email this | Comments


eat to live eat to live ron paul money bomb ron paul money bomb bon vivant zynga ipo zynga ipo

A Billion Details and No Precedent—An Inside Look at the TSA's Scrambling Start [Tsa]

Building the TSA from scratch in the months following 9/11 seemed an insurmountable task, unrivaled in both scope and size. In Permanent Emergency, former TSA administrator Kip Hawley vividly reconstructs the breakneck pace at which this gargantuan security agency came about and how it came to be an institutional clusterf*ck. More »


state of the union address 2012 obama state of the union 2012 2012 state of the union address state of the union sotu boehner john boehner

Ikea cardboard digital camera: when Instagram isn't authentic enough (video)

Ikea cardboard digital camera: when Instagram isn't authentic enough

Forget TVs. Want something more whimsical and lo-fi than Instagram? This is a digital camera made of cardboard that Ikea included with its press kit at this year's Milan Design Week. It runs on two AA batteries (Ikea-branded, natch) and features a swing-out USB plug, viewfinder cutout, shutter key and paperclip-friendly erase button. While there are no details on the sensor, lens or storage capacity, the camera holds up to 40 pictures. It's expected to land in Ikea stores at some point but exact pricing and availability are still a mystery. No matter -- this camera is sure to impress hipsters everywhere (and yes, that includes us). Awesome demo video after the break.

Continue reading Ikea cardboard digital camera: when Instagram isn't authentic enough (video)

Ikea cardboard digital camera: when Instagram isn't authentic enough (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Inhabitat, Gizmodo  |  sourceFancy  | Email this | Comments


sinead o connor dan marino passing record ipad 2 cases movie times serene branson matthew mcconaughey to catch a predator

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Nintendo's gunning for retailers, expanding eShop offerings for Wii U, 3DS

Image

Nintendo is going to sell its 3DS and Wii U games through the eShop as well as on the high street. Concerned about the money wasted in "inventory," the company will let consumers choose where they get their fix from. The first two games to get the treatment will be New Super Mario Bros 2 and Onitore Brain Training (working title) for the handheld, with more expected in the future. As consumers transition to downloads, the company will keep its brick-and-mortar partners on-side by allowing them to sell "activation codes" to the digital titles -- although that does mean you'll have to drive down to Gamestop and back.

Nintendo's gunning for retailers, expanding eShop offerings for Wii U, 3DS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq, (2)  |  sourceNintendo, (2)  | Email this | Comments

two fat ladies dennys kindle fire glen davis kobe bryant a christmas story prime rib

Fuel TV asks for fans patience as they work for wider availability

During last week's UFC on Fuel event, Cagereaders vented their frustration about the lack of availability of Fuel across the country and how they are missing out on fights, pre and post-fight shows and news magazine shows. One reader said he hasn't missed a single UFC event in six years until the UFC started showing fights on Fuel, a station he can't get on Comcast, the nation's largest cable provider.

Readers also said that they have, on several occasions, called their cable provider to ask for Fuel. However, they have no idea if it's doing any good. Since the UFC started working with Fuel TV in January, there has been little word on if Fuel will be carried more widely any time soon.

Though Fuel won't say when, they did respond to Cagewriter's questions with this statement:

Everyone at FUEL TV wants exactly what UFC fans want ? to make our network available to every UFC fan possible. We appreciate their patience and have a team working diligently with distributors to make the network more widely available as quickly as possible.? In the meantime, we encourage UFC fans to call their TV provider and request that FUEL TV be added to their network lineup. ?Because, let's face it, watching UFC on FUEL TV is clearly a much better viewing experience than having to stream the fights online. To get FUEL TV, go to www.fuel.tv/getfueltv, or call 877-4 FUEL-TV.

The problem with patience is that it's rarely infinite in its supply. UFC fans who don't have Fuel missed out on Alexander Gustafsson, an exciting light heavyweight prospect. They may have patiently missed out on seeing his big win over Thiago Silva. How will fans react to missing the next breakout performance? Will they patiently wait until Fuel becomes widely available, or will they fail to care when it does?

mississippi state chris carpenter chris carpenter dick cheney hcg drops reason rally mad hatter

What a Facebook Phone Will Look Like: Features and OS

We heard it five months ago and we're hearing it again: Facebook is working on its own smartphone. If true, what might this super-social phone look like?

barnaby the cabin in the woods the cabin in the woods trace adkins the darkest hour the darkest hour neverland

Friday, April 27, 2012

Best Buy Connect no longer accepting new activations, service to end June 1st (update: confirmed)

Image

Remember Best Buy Connect? If so, you'll soon have a few more megabytes of humanized DDR3 freed up, as it appears that the retail giant is ready to put the kibosh on its own branded mobile broadband service nearly two years after it was first unveiled. According to the internal memo shown in the above screenshot, new activations are no longer allowed effective immediately, and the service for legacy customers will be cut off on the first of June.

So why the change of heart? Apparently Connect is the victim of a reshuffling of priorities, and the company determined that it "can achieve greater growth by delivering mobile broadband support in ways other than an exclusive Best Buy-branded service." Of course, this is bound to upset more than a handful of folks who have been relying on Connect for their data needs, and the retailer isn't leaving them completely in the dark: to help smooth out the transition, all Early Termination Fees will be waived, and all customers will receive a $125 or $150 gift card via email to curb the cost of moving to a different carrier. WiMAX Connect users, additionally, will also be given the option to switch over to Clear service. We're still awaiting official confirmation from Best Buy -- as of this moment, the official website remains up and running as if it's none the wiser -- but we'll update as soon as we hear more.

Update: Best Buy has now officially confirmed that the service will indeed be shut off on June 1st.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Best Buy Connect no longer accepting new activations, service to end June 1st (update: confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments


west side story final four 2012 bridesmaids winning lottery numbers megamillions winner kansas jayhawks mega millions results

Another Crowdfunding Player Enters The Fray: Apps Genius Launches GetFunded.com

getfunded.comThis may not have been the U.S. government's exact intention when when it passed the crowdfunding-friendly JOBS Act, but you have to wonder if it has also jumpstarted the number of crowdfunding sites out there competing for entrepreneurs' and consumers' attention. The latest comes from the social and mobile games developer Apps Genius -- (in)famous for its scatalogical riff on Angry Birds, "Angry Turds" -- which today announced that it is launching a new crowd-sourced funding site, GetFunded. Like Kickstarter and many others, GetFunded will be a "crowdfunding platform for entrepreneurs who are seeking new investments in their businesses and ideas," according to a statement from App Genius. Adam Kotkin, the CEO of Apps Genius, clarifies that just because his company is focused on games, this doesn't mean that GetFunded will be, too: it's aiming for everyone and everything. He tells me the site will be launched in the coming weeks.

superbowl recipes super bowl kick off chili recipes carlos condit diaz vs condit super bowl 2012 kickoff time football score

Big Time Rush Declare Themselves 'Best Boy Band Of All Time'

But, Battle of the Boy Bands competitors also show love for 'NSYNC.
By John Mitchell


Big Time Rush
Photo: MTV News

The competition continues to heat up in MTV News' Battle of the Boy Bands. Some huge favorites are falling behind as some unexpected fans come out of the woodwork to vote for their favorite groups.

At this point in the competition, Big Time Rush are well ahead of '90s R&B hitmakers All For One in their showdown, but anything can happen right up until voting closes today (April 26) at noon. So, the boys are here to tell you why you should vote for them and keep them in the race for the boy-band crown.

Highest Chart Achievement
The band, which was created for its namesake Nickelodeon show, enjoyed its strongest sales week ever when its November 2011 album, Elevate, debuted with over 70,000 in sales. However, their debut, 2010's BTR, while selling fewer copies (67,000) in its opening frame, actually enjoyed a higher chart position, debuting at an astounding #3 to Elevate's #12.

Standout Video
For sheer Backstreet nostalgia alone, it's got to be "Worldwide." The clip features the guys — Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr. and Logan Henderson — in all-white outfits, crooning their hearts out ballad-style, while hanging out in an airline terminal. The homage to the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" is undeniable — and we mean that as the highest of compliments.

Defining Tune
Well, that depends who you ask. "Boyfriend," the band's first official single sent to U.S. radio, remains their strongest-performing track on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #72. However, the band and its fans certainly have a connection with "Music Sounds Better With U," which was co-written by the band and Ryan Tedder — yes, that Ryan Tedder, a hitmaker in his own right with OneRepublic, who is currently one of the hottest songwriters in the world after his work with Beyoncé and Adele, among many others, earned much acclaim and major sales. The song inspired the name of their 2012 "Better With U" tour.

Debut Album
The aforementioned BTR, which went gold here in the U.S.

Biggest Competition
While they are up against All 4 One in round one of the competition, they aren't really the band's biggest threat in the overall competition. Interestingly, that position is held by some close friends of the band — fellow teen dreams One Direction. Big Time Rush and One Direction toured together earlier this year, right before 1D broke out big time.

So, why should you vote for Big Time Rush? Well, the boys themselves came up with a pretty good reason: "I know the other boy bands are really awesome, but seriously, Big Time Rush is the best boy band of all time," Henderson declared.

Pena added, "Not to mention that we have the best fans. So, all you Rushers out there, we love you."

The boys themselves had little trouble zeroing in on their own personal favorite boy band. After name-checking their fandom of several boy bands, from 98 Degrees and the Backstreet Boys to Hanson, the guys went with their gut and said the answer was easy: 'NSYNC.

Voting in round one of MTV's Battle of the Boy Bands is now open and runs until noon ET today (April 26). Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates!


Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Battle of the Boy Bands interactive bracket!

Related Videos Related Artists

bachelor finale courtney robertson ben flajnik randy moss randy moss hunger games premiere the bachelor