Some more information has emerged about the Wii U console.
And the biggest snippet is the fact that Nintendo’s sequel has been confirmed as launching before the end of 2012.
The company has learned “bitter” lessons from the 3DS launch, which failed to make the Christmas launch window and slipped to March, with sales suffering as a result.
Hopefully they’ll have learned pricing lessons as well, as the 3DS had too steep a price tag for many when it was first out.
The Wii has always been a competitive piece of hardware, of course, but the Wii U boasts higher-end technology capable of HD visuals, not to mention a mini-tablet controller, which will push the price up. Fingers crossed not by too much, though.
One of the other fails with the 3DS launch was the lack of big name games, with punters having to wait until the end of 2011 for the likes of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart.
The Wii U will apparently be launching replete with a stock of great titles, as it should be.
In other Wii U news, the controller will come with NFC technology as well, apparently. This will allow it to read cards or other objects with chips embedded in them, although again, we’re eyeing that potential price tag nervously.
Another rumour is that Nintendo may be considering a name change to differentiate the console more from the original Wii.
We guess we’ll find out about the name when the official unveiling comes at this year’s E3 in June. Hopefully, some impressive launch titles will be revealed, too.
In other Nintendo news, the company just updated its forecast for a bigger loss for the year running to April 2012. The estimated loss has been upped from 20 billion yen to 65 billion, not good at all.
3DS sales are still underperforming relative to Nintendo’s expectations, even after the big summer price cut. Whereas the handheld was previously expected to shift 16 million over the year, Nintendo has revised that figure down to 14 million according to Bloomberg.
Nokia has suffered a large loss in its latest financial results, with the company’s operating profit dropping by €950 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
That’s a complete reversal of the situation in 2010, when the firm posted a profit of almost €900 million.
Revenue dropped 21% year-on-year, from €12.6 billion to €10 billion.
However, Nokia was keen to point to net cash and other liquid assets of €5.6 billion, and also a “solid” fourth quarter performance in mobile phones, driven by the launch of its new Windows Phone handsets led by the Lumia 800.
The Finnish company said that it had sold “well over” a million Lumia devices so far, and will be continuing to invest in building its WP7 fortunes.
However, net smartphone sales were down 27%, so hardly buoyed by the launch of the Lumia yet. Windows Phone has yet to make any real impact on analysts’ market share figures.
CEO Stephen Elop commented: “From this beachhead of more than 1 million Lumia devices, you will see us push forward with the sales, marketing and successive product introductions necessary to be successful. We also plan to bring the Lumia series to additional markets including China and Latin America in the first half of 2012.”
“And, while we progressed in the right direction in 2011, we still have a tremendous amount to accomplish in 2012, and thus, it is my assessment that we are in the heart of our transition.”
The latest figures for the tablet market have been published by Strategy Analytics.
And the analyst firm has recorded more slippage in slate market share for Apple. The figures are for Q4 2011 market share, and show that the iPad has dropped to 58% from 68% in the final quarter of 2010.
That’s a considerable chunk of the market to lose to Android, which now holds 39%, up 10% year-on-year. The 40% mark is a figure that, earlier last year, some analysts were predicting Android would only reach in 2014.
Apparently the Kindle Fire and Nook budget Android slates represent some 40% of the Android slate share, so are currently driving the droid tablet world in the catch-up stakes, as anticipated.
Of course, these are estimates for tablets shipped, and how many are actually sold to consumers is another matter which is entirely more difficult to quantify.
Apple does tend to keep its inventory moving tightly with demand, and of course, the iPad 3 is just around the corner which could – and very likely will – change the market again.
Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, commented: “Android captured a record 39 percent share of global tablet shipments in Q4 2011, rising from 29 percent a year earlier. Global Android tablet shipments tripled annually to 10.5 million units.”
“Android is so far proving relatively popular with tablet manufacturers despite nagging concerns about fragmentation of Android’s operating system, user-interface and app store ecosystem.”
Global tablet shipments were 67 million units for 2011, up 260% on the previous year. The analyst firm noted consumers were increasingly purchasing tablets rather than laptops or even entry-level desktops.
MasterCard is all over the map when it comes to mobile payments. The credit company will partner with anyone, anywhere, anytime if it means getting new customers and making a buck on the deal. Its latest offering is called QkR, an Australian effort with support from the Hoyts chain of movie theaters and Commonwealth Bank. The initial trial run will be at La Premiere cinemas, where customers will be able to order and pay for food and beverages right from their seat with the QkR app. To initiate the transaction a you scan the QR code or tap the NFC tag attached to the arm rest, and a staff member delivers the trough of popcorn and kiddie pool of coke right to your seat. Now all we need is this sort of high-end treatment in American movie theaters. Check out the video after the break to see it in action.
January 23, 2012
MasterCard, Commonwealth Bank and Hoyts: Industry-Leading Innovation Piloted in Australia
Sydney, 24 January 2012: Australia will be the first country to pilot QkR™ by MasterCard, a new queue-busting mobile payment application developed by MasterCard that lets movie goers at selected La Premiere Hoyts cinemas order food and drinks directly from their seats by using their smart phone.
The new QkR by MasterCard in-cinema smart ordering service will be piloted by the Commonwealth Bank at a number of Hoyts cinemas for several weeks from January.
Guests of Hoyts’ luxurious La Premiere cinemas in Sydney who have an iPhone or Android handset will be able to buy food and drink from the comfort of their cinema seats through an application downloaded to their phone. Purchases are then delivered directly to their seat.
MasterCard Australia’s Head of Market Development and Innovation Matt Barr said the first pilot of QkR in Australia underlined MasterCard and the Commonwealth Bank’s leadership in innovation.
“We are delivering what can only be described as generational change in payments technology,” said Mr. Barr.
The QkR pilot is the latest development between MasterCard and the Commonwealth Bank and follows the launch of Commbank Kaching which, in addition to facilitating peer-to-peer payments, uses MasterCard PayPass to allow customers to simply tap their phone to pay at check-out.
“We’re focused on smart ways to simplify and improve the consumer experience,” said Mr Barr “QkR has many possible uses, and this pilot is just one great example of leveraging different technologies in a new way to create an easy and convenient ordering experience.”
Hoyts’ Chief Executive Officer, Delfin Fernandez said, “Hoyts has long embraced new technology to give our guests the ultimate cinema experience. Digital and 3D advances have revolutionised the on-screen magic and now QkR will eliminate the hassle of having to leave the cinema auditorium to place another food or drink order.
“For our La Premiere guests, being able to purchase a meal, dessert or another round of drinks using QkR without missing a second of the movie is a real luxury!” added Mr Fernandez.
According to Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Executive General Manager of Business Products and Development, Commonwealth Bank, the introduction of QkR is a further demonstration of how the Bank is continuing to push the boundaries of innovation in financial services.
“This is another step forward in the way we are helping to provide Australians and Australian businesses with the very best in convenient payment solutions,” said Ms Bayer Rosmarin.
“Our focus on technology and innovation has firmly positioned us at the forefront of the industry. We will be continuing to explore new developments, including working closely with our partners and business clients, so we can continue to move the banking and payments market forward in Australia and support the evolving needs of our customers.”
From January guests of Hoyts La Premiere cinemas at Westfield Chatswood and The Entertainment Quarter, both in Sydney, will be able to download the QkR by MasterCard application to their phone and make purchases either through scan, tap or type – scanning the QR code to make a purchase; tapping an NFC-capable device against the QR code on the seat or typing in the unique scan code. Each of these options will take the guest through to a menu where they can select items and proceed to purchase.
“Australians enthusiastically embrace new technologies – particularly those that make life easier. That’s why this is a great market to pilot QkR with Hoyts,” said Mr Barr.
“We launched MasterCard Labs in 2010 with the goal of developing, testing and bringing to market new payment options and we’re proud that we can bring leading edge technology here.”
How it works
For the Hoyts pilot, transactions are initiated when the consumer uses QkR by MasterCard to either scan the QR code on the seat table or entering a special QkR label. Consumers with NFC-enabled phones can also tap the label to initiate the experience.The food and beverage menu will launch and menu items can be purchased using the digital wallet the cardholder pre-registers with their debit or credit card details the first time they use QkR. Once the purchase is confirmed, the order and the seat location are sent to Hoyts staff and the order is then delivered to the moviegoer’s seat without ever having to go near a checkout line.
Making a purchase using QkR comes with the same high level of security as payments via all other MasterCard platforms. No cardholder data is stored on the phone, and QkR can be configured to request the number at time of purchase.
About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard (NYSE: MA) is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, travelling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Learn more at mastercard.com or follow us on Twitter @mastercardnews or join the conversation on The Heart of Commerce Blog.
About The Hoyts Corporation
Hoyts has delighted Australian cinema-goers for more than 100 years and is one of Australia’s most recognisable entertainment brands. Hoyts Exhibition, the cinema division of The Hoyts Corporation, manages 425 screens across 40 cinema complexes in Australia and a further 10 complexes in New Zealand. Hoyts La Premiere offers an unsurpassed cinema experience, with the ultimate in comfort, service and style. Guests enjoy a super-screen experience from luxurious, custom-made sofa-style seats. La Premiere offers a gourmet menu and reserve wine list, with in-cinema waiter service throughout the movie.
About Commonwealth Bank
Commonwealth Bank is Australia’s leading provider of integrated financial services including retail banking, premium banking, business banking, institutional banking, funds management, superannuation, insurance, investment and sharebroking products and services. The Group is one of the largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange and is included in the Morgan Stanley Capital Global Index. Commonwealth Bank is Money Magazine’s 2011 Bank of the Year and thanks to the recent migration of customers to a new core-banking platform, the Bank is the most technologically advanced in Australia.
Phones
- HTC Titan II PI86100 (AT&T)
- Huawei ES8100
- LG C395
- Motorola EX116
- Samsung GT-I9070
- Samsung GT-S5270Y (Ch@t 527 variant)
- Samsung GT-S7500L
- Sharp 104SH (Softbank, Japan)
- Sharp 105SH
- Sony Xperia S
- Sony Xperia acro HD (SO-03) (NTT DoCoMo, Japan)
Tablets and peripherals
- Huawei E355S-6 (USB stick)
Seriously, we can’t caveat this one enough — there is no way of knowing if this is in fact the Galaxy S III or, if it is, when it might come to market — but, it looks like Samsung’s “next big smartphone” just made a cameo on the company’s support pages. Listed as the GT-i9300, the mystery device reared its head over at the Global Download Center of the United Arab Emerites site. If Sammy is to keep with its naming scheme i93XX would be a flagship device — the i90XX line was the Galaxy S, i91XX represents the S2 series, while the i9250 and i9220 are the Nexus and Note respectively. As we warned before though, this could be some mid-range device and Samsung could be changing its naming conventions. Or, perhaps, its yet another variation of an existing model. Still, we’ll take this as a good sign that Seoul squad has something interesting brewing.
Sony’s PlayStation Vita hasn’t exactly sold like hotcakes over in Japan, so the company has sweetened the pot for the portable’s potential Stateside buyers. Those who placed pre-orders will get a couple of extra goodies for their $350. To go with the previously promised limited edition case, 4GB memory card and copy of Little Deviants, you’ll also receive 250MB of data from AT&T and a PlayStation Network game gratis as soon as you activate 3G on the device. Furthermore, folks buying a Vita on launch day can look forward to the same free data and PSN game, plus an 8GB memory card in exchange for their $300. So, that enough to get you on the handheld’s bandwagon? Sound off in the comments below.
Just wake up from a very restful week-long slumber? First of all, we’re envious of your good fortune. Second, Research in Motion made a few changes to its leadership chart. Third, you must be really hungry right about now. So grab a sandwich, come back in an hour and join Myriam, Brad, Sean Cooper and our very special guest Kevin Michaluk (yes, Mr. CrackBerry Kevin himself) as we discuss the northern news, as well as anything else that happened this week.
Be sure to send questions or comments you have for us or Kevin via Twitter (we’re @engadgetmobile), or make your voice heard in our Ustream chat room during the show!
January 27, 2012 5:00 PM EST
He was appointed with a fair bit of fanfare as the United States’ first Chief Technology Officer back in May of 2009, but it looks like Aneesh Chopra has decided that it’s now time to make room for the nation’s second CTO. The White House confirmed today that Chopra is stepping down from his position, noting that he has amassed a “dizzying array of accomplishments.” Among those are his contributions to the Obama administration’s national wireless strategy, a set of internet policy making principals, and a number of efforts related to the President’s open government strategy, including the Data.gov platform. No word on his successor just yet, nor is there any official word on what Chopra plans to do next — although The Washington Post reports that he’s expected to run for lieutenant governor of Virginia.