Microsoft's Line-Up For XBox Video

Here's a list of participating providers and studios that will be offer their services and contents for the Xbox.  All of this is from a deal Microsoft announced earlier today.

I'm like ESPN, HBO, Manga, and BBC.  

There are a few like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon that are participating. I'm not sure what they are bring to the table.  Their channels?  That would be good.  Perhaps, this is why Dish Network offered its Blockbuster streaming a week or so ago.  

And then you've got the old ones like Hulu and Netflix.  Now, this is competition.

I am trying to see just how Apple and Google will try to counter this.  I see Google offer similar services for Google TV.  Apple?  Maybe these individual services can be persuaded to write apps and stream their video on iOS devices including Apple TV.

I Love Apple Rumors And Will Continue To Read Them But They Owe Readers Explanations For Each Piece Of Info That Did Not Pan Out

Some on Wall Street are afraid that Apple’s iPhone 4S has given a window of opportunity to other mobile platforms.  And they could be right.  But it is also Wall Street who starting on this window of opportunity with their wild predictions that looked like they’re reading the same rumor sites we all are, talks about supply chain checks that never panned out, and information from questionable sources who probably have their own agendas.

Take the WSJ and BGR combo that said the iPhone 5 will be a Sprint exclusive.  Yeah, not only was there no iPhone 5, the only exclusive that remains is the iPhone 3GS that AT&T is selling.

Here’s a list of rumors that Gawker put together of. All are major FAILs.

So far, this morning, few sites if any issued retractions or apologies for disappointing their readers.  After all, a few of them even offered up their information as “exclusives” like Boy Genius Report.  Okay, BGR I get but WSJ, Bloomberg, and NYT?

Journalism is lead.  Long live rumor blogging.

Microsoft Considers Courting Yahoo Once Again

I'm not sure why Microsoft wants Yahoo this badly.  After all, they've got a search and ad seal with them already. 

Maybe it has to do with the international reach of the Yahoo properties or some kind of hidden value.  The question for Yahoo's board is if they make a deal this time around or not.  Since Microsoft's last offer, Yahoo has lost billions in market cap and with its CEO firing debacle, things don't look to get better any time soon.

What's interesting is that Microsoft is looking at a partner to go after Yahoo.  As cash rich as Redmond is, putting down $25 to $30 billion is still a large chunk of dinero.  

Money and valuation aside, core Yahoo guys need to know that if they sell, they have a buyer who can allow Yahoo to flourish and bring benefits to the new company.

So, who would this partner be?  A domestic company?  An international one with better reach like Alibaba?  

It'll be interesting to see where this goes and how it affects mobile.  I know this.  Perhaps, it's time for Jerry Yang to sell out and put his time and energy into something new.  

Source:  Reuters.

Interest In iPhone 4S At One British Chain Surpassed iPhone 4 A Year Ago

Phone4u, a large British phone store said interest in the iPhone 4S has already surpassed those of the iPhone 4 from a year ago.  In fact, it's double that of the iPhone 4.

Not bad for a disappointment.

Source: Electronista.

Microsoft Moves Leaps And Bounds Forward With Digital Content Deal That Includes HBO, Comcast, BBC, AT&T, Verizon, And More

Microsoft just announced a deal with a variety of media companies and providers to push content on the Xbox Live.  So, yeah, once I get a TV, I could be looking at buying an Xbox as well.

It's like Gigaom said, companies are realizing that they need to provide content and access in ways that they haven't been used to.  And provide means for users to view those content wherever they are.

And even if you're not an Xbox or Microsoft fan, you have to get excited about this.  This really socks the likes of Apple, Google, and Netflix where it hurt.  And to fight back, anyone else competing with Microsoft has to make similar deals or find other ways to compete.

We're looking at BBC, HBO, WB, Fox, Bravo, and Syfy to name a few. There are even other international channels as well.

I'm sure this is just the start and we all look forward to a more open access to content, not to mention, more cord cutting if Microsoft brings all this to Windows Phone.

Rumors Sites Ruined It For iPhone 4S

There is no other way to say this.  It's all the rumor sites that ruined it for iPhone 4S.  This is just as bad as when Gizmodo bought the stolen iPhone (and got away with criminal responsibilities).  Actually, no. This is worse because everyone is saying that the 4S is not as good as the iPhone 5.


And here’s the kicker.  There is no iPhone 5.  You know, the tear dropped form factor with 4.5” screen giving us LTE speed without sacrificing the battery life.

At least with the Gizmodo debacle, we came out of it knowing that the iPhone 4 is one bad-ass phone.  Now, the iPhone 4S, a bad-ass mobile device in its own right, is being measured up against a device that doesn’t’ exist.

How is that fair?  If we be measuring the Galaxy S II to the III?  Yeah, the II is really coming up short against the III.  Not fair there either.

We Got The iPhone 4S Today Because Apple Isn't Feeling The Competitive Heat

I know many of you are disappointed because we didn't get the iPhone 5.  Well, blame Google.  Blame Android.  Blame RIM.  Blame HP's gutless move to "cut" Web OS.  Blame Microsoft.  Well, scratch that.  Let's blame Steve Balmer for Windows Phone being two years late.  Blame HTC, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony.

Heck, let's blame everyone for not putting the heat on Apple and it's we're stuck with the iPhone 4S and not the iPhone 5.  After all, they failed to "bring it".  

At least that's what this iPhonetouch.blorge post is saying.  In a way, I kind of have to agree.

And it gets worse on the tablet side.  If sales don't pick up in 2012 for non-iPad tablets, heck, Apple might put off the iPad 3 release until, well, 2013 or later.  

Alright, perhaps not but you know what I mean right?  

Right now, Apple probably would not care that Android has 50% of global smartphone market or more than 40% of the US share.  The reason is because Apple, with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S, can reach closer to 70% of the profit.  Might even take some valuable shares as well.  

So, I have to agree with iT.b.  Let's hope that Android 4, Mango, and Blackberry OS successor QNX can really put the heat on Apple.  Perhaps, we might see iPhone 5 in June of 2012 rather than October of 2012.