HTC suffers its first quarterly loss, rumors of a takeover by Chinese

The Taiwanese smartphone maker has fallen into the red in the third quarter with a loss of 74 million euros. And for the first time since 2002.

HTC sinks . The Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer posted a quarterly loss for the first time in its history, its new flagship model, the HTC One , failing to recover sales.

The group posted a net loss of 2.97 billion Taiwan dollars (74.3 million euros) , against a net profit of 3.9 TWD the third quarter of 2012 and 1.25 TWD billion in the second quarter of 2013, he said Friday. sales fell 33% year on year to TWD 47.05 billion, well below the 50-60000000000 provided by the group.

"Basically, there are many problems to solve," said Laura Chen, analyst at BNP Paribas, adding that the company should improve its marketing strategy, the management of its supply chain and its products. "No sign of recovery in the near future."

HTC had previously indicated to expect a loss for the period from July to September, due to a decline in sales, while the costs of production and marketing for its latest model, the HTC One, they were on the rise . The HTC One, billed as "a breakthrough", has a touch screen of 4.7 inches, a smooth aluminum shell and front dual stereo speakers. It can also act as a remote control decoder box (STB TV).

Rumors of a takeover by Chinese

However, after falling in the first place, the HTC Action rebounded to post a gain of 2% on the day following a research note Fubon Securities raising the possibility that the company is close to a group Chinese , whose name was not given, through a cooperative agreement or a merger.

Like other smartphone manufacturers, including Nokia and BlackBerry, HTC does not have the critical mass against its major competitors like Apple and Samsung and its difficulties are getting worse this year, resulting in a fall of 55% its share price.

In addition to the departure of leaders and infighting, the group is facing, according to sources, to supply problems in the manufacture of its HTC One Mini.

The share of the global smartphone market occupied by HTC is heavily settled, 10.3% in the third quarter of 2011 to 2.6% last quarter, according to research firm Gartner. HTC does and most of the ten largest sellers of smartphones, according to data from another consulting firm ABI Research. To boost sales, HTC plans to launch by the end of the year means end devices at cheaper prices, especially in China.

But analysts point out that the market is already highly competitive, with local companies such as Xiaomi offering much cheaper devices.

While selling devices under its own brand, the Taiwanese group subcontractor for several major groups. In particular, it provides for its Google Nexus One.

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Twitter, explosive growth but losses

Twitter has revealed details of its highly anticipated IPO project. The social network wants to raise $ 1 billion. However, he warns that it may never become profitable.

The entrance to Twitter traded looks as the most awaited by the Silicon Valey operation since that wasted from Facebook . The microblogging social network based there 8 years, released Thursday, Oct. 3 its highly anticipated IPO project. Twitter hopes this operation up to $ 1 billion (€ 734 million). However, the social network revealed on this occasion he still losing money despite explosive growth.

The registration document for the introduction on the market, available in the U.S. stock gendarme (SEC) website states that the operation will take place "as soon as possible." The group, however, must meet a deadline at least 21 days before its leaders begin the tour of institutional investors and present their future titles. The entry should not take place before the end of October or early November.

As is usual at this stage of the procedure, a series of details, such as the number or price of shares are not yet determined. However, the document provides an interim order of magnitude, considering that the fundraiser could go up to a billion dollars.

Trading under the symbol TWTR

Beginning in 2013, the purchase by Blackrock , the world leader in asset management, participation in Twitter, valued the company at more than nine billion or € 6.8 billion. However, the strong evolution of Twitter suggests that the value of investments increased. On the secondary market, the company is valued in a range of 15 to 16 billion dollars, "said Michael Pachter , an analyst at Wedbush Securities, the newspaper Les Echos.

Twitter does not specify immediately if also opt for the Nasdaq or the concurrent introduction of the New York Stock Exchange, just saying it will be listed under the symbol "TWTR".

In issuing its IPO project, especially the social network gives the opportunity for investors to have for the first time details of its financial data, until a well-kept secret.

Every day, more than 100 million people publish an average of 500 million "tweets", these messages of 140 characters that are specific network. The network, which employs about 2,000 people, boasts 218 million active users at least once a month at the end of June, according to him represents an increase of 44% year on year.

The turnover has tripled its share last year to $ 317 million, and it already reached 253.6 million for the first six months of this year. For comparison, the world champion Facebook sector for the first half, with its more than one billion members, some $ 3.3 billion in revenue.

Uncertain profitability

Twitter also underlines its strength in mobile, an indicator closely followed by investors and Internet sector that has long been one of their major concern at Facebook. The network said to have generated more than 65% of its advertising revenue in the second quarter with its access on smartphones and tablets against 41% in its rival Facebook . Twitter is now dependent on advertising , which accounted for 85% of turnover in 2012 and 87% in the first half of 2013.

The network admits, however, a net loss of nearly $ 80 million in all of 2012, and 69.3 million for the first half of 2013 alone. "We may not be able to become or remain profitable," warns the social network in the section of the document which outlines the risks facing its future shareholders.

"Our financial performance is and will remain determined significantly by our ability to increase the number of users and their level of commitment to our platform, as well as the number of ads," there he says.

The group warns in particular that its results could suffer if the amount or interest published on its platform content decreased, and it loses its relevance to users.

The challenge for Twitter is to avoid repeating the mistakes of Facebook , whose introduction on the Nasdaq electronic platform last year had proved disastrous: the first session was punctuated by numerous technical problems, and during the action was quickly collapsed flux half months.

The course of the Facebook share is pressed that this was above its IPO price of $ 38, but seems to have recovered the bar again this week with a record high at $ 51.24.

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Samsung way to a new record profits

Despite a decline in sales of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, the South Korean giant plans to achieve a record operating profit of close to 7 billion euros.

Growth slows perhaps in smartphones but Samsung has other strings to his bow. The rising prices of memory chips and semiconductors should indeed allow the South Korean electronics giant to garner a record operating profit in the third quarter, about 7 billion euros.

The world number one multifunction memory cards and flat-screen TVs phones, expects an operating profit of 10.100 billion won profit (EUR 6.91 billion), e n up 25% compared to the same period in 2012 . The operating profit was also up 6% from the previous quarter, when the group had already announced record profits , thanks to sales of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy 3.

According to analysts, the group has certainly benefited from the rising prices of memory chips and semiconductors, while its flagship product line, the Galaxy S smartphones are facing increasing market saturation. If the S4 appears to be slowing , Samsung manages to maintain its number one position in this sector increasingly crowded because, unlike his great rival, the American Apple, its range of smartphones also includes medium-end devices, more affordable prices.

Always the period under review, the Group's sales are expected to total 59,000 billion won, up 13% compared to the July-September quarter of 2012. Samsung will release its final results by the end of the month.

A market share of 33% in smartphones

These figures are "slightly better than expected," said Choi Do-Yeon, the brokerage Kyobo Securities. "The activity of semiconductors appears to be rising while the stagnant mobile is less pronounced than expected," the analyst added.

Analysts estimate that between 85 and 89 million units the number of smartphones sold in South Korea in the third quarter. In the second quarter, the group had a worldwide market share in this sector 33.1%, and well ahead of number two, the U.S. Apple and its 13.6% market share, according to Strategy Analytics.Samsung firm does not disclose the number of units it sells multifunction phones.

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Sighted Game Controller for iPhone: Logitech

The gamble on the iPhone could be more comfortable soon. The net surfaced images present a controller solution from Logitech.

As new iPhone 5S has massive computing power on board is good and so well for gaming.Only the touchscreen operation tarnishes in many situations in the game. This may soon be the manufacturer creates a remedy Logitech controller. The network now emerged via Twitter unofficially on the first pictures of the device. If this proves true, the controller extends the iPhone to a directional pad, four action buttons and two shoulder. The mobile phone is embedded in a recess between the controls on the device. The result is a full-fledged mobile console. A media report , according to still other models in the works, which are used separately from the iPhone or iPad. Apple had provided an interface for use by controllers to iOS devices only in June this year, corresponding hardware does not yet exist, however. Here, the Logitech model is likely to be only one of many solutions that push in the near future on the market. Only recently , the manufacturer Game Case announced a battery-powered Bluetooth Controller for Apple devices.

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Final Fantasy V for Android Has Arrived

Final Fantasy fans: Final Fantasy V is now available for Android in the Google Play. That this title will be released soon, we had a few days ago reported in a news . Already in 1992 celebrated the original version of Final Fantasy V as their debut console title. A lot of time has passed since then, but the charm of the series is to her fans as strong as ever. At the time, this was the first title of the FF series, which has sold more than two million copies. The plot of this game in a nutshell: fire, water, wind and earth. Peace in the world is the power of the four crystals due to just those "elements". But their power is coming to an end. One day the wind is not blowing more and suddenly it comes, as it must: The unfortunate fate takes its course. Four heroes are on their way to bring the matter to terms again - and have an adventure of epic proportions. stately The game costs 14,49 € and is Google Play here to find.

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Facebook's transparency report reveals the sniffer

The NSA knows every Facebook professional? No, says Facebook and wants to assign a transparency report. But leaves many questions unanswered.

Now that the cooperation with the U.S. NSA went through the media, the image of Internet companies like Facebook, Microsoft and Google is battered. With a transparency initiative Facebook now wants to regain lost confidence.

Transparency report with little substance

As a first step presents the social network to report on its cooperation with police authorities in different countries. It shows that not only the American intelligence service has access to Facebook data, but also monitor the authorities of other countries citizens in their social networks.Otherwise, the report leaves many questions unanswered. "Facebook Special: All the important news about the Social Network

The United States occupies the top position among the Snoop States - that's no surprise. The ranking shows, however, that the U.S. is definitely not the only state that demands access to Facebook profiles.

Germany sniffing with

The Report identifies on which country how many inquiries from government authorities received after user data and how many of them there has been Facebook. The clear winner is the U.S., but also Germany spies on its citizens on the Internet frequently, and ranks behind with 1,886 requests in fourth place. After all: thanks to the comparatively strict German data protection laws allow Facebook to the German authorities for 37 percent of all access requests - U.S. authorities with a clear 79 percent higher "success rate". »To the original document: Facebook's transparency report

It's about national security

A majority of the questions relates to Facebook, according to offenses such as robbery and kidnapping, of course, it's also about national security. Facebook insisted in an interview with COMPUTERBILD that each of the approximately 30,000 worldwide inquiries will individually scrutinized. In addition, Facebook will give in many cases only general information on, about the username. So all so bad? No, Facebook finally opens the authorities often complete accounts including friends lists, photos and spatial data - a paradise for investigators. How many Facebook granted such detailed insights, does not reveal the social network. In addition, users are not informed of the queries, and that violates German privacy law.

The whole truth?

Whether the report discloses all intelligence activities in the social network, ie, remains in doubt.Especially as Facebook decides to issue the user data on the legal situation of the country which made ​​the request. The Snowden revelations show that not even keep U.S. intelligence to these minimum standards and easily hack Facebook accounts themselves - so if a U.S. agency requesting records German users, the holey U.S. data protection law applies. All: "NSA scandal Facts at a Glance.

Provide intelligence to cross

Articles such as Facebook are a step in the right direction. True transparency although they would need to go into more detail. But the secret to play with. Facebook boss Zuckerberg therefore expressed harsh criticism of the NSA. Yahoo boss Marissa Mayer gave the same tune: "If you do not you add yourself, it's treason."

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The best programs for iOS and Android

The app offer for Apple and Google smartphones & Co. is unmanageable.COMPUTER BILD helps and makes every day before an app.

More than 900,000 apps can be found in the Apple App Store. In Google Play Store are similar to many (as of September 2013). Various applications that can be found there, have little or no value in use. The installation often hardly worth it. Before deciding about a paid app, you should be sure that you invest in a top app. App of the Day So quantity instead of quality? No! In the App Store for iOS and Android there is both: a huge selection and world-class programs. You have to know what to look only. Just helping COMPUTER BILD! Every day, the editorial team of a new photo gallery app of the day before. Gone are worth a look: The gallery is growing every day by one entry. To learn plenty of free and pay apps know where the installation is definitely worth it. 

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