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28
Jan

Angela Ahrendts Says She Views Apple Store Staff as ‘Executives’


angela_ahrendts_heroAngela Ahrendts spoke yesterday to Fast Company about her first two years as Apple’s retail chief and her strategy to improve the company’s customer experience at its global chain of retail stores.

In an interview titled “Apple’s Angela Ahrendts On What It Takes To Make Change Inside A Successful Business,” the Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores explains that, in her first six months at Apple, she travelled to 40 different markets and met with retail leaders to learn about how stores were “uniting people and getting them to collaborate.”

When asked if Apple Store staff feel the same pride working for the company as Cupertino employees do, Ahrendts boasted about the company’s 81% retention rate in 2015:

We just ended the year with the highest retention rates we’ve ever had: 81%. And the feedback [from Apple Store employees is that it’s] because they feel connected. They feel like one Apple. They don’t feel like they’re just somebody over here working with customers. I don’t see them as retail employees. I see them as executives in the company who are touching the customers with the products that Jony Ive and the team took years to build. Somebody has to deliver it to the customer in a wonderful way.

Ahrendts goes on to explain that her experience at Apple has taught her just how strong the culture is within the company, which was “built to change people’s lives”, and that the same core value is being continued by Apple’s current CEO Tim Cook:

That foundation, that service mentality, that drive to continue to change lives — that is a core value in the company. And Tim Cook has added his on: He says it’s also our responsibility to leave it better than we found it. So you have these two amazing pillars and a culture built around that. It’s the same in retail and in Cupertino. That is the underlying mission, and how could you know that unless you’re inside? But it is deeper than you would ever imagine.

Apple has aggressively expanded in China under Ahrendts’ retail leadership, with stores opening last year in Chongqing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing and Tianjin, and several more on the way throughout 2016.

In an interview for 60 Minutes late last year, Ahrendts spoke about how Apple is continually refining new designs for its stores worldwide to achieve a common “wow” factor, so that customers are “transfixed” from the moment they walk through the doors.

Ahrendts officially joined Apple in mid-2014 to replace former SVP of Retail John Browett, who was fired from the company a year and a half earlier. Previously CEO of hugely successful UK fashion retailer Burberry, she is currently Apple’s highest paid executive, according to a recent regulatory filing.

Read more of the Fast Company interview with Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts here.

Tags: China, Angela Ahrendts, Apple retail

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28
Jan

Watch the Coast Guard train in this 360-degree video


Disney has just released a cool promo video for its upcoming film The Finest Hours, and you’ll likely want to watch it using a VR headset if you have one. The House of Mouse captured the Coast Guard doing training drills in Los Angeles on a 360-degree camera provided by a company called 360Heros. It then posted the final product on the film’s Facebook page to take advantage of the social network’s 360 video feature. By the way, you can still enjoy the video even if you don’t have a VR headset — simply drag the picture with your mouse pointer to watch it from different perspectives.

The Finest Hours is based on the 1952 Coast Guard rescue of two oil tankers that were demolished by a storm off the Cape Cod coast. Two crews braved the winter cold to rescue 62 people, or almost all of the tankers’ personnel.

Source: The Finest Hours (Facebook)

28
Jan

BBC Radio 1 will broadcast a monthly gaming show


Slowly but surely, BBC Radio 1 has expanded beyond radio and into social and video. It now has its own iPlayer video channel, for instance, which hosts original shows, Live Lounge recordings and interviews with musicians and celebrities. MCV reports that for its next trick, Radio 1 has commissioned a new gaming show, titled The Radio One Gaming Show, which will launch in March be hosted by games presenter and YouTuber Julia Hardy.

According to Joe Hardland, BBC’s head of visual radio, The Radio One Gaming Show will primarily target “young gamers across the UK” and focus on a specific title each month. It will also include segments on upcoming games, exclusive first looks at new titles and launch previews. It comes after the station commissioned a one-off gaming show, also fronted by Hardy, in December 2015.

Radio 1 is one of the most popular national radio stations, attracting around 6 million listeners each week. However, with YouTube now the default destination for many young gamers, the station may find it hard to compete with an almost unlimited source of entertainment.

Source: MCV

28
Jan

Scientists observe the largest solar system ever discovered


Astronomers have discovered that a huge planet and star 104 light years from Earth form the largest solar system ever seen. The planet, dubbed 2MASS J2126-8140, and its red dwarf star are a full 7,000 astronomical units (AUs) apart, or a trillion miles (an AU is the distance between the Earth and the sun). Researchers previously thought the planet was “rogue,” roaming the galaxy alone. In fact, they’re so distant that if the star exploded, citizens of planet 2MASS wouldn’t know about it for a full 62 days. Given its bizarre characteristics, however, it’s unlikely that anyone lives there.

For one, it’s up to 15 times the mass of Jupiter, the largest planet in our own solar system. You might think that makes it a frigid gas giant, but that’s not so. 2MASS is so large that it’s on the border between a planet and brown dwarf star, and has a likely surface temperature of around 2,730 degrees F. Meanwhile, the star it orbits around, TYC 9486-927-1, is very young, with an age between 10 and 45 million years. Given that 2MASS takes 900,000 years to do one orbit, it has only made a maximum of 50 trips around the star so far, total.

By comparison, a well-known planet of similar size orbiting the star Beta Pictoris b star is much closer. “Compared to Beta Pictoris b, 2MASS J2126 is more than 700 times further away from its host star,” said co-author Simon Murphy of the Australian National University, “but how such a wide planetary system forms and survives remains an open question.”

Via: NBC

Source: University of Hertfordshire

28
Jan

Smartphone sales crossed a record 1.4 billion in 2015


If the latest figures are anything to go by, smartphone industry is witnessing a slow growth rate as the overall shipment increased only by 12 percent in 2015. While overall global shipments surpassed 1.4 billion devices during the last year, the growth percentage the fourth quarter grew only six percent in comparison to the year before.

According to International Data Corporation (IDC), the slow growth can be attributed to the fact that most people in major mobile markets already own smartphones so the bubbling phase that we saw over the last few years cannot be matched.

Among OEMs, Samsung continues to take lead by having shipped 81.3 million units globally in the Q4, which is nine percent up from the same period in 2014. However, Apple has felt the pinch of the slow growth as it only managed to shipped 74.8 million devices in the fourth quarter in comparison to 74.5 million iPhones it sold in 2014. The research company advised that Apple should look to emerging markets such as India to ensure a steady growth.

On the third spot is Huawei, which only saw two percent growth from 2014 by selling 32.4 million handsets. Lenovo that acquired Motorola last year has seen a 24 percent year-on-year growth by shipping 74.0 million smartphones in 2015 in comparison to 59.4 percent. In the Q4, it shipped 20.2 million units while which is six percent up from the same period last year. On the fifth place remained Xiaomi that sold 18.2 million phones compared to 16.5 million units the year before. Check the table below to know more about the survey conducted by IDC.

Vendor 4Q15 Shipment Volumes 4Q15 Market Share 4Q14 Shipment Volumes 4Q14 Market Share Year-Over-Year Growth
1. Samsung 85.6 21.4% 75.1 19.9% 14.0%
2. Apple 74.8 18.7% 74.5 19.7% 0.4%
3. Huawei 32.4 8.1% 23.6 6.3% 37.0%
4. Lenovo 20.2 5.1% 14.1 3.7% 43.6%
5. Xiaomi 18.2 4.6% 16.5 4.4% 10.0%
Others 168.3 42.1% 174.0 46.1% -3.3%
Total 399.5 100.0% 377.8 100.0% 5..7%
Lenovo + Motorola 20.2 8.1% 24.7 6.5% -18.1%

 

Vendor 2015 Shipment Volumes 2015 Market Share 2014 Shipment Volumes 2014 Market Share Year-Over-Year Growth
1. Samsung 324.8 22.7% 318.2 24.4% 2.1%
2. Apple 231.5 16.2% 192.7 14.8% 20.2%
3. Huawei 106.6 7.4% 73.8 5.7% 44.3%
4. Lenovo 74.0 5.2% 59.4 4.6% 24.5%
5. Xiaomi 70.8 4.9% 57.7 4.4% 22.8%
Others 625.2 43.6% 599.9 46.1% 4.2%
Total 1,432.9 100.0% 1,301.7 100.0% 10.1%
Lenovo + Motorola 73.9 5.16% 93.7 7.20% -21.1%

 

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 27, 2016

The post Smartphone sales crossed a record 1.4 billion in 2015 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

28
Jan

DigiTimes Says iPad Air 3 Will Have 4K Display and Up to 4GB RAM


ipadair2Taiwanese touch panel makers General Interface Solution and TPK will share production of a third-generation “4K” iPad Air set to debut in March, according to sources out of the China supply chain (via DigiTimes).

The same sources claim that in addition to a 4K resolution touch panel, Apple’s new 9.7-inch tablet will feature up to 4GB RAM and improved battery life, and is scheduled to enter mass production in the second quarter of 2016.

The report goes on to state that both display makers expect a slight on-year increase in demand for touch panel products from Apple in the first half of 2016 due to orders of products equipped with 3D Touch. This comes despite previous rumors suggesting the iPad Air 3 will not adopt the pressure-sensitive display technology due to the production difficulties involved with scaling it up for a larger display.

Taiwan-based website DigiTimes has a mixed track record at reporting on Apple’s upcoming product plans, but its sources within the upstream supply chain have proven reliable in the past. However, the term “4K” may simply refer to the new iPad Air adopting features included in the iPad Pro, which inherited the oxide thin film transistor from the 5K Retina iMac, along with a UV-based photo alignment technique that ensures uniform color and brightness in the display. It also included a variable refresh rate that preserves battery life by cutting the refresh rate in half whenever there’s static content on the screen.

Based on details from leaked design drawings, the next-generation iPad Air may be set to adopt the iPad Pro’s four-speaker design and gain an LED flash next to the rear-facing camera. Other updates that would make sense include a faster A9 or A9X processor, Smart Connector, and improved cameras.

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often accurately predicts Apple’s plans, the iPad Air 3 will launch in the first half of 2016. Apple is rumored to be planning a media event for March of 2016, which is said to be the event where the iPad Air 3 will launch alongside a new 4-inch iPhone and Apple Watch updates.

Related Roundup: iPad Air 3
Tags: digitimes.com, 4K, iPad Air 3
Buyer’s Guide: iPad Air (Don’t Buy)

Discuss this article in our forums

28
Jan

Bungie has a new CEO


While Bungie is trying to keep its head down and focus on development of its Destiny sequel, a management reshuffle has thrust the company’s operations back into the spotlight. After more than 15 years at the studio, president Harold Ryan has stepped down. Long-time COO Pete Parsons has been chosen to lead the company forward, but will do so as Bungie’s new chief.

In a short statement, Parsons wasted no time in addressing Destiny fans: “I want you to know my number one priority, and Bungie’s, is and always has been to deliver great games that we can all share together,” he says. “I also believe you have yet to see our studio’s best work. My new role here at the studio will be entirely focused on fulfilling that promise.”

After an unconfirmed Kotaku report claimed that Destiny’s next instalment has been pushed back from its September launch and the recent rollback on matchmaking changes to fix multiplayer lag, Parsons is understandably focusing on placating frustrated players. There’s currently no word on whether Ryan will remain at the company now that he’s left his post, but we have contacted Bungie to find out what will happen next.

Via: GamesIndustry

Source: Bungie

28
Jan

Twitter opens topical Moments feed to UK advertisers


Twitter’s Moments feature lets users step back from their rapid-fire feeds and see what hot topics are dominating internet chatter. From news to funnies to trending subjects, Moments blend media and commentary into curated, bitesize overviews. But like any self-respecting social network would, Twitter’s made sure the new feature doubles as a new revenue stream. Promoted Moments, aka adverts, began appearing in the US weeks after the feature launched, and from today, Brits will start seeing them pop up too.

Twitter’s initial partners include Tesco, Sky and Xbox, and you should be able to spot their Promoted Moments pretty easily, since all are labelled as such. Unless you’re far too important to be monetised, that is.

Source: Twitter

28
Jan

Xiaomi Mi 5 will be shown off at MWC 2016


Xiaomi Mi 5 MWC teaser

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve aged considerably waiting for my first look at Xiaomi’s anticipated Mi 5 flagship, the phone has forever been right around the corner. Fortunately the waiting is almost over, as Hugo Barra just posted a teaser to Facebook stating that the Mi 5 will be making an appearance at the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, marking a first for the company.

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Xiaomi will be holding an invitation-only media preview for the handset at MWC 2016 on February 24th, which will be hosted by Hugo Barra himself. Xiaomi is also holding another launch event in Beijing on the same day, China being the company’s home and largest market. A couple of days ago, Xiaomi confirmed that the smartphone would be launching on Feb 24th and now we get an early look at the phone in Europe too.

There have been plenty of rumors about the smartphone over the past months. The most recent ones suggest that the Mi 5 will feature a 5.2-inch QHD (2560×1440) display, a 16 megapixel rear camera with an 8 megapixel front facing camera, a decent sized 3,600mAh battery and 4GB of RAM. The handset is also expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 820 flagship processor, and the SoC designer’s logo features prominently on the teaser poster. Is the colon missed from “820 AM” right above the Snapdragon logo just a little typo?


Xiaomi Mi 5 Gear Best rendersSee also: Xiaomi Mi 5 leaked: launching Feb 20, employees working overtime to meet demand17

Tune in on February 24th at 8:20 AM CET for all the Xiaomi Mi 5 details. The phone is then expected to go on sale the following week.

28
Jan

LG trolls Samsung for ditching removable batteries


Note5_vs_LGV10_2

In one of those lovely social media kerfuffles we all love so much, LG USA has trolled Samsung Mobile for ditching removable batteries in the Galaxy S6 Edge+. Samsung tweeted to advertise the fact that you can charge the S6 Edge+ battery from zero to full in just 90 minutes. LG replied with the clever rebuttal that the LG V10 can go from zero to full instantly with a removable battery.

This is great for several reasons. One, it keeps us giggling like schoolgirls. Two, it implies LG plans to stick with removable batteries for the near future. Three, LG kinda stole the idea of removable batteries and microSD cards from Samsung in the first place. Of course, rumors have it that the Galaxy S7 will get a microSD card slot back and Samsung’s battery improvements since the Galaxy S6 mean that removable batteries are kind of obsolete. But we still love a sick burn when we see one.

LG USA Mobile Twitter@SamsungMobile (Twitter)

Whether or not removable batteries are necessary anymore is a question up for constant debate. Fast charging has, for many flagships, replaced the need for a replaceable battery. While a user-switchable battery is definitely convenient for power users, it is a feature not made use of by many, and including it makes a device thicker than it would be with a non-removable battery. So whether LG is poking fun at the future or Samsung made a wrong move, it’s little scraps like this that keep the OEM game fun.

Are you a fan of removable batteries? Or do you prefer fast charging?

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