LG Optimus G sales hit 1 million worldwide

LG Optimus G sales hit 1 million worldwide:

LG proved with the Optimus G that it can produce a smartphone that stacks up with the best of 'em, and according to the company's newly released sales figures, consumers are starting to take notice. As it stands, more than 1 million Optimus G's have been sold since the handset's September debut. While the figure pales in comparison to heavyweights like the Galaxy S III and iPhone 5, that's not too shabby for a phone that's only been available in North America since November. Given the similarities between the Optimus G and the Nexus 4, we're quite curious to know how sales of the two smartphones compare, but Google's currently keeping those numbers close to its chest. That said, there's little doubt that LG currently has its hands full at the production line.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
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Via: GSM Arena
Source: Yonhap News

Sony selling NY headquarters for $1.1 billion, will rent space from new owners

Sony selling NY headquarters for $1.1 billion, will rent space from new owners:

Despite losing a little less each quarter since Kazuo Hirai took over as CEO, Sony still appears to be looking for ways to cut the fat. Its latest move? Sell the house. Taking a page from Nokia's book, Sony has announced that it has agreed to sell its New York headquarters building to a consortium led by The Chetrit Group. After settling its debts on the building, the $1.1 billion sale will net Sony about $685 million in operating income, potentially giving it the extra cashflow it needs to avoid a negative Q3 earnings report. According to Reuters, the firm may be planning a similar move in Tokyo, which could score Sony another $1.14 billion to balance its budget. Check out the company's official announcement after the break.

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Sony Corporation of America Announces Sale of 550 Madison Avenue Building.
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation of America ("SCA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation ("Sony"), today announced that it has entered into a contract to sell its U.S. headquarters building, located at 550 Madison Avenue in New York City, to a consortium led by The Chetrit Group, a New York-based owner of commercial properties in New York City and other major US real estate markets.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130117/NY44753 )
The sale price is $1.1 billion, and it is expected that the transaction will close in March 2013. SCA and other Sony businesses (including Sony Music Entertainment, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Sony Pictures Entertainment, among others) will remain in the building for up to three years under a leaseback arrangement with the purchaser.
After repaying debt related to the building and other transaction costs, it is expected that Sony will receive net cash proceeds of approximately $770 million. Sony expects to realize a gain on the sale of approximately $685 million to be recorded as operating income.
Sony is currently reevaluating its forecast of the consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 to take into account this sale and other factors that might affect such forecast.
Eastdil Secured advised Sony on this transaction.
1. Reasons for this sale
Sony is undertaking a range of initiatives to strengthen its financial foundation and business competitiveness and for future growth. At the same time, Sony is balancing cash inflows and outflows while working to improve its cash flow by carefully selecting investments, selling assets and strengthening control of working capital such as inventory. This sale is made as a part of such initiatives.
2. Summary of assets to be sold
Assets / Location Headquarters building of Sony Corporation of America
(at 550 Madison Avenue in New York City, the United States of America)

Selling Price $1.1 billion

Book Value Approximately $174 million

Gain on Sale Expected to be approximately $685 million

Current Status Headquarters of Sony Corporation of America
3. Summary of Sony Corporation of America
Trade name

Sony Corporation of America
Address of head office

550 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, the United States
Name and title of representative

Michael Lynton, CEO
Business

Management of Sony Group's businesses in the U.S.
Stated capital

$11,316.7 million
4. Summary of Buyer
Trade name

550 Madison Fifth LLC
Address of head office

c/o The Chetrit Group, LLC, 512 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10018, the United States
Contact Information

c/o The Chetrit Group, LLC, attention: Jacob Chetrit
Purpose of incorporation

Special purpose entity to own real estate
Jurisdiction over incorporation

A limited liability company established under the law of the State of Delaware
Date of incorporation

January 15, 2013
Summary of investors

A consortium led by The Chetrit Group, a New York-based owner of commercial properties of various property types in New York City and other major US real estate markets
Relationship with Sony
Corporation

Capital relationship

Sony is not an investor in the Buyer. There is no capital relationship between the Buyer and Sony required to be referred to herein. There is no capital relationship between affiliates of the Buyer and Sony required to be referred to herein.
Personnel relationship

There is no personnel relationship between the Buyer and Sony required to be referred to herein. There is no personnel relationship between affiliates of the Buyer and Sony required to be referred to herein.
Transaction relationship

There is no transaction relationship between the Buyer and Sony required to be referred to herein. There is no transaction relationship between affiliates of the Buyer and Sony required to be referred to herein.
Status as a related party

Neither the Buyer nor its affiliates are deemed to be a related party of Sony.

Filed under: Misc, Sony
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Via: Reuters

'User friendly' XBMC for Android build rolls out for set-top boxes and mobile devices

'User friendly' XBMC for Android build rolls out for set-top boxes and mobile devices:

If you've been waiting to try out XBMC on your Android, it appears now is the time. While beta and nightly builds were already available, the team behind it has finally readied a release it says is "end user friendly," ready to run on most any device. It achieves that feat by offloading video player duties to another app, in this case MX Player, in order to get around XBMC's lack of hardware support for many devices. After sideloading the two necessary APKs we were able to get it up and running without any trouble, tossing in add-ins and playing back locally stored media without a problem. There's a video to go along with the release (embedded after the break) but installing it yourself is probably the best way to get a feel for its video, picture and audio playback abilities.

Gallery: XBMC for Android

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
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Source: XBMC for Android

Samsung announces Windows 8-optimized Series 7 Touch monitor

Samsung announces Windows 8-optimized Series 7 Touch monitor:

Samsung is wrapping up 2012 by announcing two new monitors: the Series 7 Touch (SC770) and the Series 7 (SC750). The 24-inch Series 7 Touch is Sammy's first multi-touch display made for Windows 8, and it features a resolution of 1,920 x 1080 with 178-degree viewing angles. It also sports an adjustable stand that can tilt up to 60 degrees. The 27-inch Series 7 doesn't support touch input, but it boasts the same 1080p resolution and can pivot 90 degrees so users can view content in both landscape and portrait modes. Both models will hit the market in the first quarter of 2013 -- Samsung hasn't released pricing info for either, but both will be on hand at CES next week. You can check out the press release after the break.
Continue reading Samsung announces Windows 8-optimized Series 7 Touch monitor
Filed under: Household, Samsung
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Source: Samsung Tomorrow

Huawei D2, Mate and W1 reportedly pose for press images

Huawei D2, Mate and W1 reportedly pose for press images:

Huawei has already left little doubt as to what we'll see from its smartphone line at CES. If official teasers aren't enough, however, well-known phone tipster @evleaks has given Unwired View what's purported to be press images for the three key introductions. The Ascend W1 Windows Phone (at left) looks much like we've seen from live shots, just with newer black and pink hues; the Ascend D2 (right) isn't quite so rainbow-like, but supports what's been claimed of the 5-inch phone's aesthetic and custom interface. A shot for the Ascend Mate (after the break), despite representing the company's stand-out device, is the least surprising given that executive Richard Yu showed customers the real thing just days ago. We'd still give these images a long look -- while there's chances for inaccuracies or surprises, they may be the best glimpses of Huawei's early 2013 lineup before we see it first-hand. Continue reading Huawei D2, Mate and W1 reportedly pose for press images Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile Comments Source: Unwired View