Exec Digital: March 2011

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Apple May Wait Until Autumn for iPhone 5 Release

All signs are pointing to Apple breaking their own pattern of new iPhone releases in the summer

BY: Sasha Orman \|
TAGS: Apple, iOS, iPad, iPad mini, Iphone, iPhone 5, Worldwide Developers Conference, WWDC

Apple May Wait Until Autumn for iPhone 5 Release

Apple may be a trendsetter, but even it falls into the comfort of routine when it comes to Apple release dates. By now, Apple fans can expect new rounds of iPhones in June and iPods in September, while March is shaping up to be the month of the new iPad release. So it was curious that during today’s announcement of the June Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), all attention seemed to be on operating systems and software with no mention of the iPhone 5 in sight. Now we may know the reason why: Apple could be bucking its own trend by waiting to release the iPhone 5 until much later in the year than usual.

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Tech blog Gizmodo has aggregated several sources theorizing an iPhone 5 release date closer to autumn. What’s more, Apple Insider reported today that Apple hasn’t started ordering any components for the iPhone 5 yet and that Apple may not start shipping the iPhone 5 until the first half of Apple’s 2012 fiscal year – indicating an iPhone 5 release date some time after September 24 of 2011. With so much evidence mounting, any argument for a sooner iPhone 5 release date seems futile.

But according to TechCrunch, a later Apple iPhone 5 release shouldn’t b...Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.execdigital.com/gadgets/phones/apple-may-wait-until-autumn-iphone-5-release

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

BlackBerry PlayBook and Samsung Galaxy Take On iPad 2

Exec Digital rounds up PC tablet specs, prices, and release date announcements from Apple, BlackBerry, and Samsung

BY: Sasha Orman \|
TAGS: Adobe Flash, Android 3.0, Android tablet, Apple, Apple iPad, Best Buy, BlackBerry,BlackBerry Playbook, Google Android, iPad 2, Office Depot, PC tablet, Radio Shack, samsung,Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung tablet

Apple, BlackBerry, Samsung Tablet Announcement Round-Up

What’s happening today in the PC tablet world? A lot: Samsung announced new designs for their Galaxy Tab Google Android tablet while RIM BlackBerry announced a price point and release date for their upcoming BlackBerry Playbook. Meanwhile, Apple is preparing to officially bring the iPad 2 to an international market.

Samsung announced not just one Google Android tablet, but two – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1. You may remember that Samsung had previously announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 at Mobile World Congress in February. That Samsung tablet went back to the drawing board after the Apple iPad 2 was released earlier this month, with Samsung Mobile’s vice president expressing concerns over the iPad 2 tablet’s unprecedented slim design. The concern was certainly addressed: the new Samsung Galaxy Tab designs are slimmer than the Apple iPad 2 by a tiny but significant 0.2mm.

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Despite this slim figure, the Samsung Galaxy Tab will still feature a brawny 1GHz dual-core processor and will run on the new Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb platform, yet will sell for a sweet price – less than $500 each to start.

The Apple iPad 2 is not without its own news. Apple confirmed today that this Friday the iPad 2 will be released in 25 more international markets. New markets include the UK, France, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Spain among others. This new broad release risks putting even further strain on the US market, where iPad 2 demand is still far...Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.execdigital.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/blackberry-playbook-and-samsung-galaxy-take-ipad-2

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

iPad 2 Released, Dooming Motorola Xoom Sales

Apple Fans Are Pleased with new Design of iPad 2, as sales rise for Apple brand and sales slump for Motorola competition

BY: Meaghan Clark \| Fri Mar 11, 2011
TAGS: Apple, Apple iPad, design, iPad, iPad 2, Motorola, Motorola tablet, Motorola XOOM, tablet, Tablets

iPad 2 Released, Sinks Dooming Motorola Xoom Sales

The iPad 2 release party is here – residents in New York City picked up their Apple iPad at Apple stores this morning when stores opened at 9 a.m., and west coast residents – who are fearful of the Japanese Tsunami roaring near – waited just a few more hours to get hold of their own iPad Apple device.
The new hardware comes after word spread that the Motorola Xoom, iPad’s main competitor and all around stud when it comes to tablets, saw “underwhelming” sales. It shouldn’t surprise Apple fans that Motorola failed in comparison to the latest iPad product as Apple’s name itself goes viral any time it’s mentioned. To fans who waited almost 41 hours in line at the New York Apple store (the first woman sold her spot for $900), it doesn’t matter whether Apple’s iPad 2 isn’t as well developed as the Motorola Xoom. It matters that it is an Apple.
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Fans will continue to wait for the iPad 2 as techies talks about the numbers – the iPad 2 features a thinner body and faster frame, with a new dual core A5 CPU, additional memory and a camera. Apple has stuck true to its software selection despite...Read the rest at:
http://www.execdigital.com/lifestyle/exec-toys/ipad-2-released-dooming-motorola-xoom-sales

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Geneva Motor Show Premieres Latest Luxury Car

The international car show premieres the Lamborghini SpA Aventador LP700-4 and Rolls Royce’s battery operated 102EX Phantom

BY: Meaghan Clark \|
TAGS: Aston Martin, Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Stephan Winkelmann

Geneva Motor Show Premieres Latest Luxury Car

Timing isn’t going to be the strong suit at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show – as record gas prices hit the nation and the economy remains sluggish. But the show must go on, and exotic European carmakers have continued to showcase vehicles that are high end and high priced.

Those that stood out include the overly exotic and gas guzzling Lamborghini SpA, which focuses mostly on the excessive and little on world news. CEO Stephan Winkelmann isn’t too concerned about the Aventador LP700-4 price ($380,000) or its sluggish gas mileage (13 miles per gallon) – the latest Aventador already has 12 months of orders.

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Aston Martin also appealed to the eccentric car driver with the premiere of the 2011 V8 Vantage S Coupe and Roadster; despite its familiar body and drive, Aston Martin has proven it is dedicated to luxury with this latest version. This top notch V8 is all about speed, and an attempt to outdo themselves works well with a 4.7 liter V8 that gets to 60 miles per hour in under 4.3 seconds.

Though the luxury car was the Geneva Motor Show focal point, luxury brands made an attempt at working with modern audiences. Rolls Royce piqued the interest of environmentalists with the 102EX Phantom premiere. Hailed as the “world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” the Phantom could be the first of just many battery powered luxury cars at this...Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.execdigital.com/lifestyle/exec-toys/geneva-motor-show-premieres-latest-luxury-car

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Designer Bags for Men Taking China By Storm

Luxury handbags are being adopted as a status symbol among Chinese executives. Could this luxury fashion trend catch on here?

BY: Sasha Orman \|
TAGS: Burberry, business executives, China, Coach, Designer handbags, Dunhill, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada

Designer Bags for Men Taking China By Storm

Having all the right accessories is crucial for any well-dressed executive. The Rolex and TAG Heuer watches, the smart shoes and flashy cufflinks, and especially the designer handbags – at least, if you’re an executive in China.

Men’s designer handbags (or satchels, if you will) have never caught on in Western fashion. But as LA Times journalist David Pierson recently reported, men make up 45% of the $1.2-billion market for designer handbags in China. That’s a lot of designer handbags – but how did this trend get started?

It starts with currency –the Yuan comes in small denominations, and cards are not widely used. This leaves China’s high-rollers carrying wads of cash that test any wallet’s limits. Add in a smartphone, business cards, and other vitals, and it’s too much for a pocket to bear. China’s reliance on public transportation also leaves out the option of one’s car for safekeeping. But instead of adopting Western-style briefcases, Chinese executives are opting to wear their penchant for luxury brands quite literally on their sleeves.

"For Chinese, it's a show of masculinity," Beijing marketing strategist Zhang Lianhai, sporting one of Prada’s black leather designer handbags, told Pierson. "We need luxury brands. You won't be taken seriously if you look too casual."

It’s a boon for the designer handbags industry, which has begun producing more masculine designer handbags catering to the Asian market. "China is a fantastic opportunity," Victor Luis, president of Coach Retail International told Pierson. "There's a confidence and comfort in Chinese men utilizing bags in the same manner as women do." Along with Coach, Chinese executives prefer designer handbags by luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Burberry, and...Read the rest of the article at:

http://www.execdigital.com/lifestyle/fashion-style/designer-bags-men-taking-china-storm