Thurrott Daily: February 3

Thurrott Daily: February 3

A few tidbits from around the web.

2/3/2016 5:20:53 PM

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Details of Surface power cable recall emerge

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has details about the recent Surface power cable recall. And it seems some people have in fact been injured.

Microsoft has received 56 reports of AC cords overheating and emitting flames and five reports of electrical shock to consumers. Consumers should unplug and stop using the recalled power cords and contact Microsoft for a free replacement AC power cord.

Battalion 1944: A Call of Duty-type game for PC/XB1/PS4

On Windows Weekly today, someone in the chat tipped off Leo and I about a Kickstarter for a coming video game called Battalion 1944 (PC/XB1/PS4) that seeks to recapture the magic (and setting) of Call of Duty 2. I backed the project.

Battalion 1944 recaptures the core of classic multiplayer shooters and propels WW2 into the next generation. Battalion 1944 utilizes the most advanced industry technology to create a visceral and heart-thumping multiplayer experience that has been crafted by the designers who have grown up playing Medal of Honor and Call of Duty 2.

Fight in real world locations such as the streets of Carentan, the forests of Bastogne and many more in our spiritual successor to the great multiplayer shooters of the past. Precise aim with your Kar98, covering fire with your M1 Garand and quick thinking with your Thompson are key to your success, all packaged into a competitive multiplayer environment. In short, Battalion 1944 is an infantry based first person shooter with an emphasis on raw skill. No grinding, no ‘exosuits’, just you and your skill as a player.

The bad news? If it happens, we’re looking at May. May 2017.

Lenovo quarterly results: “Strong performance in Q3, despite economic and industry headwins”

Lenovo posted net income of $300 million on revenues of $12.9 billion in its third fiscal quarter (Q4 CY2015). Here are some key details:

PC Group. The part of Lenovo that makes PCs and tablets—i.e. the biggest PC maker in the world—saw a 12 percent drop in sales to sales were $8 billion. “Greater than expected slowdown in the PC market and foreign exchange fluctuations hurt the PC group’s results,” the firm noted. But Lenovo improved its WW market share to a record high 21.6 percent and shipped 15.4 million PCs in the quarter.

Mobile Business Group. This includes Motorola and Lenovo-branded phones, Android tablets and smart TVs. Quarterly sales were $3.2 billion, down 4 percent, with Motorola contributing $2 billion of that. Overall smartphone sales were down 18.1 percent to 20.2 million units.

Enterprise Business Group. Lenovo’s smallest business sells servers, storage, and software and services under the ThinkServer and System x brands. Sales were US$1.3 billion, up 8 percent year-over-year.

Google to add podcasts to Google Play Music this month

We’ve been hearing about podcast support coming to Google Play Music for some months now. But it’s apparently happening soon, based on this tweet from in-the-know sports guru (and personal hero) Bill Simmons.

The BS Podcast will be available on Google Play when [Google Play] launches its podcast platform later this month.

So later this month it is.

Irony alert: Having killed retail book stores, Amazon will now open a bunch of retail book stores

This would be funny. You know, if it were funny.

After dipping its toes into brick-and-mortar retailing last year with its first physical bookstore, online giant Amazon.com Inc. is poised to dive into the deep end.

The Seattle company plans to open as many as 400 bookstores, Sandeep Mathrani, chief executive of mall operator General Growth Properties Inc., said on an earnings call on Tuesday.

“You’ve got Amazon opening brick-and-mortar bookstores and their goal is to open, as I understand, 300 to 400,” said Mr. Mathrani in response to a question about mall traffic.

Incredible.

 

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