iPhone 5C demand lower than expected, says Tim Cook

It is rare for Apple, especially its CEO, to admit to some level of error so when it does, everyone is all ears. This has happened yet again as Tim Cook admitted that they might have overestimated the popularity of the iPhone 5C, whose market performance wasn't as they had expected.

To be fair, the brightly colored plastic-backed mid-range iPhone didn't flunk sales. At the end of the quarter, the iPhone 5C sold 51 million units. Unfortunately, Apple expected it to sell for around 55 million. Cook believes that this was because consumers gravitated towards a more interesting, but also more expensive, iPhone 5S.

Cook says that the features on the iPhone 5S, particular the Touch ID, ended up grabbing more attention and thus majority of the sales. The iPhone 5S is also a premium device with high-end hardware. The iPhone 5C, on the other hand, was almost similar to the iPhone 5 and its biggest marketing stunt was the colorful design, yet another Apple first since the company left the colorful iMac era.

This was also the first time that Apple introduced two new iPhone models at the same time, which could have led to a slight confusion among Apple fans. Apple doesn't usually reveal its per-product sales numbers, but it has reduced orders for the mid-range smartphone, prompting many to speculate on the veracity of reports about the iPhone 5C's weak sales.

Now the fate of the iPhone 5C remains unknown. Some think that Apple will soon scrap the device. Apple is also believed to be revising its iPhone strategy and might no longer introduce a plastic, mid-range variant when it unveils its next iPhone generation.











VIA: Apple Insider

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Blackberry to divest most of its Canadian properties

The latest page in Blackberry's business woes comes in the form of a property announcement, with the company revealing plans to divest the majority of its real estate located in Canada. This follows some pretty big layoffs, as well as a recent announcement that it'll be selling five of its buildings to the University of Waterloo for $41 million Canadian.

The divestment will be taking place in part with CBRE, a real estate services company. Blackberry didn't say how much it is looking to make from the sales, but such a business move comes amidst months of hardship and the need to offset poor numbers. The real estate divestment will come in two forms.

Blackberry says, according to Reuters, that it will both sell vacant assets and initiate sale-leaseback sales, with the properties comprising more than 3 million square feet of office space. Where these buildings are located also wasn't specified, but given that most of Blackberry's physical locations hover in proximity to its Waterloo headquarters, one can assume these buildings are in the same general area.

As for the buildings it has already agreed to sell, the University of Waterloo has said its campus will grow 300,000 square feet as a result, as well as gaining 1000 parking spaces. Good news for the university, and good news for whatever companies acquires its current properties, but another sad tale in the long story of Blackberry in a world of shifting mobile preferences.






SOURCE: Reuters

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Nintendo 3DS game sales jumped 45% in 2013 as hardware hit record numbers

Nintendo has reported its 2013 3DS sales for the year, with the maker hitting a sweet-spot record leading into what it anticipates to be a strong 2014. Last year, Nintendo had the highest ever 3DS sales in the United States, with game sales jumping a huge 45-percent, as well. The company had detailed its game release plans for this year, starting with the full game launch of Bravely Default on February 7.

Nintendo 3DS sales, which includes the 2DS and the 3DS XL, exceeded 11.5 million sales in the United States, breaking the thus-far lifetime record for the company. Game sales were nearly as equally phenomenal for the company, with in excess of 16 million combined physical and digital games for the aforementioned hardware being sold over the course of last year -- a 45-percent jump over 2012's sales for the same hardware.

In addition to Bravely Default, which has been available as a demo in the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo will be launching Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, followed by Yoshi's New Island on March 14. Also slated is Disney Magical World, a Disney-centric game that will be familiar to those who enjoy common social network games, that will be launching on April 11.

Said Nintendo America's Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing Scott Moffitt: "Nintendo 3DS is a powerhouse with games and experiences that appeal to all kinds of players. We're not slowing down in 2014. With more games featuring fan-favorite franchises on the way, the best days of Nintendo 3DS are still come."





SOURCE: Business Wire

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