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Tony Ibrahim

Sony: $25K For A 4K TV With Barely Any Content

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Sony has released the US price of its 84 inch 4K television and it has a lot of digits.

Five to be exact. The company’s XBR-84X900 television, which made headlines following its unveiling at the 2012 IFA show in Germany, will have a US price tag of $25,000. That’s a lot for a TV that has practically no readily available content.


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It’s one of the first 4K televisions available to the public, cramming a total of 8 million pixels into its screen when Full HD televisions are home to 2 million pixels.

Speaking to SmartHosue, Sony’s Business Development Manager, Michael Bromley, claims as of January 2012, there are roughly seventy-five 4K films on the market. By his estimates, a 4K film requires 600GB of data, which is significantly higher than the few gigabytes needed for Blue-ray. In an effort to bridge the present with the infrastructure needed to support the format, the XBR-84X900 uses proprietary software that essentially upscales HD content to 4K’s 3,840 by 2,160 resolution.


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Read 84 Inches: Sony Launches Gigantic 4K TV

Although we know this gargantuan LCD TV will be coming to Australia in December, its local price remains unknown. Given tech companies have the propensity to gouge Australians, we’re cringing over how much higher the local price tag could go. 

Google Push The Internet To Its Limits With NBN-Like Rollout

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Google is pushing the limits of what is technologically possible with the rollout of an NBN-like test network in a US city.

Google hasn’t revealed how much money it’s spending on the optical fibre rollout through the two-state Kansas City region, but bypassing locally laid cable and phone companies is no cheap task.

Despite the exorbitant cost, the company is investing in the roll out to test new ways to develop the internet.

According to reports from The Australian, Google will charge $US70 a month for its gigabit internet service, which will hit speeds roughly 100 times faster than a cable modem.

Also available is a TV-like cable service which uses a tablet as a remote. For $US50 a month, subscribers will have access to Nickelodeon, Discovery, Bravo, Starz and Showtime (which may require additional fees.)

A slower 5Mb/s connection will be available to households at no monthly cost following the $US300 installation fee. Google vows to offer the service for seven years.

Currently the service is being rolled out in Kansas City in the US Midwest, but Google plans on hooking up households in neighbourhoods with sufficient demand.

Considering the speed on offer, Google’s test-bed isn’t that expensive. Another Gigabit network located in Chattanooga, Tennesse sells a similar service for $US350 a month.

UPDATE: David Jones Takeover News Sees Shares Jump 19%

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David Jones has received an unsolicited takeover letter from a non-incorporated UK entity, potentially valuing the company at 1.4 billion.

This morning David Jones approached the Australian Securities Exchange and revealed it received an unsolicited letter from a non-incorporated UK entity who was interested in a takeover.

David Jones could be valued in excess of $1.4 billion according to the SMH. Following word of a potential takeover, shares rose by almost 20 per cent.

“The directors do not believe they currently have relevant information to enable them to qualify or value the approach but should this change will advise the market accordingly,” David Jones said in a statement this morning.

“In the meantime the directors recommend that shareholders treat related market comment cautiously.”

Currently David Jones and its rival Myer have been fronting the harsh retail climate. 

The chief market analyst at City Index, Peter Esho, said the news will prompt merger and acquisition strategies to be put in play, but recognised the unusual nature of the proposition.

“On the approach itself, we can only say that it seems very odd. The unsolicited offer is from a non-incorporated UK entity about which no usual public information is available,” Mr Esho said.

“Perhaps it’s a new consortium or a collection of private business owners who want to get together and launch an offer. We think the David Jones board will be very careful in the way they engage with this party, keeping in mind the way Billabong recently knocked back an approach before seeing its shares fall by more than half.”

David Jones shares immediately rose following the news, rising 35 cents (15%) to $2.61, and climbing by 19% in early trade. Myer’s shares also rose by 9 cents to $1.63.

Update: New reports have surfaced alleging EB Private Equity, a UK firm, has made a $1.65 billion offer for David Jones.

Pioneer’s Wireless Speaker Is At Home Outdoors

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Liberate your music.

Pioneer’s XW-SMA3 is a wireless speaker equipped with a gamut of connectivity options. It’s compatible with your home WiFi network, Apple’s AirPlay and the common DLNA standard. In the event there’s no WiFi around, it’ll create its own wireless connection to be used with other Wireless Direct devices. This rich connectivity suite means it can stream high quality music to a range of devices, whether they fall under the Apple, Android or Windows ecosystem.

Inside the speaker are two 3-inch mid-range drivers, a 1-inch tweeter and a central bass reflex port. Unlike its sibling speakers, it comes complete with a rechargeable battery that will stream tunes for five hours.

Free from wired shackles, it’ll enliven any outdoor scenario. Water certainly won’t keep it away from Aussie beaches or pool parties because Pioneer has made it splash resistant.

When you’re done living it up outdoors, simply take it inside where it can join its XW-SMA brethren and contribute to a household modular system.

The XW-SMA3 is available now for $499, alongside the similarly equipped XW-SMA1 ($399) and the larger XW-SMA4 ($499).

Telstra ‘Simplicity’ Deal Backed By New Low Rates

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Telstra appear to be a carrier listening to customers with their new ‘Simplicity’ prepaid deals advocating prepaid pricing that is simple and easy to understand.

There new pricing plans have no connection fee and offer low call rates for national talk and texts. Customers will also benefit from a variety of longer expiry periods, ranging from 60 days to 180 days.
 
Stuart Bird, Telstra’s head of Prepaid, said the new pricing reflects customer feedback as they were based on market research findings.

“The low Australia and International calling and text rates are recognise our customers increasingly want to connect to family and friends wherever they are and with this offer many international destinations will cost no more to call than if they were in Australia.”

Pricing

National Calls:
15 cent per minute call rates, 12 cent per SMS
International Calls (calls from Australia):
15 cents per minute: UK, Hong Kong, China
18 cents per minute: Ireland, New Zealand, the Philippines and South Africa

Credit Expiry Periods:
$30 expires in 60 days
$50 expires in 100 days
$100 expires in 180 days