deloitte

Smartphone shipments to hit 1 billion this year, says report

The smartphone industry will ship more than 1 billion units before the year is over, according to a preview of a Deloitte report due out next week.

And that number could actually come closer to 2 billion, at least based on Deloitte's definition of a smartphone. Most analysts and industry watchers consider a smartphone a device that runs a specific operating system, such as iOS or Android. But Deloitte has expanded that definition to consider phones "smart" if they have touch screens, use full keyboards, and run apps, regardless of what OS they run internally.

"In … Read more

Groupon's board adopts some financial discipline

Embroiled in shareholder lawsuits, its stock plunging, and still headed by a CEO criticized as unpredictable, Groupon has found things a bit hectic recently. Which may explain a minor board shakeup that looks a lot like an attempt to put some grownups in control of things.

Financial veterans American Express CFO Daniel Henry and Deloitte vice chairman Robert Bass are to join Groupon's board.

"With their deep financial, accounting, and operational experience, Dan and Bob will provide invaluable expertise to the Board going forward," Groupon Chairman Eric Lefkofsky said in a statement.

Henry joined the board April … Read more

4G a boon to U.S. economy and jobs, study says

The wireless carriers' investment in 4G networks could be the salve that the ailing U.S. economy is looking for.

The carriers could invest between $25 billion and $53 billion in building out their 4G network through 2016, according to a study from Deloitte. That in turn could lead to the creation of 371,000 to 771,000 jobs, and gross domestic product growth of $73 billion to $151 billion.

"Investment in such a powerful form of communication contributes to the economic recovery and provides a job-creating engine for the future," said Phil Asmundson a consultant for Deloitte. … Read more

Survey: Most won't buy new TV just to get 3D

Vendors might be trying to push 3D on consumers, but few appear willing to jump to the technology, a study released today by Deloitte has found.

According to the international accounting and consulting firm, 83 percent of consumers say that 3D isn't enough to make them want to buy a new television. Moreover, 60 percent of respondents said they simply aren't willing to pay extra for a television with 3D capabilities. Just 21 percent of those surveyed said they would pay 10 percent more for a 3D television over a set that doesn't have the technology.

A … Read more

Report: Companies unprepared for cybercrime

Many organizations are focused on stopping random hackers and blocking pornography when they should be concerned with bigger threats from professional cybercriminals, according to a new cybersecurity report.

In a survey conducted last year of 523 IT and security managers, top-level executives, and law enforcement personnel, hackers were rated the biggest threat, followed by insiders and foreign entities--probably because hackers are the "noisiest and easiest to detect," the 2010 CyberSecurity Watch Survey concluded.

However, attackers from nation-states and organized crime syndicates use more sophisticated techniques that can do more economic damage and go undiscovered, said the report, sponsored … Read more

Buzz Out Loud Podcast 1147: Mint-fried Quicken (SarcMark!)

Though Apple has officially announced an announcement, we don't know what it is, so we speculate anyway. Sue us. Will you pay $2 for a new character that indicates sarcasm? Most of us won't, either. We also discuss the meaning of privacy in search engines and Quicken hides it's online service behind Mint, which, oddly, makes Natali hungry.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1147

Apple officially announces January 27 event http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10436586-37.html

Expect to see iPhone 4, Tablet, and new iLife … Read more

'Tens of millions' expected to buy tablets in 2010

A Deloitte research note claims that tablet computers will finally capture the affection of consumers this year.

"Tens of millions of people" will buy a tablet computer--or a "NetTab," as dubbed by Deloitte--in 2010, the company predicted Monday.

"NetTabs are expected to meet specific consumer needs" that aren't being met by either smartphones or by laptops, the company said. Deloitte reasons that smartphones are "still a bit small for watching videos or even Web browsing," while notebooks, Netbooks, and ultra-thin PCs are still "too big, heavy, or expensive."

Deloitte … Read more