Mobile computing pioneer Psion is to be swallowed up by Motorola Solutions in a $200m (£130m) cash deal.
Motorola is paying a 45 per cent premium on the value of Psion's closing price on the London Stock Exchange on Thursday, when the company's shares were suspended ahead of the announcement of the deal.
Further reading
While Psion today is a shadow of the company that pioneered mobile computing in the 1980s and 1990s, it has carved out a niche for itself as a provider of rugged mobile devices and the mobile software infrastructure around them.
It has about 830 staff, customers in more than 50 countries and posted revenues of £176m in 2011. The bulk of the company today is based around Teklogic, the mobile services company that Psion acquired for £240m in 2000, just before it pulled out of consumer handheld devices.
Motorola, meanwhile, is now a specialist in mobile and network services following the sale of its mobile phone handset division to Google for $12.5bn (£8bn). It plans to adopt Psion products and services to expand its own range in the corporate mobile services market.
"Psion is a compelling opportunity to strengthen our industry-leading, mobile-computing portfolio with ruggedized handheld products and vehicle-mount terminals that will deepen our presence in the global markets in which we compete," said Motorola Solutions chairman and CEO Greg Brown.
Psion has struggled following the global financial crisis in 2008, and the arrival of the Apple iPad, Android-based tablets, and the "bring your own device" trend in organisations. The company is particularly vulnerable to such lower cost devices as three-quarters of its revenues are derived from hardware rather than services.
"The offer by Motorola Solutions provides Psion's shareholders with certainty in an environment where certainty is in short supply," said Psion chairman John Hawkins.
Psion – short for Potter Scientific Instruments – started in the early 1980s as a developer of software for Sinclair home computers, including the ZX-80, ZX-81 and, most notably, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.
It was best known for the "Horace" range of games for the Spectrum – in particular, Horace Goes Skiing (pictured) – until it launched the Psion Organiser in 1984. A rugged, handheld computer little bigger than a pocket calculator, the device proved popular with retailers, due to its simple-to-use database programming language, called OPL, which encouraged the development of a large software eco-system around the device.
It later developed a business around data networking cards and, with the development of the Series 5 Organiser in the mid-1990s, the Symbian operating system, which was later spun-out of the company to a consortium of mobile phone makers, including Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson.
The company was very much based around the personality of its founder, David Potter, who will also relinquish his last connection with the company following an agreement to sell his remaining shareholding to Motorola for just over £1m.
Billionaire Henry Cheng Kar-Shun backs Greenwich project - Daily Telegraph
Max James, chief executive, said: "This is a transformational deal for Quintain and is the next step in realising the inherent value in our key London projects by attracting significant third party capital. It introduces a highly respected and experienced partner who brings considerable financial strength and a network of global relationships." Quintain shares surged 5, or 15pc, to 38p.
iPhone 5 transparent concept looks stunning in mock advert - Crave
I'm looking through you -- you're not the same, as birthday boy Paul McCartney memorably put it. This cool advert for a possible future iPhone 5 definitely isn't the same -- and you can look through it.
The first glimpses of the next iPhone have started to emerge, revealing that the phone is set to have a new widescreen design. Those glimpses, such as the video comparing the prospective iPhone 5 with the current iPhone 4S, may or may not be genuine -- but we know this one's from the realm of pure fantasy.
Click play on the video to see the advert for the gorgeous see-through iPhone concept.
Designed by Apple fan Dakota Adney, this speculative iPhone concept design sports an 'iClear retina display' -- in other words, it's transparent, layering text, apps and games on the clear display.
The see-through screen is handy for taking photos, as well as offering augmented reality, layering information on the screen over whatever's in front of you.
Set the phone down on a flat surface and twin projectors beam a virtual keyboard in front of you, with sensors spotting where you tap and turning that into typing.
If you like the idea of a transparent phone, the designer of this concept has also put together a promo video for a transparent iPad.
For more mind-blowing concept phones, check out our favourite made-up iPhone 5 designs, our favourite made-up iPad designs, a Nokia phone that's a touchscreen all over, and a bendy PaperPhone flexible phone.
We're expecting to see the next iPhone this autumn. Whether it's called the iPhone 5 or the new iPhone, Apple's next blower will be the first to show off iOS 6, the latest version of i-flavoured software, complete with improved Siri, a new Apple maps app and assorted other improvements.
Would you use a see-through phone? What would you like to see in the iPhone 5? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
These are the best renders yet of the iPhone 5 - Crave
Apple didn't let anything slip about the iPhone 5 at WWDC, so leave it to the Internet. These are the finest iPhone 5 renders so far, knocked up by Martin Hajek on Flickr.
Click through to see the full gallery.
Hajek punted out his renders of the black iPhone 5 last week, based on the backplate we spied recently. He's not the first to put together a render based on what we've been hearing rumour-wise, but these are the prettiest yet.
The iPhone as imagined by Hajek features the striped aluminium back, as well as the larger 16:9 screen that's expected to make an appearance on the next-gen phone. The screen on the next iPhone is expected to be 4 inches tall but no wider than the existing 3.5 incher, and with an aspect ratio ideal for movies.
The next iPhone is expected to launch around October time, which is the same time as Windows 8. As well as the bigger screen, it'll come touting the next generation of its software, iOS 6. New additions include Apple's own mapping software (replacing Google Maps), as well as turn-by-turn navigation, meaning the phone doubles as a sat-nav.
A much-improved Siri will also be on board, thankfully capable of telling us about local businesses like pubs, restaurants and taxi services. Previously it could only do this in America.
The iPhone 5 may well have the same A5X chip as in the new iPad too, boosting performance and making it even more of a gaming heavyweight than the iPhone 4S. We could have 4G by the end of the year, so the iPhone 5 could well be 4G-equipped for super-fast surfing and downloads.
What do you think of these renders? And what are you hoping for from the next iPhone? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
iPhone 5 Release Rumor: Auto Layout For Easy Transition - gamenguide.com
(Photo: 9to5mac.com) - Back plate of the new iPhone.
iPhone 5 is widely anticipated to have a larger screen as now many Android smartphones have already equipped 4-inch displays. While all the released iPhone versions were 3.5-inch with a 3-by-2 ratio. The size change will affect the image displayed in the screen, which means all the existing apps will need to be adjusted to fit the bigger and elongated screen of iPhone 5.
Some pointed out that the screen size change can make developers concerned about the apps and therefore affect the streamline of the iPhone 5.
Actually Apple gave answers to solve this issue in its software development kit of iOS 6. Not noted by many, perhaps because the public pays too much attention on the high-profile features such as Apple’s Maps, Siri enhancements, and Facebook integration.
Auto Layout lets developers set up parameters for how UI elements appear on a screen. With the screen resolution changed from iPhone 4S to iPhone 5, developers can just set corresponding parameters which can move the UI elements to the right place, therefore provide a consistent UI experience across all devices.
According to a poll conducted by Piper Jaffray’s Analyst Gene Munster, developers do not consider adjusting the screen size for their apps as a big issue. On average, 100 developers attending Apple’s WWDC chose 3.4 of 10 as the difficulty index of solving the problem with one be the least difficult.
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx Upgrade Rumor, Verizon Explained - gamenguide.com
Verizon Wireless explained on their Twitter regarding the rumor on the text message that mentioned Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update on Motorola Droid Razr Maxx.
Earlier Monday morning, Verizon twitted that they were not aware of “any texts being sent about ICS update” and the texts should be reported as a spam. However, it turned out that the text was not a spam after all.
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The text in question was received through a Mobile IM app through Verizon, which read:
“Free Verizon Message: Your phone will soon be upgraded to Android 4.0. At that time we will remove your Verizon Wireless Mobile IM app because it is not supported in Android 4.0. Please download a new instant messaging app to use IM on your phone. Thank you for using Mobile IM!”
People have reported that this message might hint an upgrade that is coming out by the end of the month. Motorola has previously announced that an upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS will roll in the second quarter.
When a Twitter user asked about the ICS update text, Verizon, probably not realizing which text the user was referring to, twitted back that it was a spam.
“We are not aware of any texts being sent about ICS update. I suggest they report it to spam by forwarding the text to 7726. ^TH,” twitted Verizon.
However, it was not long after that Verizon realized what the users were talking about. Verizon twitted back to another user that it was not a spam.
“I see! It was not a spam; just notification that the app is not supported on Android 4.0.,” Verizon twitted.
Could the Droid Razr Maxx users be exited now that it was not a spam?
Probably not.
“There hasn’t been an official date [of ICS going live] yet.” Verizon twitted to another user.
Microsoft Surface Goes After Motorola, HTC And Samsung - Forbes
The keypad looks slick and thin – and the stylus could work for many consumers. Microsoft‘s brand new Surface tablet clearly tries to create some genuine contrast to the iPad design philosophy. Last winter, many scoffed when Samsung launched the giant smartphone with a stylus – but the Samsung Note racked up 5 M units in sales by March. So while most consumers may have moved beyond the stylus, there could still be sizable demand for a stylus tablet done right. Since the Surface is going to incorporate Excel, Word and Powerpoint, it only makes sense to equip it with a razor thin keypad. Many tablet owners would like one.
Of course, the biggest question of the evening was about the price – and Microsoft’s decision not to answer it spoke volumes. With two cameras, the keypad and the sub-10 mm build, the Surface is highly likely to launch above $400. The comment about “pricing being comparable with Intel Ultrabook PC” clearly indicates a hefty sticker number.
What this all means is that Microsoft has decided to compete on features – not price. Not a big surprise considering the Xbox strategy. This could be very painful for HTC and the Google-owned Motorola brand. Asus and Acer may be able to move downmarket so rapidly that they can avoid direct competition with iPad and Surface. Amazon’s Kindle Fire has already dived to sub-$200 category where it has a chance to survive.
But there is a cluster of relatively expensive tablets that have struggled hard to gain any traction – devices by HTC and Motorola in particular. These tablets have tried to compete against the original iPad with more powerful processors – in vain. The iPad 2 arrival pretty much wiped them out.
Now Microsoft is debuting a tablet that has undeniably cool features like the slim keypad and strong Office integration. How are the non-bargain bin vendors going to compete? HTC and Google may have to decide whether they want to double down and ramp up tablet R&D in a big way – or pull out of the market completely. HTC does not have the resources to compete. Google does – but it may turn out to be an expensive race to enter.
Samsung is probably in the tablet market for the long haul – its spectacularly successful smartphone range lends it shelf space, profitability and branding power to stick with deep-pocketed tablet competitors like Apple and Microsoft.
There are many tablet market share guesstimates out there. One that fits well the shipment numbers of Motorola and Apple is the Chitika survey. It is a grim spectacle for non-Apple brands, though it tracks the usage of the tablets rather than their volume sales. Even before the Surface debuts, all of the non-iPad tablets create less than 2% of the ad impressions generated by the iPad. It w0uld not be surprising to see most of the smaller brands pull out of the tablet market by the end of 2013.
HITB 2012: MuscleNerd Explains Evolution of iPhone Baseband and Unlocks [VIDEO] - ibtimes.co.uk
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Among other intriguing concepts, there is mention of iPhone 4 Data Execution Prevention (DEP), explaining how Apple implemented DEP with specific hardware changes in the iPhone 4 baseband and the reason for its failure. Interesting tidbits on how ultrasn0w was designed to work despite aggressive hardware-based DEP are also outlined. Other points of interest include MuscleNerd's explanation of various basebands and customisations employed by Apple, besides detailing the use of activation tickets and baseband tickets.
Here is the complete list of the topics covered as part of the presentation at the 2012 Hat in the Box (HITB) conference, courtesy of modmyi:
Baseband ROP: Overview of the role ROP plays in software unlocks like yellowsn0w and ultrasn0w; comparison to ROP on the main Application-side CPU (jailbreaks) and why ROP wasn't even necessary on the first generation of iPhones.
Software Unlocks vs. Hardware Unlocks: How iPhone software unlocks differ from those using hardware SIM interposers; which layers of the baseband are exposed to each and how the exploit development environment differs. This includes a description of even more radical hacks like baseband chipset retrofitting and what Apple has done to prevent them.
iPhone4 DEP: How Apple implemented DEP with specific hardware changes on the iPhone4 baseband and what went wrong and how ultrasn0w was made to work despite aggressive hardware-based DEP.
Operating Systems: So far, Apple has used three completely different baseband operating systems in the iPhone line; includes description of which parts Apple tends to customise and why, as well as comparison of past and present custom command parsing.
Infineon vs. Qualcomm: Discussion of the transition from Infineon baseband chipsets to Qualcomm chipsets; comparison of the older serial-based AT interface (still used on many other handsets) to the USB-based QMI used by the iPhone4S.
Activation Tickets: Detailed description of the "activation ticket" Apple uses to authorise use with specific (or all) carriers; how activation tickets interact with the traditional PIN-based NCK codes; and contrasting activation tickets and baseband tickets.
Baseband Tickets: Details on how Apple authenticates software updates to the baseband; comparison of baseband tickets to "ApTickets" that Apple now uses on the main Application CPU to control software changes and why baseband tickets provide even strong protection than ApTickets. This includes the role of nonces in both the baseband and main application CPU.
iPhone4S: What we've learned so far about the iPhone4S baseband; an overview of changes Apple has made to the original Qualcomm BootROM and how the iPhone4S baseband boot process differs from most other Qualcomm-based handsets. This includes which features the iPhone4S baseband has in common with other handsets and which have been removed, a description of the current attack surface, and comparison of iPhone4 and iPhone4S hardware-based protection mechanisms.
Watch MuscleNerd's Video Presentation on Working Principles of iPhone Basebands and Unlocks:
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Motorola Droid Razr Maxx Android 4.0 ICS Upgrade, Verizon Says Spam - gamenguide.com
(Photo: Twitter) - Motorola Droid Razr Maxx Android 4.0 ICS Upgrade, Verizon Says Spam
On Monday morning, Verizon wrote on the Twitter account of its support page that the company is not aware of sending such text and the ones who received the texts should report it as spam.
“We are not aware of any texts being sent about ICS update. I suggest they report it to spam by forwarding the text to 7726. ^TH,” Verizon twitted.
Last week, people have reported to receive a text message regarding its Android operating system.
“Free Verizon Message: Your phone will soon be upgraded to Android 4.0. At that time we will remove your Verizon Wireless Mobile IM app because it is not supported in Android 4.0. Please download a new instant messaging app to use IM on your phone. Thank you for using Mobile IM!”
Earlier this year, Motorola announced to roll out the Android 4.0 ICS for Droid Razr Maxx in the second quarter. Since the end of Q2 is only two weeks away, the roll out is expected to happen soon from Motorola.
However it is not confirmed when Verizon will implement the change. It could be shortly after Motorola rolls out, or it could be at a much later date.
The update to new Android OS will bring more features to one of the hottest selling smartphones from Verizon. ICS will allow finger-slide notification clearance, Google+ integration, better camera user interface, and take still shots while recording HD video.
NOTE: Verizon has twitted again that the text message in question in fact was not a spam. See the updated news here.
Phone-hacking detectives probe former News International chairman James Murdoch and other executives' 'secret' iPhone accounts - Daily Mail
- Labour MP Tom Watson said he wanted to know what emails and text messages were sent from the 'secret' phones
- Questions raised over whether they were declared to the Leveson Inquiry
- They could reveal how much contact the Murdochs had with Downing Street over BSkyB bid
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James Murdoch makes use of a second phone
Detectives probing phone-hacking at the News of the World are investigating the call records of James Murdoch and three other News International executives after it emerged they have each held a 'secret' second iPhone for nearly three years, it is believed.
The former chairman and three other executives are understood to have received the new smartphones in 2009, in addition to their existing handsets.
The revelation raises fresh questions over why Scotland Yard detectives have only uncovered them now, more than a year after Operation Weeting, the initial probe into phone hacking, was launched.
There is no suggestion the phones were used for phone hacking but it is believed they could reveal just how much contact the Murdochs had with Downing Street in their failed bid to take over BSkyB.
Questions are now being asked about whether the executives disclosed their existence to the Leveson Inquiry into media standards.
Until now, there have only been references at the Leveson inquiry to Mr Murdoch's Blackberry, and not his iPhone.
The phones are thought to be supplied by O2 and not Vodafone which is News International's usual supplier.
According to the Sunday Mirror the monthly bill for the four phones regularly exceeded 1,000 and reached more than 3,000 the month following David Cameron's announcement of the inquiry into press ethics last July.
Two of the phones, including Mr Murdoch's, is still thought to be active while the other two have been disconnected.
Labour MP Tom Watson, who has waged a personal campaign against the Murdochs, said he would call on News International to explain why senior executives needed second phones.
He also raised questions over the content of the phones and asked whether the Leveson Inquiry had been made aware of them.
'Now that we know James Murdoch has a secret second iPhone I hope he will disclose the content of text messages and emails to the Leveson Inquiry and the police,' he said.
Tom Watson has called for James Murdoch to reveal the existence of his second phone to the Leveson Inquiry
'I'd like to know whether he used the secret phones to discuss the parliamentary inquiry with the other senior executives who were issued phones.'
A News International source confirmed the existence of the phones but said they were only acquired because they were a new development in the media industry.
The source added they were supplied by O2 because it was the only UK network supplying the new iPhone at the time.
A spokesman for the company declined to comment.
James Murdoch has faced fierce criticism over his handling of the phone-hacking scandal and repeated questioning of precisely how much he knew.
He told the Leveson Inquiry in April that he was given 'consistent' assurances by senior News of the World executives that there was no widespread evidence of phone hacking.
But his assertions appear to contradict claims by Colin Myler, the News of the World editor, and Tom Crone, the paper’s legal manager, that they both made him aware of widespread hacking within the organisation as long ago as 2008.
He has also faced questions over his relationship with Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, whose special adviser fell on his sword after admitting he had grown 'too close' to the Murdochs during their controversial BSkyB takeover bid.
Mr Murdoch resigned as chairman of BSkyB last April in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, weeks after he quit as boss of News International and moved to the United States.
The son and heir apparent to father Rupert's vast media empire, who stayed on the BSkyB board as a non-executive director, left the company admitting he had become its 'lightening rod'.
Mr Murdoch’s departure from the BSkyB post he held since 2007 also followed his decisions to step down from the boards of auctioneer Sotheby’s and pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline.
Perhaps we can see the contents and calls of Watson's phone/s as he is accountable to the electorate!!!!
- Daveyboy, Romford, 18/6/2012 16:38
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