Friday, 6 December 2013

Supply & Demand: PS4 Is Worth More Than Xbox One

Adam Barnes

In the run up to Christmas, can you get hold of an Xbox One or PS4, and how much will it cost you?

Published on Dec 5, 2013

Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay. That's the saying, anyway, and judging by the hiked prices of the PS4 and the Xbox One, this is certainly looking to be true.

So while you would scoff at the idea of paying £700 for an Xbox One, a desperate parent looking to get hold of the console before Christmas likely would. In fact, it could well have already happened.

With the concept of supply and demand businesses can get a better judge of the value of a product. That's not to be confused with its price - in the case of these consoles the RRP of £349.99 for PS4 and £429.99 for Xbox One - but instead what a product is worth.

We tracked a large number of sales on both the US and UK eBay sites, and while the prices for these two consoles continue to rise what is most interesting is that - despite the price differences - the PS4 is actually worth more than Xbox One.

PS4's On eBay UK

First off, let's look at the supply of the PS4 and the Xbox One. In most cases supply can be looked at in two ways: either the supply is low, so the demand is high - and so, too, is the price - or the supply is high and so demand is being met, or even exceeded.

In the latter's case this results in prices around or below the RRP of a product.

But eBay has a large number of both next-gen consoles available for sale, while the price - too - remains high.

This is because those with spare consoles - either they purchased an extra console with intent to sell or are looking to make a quick buck - are the ones supplying the demand, not retailers.

Traditional means of purchase have an extremely limited number of PS4s and Xbox Ones available, meaning if you want one of these consoles your only option is to pay over the odds.

Interestingly, eBay UK has around 750-800 Xbox Ones available for purchase, while the PS4 has a considerable amount more at about 2,000-2,100.

The supply of the PS4 is considerably higher due to the higher demand, as eBay sellers look to capitalise on the consoles popularity.

As a result the cost of the PS4 has risen considerably, its value becoming way over the standard RRP for the console.

Though the PS4 sold upwards of £550 - usually when supplied as a bundle or with a game - the standard price for just the console itself had an average of £475.

At the lower end of the scale the PS4 went for £435 and at the highest it went for £505, with the majority of auctions including 40 or more bids.

This puts the PS4 at about £125 its RRP, a huge increase to its value.

Xbox One's on eBay UK

Meanwhile the Xbox One still boosted its value, though not to such great heights. Inexplicably one Xbox One sold for £707.00, but this was an unusual blip.

The average for the Xbox One is around £520, with its lowest auction coming in at £495 - only £65 on top of the Xbox One's RRP - though the majority of auctions broke £500.

It's not unusual to see an Xbox One sell on eBay UK for £550, either, though quite often these are the Day One Edition consoles, which also come with a copy of FIFA 14.

This is where the comparison becomes a little skewed. Though the average of £520 only puts the Xbox One at £90 on top of its RRP, even including the FIFA 14 bundles, it's impossible to ignore the difference you're getting.

In essence the value of the Xbox One is increased by £50 with the addition of a free game. Though the console's RRP does not include the FIFA 14 addition, the Day One Edition does.

Like for like, the PS4 auctions that came with a bundled game sold for over £500, with Knack bundles at around £495-505 while Killzone: Shadow Fall PS4 bundles sell for £510-520+

In essence a like for like sale alongside the Xbox One would put the PS4's value at £150 on top of the RRP at least, while the Xbox One often manages little more than £100-110 on top of its RRP.

It's an interesting insight in the demand for the PS4 over its otherwise more expensive competitor.

PS4s & Xbox Ones On eBay US

As another example we decided to see what the Americans market was looking like for PS4s and Xbox Ones this Christmas and here it was much worse for the Xbox One.

There are around 3,500 Xbox Ones for sale on the US eBay, followed up by 4,900 PS4s. Though the PS4 had the lead on supply, it's fair to say there are plenty of consoles available.

This has had an effect on the value of the Xbox One. Since eBay US has many more Xbox Ones - almost all of which are new - the need to go through traditional retailers is negated somewhat.

As such Xbox Ones typically sell for around $580, not much more than its RRP of $499 in the US.

It's not unusual for an Xbox One to top $600 or slightly over, but as many sell for less.

This is particularly harsh when compared to the PS4, which seemingly sells for around the same price as an Xbox One on US eBay.

Though it's rarer for a PS4 to push over $600 it is still fairly common and the average selling price of the PS4 is still around $580-590 - an embarrassing revelation considering the US RRP of $399 for the PS4.

PS4s & Xbox Ones On Amazon

While eBay is perhaps the best test for valuing the market, Amazon Marketplace - which allows users to sell their own products for a set price - is also a handy comparison to make.

Here the price is set by the user themselves, so the market helps figure out the acceptable value when a middle ground is found.

It's here that Xbox One fairs a little better. Though it's not quite as easy to create an average since Amazon Marketplace almost always features a stupidly high price - in this case £999.99 - there is a general 'accepted' price.

For the Xbox One the lowest price is £580.00 with the price increasing to around £610.00 before it starts escalating excessing. This is with 11 consoles available.

The PS4, however, has 58 consoles available through Amazon Marketplace, with £495.00 as the lowest price. This hovers up to around £530 before reaching a large number of PS4s at £550, after which the cost increases sharply.

This is harder to evaluate due to the nature of the system, it is nonetheless interesting to see how the limited availability of the Xbox One on Amazon's Marketplace (with only 11 available through secondary sale) has increased the overall value of the console.

PS4 Is Worth More Than Xbox One

Ultimately it's clear there's a higher demand for the PS4 than the Xbox One.

Not only are more PS4s available for sale through secondary means (rather than direct from a retailer) than the Xbox Ones, but it still manages to maintain a higher value than the Xbox One.

Sales of the PS4 are considerably higher in value than the Xbox One, suggesting that consumers are willing to spend much more than RRP to get hold of a PS4 than they are of an Xbox One.

As stock for Christmas presents begins to dwindle it will be interesting to see how - if at all - this market pattern evolves, but we'll be sure to keep track of it.

Xbox One Indie Policy Criticised By Developer

Indie developer Vlambeer has criticised the terms of Microsoft's ID@Xbox indie program.

Published on Dec 5, 2013

Microsoft has been trying to bolster their reputation regarding indie developers with the ID@Xbox program, which aims to help indie developers to get their games onto the Xbox One.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, prominent indie studio Vlambeer, who are signed on to ID@Xbox, has criticised the terms of the Xbox One's indie publishing program.

The clause that has drawn Vlambeer ire is one that states that games must be released on Xbox One at the same time as on other platforms - something that is very difficult for indie developers with small teams.

"Microsoft was doing reach-out to certain developers back in the early days of ID@XBOX, and we discussed potentially bringing Nuclear Throne to Xbox One with them," Ismail said in an interview with Joystiq.

"There had been mentions beforehand that there was a launch parity clause in the contract, with the exception of games that were already signed to another platform during the announcement of their self-publishing program," Ismail said.

"Thus, before we signed with Microsoft, we e-mailed Sony that we quickly wanted to sign Nuclear Throne with them with a month of exclusivity."

"We'd rather Microsoft allow us not only the freedom to self-publish, but also to publish in whatever order we prefer. We'll keep pushing for Microsoft to drop the clause, and we'd recommend any other developer to do the same," Ismail continued.

However, Ismail also had some praise for Microsoft and their changing attitude to indies.

"To be honest, we're in the ID@XBOX program mostly because we think [ID@Xbox director] Chris Charla is a person that genuinely cares about games and because we feel that with our visibility, it might be a good idea to go through the gauntlet and report back on whether it's a risky or unpleasant experience," Ismail explained.

"So far, there's nothing but good news when it comes to the program - Microsoft seems to have taken the cue from Sony and joined the platforms that allow for self-publishing," Ismail said.

Qualcomm Toq smartwatch gets Soon On World Market

Qualcomm Toq smartwatch gets December 2 as the release date

0 46

The Qualcomm Toq smartwatch was announced at the IFA 2013 along with the Galaxy Gear, but the former has been missing in action ever since even though the Samsung contender and a couple of others have already hit the market scene. Nevertheless, the wearable gadget is now all set to go up for sale. The company has revealed that it will hit store shelves on December 2.

One of the key highlights of the device is its Mirasol reflective display technology that makes use of the light in the surrounding area, instead of backlighting. And this precisely is the reason why the watch’s display continues to deliver clear visuals even in bright sunlight. And that’s not all, it even reduces the power usage and makes it capable of coughing up usage time of more than a couple of days.

In addition to this, the compact and lightweight Toq smartwatch doesn't have any ports or an on/off button. It is like your conventional watch and you merely have to glance at the screen to see your notifications. All the software upgrades are sent directly to the application on your smartphone to keep the wearable gadget updated.

Users also get optional wireless stereo headsets along with the Toq and it goes without saying that the music can be controlled via the watch itself. The accessory designed for comfort also features a woofer and a tweeter. Both the wearable devices can be charged wirelessly on the same charger.

The Qualcomm Toq smartwatch will be available next month for a price of $349.99 in the US.

Logitech G440, G240 gaming mouse pads launched in India

Accessories By Keval Shah - Dec 6, 2013

0 5

Gamers will truly understand the importance of a mouse pad and to provide them with right options that suit their preferences, Logitech has launched G440 and G240 pads. Both the accessories have already been made available in India.

First up is the G440, a hard mouse pad with rubber base and polymer core that cuts down on friction. This in turn claims to offer a high DPI while gaming and even facilitates enhanced mouse control. Precise cursor placement is one of the main requirements while playing and this accessory strives to fulfill it along with offering improved sensor performance. It is meant for you if you have to make subtle mouse movements or apply minimal force.

The surface texture is consistent and devoid of unwanted patterns and designs that can hamper sensor’s performance. You can use it with optical or laser mice and its three-layer construction make it apt for gaming. The G440 measures 340 x 280 x 3 millimeters and weighs in at 229 grams.

As for the G240, it is a cloth gaming mouse pad and works towards proffering the ideal surface friction that facilitates low DPI gaming. It is great for those who need to stop rapid movements during the game immediately. Just like its aforementioned sibling, this accessory has a consistent texture as well as a rubber base that is firmly bonded with the cloth. This pad tips the scales at merely 90 grams and has dimensions of 340 x 280 x 1 millimeters.

The Logitech G440 and G240 gaming mouse pads can now be purchased for Rs 2,125 and Rs 1,595, respectively.

With focus on 3G markets, Idea launches Dual-SIM, Android smartphone Aurus 4 for Rs 8,999

With focus on 3G markets, Idea launches Dual-SIM, Android smartphone Aurus 4 for Rs 8,999
TT Correspondent \| \| 06 Dec 2013

With an eye on the emerging 3G markets. Idea Cellular, India’s 3rd largest mobile operator launched the Aurus 4, a dual-sim, 3G smartphone in India. The smartphone is priced at Rs 8,999. Idea said that it plans to sell the new Aurus 4 through its own retail and service outlets across major 3G markets, Gujarat, Maharashtra & Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Kerala, UP West & East, Haryana, J&K and HP. Idea Aurus 4 features a 11.4 cms (4.5”) TFT display with 16 m colors. It runs on Android Jelly Bean (4.2) and is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor.It sports a 5MP primary camera along with video calling facility and 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It packs in 1800 mah battery and also offers long hours of talk and idle time. It comes with 4GB of inbuilt storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card and 512MB of RAM. Sashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular said, “The young and savvy youth of India has a huge appetite for content on mobile, but is deterred due to highly priced smartphones in India. Idea is bridging this gap by offering 3G smartphones packed with high-end features at relat4ely low price. Idea Aurus 4 is the latest addition to our growing portfolio of 3G devices which is enabling a large base of Idea users experience 3G for the first time in India.” Aimed at the youth the Aurus 4 is the latest addition in Idea’s popular Aurus series of 3G smartphones which the company said are rich in features and smart on price. Idea in the past launched number of 3G phones including ULTRA, the company’s first smartphone in the 12 cms (5”) category. It said that it sold over 6 lakh devices from a dozen models in the 8.89 cm (3.5”), 10.16 cm (4”) and 11.43 cm (4.5”) categories, in the Indian market. Idea Aurus 4 key specifications Android 4.2 Jelly Bean 4.5-inch TFT display with 480x854 pixels resolution 1.3GHz dual-core processor 512MB of RAM 4GB of inbuilt storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card 5-megapixel rear camera 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera Dual-SIM device (GSM+GSM) 1800mAh battery

Google pumps $12M into African solar energy project

By Jolie O'Dell | VentureBeat.com, Published: May 31, 2013

In is bajillionth green energy investment, Google has targeted the Jasper Power Project, a South African solar plant.

The investment totals $12 million and marks the search company’s first investment in Africa. This sum is part of a larger $260 million round including investors such as SolarReserve, a U.S. solar power developer; Intikon Energy, a South African renewable energy developer; and the Kensani Group, a South African empowerment investment firm.

The Jasper Power Project will be an advanced photovoltaic plant capable of generating 96 MW of clean energy for residents of South Africa. The project is designed not only to meet the country’s renewable energy goals but also to create long-term jobs and economic opportunity.

“Back in 2008, South Africa experienced a severe energy shortage, which resulted in blackouts throughout the country and slowed down economic growth,” writes Google energy and sustainability director Rick Needham today on the company blog.

“Since then the South African government has been actively supporting the growth of new sources of electricity to power the nation. … Given South Africa’s position as an economic powerhouse in Africa, a greener grid in South Africa can set an example for the whole continent.”

Previously, Google has made big investments in solar projects around the world. There’s a $168 million investment in a Mojave Desert power tower, a $94 million investment in photovoltaic projects throughout California, a smaller $5 million round for a plant in Germany, and a $280 million deal for SolarCity, which went public the following year.

All that is augmented by other investments in green energy, particularly wind farms.

Apple is planning a solar panel farm for its data center in Reno

By Katie Fehrenbacher | GigaOM.com, Published: July 2

Apple, working with Nevada utility NV Energy, is planning to build another solar panel farm next to a data center, and this time it’s for its new data center in Reno, Nevada. Apple has already been building two solar panel farms next to its data center in North Carolina, and this latest solar farm in Reno, called the “Ft. Churchill Solar Array,” shows Apple’s growing commitment to clean power at its new facilities.

Apple’s solar farm in Reno will be able to provide between 18 to 20 MW worth of power, which is about the same size as its two solar plants in North Carolina, which are both 20 MW in size. For an independent company (not a utility) — particular an internet company — 18 to 20 MW is a very large solar system.

But for the Reno solar farm, Apple is actually planning to use a new type of technology for the solar system, which includes both solar panels and also mirrors that concentrate the sun’s rays up to seven times onto the panels. That process increases the amount of power generated.

Apple is working with solar company SunPower on the engineering and construction, as well as the tracker technology that will be used with the solar panels. Apple also worked with SunPower for its North Carolina solar farms.

Apple’s partnership with utility NV Energy also shows how Apple is looking to work closely with utilities in states to create clean power options for its data centers. Apple is one of the first companies to take advantage of a new green tariff approved by Nevada’s utility commission that will enable Apple to pay for the cost of building the solar panel farm.

Since Apple will assume the incremental building costs throughout the project, the rates of NV Energy’s other customers doesn’t have to go up. Duke Energy and Google are working on a similar (though slightly different) proposal in North Carolina.

In the Nevada green tariff proposal, NV Energy can also pay Apple to use or even eventually buy the solar farm and include it in its energy generating assets. The Nevada state utility commission approved the green tariff on June 12. Apple has an option to expand the solar farm as well.

Because building the solar farm might take awhile, Apple plans to also use local geothermal power (the Galena 3 geothermal facility), which is widely available in the Reno area. Part of the reason that Apple chose to build its next data center in Reno, Nevada was because of the abundant clean power there.

The Apple Reno solar farm could create 100 jobs during the construction period.

Apple addressed the project in a statement:

All of Apple’s data centers use 100 percent renewable energy, and we are on track to meet that goal in our new Reno data center using the latest in high-efficiency concentrating solar panels. This project will not only supply renewable energy for our data center but also provide clean energy to the local power grid, through a first-of-its-kind partnership with NV Energy. When completed, the 137 acre solar array will generate approximately 43.5 million kilowatt hours of clean energy, equivalent to taking 6,400 passenger vehicles off the road per year.

NV Energy CEO Michael Yackira said in a statement:

We’re excited to be in partnership with Apple on a new solar energy project, the first project under our new Green Energy Program. This program allows customers such as Apple to choose to have a greater proportion of their energy coming from renewables than the law requires, without having a cost impact on our other customers.

Apple is looking to eventually use 100 percent clean power for its data centers through a combination of direct clean power generation, buying renewable energy credits and buying clean power from providers.

Suvolta’s energy-saving tech cuts an ARM chip’s power consumption in half

Chip startup Suvolta has developed a process that when used in manufacturing chips helps them conserve power, and it has shown off the results in a test with ARM. In that test, anARM microcontroller core consumed 50 percent less power than it previously would have running at 350 MHz. While these microcontroller cores aren’t the chips inside phones or servers, the Cortex M cores are ARM’s bet for the internet of things.

And if you think reducing power consumption on mobile devices is important, imagine having to plug in 40 or 50 sensors in order for your smart home to function. Those connected door locks or thermostats need power too.

Yet, that’s not all that’s packed into the news about Suvolta’s ARM partnership. Jeff Lewis, SVP business development and marketing with Suvolta, notes that what happens with the Cortex M core could be duplicated in the higher-level A-15 and other ARM cores that are used in mobile phones. So while the Suvolta technology isn’t designed into those or used for manufacturing ARM’s cores today, an ARM licensee could easily bring the power-saving tech to the upper tiers of ARM cores if it chose.

The technology works best for systems on a chip — multiple cores combined together onto one chip. SoCs, as they are called, are becoming more important as companies integrate more functions on one chip.

Suvolta on Tuesday also announced apartnership with UMC, a semiconductor manufacturing plant, where UMC can make chips using the Suvolta Deeply Depleted Channel process at sizes down to 28 nanometers. The chip-making process aims to cram as many transistors on a chip as possible, and the lower that process number is, the more advanced (and energy efficient) the chip is. The ARM core tested was manufactured at 65 nanometers.

I’ve been amped up about Suvolta for a few years now, and am excited that its technology is gaining ground with big name companies such as ARM. We’re placing computing in more places, but without new breakthroughs in battery life, those computers will have to have wires or compromise compute for battery life. With Suvolta, they can double their run-time without time-consuming architecture changes or expensive manufacturing techniques.

Nelson Mandela dies; former president of South Africa was 95

View Photo Gallery — Nelson Mandela dies at age 95: In an extraordinary life that spanned the rural hills where he was groomed for tribal leadership, anti-apartheid activism, guerrilla warfare, 27 years of political imprisonment and, ultimately, the South African presidency, Nelson Mandela held a unique leadership cachet that engendered respect and awe in capitals around the globe.

Nelson Mandela, the former political prisoner who became the first president of a post-apartheid South Africa and whose heroic life and towering moral stature made him one of history’s most influential statesmen, died Thursday, the government announced. He was 95.

The death was announced in a televised address by South African President Jacob Zuma, who noted, “We’ve lost our greatest son.” No cause was provided.

Timeline

Nelson Mandela, also known as Madiba, led the struggle to replace South Africa's apartheid regime with a multi-racial democracy. See key moments in his life.

Audio

Listen to an excerpt of Mandela's famous speech.

To a country torn apart by racial divisions, Mr. Mandela became its most potent symbol of national unity, using the power of forgiveness and reconciliation to heal deep-rooted wounds and usher in an era of peace after decades of conflict between blacks and whites. To a continent rife with leaders who cling to power for life, Mr. Mandela became a role model for democracy, stepping down from the presidency after one term and holding out the promise of a new Africa.

And to a world roiled by war, poverty and oppression, Mr. Mandela became its conscience, fighting to overcome some of its most vexing problems. He was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who spent 27 years in prison as part of his lifelong struggle against racial oppression.

Throughout this moral and political fight, Mr. Mandela evoked a steely resolve, discipline and quiet dignity, coupled with a trademark big, charismatic smile. He ultimately carried them into office as South Africa’s first black president.

His victory capped decades of epic struggle by the African National Congress and other liberation groups against South Africa’s brutal white rulers, first under British colonialism and then under a white-run system called “apartheid,” or racial separation.

On the day of his inauguration — May 10, 1994 — Mr. Mandela stood at the podium near South Africa’s last apartheid-era president, F.W. de Klerk. A year earlier, they had shared the Nobel Prize for what the Nobel committee called “their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new, democratic South Africa.”

“We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation,” Mr. Mandela, then 75, declared. “Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another . . . the sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.”

Only a few years before, the 20th century’s most celebrated political prisoner had been dubbed a terrorist by the conservative governments in the United States and Britain under Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, respectively.

In the decades after Mr. Mandela’s release from prison in 1990, many South Africans of all races referred to him reverentially as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name. Countless others called him Tata, which means father in the Xhosa language.

For all his achievements, Mr. Mandela will also be remembered as slow to react to the HIV/AIDS epidemic that began sweeping South Africa on his watch. It was not until 1998, four years into his presidency, that he directly addressed the South African public about the disease. Later, he would acknowledge that he had not initially recognized the severity of the epidemic.

Google, Facebook, payroll accounts targeted in major password theft, security experts say

Hackers using malicious software have scooped up the user names and passwords for about 2 million accounts on some of the most popular sites on the Web, including Facebook and Google, security researchers say.

According to researchers from the Chicago-based firm Trustwave, hackers used a “botnet” known as Pony to pull off the massive theft. After being downloaded through a Web site or e-mail, the software monitors users’ browsers, collecting their log-in credentials.

Ron Burgundy: Dumb newscaster, genius marketer

Matt McFarland DEC 6

Will Ferrell’s “Anchorman” character taps into viral media and native advertising to promote his film.

What Google teaches us about holidays

Matt McFarland DEC 6

Here are eight Christmas lessons as learned from a history of Google searches.

Best comments of last 24 hours

Matt McFarland DEC 6

Friday’s version includes the minimum wage, Bill O’Reilly and Obamacare.

The massive malware attack has been going on for at least a year, said John Miller, Trustwave’s security research manager.

Pony is a common malware tool, often sold and rebundled in hacking communities. It collects tens of thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — of passwords from Web sites, e-mail providers and other accounts each day, Miller said. The malware is probably collecting far more information than Trustwave discovered, he said.

The attack is smaller than some recent Internet data thefts, such as the 150 millionuser names and passwords taken from Adobe in November.

But the nature of the attack means that there is probably little the affected companies can do to stop it because it targets Web users rather than company security systems, Miller said.

The attack has already snagged user credentials from Web sites such as Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Twitter and LinkedIn, according to Trustwave. But it also grabbed information from companies such as the payroll-services provider ADP. One of the world’s largest payroll companies, ADP administers the benefits and payroll systems for more than 620,000 companies.

Miller said that the kind of work ADP does makes it an attractive target for hackers.

“They’re a little different than Facebook,” he said. “You can use a Facebook account to spam people with, but ADP has banking information behind it.”

In a statement Wednesday, ADP said that is aware of the botnet and had determined that none of its internal networks or servers have been compromised. “To our knowledge, none of ADP’s clients has been adversely affected by the compromised credentials,” the company said in a statement.

Still, ADP said, it is requiring a password reset for the 2,400 of its clients who were affected out of an “abundance of caution.”

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Yahoo said they are working with Trustwave to reset the passwords on affected user accounts on their networks. None commented on whether users’ accounts have been penetrated.

Google declined to comment on the malware attack.

Miller said that, ultimately, the onus falls on companies and individuals to run regular antivirus scans on their computers. Companies can install software that prevents employees from downloading malware such as Pony, and individuals can do the same for their home computers. Those targeted by the attack should also change the login information for any account that shares a username or password with the affected account.