Tag Archives: CNBC

Google’s Growing Troubles With Google TV

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Google TV just can’t catch a break – and the repercussions could reach beyond the search giant.

The Web-meets-TV set-top box was meant to make it easy for users to find whatever video they were looking for on their television sets—both on the air and online. But the number of content providers who are blocking access from Google TV has grown steadily since the service’s launch. Hulu was first, but it wasn’t long before the networks were also preventing the service from streaming their video content.

Read more at CNBC.com

 

Six Tips When Buying Consumer Electronics

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Odds are you’re going to buy or receive a gadget this holiday season. Consumer electronics are always one of the top gift items in December, but the rush to get the latest gadget sometimes prevents people from thinking things through completely.

For the better part of 16 years, I’ve covered the video game and gadget space, making me one of CNBC’s go-to geeks. Along the way, I’ve learned a few easy tricks that make electronics shopping—and the early days of owning these devices—a bit more bearable.

Read more at CNBC.com

New ‘Call of Duty’ Continues to Shred Sales Records

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Activision’s latest “Call of Duty” game continues to set records for the company. The video game publisher announced Thursday that in its first five days on store shelves, “Call of Duty: Black Ops” has generated sales of $650 million.

That’s $100 million better than last year’s “Modern Warfare 2,” which set a new bar for the video game industry — as well as the entertainment industry at large. Activision claims the opening is the biggest ever for any movie, book or video game.

Read more at CNBC.com

Focus Is on EA, Sony as Oct. Video Game Sales Loom

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After being severely disappointed in September, the video game industry is warily eyeing October’s retail sales numbers.

Analysts are calling for yet another decline compared to the 2009 numbers when the data is released Tuesday afternoon, roughly two hours after the market closes. Michael Pachter, managing director of Wedbush Securities, predicts software sales will drop 3 percent compared to last year, coming in at $555 million.

Read more at CNBC.com

Video Game Prices Are Too High: THQ CEO

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It’s not uncommon to hear consumers grumble that the price of video games is too high, but that’s not something you expect to hear from the CEO of a game publishing company.

THQ’s Brian Farrell, however, is taking a stance that runs counter to some of his peers, with plans to launch the next installment of one of the company’s oldest franchises at just 2/3 of the going price for new software.

Read more at CNBC.com

 

For the Geek: Hot Holiday Gadgets 2010

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Someone, somewhere on your holiday shopping list is going to want a gadget this year—and odds are they won’t be alone.

Consumer electronics are the most dependable category in the retail space during the holidays, but the sheer volume of gadgets on the market can be confounding. Here are a few sure-fire choices for your favorite gadget hounds.

See the gift guide at CNBC.com

The Surefire Holiday Hit: Gadgets

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Consumers may be planning to spend less on gifts overall this holiday season, but that frugality seemingly won’t apply when it comes to consumer electronics.

Fueled by demand for Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle eReader, gadgets are expected to be the top category in retail during the fourth quarter. A survey from the Consumer Electronics Association finds that consumers will spend an average of $232 on gadgets and gizmos this year.

Read more at CNBC.com

Microsoft’s ‘Kinect’ Bet Looks to Be Paying Off

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Microsoft rolled the dice when it decided to get into the video game motion control market. Nintendo, with the Wii, had certainly proven that there was an audience interested in a more intuitive controller, but with over 71 million of the consoles sold worldwide, the potential for market saturation was strong.

As the company rolls out Kinect on Thursday, early signs are showing that the gamble was a wise one.

Read more at CNBC.com