Foxconn Profit Down As Scrutiny Forces Corporate Changes

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn saw its profits fall to $509 million from $1.19 billion last quarter. Chairman Terry Gou said this quarter was particularly affected by Foxconn's recent image problem. Improvements in wages, worker benefits, and education accounted for some of the loss, although new iPad and iPhone 4S manufacturing bolstered income last quarter. As a reaction to recent popular criticism on various fronts, the company increased wages by 25 percent this year and is planning to open a hospital and language schools for its employees.

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Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact cameras on the way

Canon reported its Q1 2012 earnings this week, and things certainly appear to have gone better than the last time we checked in when it replaced the company president. While revenue declined slightly, net profit reached 61.54 billion yen ($766 million), up 11 percent from a year ago. There's no executive moves to report, however on the earnings call executive VP and CFO Toshizo Tanaka noted a unit sales increase of 30 percent for SLR cameras including the new EOS 5D Mark III as well as the cheaper T3i, Mark II and 60D models, combined with strong sales for WiFi-connected point-and-shoots. As far as new products, while its new cinema cameras got a glancing mention the plan this year includes compact cameras "offering the image qualities that approaches SLR cameras", with improved design and network connectivity features. All the numbers and earnings call talk are in black and white at the links below, although we prefer to spend our time speculating about the future of mirrorless cameras.

Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact cameras on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Canon Q1 2012 earnings call, Q1 2012 results (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

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Obama, Romney tweak strategies for tight race this fall (reuters)

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Overnight Video: Earthereal (Little green footballs)

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Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details

Well, well, talk about déjà vu! It was just yesterday that a corner of Sony's 16.1 megapixel NEX-F3 leaked onto the interwebs and now more photos have surfaced, along with a previously unannounced shooter, the Alpha A37 SLT. The pictures come courtesy of Yang Canggih, which says it had chance to demo the two devices yesterday at Sony's Partner's Conference in Jakarta (Curiously, the NEX-F3 post isn't live as of this writing, but Sony Alpha Rumors has the images up.) Starting with the F3, the mirrorless camera has last some of the curves found on its older sibling, the C3, adopting the angular edges that once made the NEX-7 the badass standout in the lineup. You'll notice that the shutter button and grip have an uncanny resemblance to the 7's, not to mention that it's clearly gained a pop-up flash -- a first for the lower-end NEXs. Past that, the rumored -- and self-portrait friendly -- 180 degree tilt-screen is also present, which'll likely give the C3 an edge over its siblings when it comes to composing shots. Also worth note, some of the buttons on back have been slightly repositioned.

Moving along, those hoping for a successor to the A35 will apparently have their wish granted with the 16.1 megapixel A37, which is essentially an evolutionary update. According to Yang Canggih, it sports the articulating display from last generation of NEX cams, Auto Portrait Framing (first introduced with the A57), four more effect modes (up from 11) and an ergonomic grip in the vein of the A77. Sadly, that's about all that's currently known, so hopefully we'll get an official introduction to the cameras soon. Head past the break for a shot of the A37 and then check out the links below for even more of both.

Continue reading Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details

Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Sony Alpha Rumors (1), (2)  |  Yang Canggih (translation)  | Email this | Comments

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'American Idol' Castoff Elise Testone Will Be Calling Brian May

Testone wants Queen guitarist for her album: 'He's like, 'Call me up. Let's do it.' '
By Kelly Marino

Elise Testone
Photo: MTV News

Elise Testone might have wanted it all, but in Thursday night's "American Idol" elimination round, she was cut from the running after taking on this week's challenge of singing a Queen anthem as well as a song choice of her own.

With the finale less than a month away, it has been embedded in the contestants' heads that it's do or die when it comes to picking the right songs at this stage in the game. And while Testone's rendition of Queen's "I Want It All" on Wednesday night seemed to finally land her right back in her element, it was her personal pick of the less-familiar "Bold as Love" by Jimi Hendrix that might have caused her fall. Regardless, she stands by her decision wholeheartedly.

"I really don't have any regrets about that," the 28-year-old explained. "I feel like I sung it the best, maybe one of the bests I've ever sung it, because I sung it a lot of times with my band, and people are always requesting it, and I feel like it's a popular song. John Mayer just re-released it, and he is of our generation, so it's one of the most epic songs ever written.

"There is definitely a lot of give and take in the music environment," she added. "You have to please people, but you also need to be yourself. So it's always about finding a balance, and as we got closer to the show, I really just wanted to be myself and sing from my heart because if I try to please people then it might come across a little bit — I want to say fake, but not completely fake, but just you wouldn't feel that conviction as much if I did that all the time. So, yesterday, I just chose songs that I love, and I did the best I could. So, I feel successful in those performances and with whatever is going to happen now."

The South Carolina native has had a history — or should we say "a vacation home" — in the bottom three for weeks now, with Jimmy Iovine even declaring she was the underdog of the competition. Elise admitted she didn't take the comment too lightly at first, but she eventually learned to accept the criticism as part of the learning process.

"At first, it was kind of hard to hear those things just because I have worked so hard, I have a degree in music, and I've been in like six different bands," the rocker confessed. "I've done so much with music, so sometimes it was hard for me to take that criticism, but finally I realized that's why I'm here. I signed up for this, and I can take the criticism. Move on."

And moving on she is. Now that the show must go on without her, Elise is already thinking about recording her debut album. So has she had any communication with Stevie Nicks since the legendary vocalist claimed she would hire Testone in an instant if she ever needed a singer?

"No, no, but hopefully there will be," Testone said with a smile. "Brian May, I talked to him a lot off-camera from Queen. Super cool. I mentioned two or three times I would love for him to play on my album, and he's like, 'Call me up. Let's do it.' So, I'm definitely going to get that phone number."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Sound off about Elise Testone's elimination in the comments below!

Related Photos

• 'American Idol' Season 11 Performances

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'Fringe' Renewed For Fifth And Final Season

Co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams promises fans a 'wild and thrilling' conclusion.
By Kara Warner

Jasika Nicole, Joshua Jackson and John Noble in "Fringe"
Photo: Liane Hentscher/FOX

Despite the many rumors of cancellation, genre favorite TV series "Fringe" has been renewed for a fifth and final season. The series' dedicated fans should rejoice at the news of the 13-episode order, which the network announced Thursday (April 26).

"We are thrilled and beyond grateful that Fox — and our fans — have made the impossible possible: 'Fringe' will continue into a fifth season that will allow the series to conclude in a wild and thrilling way," co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams said in a statement. "All of us at Bad Robot are forever indebted to our viewers and the amazingly supportive Fox network for allowing the adventures of Fringe Division to not only continue, but to resolve in a way that perfectly fits the show."

" 'Fringe' is a remarkably creative series that has set the bar as one of television's most imaginative dramas. Bringing it back for a final 13 allows us to provide the climactic conclusion that its passionate and loyal fans deserve," Kevin Reilly, president of entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company, said of the renewal. "The amazing work the producers, writers and the incredibly talented cast and crew have delivered the last four seasons has literally been out of this world. Although the end is bittersweet, it's going to be a very exciting final chapter."

The news should be very welcome to the show's loyal fanbase, which was put on cancellation alert earlier this year when Reilly admitted to reporters that the show does not make the network any money.

Star Joshua Jackson told MTV News earlier this year that no matter how the show ends, he wants to please the fans who've stuck with the show and go out with a real ending, not a cliffhanger.

"The only thing that would piss me off about being canceled is if we brought people along for all these years — and they've been so dedicated and really stuck with the show — and we didn't finish it up," he said. "Whatever the future of the show is going to be ... the most important thing is that they have enough time to finish the story."

What do you hope happens in the final season of "Fringe"? Share your theories in the comments!

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Super-Precise Laser Scalpel Minimizes Collateral Damage [Medicine]

An ultra-fast tiny laser can work as a miniature scalpel inside the body, making careful incisions or excisions while leaving healthy tissue intact. It is more effective than a doctor's metal scalpel or even other laser devices, according to its developers at the University of Texas, because it leaves more healthy cells alone. More »

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Nicki Minaj's 'Starships' Video: All Hail The Queen

Young Money rapper throws a futuristic beach party in Anthony Mandler-directed clip.
By Rob Markman

Nicki Minaj in her "Starships" music video
Photo: Universal Music Group

Yes, starships were meant to fly, and rap's reigning queen was clearly meant to don a bikini and throw raving beach parties. Nicki Minaj finally released her "Starships" video Thursday night (April 26), and all her Barbz were invited to an electric beach party.

The Anthony Mandler-directed clip begins with a computer-generated UFO circling a tranquil Hawaiian island looking for a soft spot to land. While the natives lie on the beach, Ms. Minaj gets beamed down into the shallow waters sporting green hair and a sexy pink bathing suit.

It was back in March when pictures from the set first made their way online, and now that the video is finally here, it was clearly worth the wait. To see the Young Money starlet in motion is a thing of beauty. Not only does the curvaceous rap star frolic in the water, she then crawls through the sand on all fours creating a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue sort of moment.

The Minaj idol worship is in full effect as buff and tattooed male servants carry her around the island like the queen she is, but as the beat on the RedOne-produced dance hit picks up, so does the video's action. By the time the song's electro breakdown kicks in, the party gets jumping and Mandler employs a groovy kaleidoscope visual effect, which precisely captures the track's energy.

The clip climaxes as bonfires are set, flaming staffs are twirled and body paint is tossed about. Nicki parties hard with her flock jumping up and down, fist-pumping and dancing the night away. There's no grand story line or deep, hidden meaning; instead the Harajuku Barbie simply offers up a good time. The "Starships" video isn't exactly rocket science, it's just fly — exactly how it was meant to be.

What do you think of Nicki Minaj's "Starships" video? Share your reviews in the comments!

Related Videos

• Inside Nicki Minaj's 'Starships' Video

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Dark Meadow: The Pact now available for Tegra 3 devices, and it's incredible

Admit it. Part of the reason you bought a Tegra 3 powered Android device is because of the gaming. We're all friends here, and I'll be the first to stand up and say that I get into some gaming on my Transformer Prime. It's easy to do when Tegra optimized games kick enough ass to fill a wheelbarrow, and here's one that does. I'm talking about Phosphor Games new title Dark Meadow: The Pact, and it's arguably the best Unreal Engine 3 game ever made.

Those are big words, especially with a little something called Infinity Blade on iOS. But Android has a secret weapon -- NVIDIA's Tegra 3 and their special relation with developers in the TegraZone. When combined with the great story, excellent voice acting, and random acts of humor Phosphor brings to the table you have the fixings of a real winner. Dark Meadows: The Pact delivers.

You wake up in an abandoned hospital. Right away you'll notice the beautiful game textures, together with smooth animations, high frame rates and poly counts which makes for a sense of being in the game world. Play this one in the dark with headphones and you're in for an experience mobile just hasn't seen yet. Above all the great game graphics, you're hearing a tale from your aged benefactor, telling you how to go about your escape. Pay attention to him, and between his moments of wisdom and bouts of insanity you'll hear some hilarious dialog. Spoiler alert: he likes bacon bits. It's over the top in a way that fits an old fellow trapped in a decrepit Insane asylum. He'll warn you of the creatures that stand in your way, which you'll soon meet. They're incredibly detailed, and grotesquely beautiful in their own right. 

Of course you'll have to fight your way past them, which leads us to the game mechanics. It's an open style map, meaning you can see where you are as well as everywhere you may need to explore, and character movement is a breeze. Tap a glowing ring and you move to it, and you can look around a full 360-degrees to search for treasure, secret compartments, and bits of documents that will help you on your way. It's perfectly suited for touch-based gameplay, as is the combat system.

One of the disfigured minions will appear in a puff of dark smoke, and your trusty crossbow appears in your hands. By pulling back the string you get to see the arc the bolt will fly and use it to aim. Maneuver it so it crosses paths with your foe and let go. Once the creatures get close, your ranged weapon is replaced with a melee weapon and you have a tap and hold blocking function or a swiping attack function. The whole time you're also able to tuck and dodge left or right by tapping an on-screen arrow. There are no confusing controls to learn, and you'll be proficient in just a few minutes -- leaving more time to enjoy the exceptional look and depth of the game. As you progress you'll level up and assign points into skills, as well as find gold to trade at the store for better items. You'll need both, because "the witch" does not fool around. You have been warned.

This is how mobile gaming was meant to be. If you have a Tegra 3-powered device, it's simply a must-have game. Hit the break for some gameplay footage and screenshots, as well as the all-important download link.

More: NVIDIA; Phosphor Games

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Hands On With Google Drive: Cloud Storage for Google Loyalists

Google Drive, after years of rumors, is here to take on the likes of Dropbox and iCloud as the cloud-storage service of choice. After spending a few hours hands on, its clear that the biggest differentiator for Drive is its integration with other Google products.

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iPad-controlled flying drone boasts mounted sub-machinegun, self-destruct

What do you get when you combine a prototype hover vehicle similar to the Parrot AR Drone which can be flown with an iPad and sub-machinegun? Trigger-happy YouTuber FPS Russia recently posted a video showing us just exactly what --"Sharlene".

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