Welcome to your future home of app-controlled devices! Google’s recent purchase of Nest Labs brings the world of smart home devices one step closer to reality. Following the announcement of this acquisition, Google stock rose 0.53%. Google’s recent string of purchases contribute to its single vision of connecting previously unrelated items to control and monitor all aspects of everyday life. It is estimated that the global market for connected home products could be worth $40 bln in the next five to seven years and the potential for growth in this market is phenomenal. In his latest article, Oren Laurent gives an overview into how the industry as a whole offers several great investment opportunities. Read more…
Tag Archives: technology stocks
Is There A Cloud On The Horizon?
If you are familiar with Google’s Chromebook, you’ll be aware that they do what they do ‘in the cloud’. If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘cloud computing’, it’s actually only an extension of web services you already know. Think about how email or Facebook lets you use its storage, processing power and software from any location. This is a ‘public cloud’, because it is open to anyone with internet access.
As the number of different devices we use continues to spiral, cloud computing is becoming increasingly important. Both as individuals and businesses, we want to be able to share our data across devices, and to access film, social media, personal and work-related documents from wherever we are, and with whatever devices come to hand. Still, many remain skeptical suggesting that the cloud isn’t secure and that someone might hack their data or accidentally download a virus.
Perhaps they’re not aware that if you use a cloud device like a Chromebook, you no longer need security software. You can’t download anything onto these cloud-based machines, which means no viruses and other nasties. Some also question the reliability of cloud computing. After all, it makes sense to have all your programs and data on your own PC – why would you want to be dependent on some server in the middle of a Californian desert? What happens if you lose your connection and can’t access your data? But isn’t business and personal life increasingly dependent on the web anyway? Without internet access, we tend to find ourselves at a standstill. The way round the problem is to have a back-up by a wi-fi connection through your smartphone. Much of the scepticism surrounding cloud computing is overblown. It’s certainly not perfect, but it sure is useful!
The shift that started with mobile phones to smart phones has quickly moved to new devices like tablets. Smart TVs and gaming devices connected to the internet are becoming the norm and this year, it goes a step further with more and more household devices becoming smart including washing machines, ovens and even Google’s latest acquisition, Nest Labs’ Internet-connected thermostats and smoke detectors.
All these things are only smart because they’re linked into some cloud-based backend. Sceptics take note - every cloud has a silver-lining! Cloud computing is here to stay…
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NQ Back in the Game
After Muddy Waters LLC accused the Chinese mobile-services provided NQ Mobile Inc. (NQ) of inflating profits, the firm announced revenue numbers that exceeded economists’ estimates on account of its rising sales from a game software and that management is considering the purchase of shares totalling $3 billion.
In a report yesterday, NQ stated that its income for third quarter more than doubled, reaching $17.4 million, compared to $8.13 million last year. According to the same statement, NQ’s senior managements will use personal funds for buying shares in the following six months. NQ Mobile slid 6 percent to $13.45 in New York after a close of $14.31.
The company’s shares took a 40 percent hit on 24th October when Muddy Water gave a sell rating to the company claiming it inflated revenue and gave false cash balances. The Beihin- and Dallas-based Chinese company rejected the allegations and on 6th November announced the transference of $103 million in cash to a Standard Chartered Bank account as proof of its reserves.
NQ Mobile said that third-quarter revenue climbed 110 percent to $54.2 million and forecasts fourth-quarter sales to reach $63 million. If accurate, the total 2013 estimate climbs to $192 million, the company announced, which would top its record.
