Comcast’s rollout of advanced, Internet-ready X1 set-top boxes, along with a new cloud-based movie storage service and Weblike program guide, could shave video subscriber losses and boost cable TV revenue, analysts say. More than that, the new set-tops might give Comcast (CMCSA) more strategic options vs. Internet streaming services. Such competition from Intel (INTC), Google (GOOG), Sony (SNE), Apple (AAPL) and others has yet to materialize,
Consumers might be ambivalent about smartwatches, but that’s not stopping a host of consumer electronics makers from bringing products to market in the emerging category. Qualcomm (QCOM) will make its Toq smartwatch available for sale on its website starting Monday for $349.99. It will join Samsung’s Galaxy Gear and Sony ‘s (SNE) SmartWatch 2 on the market, along with devices from startups like Pebble. The Qualcomm Toq (QCOM) (pronounced “talk”) works with Google (GOOG) Android-based smartphones and displays information at a glance, with no on-off switch. It connects to phones via Bluetooth wireless and lets users view text messages, meeting alerts and other information on their wrist, as well as accept or reject incoming calls. The Toq comes preloaded with weather and stock apps from AccuWeather and E-Trade Financial (ETFC). Qualcomm is using the Toq smartwatch mainly as a technology demonstration tool. It hopes to entice other manufacturers to use its technologies, including low-power displays and wireless charging. It refers to the Toq as a “limited edition smartwatch.”
With its hiring of big-name TV journalist Katie Couric, Yahoo (YHOO) hopes to increase its online audience through original news content. Yahoo announced Monday that Couric is joining the company as global anchor for Yahoo News. Her hiring is “part of Yahoo’s ongoing commitment to re-imagine how news and information is delivered and consumed,” the company said in a press release . “Beginning in 2014, Katie will help develop Yahoo News’ coverage with a growing team of global correspondents who will report on live world events, anchor groundbreaking interviews with major newsmakers and thought leaders, and much more.” Couric will continue to host her syndicated daytime talk show, “Katie,” in addition to her new duties at Yahoo. Yahoo says it is “investing in top talent and leading industry voices,” citing recent hires of tech columnist David Pogue, Yahoo News editor in chief Megan Liberman, and national political columnist Matt Bai, all from the New York Times. After portraying Yahoo as a technology company, CEO Marissa Mayer has reverted back to the strategy of her predecessors in positioning Yahoo as a media company. When she joined Yahoo from Google (GOOG)