Google Auto – Greek gift

Reply to this post           Automakers should be wary of Google’s autonomous gift. The most significant event at the Detroit Auto show this week was the offer from Google to the car makers of an easy route to autonomous vehicles. Following on from its rumoured venture with Ford, Google is actively seeking partners in the automotive...

  • Comments Off on Google Auto – Greek gift
  • 226

Go Pro Q4 15A – Hero to zero?

Reply to this post           It may already be too late for GoPro to create an ecosystem. Go Pro warned on Q4 15 results as the critical holiday selling season has not been nearly as good as the company had been hoping. Q4 15A revenues are now expected to be $435m which is well below the...

  • Comments Off on Go Pro Q4 15A – Hero to zero?
  • 62

Yahoo – Surface deep

Reply to this post           There is no sign of Yahoo ever fulfilling its potential. A scratch appears to be the limit of Yahoo’s ability to realise its potential. Marissa Mayer has been quick to jump to Yahoo’s defense following the negative commentary earlier this week, but her comments clearly reveal the fundamental problem at Yahoo....

  • Comments Off on Yahoo – Surface deep
  • 67

Xiaomi – Reality Check pt. IV

Reply to this post           Xiaomi’s trajectory falls far short of $46bn. Q4 15A appears to have brought Xiaomi no relief from stagnation as it seems to have missed the low end of its 80-100m forecast. The exact figure for 2015A is not yet clear but RFM has been forecasting for some time that Xiaomi would...

  • Comments Off on Xiaomi – Reality Check pt. IV
  • 85

Facebook & Google – Fair weather friends pt. II

Reply to this post           Facebook is set to become Google’s biggest competitor. I have long been of the opinion that Facebook is moving to become a fully-fledged ecosystem in its own right and with each day that passes, this fact becomes more evident. RFM research indicates that this would give Facebook the opportunity to more...

Samsung Q4 15A – King of volume

Reply to this post           Volume and scale remains essential for Samsung. Samsung reported disappointing Q4 15A results where I think that most of the slowness came from components rather than handsets. Q4 15A revenues / EBIT were guided to be KRW53.3tn / KRW6.1tn representing margins of 11.5% and YoY growth of 15% for Q4 and...

Wearables – Not first class

Reply to this post           Medical device makers have more time to save themselves Amid a rather muted first day at CES came the news that another class action lawsuit has been filed against FitBit alleging that its heart rate monitors are dangerously inaccurate. While I think that this lawsuit is somewhat capricious, it highlights accuracy...

  • Comments Off on Wearables – Not first class
  • 69

RFM 2016 – Top 5.

Reply to this post           CES likely to focus on dreams rather than reality The CES bandwagon kicks-off on 6th January and I suspect that autonomous transport, virtual reality and wearables will grab most of the attention. I think that these themes are pretty far from the mass market meaning that the reality of the technology...

  • Comments Off on RFM 2016 – Top 5.
  • 210

Radio Free Mobile – Seasonal Silence

Reply to this post           The airwaves are going silent until January 5th 2016.  Radio Free Mobile sends all of its clients, readers and detractors the compliments of the season and best wishes for the new year.    

  • Comments Off on Radio Free Mobile – Seasonal Silence
  • 101

Google Android – Road to nowhere.

Reply to this post           There is little point in updating software that just sits on the shelf. The Android community is already getting excited about the features that will be available on the next version of Android regardless of the fact that few will have access to it for years. Split screen support and more...

  • Comments Off on Google Android – Road to nowhere.
  • 116