brainspress: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Australian Transport Safety Bureau upgrades BlackBerry smartphones, migrates to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 for top security and productivity

Source: BlackBerry Press - Press Releases - October 31, 2013

Australian Transport Safety Bureau upgrades BlackBerry smartphones, migrates to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 for top security and productivity

Field and management personnel save costs and boost efficiency with secure, real-time data sharing of critical evidence on BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Z30 smartphones

Sydney – Australia – BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) today announced that Australia’s national transport safety investigator, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), has migrated to BlackBerry’s leading Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution, BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10. Responsible for improving safety in aviation, marine and rail transport, the ATSB is equipping employees with BlackBerry® 10 smartphones to securely capture, share, report and manage mission critical data at transport incidents from any location, including very remote areas on land or at sea.

Management, field investigators and IT support staff at the ATSB will use BlackBerry® Z10 smartphones, with plans to deploy BlackBerry® Z30 smartphones to teams in November.
As an independent government agency, the ATSB conducts investigations of transport incidents and accidents. Investigation teams use email and BBM™ to communicate and collaborate, and record safety data by filling in forms and taking photos that are sent to the ATSB’s database. IT and support teams conduct critical analysis and research to help identify causes of occurrences – used by the ATSB to improve safety and ultimately save lives.
“Being able to securely share real-time data from accident sites is crucial to our investigative role,” said Martin Dolan, Chief Commissioner at the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau. “With BlackBerry 10, our investigation teams are able to navigate to locations, take and share high-quality photos, and collaborate on data from any site they’re sent to, all within a network that conforms to the high security standards that we need.

“We chose BlackBerry 10 for its trusted security, ease of migration and cost-effectiveness, which has overall helped the ATSB realise significant savings. BlackBerry’s devices and management platform are helping to make investigative processes timelier and more comprehensive, while finding cost efficiencies through seamless migration and deployment.”

The migration to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 is the latest development in a relationship between BlackBerry and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau that spans five years. The combination of BlackBerry 10 smartphones and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 provides high security standards against data leakage and unauthorized device access to corporate assets. Security of corporate applications and data stored on personal devices (for BYOD deployments) is also embedded seamlessly within the user interface through BlackBerry® Balance™ technology. BlackBerry Balance separates corporate data from personal content, while preserving the end user’s privacy and consumer experience.

“We see this latest iteration of Blackberry’s mobility platform as an enabler of our own technology future, including plans to stream live video from investigations and if we choose to, support a broader range of device types within the organization,” Martin added. “We need to be as agile as possible if we’re to improve the safety of Australian transport. We look forward to working with Blackberry on solutions that will continue to enable our work and deliver a platform for future innovation.”

BlackBerry’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, Matthew Ball said, “BlackBerry 10 is designed to support the needs of government customers, and we’re proud that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has selected BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, which helps their employees be adaptable and reliable in the field, and offers strong back-end security and management.

“To date, over 65% of our enterprise customer base in Australia and New Zealand have either deployed or are currently trialing BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. In addition, we’re looking forward to helping more business and government customers, large and small, take advantage of BlackBerry’s secure network and services with the launch of BlackBerry’s new cloud-based enterprise mobility management solution coming later this year.”

For more information about BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, please visit www.bes10.com. Now available from carriers and authorised resellers in Australia, the BlackBerry Z30 smartphone is the biggest, fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone, with a 5” display and the largest battery ever on a BlackBerry smartphone. For information about the BlackBerry Z30 smartphone in Australia, please visit http://au.blackberry.com/

About BlackBerry
A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, please visit www.blackberry.com.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

NCG Banco Chooses BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to Manage BYOD Environment

Source: BlackBerry Press - Press Releases - October 30, 2013

NCG Banco Chooses BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to Manage BYOD Environment

Madrid, Spain – BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) today announced that NCG Banco, one of Spain’s leading banks, has chosen BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10 as the company’s single Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution.

Oct 30, 2013

Mobile technology is rapidly evolving and the need to support multiple operating systems and personal devices on corporate networks is increasingly common in today’s workplace. NCG has chosen BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to manage its mixed environment of mobile devices because it provides a high level of control, security and the flexibility required by the organization.

“The capabilities and ease-of-use of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 will allow us to effectively apply our new mobile strategy, which includes more personalized management, improved efficiency and reduction of costs. The BlackBerry solution provides the necessary flexibility that an IT department needs to support a mobile environment,” said José Manuel Valiño Blanco, Assistant General Manager of Systems at NCG Banco. “The integration of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 into NCG Banco’s IT infrastructure was completed in a record time of two months, thanks to the quality and experience of BlackBerry partner ISEC7.”

“BlackBerry is embracing the ‘bring your own device’ movement as more organizations, such as NCG Banco, are opening their environments to multiple mobile device platforms,” said Antonio Reyes, Country Managing Director for Spain at BlackBerry. “By extending the BlackBerry enterprise solution’s proven security to other devices, we’ve adapted to industry demands and, to date, more than 25,000 BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 commercial and test servers have been installed globally.”

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 builds on more than a decade of enterprise mobility management expertise, and according to an enterprise mobility market study by J. Gold Associates, the BlackBerry enterprise solution remains the most strategic mobile device management solution for enterprises today. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 offers enterprise mobility management, mobile application management and secure mobile connectivity, and delivers a cost-efficient and reliable solution for business customers and government agencies.

NCG Banco now plans to carry out additional projects with BlackBerry in the short and medium term. These include the implementation of Secure Work Space for iOS® and Android™. Secure Work Space leverages the same trusted behind-the-firewall connection available for BlackBerry smartphones and extends BlackBerry security capabilities for data-at-rest and data-in-transit to iOS and Android devices. The Secure Work Space container is managed through BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, making it easy and convenient to manage all devices from its single console.

About NCG BancoNCG Banco is a bank based in Galicia with its main presence in north east Spain, where it’s the leader in both market share and number of offices. The bank’s first-class technological infrastructure, also in Galicia, controls its entire branch network, cash machines and all other banking processes.

About BlackBerryA global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, visit www.blackberry.com.

LG Kicks off new Social Media Compaign 'Hidden Words'

Source: LG Press - Press Releases - October 30, 2013

LG Kicks off new Social Media Compaign 'Hidden Words'

Consumers Challenged to Enter LG’s World of Ultimate Picture Quality

SEOUL, Oct. 30, 2013 — LG Electronics (LG) this month kicks off a new social media campaign, Hidden Worlds, which will allow participants to become immersed in an unfolding virtual story based on the dynamic and colorful inner workings behind LG’s ultimate picture quality. The campaign will invite participants to take control in developing a film-like storyline involving a cast of real-life actors and a host of visual effects. The fortunes of the key characters will be determined by completing various challenges hosted on social networks including Facebook.

The premise of Hidden Worlds is an adventurous journey where users take on the role of an explorer trying to rescue a female author who is trapped in the beautiful but mysterious world of six colors within the TV screen. The interactive social movie element adds to the enjoyment, allowing participants to earn credits and become eligible for prizes by overcome challenges and obstacles. Throughout the journey, participants will also get the chance to effectively experience LG’s innovative picture quality through cameo roles played by next generation displays such as Curved OLED TV and Ultra HD TV. Addtionally, key features of the company’s latest flagship smartphone, LG G2, will make an appearance in the story.

“We are excited at the prospect of this new social media campaign helping consumers to get more involved in LG by taking a leading role in developing the story of our ultimate picture quality” said Ki-wan Kim, executive vice president and global marketing officer of LG Electronics. “Hidden Worlds embodies our new brand identity theme, It’s All Possible, which highlights LG’s dedication to bringing excitement to consumers’ daily lives.”

The new campaign will eventually be rolled out in more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Central/South America, Middle East and Africa, after the opening of its global site www.LGHiddenWorlds.com. As part of the campaign, LG will be sponsoring a broad range of activities to engage participants in each region.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

BBM Welcomes Over 20 Million New Active Users in the First Week

Source: BlackBerry Press - Press Releases - October 29, 2013

BBM Welcomes Over 20 Million New Active Users in the First Week

BBM Community Grows to More Than 80 Million Active Users Across BlackBerry, Android and iPhone Devices Globally

Waterloo, ON – After the amazing launch of BBM™ on Android® and iPhone® devices, with more than 10 million downloads in the first 24 hours, BBM has now ended its first week with more than 80 million monthly active users*, including over 20 million new users on Android and iPhone devices.

During its first week, BBM was the top free overall app in 35 countries in Google Play™ and in 107 countries in the App StoreSM, and continues to maintain a strong position in key markets such as Canada, the US, the UK, Indonesia and much of the Middle East, to name a few.

“It is great to see so many people downloading BBM, but the true measurement for us is engagement – the connections being made and the conversations in which our BBM community engages. The power of BBM has always been the active, real conversations and interaction that our customers enjoy,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President of BBM at BlackBerry. “From here on out, we will focus on active users of BBM and will no longer focus on simple download numbers.”

With the BBM community now at more than 80 million active users around the globe, users are connecting on the private social network like never before. This past weekend, BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) was able to remove the virtual line-up so that Android and iPhone users can now immediately download, sign in and start using BBM without having to wait.

BBM users are enjoying the immediacy and control that BBM offers as they chat with their new contacts – either one-to-one, in multiple chats or as part of a BBM Group. The delivered and read statuses, as well as the message-in-progress alert, keep people engaged and active in conversations on BBM.
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BBM users can also share files such as photos, and voice notes, as well as update their statuses with ease. BBM Groups allows photo, calendar, chat and file sharing for up to 30 people in a user-generated community.

Every BBM user has a unique PIN that helps maintains their privacy, so users never have to give out their phone number or email address to a new or casual contact. BlackBerry ID connects with a person’s PIN, BBM contact list and services to make device switching quick and easy.
The BBM experience will continue to evolve. In the coming months, BlackBerry will deliver BBM Video calling, BBM Voice calling and BBM Channels – a new community building service to connect BBM users even more broadly – to Android and iPhone users.

Android and iPhone device users can download BBM by visiting BBM.com.

Useful Links
BBM How-To Videos
BBM Getting Started Guide
Inside BlackBerry Blog – BBM posts
BBM Knowledge Base Articles

About BBM
BBM is a private social network for real, active conversations. BBM is immediate, with many messages read within seconds; BBM is trusted, with read, delivered and in-progress notifications; and BBM puts control of personal information and personal connections back in users’ hands. Introduced in 2005, BBM set the standard for mobile messaging and continues to drive innovation in messaging and private social networks.

*Monthly active users are defined as BBM customers who use the BBM service within a 30-day period.

Monday, October 28, 2013

LG Unveils World's First "Real" Curved Smartphone

Source: LG Press - Press Releases - October 28, 2013

LG Unveils World's First "Real" Curved Smartphone

LG G Flex Stays Ahead of the Curve to Lead Evolution of Smartphones with Breakthrough Innovations

SEOUL, Oct. 28, 2013 — Setting a new milestone in the evolution of the smartphone, LG Electronics (LG) today officially took the wraps off the LG G Flex, a smartphone curved to follow the contour of the face, the first device to offer such a design in the smartphone market. The latest device in LG’s premium G Series, the G Flex incorporates proprietary innovations from other LG companies in the form of the display and battery that have never been seen before. The LG G Flex also boasts new user experience (UX) features that take advantage of the curved form factor.

“The LG G Flex is the best representation yet of how a smartphone should be curved,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The LG G Flex with its distinctive design, innovative hardware and consumer-centric UX represents the most significant development in the smartphone space since smartphone became part of our regular vocabulary.”

Form + Function: Design that Understands Human Curves

The vertically curved design of the LG G Flex reduces the distance between one’s mouth to the microphone when the device is held against the ear, as traditional telephone handsets used to. The LG G Flex employs a curvature arc that is optimized for the average face, to deliver improved voice and sound quality. The curved form increases the sound level by 3dB compared to typical flat smartphones. The curved design also offers a more reassuring grip and fits more comfortably in one’s back pocket. What’s more, in landscape mode, the display offers an immersive, cinematic experience, with the result being the most comfortable viewing angle for watching videos or playing games.

LG G Flex also features the Rear Key first introduced in the LG G2. Devoid of any buttons on the sides, there is less chance of accidentally powering off the phone and the convenience of using one’s index finger to adjust the volume when conversing is maintained.

Innovation Delivered Through Collaboration

The development of LG G Flex was only possible through the successful collaboration with sister companies LG Display and LG Chem. The 6-inch display found in the G Flex is the world’s largest Plastic OLED (POLED) display developed and mass produced specifically for smartphones. The ultra-thin, ultra-light flexible POLED display and curved OLED panel are built on plastic substrates instead of glass, giving LG G Flex its unique shape and durability. The POLED display is brighter and more precise thanks to the application of Real RGB, which contains all three sub-pixels — red, green and blue — in one pixel.

LG Chem developed the world’s first curved battery technology specifically for application in LG G Flex. The curved battery in the G Flex is designed with LG Chem’s patented Stack & Folding technology, which reduces the physical stress on the battery pack when in the curved form and provides better stability and performance. Despite its thin form, the LG G Flex battery has a capacity of 3,500mAh, enough power for more than a full day of use.

User-Centered Technologies

Among the several new technologies, the LG G Flex is the first smartphone to apply a “Self Healing” coating on the back cover. The elastic coating has the ability to recover from the daily wear-and-tear scratches and nicks that un-cased smartphones are likely to receive, keeping the G Flex looking newer longer.

Users of LG G Flex will have a wider selection in the ability to enjoy in various format of music — MP3, CD quality or 24 bit/192kHz Hi-Fi playback. UX features, such as KnockON, Guest Mode and Plug & Pop, which were positively received when first introduced in the LG G2, can also found in the LG G Flex. The LG G Flex also includes an array of new UX features:

- QTheater gives users quick access to photos, videos and YouTube right from the lock screen. By touching the screen and dragging outward along the curved surface with both fingers, the apps appear with the effect of theater curtains being drawn.

- Dual Window divides the wide 6-inch screen into two separate windows for more effective multitasking.

- Swing Lockscreen alters the image on the lockscreen depending on how the G Flex is held.

- Face Detection Indicator displays the LED on the Rear Key in green to confirm status of face detection and focus.

- Camera Timer flashes the Rear Key LED to indicate that the countdown has begun.

- Urgent Call Alert flashes the LED on the Rear Key in red when several consecutive calls from the same person go unanswered.

The LG Flex will be available in Korea starting in November through all three major local carriers. Availability in additional markets will be announced thereafter.

Key Specifications (Korean Version):

- Chipset: 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 (MSM 8974)

GPU: Adreno 330, 450MHz

- Display: 6-inch HD (1280 x 720), Curved P-OLED (Real RGB)

- Memory: 2GB LP DDR3 RAM / 32GB eMMc

- Camera: Rear 13.0MP / Front 2.1MP

- Battery: 3,500mAh (embedded)

- Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2

- Size: 160.5 x 81.6 x 7.9 - 8.7mm

- Weight: 177g

- Network: LTE-A / LTE / HSPA+ / GSM

- Connectivity: BT 4.0 / USB 3.0 compatible / WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) / NFC

- Color: Titan Silver

- Other: TDMB / Hi-Fi 24bit, 192kHz Playback

Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results

Source: Apple Press - Press Releases - October 22, 2013

Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results

iPhone Sales Grow 26% to Establish New September Quarter Record

CUPERTINO, California—October 28, 2013—Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2013 fourth quarter ended September 28, 2013. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $37.5 billion and quarterly net profit of $7.5 billion, or $8.26 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $36 billion and net profit of $8.2 billion, or $8.67 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 37 percent compared to 40 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 60 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

The Company sold 33.8 million iPhones, a record for the September quarter, compared to 26.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold 14.1 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 14 million in the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 4.6 million Macs, compared to 4.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

Apple’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $3.05 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on November 14, 2013, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 11, 2013.

“We’re pleased to report a strong finish to an amazing year with record fourth quarter revenue, including sales of almost 34 million iPhones,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. "We’re excited to go into the holidays with our new iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, iOS 7, the new iPad mini with Retina Display and the incredibly thin and light iPad Air, new MacBook Pros, the radical new Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks and the next generation iWork and iLife apps for OS X and iOS.”

“We generated $9.9 billion in cash flow from operations and returned an additional $7.8 billion in cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the September quarter, bringing cumulative payments under our capital return program to $36 billion,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO.

Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2014 first quarter:

revenue between $55 billion and $58 billion
gross margin between 36.5 percent and 37.5 percent
operating expenses between $4.4 billion and $4.5 billion
other income/(expense) of $200 million
tax rate of 26.25 percent

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q4 2013 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT on October 28, 2013 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq413 . This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

This press release contains forward-looking statements including without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, other income/(expense), and tax rate. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and the Company’s reaction to those factors, on consumer and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the ability of the Company to deliver to the marketplace and stimulate customer demand for new programs, products, and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that product introductions and transitions, changes in product pricing or mix, and/or increases in component costs could have on the Company’s gross margin; the inventory risk associated with the Company’s need to order or commit to order product components in advance of customer orders; the continued availability on acceptable terms, or at all, of certain components and services essential to the Company’s business currently obtained by the Company from sole or limited sources; the effect that the Company’s dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties may have on the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; the Company’s reliance on third-party intellectual property and digital content; the potential impact of a finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the Company’s dependency on the performance of distributors, carriers and other resellers of the Company’s products; the effect that product and service quality problems could have on the Company’s sales and operating profits; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters, and other circumstances that could disrupt supply, delivery, or demand of products; and unfavorable results of other legal proceedings. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 29, 2012, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2013, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 29, 2013, and its Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2013 to be filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Baz Luhrmann to Introduce Short Film by Aspiring Australian Filmmakers at Sydney Opera House 40th Anniversary Celebration

Source: Samsung Mobile Press - Press Releases - October 24, 2013

Baz Luhrmann to Introduce Short Film by Aspiring Australian Filmmakers at Sydney Opera House 40th Anniversary Celebration

Film developed with mentorship from Luhrmann as part of national Samsung Mobile competition offering youth opportunity to win dream filmmaking experience

SEOUL, Korea - October 24, 2013 - Ten aspiring Australian filmmakers selected by Samsung Mobile to create a short film with director Baz Luhrmann will come one step closer to realizing their dreams tonight as their film debuts at the Sydney Opera House as part of its 40^th Anniversary celebrations. The film, entitled “The Pilgrim Report” is the product of “The Shoot,” a national competition offering creative young people the opportunity to win the ultimate filmmaking experience with some of the industry’s best, leveraging Samsung Mobile’s technology. The program is part of Samsung Mobile’s global efforts to support and encourage the pursuit of individual passions by creating unique opportunities to use mobile technology as a catalyst for creativity.

To create the film the 10 winners, among them writers, directors, actors, designers and cinematographers, spent six days – from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5, 2013 – participating in an intensive workshop with top industry professionals at the National Institute for Dramatic Art (NIDA), including a master class with Luhrmann. Each used Samsung devices, including the GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear, to execute their role in the filmmaking process, and received full access to the full range of NIDA’s award-winning facilities.

“At Samsung, we create technologies that open worlds of creative possibility for individuals who share our imaginative spirit,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice president of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “It is always so rewarding to see young innovators utilize our products to create beautiful pieces of art, like these aspiring filmmakers have done during ‘The Shoot’.”

‘The Shoot’ is the most recent initiative in a long term partnership between Samsung Electronics with Luhrmann, which started in 2010 with the introduction of GALAXY Note 10.1. Developed to bring passion to life through innovation and technology, Samsung’s partnership with Luhrmann began with the unveiling of a short film created by the visionary director which highlighted his artistic inspirations and illustrated how technology has enhanced his creative process. Appropriately, Samsung and Luhrmann also share a deep interest in and commitment to fostering creativity among youth with technology and education. Luhrmann will present the film this evening.

“Samsung’s pursuit of constant innovation supports the art community in many ways, some of which I’ve experienced myself. Technology allows both the established and the emerging artist the opportunity to focus on creating, sharing and enriching our lives with the art that inspires us,” said Luhrmann. “As an artist that once benefitted from the education offered at NIDA, ‘The Shoot’ has been a particularly rewarding evolution of my ongoing relationship with Samsung.”

Following tonight’s premiere, audiences around the world will be able to view “The Pilgrim Report” online attheshoot.com.au/. In addition to providing winners of ‘The Shoot’ with this once-in-a-lifetime creative opportunity, Samsung will also announce this evening that it will make a charitable donation to the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) which will fund its IMPACT program. FYA’s IMPACT initiative is a three-year program that supports the next generation of young Indigenous people by motivating students who have a commitment to education and the desire and capacity for leadership. In addition to the provision of various Samsung electronics – televisions, tablets, cameras and laptops, among others – Samsung’s donation will enable 15 young Indigenous leaders from remote areas of Arnhem Land to participate in IMPACT over the next three years.

For additional detail and content related to “The Shoot,” please visit theshoot.com.au/.

GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear

The latest update to the Note product line, the new Samsung GALAXY Note 3 adds delight to daily tasks and infuses innovative features that help consumers tell the story of their lives. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a larger and better screen for the best viewing experience and more powerful multitasking, and introduces significant S Pen improvements that make everyday life easier and faster. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is available in Jet Black, Classic White and Blush Pink.

GALAXY Gear is a perfect companion device that further integrates the Samsung GALAXY experience into everyday life. GALAXY Gear combines smart device connectivity, tailored technological features and stylish design as a single premium accessory. GALAXY Gear is available in Jet Black, Mocha Gray, Wild Orange, Oatmeal Beige, Rose Gold, and Lime Green.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 270,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

LG Announces Third-Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Source: LG Press - Press Releases - October 24, 2013

LG Announces Third-Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Sales of Mobile Devices Increase 24 Percent From Same Period Previous Year

SEOUL, Oct. 24, 2013 — LG Electronics Inc. (LG) today announced third-quarter 2013 consolidated revenues of KRW 13.89 trillion (USD 12.51 billion). While competitive conditions in the TV sector and an unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate affected overall revenues compared with the 2012 third quarter, sales of mobile devices increased year-over-year by 24 percent. LG saw a 27 percent increase in third-quarter operating profit to KRW 217.80 billion (USD 196.34 million) compared with the same period last year.

The LG Home Entertainment Company reported revenues of KRW 5.01 trillion (USD 4.50 billion), a 7 percent decline from the same period a year ago, reflecting slower global TV demand and lower selling prices. Higher sales in developing markets such as Asia and the CIS region were offset by softness in Europe. Operating profit of KRW 124.40 billion (USD 111.68 million) increased both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter as a result of more efficient management of operating and marketing expense. As it enters the holiday selling season, LG plans to expand global sales of premium products such as OLED TVs and Ultra HD TVs while continuing to carefully manage costs.

The LG Mobile Communications Company’s third-quarter revenues increased by 24 percent compared with the same quarter a year ago to KRW 3.05 trillion (USD 2.75 billion). The company shipped 12 million smartphones in the third quarter but profitability and average selling price were affected by increased competition and higher marketing investments. LG plans to focus on increasing sales of new premium products such as the LG G2 smartphone during the peak holiday season as well as maximizing 3G and mid-tier mass devices such as the L II Series and F Series.

The LG Home Appliance Company recorded revenues of KRW 2.97 trillion (USD 2.68 billion), up 3 percent from the previous year largely due to the positive reception of its new washing machines and refrigerators. LG appliance sales increased in North America and China but slowed in developing markets. Despite higher overall revenues and improved cost structure, third-quarter operating profit decreased from the same period last year to KRW 109.20 billion (USD 98.17 million) primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange movements.

The LG Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions Company reported relatively flat third-quarter sales and operating profit margin year-over-year with revenues of KRW 973 billion (USD 876.32 million). While increased R&D investments and weak global market conditions will continue to impact the business, the company will focus on growing its market share of non-seasonal products and higher-margin products such as new commercial air conditioning systems.

2013 3Q Exchange Rates Explained

LG Electronics’ unaudited quarterly earnings results are based on IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) for the three-month period ending September 30, 2013. Amounts in Korean won (KRW) are translated into U.S. dollars (USD) at the average rate of the three-month period of the corresponding quarter— KRW 1,110 per USD (2013 3Q).

Earnings Conference and Conference Call

LG Electronics will hold a Korean language earnings conference on October 24, 2013 at 16:00 Korea Standard Time at the LG Twin Tower Auditorium (B1 East Tower, 20 Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea). An English language conference call will follow later at 21:00 Korea Standard Time (12:00 GMT/UTC). Participants are instructed to call +82 31 810 3069 and enter the passcode 9084#. The corresponding presentation file will be available for download at the LG Electronics website (www.lg.com/global/ir/reports/earning-release.jsp) at 14:00 on October 24, 2013. Please visit http://pin.teletogether.com/eng/ and pre-register with the passcode provided. For those unable to participate, an audio recording of the news conference will be available for a period of 30 days after the conclusion of the call. To access the recording, dial +82 31 931 3100 and enter the passcode 142710# when prompted.

FY 13 Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call

Source: Apple Press - Press Releases - October 24, 2013

FY 13 Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call

WHAT: Apple® FY 13 Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call

WHERE: Via conference call. The dial-in number for press is (877) 616-0073 (toll-free) or (816) 581-1579. Please enter confirmation code 869397.

WHEN: Monday, October 28, 2013, 2:00 p.m. PDT/5:00 p.m. EDT

REBROADCAST: The conference call will be available as a continuous rebroadcast beginning Monday, October 28 at 5:00 p.m. PDT/8:00 p.m. EDT through Monday, November 11 at 5:00 p.m. PST/8:00 p.m. EST. The dial-in number for the rebroadcast is (888) 203-1112 (toll-free) or (719) 457-0820.Please enter confirmation code 5599516.

WEBCAST: Apple will provide live audio streaming of its FY 13 Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call using Apple’s industry-leading QuickTime® multimedia software. The live webcast will begin at 2:00 p.m. PDT on Monday, October 28, 2013 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq413 and will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter. The webcast is available on any iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch® running iOS 4.2 or above, any Mac® running OS X 10.5 or above or any PC running QuickTime 7 or later. If you do not have QuickTime installed on your Windows PC, it is available at www.apple.com/quicktime .

This recording is the property of Apple and protected by US copyright law and international treaties. Any reproduction or distribution is strictly prohibited without prior written approval from Apple. Please contact Apple Public Relations or Investor Relations with any questions.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.