Archos picks a new CEO, ships 80 and 97 Titanium tablets to the US

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Archos Titanium tablet hands-on" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/01/1-10-2013archos2.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Archos<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7080182682816192337"> has been going through some tough times lately, having to reorganize and lay off a quarter of its staff toward the end of last year. You could say that the company is using the spring as a chance for renewal: company Chairman Henri Crohas has picked Deputy CEO <span>Loïc Poirier to replace him in the full CEO position as of May 1st.</span> Poirier's main focus will be on finishing the work that started in 2012, which should concentrate Archos' efforts on its signature tablet business as well as ventures into home automation and smartphones.</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> As if to mark its potential comeback, the company is catering to Americans by shipping its 80 Titanium and 97 Titanium tablets their way alongside the already mentioned GamePad. The 8- and 9.7-inch slates are selling for $169 and $249, with screen size the real differentiatior -- both run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on top of a dual-core 1.6GHz processor and an IPS-based LCD. They won't give a Nexus 10 owner second thoughts, but they include a fair amount of bang for our US bucks.</div><div class="pr_box open" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div class="pr_text"> <strong>Nomination of a New ARCHOS CEO and Perspectives for the Future</strong><br /> Igny, France – March 22, 2013 - Following the recommendation of ARCHOS Chairman, Henri Crohas, the Board of Directors has named Loïc Poirier to replace Mr Crohas as CEO of the Archos Group taking effect May 1, 2013. Loïc Poirier joined the Archos Group in 2005 as Chief Financial Officer, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2007 and more recently to Deputy CEO in January 2013.<br /> Henri Crohas, Archos founder, will retain his role as Chairman of the Board and will lead the Strategic Committee alongside the CEO; however he will be concentrating his efforts on the strategic repositioning of the Group via the restructuring of R&D resources between European and Chinese teams while focusing on three axes: Themed Tablets, Smartphones and Home Automation.<br /> The reorganization that began at the end of 2012, aimed at reducing operating costs, nears its completion, having led to the downsizing of the workforce by one quarter at the head office and throughout the group. The 2012 fiscal year financial accounting incorporates restructuring costs as well as inventory depreciation.<br /> In 2013, the group's revenue will benefit from the completion of the diversification efforts that began in 2012:<br /> * The launch of Themed Tablets under the Archos brand or under major distributor brands. These devices require a high level of personalization but also generate higher margins.<br /> * The entry into the Smartphone market. According to GFK, at the end of 2011, 57% of smartphones sold in France via retail channels were subsidized by telcos, however only 34% were subsidized during the 3rd quarter of 2012. This upheaval is favorable to Archos who traditionally sells through retail channels. Furthermore, Smartphones and Tablets are interrelated markets that have quickly crossed over with the arrival of "Phablets" - half-phone, half-tablet devices as well as 3G becoming commonplace.<br /> * The Investments in Home Automation, or, in the broader sense, connected objects that take advantage of new low energy wireless technologies. Archos has developed a range of miniaturized wireless connected objects and is building services around this connectivity.<br /> </div></div></div>

Archos picks a new CEO, ships 80 and 97 Titanium tablets to the US

Archos has been going through some tough times lately, having to reorganize and lay off a quarter of its staff toward the end of last ye...

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Surface RT coming to six more countries in late March, Pro in the 'coming months'

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Surface RT coming to six more countries in late march" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/12/surfrtuk1213.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Microsoft's Surface is continuing its global retail rollout, expanding its reach <em>well</em> beyond the western hemisphere. In late March the RT model of Redmond's in-house tablet effort will begin popping up in Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan, (though, not necessarily at the same time) adding to the pile of European nations where it's already launched. Meanwhile, the Surface Pro will finally be leaving the Americas and heading for Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the UK sometime in the coming months. Unfortunately Microsoft isn't getting any more specific about when its full-blown Windows 8 machine will appear in countries other than the US and Canada. All we can do now is await the promised follow up post on the Surface blog for more details about availability. If you're a fan of press materials (even those that don't provide a ton of information) you'll find some after the break.</div><div dir="ltr" id="pr_box_button" style="text-align: left;">Hide Press Release</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <strong>Microsoft Surface Family Continues Worldwide Expansion</strong><br /> Feb. 28, 2013<br /> Surface RT and Surface Pro headed to new countries starting late March.<br /> <br /> REDMOND, Wash. - Feb. 28, 2013 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that beginning late March the rollout of Surface will continue, bringing Surface RT with Windows RT to Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan and Surface Pro with Windows 8 Pro to Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the United Kingdom in the coming months.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> "We are eager to see people and businesses in more countries get a chance to experience this new category of devices," said Panos Panay, corporate vice president, Microsoft Surface. "Surface is the best of a tablet and a PC."</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Surface is an extension of the Windows experience, letting customers work, play and connect with the people who matter to them. Surface lets customers transition between entertainment and creation. It offers an ultralight durable casing and an integrated kickstand and cover that allow customers to be productive anywhere, as well as a full-sized USB port and microSDXC card slot for adding additional storage and a 16:9 widescreen high-definition display that makes it optimal for viewing and sharing content easily.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Surface RT is best described as a tablet with some laptop capabilities that weaves productivity and mobility into one beautiful product. It is great for those people looking for all-day battery life* and an entertainment-first experience with the ability to still get work done. Surface Pro is comparable to a full-blown Windows laptop that also boasts tablet capabilities. For the first time, customers can have a fully functional PC that looks, feels and acts like a tablet. With Surface Pro, customers can do virtually everything they have ever done on a PC, ranging from using their favorite desktop applications to enjoying the protection of world-class safety and security software.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Additional details on Surface are available at http://www.Surface.com, the Surface Blog and Surface on Facebook. Those interested can follow Surface on Twitter for additional updates.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.</div></div>

Surface RT coming to six more countries in late March, Pro in the 'coming months'

  Microsoft's Surface is continuing its global retail rollout, expanding its reach well beyond the western hemisphere. In late March th...

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