Sony: no PS Vita price cut in 2012

With the PS Vita currently struggling to find a significant audience, many people think that a price cut could help out a lot. After all, it worked for the 3DS, which was posting poor sales until Nintendo decided to drop its price six months after launch – once that happened, the 3DS began flying off the shelves. Unfortunately, the PS Vita won’t be seeing such a price cut anytime this year.

However, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida tells Eurogamer that engineers are working on cutting back on PS Vita manufacturing costs, which means that Sony is planning to drop the price of the Vita at some point in the future. Yoshida plainly ruled out a price cut for 2012 though, saying “It’s too early.” For the time being, Yoshida is counting on freshly-announced PS Vita bundles and key franchises to move units:

At a certain point in the future we would like to address the pricing issue for some of the people who are waiting. But this year we are trying to add value by creating different types of bundles. We announced we will provide LittleBigPlanet PS Vita bundle pack. That’s affordable for people who are looking for a good deal.

Yoshida also says that right now, the priority is making more and more content available to consumers, through things like PSOne Classics, PS Mobile, and of course, Sony’s famous franchises. It seems like that should have always been the priority for Sony, but at least the company seems to be taking it seriously now. As for Yoshida’s hope that bundles will be able to move units until a price cut is implemented, that’s going to be a tough sell. There have been some good-looking PS Vita games announced during Gamescom, but gamers always want more, and the only way to get third-parties interested in developing for the Vita is through selling units.

So here we have this rather vicious circle where PS Vita owners want games, Sony wants support, and third-parties want a wide audience. In order to get any of those, the PS Vita needs to deliver solid sales numbers, and right now it isn’t doing that. Bundles may be enough to boost sales for a little while, but it won’t be until that price cut is implemented that PS Vitas will start flying off the shelves, just like the 3DS did. For Sony’s sake, we’re hoping that the company doesn’t wait too long before dropping the price, because the PS Vita needs a major boost and it needs one soon.

Read more >>

Tweet

Microsoft Surface price puzzle polarizes pundits

Microsoft’s pricing mystery around the new Surface has become the slates’ biggest point of contention, with analysts and rumor-mongers weighing in on how many dollars stand in the way of success. Having announced the pair of tablets on Monday with relatively sparse hardware details, Microsoft played it coy with both price and availability for the Windows RT-based Surface and Windows 8-based Surface Pro. However, there are already suggestions that the pair could be priced out of contention.

Microsoft’s guidance on sticker price was vague, only suggesting that the NVIDIA-powered Surface would be akin to any other Windows RT tablet, while the Intel-powered Surface Pro would be more in line with an ultrabook. With no other Windows RT tablet manufacturer actually confirming what they’ll be charging for the iPad rivals, however, eyes turned to the elephant in the room – Apple’s slate itself – with suggestions that Microsoft, like any other OEM, would need to be competitive against the $499 iPad WiFi starting price if it hopes to take any significant share of the market.

According to arch rumor-merchants DigiTimes, however, information from Surface manufacturer Pegatron suggests that the ARM model will cost from $599, while the Ivy Bridge based Surface Pro will cost at least $799.

That chimes with some analyst suggestions that Microsoft will struggle to deliver its premium-bodied slate at something which matches Apple’s prices. Part of that is economy of scale, with Apple making huge investments in locking down competitive deals for its iPad components, but there are also questions about the impact of Microsoft’s own Windows RT/8 licensing fees.

Although Microsoft could of course exclude itself from those fees – believed to come in at roughly $85 per license – it would run the risk of claims of anti-competitiveness if OEMs building their own Windows tablets were forced to charge more so as to accommodate the tithe. “We do not view these devices as competitive or as a threat to the iPad” Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek said of Surface, Fortune reports. ”Though pricing details are unclear, we believe Microsoft will need to significantly undercut the iPad to be competitive.”

Microsoft is unlikely to announce final numbers until closer to the Windows tablets’ release dates, themselves expected later in Q3 2012 when Windows 8 goes on sale. More on Surface in our hands-on.

Read more >>

Tweet

Australian officials join global car parts price fixing investigation

Australian officials have joined an international investigation into alleged price fixing of automotive parts that spans four continents.

US Department of Justice director of criminal enforcement in the antitrust division John Terzaken told Automotive News the investigation is the most widespread in US history and involves six automotive component sectors.

“This is a very broad investigation. There is much more to come,” Terzaken said. “In terms of the breadth of the investigation and the scope of the commerce involved, there’s certainly nothing on the record that parallels this.”

Australian officials are assisting those from the US, Japan and the European Union. The parts under investigation were sold direct to car manufacturers as well as in the aftermarket industry.

Nineteen companies have been involved in the investigations into anti-competitive behaviour, across the EU, the US and Japan. So far no Australian-based companies have been investigated.

There has been one corporate conviction so far, with Japan’s Furukawa Electric Co. fined $200 million and three company executives incarcerated, currently awaiting sentencing.

Terzaken said the investigation is a “very high priority” because of its significance to the economy. “It will remain a very significant interest of the division until the end and all of its just conclusions have been reached.”

University of Michigan antitrust law expert Valerie Suslow told Automotive News convictions in global cases were often difficult to achieve.

“You need evidence that the companies communicated to fix prices or allocate customers or market shares or geographic areas. Often it means that they met face to face.”

US lawyers have filed approximately 25 class action lawsuits on behalf of car dealers and consumers who are seeking damages.

Read more >>

Tweet

Amazon Will Give You 5% Off for Price Checking Saturday: But Is It Fair?

Amazon is offering shoppers 5% off on purchases this Saturday — December 10 — if they use the retailer's Price Check app on the same product in a brick and mortar store. (See also: 16 Best Mobile Shopping Apps for Your Phone)

This effectively means that Amazon is trying to get customers who walk into a store intending to buy, say, a Barbie Cruise Ship, to leave the store and buy on Amazon instead. The program also encourages shoppers to inform Amazon of the prices that other retailers are charging for the items they look up. Shoppers can get a 5% discount on up to three items Saturday, with a maximum discount of $5 per item.

Some small business owners are outraged.

"The Amazon promotion encourages consumers to take the resources of their local businesses in order to save themselves money and allow Amazon to profit,” said Katherine O. McHenry, shopkeeper at Building Blocks Toy Store in Chicago.

As McHenry sees it, Amazon is encouraging customers to use local stores as a showroom only.

"I think consumers have a responsibility to 'buy it where they try it,'” McHenry said.

McHenry is not alone — retailer associations nationwide have decried Amazon's move.

Then there is the fact that Amazon asks — but doesn't require — customers to tell them what other stores are charging.

"With every in-store price you share, you help insure our prices remain competitive for our customers,” Amazon says.

Is it nice to ask your customers to spy on the competition? Then again, Amazon's prices are always right out there for everyone to see, so maybe they feel that turnabout is fair play.

What do you think of this promotion? It's surely a boon to shoppers to be able to get up to $15 off holiday shopping this weekend. And despite McHenry's understandable frustration, it's not as if comparison shopping is a new thing. Apps like Amazon's Price Check just make it a lot easier.

Do you feel any responsibility to the store where you physically checked out an item? What if the staff spends time demonstrating the item or helping you figure out what you need? Is it different if you visit the showroom of a national chain versus a local shop? Is there something inherently evil or crass about using a price check app? 

Personally, I feel like it's tacky to go to a local store to see or play with a specific item, knowing that I intend to buy it elsewhere. I wouldn't waste the staff's time with questions if that was my intention. But my goodwill towards local business only goes so far — if I browse in a local shop and happen to see something I like, I'm not going to say I won't buy it online months later. And if I'm browsing at a national chain, all bets are off.

I have used price check apps in stores, but only large chain stores. I recently pulled out my Droid and used the ShopSavvy app at Kohl's to check the price of that Barbie Cruise Ship I mentioned. At the time, Kohl's sale price beat Amazon's — and I had a 20% off coupon besides, so using the app helped me buy in confidence.

But I don't know if I would use that same app in a local toy store. I would probably be embarrassed that the owner would see me.

If you aren't afraid to price compare at will, here are the smartphone apps that make it possible:

Amazon Price Check

For Android and iPhone, free. Scan a barcode, snap a photo, or say the item's name, and the app will tell you what Amazon charges for it.

ShopSavvy Bar Code Scanner

For Android and iPhone, free. Scan the barcode, and the app will attempt to tell you what the item sells for online and in nearby physical locations. I say "attempt," because I have not successfully had ShopSavvy find me an item in a nearby store. It found the item at the store I was in, but the price was wrong. 

Google Shopper

For Android and iPhone, free. Point your phone at a barcode, or the cover of a book or DVD, and Google will search for price comparisons from online merchants.

Read more >>

Tweet

2012 Honda Odyssey gets $2000 price cut

Honda Australia has introduced the mildly facelifted 2012 Honda Odyssey people-mover with a $2000 sharper price tag than the previous model. Prices now start at $37,100 for the standard model and $44,920 for the Luxury variant ($1000 saving). The new model gets satellite navigation and a reversing camera as standard.

The 2012 Honda Odyssey remains very similar stylistically to the outgoing 2011 model. The facelift consists of a revised front grille and headlights, silver metallic finish for the door handles and centre panel, and new LED taillights.

Standard on all variants is a satellite navigation system using a multifunction touch-screen interface, which also provides a display for the reverse camera, DVD and USB functions. There’s also iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.

Other standard features include the Ecological Drive Assist Program, which helps you drive in the most economical manner, and shift paddles behind the steering wheel for the automatic transmission.

Like the outgoing model, the 2012 Honda Odyssey comes with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 132kW of power and 218Nm of torque. It’s backed up by a five-speed automatic transmission. Average fuel consumption is rated at 8.9L/100km.

The price reduction comes as Honda tries to claw back some of its dwindling sales. Honda sold 97 Honda Odysseys in November, making it the forth most popular people-mover on the market. The Kia Carnival remains as best-seller, with 322 sales in the same period.

Read more >>

Tweet

iPad mini offers small price not small screen tips analyst

Here we go, the furor over the iPhone 4S isn’t yet done and already the next round of Apple rumors are floating by. The latest rumor isn’t of the next iPhone, but of a future iPad that is supposedly coming to fight the Kindle Fire and its $199 price point. According to this rumor there is an iPad mini coming in 2012. The source is specific on the “mini” though.


According to Brian white, an analyst with Ticonderoga securities who has been touring Chinese manufacturing faculties and talking with component suppliers there are rumblings of a cheaper, not smaller, iPad mini for 2012. White expects that the cheaper iPad will land during the first few months of 2012 and be followed later by a feature rich iPad 3.

White has stated that the expectation is that the iPad mini would come in somewhere in the mid to high $200 range. We wonder if the iPad mini may be something like an iPad 2 with 8GB of storage with the iPad 3 coming for the high market. This is what Apple does with the iPhone 4 and 4S for instance. That said, the original iPad didn’t stay around after the iPad 2 surfaced any longer than it took to clear stock.

Read more >>

Tweet