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Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

reuters.com

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Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#181

Post by deserted »

georgemcbay wrote: post #131
yetfeo wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still needs power though so it needs to be plugged into something - whether USB or wall socket. What are the open viewing options? It seems to only provide youtube and google movies in countries that don't have netflix. Does it support streaming a local video from a phone or PC?

HDMI (v1.4) alone is capable of providing power to the Chromecast, pin 18 is specced for +5V/50ma. Not every TV/monitor supports this since there aren't that many devices out in the field that utilize HDMI power, but if your TV does provide power over the HDMI port then the Chromecast can get everything it needs just from the HDMI port.

Using your Chromecast this way puts you at a disadvantage with many TVs. My TV only provides HDMI power when the input is selected (this may be per the spec) but that eliminates Chromecast's 'switch the input automatically' feature.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#182

Post by eropple »

ceejayoz wrote: post #65
lotso wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's also a big statement on Google's ability to succeed in the hardware market, where they've never seemed to be able to gain real success despite their attempts with notebooks and phones. And Google TV. Let's not forget that huge failure. "By the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions you see in stores will have Google TV embedded in it." -Eric Schmidt

> And Google TV. Let's not forget that huge failure. Not to mention http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_Q

I actually, non-ironically like having a Nexus Q, if only as a conversation piece. The thing looks really cool.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#183

Post by munificent »

smith7018 wrote: post #169
pbreit wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Much cheaper, doesn't need to plug into wall, more and more open viewing options. Question should probably be reversed (says this Apple fanatic).

I disagree. As someone who owns a Chromecast, I think you're doing a _huge_ disservice to the AppleTV. The Chromecast isn't a standalone device. Period. Full stop. It's basically a mildly improved AirPlay device that still lacks many features (even in the way of AirPlay). Off the top of my head: 1. The streaming isn't system wide. Developers need to incorporate the streaming ability into their apps whereas Apple has…

> The Chromecast isn't a standalone device.

I look at that as a feature. I already have applications I'm comfortable with for browsing and selecting media. I just want a new rectangle to play that media on.

The fact that anyone on my Wifi can access it with their phone, instantly, with nothing to install is a magical experience.

> 3. Music sounds terrible through it. It lacks an optical audio out port so it just uses the TVs speakers which are obviously not great.

HDMI Audio Return addresses that. If your TV and receiver support that (I think most do?), then audio will flow from the Chromecast into your TV and back up the TV's HDMI cable into the receiver.

My Chromecast plays audio through the speakers hooked up to my receiver just fine.

> Am I missing where I can stream my Android device's OS on the screen?

Maybe Chrome for Android supports that? I don't think there's OS level support for Chromecast.

> There are many, many things the Chromecast can't do.

Sure, a boat can't do many of the things an airplane can, and vice versa. They're different devices with very different user experiences.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#184

Post by absherwin »

product50 wrote: post #177
absherwin wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They shredded closer to a sixth of the initial price less whatever IP benefit they received. Motorola had ~$3B in cash when acquired. Google previously sold their set-top box unit for $2.35B and realized about $1.7B in tax benefits from previous losses. However since acquiring it has taken $1.038B in losses, which is $0.67B post-tax. There will be another write down for the lost goodwill less the value of the remaini…

You have included cash which Motorola had when getting acquired but have conveniently ignored their short term debts (current liabilities) which they were liable to pay. A better number to look at is net working capital.

You're absolutely right that one needs to adjust for short-term liabilities since some of that cash would have gone to pay them (Longer-term liabilities would likely continue on to Lenovo). As big a question in this case is the amount of cash that will be in Motorola when Lenovo acquires it and was in their set-up box business when it was sold.

Unfortunately, the comment isn't editable so I'll add more detail here. The more accurate number is $3.32B in cash and equivalents less ($3.57B in current liabilities - $2.97 in current non-cash assets). This totals $2.72B.

However, I understated the tax benefit. Motorola had a $2.5B reserve against their tax assets since they weren't profitable, which is $0.8B less than my original estimate. So the total error from these two items is an understatement of Google's recoveries by $0.52B, which means they recovered about $10.9B of $12.5B.

Note that there are likely other errors still present in this new calculation due to both lack of information and less than thorough research.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#185

Post by corresation »

IBM wrote: post #162
psbp wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We don't know what patents google is retaining, so it's unclear whether they're FRAND or truly valuable. Also, I've followed Nilay's post on several of these patent issues; he's either wrong or he sensationalizes to fit his narrative. I don't think he's very credible, even with a J.D.

We know the quality of the patents from what they've attempted to assert in courts in jurisdictions all over the world. They've not been successful anywhere. Unless you want to make the leap that they've been holding back all their valuable IP from their patent assertions for some unknown reason, I think it's a pretty safe conclusion.

The extremely limited patent actions were pre-Google, and were largely contrived as negotiating tools. Trying to draw anything from that is foolhardy.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#186

Post by 001sky »

cma wrote: post #171
absherwin wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They shredded closer to a sixth of the initial price less whatever IP benefit they received. Motorola had ~$3B in cash when acquired. Google previously sold their set-top box unit for $2.35B and realized about $1.7B in tax benefits from previous losses. However since acquiring it has taken $1.038B in losses, which is $0.67B post-tax. There will be another write down for the lost goodwill less the value of the remaini…

Plus I'm sure they will keep the patents, licensing them to Lenovo, or Lenovo will get them and license to Google.

Plus I'm sure they will keep the patents, licensing them to Lenovo

Yes, this was confirmed in today's reportage.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#187

Post by yetfeo »

munificent wrote: post #183
smith7018 wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. As someone who owns a Chromecast, I think you're doing a _huge_ disservice to the AppleTV. The Chromecast isn't a standalone device. Period. Full stop. It's basically a mildly improved AirPlay device that still lacks many features (even in the way of AirPlay). Off the top of my head: 1. The streaming isn't system wide. Developers need to incorporate the streaming ability into their apps whereas Apple has…

> The Chromecast isn't a standalone device. I look at that as a feature. I already have applications I'm comfortable with for browsing and selecting media. I just want a new rectangle to play that media on. The fact that anyone on my Wifi can access it with their phone, instantly, with nothing to install is a magical experience. > 3. Music sounds terrible through it. It lacks an optical audio out port so it just uses…

> The fact that anyone on my Wifi can access it with their phone, instantly, with nothing to install is a magical experience.

Does ChromeCast not require an app on the device? I thought it wasn't integrated with the OS.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#188

Post by deserted »

yetfeo wrote: post #187
munificent wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The Chromecast isn't a standalone device. I look at that as a feature. I already have applications I'm comfortable with for browsing and selecting media. I just want a new rectangle to play that media on. The fact that anyone on my Wifi can access it with their phone, instantly, with nothing to install is a magical experience. > 3. Music sounds terrible through it. It lacks an optical audio out port so it just uses…

> The fact that anyone on my Wifi can access it with their phone, instantly, with nothing to install is a magical experience. Does ChromeCast not require an app on the device? I thought it wasn't integrated with the OS.

Various apps now include chromecast support, so anyone with the Netflix/YouTube app can stream to your chromecast.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#189

Post by barkingcat »

harrychenca wrote: post #137
absherwin wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They shredded closer to a sixth of the initial price less whatever IP benefit they received. Motorola had ~$3B in cash when acquired. Google previously sold their set-top box unit for $2.35B and realized about $1.7B in tax benefits from previous losses. However since acquiring it has taken $1.038B in losses, which is $0.67B post-tax. There will be another write down for the lost goodwill less the value of the remaini…

I want to know how long it took you to gather all the figures? and Where you collect them? I am currently working on a platform that help people become better investors. I found your analysis amazingly informative and concise! Thanks!

Quarterly and annual reports. The prospectus for the original sale. These are all public companies so the reports are on record.

Before you start coding or starting a project on this kind of thing please read up on how a company goes public and the reporting requirements and where these things are filed. Also talk to someone in the industry and pick their brain.

I'm in Canada and a requirement for even doing something like business reporting for media is a CSC certificate, which qualifies you for basic knowledge of the securities industry, how to read annual reports and ledgers. Please do the same type of research for the territories and/or countries that you are thinking of working in.

It'll make your projecy more successful.

Re: Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola handset division

#190

Post by Pxtl »

What!? But... I loved the Moto G. And honestly, I don't get the love people have for Lenovo. Thinkpads are... okay. Lenovo's ownership of the brand could be described as stewardship at best. But they took the leading brand in PC laptops and kept it the leading brand in PC laptops while tablets and Apple destroyed the entire market for PC laptops.

Lenovo will never do anything great with the brand. Google had promise.

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