Goodbye, MiniDisc, we loved you. Well, perhaps not love, but at least a grudging regard. Unfortunately, grudging regards don’t add up to sales, and Sony has decided to axe the MZ-RH1 MiniDisc Hi-MD Walkman in September this year. Worry not about your precious MiniDiscs themselves, however; those still using the format will have time to stock up.
Sony has said it doesn’t intend to cease sales of the Hi-MD MiniDiscs (HMD1GA) the MZ-RH1 uses until September 2012, each holding up to
Friday 8 July 2011
RIM crows about BlackBerry subscriber boost
More than a million people across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have become Blackberry subscribers in the past three weeks, according to RIM. RIM broke the news on its official Twitter feed; a rare ray of sunshine on what has been widely described as a terrible period for the company. "BlackBerry continues momentum across EMEA with 1 Million+ new subscribers added in less than 3 weeks," read the tweet. Annus HorribilisThe company has been watching market share slip, and a response to a
OS X Lion and MacBook Air refresh July 14 as Apple staff warned of “overnight” prep sessions
Mac OS X Lion is looking increasingly likely to see a July 14 release, with new sources suggesting that Apple is warning retail staff to prepare for “overnights” – late shifts where new signage, displays and hardware are readied for the next day – on July 13. According to 9 to 5 Mac‘s sources, while OS X Lion won’t actually be available on shelves (since Apple has decided to distribute it via the Mac App Store) there will be demo Macs upgraded to the OS, as
Pioneer S-MM301 and S-MM751RU speakers have your desk and bag covered
Pioneer has outed its latest speakers, the the S-MM301 and S-MM751RU are both intended for computer users rather than those looking for something to blow their faces off during an action movie. The S-MM751RU is a 2.1 set pushing 10W to each angular satellite speaker and 20W to the subwoofer, and comes with a nifty little remote “puck” that not only controls volume and playback but includes an SD card reader and line-in audio input.
There’s also a USB port, to plug in MP3
There’s also a USB port, to plug in MP3
LTE Rolls Out in Canada for the First Time Ever
Not that there’s going to be another time that LTE will be rolling out in Canada, but it’s never been there before! The folks at Rogers have released word that Canada’s first Long Term Evolution will be coming from then, and folks in Ottawa will be the first to see the speed. The speedy network will be rolling out additionally in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal by the end of 2011 with an additional twenty-one markets inside of 2012. That’s quick!
Those of you
Those of you
Apple Store Spy Cam Artist Under Investigation By Secret Service
A recent video posted by digital artist Kyle McDonald has garnered a lot of attention that could be getting the artist into some serious trouble. The artistic project is called People Staring At Computers, which McDonald compiled by installing spy cam software on various display Macs in two New York Apple Store locations. To watch the video, continue after the cut.
McDonald installed spy cam software on Apple Store Macs to take periodic photos of customers staring at the monitors. Thousands
McDonald installed spy cam software on Apple Store Macs to take periodic photos of customers staring at the monitors. Thousands
Thursday 7 July 2011
Barnes and Noble NOOK NYTimes Subscribers Get Web-Based Bonus
Those of you with a NOOK on hand that have a hankering for some most popular newspaper in the world reading are in luck, The New York Times is giving a bonus to everyone who loves their paper enough to get a subscription via Barnes & Noble’s most lovable ereaders. Every NOOK, NOOKcolor (also known as NOOK Color) or all-new NOOK ereader owners, essentially anyone with access to the NOOK NewsStand will be able to get access to not only a subscription to The New York Times but to the
Review: Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard
Almost 15 years ago, PDAs such as the Sony Clié or Pocket PC were the best means of carrying your data around with you. Their admittedly modest success spawned a range of keyboards that docked with your touchscreen device. Over time, these keyboards grew into mechanical marvels that folded very small for portability, but gave a typing experience to rival a notebook. These days, smartphones and tablets are the touchscreen portables of choice, and most mobile keyboards favour Bluetooth
USA Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc Unlocked and On Sale Now
You’re about to get super pumped up about this one, let me tell you that. One of the greatest Android-based devices to come out of Sony Ericsson, the Xperia ARC is now available to the USA in an unlocked and Gingerbread-laden form for sweet, sweet action. This device has a 4.2-inch Reality Display, an 8-megapixel camera on the back and Qualcomm’s 1GHz MSM8255 processor paired with Adreno 205 graphics and 512MB of RAM. Sound like the magical master of Sony Ericsson-based Android mayhem
Report: Apple Stores preparing for Lion launch next week
The long-awaited release of Apple's Mac OS X Lion operating system will arrive after the weekend, according to reports late on Thursday.Cupertino has started to inform its retail store players of the preparatory measures required to make the imminent upgrades, according to AppleInsider.The site says it has been made aware that Mac models in-store will be upgraded with the necessary RAM under the weekend in preparation for download to Lion.A separate source says that an overnight product shift
Apple to launch iPad 2 Plus later this year?
The suggestion that Apple will launch a new iPad model this autumn is the rumour that refuses to die; but rather than the iPad 3, an analyst has now suggested that we could see an iPad 2 Plus on our Christmas wishlists. The so-called iPad 2 Plus isn't set to be a radical departure from the current iPad 2, with supply chain sources tipping an improved display (250-300 ppi as opposed to the current 132 ppi). "There are some indications from the supply chain that Apple may look to introduce an
Printable Lieca M3 Pinhole Camera Revealed
It’s not often that you can get a masterpiece of a DSLR, a point and shoot, or even a cameraphone made entirely of paper these days. Not that you were EVER able to get these things made of paper, but you sure as heck can now. Designer Matt Nicholson has revealed his “making the desirable accessible through an A4 printer” and it’s time for you to get your origami on.
Here it is, the entirely-paper-made 35mm Lie-ca M3, a camera that from afar appears to be quite the
Here it is, the entirely-paper-made 35mm Lie-ca M3, a camera that from afar appears to be quite the
Spotify Premium likely to be cheaper in the US
The forthcoming launch of Spotify in the US will see Americans get a proportionately better deal than us veterans in the UK, according to leaked documents.According to a sign-up flow sent to TechCrunch, the Unlimited Spotify plan will cost $4.99 a month and the Premium service, with access to mobile music will cost $9.99 a month.Although, on the surface, that sounds the same as our tariffs, the dollar-to-pound conversion means that US users will get Unlimited for £2.99 and Premium access,
Verizon Already 32% Of All iPhone 4s In The US
Apple’s iPhone has long been an AT&T exclusive, but back in February this year, the iPhone 4 made its way to Verizon. At that point, the handset was already more than 6 months old, having launched on AT&T the summer before. Nonetheless, Verizon’s share of iPhone 4 users has grown rapidly, now at 32% according to a recent study.
Localytics, a Massachusetts-based analytics company, produced the report using data traffic from app usage. Using this method, they were able to
Localytics, a Massachusetts-based analytics company, produced the report using data traffic from app usage. Using this method, they were able to
Bluetooth headsets don't make driving safer
A new report into traffic safety says there is no conclusive evidence that using a Bluetooth headset, rather than making a call on your handset, makes driving any safer.The report claims that portable gadgets are now responsible for 25 per cent of accidents in the United States and suggests that novice drivers be completely banned from using their cellphones while driving.Interestingly, the study reveals that there has been no fall in crash rates in US states where handheld phone use has been
UK calls for world's cyberlaws to be tightened
The UK Home Office has appealed to the rest of the world to tighten up their cyberlaws, explaining that web criminals are "not inconvenienced by national boundaries".Speaking at an event in London, crime and security minister James Brokenshire said that there needs to be some sort of international agreement about the punishment of cybercriminals, so that there aren't countries in the world that are seen as a safe haven.Currently, there is a European convention of Cybercrime but, Brokenshire
Reminder Deuce: Galaxy Tab 10.1 Giveaway here on SlashGear for Tabletpalooza Week One!
Oh you didn’t know? I’d suggest calling somebody. We’ve got an Android tablet giveaway going on right now that trumps the rest of the tablet giveaways down into the dust all day! That’s five tablets we’ve got, let me tell you about it! We’re collaborating with our pals at NVIDIA to bring you a series of NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor-laden tablets the likes of which have never been seen before! You can win one right now, right here, below, with only a bit
Nokia: We'll support MeeGo for years
If you were one of the many checking out our early look at the Nokia N9 and salivating at the thought of playing with a fancy and slick new operating system, you were probably also terribly sad that Nokia seemed to not care about the new OS.So we're happy to be able to bring you much better news: while Nokia tells us that Windows Phone is still its 'primary smartphone strategy', a recent tweet has shown that the Finns will be supporting the new OS for years to come.Klas Strom, Head of Portfolio
Facebook Vibes Music Service Revealed In Video Calling Code
The Google+ social platform was unveiled last week in an invitation-only beta form but has already generated lots of excitement for its new features, including a group video calling service called Hangouts. Perhaps as a response, Facebook announced its own video calling service yesterday in partnership with Skype. But upon close inspection of Facebook’s video calling code, software developer Jeff Rose discovered evidence of Facebook’s future music service.
Rose got curious about
Rose got curious about
New Jessops Android photo app arrives
Jessops has introduced a new photography app for Android users.With the new app, users are able to browse their phone's photo albums and choose their favourites to print and have delivered to their door in either 6x4 or 7x5 inch formats. This is the first app to appear on the Android Market from Jessops, who introduced an iPhone app earlier in the year which allows users to order a printed iPhone shaped photo album made up of 12 photos. Currently on the Android Market there are lots of photo
How Often Should You Replace Your TV?
Over the July 4 weekend, I was with some friends discussing televisions. We were talking about the different technologies and what sort of features we look for in new sets. After a lengthy discussion, our talk on TVs quickly turned to how often we all replace our current sets. As we went around the room discussing when we last replaced our televisions, and how long we had sets before that, I was shocked at the discrepancy in times.
One of my friends said that he replaces his television only
One of my friends said that he replaces his television only
10 features Google+ needs to challenge Facebook
Is Google+ a legitimate threat to Facebook or just another half-baked social network? The service already shows promise as the latest challenger to the throne with features for selectively posting content, chatting in a private hub called a Hangout, and viewing a news stream that suits your tastes. The clean interface is attractive and ad-free, but Google needs to add new features quickly before the full rollout. Here are ten we want.1. Improve CirclesCircles is a brilliant idea - Google
Apple Patent Filing Reveals Plans For Transparent Augmented Reality iPad Display Technology
A couple of patent applications surfaced today, revealing that Apple is considering some interesting new features for its future iOS devices. Just this morning, a filing indicating an iPhone and iPad stylus could be in the near future. And now, two other patent applications reveal that Apple also has some augmented reality plans for its iPad displays.
One of the patent filings, discovered by Apple Insider, was published for the first time today by the United States Patent and Trademark
One of the patent filings, discovered by Apple Insider, was published for the first time today by the United States Patent and Trademark
Review: Jabra Extreme
The Jabra Extreme is a Bluetooth headset that comes with a USB dongle for connecting it to a PC. It features excellent noise cancelling technology through two built-in microphones, and in our tests we found that it worked brilliantly, blocking out the background noise and making Skype calls feel less strained. The sound quality is also excellent, some of the best we've heard on a Bluetooth headset of this size.The small size of the Jabra Extreme headset makes it easy to carry about, but it's
BlueAnt Embrace iPad Headphones Get Official
Back in January 2011, we were running around like mad trying to grab all the sweet hands-on action we knew you’d like with all the electronics under the sun at CES 2011. One of the devices we were relatively impressed with at the time was a set of sound blasters that at the time had no identification other than “BlueAnt Stereo Over-The-Ear Headphones.” Turns out these lovely music deliverers have gotten a full overhaul and are now known as BlueAnt Embrace Headphones. Have a
Google+ population doubles as invites briefly re-open
Google briefly re-opened the invite process for its new Google+ social network in order to double users during the initial trial period.Following a phenomenal demand to join the new Facebook rival, Google closed invites last week, but late on Wednesday night members were once again allowed to invite their buddies to join.The invite mechanism has now closed again, presumably after Google racked-up enough new users to double the population.Last night engineering direct Dave Besbris posted on the
Google Docs Mobile Gets Sort, Narrow, And Share
Google Docs for mobile just got an update today that will make it easier to sort and share your documents. An Android app for Google Docs is already available, but non-Android users still rely on the mobile browser version for accessing documents on the go. This update includes a new look and the added ability to sort, narrow, and share multiple documents.
The new layout now adds two new dropdown buttons to the top left corner of the screen. The first dropdown button is Sort which lets you
The new layout now adds two new dropdown buttons to the top left corner of the screen. The first dropdown button is Sort which lets you
Review: Creative Aurvana In-Ear3
Sound quality is something that regularly gets overlooked.Everyone raves about the amazing picture quality of Blu-ray discs, for example. But how often do you hear anyone say anything about how good the audio is, even though it's utterly brilliant compared to what you get on a DVD?Seeing is believing, as they say, and with sound… well, you can't see it, can you?The human brain is much better at capturing visual memories than audio ones, too, so it's much easier to look at a TV and say 'that
Verizon Tiered Data Plans Include Free Texts To Monitor Usage
For those hoping to get an unlimited data plan from Verizon, you’re time is up. Today, the new tiered data plans officially kick in with four packages that range from $10 per month for 75MB to $80 per month for 10GB. Each gigabyte over your limit will cost you $10. With all the connecting, sharing, email checking, and media downloading we do these days, those numbers can add up quickly.
To avoid some of the frustration likely to come with billing inquiry calls, Verizon is offering to
To avoid some of the frustration likely to come with billing inquiry calls, Verizon is offering to
Review: Verbatim Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 External SSD
The Verbatim Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 External SSD has a relatively small storage space of 32GB. This is not an external hard drive for storing thousands of digital photos, movies and music. For backing up important office documents, the 32GB should be plenty of space. If it's not, you can also get 64GB and 128GB versions, with slight increases in speed the larger the capacity. The physical size of the Verbatim Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 External SSD makes it much easier to carry around and plug into
iPhone 4 Turns Into A DSLR With New Photojojo Case
Photojojo always comes up with some fun gadgets and accessories for photography enthusiasts and this time they’ve managed to produce a case that will turn your iPhone 4 into a DSLR camera. The new case is simply called the iPhone SLR Mount and allows you to attach any of your Canon or Nikon SLR lenses.
We’ve seen accessories in the past that attempt to bring DSLR features to the iPhone 4, such as with the Photojojo 8X Telephoto lens for the iPhone. What makes this iPhone SLR Mount
We’ve seen accessories in the past that attempt to bring DSLR features to the iPhone 4, such as with the Photojojo 8X Telephoto lens for the iPhone. What makes this iPhone SLR Mount
BSkyB takeover decision pushed to September
The government will not make a decision on the News Corp takeover of BSkyB has been delayed until September, although the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has insisted that it is not a delay. The controversial takeover was expected to be completed by the time Parliament breaks up on 19 July, but a reported surge in public complaints may have increased the timeline. "The Secretary of State has always been clear that he will take as long as is needed to reach a decision," stated a DCMS
Acer Aspire Ethos 8951G Review
If you’re looking for a desktop PC replacement that’s stylish yet powerful when it comes to multimedia performance, then you might want to consider the Acer Aspire Ethos series notebooks. The latest revamp to this high-end series features a unique detachable touchpad that doubles as a remote control and comes in a 15.6-inch model (5951G) and an 18.4-inch model (8951G). We spent some time with the larger Ethos 8951G, so read on for our full review.
The massive 18.4-inch size makes the
The massive 18.4-inch size makes the
Nintendo Wii U will have 3D support
The Nintendo Wii U has the ability to support 3D games, but Nintendo won't be focusing on this feature when it is launched in 2012.This is according to Satoru Iwata, the president of Nintendo – who was speaking to MercuryNews about its 3D capabilities."If you are going to connect Wii U with a home TV capable of displaying 3D images, technologically, yes, it is going to be possible, but that's not the area we are focusing on," he explained."When it comes to 3D, we already have the 3DS, and
iPlayer for Kindle puts TV shows on your ereader
As bizarre, brilliant ideas go, “iPlayer for Kindle” has to be one of the best. Despite initially sounding like an April Fool – video content on an E Ink ereader? – it’s actually a real project by Frisnit Electronic Industrial, taking TV shows and converting them into a digital comic strip of sorts, complete with subtitles.
The system takes a DVB digital TV feed along with subtitle information and initially pulls out just the frames where there’s dialog.
The system takes a DVB digital TV feed along with subtitle information and initially pulls out just the frames where there’s dialog.
Review: SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB
Although the SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB gaming headset is compatible with PCs, and is perfectly good at playing music, it really comes into its own if used when playing games online on Xbox 360. In games where communicating with teammates is essential, this is a fantastic headset. Not only does the unobtrusive microphone (similar to the SteelSeries Siberia V2's mic) pick up voices incredibly well, the SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB comes with the SteelSeries AudioMixer. This is an inline remote with
eBay buys carrier-billing startup Zong for mobile shopping
Online auction giant eBay has bought mobile payments specialist Zong, spending $240m on the startup despite already having PayPal onboard. According to eBay, the interest in Zong is down to its existing connections with mobile operators, which allows users to charge items directly to their monthly bill.
“Commerce is changing. With mobile phones, we walk around with a mall in our pockets” PayPal president Scott Thompson said of the deal. ”PayPal helps to make money work
“Commerce is changing. With mobile phones, we walk around with a mall in our pockets” PayPal president Scott Thompson said of the deal. ”PayPal helps to make money work
Amazon Appstore gets to keep its name
A judge in the US has ruled that Apple cannot stop Amazon from using the term 'appstore'. According to the ruling in response to Apple's preliminary injunction request, Apple has not established that Amazon's use of the term will confuse consumers. Apple does have a trademark pending on the App Store name, however, which may lead to further litigation in the future. The company is already battling Microsoft on the trademark front, with Ballmer's bunch trying to block the Cupertino crew's claim
Air Pick plays a note to the tune each time you strum your air guitar
Air guitar is the age-old ritual that goes along with your favorite music and happens when a music fan has no musical talent of their own to actually play the song (in my case anyway). Instead, we turn to faking. Air guitar is basically the instrumental versions of lip sync. A very cool new toy called Air Picks has surfaced that make your air guitar actually playable.
The picks are shaped like your typical guitar pick, though they are significantly fatter than the real thing. The Air Picks
The picks are shaped like your typical guitar pick, though they are significantly fatter than the real thing. The Air Picks
Three confirms BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 UK release date
Three has confirmed the UK release date for the BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900, which was announced in May.The handset will be hitting the numerical network on 15 September in black, with a white version to land a month later in October. What we don't know yet, however, is the BlackBerry Bold Touch's UK pricing. SpeccyThe handset brings a handy little touchscreen to the physical QWERTY party, as well as a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, NFC and a 5MP camera. Unfortunately for BlackBerry fans, this will
Verizon DROID 3 by Motorola gets officially official
As expected, Verizon has officially announced the DROID 3 by Motorola, which we saw sprout up on the company’s site in recent hours. The keyboard-equipped handset is, Verizon claims, the world’s thinnest QWERTY smartphone, and offers a 4-inch qHD 960 x 540 touchscreen, slide-out 5-row ‘board and 8-megapixel camera with 1080p Full HD video capture.
Inside is a dual-core 1GHz processor, OS is Android 2.3, and there’s mobile hotspot functionality to share the DROID
Inside is a dual-core 1GHz processor, OS is Android 2.3, and there’s mobile hotspot functionality to share the DROID
How fast can Windows 8 run on ARM?
Among the many Windows 8 topics that Microsoft hasn't discussed is what ARM performance is going to be like. After all, while Windows ARM tablets will have dual core or quad core cpus running at a 1.8 or 2.5GHz speed – faster than most netbook Atom processors and the Celerons in cheap ultraportables, or even ultra-low power Core i5s - what does that mean for an operating system as complex as Windows?Windows 8: everything you need to knowOne of the key features will be the GPU. That's what
Gateway ID and NV notebooks outed: Core i5 and AMD APU options
Gateway has outed its updated ID and NV notebook ranges, offering Sandy Bridge processors, USB 3.0 and – on select models – NVIDIA Optimus graphics switching. The Gateway ID47 series is particularly slick, using new LCD display technology to fit a 14-inch edge-to-edge panel into a notebook you’d more commonly find with a 13.3-inch screen.
The Gateway ID47H02u has a Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 500GB 5,400rpm hard-drive, DVD burner and Intel HD
The Gateway ID47H02u has a Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 500GB 5,400rpm hard-drive, DVD burner and Intel HD
PlayStation Suite gets shown off in S1 video
A video has surfaced that shows off just what the PlayStation Suite will look like on the Sony S1 – the company's Honeycomb tablet.The Sony S1 is an Android tablet that's hoping to take on the might of the iPad. While this sounds like a pretty impossible task, it has got a trick up its sleeve in the form of the Sony PlayStation Suite. This service will bring PlayStation One games to the tablet, much like what we have seen with the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.Tablet talkThe specs of the Sony S1
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Android tablet packing 3G gets official pricing in Italy
If you are a fan of the Android OS and have been looking for a tablet, one of the coolest out there is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer. I know a bunch of folks are waiting to grab one until a version with 3G is here. The launch of that 3G Transformer will be coming in August according to Asus but so far, we don’t know what the tablet will cost or the exact date it will land. We still don’t have an exact launch date, but the pricing has been revealed for the tablet in Italy.
The official Asus
The official Asus
Google explains apostrophe in "+1's"
Google has explained itself to those questioning its decision to put an apostrophe in "+1's", with a humorous post thanking people for caring and insisting that it is correct to include it.Google has found people asking why +1's would have an apostrophe at all, with people pointing out that it is not a contraction or a possessive. However, Google reasons that "It's also acceptable to use an apostrophe to add clarity and make sure people read words as intended - for example, when your school
Nintendo denies iOS and Android game plans
Nintendo is having a hard time in the gaming market right now with its new 3DS console not selling well. The 3DS needed until mid-June to move a million units in Japan, which is much longer than it took the previous portable console to sell the same amount. A lot of gamers and analyst were excited earlier in the week when it seemed Nintendo was ready to step into the mobile game development realm for the Android and iOS platforms.
The rumor started when the Pokémon Company announced that it
The rumor started when the Pokémon Company announced that it
Opinion: How the Eee Pad points to the future
First, a confession. It's a little while since I've been genuinely excited about a new computing device. Sure, it's nice to take the latest multicore chips for a spin. I'm continually impressed by the constant technological progress in many areas of computing, too - faster SSDs, better graphics, powerful processors in mobile devices and all that jazz. But true techno-related rapture has evaded me of late. At least, until the new Asus Eee Pad Transformer popped up on my radar. Immediately, the
Maxell maxsound Soundbar is small and compact
If you have a small TV in your office or a dorm room and you want better sound and not much room the Maxell maxsound Soundbar might be the ticket for you. This small soundbar is the curved bit of plastic you see in the horrible product shot courtesy of Maxell. The stand is designed to slip under your TV and can hold up to 55 pounds on top.
The maxsound also sports dual 3.5mm inputs so you can connect your MP3 player or even your computer to the soundbar for playback. This might be the perfect
The maxsound also sports dual 3.5mm inputs so you can connect your MP3 player or even your computer to the soundbar for playback. This might be the perfect
Bumper Samsung Galaxy S2 sales limit profits slide
Samsung is expected to be named the world's biggest smartphone vendor in the second quarter of 2011, although poor sales of televisions have sliced the company's profits. Nokia's place at the top of the sales chart is expected to be confirmed as over when the Finnish company's earnings are declared, according to Reuters, with Samsung's quarterly report forecast bringing mixed news. The Samsung Galaxy S 2 has been an immediate hit for the company, emerging as one of the primary competitors for
Facebook adds Skype video chat
Following Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg's promise of an 'awesome' announcement, the company has revealed that it has added a new Skype video chat feature.
Ar launch, the new feature will allow two users to connect face-to-face, but, unlike Google's + system, group video calls will not be yet be available to Facebook users.
Zuckerberg hinted that other 'premium' Skype features would be added in the future.
It what appeared to be a concession to Google, Zuckerberg said that the new
Ar launch, the new feature will allow two users to connect face-to-face, but, unlike Google's + system, group video calls will not be yet be available to Facebook users.
Zuckerberg hinted that other 'premium' Skype features would be added in the future.
It what appeared to be a concession to Google, Zuckerberg said that the new
Ocosmos OSC9 pre-sale announced; OSC1 far behind?
Ocosmos’ compact Intel Oak Trail tablets – launched at CES 2011 earlier this year – the OSC9 and OSC1 could be on sale imminently, with the Korean company announcing pre-sale information for the larger OSC9 slate. According to OCOSMOS, pre-sales of the OSC9 – which has a 9-inch 1028 x 768 touchscreen and has a clever folio case with an integrated wireless keyboard remote – would begin in June.
Meanwhile, the fact that other Oak Trail tablets, such as
Meanwhile, the fact that other Oak Trail tablets, such as
Updated: LG: Era of the portable console is over
The president and CEO of LG Mobile has insisted that the era of portable consoles is over, insisting that phones will now become the portable gaming platform of choice. In a press release, Dr Jon-seok Park was quoted as saying that "the era of dedicated handheld gaming platform is over ." UPDATE: In a subsequent release – two hours later – this part of the statement was removed. Horsepower"Today's smartphones have the horsepower to compete with the best portable gaming devices and LG
2012 iPhone could have inductive wireless charging
Apple is reportedly considering a new charging technology for the 2012 iPhone, the successor to the new model – or models – expected to arrive later this year. According to the WSJ‘s sources, while Apple has been busy prepping the fifth-gen iPhone for its Q3 release, some of its engineers have been working on a more significant reworking for the following year.
That revamp could include a new charging method, which we’re assuming means the same sort of inductive
That revamp could include a new charging method, which we’re assuming means the same sort of inductive
In Depth: Top 10 best HP TouchPad apps
Launching a new tablet these days must keep executives up at night. Bugs creep onto the device unannounced, the press has a field day comparing slight variances in thickness and battery life, and everyone complains about the sordid state of app availability. But guess what? The HP TouchPad actually has a few good options. There are 300 launch apps designed for the 9.7-inch screen. Here are the 10 best apps for the TouchPad.1. Citrix ReceiverBy far the most impressive app on the TouchPad, Citrix
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Windows 8 Public Beta To Be Unveiled At CES 2012
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is still several months away, but there’s already buzz now that the next-gen operating system dubbed Windows 8 will be at the core of Microsoft’s CES 2012 keynote. According to company insiders, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will be taking the stage at 6:30PM on Monday January 9, 2012 in The Venetian.
Microsoft has had their keynotes at CES over the last several years to kick off major new announcements. They used the same venue to
Microsoft has had their keynotes at CES over the last several years to kick off major new announcements. They used the same venue to
Canon still considering compact system camera
Canon has revealed that it is still exploring the possibility of bringing a compact system camera to the market.After the earthquake in Japan, production at the firm's factory slowed down. But Canon, in an interview with Reuters, said that pre-quake levels of production are now in operation, with plans afoot to increase Taiwan's production capacity, bringing their SLR output to 10 million units annually.Following suitThere has long been speculation that Canon and Nikon would follow the suit of
Google Maps 5.7 Update For Android Gets Transit Navigation
The Google Maps app for Android has been updated today to version 5.7 and introduces several new improvements including better directions, search suggest, and a photo viewer for Places. But the most interesting new feature is Transit Navigation. The feature uses GPS data to determine your routes and to alert you when it’s your stop to get off.
Transit Navigation will be really helpful for those visiting a new metropolitan area where getting around town depends heavily on public transit.
Transit Navigation will be really helpful for those visiting a new metropolitan area where getting around town depends heavily on public transit.
Panasonic promises glasses-free 3D TV 'within five years'
While the war over active versus passive 3D TVs rages on, it could be all but obliterated by the development of an autostereoscopic television which does away with the glasses altogether. Some manufacturers, like Toshiba, have committed to rushing out a glasses-free 3D TV as early as 2012, but Panasonic has now said that it'll be at least five years before it has an auto-stereoscopic 3D set on the market. Speaking at Intellect's Consumer Electronics 2011 show, Panasonic's marketing manager
Samsung Galaxy S II Angry Birds Level Discovered!
Well what do you know, there’s another Rovio connection to a brand promotion. Who would have thought? This time it’s for the Samsung Galaxy S II, aka the world’s most powerful superphone, and it’s to be found inside the already-released all-summer-long expansion for Angry Birds Seasons: Summer Pignic. For those of you that have not been playing, this expansion is one that works similar to how the Christmas expansion did, a new level opening for play each day of the
Orange launches Barcelona and Stockholm budget Androids
Orange has officially launched its latest branded Android handsets in the form of the Orange Barcelona and the Orange Stockholm. They follow in the globe-trotting footsteps of the super successful Orange San Francisco which was the toast of budget Android handsets last year. The Barcelona, which has been up on Orange's shop for a while, comes with a capacitive touchscreen with Orange's bespoke gesture interface, a physical QWERTY keyboard and a 3.2MP camera. Unfortunately it doesn't come with
Clear Spot 4G Mobile Hotspot With New LCD Display Hits The FCC
Clearwire looks to be readying a new mobile hotspot device for their Clear 4G WiMAX network. New documents passed through the FCC today revealing that the device is manufactured by Gemtek with a model number WIXFMM-122. The new mobile hotspot will likely be marketed as the Clear Spot 4G.
From the image above, we can see that the Clear Spot 4G has just a slight redesign with rounded corners rather than the diamond cut form of last year’s Clear Spot 4G+ hotspot, which also looks very
From the image above, we can see that the Clear Spot 4G has just a slight redesign with rounded corners rather than the diamond cut form of last year’s Clear Spot 4G+ hotspot, which also looks very
Google Maps for Android adds Transit Navigation
Google has announced Google Maps 5.7 for Android, bringing a version of its turn-by-turn Navigation service for public transport routes.Google Maps Transit Navigation brings detailed public transport information for over 400 cities around the world, allowing you to plan your journey more effectively.Instead of turn-by-turn directions, Transit Navigation offers a stop-by-stop service, making it easier for users traveling in foreign countries to keep track on their journey.The new functionality
Apple iOS Has Major Security Hole Warns German IT Agency, Avoid PDFs
A new claim about Apple’s iOS security makes the previous location data tracking controversy look like child’s play. Germany’s national IT security is claiming serious security issues with the iOS platform that could allow malicious programs to gain control of almost all the data on your phone and even listen in on phone conversations.
The agency says that hackers can use infected PDF files to get to your data. Simply clicking on an infected PDF file is sufficient to infect
The agency says that hackers can use infected PDF files to get to your data. Simply clicking on an infected PDF file is sufficient to infect
All private Google Profiles to be deleted on 1 August
Google has decided to delete all Google Profiles that are set to private on 1 August. The search giant describes Google Profiles, which are used as your Google+ profiles too, should be public, as "what the world sees when it searches for you" – so it stands to reason that they be public. The move comes in preparation for the Google+ public roll-out, and will make each profile easily findable via the search engine. However, the only elements of your profile that have to be made public are your
Griffin Ships iMarker For Crayola ColorStudio HD iPad App
Griffin and Crayola have teamed up to create a product that will help your kids express their creativity without finger-painting your walls. But, it will require you to get them their own iPad or lend them your’s. The Crayola ColorStudio HD app for the iPad along with the iMarker stylus was first introduced back at CES and is now finally ready to ship.
The ColorStudio HD for iPad app works with the Griffin iMarker stylus like a digital coloring book. It includes over 30 animated and
The ColorStudio HD for iPad app works with the Griffin iMarker stylus like a digital coloring book. It includes over 30 animated and
Facebook and Skype hook-up will soon allow calls to phones
Facebook users will soon be able to call any phone in the world via the social networking site using the built-in Skype service announced on Wednesday.The news was confirmed by Skype's consumer boss Neil Stevens as the next thing planned for the partnership between two of the world's most recognisable tech names.If one of your Facebook friends is online and has their phone number listed, you'll be able to call their handset in the same way that you would initiate a text chat.Just like when
Amazon Cloud Drive, Cloud Player Now With Unlimited Music Storage
Amazon was first to offer a cloud-based music locker back in March beating out competitors Google and Apple. Despite its early arrival, Amazon’s Cloud Drive and Cloud Player services still have a tough battle ahead against the imminent iCloud-powered iTunes juggernaut. Perhaps as a preemptive measure, Amazon today announced several new improvements to its cloud music service that hopes to lure new users with unlimited music storage.
Today’s announcement from Amazon revealed three
Today’s announcement from Amazon revealed three
Explained: What is Android? A beginner's guide
With Google's Andy Rubin announcing that there are now 500,000 activations of Android devices per day, it's clear that Google's operating system has hit the big time. However, despite shops such as Phones4U advertising "Latest Android handsets" for the release of phones like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, LG Optimus 2X and HTC Wildfire S, many people are still left asking, "What is an Android phone?"Android is an operating system for mobile phones and tablets, in much the same way that PCs run
Motorola LTE Tablet Hits The FCC, Could Be The XOOM 2
What looks to be the new Motorola XOOM LTE tablet has just passed through the FCC today, signaling an imminent launch. This is good news for some but also upsetting for original XOOM customers still waiting for the 4G LTE upgrade. The FCC documents list the device only as IHDP56LU2 but reveals several interesting details on what could be the Motorola XOOM 2.
The FCC filing was approved today for the tablet’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CDMA, and LTE capabilities. The dimensions for the tablet are
The FCC filing was approved today for the tablet’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CDMA, and LTE capabilities. The dimensions for the tablet are
Triggertrap time-lapse photography concept unveiled
A photography author has unveiled a new universal camera trigger, which replaces the conventional means of taking snaps with something altogether more awesome.The Triggertrap concept, which has been designed primarily to assist with time-lapse and hands-free photography, will enable you to trigger your camera's shutter in an almost unlimited number of ways.Triggertrap can be used with any camera thanks to a universal adapter and, thanks to the auxiliary port, can be configured via radio signal,
Apple Files ITC Complaint Against Samsung
The legal battle between Apple and Samsung, which erupted back in April, has only been escalating. Just last week Samsung filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) to block the import of Apple’s iPod, iPhone, and iPad, a move following Apple’s demands for an injunction on Samsung smartphones and tablets. Apple has now swung back with its own ITC complaint.
Apple first sued Samsung claiming their Galaxy series phones and tablets were copying the look and feel
Apple first sued Samsung claiming their Galaxy series phones and tablets were copying the look and feel
Review: LG Optimus 3D
LG has had a good run of form with its Optimus series of smartphones. The Optimus One was a solid little thing for a good price, then it branched out and up into fancy phone territory with the quirky dual-core charms of the Optimus 2X, before tackling high style with the skinny Optimus Black. Now LG has another demographic in its sights – fans of the hot trend for 3D technology. The Optimus 3D is the first smartphone to launch with a "glasses-free" 3D display, enabling users to take still
Samsung Dart Review [T-Mobile]
What I’ve got here is one of the three newest members to the mid-range line of phones over on T-Mobile. The smallest and sleekest of them all and that is the Samsung Dart. While reading this review you might want to take into consideration this is a mid-range phone at best, it is meant to compete with other offerings like the LG Optimus or even the Motorola Cliq. This phone might just be the perfect phone for your children as a first smartphone.
Before I break it down a little bit here
Before I break it down a little bit here
Review: Hauppauge Colossus
Having a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) that can record high definition TV can be expensive – the Humax Digital Satellite HD Set Top box goes for around £140, for example. The Hauppauge Colossus slots into your PC's PCI slots. You can then attach your existing set top boxes, Blu-ray players and even games consoles to the Colossus and record their outputs. Before using this device, you're going to have to make sure you have a free PCI slot and open up your computer to install it. This isn't
Symbian Belle Gets MeeGo-Harmattan Style Swipe
When Nokia announced its transition to the Windows Phone 7 platform, the company revealed that its Symbian platform would slowly be phased out while MeeGo would cease commercial releases and become a developer playground. The recently unveiled N9 handset was the first and last MeeGo device, but some of its new features may live on in the new Symbian Belle OS.
The image above was tweeted by @Harkison, who found it from some Qt Quick guidelines. MyNokiaBlog then added the notes that point out
The image above was tweeted by @Harkison, who found it from some Qt Quick guidelines. MyNokiaBlog then added the notes that point out
Zuckerberg: Google+ proves we're right about social's future
At the launch of Facebook and Skype's new video calling service, Mark Zuckerberg talked briefly about Google+ and believed that its existence backed up his view that social is indeed the future of the web.Google+ launched earlier in the month as an invite-only social network, with the service offering, among other things, video calling and group chat – two things that Facebook announced today.Social is the futureTaking a question from Mashable about Google+, he said about the search giant's
Facebook “Awesome” Announcement Strewn with Veiled Google+ References
Don’t get me wrong before we start here, the ability to chat in a window inside Facebook with Skype’s video capabilities is really neat. If they execute the plan correctly, it will almost certainly keep a lot of people inside the Facebook family where thousands of video-chat seekers may have otherwise run to Google+ for their brand new Hangout video chat program. What we’ve learned today, however, is that the Facebook team has seen what Google+ can do and that they understand
Spotify US launch imminent, sign up page appears
Spotify is readying itself for a launch in the US, by posting a sign-up page on its UK website.There has been rumour after rumour of Spotify launching in the US, but music companies have so far dug their heels in, which has meant Spotify has had to make a number of changes to its model.The most significant of these was back in April, when it announced that it would be changing its free service so that you can only listen to 10 hours of music a month.The reason for this wasn't really made clear
Motorola Droid Bionic Redesign Confirmed In Best Buy Leak
The Motorola Droid Bionic has been taking its time to launch. First announced at CES, the smartphone has since been delayed over the last six months to incorporate some new enhancements. It’s been speculated that the enhancements should include both boosted internal specs as well as a new form factor. Today, a leaked Best Buy ad confirms that the Droid Bionic has indeed been redesigned with a new look.
Although no specifics were given on the enhancements, the changes are said to be in
Although no specifics were given on the enhancements, the changes are said to be in
Facebook group chat and video calling announced - links up with Skype
Facebook has announced two new services that brings more sharing to the social network - group chat and video calling, After much rumour and speculation, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage today at a Facebook event which was live-streamed on the site.Speaking at the event Zuckerberg said: "We've been busy building stuff for the past six months or so – today marks what we are calling launching season 2011."The new things that are being launched is the ability to group chat ad hoc on
Nokia E6 Review
BlackBerry may be the name associated with QWERTY messaging phones, but there’s a vocal cadre of Nokia users all too keen to talk about the merits of the Finnish company’s keyboard-blessed candybars. The E72 met with mixed reactions, failing to quite capture affection the way its E71 predecessor did; now we have the E6 (aka Nokia E6-00), pairing keyboard and touchscreen and offering a taste of the latest Symbian flavor, Anna. Is the E6 enough to distract us from the rapid approach
Microsoft and Steve Ballmer to kick off CES 2012
Gary Shapiro, president of CES 2012, has confirmed that Steve Ballmer is to attend CES 2012 and head up what will be one of the biggest events at the show – the Microsoft keynote.Ballmer is no stranger to CES, he was part of the 2011 and 2010 Microsoft keynotes, but both of these only hinted at what was to come with Microsoft.This is why the CES 2012 keynote will be so important – we know that Windows 8 is coming but we need him to explain a lot more about the operating system and what to
Spotify US sign-up page offers early access on launch
Spotify has begun collecting pre-interest registrations ahead of its US launch, asking people to sign-up if they want to be among the first batch of users. The exact launch date for the service is yet to be confirmed, though Spotify says it “will soon be landing on US shores.”
Spotify looks to be following the same pattern as it previously operated in Europe, where free accounts were distributed via invite from existing members, or unlimited accounts available if users agree to
Spotify looks to be following the same pattern as it previously operated in Europe, where free accounts were distributed via invite from existing members, or unlimited accounts available if users agree to
iPhone 5: thinner, faster, stronger, trickier to build?
As the suspected iPhone 5 launch date of September draws ever closer, the rumours are flying thick and fast about what we should expect; the latest pegging it as thinner, lighter and more difficult to assemble than the iPhone 4. The first tips come courtesy of the WSJ, which offers the groundbreaking suggestion that the new iPhone will be thinner and lighter, and come with an 8MP camera. It's not the first time we've heard talk of an 8MP camera on the next iPhone – a recent analyst note and
Motorola cuts Xoom WiFi price to $499
The last time we talked about a price cut for the Motorola Xoom was back in April when the tablet got a price cut in the UK to £479.99. The Xoom didn’t exactly sell like Motorola had hoped in the US or in the UK. The tablet was overpriced in some geek’s opinions and just couldn’t match the iPad and shoppers didn’t buy in volume. The price cuts will certainly help the Xoom sell.
Motorola announced via Twitter that it has officially cut the price of the Xoom WiFi tablet to
Motorola announced via Twitter that it has officially cut the price of the Xoom WiFi tablet to
Fujifilm aiming to be top 3 camera manufacturer
According to an interview with Reuters, Fujifilm are aiming to overtake Nikon and Samsung to become the world's third largest camera manufacturer by 2014.First the company plans to overtake Samsung into 4th place by March, followed by Nikon 2 years later, acccording to Takeshi Higuchi, head of the company's camera division.Fujifilm withdrew from the interchangeable lens market in 2009, but is said to be considering making a comeback, perhaps with the launch of a mirrorless camera.The Fujifilm
MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) Intel mainboard is first with PCI Express Gen 3
MSI has announced a new mainboard that sounds really cool the board is called the Z68A-GD80 (G3) and I will just call it the G3 from here on out. The coolest feature of the G3 is that it is the first mainboard to get the PCI Express Gen 3 slots onboard. These new slots are blazing fast and are ready for the faster add-in cards that need more bandwidth for the best performance. The new slots are perfect for the PCIe SSDs on the market.
The Gen 3 PCIe slot promises to be 200% faster than a Gen
The Gen 3 PCIe slot promises to be 200% faster than a Gen
HTC Sensation to get mystery software update?
The HTC Sensation is set to get a rather large update in the near future, with a spyshot showing a test version of the update screen.The HTC Sensation, which had the codename Pyramid, is HTC's flagship handset so it's no surprise that the phone would be first on the list for a major update. In the shot, the system update screen is shown, with the firmware upgrade weighing in at 368.92MB - Wi-Fi at the ready, people.There's no other information about the update, apart from the teasing statement:
iPhone 5 “complicated and difficult to assemble”: Supplies may be short
Apple’s incoming fifth-gen iPhone is “complicated and difficult to assemble” according to sources at Foxconn, with the potential for that design trickiness to impact supplies of the much-anticipated smartphone when it launches in Q3 this year. According to the WSJ‘s tipsters, the iPhone 5 will indeed be thinner and lighter than the existing iPhone 4, as well as use an 8-megapixel camera as previously suggested; however, they also claim that Apple’s ambitious
Orange Monte Carlo officially unveiled
As if two budget handsets in one day weren't enough, Orange has also revealed a higher-class Android handset in the form of the Orange Monte Carlo. It's not quite cutting edge, what with its 800Mhz processor and 5MP camera, but it does offer a 4.3-inch touchscreen and Android 2.3, as opposed to the smaller, be-Froyo'd Barcelona and Stockholm. As well as the not-too-shabby specs, you'll also get Orange goodies like HD Voice and Orange Signal Boost compatibility. I like capital citiesNicola
3D printer uses chocolate for printing!
Not long ago I talked about a 3D printer called the Solar Sinter that uses sand and solar power to print 3D objects. That was cool and all, but let’s face it printing a 3D object with sand is interesting, but those objects would not taste good at all. If you want to print edible 3D shapes what you need is this 3D printer that uses chocolate as the print medium. Yum.
The special chocolate 3D printer was created with funding from the Research Council UK Cross-Research Council Program
The special chocolate 3D printer was created with funding from the Research Council UK Cross-Research Council Program
Video: Toshiba Qosmio F750 3D laptop
TechRadar managed to get some hands-on time with the Toshiba Qosmio F750 3D laptop – the first computer in the UK to offer glasses-free 3D.To make this happen, Toshiba has given the laptop a lenticular screen and uses a special webcam which tracks your eyes – bringing the right 3D image to you wherever you are looking on the screen.While 3D still hasn't made the mark manufacturers would have liked, the main problem with the technology seems to be that you have to wear glasses.Toshiba knows
Triggertrap lets geeky photogs control how and when their camera snaps
If you have a cool camera that you take with you wherever you go and want a gadget that will let you play with that camera in new and interesting ways, the Triggertrap on Kickstarter right now might interest you. This is a small box concept looking for the loot to come to market. As of right now, the Triggertrap has more than the amount it needs to come into the real world.
The project was seeking $25,000 and as of now it has $26,461 and it still has 25 more days to go. The Triggertrap is an
The project was seeking $25,000 and as of now it has $26,461 and it still has 25 more days to go. The Triggertrap is an
Gary Marshall: Is Spotify on Virgin second best?
Every now and then, I like to travel back in time to dispense wisdom from the future. This week, I chose 1999 and ended up talking to a bunch of Napster users."This is just a blip," I told them. "One day, you'll be able to get all the music you want without worrying about being sued.""Ooh," said the music fans."It'll be instant, too. Click a song, it'll play immediately, in CD quality.""Wow," came the reply."Not only that, but it'll work on anything. Your TV. Your PC. Even your phone.""Blimey,"
Huddle says that it is not involved with Google+
There is a huge push in the tech world today for cloud services and everyone from Google to Microsoft is taking things to the cloud. Huddle has been offering cloud collaboration around the world since 2007 and when Google+ rolled out with its Huddle feature apparently, lots of folks were confused. Huddle has decided that it will set the record straight and is offering up some information about any dealings between it and Google.
Huddle says unequivocally that it is not involved in Google+ in
Huddle says unequivocally that it is not involved in Google+ in
Review: SkyHD Digibox
Sky has more than two million subscribers with a Sky Multiroom subscription that lets them watch TV in a second room. But, until now, the only way to watch HD in a second room has been to get a second Sky+HD box. Not only is this pretty expensive – unless you're upgrading to a 1TB box in your main viewing room – it also needs two feeds into your second room. Even then, a Sky+HD box is big and noisy thing to have in your bedroom, which is where most people want their multiroom viewing. The
Cloud storage for Xbox live
Microsoft has introduced cloud storage for Xbox live which allows users to recover game tags and save data.
Until the much awaited UI update becomes available, the cloud service can only be used with select Xbox Live Arcade games.
IT
Until the much awaited UI update becomes available, the cloud service can only be used with select Xbox Live Arcade games.
IT
HTC buys S3 Graphics from VIA
HTC is to buy GPU specialists S3 Graphics, in a deal which will see the smartphone company take all existing shares held by VIA – which bought S3 back in 2001 – and investor WTI, which part-funded the company in 2005. The deal, worth $300m, will see VIA take away $147m and HTC grab the company’s low-power, HD-capable graphics expertise along with a patent portfolio that Apple has already fallen foul of.
Although S3 Graphics still produces its own range of desktop video
Although S3 Graphics still produces its own range of desktop video
Virgin Media announces Spotify partnership
Virgin Media has confirmed that it has sealed a partnership with music streaming giant Spotify. The deal has been on the cards for some time, and the cable company has now confirmed that it has signed up Spotify to run across 'multiple services'. The Spotify service on Virgin Media will offer up over 13 million tracks for Virgin Media customers either through the internet, their mobiles or on their televisions. With a UK launch date set in 'the coming months', Virgin Media has set out a plan to
ITV Player for iOS and Android released
ITV has released mobile viewing apps for Android and iOS over the last few days.
The app is downloadable and free for Wi-Fi connected users in the UK, although some restrictions apply.
There is an optimised version available for the iPad but no native Honeycomb app as yet.
IT
The app is downloadable and free for Wi-Fi connected users in the UK, although some restrictions apply.
There is an optimised version available for the iPad but no native Honeycomb app as yet.
IT
Qualcomm roadmap leaks; Rivals “haven’t mastered” power/performance balance says VP
Details of Qualcomm‘s processor roadmap for 2012 and 2013 have emerged, with the company planning to leverage its “Krait” next-gen chips for up to 2.5GHz quadcore MSM8974 SoCs. According to a roadmap leaked to MobileTechWorld, the MSM8930 and MSM8230 will arrive first, in Q3 2012, with dualcore 1-1.2GHz Krait cores, Adreno 305 graphics and LTE/HSPA+/TD-SCDMA support. It’s all part of what Qualcomm chipset VP Raj Tulluri described to SlashGear as a “measured”
Verizon tiered data and LTE hotspot fees confirmed for July 7
You’ll need to act fast if you want to pick up a new unlimited Verizon Wireless data plan, with confirmation that, as of tomorrow, July 7, the carrier’s new tiered plans will replace the existing options. A Verizon spokesperson confirmed the switchover to FierceWireless, with four new packages on offer for new customers, ranging from $10 per month for a mere 75MB up to $80 per month for 10GB.
In-between there’ll be a $30 per month 2GB plan, and a $50 per month 5GB plan.
In-between there’ll be a $30 per month 2GB plan, and a $50 per month 5GB plan.
Tuesday 5 July 2011
Disclaimer: Facebook Email Addresses Aren’t “Awesome”
There a message being thrown around today that the “Awesome” announcement made by Facebook this week will be about Facebook-based emails. We’d like to set the record straight in saying that not only are Facebook emails NOT going to be the announcement, they’re also not new at all. They’ve been around for weeks, and lower in this post we’d just love to show you how you can grab one.
Facebook emails have been active for a while now, and you can grab yours for
Facebook emails have been active for a while now, and you can grab yours for
Skype 5.2 Update For Mac Brings Group Video Screen Sharing, Multitasking
Recently, a video leaked that was confirmed to be a preview of Skype’s upcoming app designed for the iPad. Although it’s been almost two weeks since and we’re still waiting, Skype has managed to out several other updates, including video calling for its Android app, and now a version 5.2 update for the Mac.
The 5.2 Skype update adds some neat features that allow for more collaboration between Mac users. One new feature is group screen sharing. On one-to-one call Skype calls,
The 5.2 Skype update adds some neat features that allow for more collaboration between Mac users. One new feature is group screen sharing. On one-to-one call Skype calls,
NVIDIA Bestows CUDA Center of Excellence Title on Stanford University
Today NVIDIA let it be known that they’ve named Stanford University a CUDA Center of Excellence for their work in parallel computing research using NVIDIA GPUs and NVIDIA CUDA technology. NVIDIA’s CUDA is their parallel computing architecture which, it should be noted, enables radical increases in computing performance, all with the harnessed power of graphics processors. Stanford is one of more than 450 universities and institutions that teach the CUDA programming model within
HTC Marvel Hits FCC, Heading For T-Mobile
Back in May, a leaked T-Mobile roadmap revealed a wide variety of delicious smartphones waiting to come out of the oven. One of the handsets getting close to making its entry is the HTC Marvel that’s slated for a July 15th launch. The handset has just passed through the FCC, indicating it should be right on time.
The HTC Marvel is essentially the T-Mobile version of the HTC Wildfire S for which we did a full review back in April. The FCC documents label the handset as only PG76240 and
The HTC Marvel is essentially the T-Mobile version of the HTC Wildfire S for which we did a full review back in April. The FCC documents label the handset as only PG76240 and
Review: Samson Meteor USB Microphone
Podcasting is much improved by the addition of proper equipment, but you don't need to go mad; Samson's Meteor USB Microphone is a decent replacement for any laptop mic or headset, and it's cheaper than a full-scale SLR mic setup. Its sensitive cardioid pattern can make a real difference in quality, and the chrome styling is pretty attractive too, particularly if you have velvet lapels on your suit jacket and an upcoming gig at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. There's a problem though; the
iPhone App Loopy 2 Allows DUB FX to Lay Down Track in Single Take
So there’s this guy named DUB FX, he’s a street performer, recording artist, and lover of new technology. He specializes in singing, recording, and rolling out sweet tunes via beatboxing – which, if you’re not hip, means he’s using his voice to create noises normally associated with instruments not of the mouth. If you’ll take a peek at the image below, you’ll see that he can pump up a crowd using an array of machines to make his voice heard straight
Toshiba Qosmio F750 3D, glasses-free 3D laptop announced
Toshiba has announced the arrival of the Qosmio F750 3D, the 'world's first' glasses-free 3D laptop.A prototype of the lappie was shown off at CES 2011, but now the Qosmio F750 3D is coming to the UK sporting an Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce GT 540M graphics, 640GB hard disk and 6GB RAM.The Qosmio F750 3D comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD lenticular screen, which means that you can do away with the glasses.To make sure that the glasses-free 3D works with your peepers, Toshiba has
Sony S1 and S2 Android Tablets Hands-On Photo Collection Expanded [Videos Too!]
We’ve had more than one look at these magical mystical tablets, one of them a bit fat 9.4-inch Android tablet, the other being a dual 5.5-inch fold-out tablet, also Android based. Both of these devices will be rolling out with Android 3.x (more than likely Android 3.1) Honeycomb and will be connecting over either 3G, 4G, or both, again more than likely. The first tablet is what may be considered at the moment to be a more traditional look at a tablet being 4:3, one piece and ready to roll
Review: CM Storm Sentinel Z3RO-G
Cooler Master's gaming peripheral spin-off, CM Storm, has been making a serious name for itself in recent times. First off its chassis have been making beautiful, and more than functional, homes for our most precious of components and it's also been making some rather tasty gaming mice too. The £35 CM Storm Inferno didn't get such a great reception, but the Sentinel Advance split opinions between another reviewer and myself. I was impressed as the first mouse out of the CM Storm stable, though
Google’s New Travel Search Products Powered By ITA Coming Soon
Besides all the awesome Google+ features, the search giant may be serving up some nifty travel search features very soon. Google’s $700 million acquisition of travel software company ITA was approved back in April and we are now finally hearing about some of the first travel search features that may come of that purchase.
One of the features rumored is a map-based search tool that will show flight pricing based on destinations. Filters can be set to narrow down where you want to fly to
One of the features rumored is a map-based search tool that will show flight pricing based on destinations. Filters can be set to narrow down where you want to fly to
Hands on: Toshiba Qosmio F750 3D review
You have to be extremely quick to bag a world's first in the technology industry. No sooner had Asus announced what it thought was the world's first glasses-free 3D laptop, the G53SX, Toshiba also announce its – with the hook being that it will actually be out before Asus' effort.The Qosmio F750 3D laptop offers up 3D without glasses and it primarily aimed at movie buffs and gamers.Toshiba showed off the laptop to a select few technology journalists in London this week, and hailed it as "the
Amazon, AT&T, Verizon Now In Early Talks To Buy Hulu
The popular video streaming site, Hulu, is currently shopping itself around for a buyer. Preliminary talks have begun with Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo revealed last week to be on the shortlist. Insider sources today say that Amazon, AT&T, and Verizon will also be among the top picks, which include Facebook, Liberty Media, Netflix, and Samsung.
Hulu differs from other video sites thanks to its joint owners being Fox, NBC Universal, and Disney’s ABC. This allowed the site to stream
Hulu differs from other video sites thanks to its joint owners being Fox, NBC Universal, and Disney’s ABC. This allowed the site to stream
Amazon, AT&T, Verizon Now In Early Talks To Buy Hulu
The popular video streaming site, Hulu, is currently shopping itself around for a buyer. Preliminary talks have begun with Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo revealed last week to be on the shortlist. Insider sources today say that Amazon, AT&T, and Verizon will also be among the top picks, which include Facebook, Liberty Media, Netflix, and Samsung.
Hulu differs from other video sites thanks to its joint owners being Fox, NBC Universal, and Disney’s ABC. This allowed the site to stream
Hulu differs from other video sites thanks to its joint owners being Fox, NBC Universal, and Disney’s ABC. This allowed the site to stream
Vaizey: Site-blocking plans are industry led
Ed Vaizey, the UK's Minister for Culture, has responded to widespread criticism of the government's 'closed-door' meetings over web censorship and site blocking. Speaking at Intellect's Consumer Electronics Conference in London, Vaizey described accusations that the government failed to invite consumer groups to meetings discussing proposals for policing piracy on the web as "conspiracy theories". He told delegates, "We've been accused of having a light touch as far as internet freedoms go and
comScore Reports Android Dominates 38% But iPhone Still Growing
A new report was released today by comScore that compared the U.S. mobile phone market share differences between the last three-month period ending May 2011 and the previous ending February 2011. The study was based on a survey of over 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and revealed that Android continued to dominate but that Apple’s iPhone numbers also continued to grow.
When it comes to smartphone platforms, Google’s Android rules the roost with 38.1% market share with Apple coming
When it comes to smartphone platforms, Google’s Android rules the roost with 38.1% market share with Apple coming
Review: Technomate TM-8000 HD Combo
For those who remain undecided between terrestrial and satellite, we present the TM-8000 HD Combo from Technomate. This smart-looking unit, which has a top-mounted cooling fan, includes both satellite and terrestrial tuners. It can be upgraded to full PVR operation, by inserting a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive into a slot that's hidden behind a front-panel flap. A neat idea, it has to be said. However, although the satellite tuner (and the receiver itself) is capable of tuning into hi-def channels,
Google To Kill Picasa, Blogger Brands In Push For Google+
Google may soon be killing off its Picasa and Blogger brands and integrating their services into Google+. The company’s new social platform was just recently launched and has so far been very well received. It’s still in an invitation-only trial stage, but plenty of folks have made it in, including rival Facebook’s CEO.
Mashable first learned of this Picasa and Blogger rebranding news from an unnamed source. The two services are among Google’s most popular and
Mashable first learned of this Picasa and Blogger rebranding news from an unnamed source. The two services are among Google’s most popular and
Google+ Hangouts Will Be Open To Third-Party Apps
One of the most popular features of Google+ is the Hangouts group video chat component. It’s a convenient way to easily setup a group meeting whether for a casual chat or for business video conferencing. It also works smoothly even with larger groups and is completely free. Plus, Google plans to open up the app to allow third-party apps to work with the feature.
Google Real-time Communications Tech Lead Justin Uberti posted on his blog that they intend on publishing the specs needed to
Google Real-time Communications Tech Lead Justin Uberti posted on his blog that they intend on publishing the specs needed to
Sony is 'most valued' brand in Asia
Sony has been named as the 'most valued' brand in Asia, beating the likes of Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Canon to the top spot.2011 has definitely been an annus horribilis for Sony. The company was faced with one of the worst hacks ever on a corporate company, which led to the leaking of millions of people's data.A brand survey, however, by market research firm TNS, has found that this hasn't dented Sony's credibility. The 3,300 people surveyed decided that Sony was the brand that garnered the
T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide May Arrive July 27
T-Mobile’s myTouch 4G Slide, also known as the HTC Doubleshot, is now rumored for a July 27 release. Back when T-Mobile’s roadmap leaked, it was believed that the device would hit stores by July 6. FCC documents showed up on June 1 that further supported an imminent launch. But now a purported screenshot of an updated list of T-Mobile launch dates has surfaced and reveals that the myTouch 4G Slide may have to wait another three weeks.
Although no official announcements have been
Although no official announcements have been
Vaizey's vision: International rules will curb piracy
Despite the ongoing debate raging over web freedom, the UK's culture minister Ed Vaizey has expressed his belief that international laws are inevitable. When asked how the war against file sharing is going at Intellect's Consumer Electronics Conference, he said, "It will be interesting to have this conversation in ten years' time – I think we'll see more uniform rules across national boundaries and a shift in business models; the big thing will be a more universal structure to deal with
Microsoft’s Bing Lasso Beats Apple’s Copy And Paste Feature
Microsoft released today an update for its Bing for iPad app that introduced the company’s own version of copy and paste. The feature is dubbed “Lasso” and is used to automatically copy and paste a free-hand drawn selection of text for search. It replaces Apple’s built-in copy and paste method when using the Bing for iPad app.
Apple’s current method for copying and pasting to search requires multiple steps. First, you have to press down on the text you want to
Apple’s current method for copying and pasting to search requires multiple steps. First, you have to press down on the text you want to
Hands on: Google+ review
Google has made its big move into social networking. Only we've been here before, several times over. Google Buzz, Google Wave, Orkut, Google Profile, Jaiku, Google Friend Connect and Dodgeball – all have been Google products that have had variable degrees of success. So why is Google bothering? Because it needs social more than ever to better target us with ads and search results. Indeed Google is losing any grip it had on the real-time internet. Facebook and Twitter have become so strong,
Verizon To Offer iPhone 4 Discount, HTC Thunderbolt For Free?
Verizon has just confirmed tiered data plans to start this Thursday. For power data users, that could mean an unwelcome hike to your monthly bill. Potential customers would certainly be put off by the news, but Verizon may have a strategy for luring them in still. A screenshot has been leaked that suggests the carrier may be getting ready to discount some premium handsets including the iPhone 4.
VZbuzz managed to get a screenshot of what appears to be an upcoming ad page showing several
VZbuzz managed to get a screenshot of what appears to be an upcoming ad page showing several
Panasonic: Hollywood damaged 3D
Hollywood's rush to flood cinemas with 3D movies to take higher ticket prices has damaged the 3D brand, according to Panasonic's marketing director Andrew Denham.Speaking at a panel session that TechRadar attended at the Intellect Consumer Electronics 2011 show, Denham stressed the important of high quality content to people buying 3D TVs. "It all comes back to quality," he said. "Hollywood damaged 3D by rushing so many badly converted films out in the Avatar's wake. "What we need now is the
Tabletpalooza Giveaway Week One Reminder: Free Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the House!
We’ve got a giveaway going on right now that you NEED to know about. It’s our first annual Tabletpalooza and it’s time to get YOU some free tablets. We’ve got a total of FIVE going out over the next few weeks split between us here on SlashGear and our sister-site Android Community. This first week’s giveaway consists of an Acer Iconia Tab A500 and a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, both of them Android tablets and both of them hardcore awesome – guess which one
Pegatron gets Apple call, it wants 15 million iPhone 5s
Apple manufacturer Pegatron has reportedly been given a massive order by Jobs and co to produce 15 million iPhone 5 handsets ready for the phone's autumn launch.Although Pegatron has produced Apple products before, the big batches usually go to Foxconn.Apparently Foxconn has also been asked to produce iPhones for the impending launch, but it seems that Pegatron has landed the big handset shipment.This is all according to Digitimes, with the site believing that Apple is thinking big with the
SlashGear Officially on Google+, Join the G+ Party!
So there’s this company called Google, right, and they’ve got a brand new social networking community by the name of Google+, correct? We’ve got the full lowdown on the situation in a couple of posts: SlashGear 101: What is Google+? and A Google+ Guide from Top to Bottom. Once you’ve read those and have a full understanding of the excellence of this environment, do read on. Your favorite tech and gadget site SlashGear is in on the ground level and we want you to take
Apple business website hacked by Anonymous
An Apple website has been the subject of a hack by Anonymous, with a small number of users' details leaked on to the web.The hack is thought to have happened 4 July, with data found on the Apple Business Intelligence website posted on Paste Bin.While it is only the details of 27 people (including usernames and passwords) the attack was claimed by Anonymous and is all part of the group's antisec campaign, which is targeting business sites.And hacking Apple, regardless of the size of the bounty
Japan discovers vast deposits of rare earths on Pacific sea floor
If you are a fan of gadgets, you have used things that require rare earths in their construction. There are deposits of rare earths spread around the world, but the vast majority of the world’s supply of rare earths are in China. China has a very tight grip on rare earths exports allowing them to control the prices of the material and keep the price up.
China’s dominance may not last long though with a new discovery by Japanese researchers. Japan has found “vast”
China’s dominance may not last long though with a new discovery by Japanese researchers. Japan has found “vast”
Virgin Media: Website blocking plan faces major issues
Website blocking could be a part of the solution to internet piracy, according to Virgin Media CEO Neil Berkett, but he has also warned of the issues facing such a proposal.Speaking at Intellect's consumer electronics conference in London, Berkett said that Virgin Media still has reservations over website blocking proposals. He said, "I think site blocking is a possible part of the overall solution, but it's not the solution. How do we go about ensuring it's the right sites ? What is the
Wistron signs Microsoft patent agreement for Android gadgets
For most of the time that Android has been on the market people have thought of Android as free. Google doesn’t charge for the OS so the thought was all the maker needed to do was get the hardware and sell the device. Microsoft started pointing out a few months back that Android isn’t free, there are patent licensing fees that go along with it.
Naturally, Microsoft owns a number of those patents that need to be licensed. Some scoffed at the idea of licensing patents from Microsoft to
Naturally, Microsoft owns a number of those patents that need to be licensed. Some scoffed at the idea of licensing patents from Microsoft to
Buying Guide: 5 no-frills iPhone and iPod docks
These compact docking stations charge your iPhone or iPod touch (but not your iPad), and some do more besides. There's one to suit every need and budget!01. XtremeMax 3-in-1 Microdock Price: £64 www.xtrememac.com Sync? No Works with Everything While this model may seem expensive, you get more than just a charge dock. It packs in two little speakers, so you can use it as an alarm clock and mini music player as well. It's got a line-in jack, plus audio and alarm controls on the front. Score: 3/5
Bay samples his flick The Island for Transformers 3
I took my kids to see the flick Transformers 3 yesterday. I know some people hate the new film, but I thought it was good enough. I watched the film and didn’t notice the scene that Bay sampled from one of his previous films called The Island mostly because I have never heard of that flick. I guess Bay decided to cut some costs and reused a scene from a bridge in Transformers.
You can see in the photo above that the scene is identical and the only difference is the Transformer arm thing
You can see in the photo above that the scene is identical and the only difference is the Transformer arm thing
Bay samples his flick The Island for Transformers 3
I took my kids to see the flick Transformers 3 yesterday. I know some people hate the new film, but I thought it was good enough. I watched the film and didn’t notice the scene that Bay sampled from one of his previous films called The Island mostly because I have never heard of that flick. I guess Bay decided to cut some costs and reused a scene from a bridge in Transformers.
You can see in the photo above that the scene is identical and the only difference is the Transformer arm thing
You can see in the photo above that the scene is identical and the only difference is the Transformer arm thing
LED lighting to replace the lightbulb in homes
Leading LED lighting manufacturers have announced large price drops for the next-gen tech, meaning we could all be using far less energy in a few years.Aeon Lighting and Samsung have both aggressively been dropping the price of LED lighting units, with the former announcing a 40 per cent drop in the price of a retrofit lightbulb to replace 'normal' incandescent bulbs.According to Digitimes, the industry has seen a price drop from £15 to £9.30 per unit, with further price drops to occur. Why
Qbo open-source robot gives autonomy demo, warts & all [Video]
We’ve been tracking the Qbo open-source robot for over a year now, as creator TheCorpora aims to turn it into the Ford Model T of experimental robotics. Now there’s a new video of the Qbo in action, with the endearing ‘bot reacting autonomously to users by virtue of its computer vision algorithms, rather than using simple proximity sensors like, say, a robot vacuum cleaner.
The demo was designed to show the company eventually responsible for mass-production of Qbo exactly
The demo was designed to show the company eventually responsible for mass-production of Qbo exactly
Tutorial: How to set up an iPhone Personal Hotspot
Personal Hotspot is a new feature in iOS 4.3 that enables you to use an iPhone 4 or 3GS to get other devices – such as your MacBook or iPad – online wherever there's phone reception. While you've been able to do this before in the shape of tethering, Personal Hotspot is less limited on the iPhone 4 – you can attach up to five devices using USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Note that tethering on the iPhone 3GS has been renamed Personal Hotspot, but works over USB and Bluetooth only.We haven't got
ARM looks to provide Mali mobile GPU with PS3 and Xbox 360 power in next 18 months
ARM is the dominant player in the mobile realm for processor and graphics processors that are able to provide the performance that consumers want in small handheld devices and still squeeze all the runtime possible out of the battery onboard. ARM is working on new designs for future products and is teasing with the power it has in store for its future hardware. ARM claims that within 18 months its Mali GPU will allow a mobile phone to be as powerful as the PS3 or Xbox 360.
ARM has noted that
ARM has noted that
Nokia X7 gets UK release with Three
The Nokia X7, the second phone on the UK market with the Symbian Anna update, is finally being offered through a retailer with Three.The new handset comes with a 4-inch OLED screen, Bluetooth 3.0 and USB-on-the-go to allow connection of hard drives and USB sticks directly to the phone (although you'll need to buy a separate lead for this as none will be provided in the box).The new Symbian Anna update, which will be coming to other Nokia phones imminently, offers faster web browsing and better
Sony’s ballsy S1 and S2 ad gets part two
Remember that ad we showed you from Sony that hit YouTube a while back from Sony for its S1 and S2 Android tablets? The ad with the balls, and trains and stuff that rolled around and activated different actions as the video progressed. I think that was one of the coolest ads that Sony has ever made. At the end of that original ad, Sony noted it was to be continued.
That second part has now turned up on YouTube and it’s just as cool as the first ad. I would love to see the how to on
That second part has now turned up on YouTube and it’s just as cool as the first ad. I would love to see the how to on
Mark Zuckerberg is top user on Google+
Google+, the new social network by the search giant, had a soft launch last week but while most of the world still isn't up to speed with what Google+ is about, Mark Zuckerberg has already gotten himself more followers than anyone else.Not content with being the dominant figure in Facebook, Zuckerberg's Google+ account now has nearly 30,000 followers – which is well up on Larry Page's (near) 20,000.But spare a thought for Tom Anderson (the founder of MySpace), as he has only managed to bag
Anonymous hacks Apple in latest attack
Hacking group Anonymous have managed to gain access to Apple's SQL database and published encrypted names and passwords.
The latest attack is sure to worry the giant company although Anonymous stated on it's Twitter account that;
"Not being so serious, but well (link removed) #Apple could be target, too. But don't worry, we are busy elsewhere. #AntiSec
It is likely that the hacking group is just proving a point that no company is totally safe.
Anonymous has also recently targeted an
The latest attack is sure to worry the giant company although Anonymous stated on it's Twitter account that;
"Not being so serious, but well (link removed) #Apple could be target, too. But don't worry, we are busy elsewhere. #AntiSec
It is likely that the hacking group is just proving a point that no company is totally safe.
Anonymous has also recently targeted an
Facebook blocks friend export tool in Google+ snub
Facebook has already hinted at an “awesome” launch this week to drag the attention back from Google+, but in the meantime it looks like the social network is experimenting with ways to make exporting Facebook friends to the new rival more difficult. Facebook Friend Exporter, a Chrome extension many had been using to extract emails of those you’re linked with on the service, making adding them to Google+ more straightforward, has been blocked, seemingly under a freshly-enforced
Microsoft team up with Baidu
China's largest web company, Baidu, is to team up with Microsoft to provide English language search results.
Baidu dominates the Chinese market with over 75% usage and hopes to help Microsoft enlarge it's own web presence.
All English search queries that are received by Baidu will be redirected to Microsoft's Bing search engine.
The service is expected to start later this year.
IT
Baidu dominates the Chinese market with over 75% usage and hopes to help Microsoft enlarge it's own web presence.
All English search queries that are received by Baidu will be redirected to Microsoft's Bing search engine.
The service is expected to start later this year.
IT
Sandy Bridge MacBook Air to use 400Mbps NAND flash storage?
Apple could be planning another flash memory speed boost in the upcoming MacBook Air refresh, according to new reports, with the company tipped to be using 19nm “Toggle DDR 2.0″ storage for the slender ultraportable. The high-speed NAND, Macotokara‘s component source suggests, is capable of 400Mbps transfer rates, using new, smaller chips that Apple would supposedly solder directly to the base circuit of the updated Airs.
It’s not the first time Apple has experimented
It’s not the first time Apple has experimented
Monday 4 July 2011
Tablet operating systems compared
Just as PCs and Macs run Microsoft Windows and MacOS X, so different tablets are based around different operating systems. The most popular of these is Apple's iOS found on the various iterations of iPad, but there are numerous alternatives from the likes of Google, HP, Blackberry and Microsoft. Each comes with a set of pros and cons and will almost certainly influence your tablet buying decision, so here's our guide to every major system. Apple iOS This is the operating system found in the
Review: Silverstone Fortress FT03
Not too long ago Micro-ATX cases, and the budget motherboards housed within them, were mainly found in offices and schools. Micro-ATX motherboards were considered a low-priced option for making compact, cheap and reliable computers. Back then a micro-ATX motherboard would rarely – if ever – be considered for making a powerful gaming rig.As the Silverstone Fortress FT03 proves, things have changed. Motherboard manufacturers are fully embracing the micro-ATX form to create brilliant gaming
Kanye West Reveals Watch The Throne Cover and Release Info via Google+
While truly it should be par for the course that a big label artist like Kanye West would release information about a new album via Twitter, Facebook, and the like, it should come as an ominous surprise that a release would be done via a project still in beta mode: that being the brand new social networking site Google+. It appears that amongst the few other places that were pre-tipped with album information including
Samsung Galaxy S2 passes 3 million sales
Samsung has announced that the Samsung Galaxy S2 has managed to surpass 3 million sales in record quick time for the company.It may have taken the original Samsung Galaxy S 85 days to reach the 3 million sales mark, but its successor has managed to do this in a mere 55 days.Samsung has done the number crunching and to achieve 3 million, it has had to sell a handset every 1.5 seconds.Galaxy questWhat's more impressive is that the Samsung Galaxy S2 hasn't even reached the shores of the US, so the
Rules on Twitter direct messages changing
Users will soon be able to direct message businesses on Twitter, even if they are not being followed by the verified company that they contact. Direct Messaging has previously been limited to people who are being followed by the person that they are following, but that barrier is apparently crumbling for some twitter entities.The Next Web has two cases of verified brand accounts that allow DMs even if they are not following those who contact them. SpamRemoving the follow requirement from the
Facebook to link with Skype for in-browser video chat?
Facebook is set announce in-browser video chat for the social network this week and there are reports that this service will be powered by Skype.The ink is yet to dry on Microsoft's buyout of Skype but it seems that one of its first partnerships under Ballmer and Co's tutelage will be with Facebook – if a TechCrunch source is correct.This isn't the first time that Skype has been linked to Facebook. Back in September 2010 the same rumour reared its head and this March it was reported that
London 2012 branded Panasonic cameras
Panasonic has revealed a range of special and limited editiion collectables branded with the London 2012 logo, including cameras and camcorders.Custom designed versions of the Lumix G3, the latest compact system camera from Panasonic, and a branded version of the SD90 HD camcorder make up the limited edition range.Panasonic has manufactured only 2,012 of each model, with each packaged with a commemorative one-year-to-go £5 from the Royal Mint and new London 2012 packaging.The G3 is available
Google switches off Realtime service to integrate +
Google has turned off its realtime search feature in order to update it to work with its fledgling Google+ social network. The launch of Google+ represents the latest attempt from the search giant to take on the likes of Twitter and Facebook, and its integration into other key services from Google is key to any success. Inevitably, given its real time nature, Google is keen to integrate real time results from Google+ public messages into its real time search. And, to that end, Google has
PS4 production in late 2011 ahead of 2012 launch tip suppliers
Sony may have confirmed that the PS4 next-gen console is in development, but the company isn’t so foolish as to announce any launch details for fear of cannibalizing PS3 sales. That hasn’t stopped the tattle-tales in Taiwan, of course, which inform DigiTimes that Sony is readying production though Foxconn and Pegatron at the end of 2011.
That’s ahead of a commercial launch of the PS4 sometime in 2012, the component supply chain sources suggest. Sony supposedly expects to
That’s ahead of a commercial launch of the PS4 sometime in 2012, the component supply chain sources suggest. Sony supposedly expects to
iPhone 4 prototype hits eBay; bidding hits $100k
Got $100,001 to spare and a taste for Apple history? An iPhone 4 prototype has shown up on eBay, reportedly of similar ilk to the original leaked handset back in early 2010, and bidding has already skyrocketed to a somewhat unbelievable $100k.
According to the seller, who claims to be a cellphone repair engineer, the iPhone was bought from a dissatisfied owner “who really didn’t know who he had” and was frustrated because there was no way to activate it via iTunes.
According to the seller, who claims to be a cellphone repair engineer, the iPhone was bought from a dissatisfied owner “who really didn’t know who he had” and was frustrated because there was no way to activate it via iTunes.
Apple to top mobile PC sales charts in 2012?
A report is suggesting that Apple could overtake HP at the head of some portable computer rankings next year, when you factor in sales of iPads and Macs. Although the portable computing category is a little hard to define as lines between phones, tablets and laptops blur, DigiTimes believes that Apple could overtake the mighty Hewlett Packard in global sales. The rise and rise of the iPad 2 means that it is expected to sell in the region of 40 million units, and when you factor in Macbook sales
Dropbox legalese tweak prompts privacy panic
Dropbox has found itself at the center of a privacy storm this weekend, having changed its terms of service in a way that left many users believing the cloud storage company could share, modify or otherwise use the files they’d uploaded. According to the Dropbox blog, the TOS change – which was flagged up to all users via email – was to make them (along with the security overview and privacy policy) “easier to read and understand.” Unfortunately, references to
Google reportedly in pole position for Hulu purchase
Google is apparently in pole position to snap up US video on demand giant Hulu, although Microsoft and Yahoo are apparently also sniffing around a deal. Hulu is apparently on the hunt for a buyer, with the service not managing to pick up the deals necessary in taking the next step to a global proposition. Hulu started out as a joint venture between NBC Universal, Fox and Disney – allowing it a massive amount of prime content from the US networks. Yahoo!Yahoo has reportedly already made an
Intel subsidizing notebook makers to lure them into producing Ultrabooks
The notebook market is cooling right now with much of the focus from consumers on tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the iPad 2 rather than notebooks. Some notebooks are still selling well enough though. Intel is trying to launch its Ultrabook concept and so far, the biggest announcement in the Ultrabook realm is the Asus UX21. According to sources cited by DigiTimes, Intel is prepared to spend some money to lure the notebook makers into building Ultrabooks.
According to sources in
According to sources in
HTC set to jump RIM in smartphone rankings
New figures from research firm Market Intelligence Center predict HTC will become the world's fourth-biggest smartphone maker in 2012.The move would see it push past RIM in the terms of handset sales, and see it gunning for the likes of Samsung, Apple and Nokia.RIM is already heading through a turbulent financial period after profits recently fell below predictions, so it won't be good news to note the rise of alternative manufacturers during the period.Built on Android juiceHTC's growth has
Droid Bionic hits the FCC packing LTE
We have talked about the Motorola Droid Bionic on more than a few occasions over the last several months. The smartphone turned up back during CES and then saw delays. The first of the delays was in April with Motorola saying they were tweaking a few things ahead of launch. Apparently, they received some feedback at CES that wasn’t too good.
I am glad they postponed the launch rather than making a smartphone that they knew had issues and tossing it out onto the market anyway. The
I am glad they postponed the launch rather than making a smartphone that they knew had issues and tossing it out onto the market anyway. The
Updated: Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray UK release date revealed
Carphone Warehouse has unveiled a possible Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray launch window, with the handset expected to arrive in August. UPDATE: The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray release date has been 'outed' by Play.com as 15 August, with an expected UK price of £349.99.This would position it pretty squarely against the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, so it will be interesting to see what the Japanese-Swedish alliance does to help highlight the differences between the two apart from a slightly smaller
Happy 4th of July from SlashGear
On behalf of everyone here at SlashGear, have a very happy, fun, and safe 4th of July! Spend some quality time with your friends and family, pig out at a barbecue (if it doesn’t rain), dance by the pool, and enjoy the firework show as we celebrate our independence. We’d also hope you all will think of our Military men and woman on this grateful day.
We hope you started the weekend off right, I was eating a tri-tip steak and listening to some Lee Greenwood while sitting by the
We hope you started the weekend off right, I was eating a tri-tip steak and listening to some Lee Greenwood while sitting by the
BBC Olympics head: 3D sports can look odd
The man in charge of the BBC's 2012 television coverage has suggested that some sport looks "pretty odd" in 3D. Writing after the 3D coverage of Wimbledon, BBC director of London 2012 Roger Mosey blogged that, although some 3D sport worked well, he still had doubts that the technology could be applied to every discipline. "For the BBC, we've always agreed that some of the Olympics should be captured in 3D - though this would be a full 20 years after the pioneering of 3D in Barcelona by analogue
Skype hotfix officially adds video calling to Nexus S 4G
Last week Skype officially updated its app for Android users. The big feature that the update brought with it was video calling. There were numerous other tweaks in the update as well. The catch was that the video calling was only supported on a few handsets, among them was the Nexus S. I am sure I am not the only one that wondered why the Nexus S got Skype video calling, but the Nexus S 4G was left out.
It didn’t take long for Skype to fix that omission. A hotfix for the app landed on
It didn’t take long for Skype to fix that omission. A hotfix for the app landed on
Samsung rebooting Galaxy S2 for Windows Phone 7?
A new Samsung phone has been outed by the Bluetooth SIG board, with a codename prompting speculation that the next Windows Phone 7 device from the Koreans will be a re-badged Galaxy S2.The Bluetooth group, which tests new phones using the wireless specification before release, has seen the Samsung SGH-i937 pass through its labs, similar to the Samsung SGH-i927 (The Galaxy S2) and the Samsung SGH-i937 (also known as the Windows Phone 7-powered Focus in the US).The sequencing of the numbers has
KRE-O construction Transformer sets hit stores
Hasbro is the toy company that was behind some of the toys that shaped my youth. Specifically, I had all the Transformers that my parents would let me have. I often broke them trying to transform them from robot to vehicle or whatever and they were a lot of fun. I also had loads of LEGO as a kid and spent more than a few days grounded thanks to the little blocks and my tendency to leave them laying around for my parents to step on.
When you combine LEGO-style building blocks with Transformers
When you combine LEGO-style building blocks with Transformers
BBC Olympics head: 3D looks odd for some sports
The man in charge of the BBC's 2012 television coverage has suggested that some sport looks "pretty odd" in 3D. Writing after the 3D coverage of Wimbledon, BBC director of London 2012 Roger Mosey blogged that, although some 3D sport worked well, he still had doubts that the technology could be applied to every discipline. "For the BBC, we've always agreed that some of the Olympics should be captured in 3D - though this would be a full 20 years after the pioneering of 3D in Barcelona by analogue
LaCie CloudBox Review
Backup devices are generally at the “less glamorous” end of the gadget scale, but ironically some of the most important. Not having the very latest smartphone or gaming device may be frustrating, but not as much as discovering the hard-drive in your computer has crashed and taken with it all your files, multimedia and other content. LaCie is hoping its CloudBox will prevent some of those headaches, a local/cloud double-act that pairs a simple network drive with a companion web
Canon DSLR training promotion
Canon has announced a training promotion with the purchase of 3 models from its DSLR range.A free training DVD and up to £150 worth of training vouchers can be received for free when photographers purchase a Canon EOS 1100D, EOS 600D or EOS 60D.The 4 DVDs to choose from are:The Essential Guide to Getting StartedThe Essential Guide to Wildlife PhotographyThe Essential Guide to Landscape PhotographyThe Essential Guide to Travel PhotographyPhotographers purchasing one of the 3 cameras in the
Samsung gobbles 61% of 3D TV market
The 3D TV market is hardly booming today with the sets not selling as well as TV makers had expected. This is due to a number of reasons including the lack of 3D content and the fact that the tech is more expensive than most consumers are willing to pay today. That will change and 3D TV will become more and more common as the tech matures and gets cheaper and better.
The market may not be as strong as TV makers had hoped, but Samsung has over 60% of what market for the sets there is. Samsung
The market may not be as strong as TV makers had hoped, but Samsung has over 60% of what market for the sets there is. Samsung
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