Electronics Empire: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

Amazon Vs. Apple Be Damned: Publishers Pine for a Universal E-Book Format

Giants and upstarts of publishing gathered at the annual BookExpo America last week agreed e-books will transform the business, but believe the big change will come when there is a standard format across which all e-books can be published and shared.

The industry has been going through a tumultuous period as Apple and Amazon duke it out for dominance in the nascent market for electronic books.

Both want their devices — the iPad and the Kindle — to be the one consumers use to read e-books, and each wants to be the biggest virtual store were such content is sold.

For Michael Serbinis, chief executive of Kobo, a company that allows users to buy e-books and read them on most devices, that battle is a distraction to the real changes coming.

"Today you can buy a book at Barnes and Noble and you can buy a book at Walmart and you don’t have to keep them in separate rooms in your house," he said. "You buy a book from Apple and Amazon and you have got to keep it tied up with your Apple universe or your Kindle universe."

Ultimately, consumers want freedom, said David Shanks, chief executive of leading publisher Penguin Group USA.

"Our fondest wish is that all the devices become agnostic so that there isn’t proprietary formats and you can read wherever you want to read," Shanks told Reuters. "First we have to get a standard that everybody embraces."

The issue, he said, is the fear of piracy and how to set a common digital rights management system to thwart it.

Read More...

Asus Joins Tablet PC Race; Launches App Store

Netbook PC pioneer Asustek Computer Inc. (Asus) has become the latest technology company to jump on the tablet PC bandwagon on Monday, as reported by Reuters this morning, joining cross-town rival Acer Inc. in jostling with Apple Inc. in the nascent sector.

The tablet PC, to be called the Eee Pad, will run on Intel Corp or ARM Holdings chips, and use Microsoft Corp's Windows operating system, Chairman Jonney Shih said ahead of the Computex fair, the world's second-largest PC exhibition.

"The Eee Pad can display Adobe flash for the full web experience, has a USB port and a camera," Shih said. "We looked at how we could best address the needs of users from all walks of life, and I believe this is the product."

Apple has not made its iPad or iPhone compatible with Adobe Systems Inc's popular flash multimedia software, calling it unreliable, a "closed" proprietary system and ill-suited for mobile devices.

Asus did not release pricing details or a potential release date. It has previously showcased products at trade fairs that never made it to sale.

They were also reported working with Intel and Microsoft to push out their own version of an app store, Shih said, joining other technology companies such as Nokia Corp. in trying to beef up their software offerings to compete with Apple.

Shih did not give further details on the format or a launch date for the new app store. Apple has an online offering of more than 200,000 applications while Google Inc's Android has about 38,000.

"It's all about the platform if Asustek really wants to do well in this field," said Edward Yen, an analyst at UBS. "I'm sure the hardware is fine, but the biggest question now is how it's going to attract enough users to create the critical mass needed for an app store."

[via Reuters]

Apple Reports iPad Sales Have Topped 2 Million

In today's news, Apple Inc. has announced that iPad sales have continued to skyrocket and are now at over 2 million since its launch about two months ago.

Cupertino, California's powerhouse began selling the iPad on Friday overseas in Asia and Europe and was an instant success. The iPad's original release on April 3rd in the States continues to gain success as well on a daily basis, and sales have been reported to be above 200,000 units per week.

However, Apple Inc. does not publicly break out sales figures by any specific region, according to Natalie Harrison, a company spokeswoman.

The company had previously stated that it had sold 1 million iPad's in the United States an astonishing 28 days after its launch. As a result of the strong demand at home, Apple had pushed back the start date of its international sales.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

New Amazon Kindle Expected This Summer

Amazon could release a new slimmer Kindle in August, Bloomberg News reports, citing "two people familiar with its plans."

Bloomberg reports that the new Kindle would be thinner than existing models and although the next model would still offer a black and white screen, it would have a sharper and more responsive display.

The Kindle 2 is 0.36 inches thick. The Apple iPad, a rival device, is half an inch thick.

Although Bloomberg said the next Kindle "won’t include a touch screen or color," a person I’ve spoken with who is familiar with Amazon’s plans but is not authorized to speak publicly said Lab 126, the division of Amazon responsible for the Kindle, is hard at work on multi-touch prototypes for a next-generation e-reader.

As reported earlier this year, Amazon bought TouchCo, a company in New York that specialized in clear multi-touch overlays for computers and electronic readers.

Rumors that the next iteration of the device will still be black-and-white also might be short-lived. As also reported earlier this year, the Kindle job board had been seeking engineers with an understanding of color LCD displays that could possibly be integrated into the next generation of the Kindle.

In addition, earlier this week, Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s chief executive, told shareholders that a color screen was in the offing. "I’ve seen some stuff in the laboratory, but it’s not quite ready for prime-time production," Mr. Bezos said.

Read More...

Google is Leapfrogging Apple

Google is done playing catch-up. Today they're setting the agenda: With Android Froyo, Google TV, mobile ads and streaming media, Google isn't just matching Apple — they're taking the lead.

The I/O conference for Google has been so dense it could make you dizzy, with announcements from nearly every corner of Google's ever-expanding apparatus. The meatiest news comes direct from Google's most intense battlefronts: Android Froyo (version 2.2); a bevy of clever new cloud services; and a mobile ad platform paired with Google TV marching into battle with competing products from Microsoft, and much more pointedly, Apple.

During the last 18 months, Google has been going through a period of frantic catch-up, in which we saw Android reach feature parity with iPhone OS, the Android Market explode, and Google's confidence slowly build. Apple had been setting the terms of the battle, baiting Google into action. The competition was fierce, but the fight was on Apple's terms.

Google is tired of that. In the space of two days, they've leapfrogged Apple spectacularly: They've matched Apple's mobile OS in predictable ways, and embarrassed it in others (Flash on mobiles may not be as horrific as Apple has implied); they've invaded the living room with a dedication and vigor that makes Apple TV look like a jokey experiment; they've steamrolled the mobile ad market with as solid a platform as Apple's and, more importantly, hundreds of thousands of advertisers; they've taken massive steps into the cloud, and into streaming — the kind of stuff nerds talk about, but didn't expect to see so soon.

Read More...

Nokia & Opera Side with Adobe on Flash

Recently executives from Nokia, the world's largest maker of cell phones, and Opera Software, the maker of a leading mobile browser, said they'd support the new Flash 10.1 software that is coming out. Opera's co-founder Jon von Tetzchner was quoted as saying, "It is the only proprietary part of the Web we support".

Getting these two companies on board as well as Google's Android, which also supports the software, is a big win for Adobe in its battle against Apple. Last month Apple CEO Steve Jobs knocked the Adobe Flash multimedia software, which is used in most Web video and games, for being proprietary, sapping battery power, not supporting multitouch interfaces, posing security risks, and being unstable. "Flash is the No. 1 reason Macs crash," Jobs said in his open letter detailing the many reasons that Apple doesn't support the software.

Flash-based video and games are found on many Internet sites. And the technology is supported on most smartphones and mobile devices. But Apple does not allow Flash on any the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.

Read More...

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Nintendo Goes Old-School With New Wii Controller

At a time when other gaming-console manufacturers are ready to unveil their motion-sensitive controllers, Nintendo has released a new device that feels more old-school.

The new Classic Controller Pro looks and feels like a traditional game controller, with two joysticks, X-Y-A-B buttons, a directional pad and bumper buttons on the front. It was released in a package deal with the new "Monster Hunter Tri" game for the Wii.

Officials from Nintendo and Capcom said the bundle was done to appeal to the widest audience possible by giving them a controller that was designed for the game.

"Fans of the ["Monster Hunter"] series are used to this type of controller," said Eric Monacelli, product marketing manager for Capcom. "This is old-school. It will appeal to the hard-core player."

"It goes very well with 'Monster Hunter Tri'," added Nintendo representative Kumiko Hidaka. "Never has an accessory been so specifically designed for a game."

"Monster Hunter Tri" lets gamers become a prehistoric hunter who tries to defend his village from rampaging monsters while collecting supplies to help him with his quest. Oh, and there are constant earthquakes that need to be dealt with as well.

Creatures of all sizes live in the surrounding countryside, and the hunter's job is to clear them out, get better weapons and take on even larger monsters. The new controller allows the player to accomplish the major fighting action while offering ways to complete minor tasks (like cooking food to eat).

"Players will love this controller," Monacelli said. "It feels good for the game without taking away from any gameplay."

"Monster Hunter Tri" also allows for multiple players to band together online take down a really big monster. The game lets players use Wii Speak to communicate with each other and plan strategy, which gives the game a party feel. According to game director Kaname Fujioka, this is a big change.

"Everyone goes online and enters the same world, but not everyone has to do the same thing," Fujioka said in an "Ask Iwata" interview. "Each person can do his or her own thing, but when the group achieves the goal, everyone benefits."

The Classic Controller Pro will be compatible with nearly 400 Wii titles, Hikada said.

[via CNN]

Friday, May 28, 2010

Apple Reportedly Prepping Revamped Apple TV

Engadget has reported that it recently received detailed information on a forthcoming revamping of Apple TV, a major shift for the product that will reportedly see it resembling "an iPhone without a screen". Based on the next-generation iPhone hardware and software and relying on cloud-based storage rather than an internal hard drive, the new Apple TV is said to be set to carry a price point of only $99.

The new architecture of the device will be based directly on the iPhone 4, meaning it will get the same internals, down to that A4 CPU and a limited amount of flash storage, though it will be capable of full 1080p HD. The device is said to be quite small with a scarce amount of ports (only the power socket and video out), and has been described to some as "an iPhone without a screen." And according to sources close to MacRumors, the price-point for the device will be $99.

According to the report, while streaming content will be the focus of the device, users will also have the option of pairing the new Apple TV with a Time Capsule for external local storage. In addition, while the forthcoming Apple TV will reportedly utilize an iPhone OS-based operating system, there is no word on whether it will support App Store applications as with Android applications on the forthcoming Google TV platform.

The report concludes by noting that we should not expect to see an introduction of the new Apple TV at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) early next month, as that event is set to primarily focus on the next-generation iPhone. And so while no specific timeframe for a launch of the revamped Apple TV is known, the project "is most definitely full steam ahead."

Apple has long considered the Apple TV a "hobby", noting numerous times that it feels "there is something there" and that it will keep investing in the platform. Rumors and speculation, as well as an Apple job posting, had also suggested that the company is looking to extend the iPhone OS to new devices, possibly including the Apple TV.

[via MacRumors]

One Laptop Per Child Project Works With Marvell to Produce a $100 Tablet

One Laptop Per Child project founder Nicholas Negroponte said that the organization is accelerating its development of the XO-3 tablet computer and will have a working prototype by December 2010, two years ahead of projections. Negroponte said the final product would cost $75/USD.

The One Laptop Per Child project, which aims to give every child in the world a laptop, announced on Thursday that it was entering a partnership with Marvell, a computer chip and silicon manufacturer.

They agreed to work together to develop a new family of tablet computers for the project. The computers will be based on Moby, an existing platform built by Marvell. The partnership hopes to allow Marvell to sell inexpensive tablet computers for education and health care in the United States while helping to reduce the cost of the project’s computers for developing countries.

Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of the laptop project, said in a telephone interview that the partnership was meant to drive scale, which would in turn reduce the cost of the devices.

The price of the tablets is supposed to hover around $100, but Mr. Negroponte said the ones distributed by the project could cost less, possibly $75. "The consumer marketplace is what will help drive the volume to help drive down prices," he said.

The new tablets will offer a bevy of high-tech parts, including a full high-definition video encoder and 3-D graphics chip, which will enable them to interact with software like Adobe Flash. In addition, the tablet will have a built-in video and still camera, a multitouch display and a soft keyboard similar to that of the Apple iPad. Mr. Negroponte said the new keyboard would also have haptic feedback so users will feel the keys vibrate on the screen as they type.

Read More...

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Microsoft May Cut Zune Streaming Music Price

Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, may cut the monthly fee it charges for streaming music on its Zune portable player, senior product manager Terry Farrell said in an interview.

Zune Pass, which features unlimited music streaming and 10 song downloads a month, now costs $14.99. Farrell didn’t say by how much Microsoft may cut the service’s price.

"It’s definitely a challenging business," Farrell said, referring to competition in online music.

Microsoft is contending with rivals that offer music at little or no charge, while striving to erode Apple Inc.’s lead in the market for digital music players and downloadable songs. RealNetworks Inc.’s Rhapsody service in April slashed the monthly price of a premium music service to $10 from $14.99.

Zune had 2 percent of the U.S. digital music player market in the first quarter, compared with 76 percent for Apple products, according to NPD Group Inc., a Port Washington, New York-based researcher.

Users can access Microsoft’s download service on personal computers and the company’s Zune players and Kin phones. The company plans to offer the service on smartphones running its Windows Phone 7 software later this year, Farrell said.

[via Bloomberg]

Apple Passes Microsoft as No. 1 in Tech

As reported by The New York Times, Wall Street has called the end of an era and the beginning of the next one: The most important technology product no longer sits on your desk but rather fits in your hand.

The moment came Wednesday when Apple, creator of iPods, iPhones and iPads, shot past Microsoft, the computer software giant, to become the world’s most valuable technology company.

This changing of the guard caps one of the most stunning turnarounds in business history for Apple, which had been given up for dead only a decade earlier, and its co-founder and visionary chief executive, Steven P. Jobs. The rapidly rising value attached to Apple by investors also heralds an important cultural shift: Consumer tastes have overtaken the needs of business as the leading force shaping technology.

Microsoft, with its Windows and Office software franchises, has dominated the relationship most people had with their computers for almost two decades, and that was reflected in its stock market capitalization. But the click-clack of the keyboard has ceded ground to the swipe of a finger across a smartphone’s touch screen.

And Apple is in the right place at the right time. Although it still sells computers, twice as much revenue is coming from hand-held devices and music. Over all, the technology industry sold about 172 million smartphones last year, compared with 306 million PCs, but smartphone sales grew at a pace five times faster.

Microsoft depends more on maintaining the status quo, while Apple is in a constant battle to one-up itself and create something new, said Peter A. Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook. "Apple is a bet on technology," he said. "And Apple beating Microsoft is a very significant thing."

As of Wednesday, Wall Street valued Apple at $222.12 billion and Microsoft at $219.18 billion. The only American company valued higher is Exxon Mobil, with a market capitalization of $278.64 billion.

The companies have comparable revenue, with Microsoft at $58.4 billion and Apple at $42.9 billion. But in their most recent fiscal years, Apple had net income of $5.7 billion, while Microsoft earned $14.6 billion.

Microsoft has more cash and short-term investments, $39.7 billion, to Apple’s $23.1 billion, which makes the value assigned by the market to Apple, essentially a bet on its future prospects, all the more remarkable.

Continue reading via The New York Times...

Cool Gadgets for a Hot Summer

Summer is finally upon us, and now is the right time to scope out some cool gadgets to make your summer a bit more entertaining and easier. Whether you are spending time outside, relaxing in the sun, taking a long road trip to a vacation destination such as a campground, or simply just staying at home for the perfect break, here are a number of fantastic gadgets for you to choose from:

Video Cameras

Road Trips

Netbooks/Notebooks/Smartphones

Music & Entertainment

Power Stuff

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

No Color Kindle Anytime Soon Says Amazon CEO

Amazon.com is keeping its Kindle eReader as far from the iPad as possible. Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, on Tuesday told investors at a shareholders meeting in Seattle not to expect a color Kindle.

Bezos conceded that adding a color LCD display to the Kindle would be easy, but said that adding color to the Kindle's digital ink display was no small feat.

"The LCD display comes with some significant drawbacks for long format reading, among them is increased eye strain," he said in a video of the meeting posted on Amazon's Web site. Bezos also noted that backlit LCD displays also drain battery life and sun glare.

That said, Bezos noted that there are a few things brewing in the lab but that color on the Kindle is a ways out.

Bezos said that Amazon will continue to be a device for serious readers and that it will focus on one thing, reading.

"There are always ways to do the job better if you are willing to focus in on one arena," Bezos said.

The Amazon Kindle currently sells for $259 and gets its 3G wireless connectivity from AT&T's network.

[via WirelessWeek]

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Father's Day Gift Ideas in MP3 Players and Accessories

Bring music to Dad's ears this Father's Day (June 20) with the gift of MP3 players and accessories. Give him his new favorite gadget with a sleek MP3 player, including iPods, Zune, and Archos. Or, free Dad from headphones with a powerful speaker system from top brands like iHome, Altec Lansing, and Bose. You could also help him get the most out of his player (plus make your shopping a breeze) with an accessory bundle that includes everything you need in just one click. Whether he needs more country, disco, or funk, Amazon.com has everything you need to make Father's Day rock!

Listed below are Amazon's current bestsellers for Father's Day gift ideas in MP3 players, speaker systems, and accessories:

-Apple iPod touch 64GB (3rd Generation)
-Bose SoundDock Series II Digital Music System for iPod
-Belkin Accessory Bundle for iPod touch
-Archos 5 500GB Internet Tablet with Android
-Zune HD 32GB Video MP3 Player
-Kicker ZK500 Zune Speaker Dock

HTC Droid Incredible vs. iPhone 3GS

It's the ultimate face-off between tech's top dogs in this five-round, winner-takes-all fight. You'll find the hottest tech battling it out here for Prizefight supremacy.

It's been a long time since we've given an Editors' Choice Award to a smartphone, and we certainly weren't expecting the HTC Droid Incredible to be one to snatch up that honor. After all, it's not like the Android-powered Incredible offers any new, groundbreaking features. However, after discovering that the smartphone had a stylish and user-friendly interface, plus blazing speeds, the decision to make it an Editors' Choice winner was a no-brainer. It's simply one of the best smartphones on the market today.

It was also a no-brainer to make the Droid Incredible the subject of a Prizefight battle, but picking its competitor wasn't so easy. There were a number of qualified contenders that could take on the Incredible, including the Motorola Droid and the Nexus One, and we had a hard time choosing, so we left the decision up to you. In the end, you guys voted for the Apple iPhone 3GS, so without further ado, here is your Prizefight between the Droid Incredible and the iPhone 3GS.

Let's keep it a clean fight, fellas. Ding, ding! [via CNET]

Top 5 Most-anticipated Smartphones of 2010

According to sources at CNET.com, the following smartphones are the years most anticipated models and are definitely going to make some noise upon their release.

Windows Phone 7

With the introduction of Windows Phone 7, people are, once again, interested in Microsoft's mobile operating system. WP7 brings with it a complete overhaul of the user interface and additional features, such as the integration of Zune and Xbox Live. Unfortunately, devices won't be ready to ship till the holiday season.

Samsung Galaxy S

Introduced at CTIA 2010, the Samsung Galaxy S is Samsung's latest Google Android phone, and it might be their best one yet. The Android 2.1 device boasts a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED screen and can play back video at 720p resolution. In addition, Samsung will work with content partners so you can download full-length movies, TV shows, and even books and magazines. The Samsung Galaxy S is expected to be available in the U.S. this summer and, rumor has it, all carriers will get it.

Motorola i1

The Motorola i1 is the first push-to-talk Google Android smartphone due to launch on Sprint Nextel's iDEN network. It will support Nextel's Direct Connect services and, like a lot of Nextel's handsets, the i1 meets Military Specifications 810f so it can withstand dust, shock, vibration, rain, humidity, fog, and more. Other highlights include a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and the Opera mini browser. Pricing and a release date have not been revealed at this time.

Kyocera Zio M6000

At CTIA 2010, Kyocera introduced its first Google Android phone, the Zio M6000. It's the first U.S. smartphone from Kyocera, as well. The Zio runs Android 1.6, and offers a 3.5-inch QVGA touch screen, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and support for 3G EV-DO networks. It will be available in Q2 for $169 to $219 before carrier subsidy. Cricket Wireless is already on-board, and we hear Sprint might be, too.

HTC Desire

Introduced alongside the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire is like the Nexus One but with HTC's Sense user experience rather than the standard Android interface. This means you'll get HTC's widgets, including a couple of new ones like revamped mail and agenda widgets. Also, in the browser, you can now do a long-press over some text to bring up a bar that allows you to select a word that you can then look up in the dictionary or on Wikipedia. The HTC Desire is available in Europe now, but will be headed to U.S. Cellular this summer.

Dell Inspiron 14: Balancing Power with Fine Tuned Design

Lighter than its predecessor and offering a sleeker design, the Dell Inspiron i1464-4382OBK weighs less than 5 pounds and measures just 1.27" thin. Upon opening the Inspiron 14, your eyes will be immediately drawn to the brushed metal appearance of the palm rest before being amazed by the high-definition 14" display with native 720p resolution. Other features include a 7-in-1 memory card reader, up to 4 hours of battery life, and an HDMI port that lets you connect your laptop to a compatible HDTV or external monitor for uncompressed high-def video and audio.

Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

The total package includes the Dell Inspiron i1464-4382OBK, rechargeable battery, AC adapter, and printed documentation. It's backed by a 1-year limited warranty with mail-in service (after remote diagnosis) and 24/7 phone support.

The centrally located, easy-to-use Dell Support Center application offers provides personalized support resources. Conveniently located on your PC's desktop with quick links to service, support and system resources. You'll be able to keep your system up-to-date and running efficiently through automated fixes for common configuration issues.

Purchase the Dell Inspiron 14 via Amazon.com and save big, while supplies last.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

HDTV's That Won't Break the Bank

Amazon.com has all the HDTV brands you’re looking for, even if you might not know about them yet. Some of the newest ones that still retain the quality and features you're used to from better-known brands, but won't break the bank include Viore, Haier, Proscan, and AOC. You’ll find features such as DVD/HDTV combos, multiple HDMI, RCA, and sound ports, and more. Basically everything you need to meet your home theater or portable viewing needs. And since you're saving so much, you'll be able to add on those extras, like a new DVD player, to complete your dream home entertainment system.

Whether you are looking for something to put in your dorm or looking to update your home, want to watch sports or play video games, or want LCD or plasma, you'll find everything you'll ever need at Amazon.com. Discover new brands with great features and competitive prices below:

Haier HLT71 7-Inch Handheld LCD TV

The Haier HLT71 portable LCD TV gives you the ability to enjoy your favorite television programs anywhere, any time--in your home or away. Watch the morning news without having to get out of bed, or while sun bathing in the back yard. Does someone else have dibs on the TV room? Pull out your HLT71, and you've got your own TV room. This handy little portable TV has a 7-inch LCD screen that switches between a 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratio. Read More...

ViewSonic VT2430 24-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Feel the action in movies, games and sports on the 24" VT2430 widescreen LCD HDTV. Full HD 1080p resolution delivers 100% of your HD signal for incredibly precise images. High brightness combines with 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for unparalleled definition and detail. Super-fast video response and advanced image processing ensures extreme clarity in all your HD entertainment, movies, sports and games. The integrated ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner and multiple connectivity including HDMI 1.3 give you all the inputs you need for game consoles, DVD and Blu-Ray players and computers. Get maximum enjoyment in your smaller spaces or on your desktop with the stylish, versatile VT2430 LCD HDTV.

Viore LED22VF60 22-Inch 1080p LCD TV

The Viore LED22VF60 is a 22-Inch 1080p (Full-HD) LED Television. The TV has 1920 x 1080 native resolution for Full-HD (1080p) performance and wide-screen (16:9 aspect ratio) for a complete home theater experience. The super high picture quality has been realized by Viore engineering with high brightness for a vivid and brilliant picture and with high contrast for deeper blacks and brighter whites. The ATSC TV tuner is integrated for over-the-air HDTV broadcast reception. HDMI inputs are provided so that the digital signals for both video and audio will be transferred without any degradation from Blu-ray Disc Player, DVD Player, Game Player, or Cable/Satellite Box. The VGA port is provided so that you can use the TV as a computer monitor. Component Video, Composite Video, and S-Video inputs are also available.

Google Unveils Android OS Version 2.2

Last Thursday Google announced that the Android OS Version 2.2, code-named Froyo, is right around the corner. Android 2.2 is the seventh platform to be released since the initial launch of Android 1.0 back in September 2008. There were five areas in particular that they thought needed to be addressed and include the following:

Performance & speed: The new Dalvik JIT compiler in Android 2.2 delivers between a 2-5X performance improvement in CPU-bound code vs. Android 2.1 according to various benchmarks.

New enterprise capabilities: We’ve added Exchange capabilities such as account auto-discovery and calendar sync. Device policy management APIs allow developers to write applications that can control security features of the device such as the remote wipe, minimum password, lockscreen timeout etc.

Faster, more powerful browser: We have brought the V8 JavaScript engine to the Android browser as part of 2.2. This has resulted in a 2-3X improvement in JavaScript performance vs. 2.1.

Rich set of new APIs and services: New data backup APIs enable apps to participate in data backup and restore, allowing an application's last data to be restored when installed on a new or a reset device. Apps can utilize Android Cloud to Device Messaging to enable mobile alert, send to phone, and two-way push sync functionality. Developers can now declare whether their app should be installed on internal memory or an SD card. They can also let the system automatically determine the install location. On the native side, a new API now gives access to Skia bitmaps.

Additions to Android Market: Android Market provides Android Application Error Reports, a new bug reporting feature, giving developers access to crash and freeze reports from users. Developers will be able to access these reports via their account on the Android Market publisher website.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Apple TV Embarrassed by Logitech's Google TV Box

Google TV, the new Android-based OS for the big screen, will power Logitech’s new set-top box, the still-not-properly-named Google TV companion box.

The sleek black Apple TV–sized box will run on a 1.2-GHz Atom processor with 4 GB memory, 802.11n Wi-Fi, dual HDMI-out ports, Dolby 5.1 surround sound and a pair of USB ports. If you hook up a webcam, you can even video-chat at 720p.

The box, which will launch in the fall, will at first be U.S.-only. It will hook up to your TV and then pull in content from cable, satellite and compatible DVRs. In short, you can Google the entire internet plus your home for TV shows and watch them wherever they may be.

Even the remote controls are exciting. While there will be some regular RF controllers available, you will be able to install an app on your iPhone or Android phone with a keyboard and a touchscreen D-pad. These will control not only the Logitech box but compatible TVs and set-top boxes, right from the phone.

Next to the Google TV, the Apple TV is starting to look less like a "hobby" and more like an embarrassing habit Apple is trying to quit. Video content is one place where more is better. Sure Apple TV can grab most things from the iTunes Store, but with a built-in Chrome browser, Google TV will grab content from anywhere that puts video on the web. The closest rival Apple has right now is probably the iPad. Maybe this is the kick in the pants Apple needs to finally update its own set-top box to something nearing useful.

Google TV companion box [Logitech]
Logitech’s Google TV companion box includes smartphone apps [Engadget]

[via Wired]

The 5 Best Android Smartphones Out Now

According to a report from PCWorld earlier today, the HTC Droid Incredible, Motorola's Droid, and other Android-based smartphones are strong competitors to Apple's iPhone. Here are their top 5 most worthy iPhone competitors.

1. HTC Droid Incredible

Verizon's HTC Droid Incredible runs the Sense interface on top of Android OS 2.1. The Droid Incredible ($200 with a two-year contract) features a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, a fast 1GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera, MicroSD-card expansion up to 32 gigabytes, multitasking, and the Friend Stream social network aggregator.

The Droid Incredible lacks a physical keyboard. Its touchscreen provides the primary user interface; voice command is also an option for calls, search, and GPS navigation.

2. Motorola Droid

Verizon's Motorola Droid features a slide-out keyboard, a 3.7-inch, 480-by-854-pixel touchscreen display, Android OS 2.1, MicroSD-card expansion up to 32 gigabytes, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 support, a 5-megapixel camera, and hardware-accelerated graphics.

The Droid ($200 with a two-year contract) features an excellent and surprisingly fun voice-enabled search and GPS navigation capability. This makes the Droid stand out from older Android smartphone offerings.

3. Motorola Cliq

The T-Mobile Motorola Cliq features a slide-out keyboard, a 3.1-inch, 320-by-480-pixel capacitive touch display, and the MotoBlur social network aggregator. The Cliq ($150 with two-year contract) has Wi-Fi support, turn-by-turn GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, and a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack.

It runs the now-dated Android OS 1.6, so don’t expect some of the latest Android OS 2.1 apps to work.

4. Samsung Moment

The Sprint Samsung Moment ($100 with a two-year contract) features a slide-out keyboard, a 3.2-inch, 320-by-480-pixel AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, a 3.32-megapixel camera, and Android OS 2.1.

5. Samsung Behold II

The T-Mobile Samsung Behold II has a brilliant 3.2-inch, 320-by-480-pixel AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel camera, and TouchWiz 2.0, a touch-friendly user interface running over the now-outdated Android OS 1.5.

Note: the newest Android Market apps may require Android OS 2.1 for full functionality.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

46 Million Media Tablets to be Released by 2014

In a trend kick-started by the Apple iPad, more than 46 million media tablets are expected to ship in 2014. This is according to the new "Worldwide and U.S. Media Tablet 2010-2014 Forecast" released by IDC on Thursday.

Up substantially from the 7.6 million tablets likely to ship this year, that forecast points to a compound annual growth rate of 57.4 percent. Of course, that includes not just the iPad but other tablets following its lead and competing in the marketplace, including the new Archos 7 Home Tablet, a tablet from the likes of Intel, and a potential tablet from the team of Google and Verizon.

IDC's definition of a media tablet is one that sports a 7-inch to 12-inch display, is powered by an ARM processor, and runs a lighter operating system such as Apple's iPhone OS or Google's Android. Such tablets don't offer built-in hardware keyboards but instead ask you to use a stylus or your finger to navigate. That description sets them apart from tablet PCs, such as the Archos 9, which are powered by x86 processors and run full PC operating systems.

Demand for media tablets will be hugely fueled by the amount and variety of third-party apps that give users the content and services they crave, noted IDC.

"The availability of apps unique to media tablets and that differentiate the experience of using one compared with a PC or smartphone will be crucial for driving consumer demand," IDC program director Susan Kevorkian said in a statement. "As the category matures and more media tablet-optimized apps become available, IDC expects that media tablets will evolve beyond nice-to-have devices and become necessities for many consumers."

Beyond just tablets, touch screen devices in general are proving a hit with consumers, according to DisplaySearch's "2010 Touch Panel Market Analysis," released Wednesday.

Total shipments of touch screens hit 606 million last year, a 29 percent boost from 2008. Demand for mobile phones, MP3 players, and GPS units have driven much of that recent growth. Phones proved the biggest factor, with 376 million touch screens shipped for cell phones in 2009. But consumer appetite for all-in-one PCs, Netbooks, and tablets will also spur further gains, according to DisplaySearch.

[via CNET]

6 Essential Apps for Your iPad

According to PCWorld, here are six of the most essential iPad apps to have in your arsenal. And for those on a tight budget or without any extra money at all, the following programs won't cost you a dime to download.

ABC Player

Much like the Netflix app, the free ABC Player app for iPad truly feels like the future. ABC Digital’s app lets you watch recent episodes from two dozen ABC primetime and daytime shows on your iPad, without paying a cent or breaking the law. It’s excellent. [Download via Macworld]

Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List

This app from award-winning food site Epicurious.com features over 28,000 delicious, professionally tested recipes from world renowned magazines, popular cookbooks, top chefs, and leading restaurants. The app works on both the iPhone and iPad, giving you an experience optimized for whichever device you're currently using. This next-generation kitchen companion enables food lovers to search for great recipes, create interactive shopping lists, and follow step-by-step, stove-side instructions. [Download via Macworld]

IMDB Movies & TV

IMDb is the world's largest collection of movie, TV and celebrity information. IMDb is also currently the leading app in the Apple gadget family to find US showtimes, watch trailers, browse photo galleries, get US TV listings, find the latest DVD releases, explore popular charts, and share movie info. Their ultimate goal is to list every detail about every movie and TV show ever made. [Download via Macworld]

Kayak Flights

The cost of air-transportation has gone sky-high and everyone but the most well-heeled seeks ways to save a buck when flying. Kayak.com provides one avenue for doing just that with its free iPad app. Kayak Flights is simple to use. Just tap the From and To fields to enter your departure and destination points, choose the dates you’ll depart and return, set a few On/Off options (One-way, Include Nearby Airpots, Prefer Nonstop), set the number of passengers and flight class (Economy, Business, or First), and tap Search. In short order, Kayak Flights produces a list of available flights. [Download via Macworld]

Kindle

Amazon.com has converted its free Kindle app for iPhone into a universal app with the launch of the iPad. Kindle for iPad excels because of its visual customization ability, and its overall simplicity. You can tweak the screen to your liking, and then simply read. While the free Kindle handles only books you purchase from Amazon, it also lets you jot onscreen notes while reading and lets you choose between standard, sepia, and nighttime (grey text on black) page displays. And, of course, Amazon offers far, far more books right now than Apple's iBookStore. [Download via Macworld]

Netflix

If you've got a Netflix unlimited membership and haven't downloaded the free Netflix app for the iPad, head on over to the App Store this instant. With Netflix installed on your iPad, you get access to the thousands of movies and TV shows available from the video rental service's 'Watch Instantly' service. The Netflix iPad app lets you manage your account, report problems, and update your DVD and Instant queues. It supports streaming over both Wi-Fi and 3G connections, and the video quality is pretty impressive over the former. (It's less impressive over 3G due to bandwidth issues.) Whether at home or on the road, Netflix ensures that entertainment is never more than a tap or two away. [Download via Macworld]

Google Partners with Sony and Intel to Create Google TV

Microsoft and Apple have been trying to get into your living room for years, with a variety of television-oriented products.

Now Google thinks it can succeed where other computer companies have seen only middling success. The company announced a new set-top box platform here Thursday: Google TV will marry television and the web, so users can search and view both TV and web videos with a single click.

Google TV, which is based on Google’s Android operating system, will have access to Flickr, gaming sites such as Club Penguin, and music sites such as Pandora and Rhapsody. It will combine that with a streaming media interface similar to that offered by companies like Boxee and Roku.

"There are three big limitations with the streaming media devices that exist today," said Rishi Chandra, senior product manager at Google, speaking at the company’s developer conference, Google I/O. "They try to dumb down the web for TV. They are all closed. Many of these devices have to choose between TV and the web."

Google has formed partnerships with Sony, Logitech and Intel to create hardware that will run this "smart TV" Android platform.

The Google TV software will be available on TVs, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes through Best Buy in fall this year. It will be independent of the cable service providers. All devices running the Google TV software will have Wi-Fi and ethernet connectivity, a keyboard and a "pointing device" or a mouse.

Google has also partnered with DirecTV to integrate Google TV into DirecTV’s digital video recorders (DVRs).

Google TV can also be controlled using an Android phone as a remote, says Chandra, and the mobile version of the Android market — Google’s marketplace for Android-compatible apps — will be accessible on Google TV.

[via Wired]

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Sony PSP 2 on the Horizon?

Courtesy of VG247, there is a very speculative rumor out that Sony is at work on the sequel to the PlayStation Portable (PSP).

Gaming website MCV reports that it has been informed of a significant increase in Sony marketing spent at two key publishers for Q4 2010. During a time when the PSP is languishing in Western markets, it is being speculated that publishers are laying the ground for an offensive on a brand new addition of Sony's handheld.

Reports from other various sources around the web are reporting that there will be three big changes to the Sony PSP 2, including the addition of two cameras, at least one touchscreen, and there won’t be any physical media, but a 3G wireless connection instead.

Currently in its sixth year of existence, the Sony PSP has remained somewhat the same since its initial release. However, Sony has announced that on June 20th there will finally be a new update available your PSP's operating system which will include the latest security patches, settings, features and other items.

Sony had the wind taken out of its sails just last year with the leak of PSPgo before it could be revealed at its Press Event, but there were loads of schematics and massive amounts of rumbling on the new system long before the Qore episode was purportedly leaked.

Keep in mind that this is all just speculation and MCV notes that there have been no official documents released as of yet, and when contacted, Sony replied that there were "no imminent plans to launch a new PSP".

So, whether the publishers are mistaken, confused, or right on the money is anyone’s guess at this time, and while possibly far-fetched, it's out there now for your consideration. And don't get your hopes up if you're expecting to hear anything about this at E3 next month.

Monday, May 17, 2010

5 Must-Have Accessories for Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Why should DSLR's get to have all the fun? Fill up your camera kit with these neat accessories for compact cameras. [via PC World/Amazon]

1. Polaroid CZA-10011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer

Polaroid has reinvented instant photography for the digital age with the Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer. Sleek, stylish, and easy to use, the Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer lets you share photos whether you are on vacation or just hanging out with your friends. Bring Polaroid magic from your camera cell phone or digital camera with ZINK Zero Ink Printing Technology from ZINK Imaging. Mobile and easy-to-use, the Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer provides a new, innovative way to share digital photos directly from your camera cell phone or digital camera, instantly.

2. Gary Fong Delta 4 Point & Shoot Flash Diffuser

Point-and-shoot digital cameras have this tiny flash that looks like a mini flashlight when you take photos of your friends. This harsh lighting makes everybody's face look shiny and oily. So, what Gary Fong has done is invented a flat filter wedge that mounts on the telescopic lens of many point and shoot cameras. The diffuser has mini pyramids to further disperse the light. When the light hits the rear of the panel, the tiny pyramids send light all over the place, lighting up the entire wedge, and lighting the ceiling, and the entire room!

3. Cokin G210 Filter Kit, Series A

One of the reasons of Cokin's success is that they are permanently in close contact with both professional and amateur photographers/videographers, so as to listen to their ideas and precise needs. The products launched by Cokin are therefore always perfectly adapted to real needs. This kit consists of a Filter Holder, Gradual Blue B2 Soft, Warming (81EF) and Sunset 1 filters.

4. Samigon Bottle-Top Tripod

Do you enjoy taking photos of friends and family but always find yourself on the wrong side of the camera instead of with them? If you answered yes, then it is time you discovered this ingenious little item that is the answer to all of your problems. The bottle-top pod turns almost any water bottle, soft drink, even beer bottles into an instant tripod! Simply screw the adapter into the tripod thread of your camera, attach the bottle-top pod to the top of your bottle and start including yourself in the picture. The ball head allows you to angle your camera to make the shot just right. Also great for when you're out snapping alone and want to include yourself in the shot.

5. Sony Party-Shot Personal Photographer

Relax and enjoy the party while the Party-shot personal photographer automatically takes your photos for you. Party-shot works with your TX1 or WX1 Cyber-shot camera's Face Detection and Smile Shutter technologies to automatically take photos at the event. Intelligent composition uses the rule of thirds to compose great shots and motion detection seeks out movement to take the photo at the right moment. It's never been easier to see amazing results of those once in a lifetime candid moments.

Essential Guide to the Nintendo DSi XL

Nintendo has long been the recognized leader in mobile gaming, and continues this legacy with the DSi XL. The fourth iteration in Nintendo's wildly popular DS franchise of handheld gaming devices, the DSi XL retains all the functionality of the earlier Nintendo DSi devices. This includes the dual digital cameras, touch screen controls, a built-in wireless Web browser, SD memory card expansion, a game download system and more, but also includes new exclusive features. The new features include dual 4.2" LCD screens, a unique larger stylus, three bundled games and applications, and two new release color schemes.

If you have held the original DSi, the weight is the first thing you'll notice about the DSi XL. Weighing in at about 11 ounces, the XL is noticeably heavier than the DSi DS Lite, which weigh in at around 7.5 ounces each. However, with that being said, there is a certain robustness about the DSi XL and it will certainly handle a much heavier beating than the others. Whereas the DSi is covered in a matte, almost rubberized outer layer, the DSi XL sports a glossy hood along with a more textured plastic outer casing, giving it a more sophisticated look.

The exact measurements of the DSi XL are 6.34" W x 3.6" D x 0.83" H, which makes the original DSi look tiny. Its dual 4.2" screens are 93% larger than those found in the DS Lite and roughly one inch larger than the screens on the DSi. The three LED lights found on left hinge of the DSi XL are the same as the DSi, with symbols for power, charging, and Wi-Fi activity.

Bundled in with the XL are a few software bonuses that include the DSi Web Browser and Photo Clock. There are three games also pre-installed which include Brain Age Express: Math; Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters; and Flipnote Studio. Of course, you have access to the DSi Shop, where you can download different games and applications for the system.

Since the only big difference between the DSi XL and DSi is merely a screen upgrade, it is fair (and probably important) to ask yourself if it's the right device for you. From the way Nintendo marketed the XL in its inception, it is likely that it has been geared more toward an older crowd who may be intimidated by previously smaller models. The DSi XL is also a dream come true for those who are be vision-impaired.

[via Amazon/CNET]

Purchase:

Nintendo DSi XL [$189.99]

Related Products:

Nintendo DSi XL 20 in 1 Starter Kit [$29.99]
Nintendo DSi XL Screen Protective Filter [$7.99]
DSi XL Ultimate Travel Case [$14.99]

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Overclocking Your iPhone and iPod Touch

If you weren't already aware of this, Apple decided to underclock the processing speed on two of their most popular devices, the iPod touch and iPhone. The true processing speed of the iPhone 3G is clocked at a maximum of 600MHz, and 833MHz for the iPhone 3GS, but for whatever reason Apple underclocked them at 412MHz and 600MHz respectively. However, it might be your lucky day because a hacker has discovered a simple trick that will overclock your device to its maximum potential in a matter of minutes.

In many cases, companies choose to underclock their devices to save energy, reduce heat and make the overall life of your processor last longer. Overclocking will more than likely increase its operation frequency, which will usually increase its thermal output in a linear fashion, and could increase the internal heat quadratically (x4). Improper cooling may cause chip temperatures to rise almost instantly, causing the processor chip to be damaged or destroyed. It may also decrease the life of your battery, so it is imperative that you take extra precaution if you decide to try this.

Please be aware that these are not my directions and I am in no way responsible for any damage done to your device. This is not recommended for inexperienced users.

Steps to Overclock or Increase CPU Speed of iPhone and iPod Touch: [via GadgetsDNA]

Navigate to System/Library/System/System Configuration/PowerManagement.bundle/
You will see a file named "com.apple.SystemPowerProfileDefault.plist"
Instead of editing, you are just rename it to "SystemPowerProfileDefaultbak.plist" so the device does not recognize it.
Do a reboot and you've overclocked your device.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Dell Streak Tablet to Debut on AT&T this Summer

Dell's upcoming highly anticipated tablet, the Mini 5 aka 'Streak', is getting closer to an official release date. For now we have to settle for "late summer," company CEO Michael Dell said at a conference.

Unlike most gadgets nowadays, the Streak will be launching first in Europe on O2 Telefonica, followed by release in the U.S. for AT&T customers.

Similar in stature to the Sony PSP, Dell's Streak isn't directly an iPad-killer. Featuring a 5 inch capacitive touchscreen, a 5 megapixel camera on the back, a separate front-facing camera that can be used for video conferencing, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi with 3G connectivity and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor.

It will be running on the latest version of Google's Android operating system, 2.0 or higher. Dell hopes to offer a SIM card option instead of just processing data, so users can make phone calls through the device. There has been no word thus far as far as pricing goes for this device.

Dell’s tablet seems to be the first real shot against Apple's iPad.

Microsoft Set to Release Motion-Sensored Xbox Project Natal in October

Earlier this week, Microsoft's Saudi entertainment wing may have revealed the newest Xbox 360 add-on, the motion-sensing Project Natal. Whether Microsoft intended for this information to be released or not, Project Natal is set to launch worldwide in October.

Microsoft Saudi marketing manager Syed Bilal Tariq claimed he had "great news to share with everybody," then continued to say that Natal would launch worldwide on the same day which he said, "is going to be somewhere in October."

"We will be in a position to confirm the date after E3, which is in June," said Tariq. "But definitely, it is going to be October 2010, and we will have it in Saudi Arabia for sure."

It was previously reported by British biz site MCV that Project Natal would be seeing a holiday 2010 release date, so this new report comes as fantastic news for gaming enthusiasts. In addition, MCV has also reported that Porject Natal will come with 14 games and sell for around $80.

Consumers can expect approximately 5 million units for global shipment at the date of release, with at least two purchase configurations. This includes a solo upgrade, or bundled with the Xbox 360 console itself. Assume Microsoft to make this official at E3 in June.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Seagate Expansion USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive - Top Quality Device at an Affordable Price

Instantly add more storage space to your computer and take large files with you when you travel with Seagate's Expansion USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive. Setup is straight forward, simply connect a single USB cable and you are ready to go. The drive is powered from the USB cable, so there is no need for an external power supply. Plus, it is automatically recognized by Windows, so there is no software to install and nothing to configure.

Saving files is easy too, just drag-and-drop. It's not just easy to use, but it’s fast and energy efficient too. Enjoy fast data transfer speed with USB 2.0 connectivity and 5400 RPM drive performance. Built-in power management ensures energy efficient operation.

[via PC Connection]

Purchase:

Seagate Expansion 250GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive [$59.99] | 320GB [$64.82] | 500GB [$78.54] | 640GB [$112.95] | 750GB [$121.99]

Related Products:

Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case [$14.88]

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