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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

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Google partners with Verizon for free 3G data allowance with every Chrome OS netbook

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 10:29 AM PST

There you go, folks. Google says it wants you always connected, now it's helping you do it. 100MB of free Verizon data, each month for 24 months, will be yours as a complimentary extra when buying a Chrome OS netbook. $9.99 will give you unlimited access for a single day.

Developing...

Google Chrome OS gets detailed

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 10:20 AM PST

Google just demoed Chrome OS running on a piece of reference hardware at its event in SF. It just takes four steps and less than a minute to set up a brand-new Chrome OS machine -- it pulls all your Chrome themes and settings from the cloud, so it's ready to go almost right away, and changes can propagate in less than a second in some cases. The reference machine demoed was able to come back up from sleep almost instantly -- Google says the limiting factor is actually how fast the user can move their hand. (It wasn't that fast in the demo, but it was still really fast.) The OS also supports multiple accounts with a guest account that runs in Incognito mode by default, and everything is wiped on logout. All user data is encrypted by default, and the OS itself is loaded on read-only memory that can't be altered without physical access -- a tech which enables verified booting, but also seems to mean you won't be able to root a Chrome OS machine.

There's also offline capability -- Google Docs was demoed running offline, with changes synced when the machine reconnects. It seems like that's an app-specific feature though -- apps on the Chrome Web Store have to be built for HTML5 offline to work, obviously. Google also demoed Google Cloud Print, which allows you to print on your home printer from anywhere. Chrome OS devices will also be able to use new Verizon 3G plans for offline access -- you'll get 100MB of free data per month for two years, and then plans start at $9.99 for a day of "unlimited access" with no contracts required. (There will eventually be international options, but those weren't detailed.)
Chrome OS detailed


Developing...

Amazon demonstrates new Kindle for the Web, coming to Chrome Web Store early next year

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 10:08 AM PST

What do you do when the web's 500-pound Googorilla decides to muscle in on your action? Amazon's answer, apparently, is to work with said primate. Instead of making pouty faces about Google eBooks, the Kindle purveyor has unwrapped a new version of its Kindle for the Web browser-based reader and is rolling it into Google's Chrome Web Store. Up until now, this web offering only ever permitted the consumption of book samples in its short beta existence, but that's a limitation that Amazon is lifting with its new software, promising to "enable users to read full books in the browser and [enable] any Website to become a bookstore offering Kindle books." And hey, since it's on the web, you shouldn't have any trouble accessing it on Chrome OS, either! Coming to a Web Store near you early next year.

Google demos Chrome Web Store, rolling out later today to US

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 09:53 AM PST

It hasn't been that long since we first saw Google's web store -- mid-May, to be exact. An updated version is currently being showcased on stage at the Chrome event. The UI looks much more refined, and those who are itching to try some out yourself, it seems some of the web apps are already available, at least partially: NPR, The New York Times, Amazon Windowshop. If you ask us, they feel a lot like iPad apps for browsers and mice / keyboard. Audio can run in the background even if you move to another tab. There's offline mode, too. App purchases are tied to your Google account, naturally. There's some gaming, but from what we've seen so far ("you pop it!"), it's nothing you're gonna be focusing a lot of time on. We've been trying to access the web store (via the Chrome browser, naturally), but it's currently hiding behind a "coming soon" redirect -- it's rolling out later today, though, at least for the US, so keep an eye out.
Chrome Web App demos

Google spruces up Chrome with Instant Search from the Omnibox, other nerdy things

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 09:52 AM PST

It's a big Chrome day for Google today, and they're kicking things off with new features for the browser itself, features that will be included in Chrome 9 when it lands. The real highlight is the addition of Instant Search to Chrome's famed "Omnibox." It works about as you'd expect: as you type a Google search you still get your regular suggestions, but you also get a full search results page loading and refreshing live as you type. Google took things a step further and actually implemented this for regular sites too: based on your typical behavior, when you start typing an address, Chrome will pull up that site for you automatically (we hope when you type "e" you'll get Engadget, instead of Google's espn.com example).

The other huge improvement is "Crankshaft," which Google claims is a 2X improvement in JavaScript speed, based on what benchmark you're looking at. To put it in context, Google claims Chrome is 100X faster than IE's JavaScript performance back in 2008. Other rendering tweaks include a super fast built-in PDF reader (Google demoed the browser loading the entire health care bill in a blink), and full-on WebGL support.

Developing...

Live from Google's Chrome event!

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 09:20 AM PST


11:35AM Sundar's talking about how amazing Chrome OS is for businesses now. Gordon Payne, SVP of Citrix Systems, is "absolutely excited" to work with Google on Chrome OS.


11:33AM No root for you.

11:33AM There's also something called Verified Boot, which cryptographically checks the operating system for modifications, and can revert to an earlier version of the OS if something's amiss.

11:31AM Now that we know we've got some wireless options, we're back to talking about security. Like the Chrome browser, the OS has automatic updates and sandboxing, but there's also data encryption for each user of the machine.


11:29AM Prepaid plans also available from $9.99... "We'll give you the option to use it offline, but we've built in a Gobi worldwide modem from Qualcomm that powers all this..." with international support. "Users can move around and always be connected with this device.

11:28AM 100MB free data every month for two years on Verizon, part and parcel of Chrome OS netbook. Hello, whispernet!

11:27AM "We've partnered with Verizon to offer seamless connectivity in every Chrome OS notebook." Oh boy.


11:27AM Google Cloud Print spits out a spaghetti taco recipe from the printer on stage. Yum!



11:26AM Doesn't mean that Chrome OS isn't a cloud computing device, though. "We've put in a lot of work to make sure that users always have the option to stay connected with a Chrome netbook," he says, clicking on a drop-down menu to flip the netbook into cellular mode. It's getting four bars of 3G signal right now.

11:25AM There's a little icon in the upper-right hand corner that kills the network connection, flipping his Google Docs session into offline mode, so you can continue working without the net if need be. He says it's coming to regular Google Docs as well.

11:23AM Incognito mode's back with a vengeance in Chrome OS, keeping your entire sessions nice and hidden from those you share your netbook with.



11:21AM Instant synchronization of bookmarks between the two machines, but that's nothing we haven't seen in the Chrome browser since the dawn of Google Bookmark Sync.


11:20AM They've got a PC running Chrome and the Chrome OS reference machine running side by side now. Wonder which one responds quicker?




11:19AM And there it is... the ugliest machine we've seen in a long while, waking instantly from sleep.

11:18AM "Because we want to deliver the web to you instantly, we've taken the time to make sure you can resume instantly as well... and it's hard for the projectors to keep up."


11:17AM "We wanted to compare by setting up a PC, but we realized we wouldn't have time and still be able to get you back to your sessions."





11:17AM "Zero to done in less than 60 seconds."

11:17AM Sundar says it's running on "reference hardware" of some sort, but we haven't gotten a glimpse of the netbook yet. Now, we're walking through the entire setup for the OS. Four steps.

11:15AM Finally, it's time to talk about Chrome OS. The tagline hasn't changed. "Nothing but the web."

11:14AM Sundar back on stage. Amazon hinted at it already, but the Chrome Web Store's up for US customers right now -- find it at chrome.google.com/webstore and try it out. "We're starting in Q1 with the US, then rolling it out all over the world," he says.



11:11AM Amazon's pushing their "buy-once, read-anywhere" Kindle agenda with a brand-new app: Kindle for the Web. There's a Cover Flow style interface for paging through books, rather than a traditional digital bookshelf, and nice big images on the screen of individual pages.


11:08AM Eva Manolis and David Limp, a pair of VPs from Amazon. They're going to talk about Amazon Windowshop, "which is now available through the Chrome Web Store." It's a windowshopping experience, for sure. You browse through pictures of products against a white background, with a touchscreen friendly interface.




11:05AM Poppit will be bundled with the Chrome 9 release, so you won't even have to download it yourself. We can't wait to start popping.

11:05AM "I think Poppit players around the world are going to love this new Poppit experience." Ha!


11:04AM "We were able to convert into a state-of-the-art HTML5 web app in less than 48 hours... it's blazing fast. It's simply the fastest Poppit we've made.


11:03AM We will fill you in on the NYTimes stuff, but EA Games is on now. Demoing a game named Poppit!

11:02AM Having a few WiFi issues here. As you can see the NYTimes app is packed with, you know, news.




11:00AM On deck: Marc Frons, CTO of Digital Operations for the New York Times. Sounds like there's a NYT Chrome App coming up!





10:58AM He showed a simple 2D find-the-differences game, to show that Chrome is capable of gaming. Not necessarily the most convincing example.








10:57AM Chrome Web Store installs integrated with your Google account, just as promised. Charges a stored payment source when you purchase.

10:56AM Give it a try, if you're running Chrome 8!



10:55AM NPR web app, at npr.org/webapp. Can browse news in a fullscreen interface, and keep audio running in the background while you browse around.



10:54AM And there it is. Typical familiar app categories on the left, some suggestions on the right.



10:54AM "People want to get paid for their apps, but they don't want to trust a small, independent developer. That's one of the problems we wanted to solve with the Chrome Web Store."

10:53AM Sundar: "Our goal was to help users discover these [standout] applications."


10:52AM Chrome Web Store time.

10:52AM And now he's talking up Chrome's sandboxing functionality, which keeps your tabs sandboxed... and now plug-ins can be sandboxed too. First up? Adobe Flash. Good for keeping misbehaving third-party items in check, we guess. 'yawn'



10:49AM Chrome Sync will let you sync everything now, bookmarks, extensions, etc now. Welcome to the cloud.


10:48AM Auto-updates for Chrome, no need for users to monitor it.


10:47AM Now, he's talking about simplicity. "We're now down to seven click targets on top of the browser."


10:46AM "Today, we're adding an enhancement to V8 called Crankshaft, and it can be anywhere up to two times faster than before... if you compare it two IE two years ago, we're a hundred times faster. Thinks that took a minute two years ago, happen in a second today."


10:45AM "We were the fastest, and compared to IE we were 16x faster. We've continued to work on this Javascript performance in every release of Chrome since then..."

10:44AM Sundar's back on stage, talking about V8 for Javascript.



10:43AM Google Body Browser: he's removing layers of skin, muscle and sinew from a 3D woman by dragging a slider, and can search for any body part by typing it in the window.


10:42AM Now, he's at ninepointfiveorg.appspot.com, showing off a spinning globe with interactive earthquake visualizations.


10:41AM He's got lasers coming out of the frickin' shark's eyes! And the the aquarium globe is diffracting the beams. Not bad!


10:40AM "All of this is being offloaded to the GPU."


10:40AM Hardware acceleration's a nice new feature, and now we're seeing a WebGL demo of an underwater aquarium, filled with fish.


10:39AM Now, he's showing off Chrome's integrated PDF reading chops... twenty to thirty page PDF up instantly. Wasn't that fast when we tried it last night in Chrome 8, but still, integrated is nice.




10:38AM He's pulling up full-screen previews of the Google Instant results, thanks to Chrome. That can't be good for bandwidth, but it sure looks cool.


10:37AM But now, Instant is in Chrome's omnibox -- no need to navigate to Google.com. He types in "e", and up comes ESPN.



10:36AM He's showing off Google Instant, with a query for "Spaghetti Tacos." Sure enough, there are now spaghetti tacos on screen.

10:35AM Up on stage: Brian Rakowski, director of product management. He'll be talking about speed. We feel the need.




10:34AM "The single most common piece of feedback that we get from users, is that Chrome is fast... and we've got more speed coming ahead."

10:34AM "One in three internet users are using Google Chrome," he says.


10:34AM Chrome has 70 million active users by Google I/O... but today, it has 120 million. That's some rapid adoption.

10:33AM The history of Chrome OS starts in 2008, during the "AJAX / Web 2.0 revolution."



10:32AM He's going to brief us on the history of Chrome OS... but first, the Chrome Web Store!


10:31AM First up: VP of Product Management Sundar Pichai

10:31AM Okay, we're starting for real, folks. There's a Google rep on stage explaining the ground rules.


10:29AM The tiny clay figure manages to do some work with the browser / OS before he hits the ground. That's how fast Chrome is, folks. Even a clayman can do it.

10:28AM Now it's a white stop-motion pointer bouncing around a tablet, and a claymation typist falling from a tree! Exciting!

10:27AM To entertain us while we wait, some videos with abstract representations of Chrome's featureset. There's a mouse running in a wheel, a Chrome turntable spinning right round, and folks drenched in white paint.



10:26AM Yep, that's the web all right. Now how about some apps?



10:24AM What's that up on stage? Looks like a multi-function printer. Could this be Google's Cloud Print?

10:23AM We're just chilling here in rainbow-colored chairs, waiting for the show to begin!
They rocked our world yesterday with Gingerbread, the Nexus S and a Honeycomb-based tablet, but Google's not done yet -- today, it'll unveil a horse of a different form factor in Chrome OS. That's right, Mountain View's finally ready to share hard details about its instant-on operating system (and perhaps a netbook or three) and we're here in San Francisco liveblogging the whole thing.

U.S. government hits snag printing new $100 bills, prints old ones instead

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 09:11 AM PST

The U.S. Treasury Department may have been eager to open the doors to its money printing factory back in July to show off its brand new $100 bills, but it looks to be a decidedly different story today. As CNBC reports, all of the added security measures have apparently been harder to print than expected, and have resulted in a creasing problem that has left some bills with a blank portion on the face. The real problem, however, is that it's not clear how many bills have the flaw, which has forced the department to "quarantine" some 1.1 billion bills until they can be sorted -- one person familiar with the matter says as many as 30 percent were affected at the height of the problem. As you might expect, that accounts for a pretty big chunk of the bills intended for circulation, which has forced the fed to print some more of the older $100 bills that still feature Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's signature in the meantime.

Combined sales of smartphones and tablets to surpass the humble PC in 18 months, says IDC

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 08:44 AM PST

Our supply checks say that 10 out of 10 analysts are insanely bullish about tablets -- despite the fact that there are only 2.5 competitive products on the market, and one of them only came out a month ago. So, naturally, it isn't difficult to scrounge up sales predictions that show the tablet rocketing into the stratosphere, cutting into PC market share, while also expanding the market outright to accommodate its post-PC ways. Gartner's guess is 55 million tablets next year, while IDC has a more conservative estimate of 42 million, but both predict a sharp, exponential rise in the following years, and IDC takes it one step further: 18 months from now, combined smartphone and tablet sales will eclipse the PC, it claims, with both categories hovering in the mid-400 million range.

Now, that number is mostly smartphones, which isn't an unprecedented shift in and of itself -- the PC took a major hit in popularity in Japan once the kids got ahold of these newfangled phone things -- but overall it represents a shift from the open-ended, flexible, and powerful PC to the narrow, task-specific, app-driven nature of the iOS and Android kind. Or you could spin it the completely opposite way: people need phones, so they buy a nice phone. No PC death knell in that behavior, and the tablet is still a very niche product with some good PR. Either way, we'll be much more impressed with this sort of market battle when it's the tablet (perhaps with a little help from the smartbook or netbook-lite category) going up against the Windows and Mac PC head-on, without smartphones shouldering most of the load.

Samsung QX410 review

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 08:17 AM PST

Just $799? Wait, really? Indeed, it's quite hard to grasp that the Samsung QX410 costs under $800, and when you hear about what you get for the money, you'll understand exactly why. The system not only packs some seriously impressive specs -- a Core i5 processor, NVIDIA GeForce 310M GPU with Optimus, and a 640GB hard drive – but it's also got an aluminum lid, flush glass 14-inch display, and is just an inch thick. And on top of all of that, you can stream video to your TV with Intel's WiDi and get on a fast WiMAX network without an extra dongle. So yeah, on paper it's a killer deal, but after spending a week with the rig do we still feel the same way? Or do we suggest you keep shaking the piggy bank until you can come up with an extra $200 for the Envy 14 or a Dell XPS 14? Find out in our full review!
Samsung QX410 review

Look and feel

We have a sneaking suspicion that the QX410's squared edges and clean grayish aluminum lid were designed with the business professional in mind, but we're more than fine with the simplistic look. Hey, any laptop that ditches glossy plastics and odd patterns is a win in our book. However, it's the actual build of the QX410 that has us really taken -- that aforementioned aluminum lid feels tough as nails, and while the metal doesn't extend to the bottom of the system, the plastic underside shows no noticeable bend. Even under the lid, the silver aluminum palmrest and keyboard deck look and feel great. Now, we're not going to say the laptop feels as rigid as the entirely aluminum Envy 14, but it undoubtedly feels better than the majority of systems under $1,000.

Samsung also did a very nice job of keeping the QX410 thin and light. The 1.07-inch laptop is noticeably trimmer than the 1.3-inch Dell XPS 14, and the 5.07-pound system is slightly lighter (0.13 pounds, to be exact) than the Envy 14. We shoved the rig and its AC adapter into a shoulder bag and still had left over space for our Galaxy Tab, a mean turkey sandwich, a Diet Coke, and a (predictably empty) wallet. Naturally, the machine is well stocked with ports – the left edge is home to VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, headphone, and microphone ports as well as two USB jacks. We're not the biggest fans of the plastic latch covering the HDMI and USB connectors -- it's clumsy and hard to get to them -- and we've consistently wondered why only these ports got the protective treatment. Were the Ethernet and VGA not good enough? The right edge is home to the optical drive, a 5-in-1 media card, and one remaining USB port.

Keyboard, touchpad and screen

There's something about the curved keys on the QX410's chiclet keyboard that reminds us a lot of the ones on the Sony VAIO Z, and believe us, that's a very good thing. Surrounded by an aluminum deck, there's absolutely no flex to the panel, and the matte keys themselves felt great under our fingers while writing this review. They're a little bouncy, but not overly so. There's one thing that could have made the keyboard better, of course -- a backlight. Above the keyboard are dedicated volume controls and a WiFi on / off button.

Samsung went ahead and put a Synaptics ClickPad, or what it's calling a SuperButton, on the QX4120's palmrest, and while we still have some issues with it, it's one of the best single-button touchpads we've used on a PC. Of course, that's not exactly saying much since our experience with HP and Dell's ClickPads have been less than stellar. It's still not as good as Synaptics' next generation pad, which we recently tested, but keeping our right thumb on the left mouse button and our index finger on the pad let us comfortably point and click -- it's when you stray from this positioning that you run into jumping cursor trouble. The metal pad itself is very smooth, and surprisingly responsive to multitouch gestures – two finger scrolling was actually very fluid as was pinching-to-zoom in programs like Microsoft Word and Firefox.

The 14-inch, 1366x768-resolution edge-to-edge display is very nice on the eyes. (What is it about a flush displays that just makes things on screen look even better?) A 720p Burlesque trailer looked incredibly crisp and bright, though we do wish there was an option to pay a bit more for the system with a higher resolution display. Viewing angles weren't terrible actually – sharing the screen with a friend didn't require much adjustment, while tilting the screen backwards a bit when watching a few YouTube clips didn't cause too much color distortion. The speakers above the keyboard are fine for listening to music while you work, but they don't hold a candle to the Dell XPS 14's JBL speakers when watching a movie or playing a game. In fact, they're really not all that loud or full in comparison to even standard laptop speakers.

Performance and graphics

As you'd expect, the QX410's Core i5-460M processor and NVIDIA GeForce 310M provide rock-solid performance. Bundled with 4GB of RAM and a 640GB 5,400rpm hard drive, the machine had no issues handling our usual day-to-day activities, including simultaneously writing this review in Word Starter 2010, running Firefox with over ten tabs open, listening to music in iTunes and monitoring our thrilling Twitter feed in TweetDeck. Even when we threw in a DVD the system kept up at a brisk pace. Those thinking this thing would just sail with an SSD would be 100 percent correct, and there's a latch on the bottom of the system that'll allow you to pull the 5,400rpm drive out and swap it in for something faster.


PCMarkVantage 3DMark06
Battery Life
Samsung QX410 6062 3807/1967 4:45
Dell XPS 14 (Core i5-460M, NVIDIA 420M) 5796 6827 / 1955 2:58
HP Envy 14 (Core i5-450M, ATI HD 5650) 6038 6899/1928 3:51
Sony VAIO Z (Core i5-450M, NVIDIA 330M) 9949 6193 4:25
ASUS U33Jc (Core i3-370M, NVIDIA 310M) 5574 3403 / 1860 5:10
Toshiba Portege R705 (Intel Core i3-350M) 5024 1759 4:25


On the graphics front, the 310M GPU and 512MB of RAM seem a bit outdated since the introduction of the GeForce 400M series, which is in the Dell XPS 14, but it still pushes along local and flash HD content flawlessly and reasonably handles some mainstream games. We fired up Arkham Asylum and had Batman kicking Joker's posse to the ground at an average of 26fps. Clearly the chart above shows that the graphics performance of the Envy 14 and the XPS 14 is about double that of the QX410, but like we said, its fine for everyday activities -- just not high end gaming. Also, the rig packs NVIDIA's Optimus, so we didn't actually have to flick the switch on the GPU for those graphics-intensive tasks – the software and hardware combo took care of it all.

The QX410 joins the ASUS U33Jc as being one of the first laptops to combine Intel's WiDi with a discrete GPU. Unfortunately, the wireless display technology doesn't yet allow you to tap the graphics power, but we had no issues connecting the laptop to our 40-inch Toshiba HDTV with the Netgear Push2TV box and streaming 720p content (it chokes on 1080p clips). Note that Best Buy doesn't actually include the Netgear box with the system, so you'll have to fork over an extra $99 at checkout if you want to stream Modern Family to the big screen.

Battery life, WiMax, and software

For a 14-inch laptop with discrete graphics, the battery life on the QX410 is definitely impressive. On our battery test, which loops the same standard definition video at 65 brightness with WiFi on, the 61Wh six-cell battery lasted four hours and 45 minutes with the GPU off. In actual use we got closer to five hours and 15 minutes, which beats out both the HP Envy 14 and the XPS 14. Unfortunately, there's no way to actually swap out the battery, which means you better grab a coach seat with an outlet since there's going to be no buying an extra cell.

The QX410 comes equipped with an embedded WiMax modem. We were able to jump onto the Sprint / Clear WiMAX network in New York City, buy a $10 pass, and enjoy some solid 4G speeds. In our high rise office building we got an average of 1.24 Mbps download speeds and .33Mbps on the uplink. Out and about the city, speeds were stronger with 1.33Mbps download and and .44 Mbps. It's no LTE, but it's embedded and doesn't stick out of the laptop like a sore thumb. However, you get WiMAX in place of Bluetooth it seems, which is a definitely downer for those with BT mice and keyboards in their arsenal.

And here comes our major complaint about the system, and that has to do with the amount of software that Samsung bundles with this laptop. It's just downright irritating. The Samsung folder contains 11 proprietary programs including, Battery Life Extender, Easy Network Manager, Easy File Share, and lots of others. Samsung, why don't you just bundle those all together into one killer settings application? Just a thought. There's also other third-party software like CyberLink's DVD and YouCam, and because this is a Best Buy model, it comes with Best Buy's PC app, which really just provides a portal to a software store. Oh, and don't forget Norton Internet Security. Point being, there's a lot of preloaded stuff here, and your best bet is to spend 30 minutes uninstalling all the things you'll never ever use to free up space.

Wrap-up

It's pretty obvious what we're going say here: for $799 the QX410 isn't just a good deal, it's a great one. Sure, we knew the specs were impressive, but the machine impresses even more when you get it out of the box, start typing on its awesome chiclet keyboard, and realize you get tip-top performance for over five hours on a charge. Of course, the Envy 14 is made of tougher stuff and provides stronger graphics muscle, and the XPS 14 has way better speakers, but ultimately if you want a speedy and svelte mainstream system for under $800, the QX410 is a sure-fire bet.

Acer Revo 100 now available in UK, slide-out RevoPad and all

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 07:51 AM PST

We did a bit of a double take when we first saw the press release this morning for the new Acer Revo 100. Sifting through our memory banks (and Engadget archives), we finally remembered: the "Revo 2" with Intel CE4100 shown off earlier this year at IDF. We're betting this is just a twin and the Intel version is still en route, but for now, the Revo 100's packing AMD Athlon II Neo dual-core processor with NVIDIA ION graphics, up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, Dolby Home Theater v3, Blu-ray drive, 802.11b/g/n, and a multitude of ports including HDMI and two mini-PCI Express card slots for expansion. More interesting, though, is the slide-out RevoPad, which can function as either a multitouch gesture pad or, when activated, a QWERTY keyboard with lit-up keys on the same surface. Software-wise, we've got Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and Acer's new clear.fi media sharing system. When's it available? Now -- at least in the UK. How much? £599.99 including VAT. We've dropped Acer a line as to US release details; we'll let you know what we hear. Press release after the break.
Show full PR text
Acer Revo 100: the ultimate multimedia solution for your home

London, 7th December 2010 – The Acer Revo 100 is a sleek contemporary design with powerful multimedia capabilities. Place it into your living room and it will easily bring together all your computing device content, whether home based or mobile, as well as Internet for the ultimate home entertainment experience.



Featured on the Revo 100 is Acer clear.fi, an application that runs on your home network that automatically discovers all your household devices and then letting you find, share, play, store and enjoy all your multimedia content anywhere in your home in an easy, intuitive and innovative way. Anything on the home network can be effortlessly connected, be it a Smartphone, notebook, netbook, HD media player, an all-in-one PC or even a home storage device. Enjoy and have fun with your multimedia anywhere, no matter where the content is stored!



What's more, with a user friendly interface, Acer clear.fi is four time easier: Easy to set up - with immediate connection of your devices; easy to search your multimedia libraries; easy to share - just drag-n-drop to play or save media files to any of the connected devices and easy to scale - allowing you to effortlessly add devices or expand storage capacity.



Slim and elegant, the Acer Revo 100 is graced by a contemporary design and matte black finish, the Acer Revo 100 may be used on its removable vertical stand or be placed horizontally in a Consumer Electronc appliance tradition. Nicely concealed within its lean body is the innovative RevoPad, a dual-mode wireless touchpad. Press the toggle button to transform the RevoPad into a touch keyboard to easily type any amount of text with your fingers. Another tap on the toggle button and you have a multi-gesture large touchpad that lets you move the curser and then browse, rotate and zoom in/out with intuitive finger movements.


The Acer Revo 100 is powered by AMD Athlon™ II Neo dual-core processor and features next-generation NVIDIA® ION™ graphics solution for a premium 1080P full HD performance. The Acer Revo 100 is configurable with an internal TV tuner as well as a choice of either a DVD burner or a BD Combo optical drive. The BD Combo option provides full 1080P 3D playback when connected to any 3D enabled HDMI display. It supports up to 4 GB of DDR3 memory and large storage with up to 750GB of capacity. For even greater flexibility, Acer Revo 100 is equipped with 3 USB ports and a multi-in-one card reader, wireless and wired LAN and is preloaded with Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system enabling all traditional PC usage.

The Acer Revo 100 is available now with a SRRP of £599.99 inc Vat.

***
For further information and review samples, please contact: -

Paul Kinsler
PK Media Solutions
paul@pkmedia.co.uk
Tel: +44 20 8449 1636


Detailed information on Acer products and a catalogue with prices in PDF format are available on Acer's website www.acer-euro.com

About Acer
Since its founding in 1976, Acer has achieved the goal of breaking the barriers between people and technology. Globally, Acer ranks No. 2 for total PCs and notebooks. A profitable and sustainable Channel Business Model is instrumental to the company's continuing growth, while its multi-brand approach effectively integrates Acer, Gateway, Packard Bell, and eMachines brands in worldwide markets. Acer strives to design environmentally friendly products and establish a green supply chain through collaboration with suppliers. Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement, including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter and London 2012 Olympic Games. The Acer Group employs 7,000 people worldwide. 2009 revenues reached US$17.9 billion. See www.acer-group.com for more information.

©2010 Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other trademarks, registered trademarks and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the properties of their respective owners.

Verizon CEO: 4G can be a 'substitute' for home internet and cable, will accelerate cord cutting

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 07:22 AM PST

Sometimes, you have to wonder if these CEO types are being paid the big bucks just because they can believe their own outlandish claims. Latest to try and push the boundaries of credulity is Verizon's Ivan Seidenberg, who told an investor conference that he sees the company's newly unveiled 4G offering as becoming a "modest substitute" for premium home entertainment services as offered by cable and online streaming companies. He concedes that for now VZW's new LTE network will be viewed as an addition, rather than a replacement, to our connected world, but, over time, Seidenberg expects that its presence will be enough to convince more people to cut the cord. Perhaps those who'll find the $50 per 5GB levy easiest to swallow will be people with no cord at all -- the folks in rural areas for whom wired broadband isn't yet an option. As to the rest of us, we'll just wait until the economics start to look a tiny bit more appealing.

Update: Speaking of economics, Fierce Wireless has another disclosure from the same conference. On the topic of LTE smartphone plans, Ivan said Verizon is still undecided on pricing, but he sees 10GB a month as the "floor of what people will do," going on to say that Verizon must "hold firm as best we can until the entire environment is mature enough." Listen to the webcast of his speech at the link below.

Visa clears DeviceFidelity's In2Pay mobile payment microSD card for use in smartphones

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 06:56 AM PST

No iPhone? No problem. If you'll recall, we heard back in May that Visa was in cahoots with DeviceFidelity, with the two trumpeting a not-exactly-svelte In2Pay case that would add contactless payment support to Apple's darling. Today, the rest of the world is finally being taken into consideration. The aforementioned firms have just cleared a new In2Pay microSD solution for use in the real world, with the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the Samsung Vibrant in particular named as compatible. In theory, it seems that nearly any smartphone with a microSD slot could be ushered into the arena, and Visa itself expects to add additional phone models for use with this technology, "including phones based on the Symbian and Windows operating systems." This unveiling is happening after a solid 18 months of testing around the globe, but there's no definitive word on which banks will be offering this to customers. Between this and the sudden interest in NFC, America seems more poised than ever before to slip ever further into an endless pool of debt, and with way less friction than before! We kid, we kid... kind of.
Show full PR text
Visa Mobile Contactless Payments Solution Certified for Commercial Use

Visa approves DeviceFidelity's In2Pay™ microSD for use with leading smartphone models

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Visa Europe1 today announced the commercial availability of mobile contactless payments enabled by DeviceFidelity's In2Pay microSD solution. For the first time in Visa's history, a mobile contactless payment solution is now included in the list of Visa compliant products available for potential commercial deployment by financial institutions in the U.S. and select markets.

"This is a significant step towards the next generation of payments, loyalty and rewards, allowing banks and retailers to build entirely new business models"

Following 18 months of technology development in partnership with Texas-based DeviceFidelity, and trials with leading financial institutions in the United States, Europe and Asia, Visa has tested and supports commercialization of In2Pay microSD for use with leading smart phones.

Smartphone models compatible for use with this landmark technology include the BlackBerry® BoldTM 96502, the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, and the Android based Samsung Vibrant Galaxy 5, representing three of the leading mobile operating systems in the world. Visa expects to add additional phone models for use with this technology, including phones based on the Symbian and Windows operating systems.

"This is a historic milestone for Visa and its clients," said Bill Gajda, head of Visa Mobile. "In addition to issuing plastic magnetic stripe or chip-enabled payment cards, financial institutions can now consider offering their account holders a new technology that enables them to transform their existing phones into fully functional mobile payment devices."

From Trials to Commercial Availability

The compliance testing process for mobile devices established by Visa includes extensive technical, security and usability testing with respect to the Visa mobile payment functionality. It ensures reliable and secure Visa transactions that are compatible with the global standard for chip-enabled payments, and establishes a required signal range for all mobile contactless payments. Visa's compliance testing process ensures the combination of the phone; secure chip and mobile payment application will provide the level of user experience Visa accountholders have come to expect from Visa.

The microSD payment technology has been developed in partnership with DeviceFidelity and had previously been available only to financial institutions who were participating with Visa in mobile payment trials including some of the largest financial institutions in the U.S. – JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo Bank, US Bancorp and Bank of America. Now, Visa issuers can obtain the technology under Visa's standard contract terms and can load the Visa mobile payment application to microSD cards.

Issuers who choose to adopt the technology can provide their account holders with a tiny microSD card that can be inserted into the phone's existing memory slot to enable the device for payment. The technology is compatible with existing contactless payment terminals already installed at retail outlets worldwide and enables account holders to simply hold the phone in front a payment terminal in order to pay.

This technology also opens the way for mobile operators, retailers and other stakeholders in the payments ecosystem to partner with financial institutions to bring Visa mobile payment functionality to consumers.

"This is a significant step towards the next generation of payments, loyalty and rewards, allowing banks and retailers to build entirely new business models," said Nick Holland, Senior Analyst with Yankee Group. "Visa's announcement clearly illustrates that the future of payments will be mobile."

Financial Institutions have the option to integrate Visa's mobile payment solution into their existing mobile application, and offer additional services such as Visa transaction alerts that notify account holders in near real-time of account activity, and targeted merchant offers that are tailored to consumer lifestyle and location. Together, these services have the potential to enhance the consumer payment experience and allow account holders to better manage their payment accounts.

"This is a win-win for banks, merchants, wireless carriers, handset makers, app developers and consumers alike as it delivers a unique combination of consumer preferred devices, smart chip based security and application driven innovation, something that the NFC ecosystem has aspired for a long time," said Deepak Jain, President and CEO of DeviceFidelity, Inc. "Working with Visa and its financial institution partners, we are excited to be at the forefront of this important milestone and helping to make mobile payments a reality for consumers."

With nearly 5 billion mobile handsets in market around the globe, consumers everywhere have come to rely on their mobile phone as a part of everyday life. According to IDC3, smart phone shipments globally are expected to increase 24% in 2011, helping drive continued growth in more robust and powerful mobile devices that are capable of supporting contactless payment.

"Mobile payments are a strategic priority for Visa in Europe where we have played a leadership role in developing the market," commented Sandra Alzetta, Head of Innovation at Visa Europe. "We are delighted that the hard work we've invested in market trials has paid off. With this milestone, we can help our customers enter the mobile payment space on a commercial basis, offering valuable and exciting benefits to consumers."

Docomo grants Japanese taxis with WiFi, PSPs, little red stickers

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 06:31 AM PST

Docomo grants Japanese taxis with WiFi, PSPs, little red stickers
There are many hugely efficient ways to get around Tokyo, but for visitors taxis usually come at the bottom of that list. Drivers rarely speak English and, compared to the rest of the world, they're quite expensive (about $8 to start, going way up from there). But, should you find yourself in one they're naturally hugely clean and sophisticated, that sophistication getting a boost now by DoCoMo. 820 black sedans for hire in Tokyo will be outfitted with WiFi, freely available to customers who dishonor the back seats with their backsides. 100 of the cars will even have Sony PSPs back there too, which is odd because we were pretty sure everyone in Tokyo already had one -- or a DS, at least. These specially equipped taxis can be identified by the red DoCoMo WiFi stickers on the doors, so don't accept anything less, no matter how late you are for that KneuKlid Romance concert in Shinjuku.

MantaroBot telepresence robot works via Skype, offends our aesthetic sensibilities

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 06:06 AM PST

We don't see much in this space from Mantaro, an engineering and development company that usually works on things like network management systems and switches for telecoms. That's why we were pleasantly surprised when the company announced an affordable telepresence robot. How affordable, you ask? Well, in a marketplace where these things can easily cost well over ten grand, MantaroBot can be yours for a cut-rate $3,500. Unfortunately, in a marketplace where these things can easily cost over ten grand, MantaroBot also looks like it cost a cut-rate $3,500. But you know what? Sometimes one must choose function over form. And what you get here is pretty straightforward: the remote operator steers the robot and communicates using a Skype plug-in (PC only) that also allows 180 degree panning and tilting of the onboard HD camera. This bad boy also features infrared sensors for obstacle detection, communication link monitoring (if you go offline, MantaroBot stops in its place) and more. Available now. PR after the break.
Show full PR text
New in Telepresence Solutions: The MantaroBot TelePresence Robot Works with Skype

Mantaro launches a cost-effective TelePresence Robot that via a plug-in works with Skype to allow users to easily be virtually present at remote locations.

Germantown, MD (PRWEB) December 7, 2010

Mantaro, a products and embedded product development services firm, announced today the launch of the MantaroBot™, an affordable, flexible option among telepresence solutions. The high-definition, wireless, compact robotic telepresence system works with Skype™ via a plug-in. It operates on a mobile platform that allows a user to be virtually present wherever the MantaroBot is located and move around and interact with people.

"At $3,500, the MantaroBot introduces a new level of accessibility for mobile, wireless remote conferencing," states Jeremy Parsons, CEO of Mantaro. "We've integrated robotic telepresence technology and software to provide a very cost effective and easy to use video telepresence experience."

As with other telepresence solutions, the MantaroBot frees the user from the traditional fixed location of video conferencing equipment and unleashes them into a higher level of interaction and feeling of presence. However, with the Skype™ plug-in, the advantages of mobile, wireless video conferencing are uniquely accessible, cost-effective, and user-friendly.

Control of the MantaroBot is managed with an intuitive software application on the user's PC, sending speed and direction instructions to the MantaroBot. The MantaroBot is also equipped with a user controlled 180 degree pan and 180 degree tilt high definition camera that allows a full survey of the surroundings without moving the MantaroBot.

"Mantaro has leveraged our multi-disciplined engineering experience to produce a very useable and cost effective telepresence robot. MantaroBot remote conferencing can be used for various applications. We plan to use the MantaroBot to enhance our own customer experience during conference calls," says Jeremy Parsons CEO of Mantaro.

Applications include:

* Attending meetings when working from home
* Touring a field office or factory floor and interacting with employees or customers
* Allowing medical patients to "virtually" be at home and interact with family
* Managing distance education or corporate training

Mantaro is taking orders for the $3,500 MantaroBot with shipments scheduled for February 2011. More information about the MantaroBot™ is available at the Mantaro website.

About Mantaro:
A products and product development services firm founded in 2001, Mantaro develops and sells products for a wide range of markets. Mantaro also provides a full range of engineering design services to its clients. The technical staff comprises highly talented full-time professional engineers with a history of successful new product development and innovating design experience. Mantaro serves consumer, government, industrial, medical, telecommunications, test & measurement, and transportation industries, and is located in Germantown, Maryland.

###

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 debuts: the 580 goes on a power diet to fit into $349 price bracket

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 05:43 AM PST

Want to know what the famous act of cutting down a graphics card to match a given price point looks like? Well, here it is, the $349 GTX 580 (aka GeForce GTX 570): it has 480 CUDA cores running at 1464MHz, a 732MHz graphics clock, and 1.25GB of GDDR5 memory hurtling along at an effective rate of 3.8GHz. Each of those specs represents a moderate downgrade from NVIDIA's original 500 series GPU, while the physical construction -- including that vapor chamber cooler -- is almost wholly identical to the 580. Aside from the paintjob, the only difference is that the GTX 570 can live on a pair of 6-pin auxiliary power connectors. The best comparison for the 570, however, turns out to be NVIDIA's former flagship, the GTX 480, as reviewers found the new card's performance to be nearly identical to the old tessellation monster. Verdicts invariably agreed that the 570 is quieter, cooler, and more power-efficient, making it pretty much a no-brainer of a purchase in its price bracket. Of course, every recommendation comes colored with the warning that AMD should finally be unveiling its upper-tier wares next week -- we'd wait the extra few days before parting with our cash.

Read - HardOCP
Read - Tech Report
Read - Hot Hardware
Read - AnandTech
Read - Bit-tech
Read - Hexus
Read - Legit Reviews
Read - PC Perspective
Show full PR text
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 GPU Gives Gamers Explosive Performance and Quiet Gaming

Built From the DNA of GTX 580, Just in Time for the Holidays

The new GeForce GTX 570 delivers the world's fastest DX11 performance in its class, and is up to 128 percent faster in today's newest DX11 tessellated games.

SANTA CLARA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/07/2010 -- Hot on the heels of last month's successful launch of the GeForce® GTX 580 graphics processing unit (GPU), NVIDIA® today announced the immediate availability of the GeForce GTX 570 -- the newest addition to its GTX 500 Series of DirectX 11 (DX11) GPUs designed for PC gaming enthusiast platforms. The GeForce GTX 570 brings a new level of DX11 price/performance to the enthusiast PC gaming market while maintaining quiet acoustics and is available starting today from the world's leading add-in card partners, including ASL, ASUS, Colorful, ECS, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Innovision 3D, Jetway, Leadtek, MSI, Palit, Point of View, PNY, Sparkle, Zotac and others.

Like all NVIDIA "DX11 Done Right" GPUs, the GTX 570 delivers the world's fastest performance for DirectX 11 (DX11) games in its class. When compared to the closest competitive product, the GTX 570 is up to 128 percent faster(i) in today's newest DX11 tessellated games, and even 30 percent faster(ii) in previous-generation DX9 and DX10 games as well. With all of this performance under the hood, it is no wonder why GeForce GPUs remain as the world's number one brand for consumer GPUs.

With full support for NVIDIA 3D Vision™ and NVIDIA Surround™ technologies, the GeForce GTX 570 GPU also provides the graphics horsepower and video bandwidth needed to experience games and high-definition Blu-ray movies in eye-popping stereoscopic 3D on a single display or spanning across three screens for an immersive gaming environment. And with NVIDIA SLI™ technology, the industry's most scalable multi-GPU platform, gamers will be delighted by the sheer increase in gaming performance by adding a second GeForce GTX 570 to their PC.

For a more lighthearted take on the GeForce GTX 570 and additional product specifications, please visit: http://bit.ly/hQRwIB

Note to editors: To download GTX 570 product shots and partner box images, please visit the GTX 570 Flickr page located here: http://bit.ly/gUwjtm

SGI's ICE Cube Air Modular Data Centers can be deployed anywhere, even in the hood

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 05:19 AM PST

SGI's ICE Cube Air Modular Data Centers can be deployed anywhere, even in the hood
SGI is a shadow of its former self, selling its name to Rackable Systems and appearing in some disgraceful situation comedies. We like to remember the old, harder, edgier SGI, a pioneer in the computer graphics industry when it came straight outta Sunnyvale in the '80s. Now it's back, launching the ICE Cube Air Modular Data Center, capable of housing four racks and expandable up to 80 and a total of 97,920 cores and 143.36PB of storage. Each unit is almost entirely self-sufficient, requiring only power and a supply of water, which can come from a plain old garden hose. Cost starts at $99,000, which isn't cheap, but we went ahead and ordered four. You know how we do it.

Show full PR text
SGI Announces New ICE Cube® Air Modular Data Center

A Complete Solution Starting at $99,000 and Operational in Hours Showcased at Gartner Data Center Conference 2010

Gartner Data Center Conference 2010
LAS VEGAS, Nev. & FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SGI (NASDAQ:SGI), a trusted leader in technical computing, today announced the introduction and immediate availability of SGI® ICE Cube® Air, a significant addition to its line of ICE Cube modular data centers (MDCs). ICE Cube Air is SGI's third generation product, representing four years of MDC design and deployment experience, and setting a new MDC industry standard with the following breakthrough benefits:

"New data centers are not like the old ones and organizations are making a break with the past, as evidenced by the rise of modular data centers"
HVAC completely eliminated;
Operational within hours;
Starting price of $99,000;
Elimination of costly and complex connections.
Capable of housing up to four compute racks, the new ICE Cube Air MDC expands in standard increments out to 80 racks/97,920 cores/143.36 PB. With highly efficient fans, along with an innovative three-stage evaporative cooling system, ICE Cube Air runs globally with air and evaporative cooling, achieving a power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratio of less than 1.06. Supplemental direct expansion (DX), or chilled water cooling coils, provides an optional cooling system for customers deploying in extreme environments. Using one percent of the water needed by standard water-chilled containers and requiring a water flow of only two gallons per minute, ICE Cube Air can get its water from almost any clean source, including a garden hose.

"By offering a standard array of small, medium and large configure-to-order data center designs, customers benefit from a supply chain that will allow them to quickly expand as their business needs grow, regardless of scale," said Patrick Yantz, senior director of Modular Data Center Engineering at SGI. "We now have three targeted design solutions backed by our global delivery of full service standard or design-to-order modular data centers."

The standard ICE Cube line is the densest and most flexible family of ISO container-based MDCs on the market today. Available in 20- and 40-foot length containers, these MDCs feature single- or dual-row designs along with universal configurations capable of achieving extreme density with PUE ratios of less than 1.12, utilizing a unique chilled-water technology that reduces cooling costs by as much as 80 percent over traditional data centers. These MDCs are the perfect choice for commercial, industrial and government applications where mobility is of prime concern.

SGI offers the following ICE Cube Air standard and ISO container-based model configurations. These highly customizable designs accommodate either fixed or roll-in racks and support third-party server and storage hardware.


Configuration ICE Cube Size Max Number of Units/Racks
Small
ISO 20 ft Up to 12 racks
( <1 MWatt)
Air 8 ft 4 racks in one unit, expandable to 4 units/16 racks
Medium
ISO 40 ft Up to 28 racks
(1 to 4 MWatts)
Air 20 ft 10 racks in one unit, expandable to 4 units/40 racks
Large
( >4 MWatts)
Air 20 ft 2 x 20 ft pair, 20 racks, expandable to 4 pairs/80 racks
"New data centers are not like the old ones and organizations are making a break with the past, as evidenced by the rise of modular data centers," said David Cappuccio, chief of infrastructure research at Gartner. "With organizations looking closely at power consumption, efficiency and more recently rapid scalability to satisfy deployment demands, increasing productivity requires innovation in data center cooling and design."

SGI is deploying the ICE Cube product line globally, and offers an array of engineering, professional and customer services, including individual site planning, reliability based site architecture, customized infrastructure, variable warranties and enhanced support packages via SGI's Worldwide Support Organization. SGI also offers advanced electrical and mechanical monitoring and controls in a single system that integrates seamlessly into existing facilities. Rich features, including API support via a web server within the system, allow ICE Cube Air integration into future versions of SGI's Management Suite of software management applications.

Availability and Pricing

The ICE Cube Air is available now with prices starting at $99,000. More information is available at www.sgi.com/icecubeair.

Note to Editors

SGI will demonstrate ICE Cube Air MDC on the show floor directly across from SGI booth # 29 at the Gartner Data Center Conference, taking place December 6-9, 2010, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.

High resolution photos of ICE Cube Air are available at sgi.com/media.

About the Gartner Data Center Conference 2010

The Gartner Data Center Conference is the most comprehensive compilation of sessions and advice on the future of the data center ever held. It offers the latest actionable insights and best practices in all areas affecting the data center – real-time infrastructure to servers and storage to business continuity and disaster recovery. Additional information is available at www.gartner.com/us/datacenter.

About SGI

SGI, a trusted leader in technical computing, is focused on helping customers solve their most demanding business and technology challenges. Visit www.sgi.com for more information.

© 2010 SGI. SGI and ICE Cube are registered trademarks or trademarks of Silicon Graphics International Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders.

PS3 update v3.55 adds 'a security patch,' nothing else

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 04:54 AM PST

PS3 update v3.55 adds 'a security patch,' nothing else
Another day, another annoying distraction when you turn on your PlayStation 3. Prepare to be prompted to update your machine, version 3.55 hitting the internets and offering a single thing: "a security patch." No word on exactly which holes are being spackled over or how long it'll take for modders to drill them back out again, but be sure to pledge your allegiance and update today, so that you can be better prepared to update again tomorrow.

Toshiba planning trio of tablets for CES: one each for Android, Chrome OS and Windows 7

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 04:27 AM PST

So what if the Libretto exited the common consciousness almost as quickly as it entered it while the Folio 100 was bad enough to get its major UK retailer to discontinue it? Toshiba promised it'd have a family of tablets for us by the end of 2011's first quarter and the plan apparently hasn't changed. DigiTimes is reporting today that three new Toshiba slates are set for their debut at CES in a month's time, two of them equipped with 10.1-inch screens and a third sized at 11.6 inches. Microsoft's Windows 7 and Google's Chrome OS and Android will each be responsible for providing the operating environment on one of these new tablets, indicating that Toshiba -- much like the rest of the world -- has yet to make up its mind about what the best tablet OS out there is. We should know more in just a few short weeks.

Work, play on a single phone: LG teams up with VMware to deploy Android handsets with virtualization

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 04:00 AM PST

VMware has been chatting up seamless, sexy virtualization among multiple operating systems on a single smartphone for some time -- and it's finally getting the opportunity to deliver en masse thanks to a new partnership with LG. Targeted at the enterprise, Korea's number two phone maker -- which is going into 2011 with a big Android push -- will be integrating VMware's virtualization technology into some of its models next year, starting with Android but potentially moving to other platforms (Windows Phone 7 comes immediately to mind) if the market demands it.

You might think that being able to virtualize a second operating system on your phone doesn't have much consumer relevance, but VMware's got a point: with smartphones becoming more of an end-user phenomenon than ever before, it's getting tougher for IT departments to sell employees on giving up their personal phones in favor of a secure, managed, corporate-provided alternative. With the virtualized setup, the work phone lives as an app within the personal phone -- two phone numbers, two complete environments, and only the work environment can be controlled by the IT nerds. Long term, the concept would be that employees could use whatever phone their little hearts desire -- companies would merely need to dump their VMware setup on top and you've suddenly got your work phone integrated. Follow the break for the press release and a video demo of VMware's virtualization software (on a Nexus One, not an LG) in action.


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LG AND VMWARE JOIN FORCES TO ACCELERATE ENTERPRISE ADOPTION OF EMPLOYEE-OWNED SMARTPHONES

Partnership Targets New Methods for Businesses to Manage Employee-Owned Mobile Devices

SEOUL and PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 7, 2010 – LG Electronics (LG) and VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), today announced a partnership to help enterprises of all sizes improve security and control of sensitive corporate data while enabling more flexible access via employee-owned mobile devices.

Using end user computing technology from VMware, LG is aiming to increase its footprint in the enterprise sector while providing more options for both consumer and business customers. This new technology will enable users to adopt the mobile device of their choice, while allowing corporate IT departments to manage sensitive data on those devices with enterprise-level security and compliance.

Initial efforts include enabling LG smartphones to securely run a work account in isolation from a user's personal account on a single mobile device. With this feature, LG mobile users will be able to safely carry a single device for both personal and work use. Solutions using mobile virtualization technology from VMware are expected to be available on LG smartphones in 2011.

"The enterprise and SMB markets are key areas of focus for LG," said Ki S. Kim, Vice President of Global Enterprise Solutions at LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "Our partnership with VMware is part of LG's global strategy to develop smart mobile devices for businesses. Enterprise IT organizations are looking for a way to embrace the growing trend of employee-owned mobile devices at work, while still maintaining control over their corporate data. VMware's industry leadership provides a platform for LG to extend its presence in enterprises and deliver compelling solutions that address the challenges raised by the convergence of IT and mobile communications."

Enterprises Embrace Employee Owned Mobile Devices
More than ever, organizations are dealing with two fundamental client-computing pain points – providing secure data access to an increasing number of mobile users, and managing the burgeoning diversity of data, applications and client devices within the enterprise. Establishing a new end user computing model to address these points is a fundamental component the VMware "IT as a Service" vision.

"As workforces become more mobile, our customers increasingly view today's new breed of mobile devices as mission critical tools for their business," said Dr. Stephen Herrod, CTO and senior vice president of R&D, VMware. "The reality is that today's employee-owned mobile devices are often more advanced than corporate offerings. As a result, the agile enterprise is looking to embrace new end user computing models that allow users to work on the devices they love. We are excited to work with LG to develop mobile solutions that address the end user desire for affinity and the enterprise desire for manageability, security and control."

"Smartphones are driving demand for an enhanced mobile experience as business- specific devices lose appeal and employees look to use their personal devices at work," said Stacy Crook, senior analyst for IDC's Mobile Enterprise research programs. "For the business market, the individual-liable, employee-owned model is here to stay. Savvy companies will embrace the trend and procure the necessary means to ensure that all devices with sensitive information are managed properly."

Humphrey Chen, executive director of New Technologies, Verizon Wireless added, "We're seeing interest from Verizon Wireless customers in the area of mobile personas, which allow a personal mobile phone to be leveraged in a professional setting in a secure way that is IT-approved. The kind of virtualization VMware offers helps to make this happen, and we're evaluating ways to help our customers achieve this.

Spider-man reboot is being shot in RED EPIC 3D, has John Schwartzman all kinds of excited

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 03:06 AM PST

You know that untitled Spider-man project that's set to revitalize the franchise at some point in 2012? Yeah, that's being shot in 3D (not news) using 3ality rigs and RED EPIC cameras (superhotawesome news). Peter Jackson already scooped up 30 EPICs to help him shoot his next big venture, The Hobbit, in 3D, but he's been beaten to the digital cinematography punch by the producers of the next Spidey flick, who have cornered a quartet of the cameras and actually started shooting with them on set yesterday. John Schwartzman, the dude responsible for filming the whole thing, has been extolling the virtues of using such fancy gear over on the RED forums, which is also where he promises his crew will be making further comments detailing the user experience. In slightly less thrilling RED news, the Scarlet S35 is being renamed to the EPIC Lite and will suffer the upheaval of having its features and price changed -- hit the links below for more.

[Thanks, Anthony]

The Aepel Phone is a product

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 02:34 AM PST

Um, ok look... we're not sure what the Aepel Phone is exactly. We know it's for girls because the t-shirt says so and we know it's a phone because it's right there in the product name. However, "phone" seems to be a whacky mistranslation of the "binary CDMA" tech used in the wireless mic. If we had to guess, we'd say it's a battery-powered compact speaker for fetishists ensnarled by their desire to read Canon service manuals to bespectacled teddy bears. It's more common than you think. Check the whole mangled press release after the break.
Show full PR text
The AEPEL Phone is a Product, Developed for the First Time in Korea by AEPEL Inc.

December 7, 2010

The AEPEL phone is a product, developed for the first time in Korea by AEPED Inc specialized in sound equipment, to combine the functions of the wireless microphone and mobile compact amplifier.

The AEPEL phone uses the binary CDMA technology, making it possible to provide clearer sound compared with the existing Bluetooth technology and also to use the multiple units of the products in the same area almost without causing noise or interference.

In addition to it, the product uses lithium polymer battery, allowing the product to be run for 20 hours when used for the function of amplifier, and 8 hours when used for the function of wireless microphone. The diffuser-type design of the horn enables the sound to be delivered not only indoors, but also outdoors.

Due to the extremely compact size as well as the weight of 288g, it is easy to carry the product with everyone. The aux terminal will allow customer to use a computers or MP3 by connecting it. The product also provides simultaneous outputs from the wireless and wired aux functions.

There are two different types of models, FC-730, which provides wireless and wired functions, and FC-530, which provides only wired function, while both of them are certified for FCC and CE.

While the main users have been those who use their voices a lot, such as teachers and instructors, there is a trend that the users have become diverse, like those in outdoor events, military bases and large-scale marts.

Samsung makes an Android 2.2 clamshell; unless you're in China, you can't have it

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:57 AM PST

It's not every day you see an old-school clamshell running Android, and really, there's a great reason for that: when your entire UI is touch-centric, putting the screen a few inches away from the user's thumb is a usability nightmare waiting to happen. Be that as it may, Samsung's rolled out a fairly sophisticated new folder in China under the name SCH-W899 that features not one, but two separate 3.3-inch Super AMOLED displays on either side of the phone's top half. You've got a 5 megapixel camera, 512MB of onboard storage expandable with a 32GB microSD slot, CDMA EV-DO compatibility for service on China Telecom, GSM roaming capability, and -- of course -- the kind of respect that only comes with using a phone with gold accents. We wouldn't expect to see this one in the Western Hemisphere apart from the rare import, so if you were thinking of getting into the collectible Android phone business, there might not be a better time. Lucrative, we hear.

Bonus points: count the number of gratuitous lens flares on the phone's official product page.

Visualized: the real Android fragmentation

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:07 AM PST

It's been staring you in the face all this time. The Android fragmentation that not only threatens, but dooms Google's mobile OS: the buttons are always in different places. How will we ever cope?

[Thanks, Drummertist]

Netflix ported WebKit to the PS3 to enable HTML5 goodies, a dynamically updatable UI

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 12:39 AM PST

Netflix caused a lot of head scratching in October when it started rolling out its new, disc-free Netflix experience for the PS3. Namely, different people were getting a different UI, and there didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the differentiation. Well, it turns out Netflix was flexing a bit of its HTML5 muscle, rapidly testing different experiences to see which ones worked best for users, all without having to push out app updates or back-end changes to accommodate its indecision. Apparently, Netflix's engineers actually ported WebKit to the PS3 to make all this possible, and hopefully it's a sign of things to come in the HTML5 iPhone, iPad, and Android apps -- which could probably use some serious sprucing, or even a bit of scattered rapid prototyping just to relieve the monotony. It's also seems to be good news for other PS3 apps which can lean on the framework -- presumably VUDU's own HTML5-based UI took advantage of this when it landed on the PS3 in November. What we'd really love is if Sony and Google are secretly in cahoots to bring the entirety of Chrome and its couch-friendly Google TV UI with it. Hey, we can dream, right?

Google Nexus S preview

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:30 PM PST

We're here at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference in San Francisco, and we've just had a chance to lay our ever-loving hands all over Google's latest wunderkind, the Nexus S. As you've probably already read and seen, the device is set to be the next flagship phone sporting a pure Google experience. That is, full-on Android 2.3 (AKA Gingerbread), sporting a subtly reworked user interface design, and touting some potentially powerful new features, like near-field communication compatibility (hardware permitting -- and this hardware does indeed permit). Speaking of nuts and bolts, the phone is no slouch, boasting all the design leanings of Samsung's wildly popular Galaxy S line, but packing them into a tighter, sleeker, faster package.

As you can see in the pictures and video below, we spent some quality time with the newest Nexus, and we've made a few professional observations -- so follow along after the break to get the full scoop.
Google Nexus S hands-on

Firstly, the phone is fast. We mean blazingly fast. Not only that, but the animations, touch response and general framerate on everything seems to be cranked closer to the vicinity of the iPhone 4. Not too surprising since the two share the same 1GHz Cortex A8-based Hummingbird processor core. What that means is that the experience of zipping around on the handset feels fluid and natural, with little of that Android-lag we've seen on earlier devices. If Froyo was a spit shine, this is a complete hot wax treatment.

The UI has also been nipped and tucked all over the place, with icons and navigational elements taking on more of a buffed glass feel. Menus now sport a slight bit of transparency, and there are thoughtful little details, like an orange glow that puffs up along the bottom or top of the screen when you reach the end of a scrollable list. When the phone goes to sleep, there's an effect of an old cathode ray TV being switched off, and even something as innocuous as the phone dialer has been refined. Google has made big improvements to the keyboard, copy / paste, and text selection options, bringing the on-screen QWERTY and its associated components much closer to parity with iOS 4.

As far as the hardware is concerned, this is fairly familiar Galaxy S fare, though the curved design and few interesting choices (like the bottom headphone jack and Micro USB port and "reversed chin") give the phone some character. We were told by Google that the front of the device is meant to convey a continuous, unbroken surface from the status bar to the bottom buttons, and that's definitely the case. The piano black housing and odd, almost alien curvature of the device give it an ethereal, ghostly quality that we quite like. Even if the thing is an unstoppable smudge magnet. Inside, the device boasts 16GB of storage, but weirdly no microSD slot. However, Android 2.3 creates a partition which replicates a mounted SD card, and the company has streamlined the process of copying apps to that space using a simple checkbox.

We also had a chance to test the NFC of the device, and while nothing really mind-blowing at the moment, it has the potential to become a very interesting new method of interaction between our devices and our surroundings. Unlike QR codes, the function doesn't require any app launching or picture snapping -- you simply get your phone within range of the target. The new cameras (that's a VGA front-facing shooter and 5 megapixel rear number) seem to function well, and switching from the front to the back takes minimal hunting and pecking.


We'll have a full, thorough review of the phone in the coming days, but for now, feast your eyes on the photos and video in this post, and get ready for the next stage of Android's evolution.

Gingerbread ROMs start cooking for HTC EVO 4G et al; keyboard ported for rooted Androids

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:50 PM PST

You can have your doubts about when your phone maker will finally get around to delivering an Android 2.3 update (March if you're with HTC, June if Samsung, 2017 if you're unfortunate enough to own a Sony Ericsson), but the smartphone dev community doesn't work that slowly. The guys who build custom ROMs just for the sheer pride of it have already begun work on delivering Gingerbread to owners of HTC's EVO 4G, Droid Eris, and Wildfire. It's all in the very nascent stages and warnings abound that you should only install these ROMs if you intend to contribute to the development process, but it does give us hope for a consumable new OS in the not so distant future. One thing that does look ready to be gobbled up, however, is Gingerbread's new software keyboard -- you'll find the download and installation instructions at the Droid-Life link below, just remember to bring your rooted Android phone along.

[Thanks, Jacob]

Archos 70b eReader stops at the FCC on its way to the Google eBookstore

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:53 PM PST

Oh look, another Android-based eReader has just exposed itself to the fine men and women of the FCC's test labs. This time it's Archos under the lens with its previously unannounced 70b eReader (model 7702). Specs include 802.11b/g WiFi, a USB jack, stereo speakers, an SD card reader, and support for Adobe Digital Editions DRM making it compatible with the Google eBookstore launched yesterday. And because the 70b eReader is built around what looks like a 7-inch color LCD, it also support video and image playback in full color. Check out the frontside display as well as some interface grabs from the user manual in the gallery below.
Archos 70b eReader stops at the FCC on its way to the Google eBookstore

iPad 2 begins shipping from Foxconn in February for April launch?

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:15 PM PST

The source is DigiTimes so take this rumor for what you will. Nevertheless, the Taiwanese tattle house is citing sources at local component makers claiming that Foxconn has been notified that it must ship Apple's "iPad 2" within the next 100 days or as early as the end of February. DigiTimes says that Apple's plan to start mass production in January had to be pushed because of ongoing firmware testing. Note that this doesn't mean that the second generation iPad will ship to consumers in February since Apple would be stockpiling units ahead of a global launch in April, according to DigiTimes. The original iPad was announced in January and began US shipments in April before starting its relentless global march in May.

DIY Star-Trek style air powered sliding doors are something from the future that you can have at home right now

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:58 PM PST

So, we don't mind a small home renovation project every now and then, and this is one we're seriously considering. Instructables has posted a step-by-step guide on installing sliding doors which are powered by an air compressor, and which look super cool. As you'll see in the video which is after the break, it's a pretty simple idea, which requires a pretty fair amount of work, but the results are very impressive. The sliding doors are controlled by a panel switch and have a key which can lock them open or shut, and the door also boasts a vent above it for air ventilation after operation. Yes, we actually want one of these.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread in pictures

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:29 PM PST

You may not be able to get Android 2.3 loaded in any official capacity on your Nexus One yet -- or any other phone, for that matter -- but Google's 2.3 SDK is now available, which means there's an emulator attached, too. As with most development emulators, this one's a stripped-down subset of the apps and settings you'd see on an actual retail device; basically, all that's left is the bare minimum Google figures its developers are going to need to code apps. Be that as it may, we noticed a few things that stuck out:
  • Overall, the UI changes are extremely subtle, and generally for the better. We prefer the new looks for the status bar, keyboard, and menus over their Froyo equivalents.
  • We couldn't get a sense of the performance improvements -- the emulator is slow as molasses for us and really has zero bearing on how it'll perform on devices.
  • When you reach the end of a scrolled list, the side of the list that has reached the end glows orange briefly, presumably to make it even more obvious that you're at the end. Even the browser does this -- it's an interesting effect that we kind of liked.
  • The miserable default camera UI is exactly the same. Expect manufacturers to continue to replace this with wild abandon.
  • The Gmail app isn't included in the emulator, so fear not when you're looking at the screen shot of the unthreaded messages -- that's the "standard" email app.
  • The fingertip-sized markers for highlighting text work quite well, including in the browser. They seem to consistently disappear after a few seconds and automatically highlight and / or copy the text in between the markers; we're not sold on whether we like that behavior.
Clearly, the jury's out until we've got a Nexus S firmly planted in our hands -- but in the meanwhile, check out a bunch of shots of Gingerbread doing its thing in the gallery below.
Android 2.3 Gingerbread in pictures

Google Maps for Mobile 5 unveiled, adds dynamic map drawing and offline mode

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:59 PM PST

Why look at static images when you can get a more 3D view of the urban scene? Google's Maps for Mobile 5 just got previewed on stage by Andy Rubin at D: Dive Into Mobile -- with a prototype Motorola Honeycomb tablet, no less! The biggest visual change is dynamic map drawing: vectors instead of flat images that scale without render hiccups and will show the buildings fleshed out for over 100 cities -- we gotta say, it looks great. Even more fun is that you can now use two fingers to tilt and rotate around the map (in addition to moving and pinch-to-zoom, of course). We've been told it's a much snappier experience, and the storage for these vectors is much smaller than the current images, which brings us to... offline caching. Maps will keep on file the locations that you go to (and search) most often, and it'll be able to reroute while offline in Navigation. You'll still need a connection for altering the route altogether -- sorry, subway-hoppers -- but once you go, even if you stray, you'll still be rerouted back on track.

Most modern Android phones from the original Droid onward should be able to enjoy most if not all the new features, depending on hardware capabilities (3D rendering) and "distinct multitouch" hardware support -- the Nexus One, interestingly enough, supports vector maps but not the rotate functionality because it lacks the latter multitouch requirements. Google sent us a list of devices that support 100 percent of 5.0's features, which you can find after the break. The update is due out in the "coming days," according to Rubin. Great way to kick off Nexus S' launch, then.
Google Maps for Mobile 5.0
  • Galaxy S
  • Droid
  • Droid X
  • Droid 2
  • Droid Incredible
  • Evo
  • Nexus S
  • G2

Android Honeycomb coming 'next year,' adds tablet support

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:50 PM PST

Sure, Google might have just dropped Android 2.3 Gingerbread on the Nexus S just today, but that's old news -- Andy Rubin just took the stage at D: Dive Into Mobile and announced that Honeycomb is due "next year" with support for tablets. Andy demoed the new version of the OS on a Motorola prototype tablet, and it was very different, and highly customized -- although there were still grids of icons, the apps were more "desktop" in flavor, and the traditional Android buttons weren't present. We're waiting for more details, we'll let you know what's up.

Motorola Android tablet prototype makes a cameo at D: Dive Into Mobile running Honeycomb

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:37 PM PST

Google's Andy Rubin brought more than just a Nexus S in his bag of goodies tonight. On stage at D: Dive Into Mobile, the man has brought with him a prototype Android tablet from Motorola. It's got video chat, an NVIDIA processor, a "dual core 3D processor," and... oh yeah, it runs Honeycomb, not Gingerbread. Little else is known -- Rubin immediately turned his attention to a new release of Google Maps -- but we wouldn't be surprised if we were looking at Stingray, a tablet rumored for a launch on Verizon shortly. Is it seven inches? Ten? We honestly don't know -- but our gut tells us on the bigger side of the spectrum, which would line up with rumblings that the Stingray would in fact be a full ten inches diagonally. Feast your eyes on our pics below!
Motorola Android tablet prototype makes a cameo at D: Dive Into Mobile

Updated: Video after the break!

Google's Andy Rubin live from D: Dive Into Mobile

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:39 PM PST


8:12PM And that's it. Thanks for reading! We'll have more from the event tomorrow, including Jon Rubinstein and Mike Lazaridis!

8:10PM Us: You brought Matias Duarte over from Palm -- is he going to clean this up?

Andy: I think you'll see the fruits of that investment soon.


8:09PM Andy: You saw it on the tablet.

Us: So Honeycomb, for phones -- that's your new UI?

Andy: Yes.

8:08PM Q (from us): One of the things about Android is that it seems a bit clunky? Are we going to see a sea change in a more user friendly OS?

Andy: I understand what you are saying. I would characterize Android as an early adopter platform (or for those married to people that are tech enthusiasts). We know the difference between customization and personalization -- that was the concept. We wanted to allow people to change things with widgets and menus. We had to make concessions there. Anyone can go to the Android Market now and start personalizing. I think you will start to see more of what you are talking about.
7:59PM Q: What can you share with us about plans for Android on TVs. Where are the biggest challenges in that space?

Andy: That's what Google TV is. One of the things we haven't mentioned is that I get pleasantly surprised when I find new uses of Android.








7:53PM Q: I'm the CEO of Appolicious. One thing you didn't touch on was discoverability. How can you improve that for Android?

Andy: This is all evolving. We're always adding new features and functionality...

Q: But page rank doesn't matter?

Andy: We're about organizing things...

7:51PM Q: What are the plans for Android to focus on the enterprise market?

A: Well we did a little bit. I think we need to do more. We welcome third parties to add software to the stack. We're not there yet. I think with the addition of cloud apps it changes things a little bit, the IT manager doesn't have to invest in the same way.

7:50PM Walt: You have a lot of apps for Android. Is that call going to dry up with web apps?

Andy: No. I think we just want to make the apps on the web better.

7:47PM Andy: So Google is a web company, but we feel like development has slowed down a little bit. We think there's a gap. So Google has taken the Chrome team and their charter is to evolve the web.

Walt: And how is that different than Android?

Andy: It's about the web, and moving the web forward.

7:46PM Time for audience questions. Q: Does the Chrome OS team talk to you? What is the difference?"


7:45PM So the tablet is running Honeycomb, and it's definitely a highly customized and different version of Android. There appears to be a desktop-like environment. Gmail is much more like it's iPad-optimized counterpart. There are still grids of icons. The tablet has no buttons -- no home, back, etc.








7:43PM Walt: "The tablet. What version is that?" Andy: "This is Honeycomb. And it'll be out sometime next year." Walt: "Is this a version that happens to work on tablets, or is it for tablets?" Andy: "It's a bit of both."







7:41PM "This same version runs on phones and tablets."

7:41PM "This is a vector version of maps."

7:39PM "So what we're showing off is some pretty cool performance. Again, about to launch. It'll be on cellphones in a matter of days."










7:39PM "So here we have Google Maps. It's not quite out yet. I have it in SF. I just did a search. I can zoom in. As I zoom in you see I have more detail... taking advantage of 3D processing power. This is a NVIDIA processor, a dual core 3D processor." Whoa, he just tilted into 3D view on the buildings.


7:37PM The moto tablet has video chat. Andy just let it slip.

7:37PM "I'm going to fire it up and do some demos."

7:37PM Oh snap.

7:37PM Andy: "This is a prototype of a Motorola tablet that's running Android."

7:37PM Uh oh!


7:37PM Andy: "I don't like to create these islands..."

7:36PM Walt: "You didn't... add video calling. Is there a chance you'll do that? I know there are third parties doing it, it seems like a natural thing that it belongs in the phone function. But that would be on you." Kara: "Like FaceGoogle or GoogleTime." Andy: "GoogleTime, I like that. If consumers want it, we'll add it."

7:35PM Walt: "If I upgrade to this, I don't get NFC." Andy: "There's a hardware component." Walt: "So what is different?" Andy: "We've added a bunch of things. Garbage Collector makes the phone run faster, SIP services... we took away the trackball."

7:34PM Walt: "This is the first phone with Gingerbread." Andy: "Right, that's our lead device."


7:33PM Kara: "What is Nexus?" Andy: "Nexus is the pure version of Android. It's unlocked. It's the pinnacle of what we think we can achieve when working with a hardware partner."


7:32PM Apparently Andy placed something tablet-shaped on the ground. We have no idea what it was. Ooh. Excitement.

7:32PM Walt: "Boarding an airplane?" Andy: "Boarding an airplane perhaps, but we hope developers will find all kinds of ways to use these."

7:31PM Kara: "This is pretty geeky." Andy: "It is, but you could have places that say 'put your phone here'"


7:31PM Walt: "Is the result of that always a URL?" Andy: "It could be other things. It's a lot like QR codes."








7:30PM Andy: "Okay, if I had a good network connection..."

7:30PM Andy: "If I get one of these near field cards out of my bag... so you can have these tags, it's just a piece of paper, it has the printed equivalent of what's on the phone, and I can hold the phone up to the card and it will play a video..." Which it did not do.


7:29PM Andy: "This is a device we launched today. This is my personal device, I have no idea what's on the screen. But this has a few new things. It was a rear camera, it has a gyro in it, standard stuff... but it has NFC in it, near field communication. You can see here if I take off the back, you can see it."






7:27PM The Nexus S is out!

7:27PM Walt: "Okay, but nothing in your source code, but is it something AT&T or Verizon, could they have added something?" Andy: "Not that I know of, and I wouldn't agree to it." Walt: "But Google services are on those devices." Andy: "They are, and they send the same information that we send on PCs... and this is all in our terms of service and you can see how we can use your data..." Walt: "So this is not fingerprinting... could it be, is it possible?" Andy: "Well, a phone has a phone number... so you don't even have to fingerprint it to find it."



7:25PM Kara: "A competitor of yours said 'you've got to ask about what they're sending back' like it's a probe in your pocket. The fact that Google is like the Borg collecting all this stuff... that occurs to me every time I get near an Android phone." Andy: "Well, I understand the concern, but look at the source... a competitor -- there's some FUD there. There's nothing in the Android OS that sends keystrokes or what you download back to Google."



7:23PM Andy: "I think if you've done a good job with an interface, you make it a reflex for a person. Look at a car -- you learn to drive when you're 16, and then you just know it. And there are little changes, and these guys do a lot of work to make sure things are in the right place, those little pieces of evolution... these things get better and better. With things like tablets, we're in the middle of one of those hockey sticks of evolution, and I think it's really exciting."

7:21PM Walt: "But you put your finger on something... it's only been a matter of months since we've had these tablets... we're going to see a bunch of Android tablets, a new iPad... maybe some Windows ones. But what is it that makes it more immersive... I'm resisting, I'm not going to say magical, which is Jobs' word."


7:20PM Andy: "Well you remember PDAs... you go through these evolutions of tweener products, the things you carry every day and the things you carry some of the time, those change. There are different use cases and different times to use these."


7:20PM Kara: "You're talking about having a different relationship? I was just talking to Bloomberg and he said the best relationship he ever had was with his iPad."

7:19PM Walt: "But we've had that on phones..." Andy: "But in the grand scheme, that's new!"


7:19PM Walt: "So we've seen Android tablets, someone on your team said that Android isn't optimized for it. We're hearing that Honeycomb, an update, will be the tablet update. What do you think about tablets?" Andy: "I don't come out of the box and say this will replace this... but tablets are changing the way we deal with computers. You touch it, it's immersive. It's light, you can manipulate it. The metaphor is much more physical. It's direct manipulation."



7:17PM Andy: "But I think it's hard to get all these teams together." Kara: "Harder than starting from scratch. Will they make an Android phone? You want everyone to make an Android phone." Andy: "Well there's no reason..." He stopped himself short of saying that everyone should make Android phones.

7:16PM Andy: "Well look, they bought QNX, they bought TAT, one of the UI designers for Android. They're doing the right things..." Walt: "But don't they have a problem with losing the people who fell in love with their product. You don't want to turn off those people suddenly?" Andy: "I think you can play it right. I think you can do that. I've seen people doing it before. The PlayBook is interesting..." Walt: "We'll have it here tomorrow."




7:15PM Walt: "It's hard to have a iconic product, it becomes part of the language, people love it... BlackBerry has been one of those products. It seems to be fading in the face of the new guys. What can they do?" Andy: "It's kind of the RAZR thing -- you have an iconic product, it slipped away, so what did Moto do? Switched to Android." Walt: "Oh so that's what RIM should do?"

7:13PM Kara: "So did you meet with them?" Andy "I'm not going to talk about that."

7:13PM Kara: "In Finland?" Andy: "No..." Walt: "Don't let him get away with that!" Andy: "When we sat down and made Android open source, one of our guys said this is the last bit blitter I'm ever going to have to write... because it's open..."


7:11PM Kara: "Who isn't competing?" Andy: "Nokia, really..." Kara: "Did you go and try to convince them to use Android?" Andy: "No."

7:11PM Walt: "So you think they can have some success?" Andy: "Well I can't predict, but I think so... if I could advise them I would tell them to look into more carrier and OEM customization... to be more open..."


7:09PM Walt: "Is there nothing praiseworthy in WP7? They obviously aware of you guys. There's more in common with the iPhone and Android than with Windows Phone... is that going to work for them?" Andy: "I think it's a good 1.0 product. It does look good, it looks unique. And there are these services that we talked about." Walt: "And Microsoft has those.." Andy: "Yeah, Xbox -- huge potential there."

7:08PM Kara: "So you're like laundry fresh..."

7:08PM Walt: "You were very nice about Apple... but there are other players. Microsoft has gotten back in the game... I think of your phones and iPhones as super smartphones... but can you talk about BlackBerry and Microsoft?" Andy: "I don't think it's ever going to be just two... I do think that Android has a distinctive advantage, so does the iPhone. It's new -- we have no legacy." Kara: "That was the idea behind Palm." Andy: "Yeah, they cleared the slate. And that's a big advantage. And some of these guys, Windows Mobile, there's code in there that's 20 years old." Walt: "You're saying there's 20 year old code in Windows Phone 7?" Andy: "Yes, it's built from the same codebase that Windows Mobile 1.0 was built on." Walt: "Is it bad code?" Andy: "Well, I'll bet a lot of the engineers that built that old code aren't there anymore."


7:05PM Andy: "If we were a start up, we probably wouldn't have made it." Walt: "To clarify... Android is profitable by iteself?" Andy: "Yes." Walt: "That's very cool."


7:04PM Walt: "You get revenue from iPhone people with your Google apps... does Android make money?" Andy: "A lot of people have the Google search bar, fundamentally we believe that has to be the best search product. Whether they type it in to the browser or they just go and search, that's important." Walt: "But are you making money... how do you make money? Are you profitable?" Andy: "Yes." Kara: "Very?" Laughs from the crowd.


7:02PM Andy: "Apple's a company that learns from its mistakes." Kara: "So ad funded... as long as we keep clicking on things, it doesn't matter if your products are successful or not... is Android profitable?" Walt: "Does Android make any money?" Kara: "How much, down to the penny?"


7:01PM Andy: "We had search, and docs, gmail.... and that's completely funded by the advertising business... that freedom for the engineers produced rapid innovation -- trying to do that as a one man job in this world, where one man couldn't get distribution... I think the web is the center of this." Walt: "So do you think Apple has the DNA to do that kind of thing?"

7:00PM Walt: "Everyone has been talking about Apple building this data center... people are assuming cloud services... so you were there, that's another place to compete..."

6:59PM Kara: "How do you look at Apple as a competitor? If you had to assess their strategy, how would you do it?" Andy: "Certainly they make great consumer products, focused, consistent... more recently I see them getting involved in this other spectrum of the eco system... services, App Stores, book stores, iTunes... there's going to be a Mac desktop App Store. So I think that when you start moving into that area, that creates a lot of new opportunities. If Android is the razor, the blades are the services."



6:57PM Walt: "So when Jobs said you were fragmented... and you tweeted, just some arcane... tell everyone what it was." Andy: "I tweeted the commands to extract the Android source code and build it on your PC. And I said that was my definition of open." Walt: "But you just said they're pretty open, so what does that mean?" Andy: "There's different degrees of open."

6:56PM Andy: "This innovation is happening at a pace that's so fast that the operators are just embracing it..." Kara: "If the iPhone opened up, they would embrace that too?" Andy: "I think they are embracing it. They're actually fairly open."



6:55PM Andy: "Well when the firestorm started about that, the carriers called us and said 'how do we get this stuff off of the phones'..." Walt: "But they put it on!"

6:55PM Andy: "This is about openness -- to let a consumer change the phone and customize it the way they want." Kara: "The consumer you're talking about... but I couldn't get any of that Verizon stuff off of it. Then I threw it against the wall."

6:54PM Kara: "Do you consider yourself the Microsoft of phone OSs?" Andy: "Well... no. We're the Linux of phones..." Walt: "You mean hard to get drivers for, no normal consumer will buy it?" Big laughs. Andy: "Well we know that's not true." Walt: "Then maybe it's not the best comparison."

6:53PM Walt: "You don't think there's any danger at all with, as carriers move to replace the Google apps... I thought one of the rationales is that you're promoting Google as a platform..." Andy: "Well that's what we're doing, and if that's what consumers want they're going to ask for it and look for it..." Walt: "Explain Bing then." Andy: "Well that's consumer choice, they vote with their wallet on one side and their feet on the other."


6:52PM Andy: "One of the things with Android is that we can differentiate. We let people go in and make them look completely different but all the apps magically still work -- that's a feature of Android."


6:51PM Walt: "So anyone can use it, but one interesting thing that I've noticed... I don't review everything, but the ones that seem to be... milestones... when I look at some of these I notice more and more that they're taking on the personality of the carrier. Not you, not the handset maker... there's a lot of what I call 'craplets' on there. And there was one instance, Verizon, where they swapped you out for Bing. And some basic maps are carrier branded... it's some... I don't know. These may be fine apps, but you're kind of seeing Android becoming the OS that the carriers feel they can use to differentiate..." Kara: "Focus on the craplets... the idea that you're a creature of these carriers..."


6:49PM Andy: "It's frictionless for these OEMs. They can check it out without a contract or money changing hands. I credit the open nature with the rapid adoption."


6:49PM Walt: "Speaking of carriers, I want to talk to you about the evolution of Android, but before that I'd like a status report on where you think you are..." Andy: "I think we're doing pretty well -- if you compare the size of this audience to CES, we're drawing more people. We were a start up that got picked up by Google... it's been a little over two years since it's been out, we've got over 172 phone SKUs... 50 countries... it's scaled very well. I credit that to A: pretty good software, and B: it's open..."


6:47PM Andy: "Since it's not online, we don't have to be the aggregators of the world's carriers."

6:47PM Kara: "Did you abandon that idea then?" Andy: "Well we offer the Nexus S unlocked, you can also get it on a carrier. But we're not doing the provisioning etc..."

6:46PM Walt: "The carriers weren't happy about it..." Andy: "We negotiated all these deals, it wasn't that we couldn't do it. But from a scale perspective... we had to connect every operator we were working with, in different languages, countries... we realized it was going to take 3 months to do every carrier. We thought it would be better to focus on things like Gingerbread..."


6:45PM Andy: "Well, the Nexus One was two things -- it was first the hardware part, and then you could go and pick a carrier. We may have bit off more than we can chew. We thought it was ready to happen for cellphones..." Kara: "What do you mean bit off more than you can chew?"



6:44PM Kara: "Let's start with the origins of Android. One of the ideas about Android and the Nexus One was that you were going to do this differently than everyone else. It hasn't quite turned out that way."


6:43PM Kara: "You brought a satchel of things..." Andy: "Yep."

6:43PM Kara: "Our first guest is Andy Rubin... but I don't typically get on the stage with Google execs... I want to disclose that I'm married (or I'm trying to marry) someone from Google..." Walt: "So with that... Andy Rubin from Google."


6:42PM Kara: "We wrote a few years ago that we thought that mobile was the future of everything..." Walt: "We're going to try and touch on different parts of the ecosystem... as you all know, it IS an ecosystem, if you yank out one of the parts the rest isn't nearly as exciting... and we're not just talking about smartphones, we'll talk tablets too."

6:41PM Walt and Kara are, of course, out. Kara: "We wanted to do something intimate and smaller... we felt mobile was critically important..." Walt: "And worth a deep dive."

6:41PM "Ladies and gentlemen, Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher!"

6:35PM We're in our seats and there's some funky, funky music on the loudspeakers here at Dive Into Mobile. Did we mention that it's funky?
Stay tuned... there's some serious Nexus S / Android action about to occur.

Yoomi and Duo join forces for an 'Apples to Apples' esque experience... on your Apple iPad

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:23 PM PST

Because your game board of an iPad can't always be used for heated, futuristic Scrabble matches or perennially peeved pigeons, Discovery Bay Games has devised a divertissement of its own that, in its words (no pun intended), requires no reading. Actually, Yoomi for has a really cool trick in that it uses the Duo, a chip collector that rests on top of the display. Here's how it works: one person picks (the selection hidden from the group by the Duo) between two cards with no criteria whatsoever (e.g. Loch Ness Monster or Big Foot). The rest of the group puts a token into the slot corresponding to their guess. Once the correct answer is revealed, the Duo "magically" (how coy) knows which answer was right and drops the tokens into the connected bin, leaving those who guessed wrong to pick up the pieces and try again. First player to rid themselves of all tokens wins! Interested in actually letting your family drop things on the iPad screen this holiday season? App is free, Duo is $40 from Toys R Us -- and if you're still need more, video is after the break.

HTML5 prettifies fan-made Tron trailer... in real time! (video)

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:41 PM PST

What can HTML5 do for you? Quite a lot, as it happens. A chap by the name of Franz Enzenhofer has put together a real-time effects mixer for a fan-made Tron trailer, which combines HTML5 with a dash of JavaScript and a sprinkling of CSS to demonstrate the awesome potency of open web standards. You can recolor, reposition, rotate, stretch, or skew the video, all while it plays. We've got the unaltered trailer, made earlier this year as a sort of homage to the 1982 picture, for you after the break, but you'll want to hit the source link to start post-processing it with the finest browser-based video editor yet.

Mo-DV bringing major motion pictures to microSD cards

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:58 PM PST

Hard to say why this here fad is just now catching on -- after all, select studios warmed to the idea of putting their content onto portable flash storage years ago. That said, we've seen both Flix on Stix and this here contraption surface within the same month, but honestly, we're having a hard time believing that it's a niche waiting to explode. Mo-DV has just announced a new Universal Player for microSD cards, enabling Symbian, Android, Windows Mobile and your everyday Windows PC to play back DRM'd movies stored on a microscopic slab of memory. As for Android users, they'll need version 2.1 or newer, and while few details are given, the company has confessed that more platform support is coming (good luck, Windows Phone 7). No one's talking pricing or release information just yet, but potentially more frightening is this: has anyone ever considered just how inconvenient it is to keep a handful of microSD cards around, let alone swap them in and out of your smartphone?
Show full PR text
Mo-DV Enables Movie Studios to Securely Distribute Movies on Micro SD Cards for Android Devices

Mo-DV Universal Player enables the play of protected content across cell phones, PCs and tablets via USB Flash Drives and Micro SD Cards

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mo-DV, an innovator of multimedia content delivery via USB Flash Drives and Micro SD Cards, today announced that its Mo-DV Universal Player™ intellectual property (IP) with Digital Rights Management (DRM) is now enabling major movie studios to securely offer movies on SD cards for Android devices. This milestone follows Mo-DV's success in enabling movie studios to securely offer their movies to consumers, for the past two years, via USB Flash Drives.

"We are excited to expand upon our USB Flash Drive success by now offering Mo-DV Universal Player technology on Micro SD cards for the Android operation system (version 2.1 and later)"

"We are excited to expand upon our USB Flash Drive success by now offering Mo-DV Universal Player technology on Micro SD cards for the Android operation system (version 2.1 and later)," said Jessica Fullmer, CEO of Mo-DV. "There is increasing demand for movies on USB Flash Drives and SD cards rather than on DVDs, as these newer formats are more portable, offer a wide variety of options at a reasonable price point, and they can be used on numerous mobile platforms as well as on PCs. Furthermore, movies on Flash memory devices are a more suitable option than downloading content over the Internet, as today's viewers aren't willing to deal with downloading delays, picture flickers, fade out and lost signals. As such, we are looking forward to targeting our technology to more SmartPhone operating systems in the months to come."

Over the past two years, two major motion picture studios have released movies stored on USB Flash Drives, utilizing Mo-DV's Mo-DV Universal Player and DRM technology, in parallel with movies released on DVDs and Blu-ray. The movies on USB Flash Drives, containing Mo-DV technology, can be readily identified by looking for the Mo-DV logo on the product packaging. These products have been sold through large retailers including Fry's Electronics, Office Max, Media Markt, and Gamestation. The new Micro SD cards, with movie content, provide mobile device retailers sales-incentive opportunities.

Mo-DV's Mo-DV Universal Player, backed by patent 7,508,943B2, allows the play of protected content across multiple platforms and thus eliminates the need to create separate SKUs for each platform. Movie studios can more readily prevent the illegal duplication of their content with Mo-DV for USB Flash Drives and Micro SD Cards-an issue that couldn't be easily combated with distribution of content on DVDs. The technology is designed to enable content owners to specify a range of variables including the number of downloads allowed, number of plays allowed, and whether content can be copied from one appliance to another.

Gary Schultz, president and principal analyst at Multimedia Research Group, Inc. noted, "Delivering movie content on Micro SD Cards and USB Flash is becoming increasingly more prolific. Yet, with this comes the potential for pirating content. Mo-DV's technology alleviates these concerns with its DRM. It also offers another important advantage, it enables a single memory device such as a Micro SD card or USB Flash to play movies on multiple operating systems and on multiple platforms."

Mo-DV Universal Player is designed to work on USB Flash Drives and Micro SD Cards across diverse platforms including: cellphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs. For cellphones the Mo-DV Universal Player supports these operating systems: Symbian S60 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions, Windows Mobile 5 and 6 series, with others following shortly. For laptops and PCs, Mo-DV Universal Player supports Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Mo-DV's product offerings are available to content owners, hardware manufacturers, carriers and memory manufacturers. Adoption of the technology is relatively simple. Upon licensing it is loaded as a disk image onto the flash memory device during the USB Flash Drive or Micro SD Card duplication process.

About Mo-DV

Mo-DV provides its patented multiplatform video player with Digital Rights Management (DRM) to store, and distribute video and audio content securely via USB Flash Drives and SD cards for use on mobile devices and PCs. Its technology turns portable devices with USB and SD card ports into movie, music and video players. With this software technology, Mo-DV aims to revolutionize the way media distributors, retailers, kiosk manufacturers, memory card manufacturers, and movie studios distribute video and other multimedia content to consumers. Founded in 2002, Mo-DV is a privately held company based in Campbell, Calif. For more information, visit www.mo-dv.com.

Android 2.3 definitely supports game controls, may (or may not) be PlayStation-related

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:14 PM PST

Google's really been big today on emphasizing that Gingerbread is better than ever for game development, and that's already bearing itself out thanks to a page culled from the Android 2.3 SDK where we see a handful of new keycodes in the system clearly targeted for gaming: L1, L2, R1, R2, Select, Start, and so on. Does it have anything to do with the Sony Ericsson Zeus Z1 and all the PlayStation phone noise, though? We imagine it lays some of the groundwork, but all told, it's hard to say -- after all, PlayStation famously uses shapes for its primary controls, and we wouldn't be surprised if Sony were working on a separate development environment of some sort for PlayStation-branded titles rather than letting it all flow through the official Android SDK proper. We also don't yet know whether Sony Ericsson's gaming efforts are coming in the Gingerbread or the Honeycomb timeframe (though we're definitely expecting news next February at MWC), but one way or another, game devs should find it a little easier now to map the controls they need.

ReWalk exoskeleton on sale in January, for a price you can't afford

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:46 PM PST

We've had our eyes on Argo Medical Technologies' ReWalk for a couple years, ever since the exoskeleton walked into view with a gait (and a sound) eerily reminiscent of RoboCop's. The device weighs seven pounds and features two leg braces with motorized joints and motion sensors, a harness, and a backpack for holding the computer that controls the device and a battery that should last a good three-and-a-half hours. In addition to giving paraplegics the ability to walk, this bad boy can be used to treat the health complications of those who cannot walk on their own, including digestive, cardiovascular, and circulatory issues. After clinical trials in the US and Israel, the device is due to go on sale to rehab centers worldwide this January. The cost for one will be in the $100,000 mark.

RIM gives lengthy PlayBook demo at Rogers conference, confirms 4G is on tap

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:23 PM PST

We've already gotten a glimpse of some of RIM's PlayBook demo at the recent TabLife conference, but Rogers has now finally posted the complete video of what may well be the most comprehensive look at the device to date. That includes a peek at the most recent software build, a demonstration of 1080p video playback, and a look at the device's "true multitasking" capabilities -- which, incidentally, was all demonstrated using just one half of the device's dual-core processor. What's more, RIM's David Neale also confirmed that the device will indeed support 4G at some point in the future, and he naturally addressed some of Apple's recent criticisms of smaller tablets, saying that "there is room in the world for different shapes." Head on past the break for the full 17-minute video.


at 11:51 AM

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