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Thursday, February 3, 2011

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Kno shipments delayed, no word on why or for how long

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 10:38 AM PST

What is it with tablets and ship date shenanigans? After getting some tips from Kno pre-orderers (who should've started receiving this monstrosity last year) that their shipments had been delayed, we pinged Kno and got some ultra-vague confirmation of that fact:
Things at Kno are going well. However, as you noted below, there has been a shipment delay. As soon as Kno has new information, we will share that with customers and can certainly give you a heads up if that is helpful.
There's no mention of any of this on Kno's website, and typically with this sort of a delay there's at least some sort of reasoning -- "the boxes we got are the wrong size," or "our Lego testing robot broke down," or something smooth like that. Of course, we're sure there's some sort of explanation forthcoming. This is no cause to believe Kno is in serious danger of not shipping its tablet, or that it's trying to pull a fast one, but Kno has unfortunately happened upon a disturbing trend in the tablet space that we'd love to be well rid of by now.

[Thanks, Chris]

N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 controller attachment now shipping

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 10:07 AM PST

Admit it, you know you want one of those wild N-Control Avenger controller attachments: there's no shame in that, we want one too! The so-called "Exo-Suit" -- which we checked out at CES -- gives your Xbox controller an overhaul, and it is now officially shipping. The little unit will run you $39.99, so you can hit up the source link if that's what you're into.

News Corp. set to unload Myspace?

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 09:48 AM PST

We hate to say it, but we could see this coming a mile down the road: After Myspace (or, as the kids say, my[_____]) relaunched itself as an entertainment portal to little effect late last year, and then the company went and laid off fifty percent of its staff, what's the next step? Tears -- a flood of bitter, bitter tears. And after that? Well, it looks like News Corp. is considering a couple options. As COO Chase Carey said on a recent earnings call, "The new MySpace has been very well received by the market and we have some very encouraging metrics. But the plan to allow MySpace to reach it's full potential may be best achieved under a new owner." Continuing with the theme, he told Paid Content the following: "There's been a lot of interest, because there's been some indication we're pursuing this path. We'll consider all options... it could be a sale, it could be an investor coming in to it, it could be us staying in with a restructured ownership structure with management." Now, that's a whole bunch of "corporate speak" there, and while the future is up in the air, we're fairly sure that if you called our man Chase and offered him cold, hard cash, you could probably take Myspace off his hands at a fairly reasonable price. Make sure you ask him to throw in the Blingees for free.

Canadian goverment vows to reverse CRTC decision on usage-based internet billing

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 09:26 AM PST

It's happened before when Canadian government overturned the CRTC's decision and allowed Globalive to enter the Canadian cellphone market, and it looks like Ottawa is about to again weigh in and reverse an even more controversial ruling by the regulatory agency. As confirmed by Industry Minister Tony Clement on Twitter, the government plans to overturn the recent CRTC decision that effectively imposed usage-based internet billing if the agency doesn't back down and "go back to the drawing board." Citing a senior government official, The Toronto Star further reports that the reversal could come as early as next week. As any Canadians reading this may well be aware, the issue of usage-based internet billing has been simmering for some time, but it reached a tipping point with the CRTC's decision last week that affected smaller internet service providers who rely on the major telecom companies' networks. Under the new ruling, those companies would be have been faced with increased costs that would drastically limit the amount of maximum amount of data they're able to offer to customers each month -- one such ISP, Teksavvy, had in fact already sent out notices to customers informing them that their current 200GB cap would be dropping to just 25GB on March 1st, with any additional data use to be charged by the gigabyte.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Motorola's Atrix 4G coming to AT&T on March 6th for $200, bundled with Laptop Dock for $500

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 09:02 AM PST

Don't ever say Ma Bell lacks cahones. On the same day that existing Verizon customers began pre-ordering the CDMA'd iPhone 4, AT&T has come clean with what's next on America's largest GSM network. While announced at CES 2011, pricing and release information had eluded the luscious Atrix 4G... until now, that is. AT&T will begin pre-sales for the Froyo-powered Motorola Atrix 4G Android superphone on February 13th, with the standard $199.99 + two-year contract ($50 more than we were led to believe, mind you) getting one into your grubby mitts. We're told to expect general availability on March 6th "or earlier," putting it just about in line with the date we'd heard rumored. Moreover, those looking to buy will should have a difficult time laying off of the Laptop Dock bundle, which nets you an Atrix 4G as well as a $499.99 dock for the grand total of $499.99 on contract. You heard right -- those who opt to buy the dock at a later time will be asked to shell out five Benjamins, whereas that same tally on day one will also include the phone. It should be noted, however, that the bundle only applies if you also sign your name to a Data Pro plan and tethering add-on, so be sure you're down for that monthly hit before committing in haste. Oh, and just in case you simply can't stop spending, the carrier is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for Atrix 4G customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.
Show full PR text
AT&T Announces the World's Most Powerful Smartphone, the Motorola ATRIX 4G, Will Be Available for Preorder on Feb. 13

Unique line of Accessories, Including the Motorola Laptop Dock, Available with Bundled Pricing

DALLAS, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Facts

* AT&T* begins pre-sales for Motorola ATRIX™ 4G on Feb. 13
* Motorola ATRIX 4G, powered by the Android 2.2 platform, available exclusively for AT&T customers for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.
* Motorola ATRIX 4G is expected to be available from AT&T and select retail channels for customers by March 6 or earlier.
* AT&T will offer bundled pricing for the Motorola ATRIX 4G and the Motorola Laptop Dock.

4G Portfolio

AT&T is the leader in smartphones, and expects to widen that lead in 2011. In January, AT&T committed to an industry-leading Android portfolio in the U.S. in 2011 and said it plans to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter. An industry first, the Motorola ATRIX 4G is the leading edge of more than 20 advanced, 4G devices AT&T plans to deliver in 2011. AT&T has completed the deployment of HSPA+ to virtually 100 percent of its mobile broadband network, which enables 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul.

Motorola ATRIX™ 4G

The Motorola ATRIX™ 4G Android 2.2 smartphone will be offered exclusively by AT&T and is the world's most powerful smartphone. Featuring a 2x1 GHz dual-core processor for a total of 2 GHz of processing power, a unique webtop application, the world's first qHD display, and Adobe flash player, the, ATRIX 4G delivers a remarkable combination of application processing power with 4G speed capability and a high-resolution qHD display, a first for the industry.

It will be complemented by breakthrough accessories that include a revolutionary, super-thin Motorola Laptop Dock -- for which ATRIX 4G is the "engine" -- and the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock that uses ATRIX 4G's HDMI video output capabilities and processing power to enable a revolutionary browsing, application and media experience.

AT&T will offer two special packages for customers who choose to purchase ATRIX 4G in addition to these unique accessories. The first combines ATRIX 4G and the Motorola Laptop Dock for a promotional price of $499.99 after a two-year service contract and $100 mail-in-rebate after subscription to Data Pro smartphone data plan and tethering add on. Customers who choose to purchase the Motorola Laptop Dock separately pay $499.99. AT&T is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for ATRIX customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth® keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.

Motorola ATRIX 4G will also include AT&T Mobile Hotspot service built into the smartphone, allowing users to connect additional Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

AT&T U-verse® TV customers will be able to manage their DVR recordings - and U-verse customers with a qualifying TV plan can download and watch hit TV shows – right from their ATRIX 4G handset using the U-verse Mobile application. In addition, any ATRIX 4G user, whether or not they have U-verse TV at home, can still enjoy a variety of video options - including live TV - with the new U-verse Live TV application, preloaded and available for $9.99 a month.

For more information, visit www.att.com/atrix4G. For photos and more information about presales for ATRIX 4G, visit www.att.com/mobilephones-news.

Sony posts $1.64 billion profit, PlayStation has strong holiday quarter

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 08:53 AM PST

Sony had quite a good holiday during its third quarter for fiscal year 2010, posting a ¥137.5 billion (approximately US $1.68b) operating income. Year-over-year, however, it's actually six percent lower than Q3 FY09, with some blame attributable to a five percent stronger yen. Although sales were more or less the same in most divisions (with pictures and music seeing a more noticeable drop), operating income saw dramatic changes. Consumer, Professional and Devices dropped 47 percent to ¥26.8b ($327.3m), while Networked Products and Services (which includes the PlayStation brand) jumped a whopping 134 percent to ¥45.7b ($559.78).

Looking at unit sales, Bravia sets were way up (7.9m units versus 5.4m in Q3 FY09), and video cameras, compact digital cameras, and PCs all saw moderate gains. PSP hardware took a pretty big hit, going from 4.2m last holiday to 3.6m this past quarter (the now-profitable PlayStation 3 saw a slight decline, 6.5m to 6.3m). Software-wise, though, both gaming machines saw a bump -- 57.6m (from 47.6m) for PS3 and 16.4m (from 15m) for PSP. The PlayStation 2, now almost 11 years old, actually had about the same 2.1m hardware unit sales YOY, though software took a pretty hard hit (from 11.2m to 5.3m). Sony's golden years console isn't going down without a fight -- then again, it might've been a different story had the company managed to add backwards compatibility to the PS3.

Suck, squeeze, bang, bust: the death of internal combustion

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 08:28 AM PST

I don't smoke and I never have. I can't say as I've felt the temptation to ever try that particular vice, especially given the cost these days. 50 years ago my avoiding that lifestyle choice would have put me in the minority, and if I'd dared asked a smoker to step outside or made any implications about what their habit was doing to my lungs... well, that wouldn't have gone over well.

Today, of course, such questions and expectations are the norm, with legislation forcing smokers into the cold and science showing that what comes out of their mouths isn't great for passers by. But why am I talking about cigarette smoking on a gadget blog? In a few decades this is what it's going to be like to drive a car with internal combustion, a life full of exorbitant taxes, constant inconveniences, and state-sponsored attempts at inducing shame among those who would dare putter around with an engine that casts off 70 percent (or more) of its energy as waste.

The internal combustion engine hasn't become such a hugely popular means of propulsion for particularly complex reasons. At the dawn of the automobile there were many different ways of powering a car, from steam to gunpowder to, yes, electric cars with limited range. Gasoline didn't win out because there were pump stations on every corner (there weren't) or because it was scientifically created to be the perfect fuel (it wasn't). It won because it was cheap -- nobody wanted it.

Marcus When Siegfried Marcus was (arguably) the first to put a four-stroke internal combustion engine in a car in 1875, paving the way for the modern automobile, gasoline was a largely unwanted byproduct of oil refining. Heavy greases, kerosene, and other petroleum products were pulled out of oil and all of them had a use -- except for petrol. Nobody really knew what to do with the highly flammable, bad-smelling stuff. So, it was burned off or stuck in holding tanks, the sort that put a spring in the step of Trashcan Man.

Unfortunately we don't have figures for what gasoline cost per gallon back in the 19th century. The earliest reliable data we could find comes courtesy of the Department of Energy, starting in 1919 with a price of $.25 per gallon -- $2.84 in modern dollars. Over the next decades, as the gasoline car took over and pushed everything else out of the way, that price would actually drop to a low of $.17 per gallon in 1931. It would take another 25 years before a gallon of gas would get over $.30. Of course, gas prices have more than doubled in the past seven years.

Adjusting for inflation, gasoline got only cheaper through the entire twentieth century -- except for a big blip during the Fuel Crisis. This is what helped the gasoline-powered car to take over, pushing all the other options into tiny niches that they've yet to escape from. In those ensuing years of dominance the internal combustion engine, the basic mechanism needed to turn the chemical energy of gasoline into something mechanical, has been heavily refined and improved.

Each time you put 10 gallons of gas in your car only three of those are actually used to move you forward.
But it still does a terrible job. An average internal combustion engine is less than 30 percent efficient. That means each time you put 10 gallons of gas in your car only three of those are actually used to move you forward and keep your stereo grooving. The other seven gallons are used to warm up your coolant, grind gears and bearings against each other, or are simply shot out the muffler as waste heat. Throw on a hybrid system to capture energy under braking, a heat exchanger to soak up the excess temperature, and a turbocharger to grab the noise and gaseous fury that comes out the back and you can help. But, you're never going to get close to 100 percent efficient. Even 50 seems like a long shot.

Electric motors for cars, meanwhile, score efficiencies in the low 90 percent range, the bigger and more powerful the motor the greater the efficiency becomes. Now that certainly doesn't mean EVs are 90-odd percent efficient overall, but they are already better than internal combustion. Look at a current vehicle like the Honda FCX Clarity, an electric car running on a hydrogen fuel cell. It can travel 60 miles per kilogram of hydrogen and, since the energy in one Kg of hydrogen is about the same as that in a gallon of gasoline, you get an equivalent rating of 61mpg. A Honda Accord EX, which weighs about the same, scores 24mpg. A Toyota Camry Hybrid is rated at 31mpg.

Diesel comes closest, with Honda offering a 40mpg diesel Accord in Europe, but that still falls short. And remember, this is still early days of electric tech. Yes, we have a way to go before we can, nationwide, consider the entire process of power generation, delivery, and storage to be that efficient. And, yes, until we get more renewable energy sources online the mere generation of hydrogen is a losing proposition. But the alternative isn't exactly a rosy picture -- especially if you consider the cost of throwing oil in a boat and toting it across the ocean.

In the coming years the odds are only going to get stacked further against the 'ol suck squeeze bang blow routine. Whether the electrons come from hydrogen sifted through a fuel cell or straight out of a battery, electric cars are the future. They're novelties now, but soon they'll be practical and, at that point, people will have to make a decision: go electric or stick with the ICE?

Cars with "engines" will become less practical and more of a lifestyle decision.
At first it won't be an easy choice, but as gas prices keep climbing and battery technology/hydrogen availability improve, cars with "engines" will become less and less practical and more and more of a lifestyle decision. The corner 24 hour store will stop having eight pumps offering gasoline and go down to four, then to two, then just one. It'll be situated 'round the back and you'll have to go inside and ask the cashier to turn on for you. Eventually that'll be gone too; finding go juice will start to become a challenge.

Public service announcements will decry the awful impacts of carbon monoxide on our health, talk about the other noxious things spewing out of tailpipes, and try to label those driving cars with this tech as Bad People. Little towns surrounded by pesticide-free fields and peppered with organic coffee shops will ban cars powered by internal combustion, forcing those who own them to make big detours or just go back home.

By then the government will have put taxes high enough on the sale of gasoline that driving such a car will be a luxury enjoyed only by those who can pay out the ear to have the sonorous tones of a well (or poorly) tuned engine drone back in.

I don't say this out of hatred for the internal combustion engine. I love the breathy rush of my Toyota MR-2, its air intake just behind my head. The lumpy idle of my Subaru WRX's flat-four makes me grin and my Triumph's inline triple gives me tingles in all sorts of good places as it approaches redline. I take my earplugs out at the start of every F1, MotoGP, ALMS and other race I attend so that I can better experience it -- and then hastily stuff them back in before I've done too much damage.

But the days for that experience are numbered. The internal combustion engine will not be the practical, economical choice for everyone forever -- not even for long -- and when we hit that threshold we can't all spend our days lamenting what's lost or searching for ever-funkier alternative fuels. Besides, have you ever heard the scream of an electric-powered car or bike accelerating hard? It sounds pretty good. It sounds like the future.

Verizon can now throttle top five percent of bandwidth hogs, downres multimedia transfers

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 08:08 AM PST

Nice timing, Verizon. Just as thousands -- possibly zillions -- of smartphone users are pondering the switch to Big Red for Apple's iPhone 4, the carrier has slipped in two critical policy changes that are apparently effective immediately. Tucked within loads of fine print in a new PDF that surfaced on the company's site, there's this:
"Verizon Wireless strives to provide customers the best experience when using our network, a shared resource among tens of millions of customers. To help achieve this, if you use an extraordinary amount of data and fall within the top 5 percent of Verizon Wireless data users we may reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high quality network performance for other users at locations and times of peak demand. Our proactive management of the Verizon Wireless network is designed to ensure that the remaining 95 percent of data customers aren't negatively affected by the inordinate data consumption of just a few users."
To our knowledge, this is the first time that VZW has taken a notable position on throttling, and the link to its stance on net neutrality (as it applies to wireless, anyway) is fairly obvious. What's most interesting to us is the five percent of data users figure; the top one or two percent isn't a huge amount, and there's a good chance that bandwidth abusers are up in that echelon. But we're guessing that quite a few business travelers will fall within this particular range, and given that VZW now holds the right to throttle data for your existing billing cycle and the next one... well, good luck gritting your teeth and lasting through that two-year contract.

In related news, the company is also implementing optimization and transcoding technologies in its network, which is a politically correct way of explaining that it can downres any multimedia you try to send through Verizon's pipes. Head on past the break for the full quote.
"We are implementing optimization and transcoding technologies in our network to transmit data files in a more efficient manner to allow available network capacity to benefit the greatest number of users. These techniques include caching less data, using less capacity, and sizing the video more appropriately for the device. The optimization process is agnostic to the content itself and to the website that provides it. While we invest much effort to avoid changing text, image, and video files in the compression process and while any change to the file is likely to be indiscernible, the optimization process may minimally impact the appearance of the file as displayed on your device."
In other words, those JPEGs you're uploading for a client may end up looking like rubbish on their end, and by no fault of your own. And that Netflix stream you're trying to watch on the road? Hopefully you enjoy massively pixelated VGA clips. Of course, this is no guarantee that Verizon will immediately start hampering the enjoyment of its mobile broadband users, but if this kind of activity doesn't frighten you, what will? The world's becoming more and more dependent on mobile data networks, and the carriers seem to be moving backwards. Rather than embracing the change, they're all making it harder and harder for consumers to actually rely on them to get work done. Thanks for thinking of us, Verizon.

Samsung refutes high Galaxy Tab returns, says rate is 'below 2 percent'

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 07:49 AM PST

Samsung refutes high Galaxy Tab return rate claims
Poor Samsung can't catch a break. First executive Lee Young-hee was misunderstood, saying that sales of the Galaxy Tab were "quite smooth" but the transcript of that conversation saying that they were instead "quite small." Now the company is refuting another claim, that return rates for the Tab are near 16 percent. The company did so in a statement so tersely worded we can feature its entirety right here:
The return rate of the Galaxy Tab in the US as claimed by an North American market research firm is incorrect. According to Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications Business the return rate is below 2 percent.
So, there you have it. Below two percent, and right on par with what we've heard for the iPad.

Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video)

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 07:33 AM PST

Quick, what's wrong with this picture? Oh, that's right -- dominoes don't topple all by themselves, do they? But these aren't your average tiles. Constructed by Japanese interaction researchers in 2009, these "Esper Dominoes" each have ZigBee radios inside, and as each stone falls it wirelessly tells the next to follow suit, all down the line. Of course, knowing all that, why would you ever settle for a boring row of five? Hit the break to see what these bones are really capable of, and join us in praying that some entrepreneur mass produces these perfect stocking stuffers before another two years fly by.

Panasonic's 2011 HDTVs shown off in Japan with prices, March release dates

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 06:51 AM PST

Panasonic's found time to show off its latest series of HDTVs in Japan, including the new top 3D-capable VT3, GT3 and ST3 generation plasmas, and DT3 LCDs, . As one might expect, the feature list is predictably similar to the US models with the next iteration of 3D panel technology, including a few Japan-specific features like VOD services and recording TV to USB drives.According to AV watch it looks like the starting prices have gone down slightly YoY as well, with the new 50-inch VT3 predicted to arrive March 18 for 380,000 yen ($4,654) down from 430,000 yen ($5,267) last year. The lower end GT3 series and new DT3 3D LCDs should arrive a week earlier on March 11, though we'll probably have to wait until much closer to launch again to find out precisely what the predictably lower US pricing will be this time around. Click on through for all the details you can stand in the meantime.

Shell Oil pulls the plug on its last algae biodiesel research project

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 06:28 AM PST

Algae biodiesel has looked so promising (as in 100 times more fuel than corn or soy) that the U.S. Department of Energy gave $9 million to Cellana, a joint research venture between Shell Oil and HR Biopetroleum, specifically to look into the alternative energy source's prospects. It seems, however, that those prospects were no longer attractive to Shell, which has announced it will no longer pursue algae biodiesel, because it feels it doesn't have sufficient commercial viability. Partner HR Biopetroleum has stated it cannot continue the project on its own as Shell pursues other biofuel initiatives with other companies.

Xperia Play commercial surfaces, makes back alley surgery fun again (video)

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:56 AM PST

You know, it just wouldn't be an ad campaign for a Sony game system without a suitable "WTF?" moment. And why would Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play (a.k.a. PlayStation phone, a.k.a. the Worst Kept Secret in the Business) be any different? There isn't much to say about this ad, except that the fine folks at Droid NYTT got hold of a copy, and that we hope these back-alley thumb transplant goons know a thing or two about anesthetics. See for yourself after the break.

AMD Radeon HD 6970M reviewed: major leap from HD 5870M, not quite a GTX 485M

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:39 AM PST

What has 960 shaders, two gigabytes of dedicated GDDR5 memory with throughput of 115.2GBps, and the ability to churn 680 million polygons each and every second? Yes, the Radeon HD 6970M. AMD's fastest mobile chip to date has been doing the review rounds recently and the response has been unsurprisingly positive. Most modern games failed to trip up the 6970M even at 1920 x 1080 resolution, though the usual suspects of Crysis and Metro 2033 did give it a little bit of grief. All in all, the leap from the HD 5870M was significant, although NVIDIA's still relatively new GeForce GTX 485M has managed to hold on to its crown as the most powerful GPU on the mobile front. Benchmarks, architectural details, battery life tests (what battery life?), and value-adding enhancements await at the links below.

Skifta Android app nabs DLNA certification: tablets and smartphones now streaming to STBs and more

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 05:17 AM PST

Using your Android phone as a remote is hardly new, but using it to actually send content to a TV-connected set-top box? Now that's a novel concept. Skifta for Android has just become the first piece of software to be certified by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) under its new Software Certification program, enabling any Android-based smartphone or tablet to stream onboard media to any DLNA source, including TVs, stereos, PCs and Sony's PS3. It's hard to say what kind of phone (and what kind of bandwidth) will be needed for this to actually be an enjoyable experience, but those curious to find out can download the app for free in the Android Marketplace... provided you're using a device with Android 2.2 (Froyo) or higher, of course. Head on past the break for a explanatory video.

Show full PR text
Skifta Becomes First Software Application to Receive DLNA Certification

- Application-based Service Turns Smartphones and Tablets into Global Remote Controls for Streaming Media and Furthers DLNA Vision for Connected Digital Home -

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Skifta™ for Android, a product of Qualcomm Services Labs Inc., has become the first application to be certified by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) under its new Software Certification program. Skifta is an application-based media shifting service that allows consumers to access and play their digital media from virtually any source, whether it's accessed on the phone, from the cloud, or remotely from home. Consumers can then stream this media to DLNA Certified® consumer electronics such as TVs, IP-connected stereos, Windows 7 PCs, PlayStation3 game consoles and many other consumer electronics products via their Android smartphones and tablets.

As a DLNA Certified software application, Skifta now gives Android users the added assurance that digital music, photos and videos from the phone and around the connected home can be streamed easily to DLNA Certified products at home or on the go. Through DLNA Certification, Skifta helps meet digital media consumers' demand for a reliable, interoperable platform for accessing and streaming media within the connected home, or accessing it remotely via smartphone.

"We are proud that the Skifta Android application has become the first DLNA Certified software application," said Bruce Jackson, vice president of technology at Qualcomm Services Labs. "The Skifta application demonstrates our commitment to DLNA and to making the smartphone central to the connected home and lifestyle. The Skifta application creates the potential for tens of millions of smartphones and tablets to run DLNA Certified software and stream multimedia content reliably to devices around the home."

Analysts estimate that there will be nearly two billion DLNA Certified devices in homes worldwide by 2014, and some expect that DLNA software certification will propel adoption and usage of DLNA devices on consumers' home networks. The Skifta application takes advantage of the rapid adoption of DLNA-enabled devices, the growing desire for on-demand streaming media, and the rapid proliferation of smartphones to deliver an easy-to-use service for taking your digital media with you, without actually having to take it with you.

"DLNA Certified software such as Skifta will help bring content such as photos, videos and music, stored on DLNA Certified devices, to an even larger selection of consumer electronics, mobile and PC products," said Nidhish Parikh, chairman and president of DLNA. "Qualcomm has been an active DLNA member for some time and as the first Certified software application, Skifta complements the DLNA standards and vision."

Availability

The Skifta application beta is currently available as a free download in the Android Marketplace for smartphones running Android version 2.2 and higher.

JVC GC-PX1 can't decide if it's cam or camcorder, does 1080p60 video and 10.6 megapixel stills

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 04:52 AM PST

JVC GC-PX1 can't decide if it's a camera or camcorder, does 1080p60 video and 10.6 megapixel stills
We missed JVC's GX-PX1 camera when it was at CES, just a concept at that point but now getting more real. Impress got a little hands-on time with the curious model that features an incredibly slim, compact-like body behind a hunky, camcorder-like lens assembly. It'll do 1080p60 at 36Mbps, writing to SDXC or 32GB of internal memory, can capture 10 megapixel stills and, if you don't mind stepping down to 640 x 360, will manage 300 frames per second. There's a tiltable LCD on the back and a 10x optically stabilized zoom lens up front. The camera is due to be released later this month, but JVC hasn't seen fit to tell us how much it'll cost just yet.

Best Buy's Buy Back Program to be made official during the Super Bowl... by Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 04:23 AM PST

We heard about this during the news avalanche that was CES early last month, but today Best Buy has started making its new Buy Back Program official in emails sent out to valued Reward Zone customers. The gist of the scheme is that Best Buy will offer you set "Buy Back" prices for goods you purchase from its stores, advertising it as a reassurance that your electronics won't depreciate too much during your ownership. The leaked info we saw in January showed that you'll have to pay an extra fee at the point of purchase to enroll into the Program and Best Buy's highest re-purchase offers were capped at 50 percent of the initial price, so don't expect this to be any great favor to you, Mr. Consumer. For more info, keep your eyes locked on the Super Bowl this Sunday, when Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne (no, seriously) will do their best to explicate Best Buy's new venture.

[Thanks, Jeff and John]

Visualized: Nokia R&D spending, almost 3 times its peers

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 03:45 AM PST

Our initial reaction to the Bernstein Research chart above is to wonder what value Nokia's massive R&D spending has achieved. Sadly, that's our second and third reaction, too, having spent some time with the company's Symbian OS. Let's just hope all that money was poured into MeeGo or some other megaprofitable ecosystem that it will "build or join" in 2011.

Update: Added a snapshot of Nokia's R&D spending from 2007 and 2008 (when the company topped the EU with US$7.24 billion spent on R&D) after the break.


GM CEO Dan Akerson wants next-gen Chevy Volt to be $7,500 cheaper, we do too

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 03:16 AM PST

GM CEO Dan Akerson wants next-gen Chevy Volt to be $7,500 cheaper, we do too
We like the idea of the Chevy Volt, but at a starting price of $40,280 it's a bit of a tough sell -- even considering the $7,500 tax break you'll get for being on the cutting edge. GM CEO Dan Akerson agrees, according to GM-Volt.com giving his designers the task of cutting $7,500 out of the car's cost by the time its next generation appears at dealers. Assuming our federal tax credit still exists that would push the out the door figure for the car down to around $25,000, about the same as the Nissan Leaf and into the budgets of far more Americans than it currently targets. We're not sure exactly what corners will be cut to make this happen, but we're hoping they don't try to make the wheels any thinner.

Mad Catz snatches up exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 02:36 AM PST

The crazy kitties over at Mad Catz have signed yet another licensing agreement to further sink their claws into the world of gaming peripherals -- they've just sealed a deal with Microsoft to be the exclusive supplier of Xbox 360 wireless headphones, as well as non-exclusive rights for wired 360 headphones. All products under the agreement will bear the Xbox logo, as well as the signature "T" from Mad Catz's recently acquired Tritton series, but don't go out looking for them anytime soon -- these cats won't mark their territory until Christmas 2011.
Show full PR text
MAD CATZ AND MICROSOFT CORPORATION ENTER INTO EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT TO PRODUCE LICENSED, CO-BRANDED WIRELESS HEADPHONES FOR XBOX 360®

San Diego – February 2, 2011 – Mad Catz® Interactive, Inc. ("Mad Catz") (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Microsoft® Corporation ("Microsoft") to produce a range of licensed, co-branded audio headphones under Mad Catz's Tritton brand and Microsoft's Xbox 360 brand. Under the agreement, Mad Catz has the worldwide rights to manufacture, market and sell licensed, co-branded wired stereo headphones and exclusive rights to produce licensed, co-branded wireless stereo and Dolby 5.1 headphones for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system.

Through this agreement, Mad Catz and Microsoft will work closely together to jointly design and brand wired and wireless headphones, resulting in a range of headphones that will bear the Tritton and Xbox logos on both the packaging and the headphones. This will also mark the first time that wireless, licensed and co-branded headphones will be available for Xbox 360.

Commenting on the agreement, Darren Richardson, Mad Catz's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are delighted to be working so closely with Microsoft to design and brand a range of high performance headphones. The headphone category is the fastest growing category in the video game space - and this agreement assists Mad Catz's Tritton brand in furthering its leadership to provide high-quality, innovative headphones that allow gamers and audio enthusiasts alike to enjoy a superior gaming and listening experience."

Zulfi Alam Microsoft Senior Director, Xbox 360 Accessories, added, "We are pleased to be working in close collaboration with Mad Catz to design and brand products that we believe will deliver a high quality audio experience to Xbox 360 fans. Whether playing games or enjoying music, movies or sports available on the Xbox 360, we are confident that gamers everywhere will react enthusiastically to this new range of wired and wireless headphones."

Mad Catz expects that the range of licensed, co-branded headphones will be available for the 2011 holiday shopping season.

Agility Saietta unveiled, the decidedly unconventional electric sports bike

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 01:45 AM PST

Saietta
A new player has entered the electric motorcycle game, joining the likes of Brammo's Empulse but doing it with rather more... unconventional styling. It's the Agility Global Saietta, an all-electric sports bike that will come in two flavors: the 50 mile range Saietta S and the 100 mile Saietta R. The former of the two will be quicker than the first, getting to 60 in under four seconds, whereas R riders will have to wait another tick of the stopwatch due to extra battery weight. Naturally that extra range and speed will cost you: £9,975 for the S and £13,975 for the R, figures that equate to roughly $16,200 and $22,650. Hefty sums, both, but nobody said being on the cutting edge of the humpbacked sport bike trend was going to be cheap. We weren't given any specific horsepower or weight figures, but we're told the power to weight ratio is 675hp per ton. You can make your own guesses about weight to try and get a firm power figure, but it certainly should be peppy enough.

At this point we don't know much about the bikes themselves beyond what you can see in the photos, which show a trellis frame cradling a sizeable battery pack. The swingarm is a combination of machined parts and pipes, rear suspension elevated to make room for the electric motor sitting just above the pivot point. Front suspension also shows an unconventional design, offset steering linkage and a single damper eschewing the traditional fork design found on your average (non-BMW) motorcycle. These images are, of course, just renders, but the bike has just made its word debut at the MCN London Motorcycle Show and we'll be bringing you some actual pictures as soon as we get them. As to when those who order the bikes will get theirs, we're told shipments begin in April.

Update: We have some pictures from the Saietta launch at MCN. Real, honest to gosh photos, these.

Update 2: We're told it's actually the lighter S that's quicker to 60, not the R, despite what the PR says below.
Agility Saietta

Saietta Launch


Show full PR text
Saietta is unique.

Sculptural, visceral, emotional, it engages you with a feral grace and strength that envelopes and encourages, then delivers a riding experience that is intuitive beyond anything before.

Reflecting the strong character of its name, Saietta in Italian Apennine dialect is the phonetic spelling for the word thunderbolt – a powerful and awe-inspiring phenomenon.

Honed through intelligent design and ground-breaking engineering to invoke a near-perfect user relationship, Saietta's exceptional manoeuvrability and instinctive ergonomics expand your urban riding abilities, heightening the senses and ingraining every ride.

Bold yet understated, edgy yet accessible, Saietta confidently exploits advanced technology and cutting edge electric drive to epitomise Agility's vision of a future where sustainable transport is exciting, empowering and radically effective.



The zero-emissions urban sports bike.

Embodying current state-of-the-art electric capability and performance, Saietta is simultaneously designed for plug-and-play upgradeability to accommodate future electric technology.

With a powertrain created to generate incredible acceleration, formidable torque, astounding responsiveness, and intuitive control that surpasses conventionally driven alternatives, Saietta advances electric power as a clear solution to urban riding. Combined with wide bars, high eye-line, low centre of gravity, concentrated masses and extreme wheel control, the result is dramatically capable rider-machine synergy.

With a concept optimised from the outset to exploit the clear opportunity for electric urban riding, Saietta has at its core an innovative lightweight structural concept. Implemented using aerospace-derived composite material systems, it brings comprehensive and wide ranging benefits - from think-and-it-moves agility in combination with it's unique suspension, to real-world useable range.

Offered in two variants, the Saietta S, and Saietta R, with ranges of 50 and 100 miles dependent on riding style, and 0-60 times of sub 5 and sub 4 seconds respectively. Both models sport a drive system that is 73% more efficient from energy source to wheel when compared to an internal combustion engine, (in terms of cost and useful work done, the average cost saving using an Electric motor is approximately 53.63p per horsepower per hour).

Designed in the heart of one of the world's great cities, Saietta is the future of urban motorcycling. Produced to the highest standards and with its advanced design and performance, Saietta is one of the most exciting, exhilarating, enjoyable yet accessible motorcycles in the world: - now available for £9975, and £13975.
Sustainable Vision

Agility Global Ltd. has its head-quarters in London and is engaged in vehicle design, engineering and manufacture, in addition to related high technology industries. We specialize in zero emissions transportation solutions.

Our vision for this sector is to make sustainable transport exciting, empowering, radically effective and universally available, and we are in the business of successfully crafting this vision into the future of how people move. For the near future, this means we are actively expanding into several other under-explored vehicle sectors that will benefit from Agility's capability. Saietta is the first of two new vehicle types that will revolutionise private transportation in cities.

Our expertise lies in applying prescient commercial insights to generate class-leading, paradigm-shifting solutions. We capitalise on opportunities in under-explored sectors with inherent and exceptional growth potential.

Our identity is reflected in our approach to any challenge. Everything we design converts function into emotion – our products are directly related to how they make you feel and how they enable you. This visceral connection is key to our approach and permeates everything we do.



New Approach

Saietta will target high-rate growth areas for electric vehicles in cities and will be eligible for a wide range of sustainable vehicle incentives across the globe. Based on dealer-distributor intelligence and social media interest for higher capability electric motorcycles, Saietta's business plan shows considerable scope for it to satisfy and accelerate demand for an electric motorcycle that delivers urban riding excellence without compromise.

Exciting, brave, considered and cohesive, Saietta will appeal to and is targeted at a wide range of buyers in addition to existing bike riders, and builds on the increasing expectation and necessity for sustainability across market demographics.

Saietta is a whole new approach.

iPhone 4 to get AT&T mobile hotspot capabilities on February 13th?

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 01:26 AM PST

So you might have noticed a few reviews of Verizon's iPhone 4 crop up last night, nothing unusual about that, but a couple of its reviewers have had something to say about AT&T's version of the phone as well. Walt Mossberg and David Pogue (who has since stricken the date from his review) both pinpoint February 13th as the date when they expect AT&T to turn on the Personal Hotspot capability that Verizon's iPhone will have from launch. That's expected to happen with an update to iOS 4.3, which recently went out to developers in its third beta iteration, suggesting the software's nearly mature enough for public consumption and seemingly fitting right into this timeline. Mind you, this is still not concrete information, as Mossberg could conceivably have been talking of AT&T's Mobile Hotspot app which is launching on the same day on devices like the Inspire 4G, and Pogue could have deleted the date for similar reasons, but we're somehow disinclined to believe that two gentlemen in a position to have insider(ish) intel would both make such a mistake at the same time.

EyeSight brings its gesture controls to Android tablets, Windows-based devices

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 12:57 AM PST

EyeSight has been bringing its hand-waving UI to all sorts of mobile devices for some time now, and it's now expanded things yet again. Following up its launch on Android last summer, the company has announced that its gesture recognition software has now also been tailored specifically for Android tablets and other "computer-based" Android platforms, and it's announced that it's now available for Windows-based devices as well. As before, the software is able to work with just about any built-in camera, and the company says that it has been "highly optimized" for mobile platforms, with low CPU and memory requirements. It's not something available directly to users, though -- it's up to developers to license it and include the functionality in their applications. Head on past the break for an idea of how it works -- just try to ignore that conspicuously out of place iPad at the beginning of the video.


Show full PR text
eyeSight Introduces Gesture Recognition Technology for Android
Tablets and Windows-based Portable Computers

eyeSight's software-based technology uses the device's standard built-in
camera to track the user's hand gestures and convert them into commands,
offering a touch free experience

HERZLIYA, Israel, Feb. 2, 2011– eyeSight Mobile Technologies, a developer
of Touch Free Interfaces for consumer electronics, launched a software-
based gesture recognition technology for portable computer devices.

The technology allows users to control applications, programs and tools on
devices such as Android tablets and Windows-based notebooks and netbooks
by using simple hand gestures. Moreover, eyeSight's solution for Windows
enables seamless integration to windows applications.

Last year, eyeSight introduced the Natural User Interface for Android mobile
devices, and is now releasing its hand gesture interface solution for computer-
based Android and Windows platforms.

eyeSight's Hand Gesture Recognition Technology utilizes the existing
standard built in 2D camera, and does not require any hardware changes or
an expensive 3D camera.

"Users can remotely control their music and video player, browse through
eBooks, manage presentations, play games, control PC apps and carry out
many other tasks without touching the keyboard or touch screen," said Gideon
Shmuel, eyeSight's CEO. "It is ideal for functions that do not require hands-on
management and offers a new and improved user experience."

The company's groundbreaking Touch Free user interface uses advanced
real-time image processing and machine vision algorithms. By using
eyeSight's user interface, manufacturers of portable devices with different
types of operating systems (OS), such as Microsoft Windows 7 and Android,
can offer their customers an entirely new user experience. Users can remotely
control applications on a wide variety of devices, including tablets, notebooks,
netbooks, all-in-one PCs, portable computers, mobile phones, and more.

The Touch Free technology is a pure software solution, highly optimized
for mobile platforms, offering low CPU and memory requirements. It is
independent of the underlying processor and camera hardware, and produces
high quality gesture recognitions using standard VGA cameras which are built
into the devices.

About eyeSight

eyeSight Mobile Technologies is a leader in touch free Interfaces for
consumer electronics. Its technology allows users to control mobile and
portable devices with simple hand gestures by using the built-in camera,
advanced real-time image processing and machine vision algorithms.

Thanko's USB kitty mask might get you noticed

Posted: 03 Feb 2011 12:24 AM PST

You know why he's so happy? Because he's Japanese, and being Japanese is awesome. Trains run on time, robots do the work, and you get to wear kitty-faced masks with a USB- or battery-powered fan to circulate the atmosphere in front of your air holes... and nobody cares. ¥1,980 (about $24), or ¥2,190 gift wrapped for someone special.

Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play retail booths exposed

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 11:59 PM PST

We said it at the Show and we'll say it again, Sony Ericsson just can't keep a lid on (any) secret information. The Xperia Play, formerly and more poetically known as the PlayStation Phone, has been previewed, videoed, and loved (mostly by us), but today we can add even more to our foreknowledge about this still unannounced device in the form of its in-store booths. Yes, SE has planned out how resellers and carriers will pimp its gaming smartphone at retail, and yes, renders of that "brand experience" have leaked out. It's nothing jaw-dropping, just some upright pedestals with the words "smart phone, smart gaming" on its side, but at least it signals that we're at an advanced stage of preparations ahead of the handset's launch. There is a T-Mobile logo on there too, but that could be just a placeholder or could refer to territories outside the US. Either way, spring does sound like the perfect time for some more Gingerbread in our lives.

Update: Although we've been assured that the layout above is genuine, the slim device pictured on top of the stands looks like the Xperia Arc. The device at the bottom looks more like a cross between a PSP Go and the Xperia Play. Of course, we're expecting to see a myriad of Android devices announced with PlayStation Suite support, so who knows.

HTC Pyramid emerges from the mists of speculation with a 1.2GHz dual-core, 4.3-inch screen, T-Mobile 4G

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 11:37 PM PST

First Sprint got a 4G-capable, 4.3-inch Android phone from HTC, then this January AT&T (Inspire 4G) and Verizon (Thunderbolt) received promises of the same. Is T-Mobile feeling left out? It might not be for long, as the rumor mill has just churned out a rather mighty 1.2GHz dual-core beast of a handset and is ascribing it to the Magenta network for a launch some time around May or June. We're hearing it'll come with qHD resolution (960 x 540, just like the Atrix 4G) and the SOC within will be that famed Snapdragon MSM8260 that Qualcomm teased briefly at CES a couple of weeks ago. Lending credence to this scuttlebutt is the fact that both TmoNews and Android and Me found sources affirming the Pyramid's existence, leaving us only to wait and wonder about what we can do with a device of its kind.

{Image credit: Nina Aldin Thune]

What is Google Who? (updated)

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 11:11 PM PST

You see what we're seeing in the browser history? Google Who. Google Who? What's that? It appears at the 32 minute mark from yesterday's Android event video. Perhaps it's just an internal directory lookup or maybe it's something more, a 20 percent project possibly. Tommy, can you hear me?

Update: Aww, we just got word that it's The Goog's internal employee directory. Thanks for playing.

[Thanks, Joshua G.]

Watch Google's Android event in full: Honeycomb on the Xoom, Android Market website, in-app purchases, and Cee-Lo Green

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 10:46 PM PST


There was plenty about yesterday's Android event that didn't make headlines but was worth noting. Hardware acceleration of both 2D and 3D UI elements -- shown off to great effect by Google's Hugo Barra, who managed to scroll through three lists simultaneously without inducing any lag on the Motorola Xoom -- should make Honeycomb as delicious to look at as it sounds, while our personal favorite, the new tablet-specific email interface, should be part of Gmail yesterday. The email UI is built out of elements Google calls fragments, which will supposedly be easy to transition down to smartphones, so thumbs up all around. The video above also runs you through the big news of the day, namely that Android Market can now be accessed via a dedicated website and apps downloaded to your device remotely, along with the equally important (for devs) addition of in-app purchases. Finally, Cee-Lo Green pops in for a video chat session from wherever he is on the internets, and we're all treated to an exhibition of lag-afflicted, awkward conversation. What's not to love?

Robo-Rainbow, all the way (video)

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 09:59 PM PST

Paul Vasquez, meet your mech god... if god rode a bicycle and illegally tagged decrepit streetscapes with happy bands of color. Watch this complicated technical solution assist with a simple act of vandalism art urban renovation in the video after the break.

[Image credit: Donna Zoll]

Dropcam app comes to Android, lets you monitor your security cameras from afar

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 09:30 PM PST

iPhone users have been able to keep watch on their Dropcam security cameras from the convenience of a dedicated app since the Dropcam Echo launched last summer, but Android users have unfortunately been left with no other option than to simply use the standard, less-than-mobile-friendly web interface. The company's now finally corrected that oversight, however, and released a full-fledged app for Android smartphones running Android 2.2 or higher. The key advantage with a Dropcam setup -- as we noted in our review of the camera itself -- is that it's entirely cloud-based, and doesn't need to be connected to your home computer to record or share video (unfortunately, that convenience comes at quite a cost). As for the Android app, it will let you receive things like motion and audio alerts, and of course let you check in on a live stream or access recordings -- those just looking try the service can also simply access some public webcams to test it out.
Show full PR text
Dropcam Brings its Video Streams to Android Smartphones

Cloud-cam service leader delivers unmatched video intelligence for
users on the go

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., February 2, 2011 – Dropcam, the trendsetter in
intelligent wi-fi cameras and personal video streaming services, today
announced the availability of the Dropcam App on the Android
Marketplace. This free app allows Android smartphone users to access
their Dropcam cameras and keep a watchful eye on what they care about
and never miss a moment. With the debut of its second mobile app,
Dropcam continues its rise as an agent of change at the intersection
of video, data and the cloud.

Peace of Mind on the Go

With the Dropcam Android App you can:

● Stream Live Video: Your Dropcam cloud-based cameras stream
secure, uninterrupted live video that let you see every single minute
of action. With the app, you can watch your video streams or friends'
Dropcam camera streams. Get live, smooth video playback on Wi-Fi, 3G
and 4G.



● Receive Instant Activity Alerts: The Dropcam system is so
intelligent it uses motion and audio detection to identify and capture
activity 'Events'. These activities are displayed as a snapshot on
your video timeline so you can check in immediately to see what's
happening. Using the Android app, quickly set up automatic email
alerts to get instant notices for motion and noise event detection.



● Access Dropcam DVR: The Dropcam DVR captures every second of
what your camera sees and stores that video online for up to 30 days.
DVR controls let you playback previously recorded events from your
personal video stream. You can also download video clips to archive
footage permanently.

To see these features in action, please check out a video of our
Android app here: http://www.dropcam.com/android.

"It's easy for anyone to be up and running with a Dropcam system in
minutes, and once installed, our users have the freedom to keep tabs
on the things they care about from anywhere, any time," said Greg
Duffy, CEO of Dropcam. "We designed our intelligent 'cloud-cam' and
video services with the internet in mind from the beginning. We're
thrilled that our newest app extends the Dropcam experience to Android
users and further confirms Dropcam as a pioneer in video data analysis
and streaming."

The Dropcam Android App is available on the Google Nexus One, Samsung
Vibrant (Galaxy S), Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid X, HTC Droid
Incredible, HTC EVO 4G, and other Android 2.2 (Froyo) devices.
Download Dropcam from the Android Marketplace today at
http://market.android.com/details?id=air.dropcam.

Never Miss an Important Moment

Dropcam is the easiest way to use video to check in on the things you
care about from anywhere, any time, on any device. After setting up
one or more Dropcam cloud-cams, the cameras' secure video feed is
accessible from a PC, iPhone or Android smartphone so you can check-in
any time. Dropcam users effortlessly keep an eye on their homes, kids,
pets, the nanny, the office, vehicles in the garage, a second home,
and everything else they care about.

Dropcam's DVR features include cutting-edge data analysis, motion and
audio sensing capabilities and instant email and push alerts - making
it effortless for users to never miss an important moment. Users also
have the option to continually record up to 30 days of
minute-by-minute video. Video feeds from a Dropcam camera can be
safely and privately shared with friends and family, or made fully
public for everyone to watch.

The Dropcam Original ($199) and The Dropcam Echo ($279) cloud-cams are
available on www.dropcam.com. Dropcam's live streaming video service
is free; Dropcam DVR plans begin at $8.95 per month.

About Dropcam

Dropcam, Inc. is an agent of change at the intersection of video, data
and the cloud. Its suite of products include intelligent video
hardware and services that make it easy for users to check in on the
things they care about from anywhere on any device. Dropcam currently
offers two wi-fi video cameras, The Dropcam Original (video-only) and
The Dropcam Echo (video and audio). Dropcam also offers Dropcam DVR, a
proprietary cloud-based service with cutting-edge data analysis
capabilities created so that users never miss an important moment.
Angel-funded Dropcam was founded in 2009 and is based in San
Francisco. The Dropcam iPhone App is available in the iTunes Store,
itunes.com/apps/Dropcam. The Dropcam Android App is available on the
Android Marketplace, http://market.android.com/details?id=air.dropcam.
To learn more, please visit www.dropcam.com, watch our demo videos on
YouTube: www.youtube.com/dropcam, like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Dropcam/103689049317 and follow us on Twitter
@dropcam.

BMW's Wherever You Want To Go explores the future of mobility

Posted: 02 Feb 2011 08:35 PM PST

Perhaps you weren't sold on the concept of urban mobility in your car of tomorrow when Audi started researching the subject, but maybe BMW's new documentary film series will persuade you. Chapter one of Wherever You Want to Go made its debut today and features interviews with visionaries from both in and outside the automotive community -- from astronaut Buzz Aldrin to co-founder of ZipCar Robin Chase -- speaking about how cars can and will adapt to meet the needs of future metropolitan denizens. This first movie is pretty much an extended trailer, so we'll be interested to see the full conversations in the coming installments -- and we can only hope these chats with forward-thinkers convince BMW to re-evaluate its ridiculous car of tomorrow concepts. Chapter two drops on February 8th, so stay tuned. Vid's after the break.

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