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Monday, March 14, 2011

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News@8pm: Google Circles, Angry Birds Rio

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 01:00 PM PDT

Welcome to your nightly round-up of the day's news and goings on courtesy of T3.com.

It's been a bit of a shaky day for UK Apple fans, with industry sources (unnamed, of course) from several of the big mobile providers (also unnamed, also of course) decrying with one voice the rumour that the iPhone 5 will come with NFC, or the Near Field Communications technology, that's been cropping up on Android handsets since the Nexus S.


The current iPhone also ran into a spot of bother today with the return of the dreaded clock bug. Due to a glitch in the iOS software, the onboard clock on Stateside iPhones adjusted themselves by an hour to account for daylight savings time - in the wrong direction.


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Furthermore, crafty UK iPad 2-fanciers who tried ordering the coveted iDevice from the States with a view to shipping it to Blighty have had their plans unravelled by the Apple detectives, who are busy cancelling iPad 2 orders adressed to known international shipping companies. On the bright side, if you start standing outside the Regent Street Apple Store now, you'll be practically guaranteed one when it's released on March 25th.


Amazon has turned heads toward its upcoming Android app store by landing the next installment of the phenomenally popular Angry Birds - called Angry Birds Rio - as an exclusive. Fans of the pig-walloping avians will have to pick up the game for their Android handsets from Amazon rather than from the Android Market.


And finally, more weight was added to the much-rumoured Google answer to Facebook when some tech bloggers revealed a name for the Big G's social network: Google Circles. Not much besides the name is blowing around as yet, but more is expected to be revealed at the Google I/O conference in May. Stay tuned.


Apple iPad 2 video review

 

 

Source: T3 Tech Videos
 

 

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iPad 2 augmented reality app teased in official video

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:23 AM PDT

Second-gen Apple tablet bags first of presumably many AR apps

Developer Total Immersion has unveiled what is being tipped as the first augmented reality app for the recently launched Apple iPad 2 as AR Magic Mirror is demoed in an official teaser video.

 


Demonstrated in the video below, AR Magic Mirror utilises both the iPad 2’s forward-facing and rear-mounted cameras with augmented reality overlaying a variety of comedy accessories on to user’s faces such as cartoon-styled glasses, oversized wigs and Iron Man masks.

 

 

Giving an insight into the expansive future of augmented reality and its incorporation in iPad applications the video also teases the possibility of decorating an apartment and viewing AR furniture within a room using nothing more than a QR card and the iPad 2.

 

Total Immersion co-founder and CEO, Bruno Uzzan has spoken out on his excitement for augmented reality implementation on the iPad 2. He said: “This second generation iPad will be a key enabler to what we will soon see in a massive range of powerful augmented reality applications.”

 

He added: “With the portability, processing power and broad consumer adoption of the iPad 2, a simple face tracking app today could soon become an essential makeover tool with beauty products at retail.  Likewise a traditional game of online chess could become a massive, multiplayer game in the real world playing alongside vivid 3D characters and environments.”

 

What applications would you like to see incorporate augmented reality for the iPad 2? Let us know via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

 

Via: GeekyGadgets


 

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Twitter celebrates fifth b'day with series of revealing tweets

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 09:41 AM PDT

Micro-blogging site celebrates fifth birthday with revealing tweets

Twitter has celebrated its fifth birthday as co-founder Jack Dorsey makes a series of tweets revealing how the micro-blogging site came into being.

 

The Twitter co-founder who touts the Twitter handle @Jack began the micro-blogging site's birthday celebrations yesterday, March 13th with the tweet: “5 years ago today we started programming Twitter ("twttr" for short). 8 days later the first tweet was sent.”

 


Dorsey goes on to add in a separate 140-character maximum outlet: “I've been digging through all my drawings, emails, & notes from around that time. I'll share them over the next 2 weeks right here on #twttr”

 

Having outed the Instant Message that sparked the start of the Twitter phenomenon and images of the service’s early user forms and conditions pages, the site’s co-founder reveals that the first manual sent tweet said rather un-dramatically: “Inviting co-workers.” This followed a reportedly automated tweet by @Jack that read: “Just setting up my twttr.”

 

Are you a Twitter fan or more of a Facebook fiend? Whichever you are sign up to follow T3 via the corresponding outlet at the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

 

Via: TechRadar
 

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Apple iOS clock bug returns as US daylight savings begins

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:46 AM PDT

iOS glitch means iPhone users miss morning alarms, again

Apple’s mobile operating system iOS has seen iPhone users hit by a reoccurring glitch as devices fail to correctly handle the switch in American daylight savings time.

 

Having first struck at the last clock change before failing to initiate alarms at the turn of the New Year, the iOS clock bug is now reported to have turned the time of user’s iPhones back by one hour instead of forward, resulting in thousands of people missing alarms and causing inconvenience to many.

 

Whilst the issue can reportedly be solved simply by turning the device off and then on again, or alternatively briefly switching on flight mode, both of which solutions are of no use to those who have already missed appointments due to the glitch, it was believed recent iOS updates and patches had removed the error.

 

With UK clocks set to make the one hour forward move in two weeks time, during the early hours of Sunday 27th March, it is currently unknown whether the issue will affect UK iPhone users. Deleting all alarms and creating new waking alerts has been declared as one way to potentially circumnavigate the issues and be woken promptly following the clock change.

 

Have you been affected by any of the previous iOS Clock glitches? Let us know and share your stories via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

 

Via: Telegraph
 

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Amazon Kindle on contract at Carphone Warehouse

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:33 AM PDT

Top e-reader now available gratis with selected mobiles from Carphone Warehouse.

T3's top e-reader, the Amazon Kindle, is now available in the UK to Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy customers for free when they pick up a £15 contract with seleceted mobile handsets.


The free offer applies to the WiFi version of the Kindle, while the Kindle 3G will also be available with a one-off upfront charge of £15.


With the largest database of digital books in the world, the Amazon Kindle is a fave over at T3 Towers, with its glare-free e-ink screen, which not only makes reading in bright light a cinch (a bugbear of tablets such as Apple iPad that claim to also work as e-readers) but also allows the device to power along for weeks on end without a recharge.


Without the contract, a regular WiFi Kindle would set you back £111 from Amazon.co.uk, with the 3G Kindle running you £152.

 

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Angry Birds Rio to be Amazon appstore exclusive

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:53 AM PDT

Amazon puts all its eggs in one basket...

Amazon's forthcoming Android appstore has sent a clear message to the Android Market by snagging the next installment of Angry Birds as an exclusive.

 

Angry Birds Rio, which will see the winged menaces head to Brazil to rescue their kidnapped pals, will be Amazon's lead launch title for its rival Android app store.

 

Amazon's store will also get the ad-free, paid for version of Angry Birds seasons, for the first time on Android too.

 

It's likely that Amazon has thrown a few quid in the direction of Rovio to secure this exclusive, but it's well known that the developers haven't been 100 per cent happy with the Android Market in the past. All in all, it seems like a great move from Amazon to launch the store with easily the most popular app in the world at the moment.

 

The 'Rio' theme sees developers Rovio earn a movie tie in with the forthcoming Rio animated movie from the makers of Ice Age. The original Angry Birds set out to save old friends Blu and Jewel, two rare macaws and stars of the movie.

 

While there's no official release date at present, Rio arrives in cinema's worldwide on April 15th, with the app expected by the end of the month.

 

Link:  Eurodroid

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What's on the editor's desk competition returns tomorrow

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:41 AM PDT

Can you work out what's on the editor's desk?

Returning once again, your favourite technology magazine and website T3 will tomorrow be giving you the chance to win a feast of mystery tech prizes in our weekly competition ‘What’s on the editor’s desk?’.

 

Running across the T3 Facebook and Twitter pages we will be presenting you, the loyal T3 readers with three riddled clues to see if you can guess ‘What’s on the editor’s desk’ and claim yourself some tasty tech treats. From handsets to headphones, games to general gadgetry, each and every Tuesday we will be giving it all away as long as you can solve the puzzle and work out what’s in our mystery box.

 

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Related Links:
- Editor's desk competition: Winners revealed
- T3 launches new weekly competition 'What's on the Editor's desk?'
- Win some great prizes in the T3 competitions
- Follow T3 on Facebook
- Follow T3 on Twitter
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Last week we had five SAVASOCKET Mobile eco energy saving plugs to give away. Sadly our clues proved too tricky for our sharp-minded readers and we were left without a single correct guess. Fret not, however, all five energy plugs will be available this week to runner-ups in a Editor's Desk rollover.
 

Kicking off with the opening clue at 10am sharp you will be able to pit your wits against the T3 riddlers and bag yourself some booty. The second clue will follow at 11am before the final hint lands on our social streams at midday. From there you will have until 3pm to get your answers in before we pick the lucky winner.

 

Entries can be made by either commenting on the Facebook post or by messaging us on Twitter @T3dotcom with the hashtag #edsdesk. A winner will be picked at random from all the correct answers and if no correct answers are received by the 3pm closing the week’s prize will be rolled over until the next edition of 'What's on the editor's desk'.

 

To be in with a chance of winning today’s great and exclusive prize, sign up to the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds today so you are primed and ready to follow the clues to the T3 treasure tomorrow.

 

Previous prizes
- Five Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power Razors worth £65
- Two copies of the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011 worth £30
- A pair of Pioneer HDJ-2000 Pro DJ Headphones worth £230
- A Sony Ericsson LiveView worth £50
- A Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF webcam worth £65

- A SEGA branded bag worth £30
- A Novero Lexington Bluetooth headset worth £200
- An Exspect iPad Executive Wallet worth £25
- A copy of SuperScribblenauts for Nintendo DS worth £30

- 13 True Utility smart things for keyrings worth £65
- A Speck TuckPack Notebook Sleeve worth £37

- Three Back to the Future Blu-ray trilogy boxsets worth £150

- Two PowerKit Eco Mains Chargers worth £40
- A Powertraveller PowerChimp charger worth £20
- A Griffin FlexGrip case for iPad worth £20
- 15 Free download codes for Angry Robot Rampage on Xbox LIVE worth £15
- Two pairs of tickets to the BT Digital Music Awards worth £500
- Thumb Camera, Audio Spy Bug and Keyshark worth £180
- Two NoHands Stick 'em up smartphone accessories worth £23

- An ECO Kitsound Infinity-X Solar Powered Speaker worth £40
- A powertraveller motormonkey in-car travel charger from Cotswold Outdoor worth £20
- A Doro Prosound hs1910 DECT wireless headset worth £110
- Five pairs of ACS ER20 ear plugs worth £65

 

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Griffin Survivor first military-approved iPhone case

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:32 AM PDT

Griffin brings super-tough, military grade protection to fragile iPhones and iPods.

There's no worse sound than the crack, crack, crack of a prized mobile bouncing down a flight of concrete steps, and fans of the iPhone 4 though we are, that glass backside is no friend of tarmac. But the butter-fingered and accident-prone do now have an alternative to regular calls to the Apple insurance line: the ultra-rugged Survivor case.


Never ones to turn down a chance to stress test someone else's technology, we put the Survivor case through a panel of highly scientific and tightly controlled tests (lobbing it up and down the street outside the T3 office), and each time our iPhone 4 came out blemish free. Even the case came out unscathed, if a little dusty.


Of course, the makers of the Survivor - peripheral peddlars Griffin Technology - pushed the case a lot harder than we ever could. Check out the video below as their Senior Certifications Co-ordinator, Michael O'Connor, belts his iPhone 4 through a wall, down a hill and across a car park in the name of research. According to Griffin, the Survivor case has been built to match or exceed US and UK military standards, meaning you get the same level of phone security whether you're texting in your living room or in downtown Basra.


The downside to such Herculean endurance is that the case will affect the beautiful design of your iPhone somewhat - svelte this case ain't. But if you're after the best possible protection for your mobile, we've yet to see anything sturdier.


 


Link: Griffin Technology

 

 

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Amazon tablet could beat Apple iPad, say analysts

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:07 AM PDT

Amazon well-poised to launch own competitor to Apple's iPad?

With all sundry taking a swipe at Apple's tablet crown, market research bods Forrester have claimed that, while the likes of the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 are noble efforts, the only company with the savvy to take on Apple head-on in the tablet market may be Amazon.


That's not to say Amazon scientists are as we speak tinkering in the lab to come up with the next iPad, but with its vast store of digital books and music, good customer relations record and experience in manufacturing and marketing the Kindle, a tablet from Amazon would have the best start possible for a tablet not born of Cupertino's Jobs and Co.


Apple is already impinging on Amazon's ebook market with its iBooks app and store, which effectively turns the iPhone and iPad into a pricey ebook reader. However, Amazon's own ebook reader, the Amazon Kindle, still dominates the e-reader market, with Amazon having sold more digital books for its Kindle than paperbacks earlier this year.


We'd certainly be interested to see what the Big A could bring to the tablet table. However, with the iPad 2 fresh out of the gate and selling over half a million units in its first weekend, perhaps Amazon would do well to stick with its e-readers, rather than follow the likes of Motorola, Samsung and LG into the brawl with Apple.


Link: Forrester

 

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iPhone 5 to launch without NFC say UK networks

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:44 AM PDT

'Wave and pay' looks off the next gen iPhone menu

Apple looks set to reject NFC technology for the iPhone 5 according to sources from some of the UK's largest mobile phone networks.

 

The interesting reveal was made through a series of meetings between Apple and several UK operators. One source close to the meetings said, "The new iPhone will not have NFC, Apple told the operators it was concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry."

 

It seems the Cupertino company will instead work on its own NFC platform which would work in combination with iTunes. The technology is likely to be launched next year.

 

Near Field Communication, which will allow phone users to pay for products and services using their phone, has already been introduced to the smartphone arena after the Samsung Nexus S was officially unveiled late last year with a NFC chip built into the handset.

 

Android 2.3 which boasts support for NFC appears to show Google's view on the technology, and while some may be surprised that Apple look unlikely to follow suit in 2011, others will perhaps see it as Jobs and company simply wanting to do NFC in its own unique Apple way. 

 

Link: Independent

 

Apple iPad 2 video: Unboxing

Apple iPad 2 video: Unboxing

 

 

 

Source: T3 Tech Videos

 

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Apple cracking down on US iPad 2s shipped to UK

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:09 AM PDT

UK Apple fans having US iPad 2s shipped to Blighty are having their orders cancelled.

Some people are always willing to go to extremes to get their mitts on the latest bit of Apple tech - just yesterday we heard of US college student Amanda Foote flogging her spot in the Apple Store queue for 900 dollars. But cunning UK Apple fans looking to get a hold of the iPad 2 ahead of its UK launch on March 25th by having the tablet shipped from the States are reportedly getting shut down by Apple.


Apple has limited the amount of iPads per person to just two tablets, presumably to stop shady resellers buying up dozens of models and leaving genuine Apple devotees empty handed on launch day. However, when trying to ship even a single iPad 2 from the States, UK would-be customers are receiving the following message:


"Dear Apple Customer, thank you for your recent Apple order. We appreciate your interest in iPad 2. There is a limited quantity per customer for this product and your order has exceeded this limit. Your order has therefore been cancelled and you will not be charged. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."


The Twitterverse is ablaze with UK early birds reporting the same curious auto-response to their orders. The message, which usually goes out to customers who try to order more than the two iPad limit, is apparently also being sent to UK customers trying to send their iPads to US-based companies that specialise in forwarding on items purchased in the US abroad.


Have you had an iPad 2 shipped from the States ahead of March 25th? Let us know your story via the T3 inbox or T3 Twitter feed.

 


Source: T3 Tech videos

 

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White iPhone 5 to arrive in spring instead of iPhone 4?

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:45 AM PDT

White iPhone 4 or 5?

The white iPhone 4 has proven to be a most elusive thing. Initially promised to arrive not long after the iPhone 4’s launch in June last year, it’s still not with us for a number of technical reasons.


We’ve been guilty of reporting on some pretty tenuous iPhone rumours before, but this particular one seems to be as conclusive as you can get. Apple’s Senior VP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller has replied to a tweet asking when the white iPhone would arrive, saying:



“The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)”


Now, the big question on everyone’s lips is: exactly which iPhone does Schiller mean? It’s widely believed that Apple will drop the iPhone 5 into existence in June, as per usual, but there’s something very vague about the tweet discourse that has us wondering if he’s talking about the white iPhone 4 or the upcoming iPhone 5.


If Apple is to launch the iPhone 5 in June, it makes sense that the white iPhone 4 will appear prior to that announcement – perhaps at the upcoming one for iOS 5. If Phil Schiller counts June as ‘spring’, though, then it’s logical to assume that the iPhone 5 will launch in black and white from day one, and that the white iPhone 4 is dead in the water.


What do you make of all this? Let us know on the T3 Twitter feed.
 

 

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Google to launch Google Circles social network?

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:25 AM PDT

Google rumoured to announce its own 'Circles' Facebook competitor at May conference.

According to a post on tech blog The Next Web, Google is looking for a bite out of that lucrative social networking apple. The blog predicts the Google-built Facebook competitor - named Google Circles - will be announced at Google's annual I/O conference, scheduled this year for May 10-11th.


The Google I/O conference is the traditional jump-off point for big Google products, and in the last couple of years saw the launch of Google Wave and Google TV. If Google is hiding the next Facebook up its sleeve, I/O would be the place to announce it.


With Google all about integrating current services into future products, we reckon the Google Circles social network would more likely be an amalgamation of Google services which already prove popular (such as Maps, Places and Gmail) than a straight Facebook knock off. No solid details are available as yet, however, with The Next Web's enquiries being met with the stock "we do not comment on rumour and speculation" schtick from Google.


What would Google have to do to pry you off Facebook? Let us know via the T3 inbox or on the T3 Twitter feed.


Via: The Next Web

 

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News@10: No NFC for iPhone 5 and Amazon.com iPad rival

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:32 AM PDT

T3 scans the Twitterverse to bring you a handy daily round-up of gadget news, tech rumours and randomness from the WWW. Kick back with your morning cuppa and catch up.

MONDAY

 

TABLET NEWS

@UbergizmoAmazon.com might have rival tablet to iPad 2

 

 

IPHONE NEWS

@UbergizmoWhite iPhone 4 confirmed by Apple exec

 

 

IPHONE 5 NEWS

@9to5Mac - Apple reportedly tells carriers iPhone 5 won’t have NFC

 

 

ANDROID NEWS

@Phandroid - Android 2.3 coming to Samsung Galaxy S

 

 

ANDROID APP NEWS

@Engadget -  Official Formula 1 app coming to Android

 

 

 

Get more news, views and tech tips: 

 

T3 on Twitter

Direct your web attentions to twitter.com/t3dotcom for a feed of all the latest tech news and gadgetry goodness. We’ll also reach out for your opinions for future features, so have your brains ready.

 

 

 

T3 on Facebook

Facebook.com/t3mag is our handle. Don’t worry though, we spend much less time growing Farmville crops and poking strangers than we do divulging tech info.

 

 

 

 

Apple iPad 2 video: Unboxing

Apple iPad 2 video: Unboxing

 

 

 

Source: T3 Tech Videos

 

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