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Thursday, March 3, 2011

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T-Mobile offers Sidekick owners half off Samsung phones or waived ETFs

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:48 AM PST

Well, we knew T-Mobile was promising an "easy transition" for Sidekick owners once Danger's long-running cloud service was shut down later this spring, and we now finally have the details on exactly what that transition will entail. According to a letter sent to Sidekick owners and obtained by TmoNews, the carrier will be offering either fifty percent off "select" Samsung phones purchased on a new two-year contract, or a waived early termination fee between March 31st and May 31st for those that prefer to just pack up and go elsewhere. Hit up the source link below to read the complete letter if you haven't already received one yourself.

Galaxy Indulge microSDHC card regularly reports back to MetroPCS (but hey, you get Iron Man 2 for free!)

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:24 AM PST

If you're the kind of person who buys phones based on Hollywood tie-in deals (and for your sake, we hope you're not) you'll be pleased to know that the Samsung Galaxy Indulge comes pre-loaded with Iron Man 2. That's right, a sequel to a movie you only ever saw half of, once, while it was on the TV over the bar at Armand's on Liberty Ave. (assuming that you're a certain Engadget editor, and for your sake we hope you're not) is coming pre-loaded on the world's first Android-packing, LTE smartphone. And if that wasn't enough, the SanDisk microSDHC card that the movie is stored on regularly reports back to MetroPCS with usage statistics:
This intelligent SanDisk mobile memory card provides specific, real-time network data to MetroPCS to measure customer interest in digital content. Details of aggregated, anonymous consumer usage will allow MetroPCS to determine the impact of its movie offering, which in turn allows them to provide customers with more customized content and services in the future.
We're sure everything is on the up-and-up here, but for some reason we don't think most consumers will be comfortable with storage that reports regularly to a carrier -- for any reason. Still, things could be much worse: you could be stuck with the pre-loaded Iron Man app on an LG Ally.
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ANDISK SUPPLIES FLASH MEMORY CARDS LOADED WITH "IRON MAN 2" MOVIE FOR BUNDLING WITH METROPCS' ANDROID SMARTPHONE

4GB SanDisk microSDHC™ Mobile Memory Card Provides Measurable, Real-Time Customer Feedback on Preloaded Content

Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, February 15, 2011-SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today announced that it has begun supplying a 4 gigabyte (GB)1 microSDHC™ mobile memory card pre-loaded with the full-length Paramount Pictures' "Iron Man 2" movie for bundling with MetroPCS' new Indulge LTE smartphone. This card delivers a high-quality movie watching experience on the new Android-based handset by Samsung.

One of 2010's hottest movies, "Iron Man 2" can be instantly played from the SanDisk microSDHC mobile memory card by inserting it into the Indulge phone, which contacts the MetroPCS network automatically. This intelligent SanDisk mobile memory card provides specific, real-time network data to MetroPCS to measure customer interest in digital content. Details of aggregated, anonymous consumer usage will allow MetroPCS to determine the impact of its movie offering, which in turn allows them to provide customers with more customized content and services in the future.

"Our card helps MetroPCS deliver premium content that is both secure and easily accessible, and provides measurable real-time data that gauges consumer interest in the content," said Robert Khedouri, vice president and general manager, software and solutions, SanDisk. "This allows MetroPCS to deliver a premium mobile experience to its customers and take full advantage of this new smartphone's rich features."

SanDisk's secure card-based mobile solutions enable secure access, storage and playback of premium digital content. Specifically, SanDisk microSDHC mobile memory cards are embedded with security technology that allows for conditional access to digital content by regulating the network connection through the card, where the files are encrypted and stored. In the MetroPCS Indulge, this includes: secure, copy-protected storage of the video content, access to the content through a quick validation between the network and the phone (via the card), as well as activation reporting to provide MetroPCS with monthly collated data about movie playback usage patterns.

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards - from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.

iPad 2: are you buying one?

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:00 AM PST

iOS 4.3 is getting itself a pretty snazzy launch vehicle in Apple's brand new iPad 2. The thinner, lighter, faster Apple tablet now comes in a choice of black or white, has cameras on front and back, and we understand its cake-cutting abilities are unrivaled. Now that you've had a good few hours to digest the news, consume the subsequent comparisons against the original iPad and the rest of the tech world's tablet offerings, we want to know what you think. Will the iPad 2 pry open your purse, is the oldie still a goodie, or will you wait for the bigger and better things coming down the road? Answers below, please!

iPad 2: are you buying one?

Jam guitar input for Mac and iOS devices gets your axe into GarageBand

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 08:28 AM PST

Jam guitar input for Mac and iOS devices gets your axe into GarageBand easy
Hello Cleveland! Or, you know, wherever you are. Are you ready to rock? No? Oh, well, maybe just a little jam session, then? Apogee Electronics (no, not the company that brought you all those Duke Nukem releases back in the day) has announced the new Jam device, which enables a digital connection for electric and bass guitars into iOS 4.2.1 (and greater) devices or into any Core Audio compatible apps on Mac. You can record straight into GarageBand if you like and use the built-in control knob to adjust your levels. That connectivity won't come for free, naturally, with a $99 MSRP slapped on this one. It'll start rocking stores in March -- plenty enough time to find another new drummer.
Jam


Show full PR text
Hook up with JAM by Apogee, the extremely portable, studio quality guitar input for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Mac

Santa Monica, CA, March 2, 2011- Apogee Electronics is pleased to announce JAM, a studio quality guitar input for iPad™, iPhone®, iPod touch® and Mac. Featuring PureDIGITAL technology, JAM enables musicians to practice, record and rock out with ultimate tone using the guitar amps and effects in Apple's GarageBand software on iPad 2 or Mac. No configuration necessary, just plug in and play and experience the legendary sound quality of Apogee for $99.

"We're very excited to enter the rapidly growing world of iOS with this incredible product," says Apogee Co-founder and CEO Betty Bennett. "JAM is the first high-quality interface that makes a digital connection to your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, and the only one that also works on your Mac. You will immediately notice the difference between the sound quality of JAM and other similar products because its converters are designed by the same team of engineers responsible for our award-winning, high-end professional interfaces. JAM promises to become a standard for guitarists who want a professional, portable way to connect to these devices and benefit from the amazing music-making apps they offer."

Availability: March 2011
Price: $99

JAM by Apogee Highlights:
PureDIGITAL instrument connection delivers pristine sound quality
Designed for electric guitar and bass
With no confusing setup, you can start recording in minutes
Made for Apple's GarageBand software
Works with GarageBand on iOS devices or with any Core Audio compatible application on a Mac
Control knob allows easy input level adjustment
Multicolor LED for status indication and input level monitoring
Studio quality instrument preamp with up to 40dB of gain
High quality locking output connects directly to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch dock connector port or USB port on a Mac
44.1kHz, 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion
Auto Soft Limit for optimal input level
Made in the U.S.A.

System Requirements:
iOS:
Supported Devices: iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3Gs and iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation)
iOS version: 4.2.1 and greater
Connection and Power: Dock connector port
Mac:
Computer: Mac, with an Intel processor
Memory: 1 GB minimum of installed RAM, 2 GB recommended
OS: 10.6.4 or greater
Connection and Power: USB, powered by any USB port on the computer
Software: Apple's GarageBand, Logic Pro, MainStage or any Core Audio compliant application

Intel Core i7-990X reviewed: best performance ever, but far from best value

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 08:06 AM PST

As T-Pain once so wisely proclaimed, "it ain't hardcore unless it's hexacore." Intel should have no worries with its Core i7-990X, which has enough processing units to satisfy even the most demanding of hip hop moguls, but it pads out its extreme credentials anyway with an audacious 3.46GHz default speed. That can be Turbo Boosted to 3.73GHz (yes, we are talking about a CPU that can run at 3,730MHz right out of the box) and there's 12MB of L3 cache and three channels for DDR3 memory to justify the $999 price tag. Well, to partially justify it, anyhow. Tech Report and Tom's Hardware both ran this new chip through their benchmarking suites and both concluded it's the fastest consumer processor around, but neither was willing to recommend it as a terribly astute purchase decision. Then again, when has an Extreme Edition of anything ever been a good value proposition?

Visualized: US smartphone market share, by manufacturer and platform, made pretty

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 07:43 AM PST

They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- but in this case, a picture is worth tens of billions of dollars in market share. Nielsen has broken down its US smartphone market share stats between November and January in two dimensions -- by market share and by platform -- and stuffed all that data into a single block of mesmerizing color. It's interesting to see the Apple and RIM juggernauts flanked by two imposing, red slivers of HTC, isn't it? The research firm also took a look at platforms by age group; the shares are surprisingly consistent across the board, though Android does have a slight edge with the young'uns. Follow the break for that chart.

Sony announces Move.me application for researchers and hobbyists, promises improvements to PlayStation Home

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 07:18 AM PST

The PlayStation Move may not have proven to be as instantly hackable as Microsoft's Kinect, but it looks like Sony is now trying to change that -- it's just announced its new Move.me server application that promises to let researchers, hobbyists and others use the Move as a controller for a PC, with the PlayStation 3 handling all the work in between. It will be available for download from the PlayStation Network this spring, although you can also try your luck with Sony's early-product seeding program if you'd like to get it sooner -- no PS3 SDK or licensing agreement is required. In other PlayStation news, Sony's also confirmed that it's now working on version 1.5 of PlayStation Home, which promises to add real-time multiplayer gaming functionality to the virtual world, along with improved physics and refined graphics. Details on it are otherwise still fairly light, but it's also slated for a public release sometime this spring. Head on past the break for the official word on both announcements from Sony.
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PlayStation®Move Motion Control Technology to Benefit Research and Academic Communities Through Move.Me™ Application

With Move.Me, Sony Computer Entertainment America to Offer Award-Winning PlayStation®3 Motion Gaming Technology to Universities, Research Labs and Hobbyists

SAN FRANCISCO, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the 2011 Game Developers Conference, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) unveiled Move.Me™ – a software application that academics, researchers, students, and hobbyists can use to create new types of software applications using the PlayStation®Move motion controller as an input device on their own PCs, all via the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system.

Launched in fall 2010, PlayStation Move delivers the most precise and intuitive motion control gaming experience on PS3 with the PlayStation Move motion controller, which features internal motion sensors and utilizes additional tracking from the PlayStation®Eye camera. With the Move.Me application, the high-quality, high-level tracking data that PS3 game developers use can be exported to the PC, providing a powerful tool for creating innovative applications.

The Move.Me project could help medical researchers prototype, for example, rehabilitation applications for patients undergoing physical therapy. The Move.Me application could also lead game design students to develop new creative concepts for gaming within the areas of 3D modeling, motion capture, and augmented reality. The application is compatible with any Windows or Linux-based PC; other devices, such as tablets and smartphones, can also receive PlayStation Move's tracking data if they can connect to a PS3 system.

"PlayStation Move's camera-plus-controller combination allows for the most precise and immersive gaming experiences," said John McCutchan, senior engineer, SCEA Developer Support. "Now we're formally taking that advanced technology, which was almost ten years in the making, and offering it to innovators outside of our traditional game development community so they can create their own applications to impact the world in exciting new ways."

The Move.Me application will be available for download from PlayStation®Network this spring. As part of an early product seeding program in the United States, a handful of prestigious researchers and professionals in the medical, academic and human-computer interaction fields have already expressed interest in creating innovative applications that leverage the unique motion-sensing technology offered by PlayStation Move.

SCEA will support the Move.Me application with sample code, user documentation and corporate material from SCE Research and Development. The Move.Me application will not require the PS3 system SDK or a licensing agreement, which opens the door for wide-spread idea generation and prototyping. Additional details are available at: http://www.us.playstation.com/move-me.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

"PlayStation", and "PSP" are registered trademarks and "PS3", is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.


PlayStation®Home to Introduce Real-Time Multiplayer, Improved Physics and Refined Animation and Graphics

March 1, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announced the development of PlayStation®Home's core client version 1.5, scheduled for public release this spring. The update to version 1.5 will introduce a suite of new technology for developers to create even more sophisticated and realistic gaming experiences within PlayStation Home with real-time multiplayer, an improved physics engine and refined animations and graphics. The new functionality of version 1.5 is being demonstrated for development teams at the PlayStation Home booth this week at Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA.



Available exclusively on PlayStation®Network via the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, developers will be able to take full advantage of the improved network mechanics to create fast-action multiplayer experiences such as online racing games and first person shooters within PlayStation Home. Also included with the update to version 1.5 is a revamped physics engine, providing developers with augmented control over collision, mass, velocity and other physics elements, for an even greater level of realism and more intricate gameplay experiences. In addition, new technology has been added to increase developer control of animations in a scene or game, including the ability to play multiple animations on a single model, blending between animations and getting details in real-time for in-motion animations. These new developer tools also allow for optimal control of the rendering process, resulting in an increase of graphically rich scenes and an overall improvement to frame-rate in games created with this new technology.

With this update, PlayStation Home further demonstrates its commitment to bring quality game experiences to users by adding several new development tools that will vastly improve the capabilities of the platform. The highly-anticipated sequel to popular PlayStation Home game Sodium One from developer Lockwood Publishing, will take advantage of the updates to version 1.5 in this spring's Sodium Two. The game, scheduled for a spring release in conjunction with the update, will feature fast action multiplayer racing at supersonic speeds, heavily customizable jet racers and a pounding soundtrack.

Charting the upgrade path from DOS 5.0 to Windows 7 (video)

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 06:53 AM PST

Charting the upgrade path from DOS 5.0 to Windows 7 (video)
If you're old enough to remember tweaking your Autoexec.bat and tackling IRQ conflicts, days when launching Windows required typing "win" at a command prompt, prepare for a blast of nostalgia. YouTuber Andrew Tait (aka "TheRasteri") took a freshly minted VMWare instance and spent what looks to be a full day running through every version of Windows starting with DOS 5.0 and Windows 1.0, which was basically just Explorer paired with one heck of a crummy text editor. From there he dutifully leads us on a crazy upgrade path all the way up to modern times, charting interesting things like how long a version of Doom installed in DOS ran (failed in Windows 2000, but worked again in Windows XP) and when color settings made in Windows 2.0 were finally overwritten (also in 2000). It's 10 minutes in length and is probably the most interesting video you won't watch today.

AT&T introduces new post-paid plan for tablets, for those who prefer paying ex post facto

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 06:27 AM PST

AT&T introduces new post-paid plan for tablets, for those who prefer paying ex post facto
Month-to-month billing is a great way to go for those who aren't going to be traveling with their tablets all the time. If you'll be a more frequent mobile data user, but still don't want to get stuck with a contract, AT&T is introducing new post-paid plans. They can be added to an existing wireless plan (single billing FTW) and will see you billed automatically every month, but now you can cancel whenever your heart desires. Initial pricing is on-par with the pre-paid plans, which means $14.99 for 250MB or $25 for 2GB. It's only the overage charges that are different here, $10 per 1GB versus $25 for 2GB on the pre-paid option. Not a huge difference, that, so really this is more of a convenience thing.


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AT&T Introduces New Monthly Billing Option for Tablets

Customers Get First Month Free When Activating New Postpaid Plan
DALLAS, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today introduced convenient new postpaid billing options for tablets. Beginning today, customers can choose between AT&T's existing prepaid billing options or the new postpaid plans. The new plans can be added to customers' existing monthly wireless statements, offering the simplicity of a single monthly bill. For a limited time, customers who activate a new postpaid $25/2 GB plan will receive the first month free(1).
The new postpaid billing option will be available across AT&T retail locations, as well as att.com, Best Buy, Fry's, select Nexcom locations, and Walmart stores nationwide.
"Tablets offer the convenience of mobile broadband virtually anywhere and our new billing options give customers the flexibility to choose how they prefer to be billed," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets.
Customers may choose from the following options.
Postpaid: $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB. Customers on the 2 GB plan who exceed their monthly data allotment will be charged $10 per 1 GB of overage. Charges will appear on customers' monthly wireless statements.
Prepaid: $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB. Customers on the 2 GB plan who exceed their monthly data allotment may choose to purchase an additional 2 GB for $25. Charges will appear on customers' credit card statements.

Both options are month-to-month and do not require a long-term commitment.
For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.
(1) Mobile broadband not available in all areas. Plan is for 30 days. Service free for new postpaid activations for first 30 days or the first 2GB of usage, whichever comes first. Offer available for DataConnect Personal for Tablets 2GB Plan only. Subsequent thirty day periods to be billed by AT&T Mobility at $25 for 2GB usage. To avoid subsequent charges, service must be cancelled prior to 30 days after activation of the plan, or prior to usage in excess of 2GB within the first 30 days after activation of the Plan. Usage in excess of 2GB during the first 30 days and in each subsequent thirty day period to be billed at $10 per each additional GB. Unused data does not rollover to the next 30 day period. Offer not available for on-tablet activation. DataConnect Personal for Tablets Plans are for compatible tablets only. Plans are not suitable for corporate email or intranet systems. Credit check required. No term commitment or termination fees apply. Plan automatically renews every 30 days, unless you cancel service prior to the start of the 30 day renewal. Service may be cancelled at any time by calling 1-800-331-0500 or seeing store representative. Limited time offer.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.

RIM preparing to bring BBM to iOS and Android, change everything again?

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 05:59 AM PST

Woah, now here's a juicy rumor to start your Thursday morning off with. BGR reports word from multiple trusted sources that RIM intends to take its BlackBerry Messenger outside the cozy confines of the BB ecosystem and straight into its competitors' app stores. BBM is reputedly all set to make its debut as a messaging app on both iOS and Android, though the specifics of what it might cost you have yet to be ironed out. It'll come in a stripped down version, you'll still need to own a BlackBerry for the full-flavored BBM experience, but that should nonetheless be extremely welcome news for folks finding themselves torn between platforms. The Android version is expected this year, say the sources, while the iOS app may take a little while longer thanks to Apple's more capricious approval requirements.

Imagination Technologies' PowerVR SGX543MP2 really is faster, better, stronger (video)

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 05:39 AM PST



You may have heard of the PowerVR SGX543MP -- you know, the GPU behind Sony's NGP and possibly on its way to the iPad 2 and iPhone 5 -- but chances are, you've yet to see it working up close. Well, feast your graphics-hungry eyes on this: that's Futuremark's Tai Chi benchmark running on a tellingly sheathed device at GDC 2011, working the MP2 (dual-core) iteration of the processor, and that fine smartphone to its right is the Nexus S, sporting the PowerVR SGX540 you've come to know and love. As you can tell, Imagination Technologies' promises of 4X the performance aren't just baseless boasts -- the lady on the left moves with grace and fluidity, while her counterpart on the right is all sorts of herky-jerky. Think that's fast? Check out what the GPU can do with two more cores.

Sean Hollister contributed to this report.

Disgruntled Android developer sounds battle cry, rallies troops, demands Market tweaks from Google (updated)

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 05:06 AM PST

A dude making a living writing Android apps -- who, by all appearances, is an upstanding guy with actual quality software in the Android Market -- is taking Google to task this week for what he calls "unacceptable" treatment. His beef seems to originate from the unexplained pulling of one of his titles -- Rapid Download -- a fact that he discovered not through any sort of communication from Google, it seems, but by the fact that he noticed was no longer making any coin from it. He goes on to say that he was unable to get anyone in Mountain View to explain the situation until his third attempt, at which point he received some unhelpful "generic information" plus a threat tacked on that if he violated the rules again, he'd have all of his titles pulled. For someone whose Market apps are breadwinners, we can imagine that would be a little scary.

Long story short, this particular developer decided he wasn't going to take it -- not after paying "over $14,000 in 'service fees'" -- and started a site to get his story public and enlist fellow devs unhappy with the way Google's been treating them. Now, we can't vouch for the accuracy of the guy's story, but if this movement and ones like it gather enough steam, it puts Google in a precarious position; the Market, after all, is the crown jewel in the company's strategy of allowing only approved devices to be the most relevant to consumers. Take away the absolute importance of the Market -- like, say, Amazon is trying to do -- and the power structure starts to shift.

Update: If you look at the legacy Market posting for Rapid Download on AndroLib, we can immediately spot at least one thing that's wrong here -- the guy is encouraging users to infringe copyrights right in the product description. Whoops! Sure, Google should be more proactive in letting developers know where they went wrong... but if you don't see the problem in this, you probably have no business being a professional developer -- at least, not one that's claiming ethics on their side. Thanks, everyone!

BBC iPlayer will cost 'fewer than $10' a month for international subscribers

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 04:31 AM PST

As you know, the BBC's iPlayer online video catchup portal is about to strap its boots on and go international via the iPad some time this year, a subscription service which has now been priced at "fewer than $10" per month. That's the word direct from Mark Thompson, director general of the grand old corporation, who also assures us that the global launch is definitely coming in 2011. iPad and Android apps for the iPlayer were recently launched in the BBC's homeland, so the technical requirements have already been fulfilled -- now it's probably just a matter of dotting some Is, crossing some Ts, and making sure Jeremy Clarkson doesn't score you a lawsuit with his outspoken bravado.

[Thanks, Nathan]

Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover vs. InCase Convertible Magazine Jacket... Fight!

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 04:02 AM PST

By now you've seen Apple's Smart Cover, right? The mind blowing cover (don't call it a case) pretty much stole the show during yesterday's iPad 2 press event, causing children to weep at the sight of our exploded bodies. Thing is, we've seen the design before. Oh sure, Apple improved upon it significantly, but there's no mistaking its InCase Convertible Magazine Jacket heritage. See the two slug it out on video after the break in some kind of weird reverse KIRF cage match. We guess 2011 really is the year of the copycats.


Toshiba's TY-WSD9 wireless waterproof speaker gives Japanese shower singers an upgrade

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 03:37 AM PST

Bath-time belters rejoice, for the folks over at Toshiba have bestowed unto you a 21st century solution to the waterproof radio. Okay, so it's not the first shower-ready speaker we've reported on, and the TY-WSD9 doesn't come with a pale-skinned celebrity endorsement, but it does stream audio from your TV, DVD, iPod, or other sound-emitting device within a 25-meter radius. The system sports two 1.2W speakers, works a transmitter / receiver setup that looks something akin to a baby monitor, and will be available in Japan for about 13,000 yen (or $160) starting this March. So get those pipes ready, cause your wet and wild repertoire just got a whole lot bigger.

Ball-throwing robot seal has a talent for basketball, embarrassing humans (video)

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 03:05 AM PST

You pick up your first tan leather roundball at the age of 9, you practice religiously for a decade before you can even feel worthy of calling yourself a basketball player, and then you find a video online of a robotic seal that can shoot better than you after just a few weeks in the lab. Yep, some Taiwanese know-it-alls have put together a robo-seal that converts 99 percent of shots (admittedly with a toy ball launched at a toy hoop) within a three-meter range. It's basically just an articulating arm with stereo vision for some good old depth perception, but it's sophisticated enough to maintain its killer accuracy even if the target is moved from its spot. That's more lethal that Shaq or Karl Malone's elbows ever were. Video's after the break, skip to the 1:05 mark if you don't care about the details of how it's done.

Opera browser gets an over-17 rating in Mac App Store, reacts in good humor

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 02:31 AM PST

You might not yet be aware of this, but Apple's policy towards web browsers is to treat the entire internet as their content. As a result, all browsers on the iOS App Store come with a minimum age requirement of 17 and the same rule will apply to them on the Mac App Store. Opera, the first non-native web explorer to make it in Apple's new desktop app repository, is taking a humorous approach to things, with VP Jan Standal saying he's "not sure if, at that age, people are ready to use such an application. It's very fast, you know, and it has a lot of features." All that said, Opera's willing to be reckless if you are, and will totally let you download its Mac software through its homepage -- no age or credit card checks required, though you might want to ask for your parents' permission first.

[Thanks, Ian]

Motorola Xoom 3G arrives in UK for £600, gets enigmatic listing on Amazon.de for €700

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 02:01 AM PST

Yesterday we saw the WiFi-only Xoom get its UK pricing straightened out at £500 via PC World, and today Carphone Warehouse is putting up pre-order availability of the 3G-equipped version at a nice round hundie more. The £600 Xoom 3G is listed as "in stock" now, but deliveries will likely take until the first week of April to get going, assuming Moto is delivering both SKUs of its Android 3.0 tablet at the same time. We've also come across an Amazon.de pre-order for the Xoom, asking for €700, but alas there's no hint as to whether it includes 3G connectivity or not -- no hint other than the price, that is.

[Thanks, Yosef]

LG Optimus Pad listed on Amazon.de for a slightly less crazy €899

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 01:40 AM PST

Shortly after our first hands-on encounter with LG's Optimus Pad, we came across a press release from the company announcing the price for its 8.9-inch Android Honeycomb tablet in Germany: €999 ($1,380). We rubbed our eyes and pinched our cheeks, but we weren't dreaming -- that's LG's recommended retail price, alright. Now Amazon has listed its pre-order page for the same slinky slate, though it's sagely opted to chop €100 off and offer it up at €899. We still don't know who exactly will be jumping at this opportunity, even with 32GB of onboard storage, a dual-core CPU and a dual-camera array on the back allowing for 3D video recording, when equally or more compelling products are about to hit the market at lower price points. At least shipping's free.

Update: And just like that, Amazon's listing is gone. Did we just alert them to LG's RRP or something?

HTC Merge rolls into FCC with mentions of Verizon

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 01:01 AM PST

It's not much of a secret that the Merge is destined for Verizon -- but for some reason we can't put our finger on, HTC has been very careful not to mention the carrier by name since the phone's reveal last week. Maybe Verizon's not yet 100 percent certain it wants to launch this one yet? At any rate, just in case there was any lingering doubt, the FCC filing for the Merge includes a user manual plastered from start to finish with Verizon logos and mentions of Verizon services. That's kind of funny considering that they went to all the trouble of carefully taping over the logo in the handset's external photos... but don't worry, FCC lab engineer -- we've had those kinds of days before, too. Keep your chin up!

Confirmed: Tegra 2-equipped Samsung Galaxy S II is coming

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 12:07 AM PST

We've confirmed with our own sources what was almost an established fact already: there will be a version of Samsung's 4.3-inch Galaxy S II Android smartphone relying on a dual-core Tegra 2 chip for its processing. The second-gen Galaxy S launched at MWC this year with Samsung's own Exynos dual-core solution at its heart, but it seems that yields of that chip haven't been good enough to sate the expected high demand for the handset. So, in steps NVIDIA with its soon-to-be-ubiquitous Tegra 2 -- which runs at the same 1GHz as Exynos and offers comparable performance -- to fill in the supply gap. The decision as to which part you'll get in your next Samsung smartphone will depend on which territory you're in, with Americans and Brits likely to get first bite at the Exynos cherry.

[Thanks, Anshul]

Microsoft resumes WP7 update for 'bricked' Samsung handsets

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 11:34 PM PST

After much brouhaha and rigmarole, Microsoft appears to be back on track with its inaugural Windows Phone 7 software update. An update that wasn't actually supposed to do anything but prepare that first wave of WP7 devices for their first real update but, ironically, left about 10 percent of WP7 owners with issues including some precision-built Samsung paperweights. Last night Microsoft issued an update on the matter saying that the February update for Samsung handsets has been fixed, resuming its rolling release schedule. Great, with this hopefully behind us, maybe we can now focus on the first real update scheduled for "early March" that will finally check off the platform's infamous lack of copy 'n paste on the road to multitasking, Twitter integration, and a vastly improved IE9 browser later in the year.

CE-Oh no he didn't!: NGP will be 'dead on arrival,' says ngmoco boss

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 11:10 PM PST

In all honesty, you would expect the leader of a team concerned exclusively with producing games for smartphone platforms like iOS and Android to be dismissive of a new dedicated handheld console's chances, but it's still jarring to hear such a strident dismissal of the Sony NGP's chances. In an interview at GDC this year -- yes, the same place where we were treated to some very impressive demos of the NGP's performance -- ngmoco CEO Neil Young has expressed his belief that Sony's next PSP will be "dead on arrival." Claiming that the new portable will be incapable of competing with the rich ecosystems and affordable pricing models that smartphones now offer, Young says not even the crazy specs or PS3-like gaming will help the NGP survive. This echoes comments from Satoru Iwata last year saying that Apple, not Sony, is the "enemy of the future" for handheld consoles, though Young does close off on a positive note, saying that he sees brighter prospects for the 3DS thanks to Nintendo's rich collection of own-brand franchises and reserves of fan loyalty. So that's it, folks, better start selling those Sony shares while they're still worth something! Or not, it's up to you.

[Thanks, Dominick]

Zero XU electric motorcycle makes in-apartment EV charging a reality

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 10:09 PM PST

Zero XU electric motorcycle makes in-apartment EV charging a reality
The (newly updated) range of electric motorcycles from Zero Motorcycles is certainly tempting for those urban dwellers looking for a fun way to launch themselves over short commutes. But, for garage-less apartment or townhouse tenants lacking the requisite charging connector, they don't make a heck of a lot of sense. Here's one that does. It's the new Zero XU, an electric motorcycle featuring a removable battery pack that you can carry inside with you to juice up. You can also buy a second pack and swap them out, which could let you leave one at work and one at home -- something you might have to think about given the thing's unfortunately short 30 mile range. That's about half what the Zero S manages, but the XU is at least $2,000 cheaper, starting at $7,995. It also curiously still uses a chain, a departure from the other 2011 Zero bikes that just switched to belts. Anyhow, if you're still intrigued the Zero XU is up for order now and should start terrorizing AC outlets in March.
2011 Zero XU electric motorcycle

[Thanks, Darius]

Show full PR text
Zero Motorcycles Announces the Zero XU as Surprise Fifth Electric Motorcycle Model for 2011

– 'Urban Crosser' Becomes First Street Motorcycle with a Removable Power Pack –
– for Riders without Access to Street Level Charging –

SANTA CRUZ, CA (March 1, 2011) – Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry, today announced the Zero XU. A new model for the company, it marks the fifth to be added to the product line. With instant torque from zero rpm, no shifting, a low weight, a low seat height and a removable power pack, the Zero XU is designed to be the ideal electric motorcycle for those who live in the city. It leverages the time tested Zero X off-road platform for durability and features a complete set of specialized street gear that is highlighted by a stylish new body.

Bringing Zero Motorcycles' product offerings to a new population, the Zero XU is the world's first street motorcycle that enables owners to essentially charge anywhere by way of a removable power pack and optional stand-alone charger. This opens the doors to interested buyers who do not have access to garage or street-level charging at their homes or apartments. The removable pack also allows for essentially non-stop usage by enabling individuals, or fleets, to quickly swap power packs. As with all Zero Motorcycles products, the Zero XU is offered with a quick-charge option that cuts the recharge time down by approximately fifty percent to one hour. The additional charger that enables quick-charging can also be used to charge the power pack separately from the motorcycle. Those who own a 2011 Zero X or Zero MX can use their power packs interchangeably with the new Zero XU.

"We're excited to announce our fifth model for 2011. The Zero XU is ideal for those living and working in a city," said Gene Banman, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. "With no shifting, quiet operation, comfortable ergonomics and optional onboard storage, riders of all experience levels are able to focus on simply enjoying the ride. Add to that the ability to remove the power pack and the Zero XU becomes the ultimate urban crosser."

The Zero XU starts at $7,995 MSRP. A Federal tax credit can be applied if purchased with a second power pack. Some countries or states may offer other incentives. To secure an order and take advantage of the current Federal incentive while it lasts, the Zero XU can be purchased online now and will begin shipping in the United States during mid-March. It comes with a 2-year limited warranty. Price does not include local shipping, applicable taxes, PDI and road registration fees.

About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is committed to transforming the motorcycling experience by bringing to market highly innovative electric motorcycles that offer exceptional value and performance. Zero is powered by innovation, driven by passion, guided by integrity, and measured by results. Through extensive research, insight and experience, Zero combines the art and science of motorcycle development to create and manufacture products that excite consumers and inspire brand loyalty. Zero is determined to be the pre-eminent global electric motorcycle company.

Sony's NGP at GDC 2011: more video of the quad-core marvel in action

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 07:36 PM PST


The headline just about says it all -- we've got some new footage (as opposed to what we've seen before) of Sony's NGP for all you gamers to drool over. Today at GDC 2011, we saw a live demo of Uncharted, Little Deviants, and the NGP's augmented reality capabilities. We were, once again, impressed by Sony's latest piece of gaming hardware, but don't take our word for it, see for yourself in video footage above and after the break. And, oh-by-the-way, we gleaned a few new tidbits about the handheld powerhouse that developers may want to know -- retail game cartridges will be only 2GB or 4GB in size (notable because the average PS3 title is 9GB), and Sony recommends that devs looking to port PS3 titles to the NGP should simplify their models, shaders and textures to make them work. Now if only Sony would spill the beans about how much the thing'll cost.

Update: We didn't completely care for how our original Uncharted footage looked, so we uploaded a slightly higher-quality version. Enjoy!
Sony NGP developer presentation at GDC 2011







Sean Hollister contributed to this report.

Sneaker speakers kick out the jams

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 05:56 PM PST

We've seen homemade speakers crafted from all sorts of unusual objects, but these new sneaker speakers built for a design competition by professional sneaker customizer Nashmoney might just be the new king in town. As you can see, they started out as a regular pair of Nike Air Force 1s, and all of the speaker components are built right into the sneakers, including the amplifier and the controls. Of course, they're also one of a kind, but you can find some pictures and details of the build process at the link below if you have an old pair of kicks you'd like to try to retrofit yourself.

HP TouchPad shoots down planes, shows off next-gen Snapdragon's GPU (video)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:41 PM PST



We're willing to bet Qualcomm's Adreno 220 GPU is an abstract concept to most readers, but we can put it into perspective real quick -- here it is in the HP TouchPad, pumping pixels and mapping textures to a seriously stunning little air combat game. We got our hands on the webOS 3.0 tablet and gave Polarbit's Armageddon Squadron II a whirl at GDC 2011, and the
experience felt pretty solid overall, framerate only dipping significantly when unleashing a hefty barrage of rockets upon your foes. What's more, the tablet easily -- and automatically -- paused our game when flexing webOS's multitasking muscle to check a text message that had just come in. What's that you say? You're wondering how the HP TouchPad does text messages? Well, it doesn't quite -- it requires a webOS smartphone paired via Bluetooth to share the cellular modem for texts and calls. But you knew that already, right?

Armageddon Squadron wasn't the only title Qualcomm had handy to show off the power of the Adreno 220, though, as SouthEnd Interactive's Desert Winds seems to be the feather in the company's cap. It's a 3D action-adventure title starring some very fancy lighting effects for a mobile game -- not to mention a buxom female swordslinger who dredges up memories of ATI's Ruby. See that after the break!

Update: Adreno 220 is actually a single-core GPU, part of the dual-core Snapdragon 8x60 system-on-a-chip.

Apple's iPad 2 keynote video ready for your viewing delight

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:44 PM PST

Missed Steve Jobs' surprise reappearance to unveil the iPad 2 this morning -- or perhaps, are you an Apple fan who just can't get enough? Well, it just so happens that Apple taped its latest magic show for you to watch at your leisure. Find it at our source link below, and imagine a time before 9.7-inch tablets hit the gym and slimmed down to just 1.3 pounds light. Oh, and we've also got a comprehensive liveblog, if video's not your style.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

TruPrint brings proper printer support to iOS if you brought the jailbreak (video)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:06 PM PST

TruPrint brings proper printer support to iOS if you brought the jailbreak
AirPrint is great in theory, but in practice your chances of finding a supported printer in the copier room are roughly equivalent to spotting a yellow-eared parrot in the wild. TruPrint boosts those chances dramatically, adding iOS support for "most" printers that are shared on the network. Unfortunately no actual listing of supported models has been provided, but there's a three day free trial if installed over Cydia so you can try it for yourself -- yes, you'll need to jailbreak first. After that it's $9.99, which is a bit steep, but if it saves you having to wait in just one line at the airport terminal to print a boarding pass it's well, well worth it.

Simulated Mars mission simulating return to Earth as we speak, astronauts genuinely overjoyed

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 02:32 PM PST

We thought the Hundred Year Starship initiative to strand aged astronauts on Mars by 2030 was depressing, and in comparison the European Space Agency's Mars-500 project is little more than a walk in the park (a very small, confined, and extremely monotonous park). Essentially Bio-Dome re-written to simulate travel to Mars and back (without that lovable scamp Pauly Shore), the project bills itself as "the first full duration simulation of a manned flight to Mars," with astronauts conducting a 640-day voyage to the red planet and back -- all without leaving the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP). Members of the crew "landed" on Mars on February 12th of this year, returning to the craft on February 24th. As we speak, they should be entering into a spiral orbit away from Mars, and with any luck they'll be back just in time for their ticker-tape parade on November 5th (hopefully that part isn't a simulation). A joint experiment by the European Space Agency, Russia, and China, the $15 million project studies the complex psychological and technical challenges encountered on long spaceflights.

3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT (video)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 01:54 PM PST

Though there are bigger multitouch screens out there -- and ones that can support more simultaneous touch points -- 3M's brand new C3266PW is the company's largest, said to be suited for industrial-strength installations with multiple simultaneous users (the company is quick to note that the ultra-wide 178-degree viewing angle along both axes is great for that, since folks can crowd around and start touching). They demoed the new unit here at CeBIT in two ways: three of them in a row on a "cascade table" with one high, one slanted, and one low, and another separate unit mounted on a solo kiosk at roughly eye level. The table's set up as a multi-display Windows box running a tech demo with maps, images, and videos that can be flicked between screens, pinched, and zoomed; the kiosk, meanwhile, is running a rudimentary flight simulator designed to demonstrate all ten points of multitouch capability at once with a finger-based aircraft control scheme (not the way you'd really design a game, but a good demo nonetheless).

3M points out that touch response -- the amount of time that it takes the screen to actually recognize that it's been touched -- is an issue in the industry, and it's not something that we really think about as users; if a gesture is laggy, we just assume the processor isn't up to the task or the software sucks. The C3266PW is rated at a relatively brisk 12ms recognition time, and while the company has other products with even quicker ratings, we definitely noticed the lack of lag as we played around (of course, the computers powering the displays have plenty to do with that). We've come to associate good capacitive displays with glossy glass and resistive with matte, but that's really not a fair assessment -- this one has a non-glare "anti-stiction coating" that, as its name implies, makes your fingers glide like butter. It might not be great for a phone, but it works well for a display of this size that's probably going to be used in public installations and potentially handled by hundreds of people a day. Follow the break for 3M's press release and video of both setups!
3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT



Show full PR text
3M Introduces Touch Pen for Consumers and Users of Touchscreen Devices

– New 3M Smart Pen provides precision accuracy for users of popular capacitive touch phones, tablets, monitors and all-in-one computers –

CeBIT 2011
HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3M Touch Systems Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3M, announced today at CeBIT 2011 the U.S. availability of its 3M Smart Pen, a uniquely designed input device finely tuned for use with popular capacitive touchscreen devices, including the Apple® iPhone®, iPad™ and iPod touch®. Its compatibility with multiple products and its ergonomic and stylish design make the 3M Smart Pen a valuable companion for active users of touchscreen devices currently in the market.

"3M Touch Systems' expertise in touchscreen technology gives us the knowledge and ability to create relevant accessories that further maximize the value of this technology"
The 3M Smart Pen has two designs to accommodate a variety of usage scenarios. The MHP-1000 comes in black, grey, pink and titanium silver with a clip attached for a traditional pen look-and-feel. The MJP-3000 is available in black, navy blue, pink and titanium silver, with a detachable lid that allows the pen to attach to the speaker jack of a portable device.

Both pens have an ergonomic industrial design, giving it a natural, comfortable fit for both small and large hands. Activating with only a light touch, the pen's unique anti-stiction properties let the pen glide smoothly across surfaces with greater precision than a finger and reduces fingerprints on the screen by not using your fingers. The 3M Smart Pen is ideal for users who must wear gloves in their work environment – from cold climates to industrial/manufacturing to healthcare and sterile environments.

"3M Touch Systems' expertise in touchscreen technology gives us the knowledge and ability to create relevant accessories that further maximize the value of this technology," said Chris Tsourides, business manager, 3M Touch Systems. "The 3M Smart Pen is one of the most accurate and high quality capacitive touch pens on the market and we are excited to see how users will enable new and unique ways to use this technology on their touchscreen devices."

The MHP-1000 and MJP-3000 are now available in the U.S. market through Amazon.com for $15.99 and $18.99, respectively. For more information on the 3M Smart Pen and other touchscreen solutions, visit www.3M.com/touch01.

3M Touch Systems provides innovative touchscreen technology products to customers worldwide under the "3M" and "MicroTouch" brands. Popular single-touch and multi-touch applications include: casino gaming, foodservice, hospitality, industrial, interactive digital signage, healthcare, retail point-of-sale and self-service. For an overview of popular touch technologies and terminology, visit www.touchtopics.com. The 3M Smart Pen and other 3M Touch Systems touchscreen displays and systems will be on display at CeBIT 2011 in Hanover, Germany, March 1-5, 2011 in Hall 16, Stand E32.

Barnes & Noble licenses Alex e-reader patents from Spring Design, settles dispute

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 01:28 PM PST

You can now tack on one more footnote to the end of the Alex e-reader story -- Spring Design has finally settled its longstanding dispute with Barnes & Noble, and granted the company a "non-exclusive, paid-up royalty free license for the entire portfolio of Spring Design patents and patent applications." Terms of the settlement are otherwise confidential, with Barnes & Noble only saying that it is "pleased to add Spring Design's patents and patent applications as a complementary addition to our rapidly growing digital portfolio." Head on past the break for the short and sweet official press release.
Show full PR text
Barnes & Noble, Inc. Settles Litigation with Spring Design

New York, NY – March 2, 2011 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller, today announced that it has settled a lawsuit brought against the Company by Spring Design, Inc. Spring Design initiated legal action against Barnes & Noble in November 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, in connection with Spring Design's Alex eReader.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Spring Design will grant Barnes & Noble a non-exclusive, paid-up royalty free license for the entire portfolio of Spring Design patents and patent applications. The terms of the settlement are otherwise confidential. The settlement agreement announced today resolves all claims brought by Spring Design, which will be dismissed with prejudice.

Eugene V. DeFelice, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Barnes & Noble, Inc., said, "We are pleased to put this matter behind us. NOOK Color™ and NOOK™, together with Spring Design's patents and patent applications, have become two of our most innovative and highly-sought after devices. Barnes & Noble is pleased to add Spring Design's patents and patent applications as a complementary addition to our rapidly growing digital portfolio."

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and information relating to Barnes & Noble that are based on the beliefs of the management of Barnes & Noble as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the management of Barnes & Noble. When used in this communication, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "will" and similar expressions, as they relate to Barnes & Noble or the management of Barnes & Noble, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of Barnes & Noble with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, the general economic environment and consumer spending patterns, decreased consumer demand for Barnes & Noble's products, low growth or declining sales and net income due to various factors, possible disruptions in Barnes & Noble's computer systems, telephone systems or supply chain, possible risks associated with data privacy, information security and intellectual property, the risk whether any patent application will issue and if issued whether or not it will be valid and/or enforceable, possible work stoppages or increases in labor costs, possible increases in shipping rates or interruptions in shipping service, effects of competition, potential effects of a bankruptcy filing by one of Barnes & Noble's largest competitors and actions taken by that competitor during bankruptcy, including store closures, sales of inventory at discounted prices and elimination of liabilities, higher-than-anticipated store closing or relocation costs, higher interest rates, the performance of Barnes & Noble's online, digital and other initiatives, the performance and successful integration of acquired businesses, the success of Barnes & Noble's strategic investments, unanticipated increases in merchandise, component or occupancy costs, unanticipated adverse litigation results or effects, the results or effects of any governmental review of Barnes & Noble's stock option practices, product and component shortages, the outcome of Barnes & Noble's evaluation of strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of Barnes & Noble, as announced on August 3, 2010, and other factors which may be outside of Barnes & Noble's control, including those factors discussed in detail in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in Barnes & Noble's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on June 30, 2010, and in Barnes & Noble's other filings made hereafter from time to time with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Barnes & Noble or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. Barnes & Noble undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this communication.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS), the world's largest bookseller and a Fortune 500 company, operates 705 bookstores in 50 states. Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, also operates 636 college bookstores serving nearly 4 million students and faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States. Barnes & Noble is the nation's top bookseller brand for the seventh year in a row, as determined by a combination of the brand's performance on familiarity, quality, and purchase intent; the top bookseller in quality for the second year in a row and the number two retailer in trust, according to the EquiTrend® Brand Study by Harris Interactive®. Barnes & Noble conducts its online business through Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com), one of the Web's largest e-commerce sites, which also features more than two million titles in its NOOK Bookstore™ (www.bn.com/ebooks). Through Barnes & Noble's NOOK™ eReading product offering, customers can buy and read eBooks on the widest range of platforms, including NOOK eBook Readers, devices from partner companies, and hundreds of the most popular mobile and computing devices using free NOOK software.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company's corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

NOOK™, NOOK Color™, NOOK Books™, NOOK Newsstand™, NOOK Books en español™, VividView™, NOOK Friends™, AliveTouch™, LendMe™, ArticleView™, Daily Shelf™, NOOK Kids™, NOOK Study™, NOOK Developer™, ReadAloud™, NOOK Book Personal Shopping™, Read In Store™, More In Store™, Free Friday™, PubIt! ™, Lifetime Library™, Read What You Love. Anywhere You Like™ and Touch the Future of Reading™ are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. Other trademarks referenced in this release are the property of their respective owners.

iPad 2 arrives at the FCC

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 01:00 PM PST

Right on cue, the three radio variants of the iPad 2 -- that's the WiFi A1395, GSM A1396, and CDMA A1397 -- have arrived at the FCC's labs for stringent testing. We're sure Uncle Sam's testers will stay on task checking up on RF interference and not just spend their time melting faces with Photo Booth, but we understand the temptation.

[Thanks, Laura]

Nintendo GDC keynote roundup: Netflix and free AT&T WiFi coming to 3DS this summer!

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 12:48 PM PST

We survived the keynote address here at GDC 2011, where Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime just got done revealing a veritable cornucopia of info about the 3DS. On the video content front, the 3DS will get Netflix this summer along with the ability to pause a video on your handheld and continue watching on your Wii -- though we presume you may recommence your cinematic experience on an XBox or PS3 too. The addition of Netflix wasn't the only announcement by Iwata, however. Get the rest after the break.

A wireless 3D video channel is coming too -- exclusive to the 3DS -- that will push Nintendo-selected content like movie trailers (Green Lantern's coming soon), music videos, and comedy shorts to the device. And if you want to make your own, Nintendo's enabling 3D video recording as well. Along with the new video content, Nintendo is bringing Game Gear and TurboGrafx 16 titles plus 3D-remastered classic games to the 3DS. The games will be available in the new Nintendo eShop along with existing DSiWare titles. While much of the attention was on downloadables, cartridges got some love when Iwata teased a new 3DS Super Mario game that may or may not include the use of the racoon tail from SMB 3 -- all will be revealed at E3.

Now, you may be thinking: "This new content is well and good, but how does Nintendo expect me to download it when I'm gaming on the go?" Well, Nintendo's got you covered by partnering with AT&T to provide free WiFi access at 10,000 hotspots starting in late May. It'll also use the SpotPass passive connection feature -- that works even when no game is in the system and when its in sleep mode -- to download new content as it becomes available. Could 2011 be the year of the 3DS?

For more details, head on over to Joystiq's liveblog of the event.

Apple releases iTunes 10.2

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 12:25 PM PST

Well, you'll still have to wait a little while before you can use it with an iPad 2, but Apple's already released iTunes 10.2 for those that like to be nice and ready. It brings with it support for iOS 4.3, and promises "improved Home Sharing" when browsing and playing your iTunes libraries on your iOS 4.3-equipped devices. We'll let you know if we discover anything else hidden away inside -- and you can feel free to do the same in comments.

Apple's Digital AV Adapter also works with iPhone 4, fourth-gen iPod touch, and first-gen iPad

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 12:01 PM PST

In case you're wondering whether Apple's forthcoming Digital AV Adapter is worth your $39, you might be pleased to know that said HDMI dongle is also compatible with the latest crop of iOS devices before the iPad 2. This includes the iPhone 4, fourth-generation iPod touch, and even the first-generation iPad. Alas, both movies and slideshows will be capped at 720p output from these older devices, whereas the iPad 2 goes a little further with screen mirroring of up to 1080p -- we're guessing the beastly dual-core A5 chip is what makes the magic happen here, though movie output's also limited to 720p. And hey, we're only a few months away from finding out if the next iPhone will also get some 1080p love, so no pressure on buying this dongle just yet.

CE-Oh no he didn't!: Steve Jobs misquotes Samsung, asks what you're gonna do about it

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 11:41 AM PST

Hey, remember all the fun last month when Samsung's Lee Young-hee said that Galaxy Tab sales were "quite smooth" but everyone heard "quite small?" Yeah, well, Steve Jobs doesn't. Before unveiling the iPad 2 today the man in black and denim listed that early misquote -- which was widely and officially corrected -- as evidence to prove that the iPad's competition was floundering. Admittedly that isn't far from the truth, but there's no need to go putting words in other executives' mouths to make a point.

iPad 2 vs. Motorola Xoom vs. HP TouchPad vs. BlackBerry PlayBook: the tale of the tape

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 10:58 AM PST

You might recall we ran this comparison about a month back when HP's TouchPad was announced, but now we're back with a full set of 2011 devices as Apple's brand new iPad 2 has joined the fray. There's no need for excessive introductions, really, just leap past the break to get swalloped up by an avalanche of next-generation tablet specs.

Apple
iPad 2
 Motorola
Xoom
HP
TouchPad
 BlackBerry
PlayBook
Platform iOS 4.3 Android 3.0 webOS 3.0 BB Tablet OS (QNX)
Display 9.7-inch
LED-backlit IPS LCD		 10.1-inch 9.7-inch 7-inch LCD
Resolution 1024 x 768 1280 x 800 1024 x 768 1024 x 600
Processor 1GHz dual-core
Apple A5		 1GHz dual-core
NVIDIA Tegra 2		 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz dual-core
TI OMAP4430
Memory ? 1GB RAM 1GB RAM 1GB RAM
Storage 16GB / 32GB / 64GB 32GB 16GB / 32GB 16GB / 32GB / 64GB
Front camera VGA 2 megapixel 1.3 megapixel 3 megapixel
Rear camera 720 / 30p video 5 megapixel AF with dual-LED flash,
720 / 30p video		 none 5 megapixel,
1080p video
Cellular radio Quadband HSPA or
CDMA / EV-DO Rev. A		 3G with free upgrade to 4G LTE 3G and 4G 3G and 4G
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n 802.11a/b/g/n 802.11b/g/n 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 2.1 + EDR 2.1 + EDR 2.1 + EDR
Accelerometer 3-axis 3-axis Yes Yes
Gyroscope Yes Yes Yes --
Battery 25Wh 6,500mAh 6,300 mAh 5,300 mAh
Thickness 8.8mm 12.7mm 13.7mm 10mm
Weight 601g (WiFi),
607g (Verizon),
613g (AT&T)		 725g 740g 425g

iPad 2 first hands-on! (update: even more video!)

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 10:26 AM PST

Well there you have it folks -- the absurdly thin new iPad 2. We just got our hands all over the next greatest tablet from Apple and it's... very much the same, save for that new body. There's no question that the industrial design is top notch, and we did notice some speedier behavior when jumping around -- but the core OS remains unchanged, so this won't be a major shock. We're spending more time with the device and getting impressions, but for now, feast your eyes on the galleries below.

Update: Okay, we've had a chance to play around the with iPad 2 some more, and here are our big takeaways from the experience.
  • This thing is insanely fast. We're not joking -- it's blazingly fast. Everything the iPad 2 does feels like it's on turbo. We're uploading a video of the some evidence of this, you'll be appropriately stunned.
  • The design feels great in your hands. Sleek, super thin -- much nicer to hold than the previous version. Definitely has more of a magazine than book feel. Everything is tight and solid. It is pretty amazing how thin they've gotten the device.
  • Even software made for the first generation device feels better here. Safari is definitely sped up. Games looked great on-screen, though obviously there are no updates to the resolution of screen technology here.
  • This is an evolutionary step, but we definitely don't feel like it's lacking for features. People are going to gobble these up when they see the new apps.
Update 2: We've got some video after the break!

Update 3: More videos!
Apple iPad 2 hands-on

iPad 2, more close-ups

iPad 2 vs. original iPad: what's changed?

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 10:25 AM PST

Shockingly enough, Apple found plenty of things to tweak and update on its spectacularly successful iPad. Alright, so the screen resolution didn't improve and we didn't get that ultra-speedy Thunderbolt connector on board, but the iPad 2 is thinner and lighter while somehow becoming more powerful -- a 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 SOC lurks within. Check out our full breakdown of the key spec differences in the chart after the break. It's great fun, we promise!

P.S. - While you're poring over these stats, don't forget that Apple's decided to slap a $100 price cut on the original iPads, making them eminently more desirable today than they were yesterday.

iPad
 iPad 2
Display 9.7-inch
LED-backlit IPS LCD		 9.7-inch
LED-backlit IPS LCD
Resolution 1024 x 768 1024 x 768
Processor 1GHz Apple A4 1GHz dual-core Apple A5
Graphics PowerVR SGX 535 ?
Memory 256MB RAM ?
Storage 16GB / 32GB / 64GB 16GB / 32GB / 64GB
Front camera none VGA
Rear camera none 720p
Cellular radio EDGE plus triband HSPA EDGE plus quadband HSPA or
CDMA / EV-DO Rev. A
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 2.1 + EDR
Accelerometer 3-axis 3-axis
Gyroscope No 3-axis
Thickness 13.4mm 8.8mm
Weight 680g (WiFi),
730g (WiFi + 3G)		 601g (WiFi),
607g (Verizon),
613g (AT&T)
at 11:27 AM

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