| Nokia collects design patent for a tablet, evokes N8 aesthetics Posted: 15 Mar 2011 11:14 AM PDT It's no secret that Nokia's been casting an interested eye over the tablet market and now we have a bit of extra evidence to show its intent, courtesy of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The federal bureau has just published a design patent granted to the Finnish company for a tablet device, which was applied for on May 28th, 2010. Sadly, that date tells us what we're looking at is most probably a shelved MeeGo machine that never made it to market rather than an upcoming world conqueror, but still, here it is for all of us to gawk at and admire. Judging by the 3.5mm headphone jack outline -- which, like the rest of the dotted lines on the sketch, isn't covered by the patent -- we're likely looking at a 9- or 10-inch slate, whose design reminds us most acutely of Nokia's N8 phone. See more pics in the gallery below before returning to your mind cave to fantasize about what might have been... or might still be. [Thanks, Pradeep] |
| HTC Ignite, Prime, and Pyramid renders surface? Posted: 15 Mar 2011 10:51 AM PDT Even before the Incredible S was announced as the company's new top-of-the-line set back in February, the rumored Pyramid was the upcoming HTC phone that was capturing everyone's imagination thanks in no small part to its promise of a dual-core processor -- something the Incredible S notably lacks. We hadn't seen what this beast might look like, though... until today. Chinese site xda.cn has posted alleged renders of the Pyramid's front and rear, showing a careful evolution of HTC's current design language along with claims of a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 display, 8 megapixel primary and 1.3 megapixel front cameras, 768MB of RAM, and Android 3.0 (that last bit doesn't sound right to us, though -- Android 2.x with Sense would be more plausible). Rumors have this one pegged for launch on T-Mobile at some point this year; it'd be nice if that happened at CTIA next week, but considering how tied up they might be with Sprint at the show, it's hard to say if that'll happen. Moving on, we've got some visual evidence here that HTC's pressing on with its Windows Phone line. The first of the two, the Ignite, looks like a midrange slate thanks to an 800MHz Qualcomm processor (clocked slower than the current batch of 1GHz units that are out there), a mere 3.7-inch display, and a 5 megapixel camera around back. The Prime, meanwhile, looks like a little brother to the 7 Pro thanks to a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and similar specs to the Ignite -- not blockbusters by any stretch, but HTC (along with other OEMs) might be waiting to pull out the big guns until Mango. Check out those renders at the source link. |
| Motorola Milestone achieves Android 2.2 milestone at last, Froyo update ready for download Posted: 15 Mar 2011 10:30 AM PDT The road to Android 2.1 may have been a long and treacherous one for Milestone users, but the one to Android 2.2 wasn't even certain of reaching its goal. Thankfully, Moto has managed to conclude its "exhaustive testing process" and is now making a Froyo firmware update available to Milestone users wishing to step their software up a notch. Flash Player 10.1, a faster browser and mobile hotspot capabilities await the intrepid updater, but Motorola warns that any DRM-locked media you have on your SD card will be lost. Weirdly enough, there's also a caution that "users may experience some adverse effects associated with the upgrade which could include slower operation of some phone functions and applications." Once you've read and understood all the warnings, smash the source link to download the new software. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| Microsoft says Zune isn't exactly dead, that it doesn't want to go in the cart Posted: 15 Mar 2011 10:23 AM PDT Microsoft is still offering neither a firm confirmation nor a denial of yesterday's Bloomberg report citing those "familiar with the decision" that Zune-specific hardware, a la the Zune HD, is dead. Now, much like last time, folks from the Zune team are rebutting those claims -- sort of. Dave McLauchlan, Senior Business Development Manager for Zune, made a long statement in the anythingbutipod forums, but he stopped well short of saying that the Zune hardware platform is alive and kicking. Here's a taste: ALL consumer electronics products have a lifespan, and the Zune HD is 18mo old. We were completely frank about this year's Zune hardware being the WP7 phones, and we continue to both sell and fully support the Zune HD line of products. And as I've promised – we continue to bring new apps and games to the platform. More of those are in the works, I promise you. The big question is whether that 18 month old Zune HD will ever get a phone-free replacement. Whether it's WP7 or nothing from here. That is what Zune fans want to know, and as of now they still don't. [Thanks, Ed] |
| Nintendo posts first 3DS advert for the US, whets growing appetites (video) Posted: 15 Mar 2011 09:52 AM PDT For the last few remaining souls in North America not aware that the Nintendo 3DS is coming later this month, the Japanese company has rolled out its first US commercial. Shockingly enough, it doesn't display anything not already announced, but now would be kind of late to be springing surprises on us anyhow, right? It's a portable console with glasses-free 3D -- that works reasonably well -- and it's made by Nintendo, which means half the people on your street will probably own by this time next month. Jump past the break to see the American commercial and its earlier-released UK sibling -- you'll find a fun juxtaposition of presentation styles when comparing the two.
|
| SoundBite dental hearing aid receives European approval Posted: 15 Mar 2011 09:22 AM PDT We've already seen the principle of bone conduction be applied to headphones, but Sonitus Medical is taking the idea to a whole new level with its SoundBite dental hearing aid, which has just received the necessary European CE Mark certification (it already has FDA approval). As you can probably surmised, the device is a hearing aid that's placed on your teeth, although it's not actually implanted or attached in any way -- it's simply custom fitted to the person's upper back teeth. The other part of the package is a more standard-type hearing aid unit that's worn behind the ear, which processes and wirelessly transmits to the device in your mouth. That's obviously not intended for cases when a simple hearing aid will do, but Sonitus says the system can help people who are "essentially deaf" in one ear regain their spatial hearing ability. Show full PR text Sonitus Medical Receives European CE Mark for SoundBite™ Hearing System
European Mark Indicates Compliance With Globally Recognized Quality Management And Assurance Systems.
SAN MATEO, Calif., March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonitus Medical, Inc., a medical device company that manufactures the world's first non-surgical and removable hearing prosthetic to transmit sound via the teeth, today announced that it has received CE Mark certification for its SoundBite Hearing System. The company has received its EC Certificate, which indicates Full Quality Assurance System Approval. This is the first European regulatory certification for the company and the product.
"Receiving the CE Mark for our SoundBite Hearing System is a significant milestone toward the global commercialization of our non-surgical bone-conduction hearing device," said Amir Abolfathi, CEO of Sonitus Medical. "We intend to pursue the process of reimbursement registration in the key EU countries in the coming months and then gain initial European clinical experience with the product in partnership with a limited number of Otologists, ENTs, and Acousticians in the EU."
Apart from the FDA clearance attained by the company earlier this year, CE Marking indicates that Sonitus Medical's design and manufacturing processes for the SoundBite Hearing System comply with certain manufacturing and design standards under the European directive concerning medical devices. This certification enables Sonitus Medical to commercialize the SoundBite Hearing System in Europe.
About SoundBite
SoundBite hearing system is the world's first and only non-surgical and removable hearing solution designed to imperceptibly transmit sound via the teeth to help people who are essentially deaf in one ear regain their spatial hearing ability and rejoin the conversation of life. It employs a well-established principle called bone conduction to deliver clear, high quality sound to the inner ear. Nearly invisible when worn, the SoundBite system consists of an easy to insert and remove ITM (in-the-mouth) hearing device-which is custom made to fit around either the upper left or right back teeth-and a small microphone unit worn behind the ear. No modifications to the teeth are required. This system currently has FDA 510(k) clearance and CE Mark certification to treat single sided deafness. Intended future indications include conductive and mixed hearing loss.
About Sonitus Medical
Sonitus Medical Inc. is a privately held medical device company developing the SoundBite hearing system, a non-surgical and removable hearing solution that imperceptibly transmits sound via the teeth. Relying on the principle of bone conduction, this nearly invisible ITM (in-the-mouth) hearing device is a simple and non-invasive hearing and communication platform that is currently FDA cleared for the treatment of single sided deafness. Intended future applications include indications for hearing disorders such as conductive and/or mixed hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as consumer and covert communications. Founded in June 2006, Sonitus Medical is headquartered in San Mateo, California. To learn more about Sonitus Medical, please visit www.sonitusmedical.com.
SOURCE Sonitus Medical, Inc. |
| LikeLight lights up your likes with Legos, Arduino (video) Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:53 AM PDT How long has it been since someone lit up your life? Since someone gave you hope, to carry on? As it turns out all you need for that is a box of Lego, an Arduino board, and a bit of your time. Ad agency Redpepper has successfully proven its abilities to generate buzz by creating this "LikeLight," an up-scaled version of the blue pixelated thumb that makes Facebook denizens get all in a tizzy. This bigger version is almost guaranteed to generate even greater tizzies, glowing blue thanks to a combination of clear bricks outside and four LEDs inside. Code is even provided that pulls data from the Facebook Graph API to light up those bricks -- and your life.
|
| Kinect + homemade Power Gloves = 3D modeling in free-space (video) Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:21 AM PDT The Kinect hacks keep rollin', and we just keep on lovin' every one of 'em -- despite most being decidedly non-practical. This one actually is, created by Sebastian Pirch at 3rD-EYE, a media production company. He's made a free-space 3D modeling tool using a Kinect camera to track his hands, which he uses to create points in space and draft a model. To provide greater control he then made two Arduino-powered gloves that detect finger touches -- basically DIY Peregrines. Using different connections of finger-presses he can move the entire model, move single points, create new points, create new polygons, and basically do everything he needs to do to create a mesh, which can then be imported into 3ds Max for further refinement. He even manages to make it all look fun, thus besting Lockheed Martin's similar system that's powered by zombies. |
| 11 The Beautiful Game is to foosball tables as Vertu is to basic Nokias (video) Posted: 15 Mar 2011 07:49 AM PDT Foosball, it's the game of champions too afraid to step outside and get their boots muddy. If that's a sentiment you can relate to, you'll have no trouble understanding why a team of Dutch designers has put together this here foosball table deluxe, which they've called 11 The Beautiful Game. In development since way back in 2008, the 11 has just made its way into limited production with a pre-order available via GRO Design's website. We had a little looksie inside the company's portfolio of past works and, as it turns out, it's already responsible for designing the Nokia 6500 and 6500 Slide, meaning it should be well versed in the art of massaging metal into beauty. Each unit ordered takes 12 weeks of meticulous handcrafting to build, but if you haven't got that long to wait, the video's just after the break right now. [Thanks, Martin] |
| iPod touch showing freaky graphical glitches after iOS 4.3 update? (video) Posted: 15 Mar 2011 07:18 AM PDT Another issue appears to be plaguing those who've upgraded to iOS 4.3, though thankfully this one won't make them late for work. We're seeing dozens of reports online of iPod touch users, particularly those with fourth generation models, who are seeing odd graphical glitches since updating to 4.3. These are most noticeable on the lock screen, as you can see above and in the focus-challenged video below, but people are reporting other issues as well, like overlapping icons and other pixel oddities. If you're seeing similar weirdness make sure you chime in down at the support forums linked below -- oh, and feel free to click in the poll as well. [Thanks, Jesse] |
| NVIDIA sends GeForce GTX 550 Ti into the $150 graphics card wars Posted: 15 Mar 2011 06:20 AM PDT It wasn't that long ago that we were commending ATI on the stellar regularity of its product launches while NVIDIA was floundering, yet now the roles are reversed and we're seeing NVIDIA flesh out its second generation of Fermi products with the midrange GeForce GTX 550 Ti presented today. Its biggest attraction is a $150 price tag, but it makes a major concession in order to reach that pricing plateau -- there are only 192 CUDA cores inside it, equal to the previous-gen GTS 450, but less than the celebrated GTX 460. NVIDIA tries to ameliorate that shortage of parallel processing units by running the ones it has at an aggressive 1800MHz allied to a 900MHz graphics clock speed, and it also throws in a gigabyte of RAM running at an effective rate of 4GHz. That too is constrained somewhat, however, by a 192-bit interface, rather than the wider 256-bit affair on its bigger brother GTX 560 Ti. What all these specs boil down is some decent performance, but few recommendations from reviewers -- mostly due to the abundance of compelling alternatives at nearby price points. Hit up the links below for more. Read - AnandTech Read - Tech Report Read - Guru3D Read - PC Perspective Read - techPowerUp! Read - Hexus |
| TWCable TV app for iPad now available, but Dish has something to say about being 'first with live streaming' Posted: 15 Mar 2011 06:07 AM PDT Announced yesterday, Time Warner Cable's iPad app arrived via iTunes as scheduled this morning to meet the rest of the pay-TV provider apps sporting its one key feature: live TV streaming of 32 cable channels. Speaking of the competition, Dish Network had something to say about that claim to fame as first with live streaming, since it's already offered an app with Sling-powered streaming from its boxes. Of course, they're not exactly the same approach since TWCable TV doesn't potentially require any add-on hardware or tie up a tuner on your set-top box, while the Dish approach enjoys the ability of working beyond the reach of your home's WiFi, and can tune in to any channel. Other than requiring both cable TV and high speed internet service those two last notes may be the key weaknesses to this strategy; while the TWCable TV app advertises itself as "another TV screen," it's one with significant limits and currently lags behind the competition by lacking features like remote control or DVR scheduling. Check after the break for Dish's press release or just click through to iTunes to nab the app yourself.  Show full PR text DISH Network is First Pay-TV Provider to Give Customers Ability to Watch Their Live TV on iPad
Free DISH Remote Access Gives DISH Network Customers Ability to Transform Their iPad into a TV
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Dec. 1, 2010 – DISH Network L.L.C., today announced that DISH Remote Access, the free application that gives DISH Network customers the ability to watch their live and recorded TV on compatible smartphones, tablets and laptops, is now available for the iPad™. To enjoy live and recorded TV viewing on the iPad, DISH Network customers must have a broadband-connected, Sling-enabled™ device such as the Sling Adapter™ – a small placeshifting device that pairs with DISH Network's ViP® 722 or 722k HD DVRs.
"DISH Network is the only pay-TV provider to offer a true TV everywhere solution, and now we've extended that experience to the iPad," said DISH Network Chief Marketing Officer Ira Bahr. "Unlike mobile viewing from cable and telcos that limit access to select programs, our TV Everywhere services give consumers 24 x 7 access to all of their live and recorded content included with their DISH Network programming subscription."
In addition to TV viewing, the DISH Remote Access app also gives DISH Network customers with compatible DVRs the ability to browse and search up to nine days of programming, schedule DVR recordings, manage conflicts, delete shows on multiple receivers, and transform the iPad into a fully-functioning remote control.
The DISH Remote Access app for the iPad can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store. For more information about DISH Remote Access, visit www.dish.com/tveverywhere.
###
About DISH Network
DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiary DISH Network L.L.C., provides more than 14.2 million satellite TV customers, as of September 30, 2010, with the highest quality programming and technology at the best value, including HD Free for Life. Subscribers enjoy industry-leading customer satisfaction, the largest high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com. |
| Verizon Wireless stops being coy, confirms HTC Thunderbolt for March 17th at $249.99 Posted: 15 Mar 2011 05:46 AM PDT We said it'd be coming on the 17th, but you didn't believe us. Why didn't you believe us? No matter, Verizon's finally fessing up and letting us know the good news: the HTC Thunderbolt drops on March 17th for $249.99. In the PR, which is conveniently embedded below, VZW predictably talks up the phone's status as the first 4G LTE device on its network, offering up to 12Mbps down and 5Mbps up, a connection that can be shared with up to eight Wi-Fi devices -- if you pay the extra $20 per month for Mobile Hotspot service. Verizon is generously including a 32GB microSD card, which means you can take video along in a format that will do that 4.3-inch WVGA display justice. In case you haven't looked at a calendar lately the 17th is just two days away, which doesn't leave much time to find pants with pockets big enough for this beast. Update: If you'd like to save 50 bones and are setting up a new account for handset, Emilie wrote in to let us know that you can get a little thunder for $199.99 at Wirefly. Show full PR text The ThunderBolt™ by HTC, the First 4G LTE Smartphone for Verizon Wireless Arrives March 17
ThunderBolt™ by HTC Available Beginning March 17
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that the ThunderBolt™ by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, is available on March 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network. The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters. The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps. Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA's Rock Band, Gameloft's Let's Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.
Additional features:
4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
4.3" WVGA display
8- megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording
1.3- megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities
Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor
Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)
Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing
With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan is $29.99 monthly access.
Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation's fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC. Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge. After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month. Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market or by logging on to their My Verizon accounts online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless 4G LTE visit www.verizonwireless.com/4glte. For more information about the ThunderBolt by HTC please visit www.verizonwireless.com/thunderbolt. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless |
| Mini disks with slanted edges could save your data, not the music industry Posted: 15 Mar 2011 05:37 AM PDT No, not those MiniDiscs. The ones we're talking about, created by researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, are much, much smaller -- less than 300 nanometers across. The tiny disks of magnetic material are formed using glass spheres that are themselves about 300nm in diameter. They are arranged into hexagonal shapes on top of a thin, magnetic layer and are then bombarded with argon ions. The ions wear away the magnetic layer that is not protected by the glass spheres, leaving behind tiny disks. The argon also starts to eat at the glass too, shrinking the spheres and, as they erode, chipping away at the edges of those newly formed disks on the surface. This gives them a nano beveled edge, allowing for a so-called vortex twist that enables magnetic storage of individual bits at incredibly low power. While it remains to be seen what kind of storage density can be achieved in this manner, we do know one thing for sure: you're a real trooper if you made it through that post. Give yourself a pat on the back and three internet points. |
| William Shatner explains what microprocessors are and do... from way back in 1976 Posted: 15 Mar 2011 04:54 AM PDT For a man that spent the best part of his acting career representing a savvy dude from the future, William Shatner looks pretty well at home in the past as well. This video, dusted off from AT&T's Tech Channel archives, shows Shatner dressed in a casual tan ensemble and dropping some knowledge on the subject of microprocessors. Aside from the retro visuals and presentation, what's great about the vid is that the seemingly lavish claims about where computers could take us -- and their own move toward increasing importance, utility and ubiquity -- actually seem pretty tame in light of what we know today. Beam yourself past the break to see this golden nugget from the Bell Labs archives. [Thanks, Dan]
|
| Cyberdyne demos lower-body HAL exoskeleton for helping the disabled, not eradicating mankind (video) Posted: 15 Mar 2011 04:02 AM PDT Cyberdyne's HAL (Hybrid Assistive limb) robotic suit has been kicking (stumbling?) around for years now, and at this year's Cybernics International Forum, the company demoed a couple of new iterations of the technology. We've seen the heavy-duty version of the technology scale a Swiss peak, but the new demo showcased a lighter and leaner lower-body suit (not unlike Lockheed's HULC system) meant for helping those with muscle diseases remain ambulatory. The differences between the new rig and previously seen full-body exoskeleton -- meant for use by health care professionals and factory workers to aid in heavy lifting -- are less robust servos and a slimmer profile allowing wearers to worry less over their looks and more over living their lives. Peep the bipedal bionics in action after the break.
|
| HP TouchPad with rear-facing camera truly augments reality (video) Posted: 15 Mar 2011 03:18 AM PDT Besides the fact that it isn't shipping, HP's TouchPad also can't shoot video or take flash pictures out its backside. Fact is, the TouchPad announced back in February only has a single 1.3 megapixel camera up front. Nevertheless, that didn't stop HP from presenting the fictitious device above at its HP Summit 2011 event yesterday to demonstrate a truly augmented reality. But hey, let's not allow trivialities like facts get in the way of a story you're trying to pitch to investors and analysts. See the video clip after the break. |
| Google said to be preparing NFC checkout trials for San Francisco and New York City Posted: 15 Mar 2011 02:24 AM PDT Google does not sell hardware, Eric Schmidt told us as much, but the company has few qualms about buying the stuff up. Bloomberg is reporting, on the authority of a pair of well informed sources, that the Mountain View team is about to buy up "thousands" of VeriFone's NFC payment terminals, with a view to installing them in stores across San Francisco and New York City. Those two technophile cities represent the most receptive audience NFC is likely to get in the US, and Google will be hoping that users there will be able to appreciate the convenience of being able to swipe their Nexus S (or other similarly equipped handset) to complete payments. We already know that Schmidt and co. consider the concept of "mobile money" a priority and there have been rumblings of Google setting up its own payment system, which together make this hookup with VeriFone appear highly credible. Bloomberg expects the trials to commence within the next four months, just in time to make iPhone 5 users green with envy. |
| Samsung 'TangoView' vacuum surveillance camera will bring you to your knees Posted: 15 Mar 2011 01:44 AM PDT In a new milestone testing the limits of convergence, Samsung has just released a WiFi-connected robotic vacuum cleaner with an integrated "TangoView" home monitoring system onto the unsuspecting families and pets of Korea. Like LG's Hom-Bot, first seen at CES in January, Samsung's latest Tango cleaner (model VC-RL87W) features an integrated video camera that lets PC, smartphone, and tablet owners treat the vacuum as a remote controlled surveillance camera when not sweeping the floors. The relatively quiet vac operates at 48dB and features a microphone and external lighting. Why? Why not, we say, assuming you can get past the KRW799,000 (about $711) price tag. |
| Adobe finds 'critical' security hole in Flash Player, won't fix it before next week Posted: 15 Mar 2011 01:03 AM PDT  Oh, here we go again. Adobe's kicked out a security bulletin for users of its Flash Player on "all platforms" -- that'll be the entire population of the internet, then -- warning them that a new critical vulnerability has been discovered that may cause crashes and potentially permit the hijacking of systems. The issue also affects the company's Reader and Acrobat software products. Even better news is that Adobe has found it's being actively exploited "in the wild" via a .swf file embedded in an Excel spreadsheet, but a fix won't be forthcoming until the beginning of next week. So, erm, enjoy your full web experience until then! |
| Philips' new camcorder comes with 23x zoom and WiFi, but no price or release date Posted: 15 Mar 2011 12:49 AM PDT Philips makes plenty of audio / video equipment for use when consuming our content, but until now, the company didn't offer many options on the creating end. Well, Philips fanboys (they exist, don't they?), take a gander at your next must-buy purchase -- the ESee HD camcorder touts a 23x zoom, 1080p recording to an SD card, touchscreen viewfinder (of unknown size), WiFi for uploading vids (so as not to keep fans waiting for your next cinematic masterpiece), and an audio zoom feature. Yeah, a zoom for your audio. Details about pricing and availability are nowhere to be found, but not knowing makes you want it all the more, right? [Thanks, Jakob] |
| Motorola Droid 3, Droid X 2 and LTE-equipped Targa pictured? Posted: 14 Mar 2011 11:55 PM PDT The Motorola Droid 2 and Droid X are both headed toward their one-year anniversaries this summer, which has pretty much become the culling hour for a smartphone of any creed these days. Their successors, ingeniously titled the Droid 3 and Droid X 2, have seemingly made an appearance over at HowardForums, courtesy of longtime forum member wnrussell. He's also kindly provided imagery of a heretofore unknown device, called the Targa, which promises Verizon 4G LTE and has a protrusion on its rear that looks to be dedicated to accommodating an outsized camera sensor. It reminds us most of Motorola's XT720, though it sports a chrome outline to its body similar to what you see above on the purported Droid 3. Click past the break to get an eyeful of this Targa device and its Droid X 2 brandmate. |
| 'Soul by Ludacris' headphone series priced from $69 to $299, shipping in May Posted: 14 Mar 2011 11:02 PM PDT  You know what they say -- if you can't Beat 'em, undercut 'em. Signeo's Soul by Ludacris headphone series -- which made its debut a couple of months ago at CES -- has just been priced, and sure enough, each pair is cheaper than what Dr. Dre and co. are charging for the HP Beats assortment. The top-end SL300 is set to sell for $299, while the similarly styled SL150 goes for $199. The more conventional SL100 will list for $149, and if it's earbuds you're craving, the SL99 will sport an MSRP of $99 while the low-end SL49 offers itself for just $69. Specifics on each one are hosted up after the break, and Americans can expect to see the whole crew this May. As for everyone else? There's no time table yet, but we've been assured by the company that international distribution is being worked on as we speak. Word. Show full PR text Signeo USA: SOUL by Ludacris ® SL300
High-definition, noise canceling headphones combine sleek style with professional sound
* Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
* Powered amplification for studio quality balance of deep bass and crystal clear mids and highs
* Features noise canceling technology and comfortable over-ear design to seal in sound, block out ambient noise
* Advanced, breathable headband pad and ear cups
* iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
* Comes with standard and iPhone detachable cords with in-line remote
* Features sleek folding design and hard protective case for on-the-go storage
* Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer; included: 1/8" (3.5mm) to ¼ adaptor
Price: $299
Signeo USA: SOUL by Ludacris ® SL150
High-definition on-ear headphones boast professional sound, distinct personal style
* Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
* Engineered for powerful deep bass with mid and high clarity
* Advanced, breathable headband pad and ear cups
* iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
* Comes with standard and iPhone detachable cords with in-line remote
* Features sleek folding design and hard protective case for on-the-go storage
* Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
Price: $199
Signeo USA: SOUL by Ludacris ® SL100
High-definition on-ear headphones deliver big sound with stylish urban aesthetics
* Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
* Engineered for powerful deep bass with mid and high clarity
* Advanced, breathable headband pad and ear cups
* iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
* Comes with standard and iPhone detachable cords with in-line remote
* Features sleek folding design and hard protective case for on-the-go storage
* Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
Price: $149
Signeo USA: SOUL by Ludacris ® SL99
High-definition in-ear headphones designed to seal music in and keep noise out
* Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
* Superior full range sound technology offers the perfect blend of highs, mids and lows
* Includes small, medium and large replacement ear tips for ideal fit
* iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
* Comes with a hard protective case for on-the-go storage
* Tangle-resistant cables
* Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
Price: $99
Signeo USA: SOUL by Ludacris ® SL49
High-definition in-ear headphones offer precision sound and sleek style
* Professional sounding headphones created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
* High precision audio balance offers the perfect blend of highs, mids and lows
* Includes small, medium and large replacement ear tips for ideal fit
* iPhone® Ready: compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod
* Comes with a hard protective case for on-the-go storage
* Tangle-resistant cables
* Gold plated connectors provide seamless signal transfer
Price: $69 |
| In lasers we trust: NASA researches 5kW galactic trash disposal system Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:21 PM PDT Space junk is a growing problem -- 200,000 pieces and counting -- and as the amount of earth's orbital debris increases, so does the chance some satellite will be involved in a cosmic collision. As this would cause much gnashing of teeth and woe for the affected terrestrial parties, some researchers from NASA's Ames Research Center have pitched the idea of removing said junk with a laser -- once again proving that everything's better with lasers. The idea is to use a 5kW ray, like the one we've got at the Starfire Optical Range, to slow our galactic garbage enough to burn it up in earth's atmosphere. Current estimates say such a laser could eliminate ten pieces of junk a day, promising us a future of neat and tidy skies. |
| T-Mobile Sidekick 4G from Samsung announced, coming 'later this spring' Posted: 14 Mar 2011 09:01 PM PDT Sure, Danger's servers are going away, but the Sidekick brand belongs to T-Mobile -- and that particular component of the teen-friendly smartphone ecosystem pioneer isn't going anywhere. Of course, the carrier's been saying for a couple months now that it'd be relaunching Sidekick on Android, but they're making the device very official today with the unveiling of the Samsung-sourced Sidekick 4G. Though it lacks a swiveling display, T-Mobile is quick to note that the phone's got a "pop-tilt" mechanism that should still be pretty unique in the market -- and this is the first Sidekick with a touchscreen (3.5 inch WVGA, to be exact). The Android 2.2-based unit has a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 3 megapixel primary cam, and a pretty fierce-looking user interface (dare we say a tad Kin-like?) that comes loaded with a couple Samsung staples -- Samsung Media Hub, notably -- along with Qik video calling, DriveSmart texting-while-driving lockout functionality, and Sidekick Group Text and Cloud Text, which together form some manner of cross-platform messaging tool. Pricing and availability are a little murky at this point, but we can expect it "later this spring" in your choice of black or "pearl magenta." Follow the break for the full press release. Show full PR text T-Mobile Sidekick Is Reborn
New Sidekick 4G is a Lightning-Fast and Stylish Communication Hub, Delivering Evolved Messaging and Entertainment at 4G Speeds
BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS - March 15, 2011 - T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.,1 today unveiled the new T-Mobile Sidekick® 4GTM by Samsung. The new AndroidTM-powered smartphone pays tribute to its heritage with its stylish good looks and a killer keyboard while redefining messaging and upgrading to 4G speeds. One of T-Mobile's fastest smartphones running on America's Largest 4G NetworkTM, the new Sidekick 4G is capable of delivering theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps.
The T-Mobile Sidekick has long been known for its innovative and distinctive design, and the Sidekick 4G does not disappoint. The 3.5-inch display marks the first Sidekick to feature a touch screen and its sturdy "pop-tilt" hinge reveals the previously acclaimed, five-row QWERTY keyboard that has long been a Sidekick hallmark and the reason behind its status as an exceptional messaging device.
The new Sidekick 4G leverages its quality keyboard along with Sidekick Group TextTM and Cloud TextTM to redefine messaging. Sidekick's Group Text feature lets customers create, name, manage and participate in reply-all group text conversations, enabling them to lead their network in conversation and social planning. Group Text breathes new life into one of the most popular forms of messaging allowing Sidekick 4G customers to initiate and share the benefit of the application with SMS-capable devices from flip phones to smartphones. In addition, Cloud Text provides the option to text with friends or groups across platforms, whether from the comfort of their PC's large screen and keyboard, or from their new Sidekick 4G.
"Backed by the faster speeds on T-Mobile's 4G network, the new Sidekick 4G offers customers both speed and style," said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. "We've reinvented the messaging experience that made the Sidekick such an iconic device, and supercharged it with communication and entertainment experiences that take full advantage of our 4G network."
Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile, said, "We are proud that T-Mobile selected Samsung to help create the next-generation Sidekick and carry the iconic Sidekick brand and device to the next level. Samsung redesigned the new Sidekick 4G with our best-in-class hardware, combined with T-Mobile's 4G network speeds, the Android operating system, and unique messaging and entertainment features, to make this a perfect match for both loyal Sidekick fans and new Sidekick owners."
The new Sidekick 4G also comes preloaded with Facebook® and TwitterTM applications, and provides easy interaction with customers' social networks by allowing them to update their status from the notification pane and browse their feeds from the home screen. They have the ability to sync their social network contacts to the phone's address book, which lets them post to their friends' walls or comment on their status. And multitasking is easier than ever with the Sidekick 4G's jump key, an easy-to-access physical button that enables customers to quickly switch between active applications, even during a phone call, or assign keyboard shortcuts to their favorite functions or applications.
In addition to a communication hub, the new Sidekick 4G is now an entertainment hub. With speeds as fast as home broadband, enjoying a favorite TV show or surfing the Web on the go is a breeze. Sidekick's Media Room features one place to enjoy music, videos, movies, YouTube®, T-Mobile TV® and Slacker Radio, and to search for content regardless of the source. The integrated media player, also accessible through the Media Room, spans across all media including music, video and Internet radio. Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which offers a robust collection of movie and next-day TV show titles from CBS, Fox, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. Customers now have the option to place Media Hub charges directly to their monthly T-Mobile service bill.
Complementing the messaging communication features, the new Sidekick 4G is equipped with a VGA front-facing camera and pre-installed T-Mobile Video Chat powered by QikTM, to ensure you are always present with your social circle. Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) and a speedy 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, so consumers can keep up with their favorite blogs while on the move, search for the must-try dinner spots and map the way to their next destination - all at blazing fast speeds. The new smartphone will also offer dynamic media features and integrated GoogleTM services, including GmailTM, Google MapsTM and access to thousands of applications on Android MarketTM.
The new Sidekick 4G also comes equipped with DriveSmartTM from T-Mobile, a first-of-its kind service from a U.S. carrier, that helps prevent distracted driving. When initiated, DriveSmart Basic provides automatic incoming call and message management, sending a customizable note to callers and senders, letting them know that the recipient is driving and will respond when it's safe. DriveSmart Plus offers the same functionality, with the added capability to automatically activate when the handset is in a moving vehicle, as well as advanced parental controls for enhanced peace of mind when teen drivers are behind the wheel.
Offered exclusively to T-Mobile customers, the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G is expected to be available later this spring in two stylish colors - matte black or pearl magenta. Customers can visit http://sidekick.t-mobile.com/ for more information. |
| OCZ buys Indilinx, probably has designs on building its own SSD controllers Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:08 PM PDT Indilinx, the company responsible for designing the Barefoot SSD controller, has today agreed to hand its future over to the capable lads and ladies of OCZ Technology in exchange for $32 million in common OCZ stock. The companies have announced a definitive agreement for the chipmaker's acquisition, which OCZ is performing in order to gobble up a set of 20 yummy patents and patent applications while also expanding its presence in embedded, hybrid storage and industrial markets. Indilinx will continue its current operations, including providing controllers and firmware to other OEMs, and OCZ too will continue to use others' wares, namedropping its long-term partner SandForce as among the outside companies that will be supplying it with SSD goodies. So it's business as usual unless and until this partnership spawns some lightning-fast combination of software and hardware that forces us to hear that cursed "exclusive" word again. Ah well, best of luck of luck to them. Show full PR text Addition of High Performance Controller Technology and Firmware is Expected to Accelerate Storage Technology Innovation and Expand Product Portfolio
SAN JOSE, CA-March 14, 2011-OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ),a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Indilinx Co., Ltd, a privately held fabless provider of flash controller silicon and software for SSDs.
Indilinx is headquartered in South Korea and currently sells its line of flash controllers to SSD manufacturers and Tier One OEMs for use in a broad array of products addressing multiple markets, including embedded and industrial as well as laptops and PCs. Indilinx controllers have been deployed within OCZ's SSD products since December 2008, and are currently featured in the Z-Drive series of PCIe-based SSDs. Indilinx's technology is expected to enable OCZ to expand its presence into the embedded, hybrid storage, and industrial markets.
OCZ will gain substantial intellectual property from Indilinx including approximately 20 patents and patent applications related exclusively to the business as part of the transaction. For example, the acquisition is expected to extend OCZ's capabilities with advanced controller technology including Tinkerbell™, a high performance eMMC 4.4 x controller that replaces SSDs in consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, GPS units, and netbooks. Tinkerbell improves the user experience in consumer mobile devices for applications such as internet browsing, gaming, social networking applications, emails, and multimedia play.
Following its acquisition by OCZ, Indilinx will continue to produce and supply its line of controller products to SSD manufacturers and OEMs on a global basis. The Indilinx controller business, and its 45 employees, will remain intact under the leadership of Bumsoo Kim, the founder and President of Indilinx, and Hyunmo Chung, Indilinx's Chief Technology Officer. OCZ will continue its own R&D program to develop new proprietary technologies and products to expand its own solid state drive offerings.
The Indilinx acquisition notwithstanding, OCZ plans to continue utilizing controllers from other manufacturers including long-term partner SandForce, who currently supplies SSD processors for a wide range of the Company's SSD products including the Vertex 2, Agility 2, RevoDrive, customizable Deneva enterprise drives, and the upcoming Vertex 3 family of SSDs.
"This transaction is an important step in OCZ's strategy and significantly enhances our ability to capitalize on the worldwide demand for Solid State Drives," said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology Group. "This combination brings together two organizations that are committed to advancing solid state drive design, and provides a unique opportunity for OCZ to increase both customer and shareholder value as well as expand our reach into embedded markets."
Under the terms of the agreement, OCZ will acquire Indilinx for approximately $32 million of OCZ common stock. Indilinx shareholders will own approximately 9.5% of the OCZ shares outstanding after issuance of the shares. The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of each company, and is expected to close within 30 days, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. OCZ expects the transaction to become accretive to its earnings per share toward the end of this fiscal year on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related expenses, restructuring charges, and amortization of intangibles.
Ryan Petersen, CEO, will be a featured speaker at the Roth Capital 23rd Annual Orange County Growth Stock Conference today at 5:30 pm pacific time. To listen to the presentation and view the accompanying slides, please visit the investor relations events section of OCZ website at www.ocztechnology.com and click on the link provided for the web cast.
Merriman Capital, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merriman Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:MERR), served as OCZ's exclusive financial advisor for the transaction.
About Indilinx
Indilinx is a leading technology provider for storage systems based on NAND flash memory. Indilinx products and solutions comprise advanced solid state drive controllers, reference designs, and software which enable the rapid development and deployment of high performance solid state drives. For more information, visit www.indilinx.com.
About OCZ Technology Group, Inc.
Founded in 2002, San Jose, CA-based OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (OCZ), is a leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of high performance and reliable Solid-State Drives (SSDs) and premium computer components. OCZ has built on its expertise in high-speed memory to become a leader in the SSD market, a technology that competes with traditional rotating magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs). SSDs are faster, more reliable, generate less heat and use significantly less power than the HDDs used in the majority of computers today. In addition to SSD technology, OCZ also offers high performance components for computing devices and systems, including enterprise-class power management products as well as leading-edge computer gaming solutions. For more information, please visit: www.ocztechnology.com. |
| HTC Arrive up for $50 pre-order at Wirefly, requires new Sprint account and two-year contract Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:15 PM PDT HTC's first Windows Phone 7 QWERTY slider handset is a mere five days away from its launch on Sprint, but already there's an online retailer keen to undercut everyone else for your business. Wirefly is currently offering the HTC Arrive (aka the 7 Pro outside the US) for $49.99 in upfront costs when bought in conjunction with a new two-year service plan from Sprint on, importantly, a new account. Eligible upgraders will have to shell out $149.99 for the privilege, though that's still less than Sprint's own $199.99 pricing. If you find it any cheaper elsewhere, do make sure to let us know. |
| US Navy explains basic mechanical principles of a fire control computer -- in 1953 (video) Posted: 14 Mar 2011 06:42 PM PDT Bits, bytes and silicon transistors? Boy, you have it good -- back in 1953, state-of-the-art computers were made of gears, sprockets, chains and cams, and we trusted them to accurately wreck lives with ginormous naval guns. If you're wondering how that could possibly work, you don't have to go far -- a series of seven videos after the break show you how it was done, and which might even ingratiate you with the grizzled old neighbor who desperately wants you off his lawn.
|
| Jon Bon Jovi accuses Steve Jobs of putting a shot through the heart of music Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:55 PM PDT Steve Jobs, according to musical legend Jon Bon Jovi, is "personally responsible for killing the music business." This strident (and economically false) accusation comes from an interview he conducted with Britain's Sunday Times, where he candidly sets out his dismay at this century's move away from music distribution on physical media and toward ubiquitous download portals. Bon Jovi's nostalgia shines through in his detailed account of the "magical" experience of picking up records and enjoying their sweet touch and soothing analog tones -- though we're not sure how he missed out on the fact that CDs, not downloads, were the first to stab a dagger of digital convenience through the hole in his record collection. Still, Bon Jovi thinks Apple's iTunes success is to blame for the loss of our collective innocence and bright-eyed enthusiasm for music. What do you think?
|
| Internet Explorer 9 launches tonight, we've got your early look (update: it's live) Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:30 PM PDT Yes, we know it's PI day, but don't tell the guys and gals at Microsoft -- we hear they're celebrating something a little different. That's right, the long-awaited IE9 browser is finally coming out of its beta and RC stage, and will be hitting the global download airways this evening at 9PM PT, which is midnight here on the East Coast. Microsoft tells us the .exe file will be available for you to download at those times right from www.beautyoftheweb.com -- but should you? Obviously, the RC release has been out for awhile, but we've spent the last day or so using the final build and we have to say if you're a PC user it's definitely worth a test drive. Hit the break to find out why we think so. Update: The download has gone live, go grab it at the source link below! Ever since we took a deep look at the beta of IE9 back in September, we've been impressed with the simple layout of the new browser -- completely gone is the clutter and distracting toolbars of IE8. Yes, there's a preloaded Bing bar, but that can be easily disabled. Beyond the improved UI and its translucent accents, we're big fans of some of the new tricks. The first one of those is the Pinned Sites, which lets you separate out a tabbed site and lock it right to the Windows Taskbar. It's simple: you drag a site to the bar, and when pinned it pulls the favicon so it looks like it's actually a separate program. Some sites will also support jump lists, which is the list of shortcuts that appears when you right click the icons (pictured above). For instance, when Twitter is pinned, you can could jump straight to Direct Mentions, Mentions, etc. Pandora has also built in this functionality, but unfortunately, you can't pause or skip songs from the list. Slacker doesn't allow that sort of functionality either, but it will be offering a free month to its subscription service for those that decide to pin it! The second neat trick worth mentioning is the One Box, which is really an address bar on steroids. The field doubles as a search engine, but you can actually view results in line. The default search engine is still Bing, but you can install Google, Wikipedia, Amazon, Facebook and lots of others through the Add-On page. As we mentioned in our early review, typing in terms like "Weather NYC" brings up the temperature and conditions inline, and as you can see above typing a popular term brings up an image and link to the search results. Beyond those cool tricks and nice UI tweaks, the big change with IE9 is speed, and it felt incredibly snappy on our ThinkPad X220 (review of that laptop coming soon). We've compiled a few benchmarks for you below. | | Acid | SunSpider
| Peacekeeper | | Internet Explorer 9 | 95 | 175.4 | 6824 | | Firefox 3.6.15 | 94 | 632.3 | 3526 | | Chrome 10.0.648 | 100 | 234.9 | 11065 | Notes: the higher the score the better, except for SunSpider.
|
We realize those probably won't mean a lot to the average person, so we'll make it fairly simple: this browser feels faster than the previous IE8 and neck and neck with Chrome. It's fast, and after you've disabled any toolbars and unneeded extensions it's even faster. We could go on and on about our web browsing experiences, but we'd rather hear it from you. Let us know your thoughts after the clock strikes 9PM PT / 12:00AM ET. Show full PR text Microsoft Announces Global Availability of Internet Explorer 9
More than 250 top sites from around the globe join the launch of Internet Explorer 9 to celebrate a more beautiful, immersive Web.
AUSTIN, Tex. ̢ۥ March 14, 2011 ̢ۥ Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of the latest version of the world's most-used browser with the release of Windows Internet Explorer 9 in 39 languages at an event at the SXSW Interactive conference. Internet Explorer 9 is Microsoft's most-downloaded browser beta of all time, with more than 40 million downloads, and it has already has gained more than 2 percent usage on Windows 7. Already more than 250 top sites from around the globe are taking advantage of the capabilities in Internet Explorer 9 to deliver differentiated experiences to their customers, with many featured on http://www.BeautyoftheWeb.com. Together, these partners reach more than 1 billion active Internet users on the Web.
"The best experience of the Web is on Windows with Internet Explorer 9," said Dean Hachamovitch, corporate vice president, Windows Internet Explorer, at Microsoft. "Today, the Web can unlock the power and performance of the best PC hardware through Windows and Internet Explorer 9. Websites also can act more like applications within Windows 7, with features such as Pinned Sites. In less than a year, Internet Explorer 9 went from early preview to final release with the help of hardware partners and the Web community."
Top Sites and Designers Take Advantage of Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer 9 is designed to bring sites front and center through Windows 7, enabling a more immersive, more beautiful Web experience. Features such as Pinned Sites and Jump List enable people to put their websites directly on the Windows 7 Taskbar, as though they were native applications, and then to quickly and easily perform tasks related to those websites, such as check their inboxes, change the music station, accept friend invitations or see breaking news.
In addition to 250 top sites, more than 1,000 other sites and designers are taking advantage of these new features with Internet Explorer 9 and Windows 7. These sites include not only the largest sites on the Web, such as Facebook and Amazon, but also leading experiences from across the Web and the world.
- In social and information networking, Internet Explorer 9 partners include category leaders such as Facebook, Twitterand WordPress̢ۥ the No. 1 global blogging platform ̢ۥ in addition to leading professional networks in the U.S., Europe, Russia, Korea and Latin America.
- In e-commerce, partners include not only the leading worldwide shopping site, Amazon, and the No. 1 worldwide auction site, eBay, but also the leading site in the emergent "daily deals" space, Groupon.
- Video and streaming partners include three of the top five video-on-demand sites in the U.S. ̢ۥ Hulu, Break.com and Dailymotion ̢ۥ and leading Internet radio sites Slacker, Pandora internet radio and Jango. In addition, partners include top global broadcasters CBC and CTV in Canada, Wat.tv in France, and CNN in the U.S.
- News website partners in the U.S. include the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Huffington Post, as well as dozens of leading news sites globally across all major geographies.
"What people care about on the Web is their sites, not their browser. That's why Internet Explorer 9 is about making those sites shine. The browser is the theater, and the sites people visit are the play, and that is what Internet Explorer 9 makes better ̢ۥ your favorite sites," said Ryan Gavin, senior director, Windows Internet Explorer, at Microsoft.
eBay is the world's largest online marketplace and a leader in mobile commerce. With pinning and Jump List features in Internet Explorer 9, everyone's favorite eBay experiences are just a click away. "eBay's integration with Internet Explorer 9 is like having a storefront on your desktop," said Robert Chatwani, senior director, eBay Internet marketing. "We're pleased that new functionality within Internet Explorer 9 allows us to innovate and bring new experiences to our customers, making shopping and selling on eBay more engaging than ever."
Pandora Internet radio is announcing a new dynamic Jump List for Internet Explorer 9. Tom Conrad, chief technical officer and executive vice president of product for Pandora, said, "This new feature allows our listeners to have immediate access to their personalized Pandora stations right from the taskbar with Internet Explorer 9, which will make for an easy-access listener experience."
Partners such as Gilt Groupe are already seeing early results indicating that Internet Explorer 9 customers who pin the Gilt homepage to their taskbar show a higher purchase rate than those on other browsers. "While results are early, customers using Internet Explorer 9 appear to purchase more per order when compared to earlier versions of Internet Explorer and other browsers. Given that our business model is providing dynamic new shopping experiences online every day, the value of Internet Explorer 9 and Windows 7 is potentially very exciting to us and our customers," said Chris Maliwat, vice president of product management, Gilt Groupe.
Many partners are announcing special offers for Internet Explorer 9 customers that will be available in the coming weeks, including the following:
- Slacker. A free monthlong subscription for customers who pin the Slacker site to their taskbars
- Groupon. $5 in Groupon Bucks when making a first purchase from the Internet Explorer 9 Jump List
- Hulu. A free month of the Hulu Plus subscription for users who pin Hulu
- eBay. Offering coupons or eBay Bucks for bids or purchases made using the Internet Explorer 9 pinning and Jump List features
- Gilt. A series of product bundles for customers who make purchases of specified amounts via the Jump List
Fast Is Now Beautiful: Internet Explorer 9 With Hardware Acceleration
The new version of Internet Explorer takes advantage of the power of modern Windows PC hardware to improve all-around Web browsing performance. It is the only browser with hardware-accelerated HTML5 spanning all graphics, text, audio and video. Internet Explorer 9 harnesses the power of the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), unlocking 90 percent of the PC's power that went previously untapped by Web browsers.
Developers can now build faster, more immersive websites that feel like native applications using HTML5, as well as runtimes such as Adobe Flash Player and Microsoft Silverlight, both of which will take advantage of the hardware acceleration in Internet Explorer 9 in their next versions.
"Internet Explorer 9 has moved the bar in hardware acceleration, enabling Flash Player to tap into the GPU and creating a win-win situation for our mutual customers who want fast, rich content experiences," said Paul Betlem, senior director, Flash Player Engineering at Adobe.
"With Internet Explorer 9 and Flash Player taking advantage of the GPU, we continue the collaboration with Microsoft to further optimize performance. Both companies are also working closely to advance and streamline controls for managing Flash Player privacy and security settings in Internet Explorer 9."
"The next-generation Web is here today with Internet Explorer 9, accelerated by AMD's incredible computing platforms ̢ۥ our award-winning AMD Fusion Accelerated Processing Units with DirectX11-capable graphics and AMD Radeon graphics cards," said John Taylor, director of Client Product and Software Marketing, AMD. "The next generation is defined by immersive gaming, rich video and fast, compelling, application-like experiences, validating the fact that GPU compute power and the ability to remove barriers between the CPU and GPU are highly relevant to the day-to-day computing performance that consumers expect and demand."
"Thanks to how Internet Explorer 9 taps into the power of the GPU, the Web is now more visual, more immersive and more powerful with NVIDIA GeForce. We are incredibly excited that consumers can now experience their favorite sites re-imagined and accelerated. It's a whole new Web," said Drew Henry, general manager, GeForce Business Unit, NVIDIA.
Improving Privacy and Security Online
Because the Web is increasingly less secure and private, Internet Explorer 9 is designed to be a trusted browser because it contains a robust set of built-in security, privacy and reliability technologies that keep customers safer online.
In December, Microsoft introduced Tracking Protection in Internet Explorer 9, which puts people in control of what data they are sharing as they move around the Web, by enabling consumers to indicate what websites they'd prefer not to exchange information with. Consumers do this by adding Tracking Protection Lists to Internet Explorer 9, and partners such as PrivacyChoice, TRUSTe, Abine and Adblock Plus have already published these lists.
Malware is now the No. 1 risk to people's security online, and Internet Explorer 9 provides the first Download Manager with integrated SmartScreen malware protection. The browser also introduces SmartScreen download reputation, a groundbreaking browser feature that uses reputation data to remove unnecessary warnings for well-known files and show more severe warnings when the download has a higher risk of being malicious. Studies show that Internet Explorer 9 blocks 99 percent of socially engineered malware attacks, five times more than Firefox and 33 times more than Google Chrome.
Raise Expectations for a Better Web
Partners from around the world are re-imagining their websites using the capabilities of Windows and Internet Explorer 9, creating new experiences that make the Web feel as native as PC applications. The result is a more beautiful Web experience.
"I love the Web for the kinds of joyous experiences it can create!" said Ze Frank, who is launching new features within the social gaming site, Star.Me, in coordination with the Austin event. "HTML5 is a huge step forward for the browser because it brings the Web back to a unified platform for creation. By integrating HTML5 into Internet Explorer 9 and hardware accelerating the browser, Microsoft has signaled its commitment to pushing the Web forward, and that is certainly worth celebrating."
"HP and Microsoft have a long history of bringing meaningful innovations to our customers. Today, we celebrate with Microsoft the launch of Internet Explorer 9, a new milestone in enabling faster and more visually compelling Web experiences," said Tony Prophet, senior vice president of operations, Personal Systems Group, HP. "Internet Explorer 9 is really an outstanding browser, and we're pleased to make it available on most of our consumer PCs."
"At Dell, we are focused on driving cutting-edge innovation in our consumer devices, and Internet Explorer 9 is the first browser to offer a richer, more immersive Web experience on our hardware," said Michael Tatelman, vice president and general manager of North American Consumer sales for Dell. "We know customers will see ̢ۥ and experience ̢ۥ the difference, and we're delighted to be working with Microsoft designers and developers around the world who are building this new, more beautiful Web."
More information is available at http://www.BeautyoftheWeb.com.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
For more information, press only:
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, (503) 443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx. |
| Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play ad: gross human thumbs stitched onto robots, drugged clubgoers, not much more we can say Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:57 PM PDT Is this the creepiest ad ever produced to introduce a new video game console? That's a high bar to pass -- but is it the creepiest ad for a new smartphone? Perhaps. The minute-long spot for Sony Ericsson's upcoming Xperia Play called "The Donor" appears to explain the backstory behind its last ad, relaying the tale of a young gentleman who was clubbing with friends, met an attractive woman, took her home, and woke up the next morning to discover that his thumbs were stone cold gone (notice the dirty, poorly-bandaged stumps on the table as he tells his tale of woe to a local law enforcement official). Cut to the next scene, where we've got our cute, lovable Android bot waddling around town... oh, and he's got human thumbs crudely sewn onto his arms. Go ahead, recoil in horror, vomit in the trashcan next to your desk, then cue the inevitable increased desire in owning this phone. Follow the break for the video, if you dare. |
| Wirefly: 'no Skype' on Thunderbolt, but simultaneous 3G voice and data is a go; ships on March 17th Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:28 PM PDT Wireless retailer Wirefly is pushing ahead with pre-orders for the beleaguered HTC Thunderbolt starting at midnight Pacific Time this evening with the promise that they'll start shipping this Thursday, the 17th; that lines up with a whole lot of noise we've heard recently, so we can't really argue with it at this point. They're also confirming a couple rumors that have been floating around since the phone's January debut: first, they're saying "no Skype," which we're taking to mean that the promised Skype video calling app won't be installed out of the box. We're also assuming (or at least hoping) that you'll be able to install the standard voice-only version. Secondly, they're saying that the phone definitely does simultaneous voice and data over 3G, a feature that was just recently made possible on Verizon's CDMA network through software upgrades -- and the Thunderbolt, it seems, will be the first retail device to have the pleasure of taking it for a spin. |
| Æsir's Yves Béhar-designed phone starts at just €7,250, plenty left for mortgage on the summer home Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:57 PM PDT Okay, okay, €7,250 (about $10,150) sounds positively exorbitant for a phone with a microscopic 2-inch display that dares to boast of "200 calendar entries" as a "feature," but hear us out -- that's a drop in the bucket compared to the €42,000 ($58,800) you'll pay for the gilded version. That's right: for €7,250 you get nothing more than common stainless steel coating the front and rear of your Æsir Yves Béhar, the latest entry in the long-running luxury phone trend that includes Mobiado, Gresso, and Nokia subsidiary Vertu, among others. As the name implies, the phone -- which, we'll admit, is pretty gorgeous -- was penned by none other than famed designer Yves Béhar... but then again, so is the $200 Jawbone Jambox. Six of one, half-dozen of the other, right? Look for it to ship around the world in the summer and fall. |
| ASUS Eee Pad Transformer passes through the FCC Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:22 PM PDT Well, it hasn't reached Eee PC levels of confusion just yet, but it looks like ASUS's Eee Pad line is well on its way to filling store shelves with numerous different models. One of those has now hit the FCC under the guise of the Eee Pad TF101, although it's also referred to as the EP101 in some of the documents. Assuming nothing has changed with ASUS' naming scheme (always a possibility), that would peg it as the Transformer -- a tablet / keyboard dock combo that we first got our hands on back at CES (and later at CeBIT). Unfortunately, ASUS wasn't able to give us a release date then, and that still hasn't changed, although the FCC certification does certainly suggest that it could be coming sooner rather than later. |
| HP TouchPad coming June, webOS for PC beta by year's end Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:41 PM PDT We may have to wait until summer to purchase a webOS slate, but it won't be summer's end -- PreCentral reports that the company has confirmed a June release date for the HP TouchPad. At the enterprise-oriented HP Summit in San Francisco, CEO Leo Apotheker finally offered the month of release, and also reportedly said that the company's full-force webOS on PC initiative will begin in a humble way -- the beta will run in a web browser, and we'll see it by the end of the year. |
| Kinect hacked to control Tesla coils from a safe distance (video) Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:29 PM PDT |
| Sony Ericsson Spain confirms Xperia Play for €649 on April 1st Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:02 PM PDT Apparently in an effort to reduce confusion and settle the situation once and for all, Sony Ericsson's Spanish outpost has taken to the wires today to clarify the pricing and availability situation of the Xperia Play there: €649 off contract and unlocked (which works out to roughly $907) on April 1st. That more or less lines up with what we've been hearing in other European locales, though in Spain, Vodafone will have a 15-day exclusive on the white model -- other carriers will only have access to black at first, and none of the carriers have come clean with on-contract pricing details just yet. Clearly, $900 is an enormously tough sell, but a weak dollar never helps these situations -- we'll need to wait for word on the US retail picture before we've got the whole story. |
| Microsoft reportedly kills off Zune hardware, will focus on software instead Posted: 14 Mar 2011 01:38 PM PDT Details are still emerging on this one, but it looks like Microsoft has finally killed off the Zune -- or the hardware side of things, anyway. According to Bloomberg, a "person familiar with the decision" has confirmed that Microsoft won't be producing any new Zune media players, and that the company will instead focus solely on the Zune software that already has a foothold on the Xbox 360 and Windows Phone devices (it's not clear if the name will stick around). Microsoft will apparently continue to sell its existing Zunes as long as it has stock of them. More as we get it. |
| HTC Thunderbolt tipped to launch March 17th, again Posted: 14 Mar 2011 01:12 PM PDT Well, it looks like the seemingly unending saga of the HTC Thunderbolt launch could really, finally be drawing to a close. Following up a fairly solid hint earlier today, we now have some actual tangible evidence that the 4G-equipped smartphone will indeed be launching on Thursday, March 17th courtesy of some helpful tipsters. Of course, that's still not completely official, but HTC has promised that an announcement is coming "soon," so we should be hearing more from both it and Verizon any day (or moment) now if it the 17th really is the launch date. One more shot after the break. |
| Time Warner Cable's iPad app will be the first with live TV streaming - Update: 32 channels, launches tomorrow Posted: 14 Mar 2011 12:41 PM PDT Tablet apps from cable, fiber and satellite TV providers are suddenly a dime a dozen but despite promises of live TV streaming from several companies, the AP reports Time Warner Cable is finally ready to launch the feature first. The company's official blog also teased the app in recent days but so far, iTunes isn't giving any positive results. When it launches, it should enable TV watching, but only when used at home on Time Warner's internet -- you'll need the TV and internet services to access the 30 or so channels initially available. While we keep an eye out for the app to actually arrive, you can get an idea of what it will be like by checking out the demo video from last year, embedded after the break. Update: We've received a bit more information about the app form a tipster, who sent over the document above that shows the 32 channel listing and other details. The app is scheduled to launch tomorrow, March 15, at 7 am, until then , check after the break for the full document that breaks down what levels of service is needed to get access and technical details like availability (not yet Hawaii) and issues with East Coast/West Coast time delayed feeds. [Thanks, 3.0] |
No comments:
Post a Comment