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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

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NEC's ArmKeypad lets you play charades to control your media player (video)

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 10:56 AM PDT

Okay, two words, sounds like... wait, it's one word? Okay, two words in one. First word, three letters, sounds like "arm." Oh, it is "arm." Okay, second word. You're typing. Typing on keys. It's keyboard. It's not a keyboard? No, it is a keyboard. The word isn't "keyboard?" Really? Maybe "keypad?" It's "keypad!" What the heck is an ArmKeypad? Turns out it's NEC's attempt at letting us control our portable devices using charades-like gestures, which we first heard about last week. You can tap your arms in different places to control volume or skip tracks, even clap your hands if you're happy and your want your PMP to know it. The system relies on a wrist-borne accelerometer that detects the impacts and, while the video below looks a bit goofy, that's far better than fumbling with your smartphone while sucking wind on your thrice-weekly runs. And, it's certainly far simpler than the projected Skinput. NEC expects to have this tech built into a watch-like device sometime within the next two years. That watch had better have a calculator.

Samsung announces availability, pricing for 2011 HDTVs, Blu-ray players and HTIB

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 10:34 AM PDT

It's coming a little late in the game since many of these models have already started shipping, but Samsung has finally seen fit to reveal prices and approximate shipping dates for its 2011 HDTVs (both LCD and plasma), Blu-ray players, and home theater in a box systems. There's no surprises as far as features from what we saw at CES, both plasma and LCD HDTV lines have new slim bezeled models, with new LED lighting tech for the LCDs and "Real Black" panels for the plasmas that have grown an inch in size this year. Meanwhile, the Blu-ray players have predictably gotten slimmer and faster, booting up in just three seconds. 3D and Smart TV features are standard on the majority of the new products this time around, check after the break for more details on what's new and how much they'll cost to start out.


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SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES SPRING AVAILABILITY FOR 2011 LED TV LINEUP, OFFERING RICH, INTERACTIVE AND IMMERSIVE ENTERTAINMENT WITH SMART TV AND ADVANCED 3D CAPABILITIES
March 16, 2011



New Ultra-Thin Bezel Design, Smart Hub and 3D Features Bring Home Entertainment To The Very Edge



NEW YORK, March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced it will offer features previously available in its premium models across a broader range of its 2011 LED TV line. . Products will begin shipping this month. The 21 new LED TV models, ranging in screen size from 19 to 55 inches, are packed with Smart TV and advanced 3D capabilities. Samsung's premium TVs will also incorporate a stylish ultra-thin bezel which helps images become part of the living room, achieving an overall immersive smart TV and 3D viewing experience.



In 2011, consumers can look forward to the following innovations:



More than 70 percent of Samsung LED TVs will offer Samsung Smart TV™ capabilities. Features include Samsung Smart Hub, a brand new menu interface that enables quick search and discovery of video content with Your Video, Search and a full web browser (on select models), multimedia sharing across devices with AllShare and a hassle-free network setup with Samsung's One Foot Connection.



Samsung is also expanding the number of 3D-capable TVs so that consumers have even more choice in bringing home the most immersive entertainment experience.



Advanced picture enhancing technologies in the new TVs ensure consumers get the premium picture quality they demand, whether in 2D or 3D.



All these features are delivered without compromising efficiency – the 2011 LED TV line is compatible with the more stringent Energy Star® 5.1 guidelines.



"The living room is the activity center for many people and the TV is an ideal media hub for the home. Our products make it easy for anyone to instantly access and share the content they want, when they want it," said John Revie, senior vice president of Home Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "Together with new breakthrough designs, Samsung is encouraging people to take entertainment to the edge with our TVs."



New ONE Design creates virtually borderless entertainment

For Samsung, innovative TV design is an increasingly important and differentiating factor. The company led the industry when it launched its Touch of Color™ design and is again raising the bar with its new ONE Design ultra-thin bezel. The ONE Design concept reduces the size of the bezel on the LED D8000, D7000 and D6400 Series so consumers can enjoy a virtually edge-less TV viewing experience. The TV also blends in with and complements its surroundings with a touch of class.



The ONE design also addresses consumer demand for larger screen sizes. With the new ultra-slim bezel design, consumers can enjoy a larger screen without a physically larger TV; in fact, consumers will be able to put a larger TV screen in the same space previously occupied by a smaller model.



Samsung continues its tradition of design excellence beyond the bezel. The Quad Stand introduced in 2010, is slimmer in 2011, yet its petite profile keeps the LED D8000 and D7000 Series stable and sturdy with an air of elegance.

Smart Hub Creates a Gateway to Content Made Easy

Samsung expects 2011 to be a watershed year for smart TV. Leveraging insights gleaned from consumer interaction with Samsung Apps in 2010, Samsung developed Smart Hub, a simple menu system that empowers people to connect, discover and enjoy a wide range of content.



Key features of Smart Hub include:

Search, which allows users to easily search for content on the TV and via Samsung Apps or other online services.

Your Video, which delivers recommendations based on a user's viewing history.

Samsung Apps, the world's first HDTV-based application store, now with more than 200 apps to download in the U.S., Samsung Apps offers a range of paid and free apps that help people connect to their passions – whether in sports, entertainment, information, games or social networking.

Web Browser is available on select models, including the D8000, D7000 and D6300, offering full web browsing directly from the TV.

Smart Hub is available on almost all of Samsung's new 40-inch or larger LED TVs, including the LED D8000, D7000, D6400, D6300 and D6000 Series models.



For those seeking the ultimate Smart TV experience, the D8000 and D7000 Series include a QWERTY keyboard remote in the box, making it easy to search and discover new content with the push of a button.



Expanded 3D Options for Any Home

This year Samsung is bringing 3D to even more models and screen sizes. This gives consumers an immersive 3D home entertainment experience at a range of prices to help make it more cost-effective to own a 3D TV. The 2011 3D LED TV models deliver a complete 3D experience at home, with better 3D picture, the world's first 3D sound and new 3D active glasses.



To achieve vivid and crisp 3D picture quality, Samsung has made several technology improvements in its 2011 line. Its proprietary 3D Auto Contrast technology delivers premium picture quality without eye fatigue by maximizing the contrast between objects in the foreground and in the background. Samsung also improved its 2D to 3D up-conversion feature, making it easy to customize the 3D viewing experience by adjusting the depth of the 3D images.



The LED D8000, D7000 and D6400 Series feature Samsung's proprietary 3D peak algorithm, which enhances peak brightness by 20 percent while reducing power consumption by 15 percent in 3D scenes. The technology automatically adjusts brightness levels in dark scenes to ensure every 3D scene is bright and life-like.



At CES, Samsung introduced 3D sound and the company is building Samsung 3D Sound into all 2011 3D LED TVs. This new feature leverages the power of Samsung's SMART algorithm, a technology that builds on conventional wide stereo sound. With Samsung 3D Sound, consumers can enjoy the thrill of both audio and visual "pop out" based on the synchronization of 3D video and audio.



Samsung continues to offer the total 3D home entertainment solution with the introduction of new four new pairs of 3D active glasses. The Samsung SSG-3700CR is the world's lightest pair of active 3D glasses, weighing about one ounce. Ergonomically designed with flexible 'legs' and nose pad, the SSG-3700CR delivers a comfortable experience for everyone. All four of the 3D active glasses models are also Bluetooth-enabled, offering a stable signal and crisp, true-to-life 3D imagery for an optimal viewing experience. This year, the D8000 Series will include two sets of 3D active glasses in the box. The new 2011 3D active glasses are compatible only with 2011 3D TVs.



As part of the company's ongoing commitment to bring premium content to consumers, Samsung announced that its new 3D Starter Kit, which includes of two pairs of 3D active glasses, would also include Blu-ray 3D versions of DreamWorks Animation SKG's Megamind and the complete Shrek collection at no additional cost.



True-to-Life Picture Quality Enhancements

Samsung is building on its reputation of delivering industry-leading picture quality with the introduction of new picture enhancing technologies across its line of premium LED TVs.



With a 240Hz refresh rate, 2 millisecond motion picture response time (MPRT) and improved LED backlight scanning, the LED D8000 offers true-to-life 2D, 3D and HD images with outstanding clarity. In addition to the Ultra Clear Panel, this CES Innovation Award honoree TV is the first to offer Micro Dimming Plus technology to provide the richest, most lifelike pictures with deep blacks and pure whites.



The LED D7000 also incorporates improved backlight scanning technology and Auto Motion Plus, Samsung's proprietary frame interpolation algorithm, to create sharp 2D and 3D pictures and smooth frame transitions without blurring, even for video moving at top speeds.



For the consumer looking for superior picture quality at an affordable price, the LED D6400 Series TV is ideal. The LED D6400 Series is a 120Hz set combined with Samsung's unique double-rate frame transition technology – the world's fastest – to further reduce the picture frame transition time by 50 percent to enhance the viewing quality of 3D content.




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SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES THAT PLASMA IS NOW BIGGER THAN EVER WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF 2011 PLASMA TV LINE AND INTRODUCTION OF PLASMA+1 DESIGN
March 16, 2011



Line of High-Performance Sets Offer Easy-to-Use Smart TV and 3D Features



NEW YORK, March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the U.S. availability, pricing and additional product details for its new plasma TV portfolio. . The 2011 line represents the company's broadest range of plasma TVs, with 15 new models across six product series. Its new Plasma+1 narrow bezel design delivers even larger screen sizes than previously available so consumers can enjoy an outstanding immersive experience.



With sharp 2D and 3D images, virtually no motion blur, deep blacks and vivid colors, the new line offers jaw-dropping picture quality uncompromised by its sleek, elegant design. New Samsung Smart TV™ features usher in a new world of open and personalized web-connected experiences.



"Picture quality and screen size remain two of the key factors for consumers looking to purchase a new TV," said John Revie, senior vice president of Home Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "By broadening our 2011 plasma TV line up, Samsung is able to deliver products with smart technology, stylish design and features that allow people to create the home entertainment experience they desire."



Breakthrough Design Delivers Larger Screens and an Element of Luxury

As design increasingly becomes a key differentiator, Samsung has further extended its design philosophy across its premium models. The company debuted its revolutionary Plasma+1 design through its entire line of new plasma TVs. This engineering breakthrough delivers a new narrow bezel design that adds up to one inch of viewable screen size over last year's products without increasing the outside dimensions of the set. With the larger screen, 3D content – whether movies or games – will almost literally jump out of the TV.



Samsung's commitment to design is also underscored by the introduction of eight ultra-slim plasma TV models that are 1.5 inches in depth. The plasma D8000 and D7000 Series TVs feature Samsung's signature brushed metal bezel design that was widely popular with the 2010 LED TV line, while the D550 series sports the trademark Touch of ColorTM design. New in 2011, Samsung's unique Quad Stand will be introduced to the plasma D8000 series to offer the elegance associated with a luxury product.



New Smart Hub Makes TV Smarter

Samsung expects 2011 to be a watershed year for smart TV. To meet consumer demand for more immersive and interactive content experiences, Samsung is introducing the new Smart Hub to select plasma models, including the D8000, D7000 and D6500 Series.



Key features of Smart Hub include:



Search, which allows users to easily search for content on the TV and via Samsung Apps or other online services.



Your Video, which delivers recommendations based on a user's viewing history.



Web Browser, which offers full web browsing right from your TV (available on the D8000 series).



Samsung Apps, the world's first HDTV-based apps store, offers a range of paid and free apps that help people connect to their passions. Applications fall into several categories, including video, sports, information, games and lifestyle.



For those seeking the ultimate smart TV experience, the D8000 series includes a remote that features a full physical QWERTY keyboard, making it easy to search and discover new content. New in 2011, the D8000 Series will also include built-in access to Skype, enabling owners to make video calls in high-definition from the comfort of their couch when paired with a compatible TV camera (sold separately).



Connecting to Smart Hub and the Internet is easy right out of the box. Built-in Wi-Fi is included across Samsung's ultra-slim plasma portfolio – the D8000, D7000 and D6500 Series.



Samsung has integrated more features to make the plasma line smarter in 2011. AllShare technology begins at the D550 Series, making it easier to connect and share content across multiple DLNA-enabled devices. The Plasma D550 Series is Wi-Fi ready with the addition of a wireless LAN adapter (sold separately) for enjoying DLNA-based networking with compatible devices and home media network drives.



More 3D-Capable Models Bring Immersive Entertainment Home

Building on its successful introduction of 3D last year, Samsung will include 3D in three-quarters of its plasma portfolio in 2011, making it easy to bring home a premium 3D experience at multiple price points.



The expanded range of 3D-capable models includes new technology to make the 3D picture quality more vivid and life-like than ever before. Samsung improved its 2D to 3D up-conversion feature, making it easy to customize the 3D viewing experience by adjusting the depth of the 3D images.



Watching 3D in the home has also become more comfortable. Samsung unveiled four new models of 3D active glasses, which are only compatible with Samsung's 2011 3D TVs. The new range of 3D active glasses is Bluetooth-enabled, offering a stable signal and more vivid, life-like 3D imagery for an optimal viewing experience. The company also created the world's lightest 3D active glasses (model SSG-3700CR). Sporting a completely redesigned frame, the SSG-3700CR model weighs approximately one ounce, delivering the most premium picture quality and comfort during extended wear.



As part of the company's ongoing commitment to bring premium content to consumers, Samsung announced that its new 3D Starter Kit, which includes of two pairs of 3D active glasses, would also include Blu-ray 3D versions of DreamWorks Animation SKG's Megamind and the complete Shrek collection at no additional cost.



More Picture Enhancing Advancements Bring Deepest Blacks to Life

Samsung is committed to delivering an unmatched viewing experience whether in 2D or 3D. This year's flagship plasma TV models produce the deepest blacks and most vivid colors with the addition of Samsung's proprietary Real Black Panel to the D8000 and D7000 series. Real Black Panel reduces onscreen glare and allows the viewer to enjoy the deepest blacks and sharpest images. Samsung has also introduced Local Contrast Enhancer (LCE) and the Cinema Black feature to the D8000 Series to further enhance black level performance versus last year's C8000 Series.



Samsung further integrated advanced picture quality technologies across the full plasma TV portfolio, with each model enjoying 600Hz Subfield Full HD Motion performance and .001 ms response time to generate smooth playback of any content. Building on the widely lauded inclusion of Cinema Smooth technology in the 2010 plasma line, Samsung integrated its new Crystal Full HD engine with Cinema Smooth into the new D8000 series, making blacks and moving image details as crisp and defined as possible.


SAMSUNG BLU-RAY PLAYERS DELIVER SMART ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS
March 16, 2011



2011 Portfolio Packed with New Features, 2D-to-3D Upconversion, Groundbreaking Form Factors and Integrated Home Entertainment Systems



NEW YORK, March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America Inc. ., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced U.S. pricing, availability and new features for its 2011 Smart Blu-ray player line. Models will begin shipping this month at a range of price points to suit consumer needs.



The seven new Blu-ray players come fully loaded with Smart Blu-ray features, including easy access to Web content and services through Smart Hub, media sharing across devices with AllShare and integrated support for One Foot Connection, Samsung's new hassle-free networking setup. The majority of Samsung's Smart Blu-ray players support 3D playback and offer outstanding and immersive 3D experiences when connected to a 3D TV. One highlight of this year's lineup is the world's slimmest Blu-ray player – the BD-D7500 – measuring a slim 0.9-inch in height. The expanded lineup includes the world's first AV Receiver with an integrated 3D Blu-ray player, the HW-D7000.



"Samsung's commitment to innovation and design is evident," said John Revie, senior vice president of Home Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "We want more people to enjoy the richest, most immersive entertainment experience that is possible with today's technology. These Smart Blu-ray players give consumers a way to easily upgrade their existing TVs to access Samsung Smart TVTM services."



Smart Blu-ray Features Bring Content to Life

Building on the success of Samsung Apps in 2010, Samsung is delivering the Smart Blu-ray experience in 2011 through a new application interface that give consumers easy access to content and services. The new Smart Hub includes key features like:



Search, which allows users to easily search for content on the TV and via Samsung Apps or other online services.



Your Video allows users to watch and preview video through a personalized recommendation service



Samsung Apps, the world's first HDTV-based application store, now with more than 200 apps to download in the U.S. Samsung Apps offers a range of paid and free apps that help consumers connect to their passions – whether in sports, entertainment, information, games or social networking.



The ability to search and share content across multiple devices is becoming increasingly popular with consumers. To accommodate this demand, Samsung built AllShare into its entire Smart Blu-ray player line. AllShare makes it easy to share multimedia content – videos, images, music and more – between DLNA-enabled devices such as a PC, camera, tablet or mobile phone. Once connected to the home network, the Samsung Smart Blu-ray player can easily play back content on other AllShare devices.



Samsung continues to create solutions that make it easier for consumers to access and enjoy their entertainment. All 2011 Smart Blu-ray players offer Samsung's new patented One Foot Connection feature, when paired with the Samsung wireless router[1]. Setting up a connection is hassle-free – users simply place the Blu-ray player within one foot of the router during setup to establish a connection. The player will then maintain this connection regardless of where it's placed in the home. One Foot Connection makes Internet setup easier than ever and allows users to effortlessly access their favorite Samsung Apps.



Further simplifying Internet connectivity out of the box, the majority of the Smart Blu-ray player line, including the BD-D5700, BD-D6500, BD-D6700, BD-D7000 and BD-D7500, has built-in Wi-Fi, while the BD-D5300 and BD-D5500 are Wi-Fi-enabled with the addition of a wireless LAN adapter (sold separately).



2011 Portfolio Brings Home Premium 2D and 3D Entertainment

Samsung's Smart Blu-ray players deliver the most immersive entertainment experience, whether in 2D or 3D. In 2011, Samsung built support for full HD playback with 3D into five of the seven new Blu-ray players, offering consumers greater choice in price and form factors.



The BD-D7500, BD-D7000 and BD-D6700 incorporate Samsung's new innovative 3D Converter technology to deliver exceptional 3D up-conversion of movies, pictures and streaming video at the push of a button. Samsung's proprietary Hyper Real Engine delivers cleaner, detailed picture quality by ensuring clarity, motion and color performance remain at optimal levels.



The 2011 line offers built-in support for Dolby True HD across the full lineup; DTS-HD is also integrated in the BD-D6500 and higher. Support for HD audio makes decoding high-resolution audio effortless – the uncompressed sound is always pure and crystal clear to deliver the total home entertainment experience that audio aficionados demand.



Beyond picture and audio quality, Samsung continues to improve the overall performance of its Blu-ray players. This year, the entire portfolio features the new Ultra Fast Play technology, which slashes the boot-up time by 80 percent to just three seconds.



Samsung's New Design Identity Offers Options to Match Any Interior

All of the 2011 Smart Blu-ray players embody Samsung's 3S concept design philosophy – symmetric, slim and slot-in. The units are designed as symmetric products, with all major functions placed in the middle so that using the device is easy and convenient. The slot-in design concept eliminates the need for moving parts and makes the unit quieter and more efficient.



This philosophy is best seen in the world's slimmest Blu-ray player, the BD-D7500. The wall-mountable unit is a slim 0.9-inch in height and features an elegant brushed metal finish that matches perfectly with Samsung's premium 2011 LED and Plasma TV models.



Samsung's design philosophy has also resulted in unique, yet practical form factors. The minimalist BD-D7000 personifies functionality. The player features a hidden slot for disc loading that pops up from the center of the player and a unique cube design with a stylish silver metal casing that wraps around the player to add sophistication.



Samsung's design innovation was widely recognized at CES 2011. The BD-D7500 was awarded a CES Best of Innovations Award, while the BD-D6500, BD-D6700 and BD-7000 each received CES Innovation Honoree distinctions.



Integrated Blu-ray Portfolio Adds More Choice

Bringing Blu-ray home has never been easier. For consumers who are looking for more than a standalone Blu-ray player, Samsung is introducing new Blu-ray home entertainment systems this month. The line includes the world's first 7.1 channel AV receiver system with Blu-ray playback, 3D viewing and Internet services in one integrated component, the HW-D7000.



For more information on the extended Blu-ray product line, please see the home entertainment system press release.

Sun.com, the twelfth oldest domain on the internet, will be decommissioned on June 1st

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 10:08 AM PDT

Sun Microsystems, one of the original gangsters responsible for supplying all the electronics and infrastructure we now know as the internet, ceased to be Sun Microsystems in January of last year. Assimilated into the Oracle juggernaut, its operations no longer carry that familiar logo and soon they'll no longer even be referenced in the same spot on the internet. Yes, after 25 years of answering the call of sun.com, the company that no longer is will be letting go of its former domain name as well. The site has already been redirecting users to Oracle for quite a while, but come June 1st, it'll be like the Sun we knew had never even risen.

[Thanks, Jeroen]

Sprint Direct Connect will replace iDEN with CDMA, launch late this year

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 09:45 AM PDT

Wait, didn't they try this already? Looks like Sprint is gearing up to take another shot at its seemingly unsinkable (but aging) iDEN push-to-talk network that it inherited from its Nextel acquisition -- which is a good thing seeing how it's only signed up for another three years' worth of maintenance. The new so-called Sprint Direct Connect service is slated to launch in the fourth quarter of this year using CDMA underpinnings, a throwback to the QChat-based push-to-talk network that Sprint launched back in 2008 but never gained traction. Presumably, Sprint thinks that it knows how to make the transition work this time around, promising wider coverage, better in-building signal strength, user availability notifications, support for up to 200 chat participants, and -- of course -- far faster data services than iDEN could ever deliver. Sprint says that it'll offer "an ultra-rugged camera flip phone" along with a QWERTY Android device this year, with more devices in the pipe for 2012. Follow the break for the full press release.

Show full PR text
Sprint Unveils New Gold Standard in Push-to-Talk

Planned 4Q launch of Sprint Direct Connect will offer increased push-to-talk coverage, more broadband data capabilities, new features – and more enhancements to come as Sprint Network Vision deploys

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 16, 2011 - Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced plans to expand its gold-standard push-to-talk leadership, unveiling fourth-quarter launch plans for next-generation push-to-talk capabilities powered by Sprint's broadband CDMA network. As part of the launch, Sprint will offer an initial set of handsets packed with features designed for workgroups that rely on push-to-talk and establish a new push-to-talk brand – Sprint® Direct Connect®.

Sprint Direct Connect service is being built to deliver higher bandwidth capacity to keep up with customers' demand for data. Sprint also is working to deliver enhanced applications on Sprint Direct Connect, best-ever in-building coverage and is planning to provide triple the square-mile reach of Sprint's current push-to-talk service.

Sprint Direct Connect will launch with an initial portfolio of rugged devices from Motorola Mobility and Kyocera. The devices will feature most of the capabilities available on current Sprint push-to-talk phones, plus next-generation push-to-talk applications and functionality including high-speed data access, high-resolution cameras and Bluetooth®. The planned portfolio will include an ultra-rugged camera flip phone and an Android™ Smartphone with a touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard. In 2012, Sprint expects to deepen its push-to-talk portfolio, adding more devices with new form factors and features.

The devices are expected to enable group push-to-talk for up to 200 participants, Land Mobile Radio (LMR) interoperability, and availability notification. In early 2012, Sprint Direct Connect is expected to add more capabilities, including international push-to-talk.

Network Vision

Sprint Direct Connect service is a tangible benefit of Network Vision, Sprint's blueprint to deploy a cost-effective and innovative network. Announced in December, Network Vision is expected to consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network resulting in enhanced coverage, quality and speed; better network flexibility; reduced operating costs; and improved environmental sustainability. The plan includes a complete upgrade of Sprint's current wireless networks accompanied by changes in device chipsets and network infrastructure.

The benefits of Network Vision to Sprint's PTT customers will be wide-ranging:

Better coverage and capacity

Push-to-talk coverage footprint is planned to increase to nearly 2.7 million square miles and is expected to cover a population of 309 million (with the addition of 1xrtt and roaming coverage) – an increase from the iDEN network's 908,370 square miles covering a population 278 million.
In-building coverage is expected to improve significantly through investment in the most advanced CDMA technology and radio equipment.
Voice and data capacity is expected to increase significantly as Sprint will be able to fully leverage its industry leading spectrum holdings in 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz, and – through its partnership with Clearwire – 2.5 GHz.

With Sprint Direct Connect, Sprint expects:

More push-to-talk enabled devices including handsets, rugged devices, and PDAs that combine industry leading push-to-talk and mobile broadband data services over a larger coverage area.
Enhanced features for push-to-talk users on the new CDMA platform.
Interoperability with all existing Sprint push-to-talk devices.

During the nationwide implementation of Network Vision, Sprint expects to continue operating the iDEN network at current best-ever performance levels. As the customer base shifts to more broadband-centric push-to-talk applications on the CDMA network and Sprint launches Sprint Direct Connect, iDEN cell sites are expected to be phased out in 2013.

"Our customers are asking for broadband push-to-talk now," said Paget Alves, president-Sprint Business. "We've seen steadily increasing demand for faster data speeds, better and broader coverage, and more applications on push-to-talk devices. Sprint Direct Connect is designed to solve for all three, and is expected to come with sub-second push-to-talk call set-up time initially in Sprint CDMA RevA coverage areas. Sub-second call set up is expected to expand across the U.S. with the implementation of Network Vision."

Alves added, "We believe the new push-to-talk service powered by a broadband network and featuring competitively priced rugged handsets and smart phones will represent an unmatched offering in the market."

Sprint plans to identify customers who require custom push-to-talk solutions and assist with their migration to the CDMA network. The company also plans to engage partners in developing a robust portfolio of push-to-talk accessories and involve developers in the creation of new applications through its Sprint Gets Rugged application developers program. The program will provide information, support and tools needed to port developers' applications to Sprint Direct Connect devices. More information on the Sprint Gets Rugged application developers program can be found at http://developer.sprint.com/SprintGetsRugged. Sprint will hold a conference on March 22 at the International CTIA WIRELESS® meeting in Orlando for developers who are interested.

TomTom puts its HD Traffic service data in a browser, lets everyone use it for free

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 09:22 AM PDT

TomTom puts its HD Traffic service data in a browser, lets everyone use it for free
We've gotten lost and found our way home again courtesy of many a navigation system over the years, but if ever we're battling not just confusing roadways but also unpredictable traffic patterns it's TomTom we want on our side. The HD Traffic service the company offers is always spot-on, and now you can access that constantly-updated and really quite detailed data from your web browser. However, there's a catch: right now it's only available in Europe and South Africa. Also, the interface is a bit clunky. Oh, and the presentation isn't nearly as nice as on the company's mobile apps. But it is all free, and so you really can't complain too much about any of that. Full details in the PR below.

Show full PR text
TomTom brings HD Traffic to millions more drivers via online live traffic map ~


London, 16 March 2011 - TomTom, the world's leading provider of location and navigation products and services, today launches a live traffic map giving online access to the best traffic information available. Powered by TomTom HD Traffic, the new live traffic map enables anyone online to view the up-to-the-minute traffic situation in their local area. Available now in 18 countries, the live traffic map can be viewed at http://www.tomtom.com/livetraffic

"You won't find a more accurate or reliable source of live traffic information anywhere", says Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Traffic Director TomTom. "The live traffic map is the perfect starting point for anyone planning a journey or who needs the most up-to-date view of the traffic on the road. By giving more drivers access to TomTom HD Traffic, we hope that we can start to make better use of the road network and start to reduce traffic congestion for everyone."

As part of its Traffic Manifesto, TomTom has committed to make HD Traffic information available to as many people as possible. Updated every two minutes and covering primary and secondary roads, only HD Traffic gives drivers the true picture of the traffic network. HD Traffic's coverage is unmatched too, reaching beyond the primary and secondary roads, even down to city streets.

The live traffic map has been designed for easy, fast viewing. Clusters of traffic incidents are represented by a single icon, so users can see at a glance the number and severity of problems in a particular area. A detailed incident report list shows the length, delay and cause of a jam, so they can decide whether to plan an alternative route.
- ENDS -
About TomTom
Founded in 1991, TomTom (AEX:TOM2) is the world's leading supplier of location and navigation products and services focused on providing all drivers with the world's best navigation experience. Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has 3,500 employees and sells its products in over 40 countries. Our products include portable navigation devices, in-dash infotainment systems, fleet management solutions, maps and real-time services, including the award winning HD Traffic .
For the world's most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information please visit www.routes.tomtom.com. For further information, please visit www.tomtom.com

Samsung Galaxy Player 4 and 5 to arrive in the US this spring

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 08:59 AM PDT

Remember the Galaxy Player (or Galaxy S WiFi) we saw back at MWC? Sure you do, it basically strips out the 3G and calling functionality of a Galaxy S phone and leaves you with a Android 2.2 media player or shrunken tablet. Well, it looks like both the 4-inch Galaxy Player 4 and the 5-inch Galaxy Player 5 will be headed to the US this spring. Samsung's demoing the players here at its NYC Spring Product Showcase today, although it isn't talking exact timing or pricing. Either way, it looks like this Android 2.2 player (it's upgradable to 2.3, by the way) with full Market access will be headed stateside sometime soon. We've got the full specs after the break and we'll be trying to dig up more details here -- stay tuned.



Show full PR text
SAMSUNG UNLEASHES GALAXY PLAYER ULTRA-MOBILE DEVICES -- COMMUNICATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION ARE IN HAND

Two Light and Slim Devices Deliver the Full Internet and Thousands of Android Apps Without Monthly Connection Fees

NEW YORK, March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America Inc. ., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today expanded the Galaxy Family of portable devices with the addition of the unique Galaxy Player, the first in a new category of Android-based ultra-mobile devices. The large 4" or 5" screen on the two new models offer an ideal to enjoy games, music, videos, social media and e-books, yet still easily fit in a pants pocket.

The 4" and 5" screen models of Galaxy Player, weighing just 5 and 7 ounces respectively, deliver powerful features for entertainment, communication and information on the go. Both devices boast Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) connectivity for quick and easy access to online services, front and rear cameras (including flash on the 5" model) for videoconferencing or photography, stereo speakers for enjoying music or videos, and support for Adobe Flash 10.1 to access virtually any content on the Web.

"Our Galaxy Family – including Galaxy S mobile phones and Galaxy Tab – has been a success because we give people what they truly wish for – access to thousands of Android Apps coupled with Samsung's sleek design," explained Tim Baxter, President, Consumer Business Division at Samsung Electronics America. "Our new Galaxy Players deliver that same experience in two terrific, ultra-portable form factors – without incurring fees for a monthly data plan."



Convenient Communication Features

Galaxy Players comes with Qik applications for VoIP calls over a WiFi connection; Skype will also be pre-loaded on the 4" model. A microphone and speaker in the device provides a comfortable and natural communications experience.

Video-conferencing is a joy through the front-facing camera on the devices and the large 4" and 5" screens provide for a crystal-clear view of the other side of the conversation.

Social networking comes alive on the Galaxy Player models – users can download popular apps like Facebook, Twitter and many others to take full advantage of the generous 4" and 5" screen real estate. Now, users can connect with more friends than ever without squinting on a tiny screen.

Unprecedented Multimedia, Gaming in Style – and Drag 'N Play
Galaxy Player's large 4" or 5" screens are perfect for reading e-books on the go, while the built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to browse and download new books from almost anywhere.

Stereo speakers, with Virtual 5.1 surround sound and Samsung's SoundAlive post-processing technology, makes the Galaxy Player a portable boombox to enliven any occasion. The LCD WVGA display on the 5" model makes watching movies or TV shows a superb experience, while the Super Clear WVGA LCD screen on the 4" model provides bright, clear access to online videos.

In addition, both Galaxy Players support numerous multimedia formats natively, eliminating the need to transcode files. Videos in the popular DivX, Xvid, WMV, MPEG4 and H.264 formats play effortlessly. Music lovers will love the audio support for MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, and Flac.

Drag 'N Play support means files can be simply dragged from a PC right onto the player – no need for installing special software of any kind on the PC. A MicroSD slot allows 32 GB of extra storage, supplementing the on-board 8 GB.

Galaxy Players are DLNA Certified® and support AllShare – so content can be streamed to and from a PC or television without wires – anywhere in the home.

Gamers are sure to embrace the Galaxy Player – the vibrant and expansive 5" and 4" screens, stereo sound, access to thousands of games via the Android Marketplace, and extreme portability all add up to a package that is simply perfect for both hardcore and casual games.

Access to an Amazing Lineup of Apps- and Flash 10.1

The two Galaxy Player devices are the only Mobile Internet Devices with Google certification – so they can access over 100,000 Android applications via Google's Android Market. The Web browsing experience on the Galaxy Player devices is unparalleled. Support for Adobe Flash 10.1 means no limits – and no frustration – when browsing online.

Both devices run Android version 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to version 2.3 (Gingerbread).

Samsung serves up Series 2, Series 4, and Series 6 laptops for serious, professional types

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 08:32 AM PDT

Okay, so Samsung's newest business laptops may not be as slim or light as their Series 9 brother, but they actually don't look half bad. First up is the Series 2, and as you may expect, the 12.5- and 14-inch systems are the most budget ones of the bunch. We don't have a price on the duo, but the smaller version packs an Intel Celeron processor while the 14-incher kicks it up to a Sandy Bridge Core i3 CPU. Sadly, we don't have details on the exact configurations either, but they will be available with up to 4GB of RAM and 320GB hard drives. Jumping on up, the Series 4 keeps the same 12.5- and 14-inch chassis options, but provides new Sandy Bridge Core i3, i5, and i7 processor options as well as 7,200RPM hard drives and six-cell batteries.

Last but not least is the Series 6, which tops off the chain with some higher-end specs. Unlike the other two lines, the 6 comes with 14- and 15.6-inch SuperBright 300-nit displays -- there's also a 1600 x 900 resolution option on these, while the others keep it at the standard 1366 x 768. The Series 6 is also available with your choice of Core 2011 processors (i3, i5, and i7 all available) and finally jacks up the graphics power with an NVIDIA NVS 4200M GPU. All three systems are said to be made of "super-hard external casing," have metal hinges, and pack 1.3 megapixel webcams. We don't have any pricing details, but the 2 and 4 will be available in April and the Series 6 in May. Check out the pictures below or sneak past the break for more details.
Samsung Series 4 laptops

Samsung Series 2, 4, 6 hands-on


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SAMSUNG EXPANDS ENTERPRISE COMPUTING LINE WITH SERIES 2, SERIES 4, AND SERIES 6 BUSINESS LAPTOPS
New feature-rich notebooks combine reliability, versatility and performance for the managed-IT environment

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., - March 16, 2011 - Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced three new mobile PC lines for the workplace. The Series 2, Series 4 and Series 6 laptops combine first-rate reliability and enhanced security with features like anti-shock hard drives and pressure-resistant casings to meet the needs of a fast-paced enterprise or educational environment.

"Samsung's new mobile PCs deliver an unrivaled experience for the workplace, with features specifically designed to meet the needs of IT managers and end users," said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. "The new Series 2, 4 and 6 laptops present a unique opportunity for Samsung to specifically focus on the enterprise and educational channels and underscores Samsung as a global leader in the enterprise PC market."

Comfortable, Performance-Driven Experience
With all-day use in mind, Samsung engineered the Series 2, 4, and 6 mobiles PCs to provide the most comfortable and efficient experience possible. The sleek new laptops feature the latest 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor technology and Intel HD graphics, with select models offering optional nVIDIA Optimus Technology for outstanding graphics performance and long battery life. Additionally, the 300-nit 16 million color SuperBright display offers a 50-percent brighter screen than conventional displays. The new enterprise-focused mobile PCs also feature comfortable keyboards and an optional TrackPoint in addition to a large touchpad to create an enhanced user experience even during periods of extended use.

Samsung's Fast Start technology helps users take control of their work flow, allowing users to begin working within 3 seconds of opening the display or pressing the power button when in sleep mode. Samsung Fast Start also automatically saves data onto the HDD, to prevent data loss in the event the device loses power or the battery is removed. For added performance in the business world, Samsung's Fast Browsing feature offers up to a 15-percent improvement in web response time, allowing users to quickly access information and databases online.

Samsung's new line of business notebooks provide outstanding battery life with a high capacity 6-cell battery providing up to 7 hours of battery life on a single charge. The optional 9-cell battery provides even longer battery life for mobile professionals on the go.

Unwavering Reliability, Durability and Security
Ensuring that a workforce can perform whenever and wherever they need, durability and reliability is at the core of the new lines with a standard 3-year warranty on all models and US-based Tier 2 customer support. For education and small businesses customers, the Series 2 mobile PC offers users a durable and affordable computing option while the Series 4 and Series 6 laptops are ideal for users with more demanding computing needs.

Each of the new laptops is constructed with a super-hard external casing and metal hinges for rugged durability. For further protection, Series 6 business rugged notebooks are equipped with reinforced magnesium alloy construction for enhanced durability.
For added peace of mind, the Series 2, 4 and 6 computers all feature an anti-spill design with a sealed case, reducing the risk of damage from minor spills on internal components. Moreover, the laptops feature Samsung's anti-shock hard disk drive (HDD) protection, which uses an accelerometer to detect movement and stop the disk from spinning, preventing potential data loss upon impact.

For CTOs and IT managers that need to ensure sensitive contents remain secure at all times, each of the new notebooks is equipped with a range of security features such as pre-boot authentication. Series 4 and Series 6 notebooks add additional security features including a Fingerprint Sensor and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip. Series 6 notebooks further enhanced security and manageability features with Intel vPro technology.

Improved Usability and Connectivity
Flawless integration with existing enterprise technology is a primary concern within an office environment. With this in mind, Samsung's Easy Migration service allows users and IT managers to easily transfer files, settings and profiles from a user's previous PC to one of Samsung's newest models. Users can also rapidly backup and share data using a high-speed USB 3.0 connection.

For users that need teleconferencing capabilities, each model features enhanced audio/visual components, including a 1.3MP webcam and array microphone – making sharing business plans or presentations with clients and vendors simple and cost effective.

All three of the new lines of mobile PCs come with a standard three year warranty and Samsung Support. The Samsung Series 2 and Series 4 are scheduled to be available in April 2011. The Samsung Series 6 will be available in May 2011. All Samsung mobile PC products are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting www.samsung.com.

Key Specs:

Series 2:
Sizes Available: 12.5-inch, 14-inch,
CPU:
Intel® CeleronTM Processor (12.5-inch)
Intel® CoreTM i3 Processor (14-inch)
Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit)
Memory: 2GB ~ 4 GB (expandable)
Storage (max): 320GB
Screen:
12.5-inch HD LED-backlit display
14.0-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
Resolution: 1366 x 768
Graphics: Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics

Series 4:
Sizes Available: 12.5-inch, 14-inch,
CPU:
Intel® CoreTM i3 ~ i7 Processor (3MB ~ 4MB) (12.5-inch)
Intel® CoreTM i3 ~ i7 Processor (3MB ~ 6MB)
Operating System:
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (12.5-inch)
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (14-inch)
Memory: 2GB ~ 6GB (expandable)
Storage (max): 320GB ~ 500GB 7200RPM
Screen:
12.5-inch HD LED-backlit display
14.0-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
Resolution:
1366 x 768
Graphics:
Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics (12.5-inch)
Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics (14-inch)
Battery: 6-cell; up to 7 hours
Docking station connector

Series 6:
Sizes Available: 14-inch, 15.6-inch
CPU:
Intel® CoreTM i3 ~ i7 Processor (3MB ~ 6MB) (14- and 15.6-inch)
Operating System:
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (14-inch)
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32 or 64 bit) (15.6-inch)
Memory:
4GB ~ 8GB (14-inch) (expandable)
4GB ~ 8GB (15.6-inch) (expandable)
Storage (max):
320GB ~ 500GB (7200 rpm sATA)
Optional 128GB ~ 256GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
Screen:
14.0-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
15.6-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright display (300 nit)
Resolution:
1366 x 768, 1600 x 900
Graphics:
Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics or nVIDIA NVS 4200M
Battery: 6-cell; up to 7 hours
Docking station connector

Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, power management settings, applications used and wireless settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will decrease with time and use. Test results based on independent third party Battery Mark tests. Specifications and designs are subject to change without notice. Non-Metric weights and measurements are approximate. Total amount of available memory may be less based on configuration.
Accessible capacity varies; MB = 1 million bytes, GB = 1 billion bytes, TB = 1 trillion bytes. Please note that a portion of the hard drive is reserved for system recovery, operationg system and preloaded content software.

See Samsung.com/ITDlegalinfo for more details
About Samsung Electronics America Enterprise Business Division
Based in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung's Enterprise Business Division (EBD) is a division of Samsung Electronics America (SEA), a U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (SEC), the world's largest technology company based on revenue. As one of the fastest growing IT companies in the world, Samsung EBD is committed to serving the needs of consumers ranging from the home user to the Fortune 500 elite and supporting the valued channel partners who serve our customers. Samsung EBD offers a complete line of award-winning color and mono-laser printing solutions, desktop monitors, laptop computers, digital signage solutions and projectors. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/business or call 1-866-SAM4BIZ.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung's North American operations including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, the Samsung organization is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #19 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand "100 Best Global Brands," and named as one of Fast Company's "50 Most Innovative Companies of 2010." For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on www.Facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 174,000 people in 193 offices across 66 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Samsung Series 9 laptop hits tomorrow for $1,649, 11-inch version coming in April

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 08:31 AM PDT

Sure, we saw some pricing leaks of the super slim Series 9 this morning, but Samsung is finally coming clean now with all the official details. Starting on March 17th (yep, tomorrow!), the 13.3-inch laptop with its Core i5-2537M processor, 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, and Windows 7 Home Premium will be available for $1,649. Sure, it's a bit more than we expected, but we guess when you consider its solid state storage and 400nit display it makes a bit more sense. Still, there's a big part of us that wishes there was a more entry-level configuration of the beautiful duralumin machine -- in fact the only other configuration will be a $1,699 model with Win 7 Professional. The 13-inch model will be up for grabs at Best Buy, Tiger Direct, Amazon, and a number of other e-tailers.

Wondering about that 11.1-inch Series 9 model that we saw hanging around a few weeks ago? That one is a bit farther out, though not by much. Samsung isn't releasing pricing on the smaller, 2.3-pound version, but it will be hitting in mid-April with a older Core i3-380UM processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. It sounds like that one will be kinder on the wallet, but we're still convinced there are a bunch out there that will opt for the larger screened machine. We're hoping to bring you a review of the 13-incher very soon, but in the meantime hit the break for the official release.

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JUST IN TIME TO "LIGHTEN UP" FOR SPRING, LIGHTWEIGHT Samsung SERIES 9 BECOMES AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.

Samsung's new ultra premium laptop goes on sale March 17

What:
Samsung Electronics America Inc. today announced that the highly anticipated 13-inch, Series 9 laptop featuring Windows® 7 Home Premium will be available in the U.S. through Best Buy and other select retailers and e-tailers beginning tomorrow, March 17.

The 13-inch Series 9 laptop equipped with Windows® 7 Professional will become available at retail/e-tail and through select channel partners in mid-April.

Additionally, an 11-inch Series 9 laptop featuring Windows® 7 Home Premium and 64 GB of HDD storage will also be made available in mid-April.

Where:
Series 9 laptops will be available through a variety of retail and reseller channels including Best Buy, Amazon and Tiger. For a full list of local Samsung resellers and distributors call 1-800-SAMSUNG or visit www.samsung.com.
MSRP:
Series 9 13-inch, Windows® 7 Home Premium: $1,649 MSRP.
Series 9 13-inch, Windows® 7 Professional: $1,699 MSRP

Series 9 Specs:
CPU:
13" - Intel® CoreTM i5 Processor 2537M (1.4 GHz, 3MB)
11" - Intel® Core™ i3 Processor 380UM (1.33 GHz, 3MB)
Operating System:
13" - Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 bit) or Windows® 7 Professional (64 bit)
11" - Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
Memory: (should include if it's upgradable?)
13" - 4GB DDR3
11" - 2GB DDR3
Storage (max):
13" - 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
11" - 64GB SSD
Screen:
13.3-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright Plus display (400 nit)
11.1-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright Plus display (340 nit)
Resolution:
13"/11" - 1366x768
Graphics:
13" - Intel HD GT
11" - Intel GMA HD (Integrated)
Speakers
13"/11" - 3 watt (1.5W x 2) stereo speakers
Battery: Lithium Polymer; up to 7 hours
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n; WiMaxi
Weight:
13" - 2.89 lbs.
11" - 2.31 lbs.

Samsung's QWERTY flip Smart TV remote is official along with new TV apps and Megamind Blu-ray 3D pack-in (updated: hands-on!)

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PDT

Samsung's 2011 product showcase is underway in New York City and while most of these products we got a peek at during CES, it's only finally ready to show off the new QWERTY flip remote for its smart TVs. The QWERTY TV remote is looking a lot sleeker in its glamour shot than it did in the FCC tests weeks ago, and is available in the box with all D7000 and D8000 model HDTVs, or as an add-on compatible with the D6300 line and above (no mention of the Smart Touch remote or Google TV devices in the press release we received.) Samsung's also putting a lot of stock in its new lighter 3D glasses and officially announced the new 3D Starter Kit that includes two pairs along with a copy of Megamind and all the Shrek movies on Blu-ray 3D, along with prescription-ready models for kids and adults. Finally, an app market is nothing without apps, and there's two new ones to announce today with HBO GO making its debut on the TV and MTV Music Meter. Check the details (Update: now including MSRPs!) in the press release after the break and the gallery for a few pictures.

Updated: We got a few minutes to play around with the new QWERTY flip remote after Samsung's NYC press event today. It's not exactly the most glamorous handheld keyboard remote control out there with its monochrome screen, although we do like that the center of the D-pad can me morphed into a touch sensitive mouse-like control. Okay, so this thing isn't exactly ground breaking, but check out the shots below for a closer look.
Samsung 2011 Home entertainment Showcase

Samsung QWERTY flip remote hands-on




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Home Entertainment at the Edge of Wonder
As the leading brand in home entertainment, Samsung's new line of devices showcases innovations and
smarter technologies that bring the home entertainment experience to life. The living room is again becoming
the social hub for the home and, in turn, Samsung is making smart TV and 3D more accessible in 2011. The
company has 44 new HDTV models across LED, LCD and plasma categories, many of which are available
now.

Nearly three-quarters of the 2011 home entertainment lineup offer Smart Hub, an easy-to-use interactive
menu that puts search, Samsung Apps, a full Web browser and a recommendation engine in one convenient
location. Samsung is also integrating other Smart features across the home entertainment line, including
multimedia sharing across devices with AllShare and a hassle-free network setup with Samsung's One
Foot Connection. Samsung continues to see success with Samsung Apps, the world's first HDTV-based
applications store. Samsung Smart TVTM and Smart Blu-ray owners can now enjoy more than 200 free
and premium apps in the U.S. and there are more than 400 apps available worldwide. Today, Samsung
announced the availability of new apps from leading content providers, HBO GO and MTV Music Meter.

To make it even easier to search and discover new content, Samsung introduced a new QWERTY TV
Remote with an LCD screen that puts control and functionality into the hands of the user. The multidirectional
QWERTY TV Remote connects wirelessly with a Samsung Smart TV and features a full physical QWERTY
keyboard. When one side of the remote is being used, Samsung's intuitive features automatically disable
the keys on the other side so consumers never need to worry about accidentally hitting any buttons. The
QWERTY TV Remote is included with the LED D8000 and D7000 Series and Plasma D8000 Series. It is
compatible with the LED series D6300 and up (sold separately)

Bringing rich, dynamic and immersive 3D entertainment home is easier in 2011. Samsung has included 3D
features across 60 percent of its 2011 TV portfolio, with a wider range of models, screen sizes and price
points. Experiencing full HD 3D at home is also more comfortable. Samsung introduced the world's lightest
active 3D glasses, weighing about one ounce, as part of the company's new lineup of 3D active glasses.

As part of the company's ongoing commitment to bring premium content to consumers, Samsung announced
that its new 3D Starter Kit, which includes of two pairs of 3D active glasses, would also include Blu-ray 3D
versions of DreamWorks Animation SKG's Megamind and the complete Shrek collection at no additional
cost.

Samsung continues to lead the way in design innovation, with new breakthrough design philosophies and
stunning form factors across the 2011 home entertainment portfolio. For LED backlit and Plasma TVs,
new bezel designs allow consumers to enjoy more immersive TV viewing without distraction. Samsung's
new ONE Design ultra-slim bezel on premium LED TV models 'liberates' the picture so consumers feel like
they are part of the action. The company's new Plasma+1 design concept will be available across its entire
Plasma TV line. Plasma+1 is a new narrow bezel design that adds up to one inch of viewable screen size
over last year's products without increasing the outside dimensions of the set.

Samsung's commitment to design extends to its 2011 Blu-ray player and home entertainment system
portfolio. Its 3S design philosophy – symmetric, slim and slot-in – creates sleek and functional form factors
that delight users. The Blu-ray player line is led by the world's slimmest Blu-ray player, the BD-D7500,
measuring in at a slim 0.9-inch height. Similarly, Samsung is breaking new ground in the home entertainment
system category with several CES 2011 Innovations Design and Engineering award winners. The award-
winning line includes the world's first 7.1 channel AV receiver system with Blu-ray playback, 3D viewing and
Internet services in one integrated component.

UNIQUE QWERTY TV REMOTE AND WIRELESS CHARGER LEAD SAMSUNG'S LINEUP OF ACCESSORIES IN THE HOME
March 16, 2011



Super Light 3D Active Glasses and Ultra-Slim Wall Mounts Also Available



NEW YORK, March 16, 2011 – Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced details and availability of its innovative new accessories line, which enhances access to 3D and Smart TV for a superior home entertainment experience. The new line is packed with the latest advancements in Samsung Smart TVTM and 3D.



Samsung's 2011 award-wining TV accessories line features two CES 2011 Innovations Design and Engineering award winners (marked with asterisks).Key products include:



Wireless-N router and wireless LAN adapter that make setting up a home network hassle-free



Dual-sided, multi-directional QWERTY TV Remote for easy access to content on your TV



High-definition TV camera that transforms a television into a large screen video phone



Four styles of innovative 3D active glasses, including a light-weight, prescription-ready model*



Stylish wireless charger for 3D active glasses*



Easy to install ultra-slim wall mounts



"As home entertainment becomes more interactive, we've had to evaluate how to enhance and control the TV experience," said John Revie, senior vice president of Home Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "The accessories line demonstrates our commitment to an outstanding home entertainment experience through amazingly designed and expertly engineered products."



Smart Solutions for Easy Connectivity

More than ever, when searching for movies and updating their social media status, consumers need an easy way to access and interact with the TV. Samsung introduced a new QWERTY TV Remote with an LCD screen that puts control and functionality into the hands of the user. The multidirectional QWERTY TV Remote connects wirelessly with a Samsung Smart TV and features a full physical QWERTY keyboard. When one side of the remote is being used, Samsung's intuitive features automatically disable the keys on the other side so consumers never need to worry about accidentally hitting any buttons. The QWERTY TV Remote is included with every premium model, including the LED D8000 and D7000 Series and Plasma D8000 Series. It is compatible with LED series D6300 and up (sold separately).



As the TV becomes the media hub for the home, easy connectivity is increasingly critical. Samsung's new wireless CY-SWR1100 router makes it easy to set up and connect devices to a home network. The simultaneous N dual-band router features two new Samsung technologies that ensure a quick, hassle-free setup:



Plug & Access technology, which enables connectivity by simply plugging the USB adaptor (sold separately) into a Samsung Smart TV to create instant Wi-Fi access to the Internet.



One Foot Connection, which establishes a Wi-Fi connection between Samsung 2011 TVs and other compatible devices. During the initial set-up, users simply need to place the router within one foot of these devices to establish a connection. Afterwards, the CY-SWR1100 can be moved to any part of the home while still maintaining this connection.



The Samsung Wireless LAN Adapter, the WISO9ABGN, supports a range of wireless standards. It offers easy access to a variety of content and services via Samsung Apps, and unobtrusively connects Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players via Wi-Fi to the Internet. It also connects Samsung TVs to multimedia devices such as PCs, cameras, Blu-ray players, mobile phones and more.



Samsung improved the quality of widescreen video calls from the comfort of your living room with the introduction of a new Smart TV camera, the CY-STC1100, which is Skype compatible. This camera is designed to work in all lighting conditions and wherever users are seated in relation to the TV. With no headset or additional webcam required, this camera features a built-in HD sensor (720p at 30 fps) and advanced HD video encoding. It also has an auto focus feature to keep the subject from appearing blurry (even when shifting positions) and four high-fidelity microphones to capture voices up to 13 feet away regardless of ambient noise.



Installing the Samsung Smart TV camera is simple. Users plug the USB cable into the TV and attach the TV camera to the back of the set using the camera's magnets. The CY-STC1100's slim design, at slightly more than a half an inch thick, blends well with even the thinnest Samsung TVs. A flexible camera neck wraps around the top of the TV, allowing the user to easily adjust the lens position and identify the ideal position.



Experience Immersive 3D at Its Best

3D remains a key pillar of Samsung's TV strategy. Four new models of 3D active glasses make it easier and more comfortable to watch 3D at home:



SSG-3700CR: Prescription-ready ultra-light, rechargeable 3D active glasses



SSG-3300GR: Rechargeable 3D active glasses



SSG-3300CR: Compact, rechargeable and prescription-ready 3D active glasses, ideal for kids



SSG-3100GR: Replaceable battery-operated 3D glasses



Samsung completely redesigned its 3D active glasses to offer superior picture quality, comfort and an attractive design. The Samsung SSG-3700CR is the world's lightest pair of active 3D glasses, weighing about one ounce. Ergonomically designed with flexible 'legs' and nose pad, the SSG-3700CR delivers a comfortable experience for everyone. The 'legs' can fit over regular glasses and consumers can choose to clip on customized prescription lens so that they can comfortably enjoy crisp, life-like 3D imagery. Similar to clip-on shades for standard eyeglasses, prescription lenses can be prescribed by a regular optometrist and easily added to the SSG-3700CR. The new 2011 3D active glasses are compatible only with 2011 3D TVs.



Beyond comfort, Samsung's new 3D active glasses were reengineered to deliver superior image quality. Samsung also reduced the LCD response time to improve the contrast ratio and generate more vivid pictures with less cross-talk (ghosting) and viewing fatigue. The glasses automatically turn on when worn and power off when motion or touch is not detected by the embedded sensors. Additionally, the SSG-3700CR, SSG-3300GR and SSG-3300CR have an indicator on the side of the glasses that informs users of approximate battery life.



New this year, Samsung introduced a wireless charger, the CY-SWC1000A, capable of charging up to four rechargeable 3D active glasses at once. The charger is an elegant, glossy black cylinder that resembles a classic men's top hat. An LED light softly blinks to show that recharging is in progress. The CY- SWC1000A is highly efficient at transferring electric energy to devices on the surface of the charger and offers the same length of usage (up to 45 hours) as if the glasses were charged via the USB cable.



To further ensure delivery of a premium 3D experience in the home, Samsung introduced four HDMI cables that optimize 3D picture quality and exceed the quality standard for signal transmission. The HDMI cables come in four distinct designs: slim, swivel, basic and premium. At price points ranging from $59.99 to $149.99, Samsung's HDMI cables encounter fewer signal errors than conventional HDMI cables.



TV Installation Made Easy

As part of its commitment to design innovation, Samsung introduced a line of ultra-slim wall mounts that make it easy to beautifully display Samsung TVs. The airtight wall mounting hangs the TV less than 0.8-inches from the wall and amplifies the slimness of a Samsung's LED TV. Despite its slim fit, it can securely hold up to 440lbs, ensuring that the TV is installed securely on any wall. The ultra-slim wall mount can be quickly and easily installed in less than twenty minutes from start to finish, thereby saving consumers time and money on installation.



Samsung is also introducing an LED TV mount kit for Samsung Soundbar (model CY-ATB10). Designed to match the sleek design of the LED line, the kit attaches to directly to the back of the TV so that the Soundbar can gently hang below as if it were floating. It is compatible with 2010 and 2011 LED TVs between 37 and 55-inches and the HW-D450, HW-D550 and HW-D551 2011 soundbar models.

China tightens grip on VPN access amid pro-democracy protests, Gmail users also affected

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 08:03 AM PDT

If you've been struggling to get your dose of Facebook or Twitter in China recently, then you're probably one of the many Internet users who've had their VPN access -- either free or paid for -- blocked over the last two weeks or so. That's right, the notorious Great Firewall of China is still alive and well, and leaving proxy servers aside, VPN is pretty much the only way for keen netizens to access websites that are deemed too sensitive for their eyes; or to "leap over the wall," as they say. Alas, the recent pro-democracy protests didn't exactly do these guys any favor -- for one, their organizers used Twitter along with an overseas human rights website to gather protesters, and with the National People's Congress meetings that were about to take place (and wrapped up last night), it was no surprise that the government went tough on this little bypassing trick. To make matters worse, PC World is reporting that Gmail users are also affected by slow or limited access, despite the service previously being free from China's blacklist.

We reached out to a handful of major VPN service providers, and they all confirmed a significant increase in the amount of blockage -- possibly by having their servers' PPTP IP addresses blocked -- over the last two weeks. One company even spotted the Chinese government subscribing to its paid service, only to work its way into the network to locate the company's PPTP server list, and then put them behind the firewall. Fortunately for some, the better-off companies had backup servers to rapidly resolve the problem, whereas the cheaper and free services were unable to dodge the bullet. This just goes to show that sometimes you get what you pay for. That said, with practically unlimited human hacking power at its disposal, it doesn't take much for the firewall to shut down everything heading its way. For the sake of our friends and expats there, let's just hope that the government will take things down a notch as soon as the storm calms.

Nokia Beta Labs debuts Shoot and Tag scene app for your mobile phone

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 07:36 AM PDT

Say what you will about Nokia, the company has never had a shortage of ideas. And the latest from the kids at Nokia Beta Labs? Why, that would be a little something called Shoot and Tag. An app available -- you guessed it -- as a beta from the company, Shoot and Tag automatically creates individual scenes in the videos you shoot on your phone, not dissimilar to the chapters on a DVD. But that ain't all! You can also create your own scene markers, just in case you find yourself capturing footage you know you'll want handy access to later. Ready to give it a shot? Hit the source link to get started -- but not before peeping the demo after the break.

Samsung Series 9 laptop priced at $1,649, makes our wallets gently weep

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 07:05 AM PDT

The feature-rich and utterly gorgeous Series 9 laptop from Samsung has just received its US pricing and unfortunately it's a bit of a whopper: $1,649. For that outlay, you'll be getting a 13.3-inch screen, an LED-backlit display with 400 nits of brightness, Intel Core i5-2537M dual-core processor running at 1.4GHz, 4GB of RAM, and one super-speedy 128GB SSD. It's an intriguing proposition, as both price and specs are decidedly high-end, but the decision as to which one wins out we'll leave up to you. Hit up Samsung's site below for a list of retailers -- the Series 9 is listed for pre-order at the moment, but we doubt it'll be long before delivery trucks start rolling out with ultrathin laptop boxes in tow.

[Thanks, Dave]

Motorola makes WiFi-only Xoom official: $599 on March 27th

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 06:20 AM PDT

Sanjay Jha and various leaks already told us as much, but here's the official word: the WiFi-only Motorola Xoom is launching on March 27th for $599. Retail availability will be truly widespread, with Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Staples and Walmart all offering up the Honeycomb tablet. Other than the omission of the 3G and 4G radios of the original Xoom, you're basically looking at an identical hardware package. That includes a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, and a 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution.
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Motorola Mobility Brings MOTOROLA XOOM™ Wi-Fi to United States

Innovative new tablet experience to be available from more than seven leading retailers nationwide

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the upcoming availability of MOTOROLA XOOM™ Wi-Fi edition from leading retailers across the United States starting March 27. Amazon.com, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club (select locations), Staples and Walmart will be offering the 10.1-inch widescreen HD tablet with Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) through both online and retail store channels. The MSRP for MOTOROLA XOOM Wi-Fi with 32 GB of memory will be $599.

"MOTOROLA XOOM is a truly innovative tablet - its design, coupled with being the first tablet to have Android 3.0, results in a user experience that is one-of-a-kind," said Dan Papalia, vice president of retail sales for Motorola Mobility. "We are now continuing to expand the choices available to consumers with the MOTOROLA XOOM Wi-Fi to be available soon from numerous leading retailers in the United States."

In addition, the MOTOROLA XOOM Wi-Fi will be available to commercial IT channels and regional retailers through a distribution agreement with Synnex Corporation, and regional carriers through Brightpoint, Inc.

MOTOROLA XOOM showcases the innovations of the Honeycomb user experience – including widgets, true multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization – on a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display, enabling video content that's richer and clearer than ever before. With a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM, MOTOROLA XOOM delivers exceptionally fast web-browsing performance. The latest Google Mobile services include Google Maps 5.0™ with 3D interaction and access to more than 3 million Google eBooks and apps from Android Market™. MOTOROLA XOOM also supports a Beta of Adobe® Flash® Player 10.2 downloadable from Android Market, enabling the delivery of rich Flash based web content including videos, casual games and rich Internet applications.

As the first device running Android 3.0, MOTOROLA XOOM benefits from our aggressive work with developers across the ecosystem through MOTODEV, Motorola's developer support program to enable world-class tablet and smartphone experiences. These devices will be able to access more than 150,000 applications within the Android Market as well as the rapidly increasing number of applications optimized directly for the Android 3.0 OS. In addition, thousands of Flash-based web applications and sites will become available for the MOTOROLA XOOM.

As a part of the company's commitment and leadership -- along with Google's -- to the Android ecosystem, Motorola announced a series of global developer events in 11 cities across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. These MOTODEV events give developers access to tools, support and Motorola's team of Android experts. The first of these events was hosted in San Francisco on March 1 and had more than 665 developers in attendance.

MOTODEV also recently announced a new testing and certification program for Honeycomb applications, encouraging developers to submit their applications to get early feedback and support on MOTOROLA XOOM performance. This is a part of the company's ongoing commitment to supporting the ecosystem in delivering high quality experiences to the consumer.

More information about MOTODEV tools, resources and events can be found at http://developer.motorola.com.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android, Google, Google Mobile and Google Maps are trademarks of Google Inc. All other product and service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc.

Twitter adds 'Always use HTTPS' option, makes cyberterrorists FOF

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 06:09 AM PDT

One small checkbox for your mouse pointer, one giant leap for your Twitter account's security. The microblogging site that every techie knows, loves, and occasionally loathes, has added a new option to allow users to go HTTPS full-time. For the unenlightened among you, that means all your communications with Twitter can now be done over an SSL-encrypted channel, which massively boosts their resilience to external attacks. That won't protect you if you're careless with your password or leave your account logged in on computers other than your own, but at least you can sleep a little more restfully knowing that nobody other than yourself will be embarrassing you on the Twittersphere.

NVIDIA SLI faces AMD CrossFire in a triple-GPU shootout

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 05:40 AM PDT

SLI faces CrossFire in a triple-headed GPU shootout
Place your bets, folks, because this one's gonna get ugly. On your left: a thunderous triad of AMD Radeon HD 6950 cards running in CrossFire. On your right: the terrorizing threat of triple NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 in SLI. In the middle: a Tom's Hardware tester just trying to stay alive. The winner? Well, as usual in these benchmark articles that sort of depends on what you're doing, but in general it's the AMD solution and its CrossFire barrage that comes out on top in terms of performance, cost, and even efficiency. But, that's certainly far from the whole story. You'll want to click on through to read about every agonizing blow.

Google Search app for iPhone introduces new side-swipe toolbar and other UI tweaks

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 04:58 AM PDT

What you once knew as the Google Mobile App has been rechristened the Google Search app, signifying a renewed focus for Google's primary iOS application. Having formerly served as a multifunctional access point to all of Google's varied web apps, the new software is now geared to serve search needs first, with its other offerings relegated to a secondary "Apps" menu. There's also the addition of a new toolbar, accessible by swiping left to right, and improved fast-app switching support. The ever-present bug fixes and a few more user interface tweaks complete the list of changes. To get your download on, you may exploit either the source link below or the QR code above.

Google buys Green Parrot Pictures, looking to make YouTube vids easier on the eye

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 04:19 AM PDT

If you can't fix it, buy someone who can. That must be Google's rationale behind this latest acquisition, as the proprietor of YouTube has just bought Green Parrot Pictures, a company concerned solely with enhancing and improving the quality of video content. Through the use of some fancy motion prediction algorithms, the Irish startup has been able to build a name for itself over the past few years, and now it's been snapped up by the biggest fish in the online video ocean. The removal of flicker, noise and blotches from poorly executed recordings sounds nice, but we're most excited by Green Parrot's video stabilization feature. With all the cameraphone video being uploaded nowadays, there's plenty of camera shake populating YouTube's archives, and the addition of such a potent post-production technique seems like a veritable boon to us. Check out video demos of the stabilization algorithm and Green Parrot's other technologies below.







Seagate Pulsar XT.2 and Pulsar.2 SSDs target enterprise, reliability-obsessed consumers

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 03:39 AM PDT

Seagate has just taken the wraps off a slew of fresh enterprise storage drives, highlighted by a pair of new Pulsar SSDs. The MLC NAND-equipped Pulsar.2 is capable of 6Gbps speeds over SATA, while the 2.5-inch XT.2 uses SLC memory and a 6Gbps SAS connection, and both are unsurprisingly touted as being the fastest and finest guardians you can buy for your company's data. Seagate sees the use of MLC flash on the Pulsar.2 as a major advantage in lowering costs, while its data-protecting and error-correcting firmware is expected to maintain the high levels of data integrity required in this space. No price is actually given to validate Seagate's claims of a breakthrough price / performance combination, but both of its new SSDs should be available in the second quarter of this year. The XT.2 is already shipping out to OEMs, along with its 360MBps read and 300MBps write speeds. There are also new Savvio and Constellation HDDs from the company, but you'll have to read the 1,400-word essay press release after the break to learn more about them.
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Seagate Raises The Bar In Enterprise Storage: Unveils Groundbreaking SSD And HDD Solutions

Solutions range from cutting-edge, performance-optimized Pulsar® solid state drives, to performance and capacity-balanced Savvio® hard drives, to capacity-optimized Constellation® hard drives

March 15, 2011 - Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) today announced its latest enterprise solutions designed to deliver storage for the widest range of application environments. Joining the industry's most award-winning enterprise lineup, these solutions include: two new members of the Pulsar® Solid State Drive (SSD) family that deliver the ultimate enterprise performance, endurance and reliability; two next-generation Savvio® 15K and 10K hard disk drives (HDD) optimized for a balance of high performance and capacity; and the latest Constellation® ES.2 3TB HDD for pure capacity-optimized mass storage needs.

"The surge in storage consumption is being driven not only by the growth of content and use within the enterprise, but also by new applications and devices that directly or indirectly consume enterprise storage," said Kurt Richarz, Seagate EVP of Product Line Management. "Seagate's new family of enterprise storage solutions meets the diverse storage needs of these high growth application environments, whether it's fast transactional database servers, bulk storage and archiving, or everything in between."

"When we increase the possibility for storage at any point in the world wide web, we increase the possibility for storage at every point in the world wide web," said John Monroe, a research vice president in Gartner's Data Center Systems group. "Media tablets and other smart handheld devices will serve to generate an even greater need for enormous amounts of both high-capacity and high-speed storage in the cloud, which will in turn require diverse new breeds of storage building blocks to manage this explosive and complex data growth in more efficient, reliable and cost-effective ways."

Pulsar.2 and Pulsar XT.2 – Pure Performance with Enterprise-Class Endurance

The Pulsar.2 SSD is the first MLC-enabled (up to 800GB) SSD from an enterprise HDD vendor delivering the price/performance, data integrity, and endurance needed for performance-hungry enterprise applications. Unlike other MLC SSDs that have been designed for consumer applications and lack the robust data integrity and endurance feature set required for enterprise applications, the Pulsar.2 SSD has been designed from the ground up for the enterprise. It has the intelligence to automatically detect and correct a multitude of data errors than can occur during normal drive operations to deliver the highest levels of enterprise-class data integrity and endurance. By enabling MLC NAND technology for the enterprise, this drive addresses the market concerns on SSD cost and endurance and will enable adoption of SSDs in the enterprise. The Pulsar.2 supports both native 6Gb/s SAS and SATA 6Gb/s interfaces.

Seagate Pulsar XT.2 Solid State Drive

The Pulsar XT.2 is a 2.5-inch, SLC-based, native 6Gb/s SAS, up to 400GB enterprise SSD from Seagate, the world leader in enterprise storage. The Pulsar XT.2 SSD delivers the highest levels of consistent performance, data integrity, and drive endurance for the most demanding enterprise environments. The Pulsar XT.2 is the fastest drive in the Seagate portfolio, with sustainable random reads at 48K and writes at 22K IOPS and sequential reads at 360MB/sec and writes at 300MB/sec. The Pulsar XT.2 is optimized for real world, complex, mixed workloads typical of enterprise environments.

Both the Pulsar.2 and Pulsar XT.2 drives leverage Seagate's leadership in meeting enterprise customer expectations in product development, qualification, fulfillment and ongoing support on a worldwide basis. Over 200 man-years of development went into the 2nd-generation Pulsar SSD products, with enterprise reliability verified by a team with over 1,500 collective years of experience in the storage industry. And with a 0.44% AFR and 2 million hour MTBF rating, the Pulsar XT.2 and Pulsar.2 provide the storage reliability that enterprise data centers can count on. The Pulsar XT.2 is currently shipping to OEMs. Both the Pulsar XT.2 and Pulsar.2 will be generally available to the channel beginning Q2 of this year.

"HP continues to see new opportunities for solid state storage technology as customers increase virtual system workloads, needing higher performance while reducing power requirements," said Jim Ganthier, HP Industry Standard Software and Systems vice president of Marketing. "HP continues to look forward to storage technology advances from Seagate including wider SSD enablement across HP systems and workloads."

Savvio 15K.3 and Savvio 10K.5 – Greater IT Storage Efficiency

Savvio 15K.3 HDD

Seagate's latest-generation Savvio 2.5-inch small form factor enterprise class HDDs are built to deliver high performance, reliability, and capacity for tier 1, mission-critical server and storage systems. The 2.5-inch enterprise small form factor has transitioned to becoming the form factor of choice over 3.5-inch, with Savvio drives further maximizing data center capabilities without increasing footprint. By unifying an optimal small form factor size with higher performance and greater capacity and use of the latest 6Gb SAS interface, Savvio HDDs ultimately help provide IT data centers with improved storage efficiency.

The Savvio 10K.5 delivers the world's highest capacity in a 2.5-inch mission-critical HDD with up to 900GB, enabling easier and more flexible storage upgrades to create high capacity, high performance systems. As the only 2.5-inch 10K-rpm drive family to provide four capacity points (900GB, 600GB, 450GB, 300GB) on a single platform, and a choice of 6Gb/s SAS or 4Gb Fibre Channel interfaces, the Savvio 10K.5 delivers the scalability and versatility that OEMs, system builders, and end users need.

The Savvio 15K.3 is the highest performing HDD available and is optimized for tier 1 storage applications. With capacities available at 300GB and 146GB, Savvio 15K.3 is well-suited for performance-oriented systems that can remain cost-effective to IT budgets and fit a wide range of applications.

Savvio 10K.5 HDD

"Dell is looking forward to launching Seagate's new Savvio® 2.5 inch form factor hard drives. This will enhance our line of servers and storage systems, which are designed for the cost-conscious IT professional who requires a balance of capacity, performance, and reliability," said Michael Mitoma, executive director of Storage Engineering at Dell. "Dell's range of world-class enterprise server and storage systems using Seagate Savvio® HDDs can help drive business needs forward while delivering a great return for our customers' IT investment."

The Savvio 10K.5 and Savvio 15K.3 both deliver a record reliability rating of .44% AFR/2 million hours MTBF and include a 5-year warranty. They also feature Protection Information for enhanced data integrity and a Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) option for the protection of data-at-rest. Both Savvio models are currently shipping to OEMs, with channel availability for Savvio 10K.5 beginning Q1 and Savvio 15K.3 to follow in Q2.

Constellation ES.2 – Highest Capacity Enterprise Drive from the Nearline Market Leader

The new Constellation ES.2 HDD packs the highest capacity into an enterprise-class drive, providing the efficiencies demanded by capacity-intensive 24/7 applications, making it ideal for low cost-per-GB highly-valued business storage solutions. With massive 3TB capacities, the Constellation ES.2 HDD powers both server and bulk storage solutions, maximizing the storage footprint by supporting up to 114TB per square foot.

Constellation ES.2 also introduces a new Seagate RAID Rebuild™ feature for enterprise HDDs. With large capacity drives comes longer RAID recovery times, but with the new Seagate RAID Rebuild development platform, customers can significantly reduce hours of lost productivity during RAID recoveries.

Seagate Constellation ES.2 3TB HDD

The Constellation ES.2 HDD leverages Seagate's unparalleled expertise in enterprise technology by delivering the highest capacity, fifth-generation 3.5-inch drive at the lowest operating power, helping to maximize energy efficiency in the data center. Building on Seagate's enterprise leadership with its 3 rd generation SAS interface, the Constellation ES.2 also features the SAS-based Protection Information feature for end-to-end data protection, Self-Encrypted Drive (SED) option for protecting data-at-rest, best-in-class Rotational Vibration Feed Forward (RVFF) technology that sustains performance when placed in closely-packed multi-drive system environments, and PowerChoice™ on-demand low power options that keeps drives and systems running cool.

"SGI's customers require systems that can deliver a combination of high I/O performance and highly reliable, dense storage for their technical computing and archive solutions," said Jose Reinoso, vice president of Storage Engineering at SGI. "Seagate's Constellation® ES family of HDDs provides this critical combination of storage benefits to maximize our customers' productivity and helps SGI maintain its leadership in delivering world-class systems."

"Capacity-optimized drives are in high demand with our customer base and this category is among the strongest growth and revenue areas for our business," said Steve Ichinaga, senior vice president and general manager of Systems Integration Division at SYNNEX. "Seagate's 3TB Constellation® ES will expand our customers' ability to deliver greater value storage for a number of expanded opportunities, including systems built for growing nearline storage and cloud environments."

The Constellation ES.2 is offered in both 6Gb/s Serial ATA (SATA) and 6Gb/s Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interfaces. It is currently shipping to OEMs and will be available in the channel Q2 this year.

EaTheremin utensils add an eerie soundtrack to dinner (video)

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 02:52 AM PDT

Besides the constant worry, the worst part of being a parent to small children is the noise -- oh the noise, noise, noise, noise. Dozens of cheap disposable toys squabble over the attention of your toddler by piercing the memory of your formerly carefree existence with sound. Enter the EaTheremin, with its goal of making blanched kale a fun to eat game for even the most finicky of kids. Here's how it works: touching the EaTheremin fork to the moist mastication factory of a human completes the electrical circuit to emit "music." The sound varies based upon the quality of the connection (the wetter the better) and resistance of the food. For example, foodstuffs with a different outer and inner consistency will create richer and more complicated sounds as you bite into them, whereas chicken skins will create a vibrato effect as the dermis stretches against your carnivorous ways. Boy, that does sound fun! See a rather overzealous demonstration on video after the break.


Samsung launches 3D VOD service in Korea, tells US and Europe to get ready

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 02:06 AM PDT

Samsung's promised 3D video streaming service has gotten the official go-ahead in the company's home nation today, bringing to fruition a content partnership with DreamWorks Animation and breathing new life into many 3DTV sets. The machine-translated press release isn't entirely lucid on what content will be provided when, but it looks like movie trailers, music videos and children's education films will start things off, before full-length features and more are added later on. All the new on-demand media will be accessible via the 3D application on Samsung's Smart TV platform. The United States and Europe are next on Sammy's roadmap for this VOD rollout, but don't fret if yo live elsewhere, the service will be available all around the world in due course.

T-Mobile Jet 2.0 HSPA+ modem lifts off March 23rd?

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 01:02 AM PDT

Two rumors do not make a USB dongle, but things certainly seem to add up -- one leaked document told us T-Mobile would get its first 21Mbps HSPA+ WWAN modem in March, and now a second one (once again courtesy of TmoNews) pegs the T-Mobile Jet's "value-conscious" successor for the 23rd of this month. Of course, if that first document was correct, there are faster 42Mbps modems just around the corner. Your call.

Range anxiety gets real: Nissan Leaf drivers run out of juice on the road

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 11:41 PM PDT

Fears of range anxiety have loomed over EVs since their inception, and those fears were validated courtesy of a couple unfortunate souls whose Nissan Leafs apparently died on them while driving. The drivers put their faith in the Leaf's remaining range calculation, and were sorely disappointed when the car's dash said they had enough juice to go 10+ miles, but the batteries had other ideas. Turns out, the Leaf needs some time to get to know you and your lead foot before it can accurately determine the bounds of its own range. Nissan sent engineers out to check the cars and found no technical faults -- but one driver reckons the cold sapped some of the batteries' power (a theory that Mini E drivers would disagree with) and the car's software didn't factor that in when making its range estimates. Who's to blame? We suspect that while there was some user error, Nissan should rework the Leaf's software to improve range calculation -- else we may be talking about the death of EVs instead of internal combustion.

Netflix for Android leaks out, doesn't seem to stream video right now

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 10:34 PM PDT

This prototype LG Revolution may be the only Android phone actually capable of streaming Netflix at the moment, but there's nothing keeping you from giving it a go -- some enterprising hacker extracted a full system dump from the Revolution this week, tossed it to AndroidSPIN, and @al3xevolved subsequently pulled out the juicy Netflix innards. The app's APK is now freely available on the web, though we'll warn you that it isn't good for much -- you can browse and add items to your queue, but should you try to play a video the app will inform you that it "could not reach the Netflix service." The question is, will Netflix simply flip a switch to turn streaming on, or is it waiting for DRM authentication from a Qualcomm MSM8655 processor?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Publisher starts annual e-book licensing for libraries, attempts blood extraction from stone

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:44 PM PDT

Public libraries are en vogue again now that e-readers and e-books are so popular, and publishers are wary of the trend. To the dismay of many and the surprise of few, HarperCollins Publishers has set its e-books to expire after 26 rentals -- effectively giving them around a one-year shelf life (assuming 2 weeks per rental x 26 = 52 weeks). So now cash-strapped public libraries have to pony up license fees on an annual basis because the publisher is concerned that "selling e-books to libraries in perpetuity, if left unchanged, would undermine the emerging e-book ecosystem." In other words, HarperCollins thinks lending e-books is costing the company money it could make selling them. The publisher is the first to treat library e-books differently from hard copies, and the policy change has caused some librarians to stop purchasing HarperCollins e-books. Should the new licensing scheme become a trend, we shall see if libraries are forced to stop the electronic lending party.

[Thanks, Scott]

Cobra iRadar detection system coming to Android next month

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 07:06 PM PDT

iPhone users have been able to avoid radar speed guns using Cobra's iRadar system since late last year, and it looks like Android users will soon finally be able to get in on the act as well. Cobra used the gdgt Live event at SXSW to announce that iRadar will be available for Android phones sometime in April. That consists of a standard dash-mounted radar detector and, of course, an app, which also takes advantage of your phone's built-in GPS capabilities to provide warnings of photo enforcement zones and other potential impediments to your inability to drive 55 -- you'll apparently soon even be able to share radar alerts with other iRadar users. Head on past the break for a video of the iPhone version.



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Company Joins Some of the World's Coolest Consumer Technology Firms at Event to Preview the Hottest New Gadgets on the Market

AUSTIN, Texas, March 14, 2011 -- Cobra Electronics Corporation (Nasdaq: COBR), the leading manufacturer of radar detection devices, today announced it is sponsoring the gdgt Live event taking place this evening in conjunction with the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX. As part of its sponsorship, Cobra will showcase its newest product, Cobra iRadar for Android. Cobra iRadar is the most advanced smart detection system on the market. The company will also dazzle music, film and gadget lovers with its innovative Cobra PhoneLynx™ and Cobra Tag™ product lines. The gdgt Live event takes place March 14, 2011 from 7–10 p.m. at the PureVolume House in Austin.

Based on the tremendous success of Cobra iRadar (launched in October 2010 for the Apple iOS platform), Cobra will release iRadar for Android in April. The system is a sleek radar/laser detector that uses Bluetooth® wireless technology to connect with the free Cobra iRadar app, which is downloaded to an Android smartphone. The app then displays all radar/laser alerts, allows the user to configure all detector settings, and alerts drivers to photo enforcement locations using AURA™, the only 100-percent verified database of driving threats and hazards throughout the GPS/navigation industry. The AURA system is constantly updated with tens of thousands of speed and red light camera locations as well as known speed traps and dangerous intersections. Soon, iRadar users will be able to share radar alerts with other iRadar users. This unique crowdsourcing model will help ensure that other iRadar customers are alerted in real time to upcoming dangers based on their GPS location.

"According to the very latest data from ComScore, the Android operating system now commands 31.2% of the smartphone market share in the U.S., making it the market leader among smartphones," said Sally Washlow, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Cobra Electronics. "The expansion of our extremely popular iRadar product to Android smartphone users means that our crowdsourced threat database will become even more powerful thanks to an even broader user community. We are very pleased to sponsor gdgt Live at SXSW, and to share with fans the safety and peace-of-mind that comes from being a part of the Cobra iRadar community."

For more information on the Cobra iRadar Detection System, please visit www.CobraiRadar.com.

Harman rolls out AKG GHS-1 gaming headset

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 06:23 PM PDT

Harman didn't exactly manage to impress us that much with its most recent pair of wireless headsets, but it's now already back with something a bit different: a PC gaming headset. Available in your choice of black and orange, white and green, or camouflage and blue color combos, the headset isn't wireless, but it can be folded up for a bit of added portability, and Harman promises that the headphones will deliver "realistic, dynamic sound" while also filtering out most background noise. Sound like just the headset you've been looking for? You can grab this one right now for $80. Full press release is after the break.
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HARMAN Debuts AKG® GHS-1 Headset Offering Realistic, Dynamic Sound for Ultimate Gaming Experience

For more information: www.harmanaudio.com/AKG-GHS1.

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR), today announced the launch of the new AKG® GHS-1 portable gaming headset. Grenade explosions and rumbling jet engines will seem as if they are in your very own room when you have the brand-new portable gaming headset on your ears. Winner of the coveted Red Dot award for outstanding product design, the new GHS-1 headset brings PC gaming to a whole new level of realism, excitement, portability and comfort.

"The new GHS-1 headset is designed specifically for the gamer and features our innovative audio engineering built into a distinctive, long-lasting and intuitive design for the ideal gaming experience."

"When you're in an all-immersive entertainment experience such as gaming, we understand how important high-quality, realistic sound plays in the overall experience," said David Slump, president, HARMAN Consumer Division. "The new GHS-1 headset is designed specifically for the gamer and features our innovative audio engineering built into a distinctive, long-lasting and intuitive design for the ideal gaming experience."

Lightweight and designed for long-wearing comfort, the headset features a boom microphone that filters out background noise. Passive noise reduction effectively seals out most ambient sounds, providing for an undisturbed overall listening and gaming experience. The headset also features a cardioid (directional) boom microphone that filters out background noises, delivering a clear voice signal for every user.

The in-line microphone is also intelligently designed so that the volume can be conveniently adjusted right on the cable, which reduces the need for players to interact with the game console or other source throughout the game.

Availability

The AKG GHS-1 portable headset is available now in three color combinations: black and orange; white and green; and camouflage and blue for $79.95. For more information, please visit: www.harmanaudio.com/AKG-GHS1.

Product Features

* Lightweight, comfortable – allows for hours of continuous uses and reduces ear fatigue
* Cardioid (directional) boom microphone brings clear voice signal and filters out most background noises
* In-line volume control and microphone and on/off switch brings convenience by reducing the need to interact with the game console or other source
* 3D-Axis2 folding headband features easy portability by folding to compact size
* Passive noise reduction offers undistracted listening by effectively sealing out most ambient sounds

About HARMAN

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,800 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.5 billion for the 12 months ended December 31, 2010. The company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

© 2011 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson are trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a trademark of AKG Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States and/or other countries. Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.

HAR-C

Netflix rumored to spend $100 million or more outbidding cable networks for one new TV show

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 05:53 PM PDT

While Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has suggested the company would avoid getting into the content business, Deadline Hollywood reports it outbid cable channels like HBO and AMC for a new David Fincher drama starring Kevin Spacey called House of Cards. The post goes on to suggest that the deal is still being negotiated but Netflix will be on the hook for two season which could cost it more than $100 million. Right now Netflix is flush with the cash of its 20 million strong subscriber base, but so far it has focused on enhancing it's $8 / month streaming package by spending on quantity, not necessarily quality new content even after deals with Relativity Media and Epix. A deal like this changes things completely and puts it directly in competition with the pay-TV biz, but we'll wait and find out how much of the rumor is true before putting up a deathwatch for HBO, Showtime and the rest.

Staples' slate of slates leaks out, corroborates Samsung 8.9-incher and the HP Opal?

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 05:23 PM PDT

For over a month, we've held onto a document -- allegedly a Staples tablet guide -- that's been looking increasingly wrong as the days fly by. Tablet release dates were too soon, and prices were far too high, which made us think it was either a forgery or sorely out of date. (Curious? See our copy after the break.) This week, however, Droid-Life published a far more likely looking copy of the very same thing, which appears to be both quite recent and fairly interesting. You'll see that Samsung's 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab makes a cameo, as does the 7-inch HP Opal we told you about early this year, and both the BlackBerry PlayBook and Dell Streak 7's appearances align with recent rumors we've seen. The only outlier is an April release date for the Motorola Xoom WiFi, which ads peg for March 27th. The rest is practically a who's who of upcoming tablets, so we'll spare you the full churn of the rumor mill. If you want to know what we know about the lot, simply refer to our coverage below.

Update: Oh, and that HTC tablet is listed as a 10-inch one -- could it be the EVO View we've been waiting for? [Thanks, Morgan]

Read - Dell Streak 10
Read - Acer Iconia Tab
Read - Toshiba's unnamed Tegra 2 / Honeycomb tablet
Read - HP TouchPad

[Thanks, Billy F.]


Internet Explorer 9 gets WebM support with 'preview' plug-in from Google, internet video gets more friendly

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 04:51 PM PDT

Google has released an early WebM plug-in for Microsoft's latest and greatest browser, IE9 -- stepping in to fill a gap that Microsoft itself refused to fill. You may remember the firm's decision to not build in support for the new standard natively, but that it was "all in" with HTML5, WebM's close cousin. Billed as a "technology preview" at this stage of the game, the add-on will enable users to play all WebM video content just like the good Internet overlords intended them to, despite the fact that an additional download is needed. Microsoft said that it would allow for support and it appears to be following up on its word, regardless of other harsher comments made separately. Isn't it good to see big companies getting along? Now if only these same niceties played out in the mobile landscape, then we'd really be getting somewhere.

[Thanks, ChrisSsk]

Piracy is a problem of 'global pricing,' not enforcement, claims new report

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 04:17 PM PDT

The smart cookies at the Social Science Research Council have spent three years researching media and software piracy in so-called emerging economies -- countries like Brazil, Russia, India and Mexico -- which has this past week resulted in a comprehensive report aimed at establishing the trends and causes of the unauthorized consumption of intellectual property. The major theme of the report is that ever more stringent enforcement of IP rights has proven ineffective in countering the growing tide of content piracy, and it is instead a problem of "global pricing" that needs to be tackled first. Content distributors' primary concern is argued to be the protection of existing pricing structures in the honeypot nations of Western Europe and North America, which has resulted in prices in locales like Eastern Europe and South America being artificially inflated relative to the purchasing power of their population. Consequently, squeezed out of buying media the legal way, consumers have found themselves drawn to the, erm, grayer end of the market to sate their entertainment needs. There's plenty more to this report, including a proposed solution to fixing these broken economics, but you'll have to check out the links below for the full scoop.

Hylas 1 completes testing, Europe's first broadband satellite to start serving customers next week

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 03:44 PM PDT

It hasn't exactly been all that long since Avanti Communications' Hylas 1 satellite blasted off at the end of November, but it's now almost ready to start spreading some wireless broadband across 16 countries in Europe. Avanti just announced today that the satellite's in-orbit testing phase has been a "complete success," and that it will go into service sometime next week with an initial test group of customers, before beginning a broader transition on April 4th. All told, over 60 operators have signed up to offer the satellite broadband service to customers, which promises to offer connections of up to 10Mbps to folks in even the most rural areas. It's also only just the beginning -- Avanti plans to launch Hylas 2 sometime in the second quarter of 2012, which will extend its coverage to Africa and the Middle East.

[Thanks, Brett]
Show full PR text
Completion of In Orbit Testing and Service Launch - Contract Win

15 March, 2011 - 09:51

Avanti Communications Group plc (LSE: AIM), the broadband satellite operator, is pleased to report that it formally completed in orbit testing of the HYLAS 1 satellite yesterday.

The testing process confirmed that HYLAS 1 is working in conformance with specification and, in some areas, delivering higher performance than originally specified. The satellite lifetime is expected to be at least six months greater than planned and the available power is several percentage points better than specification. This will translate into improved service quality, flexibility and usable capacity.

The provision of services on HYLAS 1 will now commence. The first live customer service in the UK will be installed next week. Avanti has a test customer base of 5,000 end users whose service is delivered with leased Ku band capacity. The migration of these customers to HYLAS 1 will begin on April 4th. Avanti has over 60 Virtual Network Operator customers in 16 countries in Europe who have bought capacity. Many of them are also migrating existing end user customers from leased Ku band capacity on other satellites and this migration also begins on April 4th.

Commenting, David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti Communications, said:
"The in orbit testing phase of HYLAS 1 has been a complete success and puts us in a strong position for future growth.
"With Europe's first fully operational broadband satellite, Avanti will now provide a range of satellite data communications services to consumers, enterprise and governmental organisations across the UK and Europe. In such a vast market with so much growth in data demand, and a strong customer base already committed, we are highly confident of achieving rapid commercial success for this powerful and flexible satellite."
Contract Win

Avanti is also pleased to announce that yesterday it signed a seven year contract with a new Virtual Network Operator Customer for the sale of 80 Mb of capacity (with volume beginning at a lower level in year one and rising to 80Mb to match the Customer's expansion in end users). The contract, which commands pricing which exceeds market expectations, is worth €7.1m over the seven year term. The customer has approximately 3,000 satellite broadband end user installations in Europe which currently use Ku band capacity on a competitors' satellite. The Customer will migrate that existing client base to HYLAS 1 and then grow its business further with Avanti. For reasons of commercial sensitivity during this migration period the Customer is not named.

Commenting on the contract win, David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti Communications, said:
"The signing of this contract is significant since it further demonstrates that expert customers in Europe choose to work with Avanti. We offer a flexible, service oriented approach and reliable and well regarded technology. Avanti has announced a steady flow of contract wins in the last two years which underpins our confidence in fully utilising our satellites at attractive prices."

Verizon offers unlimited LTE data plan for HTC Thunderbolt, don't expect it to stick around

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 03:15 PM PDT

Verizon execs have been clear as crystal that unlimited smartphone data will follow the dodo -- perhaps as soon as summer of this year -- but in the meanwhile you can drink your fill of the best as the HTC Thunderbolt will launch this Thursday with an unlimited LTE data plan. While we've no guarantees how long it will last, or whether you can grandfather the $30 monthly option into bigger and better devices down the road, it does open up a whole new avenue of opportunity for the Thunderbolt. Considering that Verizon's 4G USB modems top out at 10GB of LTE data for $80 a month, the HTC handset just became the most powerful, affordable MiFi you could possibly own. Assuming battery life is decent, of course. Find the full PR below.
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

Fix for Apple TV screen flickering issue said to be on the way

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 02:39 PM PDT

One thing leads to another. First we get a slew of reports of screen flickering from folks using an HDMI to DVI adapter with their Apple TV, and now an Apple rep has confirmed on the company's support forums that Apple is indeed "aware of this issue and working on a fix." No more details than that at the moment, but it seems like you can rest assured that Apple won't be leaving you behind just because your TV doesn't have an HDMI port.

RIM's BBM Social Platform goes to open beta, lets devs bake BBM into BlackBerry apps

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 02:08 PM PDT

Announced at BlackBerry's 2010 Developer Conference last fall, BBM Social Platform has just become available to interested third-party devs in beta form. Of course, you might be hoping that it opens BlackBerry Messenger to other (read: non-BlackBerry) platforms via API... but yeah, that's not happening quite yet. Instead, the SDK allows folks developing for BlackBerry OS to integrate BBM capabilities into their own apps, and the list of capabilities is pretty extensive: you'll be able to read and update user profiles, embed BBM chats inside your app, and transfer files, just to name a few of the big ones (with the user's permission, of course). The current beta works for Java apps, while RIM's hard at work crafting a new version for release in April that'll add WebWorks web app compatibility.

Student thwarts face detection software with 'CV Dazzle' makeup

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 01:43 PM PDT

Not interested in having yourself automatically identified in photos across the internet? Then you might want to take a cue from Adam Ant (or Blade Runner's Pris, if you prefer), as Adam Harvey, a student in NYU's Interactive Telecommunication Program, has discovered that some over the top face makeup applied in just the right way can thwart most facial recognition software. Dubbed CV Dazzle (after the Dazzle camouflage used in World War I), the makeup works simply by enhancing areas of the face that you otherwise wouldn't ordinarily enhance -- so instead of applying the makeup around your eyes, you'd apply some on your cheeks and effectively "invert" that area. According to Harvey, that method is effective at blocking the face recognition used by Facebook, Picasa and Flickr -- and it doesn't simply cause some mild confusion, it actually prevents the software from detecting any face at all. Head on past the break for a quick video.

Lexar now shipping 128GB and 64GB SDXC cards from the future straight to your door

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 01:17 PM PDT

One of the great many announcements of CES 2011 was Lexar's new pair of Class 10 SDXC memory cards, one sized at 64GB and the other touting a spectacular 128GB capacity. The two performance -- minimum transfer speeds of 20MBps -- and storage enhancers for DSLRs and camcorders have now started shipping, asking for a measly $200 and $330, respectively. Those are steep price hills to climb, to be sure, but they're peanuts compared to the initial $400 and $700 MSRPs that Lexar was touting back in January. And hey, that Professional label adorning the new cards isn't there accidentally either, Lexar's offering a limited lifetime warranty with each storage cell. Full press release and locations where you can buy the new SDXC lovelies await after the break.
Show full PR text
Lexar Media Now Shipping the Industry's First 128GB Professional SDXC Memory Card

128GB and 64GB SDXC Cards Enable Capture of High-Resolution Images and HD Video on Compatible Devices

Fremont, CA, March 15, 2011 – Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced it is now shipping the Lexar® Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) 133x memory card in capacities of 128GB, an industry first, and 64GB. The Lexar Professional SDXC cards are available in B&H Photo and Video, and Adorama Camera stores across the U.S, as well as on www.lexar.com.

These large capacities make Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards an excellent choice for shooting continuous, rapid-fire images and extended lengths of 1080p high-definition (HD) video on a single, high-performance solution. Also, the Professional SDXC cards offer a Class 10 speed rating with a minimum guaranteed speed of 133x, or 20MB per second, and accelerate professional workflow by quickly transferring high-resolution images and HD video from the memory card to the computer when paired with an SDXC-enabled card reader, such as the Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader.

"We saw a demand for a professional card that would allow photographers to not only capture more high-resolution images and HD video, but to also take advantage of the full capabilities of their high-performance digital SLRs and camcorders," said Pachi Chen-Wong, senior product marketing manager, Lexar Media. "With the new Lexar Professional SDXC cards, we developed a product that will enhance the professional photography workflow. With capacities of 64GB and 128GB, photographers can capture, store and transfer more images and HD video in one place than ever before."

The Lexar Professional 133x SDXC memory cards include the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue® software to help recover lost or deleted photo and video files. All Lexar product designs are tested in the Lexar Quality Labs, a group of facilities where all Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability with more than 800 intended digital devices.

The Lexar Professional SDXC cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free, dedicated professional technical support. The 64GB and 128GB Lexar Professional SDXC memory cards are available now at B&H Photo and Video, Adorama Camera and on Lexar.com, with MSRPs of $199.99 and $329.99 respectively.

Verizon waives Xoom and Galaxy Tab activation fees on contracts from March 1st in a limited time offer

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 12:52 PM PDT

In an unforeseen act of generosity, Verizon has decided to scrap the $35 activation fee it charges with purchases of the 3G-equipped Motorola Xoom and Galaxy Tab tablets, leaving customers' wallets a little heavier and hearts a little lighter. This change will be effective on month-to-month contracts starting from the first of this month or later -- meaning a nice little refund for anyone acquiring an Android tablet through Big Red after March 1st -- however we're also hearing it'll be a limited time offer. The intel has been communicated via email to Mobile Burn, and Droid-Life has also obtained a document saying as much, while we're in the process of confirming it ourselves. All the same, it looks safe to get the (modest) celebrations going.

Roxio debuts $100 Game Capture device to record your console heroics

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 12:44 PM PDT

Looking to record some of your marathon Call of Duty sessions for posterity and (potential) internet fame? Then you likely won't find a much cheaper or easier solution than Roxio's new Game Capture device, which will be available later this month for just $99.99. As you might expect, however, that bargain price comes with one fairly big drawback -- it will only capture video at 480p, although you can apparently still play at up to 1080p on your TV. PC gamers can also make use of Roxio's new PC Game Capture software to record their games, and both options include a variety of editing tools that will let you handle transitions, commentary, background music, and other basics. Head on past the break for the complete press release.
Show full PR text
New Roxio Game Capture Products from Rovi Let You Share Your A-Game
Make it Easy to Record, Personalize, and Post Console and PC Game Play Videos

Santa Clara, Calif., March 15, 2011 - Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ: ROVI) today unveiled Roxio® Game Capture and Roxio PC Game Capture, two affordably priced products that offer a straightforward way for gamers to quickly and easily capture and share PC and console game play videos.

In-product tutorials help everyone get set up quickly and immediately begin to capture and showcase their latest campaigns, adventures, ball skills, and race sequences. Gamers may use the products to post their high scores, tips & tricks, game reviews, or even a feature-length movie, or Machinima, based on game play footage.

See the products in action here: www.roxio.com/gamecapture

"While some gamers are already creating and posting game play videos, we believe there are many more waiting on the sidelines for solutions that deliver the right mix of ease-of-use and features at a good price point," Corey Ferengul, EVP Products at Rovi Corporation. "Roxio Game Capture products are these solutions, making it easy for everyone to capture, edit, post, and boast about their latest gaming accomplishments. After all, setting a track record in GT5 or wreaking havoc in Call of Duty is pretty satisfying in itself, but it is far more fun to discover how your game play stacks up against the best of the Internet."

Rovi offers two unique products that enable both console and PC gamers to capture, edit, and share game play videos:
For Console Gamers:

Roxio Game Capture is a hardware and software combination for recording and sharing console game play and is priced at $99.99.

* Roxio Game Capture enables the real-time capture of game play videos from Xbox® 360 and PS3® consoles. Users may play games in full HD on the TV, while recording the content to the PC. The quick-to-set up USB hardware capture device includes component video and stereo audio inputs, and ships with a component, RCA audio, and USB cables*. Users can record game play in 480p and output to AVI, WMV, DivX, and MP4. Still image screen shots can be saved as JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP or GIF file types.

For PC Gamers:

Roxio PC Game Capture is a complete software solution for quickly recording and posting PC game play and is priced at $49.99.

* Roxio PC Game Capture allows users to record PC game play footage in real-time. Video sequences and still images can be captured in HD at full screen resolutions. The application supports DirectX® 8-10 and OpenGL based PC games. Compared with other offerings, Roxio PC Game Capture not only provides a more complete solution (including features for capturing, editing, and posting in one package), but also enables gamers to spend less time managing and posting files and more time playing.
* Both Roxio Game Capture and Roxio PC Game Capture ship with an uncomplicated, yet full-featured video editor that lets users turn raw game play footage into an engaging video complete with transitions, commentary, background music tracks, and titles. Gamers can also tap advanced features including a 32-track timeline editor featuring picture-in-picture, animated credits, and special effects capabilities to further personalize their productions. The products include simple upload features for directly posting completed videos to major online communities including Facebook®, WeGame, and YouTube™, including popular game play sharing channels such as http://www.youtube.com/user/machinima.

In celebration of the launch, Rovi is teaming up with Intel® on a Roxio Game Capture sweepstakes. Visit www.facebook.com/roxio for more details and to enter the sweepstakes for your chance to win a copy of Roxio Game Capture or PC Game Capture, as well as first and grand prizes of Intel® Core™ processor fueled HP laptops - HP® ENVY 14 series with Intel® Core™ i7 and the HP® Pavilion Dv6t with Intel® Core™ i5. Both systems are equipped with Intel performance enhancements including Intel® HD Graphic capabilities, built-in Intel® Hyper-Threading and Intel® Turbo Boost.

Roxio Game Capture products are Windows® 7/Vista™/XP compatible and optimized for maximum video encoding performance through support for the latest NVIDIA® CUDA and ATI Stream™ technologies. In addition, Roxio Game Capture products leverage Intel® Enhanced for Core™ technologies like Intel® Quick Sync Video to provide a great game play capture, conversion, encode, and sharing experience.

Roxio Game Capture will be available March 24th at www.roxio.com/gamecapture. Roxio PC Game Capture will be available in the second quarter. Both products will be offered at major North American online and retail outlets including Amazon, BestBuy.com, and GameStop.com.
About Rovi Corporation

Rovi Corporation is focused on revolutionizing the digital entertainment landscape by delivering solutions that enable consumers to intuitively connect to new entertainment from many sources and locations. The company also provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets. These solutions, complemented by industry leading entertainment data, create the connections between people and technology, and enable them to discover and manage entertainment in an enjoyable form.

Rovi holds nearly 5,000 issued or pending patents worldwide and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with numerous offices across the United States and around the world including Japan, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. More information about Rovi can be found at http://www.rovicorp.com/.
Forward Looking Statements

All statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements that use the words "will" or "is expected to," or similar words that describe the Company's or its management's future plans, objectives, or goals, are "forward-looking statements" and are made pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results and/or from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors are further addressed in the Company's most recent report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2010 and such other documents as are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time (available at www.sec.gov). The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release, except as required by law.

*Roxio Game Capture does not include component cables, which are required for console game capture

RoboTouch brings a wired NES controller to a wireless iPad (video)

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 12:16 PM PDT

RoboTouch brings wired NES controllers to a wireless iPad
Oh Arduino, is there anything you can't do when put in the right hands? The hands in this case belong to a guy named Joven of ProtoDojo, and they whipped up the contraption you can see in the video below. Basically, it's a wired NES controller that goes to an Arduino board, which in turn controls a set of servos. Those servos articulate conductive arms to touch the screen in just the right places. The whole contraption enables a rather playable version of Reckless Racing, making it feel all the more like the RC Pro Am successor it's trying to be. Check it out in the video below, and then hope that Jovan hurries up and posts the instructions so we can start building our own.

[Thanks, Chad]

Online news overtakes paper, and nearly half of it is mobile

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 11:49 AM PDT

Wait, this is just now happening? The Pew Project's 2011 report on mobile devices' effect on media was published this week; it's a fascinating read from end to end that reveals a wild swing in the way we've gathered news and information as human beings over the past decade, but a couple stats really stand out. First off, the internet has finally overtaken newspapers as a news source, putting it behind just television -- and we already know the writing's on the wall there since the young ones are already preferring the web. And of those web-savvy, voracious consumers of information, some 47 percent are getting at least some of it on the go, either through their phone or tablet (like, say, Engadget's lovely selection of mobile apps). Mass transit commuters have always been a haven for newspaper-toting businessfolk -- but with iPads continuing to sell like hotcakes, not even the subway is safe from the tablet onslaught.
at 11:34 AM

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