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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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Sprint makes EVO View 4G tablet official: 1.5GHz, WiMAX, 7-inch screen, and a stylus to boot

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:55 AM PDT

Sprint has stopped playing coy about one of the worst-leaked devices in recent memory and has at long last made it official. The EVO View 4G is a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 Android tablet with a 1.5GHz processor, 5 megapixel rear- and 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, a WiMAX radio, and HTC's loving application of Sense for a UI. If all this sounds familiar, it'll be because we're really talking about HTC's Flyer tablet, introduced at last month's MWC, and just like it, the EVO View will also feature the HTC Scribe capacitive stylus. The Evo View 4G will ship with 32GB of storage "this summer." You'll now find the full spec sheet after the break, including a 4000mAh battery, and some preliminary shots below. Full hands-on to come!
HTC EVO View first look

HTC EVO 3D officially announced for Sprint (update: hands-on!)

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:54 AM PDT

There's not exactly a lot of surprises left at this point, but Sprint has just officially announced that it will be the exclusive carrier for the brand new HTC EVO 3D. The standout feature here is of course that 4.3-inch, glasses-free 3D display, but the phone is far from just a gimmick -- you'll also get a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, WiMAX connectivity (including mobile hotspot support), dual 5 megapixel cameras with a flash 'round back, a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, support for 1080p video playback via the HDMI out (or 720p for 3D content), and Android 2.3 with Sense. Still no word on pricing, but you can look for it to be available sometime this summer.

Update: We just managed to get up close with the phone (behind glass). Check out the gallery below.

Joanna Stern contributed to this report.
HTC EVO 3D first look

Anand Chandrasekher resigns from Intel after 24 years, leaves scandal mongers hanging

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:51 AM PDT

Well, as tech industry resignations go, this one's not exactly sensational, but Anand Chandrasekher's plan to leave Intel is no doubt a popular topic of conversation with chip makers this week. The chief of the company's Ultra Mobility Group (UMG) and the man behind Atom, apparently resigned "to pursue other interests." Intel Architecture Group's Mike Bell and Dave Whalen will co-manage UMG in Chandrasekher's stead -- and that's about it for sordid details. His resignation isn't apt to be marked by a Mark Hurd-style scandal, and we have a feeling this is a pretty straight forward changing of the guards, but, then again, we said the same thing when Dirk Meyer left AMD.

Staples leak reveals April / June ship dates for Acer Iconia Tab, Toshiba tablet

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:32 AM PDT

Not to say Staples' release schedule is the be-all-end-all resource when it comes to US availability, but we'll take any guidance we can get when it comes to the two mystery products tucked beside Dell's Streak and Apple's iPad 2. According to this tablet lineup, Acer's Iconia Tab will be hitting shelves for an undisclosed rate at the end of April, while the still unnamed Toshiba tablet gets loosed in mid-June. We'll feel a lot better about the wait once these things are priced, but for now, you've got two more reasons to rush the rest of winter away -- assuming you're north of the Mason-Dixon, of course.

Live from Sprint's CTIA event!

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:20 AM PDT












2:11PM The View 4G will get Honeycomb "as soon as it's ready," Adib says.

2:11PM "We believe that the EVO 3D is the most powerful smartphone announced to date."

2:11PM We're looking at a chart of the EVO up against LG's Thrill 4G, the Droid Bionic, the Atrix 4G, and the iPhone 4. Adib's pointing out the dual-core Snapdragon's capability for asynchronous clocking on the two cores -- a power-saving feature that the Tegra 2 lacks.




2:10PM 1730mAh battery on the EVO 3D.

2:09PM "I have to laugh, because life in 3D is so much better than the real world!"


2:09PM For the record, the EVO 3D's display can be switched between 2D and 3D, like LG's Optimus 3D -- it's not exclusively stereoscopic.

2:07PM Now we're looking at some content recorded on the EVO. Three dee!


2:06PM Here's a tidbit: you can view 3D content on your 3D TV using the EVO's HDMI out.



2:05PM Adib's going through some of the reasons Sprint's going 3D: an explosion in 3D media and devices. He's citing a few studies along the way.




2:02PM "What a lot of people don't know is that EVO is actually short for 'Evolution.'"


2:02PM "Unfortunately, you don't need glasses to see me in 3D."

2:02PM Here comes Sprint's Fared Adib.

2:01PM It's a 3D promo of the EVO 3D, complete with ultra-dramatic music.

2:01PM "This concludes the 2D portion of our event, so if you'll put your 3D glasses on, we have something else to show you."

2:00PM And Dan's back on stage.

1:59PM "Sense is also a big story around the EVO View 4G, our first 4G tablet."

1:59PM "One example of innovation in the next generation of Sense is in the lock screen. It's a necessary evil. What we've done is transformed the lock screen into a gateway so the customer can go wherever they want to go."


1:57PM Talking about the original EVO's rabid fan base (and we'll admit, we're still fans ourselves).




1:55PM "This is a big day for us, as you can see."



1:55PM Here comes HTC's Jason Mackenzie -- and they're pulling the cloths off the devices!

1:55PM Both available this summer.

1:55PM Both have mobile hotspot capability for up to 8 devices. Hesse says this makes 22 WiMAX devices in the portfolio. "Not faux G, 4G."

1:54PM Both products have HDMI-out and DLNA capability.

1:54PM HTC Scribe pen available for the View (also just like the Flyer).

1:53PM 1.5GHz processor, same as Flyer.

1:53PM "Latest version" of Sense.

1:53PM "And there's more! Today, we're also announcing yet another addition to our EVO line -- the EVO View 4G."

1:52PM "The EVO 3D runs the fastest version of the Android operating system, Android 2.3, also known as Gingerbread."

1:52PM Dual 5 megapixel rear facing cameras.

1:52PM "The EVO 3D performs like a PC, and provides a multimedia experience that's second to none."

1:51PM WiMAX, of course.

1:51PM 1.2GHz dual-core processor!

1:51PM Capture and watch video in 3D, no glasses required.

1:51PM 4.3-inch qHD -- 960 x 540.


1:51PM qHD 3D display.

1:51PM "Today I am pleased to announce the HTC EVO 3D."

1:50PM Dude's looking a lot more casual than he did at the keynote this morning.

1:50PM Dan Hesse's out!

1:50PM It's the Android bot floating around some salt flats, just like the old EVO 4G commercial... but this time, he's wearing 3D glasses.

1:49PM Here we go! "We ask that you put on your 3D glasses to enjoy the show."

1:46PM Still haven't started!

1:40PM "Ladies and gentlemen, the program will begin in five minutes." So it's looking like a 1:45PM ET start -- 15 minutes late. Not bad (unless you were planning the battery life on your laptop or mobile hotspot down to the minute).

1:40PM The fact that this WiFi is holding up, by the way, is a miracle of modern science. There's some RF engineer out there we could kiss right now.

1:39PM Still waiting!

1:38PM There are two stands on the stage with gold cloths covering them -- the EVO 3D and EVO View 4G, presumably. Just a guess, though... we'll find out for sure soon enough.

1:35PM We still haven't started, by the bye -- looks like there's a bit of a delay to get these glasses distributed.


1:30PM You know, we were fine with the audio selection until the Black Eyed Peas came on. These guys are the Angry Birds of music.

1:23PM Wow -- full house. As Sprint has done several times in the past, this is a "casual" setup -- food, tables, and booths around the periphery with some bloggers stuffed into a rather intimate arrangement toward the low-set stage. We should be starting in under ten minutes or so.
And here's the biggie, folks: Sprint's CTIA event today is widely expected to bring the introduction of HTC's first 3D handset, a tablet, and -- if we had to guess -- probably an encore presentation of the Nexus S 4G and the carrier's tie up with Google for tight Google Voice integration. Ready for action? Follow the break!

Xperia Play to be exclusive launch device for Gameloft's BackStab action game

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:13 AM PDT

It has begun. The Xperia Play, a device that promises to take mobile gaming to its next level of awesomeness, just scooped itself a one-month exclusive on a brand new action adventure game. BackStab, produced by mobile game makers Gameloft, has a "free roaming 3D environment" (old school 3D, not the fancy new stuff), filled with some decidedly yummy-looking graphics and what appears to be an emphasis on battling multiple enemies at once. All we're seeing here reminds us of desktop or console games, not the usual mobile fare, so we're most intrigued to see this game in action. It'll hit all of Android eventually, but for the first 30 or so days after its launch in Q2 2011, it'll be only on Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play. Check it out in the gallery below.
BackStab screenshots

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Gameloft to Launch BackStab Exclusively on Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

PARIS - Gameloft, a leading developer and publisher of downloadable video games, is teaming up with Sony Ericsson to take the next step in immersive gaming on a smartphone with its newest stunning action/adventure thriller, BackStab, on Xperia PLAY. The game will be available exclusively on Xperia PLAY devices for one month, capitalizing on Xperia PLAY's outstanding graphic capabilities and revolutionary controls.

"We are truly excited to continue our support of Xperia Play with an exclusive release of BackStab, bringing the action adventure experience to a new level," said Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president Publishing of Gameloft. "We already have a strong line-up for Xperia PLAY and its capabilities as a fully enabled smartphone with dedicated gaming controls make this device one powerful contender in the gaming space."

"We are delighted that Gameloft have chosen to launch this stunning new title first on Xperia PLAY. BackStab sets a high benchmark graphically and technically for gaming on a smartphone and it is a fantastic addition to the fast growing portfolio of quality releases for Xperia PLAY", said Steve Walker, Head of Marketing for Sony Ericsson.

Set on an 18th century Caribbean island, BackStab is an epic story of revenge. Hero Henry Blake has been falsely accused of treason and will go to all means to seek vengeance on his British jailers. With a game play mixing action and adventure, BackStab incorporates an open 3D environment for free roaming. Coupled with dynamic combat systems and counter-attacks, missions include side quests and activities such as duels and races. Gameloft will have 10 games available at launch with two of those titles, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline and Star Battalion embedded on the device. BackStab will be available Q2 2011.

T-Mobile G2x from LG hands-on (video)

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:03 AM PDT

We reported the rumors, we spied it on the show floor at CTIA yesterday, and T-Mobile finally announced it this morning. Well here it is now in the flesh: the G2x from LG. The hardware looks pretty much identical to its sibling, the LG Optimus 2X that we reviewed recently, but instead of featuring a custom UI, the software is plain Froyo (Android 2.2.2). Another major difference is the inclusion of HSPA+ support, which is missing from the Optimus 2X. Tegra Zone comes pre-installed, along with the usual T-Mobile add-ons like WiFi calling. Overall, the G2x made a very strong first impression, and we're looking forward to getting more in-depth coverage soon. Take a look at our gallery below, and hit the break for our hands-on video.
T-Mobile G2x from hands-on

Opera delivers new Mini, Mobile browsers with pinch-to-zoom and shows off one for TVs

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 09:47 AM PDT


Web browser maker Opera is staying busy, unleashing several new versions of its product upon the populace today. Both of its on the go browsers have been updated with modern technology like pinch-to-zoom, sharing to other apps, improved scrolling and new tablet-friendly interfaces, while its also ready to show off a new version for set-top boxes and updating tools to help developers create apps for Opera-powered TVs. In case you need a scorecard, Opera Mini 6 (available for J2ME, Android, Blackberry, Symbian/S60) compresses pages before downloading them and Opera Mobile 11 (for Android, Symbian, Windows 7, MeeGo, Maemo) promises the entire web for those on high speed connections like WiFi, explaining the platform crossover. Peep the demo above or press releases after the break if you're still not sure what pinch-to-zoom means in or just point your mobile browser to m.opera.com and download the latest version for your device -- iOS need not apply at this time.
Opera Mobile 11 & Opera Mini 6 screenshots




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Debuting all new Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11
Oslo, Norway - March 22, 2011

Can't get no satisfaction from the mobile Web? Then you will fall head over heels for the new Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers launched today, now also available to cherish on tablets. Opera's mobile browsers are the world's most popular, the weapon of choice for 100 million people worldwide, used on more than 3000 devices. If you still haven't found what you are looking for, there is an Opera out there available for you. Download to your phone from: m.opera.com and don't stop til you get enough.
What's new, pussycat?
Smooth operator

Improved scrolling, panning and zooming make the Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers the sweetest thing to hit mobile devices since the Opera Mini 5 browser.
Pinch-to-zoom

Feel free to twist and shout now that Opera's features include true pinch-to-zoom on devices that support pinch.
Sharing

When you find something, let it be ... shared. The new versions feature a share button, so you can easily post, Tweet (twiddly-diddly-deet), or just shout it out loud on Facebook, vKontakte or My Opera.
Now also optimized for tablets

Is it any wonder? Opera for tablets brings smooth browsing to your tablet PC with a brand new interface that is sure to rock you like a hurricane.
What we say

"If you've lost that loving feeling for the Web on your phone or tablet, don't let it bring you down. Just try one of our browsers," said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. "The sun always shines on TV, but the Opera browser shines on more than 3000 devices."
Who are you? The difference between the Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers

* The Opera Mini browser uses Opera's servers to shake, rattle and roll webpages down to a tenth of their original size before sending them to your phone. Because the data transferred is smaller, pages arrive faster than the speed of sound. On a pay-as-you-go plan, the Opera Mini browser dramatically cuts the price you pay, because the data you use is greatly reduced. The Opera Mini browser makes any device Internet savvy.
* The Opera Mobile browser gives you the whole of the moon on smartphones and tablets. The strange magic of HTML5? Check. Full, high fidelity web browsing? Check. Sharing the same Opera Presto browser engine found in Opera's desktop browser, the Opera Mobile browser is the premier option for fast, powerful browsing when on unlimited Internet data plans or Wi-Fi.

Availability

* The Opera Mini 6 browser brings the fireworks to J2ME, Android, BlackBerry and Symbian/S60 phones.
* The Opera Mobile 11 browser sings hallelujah on the Android, Symbian, Windows 7 desktop (labs release), MeeGo (labs release) and Maemo (labs release) platforms.

What you waiting for? Walk this way with your mobile device: m.opera.com.
Press kit

You can download a press kit by following this link.
About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform web-browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.

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HbbTV solution ready to electrify market
Opera Software and TARA Systems technology bring manufacturers more flexibility and cost savings
London, UK - March 22, 2011

Today at the IP&TV World Forum, Opera Software and TARA Systems, the independent provider of flexible software solutions for TVs and other devices, announced the availability of a fully-integrated HbbTV solution for connected TVs and set-top boxes (STBs). The released solution gives manufacturers improved flexibility and planning reliability.

Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) brings viewers the richness of broadcast interactive services combined with broadband content, available for connected TVs and STBs. HbbTV opens the door for a new interactive TV experience, including video-on-demand, catch-up TV, interactive advertising, personalization, digital text, games and social networking. The HbbTV technology is already implemented by major players in the European TV market, such as RTL, ARD, ZDF and ARTE.

The newly available combined product will integrate the latest Opera browser rendering engine with TARA's HbbTV framework and advanced Digital Video Broadcasting middleware. The result is a ready-to-market HbbTV solution that gives OEMs maximum flexibility and brings to users a feature-rich experience with full support for next-generation broadcast portals and services. The highly modular approach enables device manufacturers to deploy the HbbTV software in almost any possible scenario, independent of DVB stack and chipset.

"Opera is the leader in innovative web-technology based solutions for TVs and set-top boxes," said Frode Hernes, VP of Products, TV and Connected Devices, Opera Software. "Our partnership with TARA Systems broadens our customers' choices for fully integrated HbbTV solutions, making it possible for TV and STB manufacturers to rapidly implement HbbTV functionality on their devices. This can help manufacturers to get products to market faster while saving money on development costs."

"For TARA Systems, HbbTV is of strategic importance," said Managing Director Alexander Wass. "Currently, we see more and more manufacturers which want to add the HbbTV feature to their existing software. For these customers, we offer together with Opera an independent and reliable solution with well designed interfaces, which has been implemented exactly along the specifications."

The public demonstration of the Opera and Tara Systems HbbTV solution will be at the IP&TV World Forum 2011, March 22 - 24 2011. The demo will be hosted at Opera Software's booth at position 47.
About TARA Systems

TARA Systems, based in Munich, Germany, is an independent, technology driven provider of flexible software components, tools and services for embedded consumer electronics devices, automotive and mobile devices. TARA focusses on DVB reception and recording, digital TV testing and graphical user interface development and is well-known for its modular, sustainable software architecture, its high software quality and its dedicated customer support.
About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform web-browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.

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Opera's exciting new TV lineup at IP&TV World Forum
Oslo, Norway and London, UK - March 21, 2011

Grab the nearest couch! At the IP&TV World Forum this week, Opera Software will unveil a new version of its embeddable browser engine for TVs, so, in addition to watching your favorite shows, you can also browse the websites to your favorite shows and a host of rich associated web applications directly on your TV.

Following its recent announcements of numerous deals with Tier-1 connected TV and set-top box vendors, Opera will launch Opera Devices SDK 3.0 at the show and also demonstrate live customer solutions based on the product, as well as pure technology demos that visualize its capability.
What is on at prime time?

Opera for Devices SDK 3.0 will be loaded with features that include the following:

* A totally re-designed SVG rendering engine, boosting performance up to 10 times and making it possible for cable operators and set-top-box manufacturers to implement shiny new interfaces
* Improved HTML5 compliance and wider platform support for shorter time-to-market and lower cost to OEMs
* Enhanced compatibility and simpler integration to manufacturers looking for a HbbTV solution
* HTML5 video pre-integrated on some platforms
* Upgraded Content Developer Kit (CDK) to help bring your HTML 5 applications to Opera-powered TVs

Following this launch, an evaluation version of Opera for Devices SDK 3.0 will be available for download at www.opera.com/tv.

"A revolution is about to happen on TV as HTML5 apps take shape, with manufacturers and cable operators starting to implement TVs and set-top boxes with HTML5-capable browsers," said Frode Hernes, VP Products, TV and Connected Devices, Opera Software. "This is a big win for the Web and content developers, as we bring web standards to the TV platform. Opera is, once again, leading the revolution to bring HTML5 content to TVs by launching the more compliant Opera for Devices SDK 3.0, as well as related tools for OEMs and content developers."

HTML5 apps provide richer functionality, are eye-pleasing, cross platform and can take advantages of the many web developer tools which complement Opera's CDK. At Opera's booth, located at stand no. 47, you can also see the demo for powerful in-browser debugging of TV applications using the Opera for Devices CDK (Content Development Kit). The Opera for Devices CDK is a free tool targeting web developers and content providers to make their applications and content available on TVs.

The IP&TV World Forum will take place in London from March 22 to March 24, 2011. To schedule a meeting with a representative from Opera Software during the IP&TV World Forum, contact press11@opera.compress11@opera.com press11[at]opera.com.
About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform web-browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.

Confirmed: Samsung SCH-i510 LTE phone to be named Droid Charge

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 09:28 AM PDT

Remember that Samsung LTE phone for Verizon we saw at CES -- you know, that nameless one? Well, according to the picture you see above sent by a trusted source, Verizon has decided to undertake the Droid naming scheme. The newly coined SCH-i510, if you recall, packs an 8 megapixel shooter on back, a front-facing cam and a Super AMOLED Plus display. At this point, we're uncertain which version of Android the Droid Charge will be running once it hits shelves, but last we saw it was running 2.2 with TouchWiz. No word on pricing or a release date as of yet, but you can rest assured that we'll be keeping you in the loop.

NAVTEQ's Destination Maps provide mobile guidance through malls, outer reaches of your mind

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 09:09 AM PDT

For anyone that's ever been hopelessly turned around within the Mall of America (or the Las Vegas Convention Center), the promise provided by NAVTEQ's newly announced Destination Maps is quite compelling. It allows for orientation, guidance and routing for indoor venues like those mentioned above, and serves up a useful map of entrances, exits, restrooms, stairwells and points of interest that would otherwise be undetectable. Neither IDG News nor NAVTEQ mentions exactly how this is accomplished, but we can only speculate that a Hybrid GPS antenna is used along side a layer of augmented reality -- but then again, these could be static routes that require no positioning whatsoever to explore. It's also uncertain which mobile platforms would support such an app (despite having been demoed on a Nokia N8 in the photo above), or if this will even make it past the beta stage. More info is expected at Where 2.0 in April, and it's a pretty safe bet that Paul Blart will be on hand for its official debut.
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NAVTEQ Extends the Journey Beyond the 'Front Door'

NAVTEQ Destination Maps™ to enable orientation, guidance and routing for interior spaces

CHICAGO, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, today announced the launch of NAVTEQ Destination Maps. Destination Maps feature a unique set of interior map attributes (e.g., escalators) with detailed place data to enable users to more efficiently navigate and explore interior spaces. With NAVTEQ Destination Maps, location-based applications can extend beyond streets and sidewalks and into complex interior spaces.

NAVTEQ Destination Maps moves the industry beyond the interactive floor plan maps available today and into a three-dimensional data model essential to a more advanced exploration and guidance experience. It does this by providing pedestrian-specific attributes unique to interior requirements like stairs and elevators as well as recognizing different floor levels (called Z-levels) that are essential for applications to "understand" movement between floors once inside a venue and generate routes and guidance. NAVTEQ Destination Maps also include a Virtual Connections feature that enables more intuitive guidance by recognizing how pedestrians "cut across" open areas.

The product even includes access restrictions to avoid being guided to an "emergency exit" as well as precise locations of important points like the nearest public bathroom. Additional POI detail such as meta-tag data enables search to be associated not just with a POI (e.g., a department store) but with specific sub-information (e.g., perfume) within those categories.

NAVTEQ is the first global map provider to offer this type of indoor mapping product. Initially, the company will focus on mapping large shopping centers in the U.S. but plans to extend the product to include other types of complex destinations in the future.

NAVTEQ's own research* indicates consumers are ready for this holistic navigation experience: 74% of U.S. consumers are very likely to use interior mapping functionality when outside of their local area, and roughly 40% when local.

NAVTEQ Destination Maps also allows for seamless integration with other NAVTEQ products and services; for instance, dynamic POI content - such as Movie and Event Listings - can keep users abreast of entertainment options within and near each venue. Additionally, NAVTEQ LocationPoint™ Advertising services can deliver location-aware mobile ads and special offers to users as they shop, while helping to monetize high-value content.

"The concept of interior mapping and navigation is still relatively new," said Tom Fox, vice president, Maps and Content Americas, NAVTEQ. "And we recognize that the interior of shopping centers is just the beginning: as future indoor positioning technologies are deployed, NAVTEQ Destination Maps will support even more sophisticated applications like seeing where your friend is in the mall or how crowded a restaurant is in real-time. NAVTEQ is actively working with its customers to help shape future indoor mapping applications."

NAVTEQ Destination Maps currently covers more than 200 of the largest shopping centers in the U.S. (e.g., average of over 750,000 square feet) with expansion plans for more shopping centers and more types of destinations throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 get some competitive price tags, starts at $469

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 08:51 AM PDT

Now we're talking, Samsung! In a surprise move, the company decided to come clean with the pricing of its new Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 this morning, and it's incredibly competitive. The WiFi version of the 10.1 will be up for grabs on June 8th in the US, and as you can see from that lovely chart above, the 16GB version is set at $499 and the 32GB at $599. Did you really have any doubt that Samsung was going after Apple here? The company is being a bit more vague on the Galaxy Tab 8.9 availability, only promising an early summer arrival at this point, but the WiFi version of that one comes in at a bit less. The 16GB option is $469 and the 32GB $569. You'll want to check out our hands-on with the two new tablets, but with this pricing now in our bag, we're certainly getting excited for the summer.

Google gives Georgia Tech $1 million to build a benchmark for the open internet

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 08:44 AM PDT

Google gives Georgia Tech $1 million to build a benchmark for the open internetYou can benchmark the cycles of your CPU, power of your GPU, speed of your internet connection, and a myriad of other seemingly important things. However, there's one missing benchmark that could make all those seem rather frivolous: the openness of your connection. Google wants one and has just awarded Georgia Tech a $1 million grant over two years (with a possible $500k bonus for a third year) to come up with a benchmark capable of detecting just how neutral your net is. When ready, it'll look for any artificial throttling that's been set in place and will also check for evidence of digital censorship. No word on when an early version might see release, but hopefully it comes before we need to start paying extra for the ability to download non-ISP-approved content.

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GEORGIA TECH TO PURSUE 'TRANSPARENT INTERNET' WITH $1M GOOGLE FOCUSED RESEARCH AWARD

Two-year project will provide tools for users worldwide to monitor their Internet Service Providers' performance

ATLANTA – March 22, 2010 – What if Internet users could click a button and determine whether their service was being artificially slowed down? Or if the government were censoring their content? In the name of Internet transparency, a team of Georgia Tech researchers will use a $1 million Google Focused Research Award to provide Internet users around the world with just those kinds of tools.

The two-year unrestricted award (with a third-year option for an additional $500,000) will fund a range of activities that together are intended to make Internet access more transparent for the billions of network subscribers around the globe. At the end of the project, the team hopes to provide a suite of web-based, Internet-scale measurement tools that any user around the world could access for free. With the help of these tools, users could determine whether their ISPs are providing the kind of service customers are paying for, and whether the data they send and receive over their network connections is being tampered with by governments and/or ISPs.

"Community collaboration is a big part of this project," said Wenke Lee, Professor in the School of Computer Science and a principal investigator on the grant. "Ultimately we hope this project will help create a 'transparency ecosystem,' where more and more users will take advantage of the measurement tools, which in turn will improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of our analysis.

"For example," Lee continued, "say something happens again like what happened in Egypt recently, when the Internet was essentially shut down. If we have a community of Internet user-participants in that country, we will know instantly when a government or ISP starts to block traffic, tamper with search results, even alter web-based information in order to spread propaganda."

Lee's fellow PI on the award is Nick Feamster, Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science. The two are joined by co-PIs Mustaque Ahamad, Professor in the School of Computer Science and Director of the Georgia Tech Information Security Center; Patrick Traynor, Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science; and Henry Owen, Professor in the School of Electrical & Computer Engineering.

The project, funded under Google's 2-year-old Focused Research program, will analyze Internet access along three main properties: reachability from a variety of access networks; performance of user networks, particularly in comparison to the performance promises made by Internet service providers (ISPs); and integrity of information moving through these networks.

According to Feamster, some 60 nations (including the United States) censor some access to information on the Internet. Moreover, the total number of worldwide users (currently estimated at 1.9 billion) is expected to double within the next decade. Finally, at least 4.5 billion people subscribe to cellular networks, accessing through their mobile devices everything from online banking services to streaming music and video. Both "traditional" Internet connections and cellular-based networks will be covered by the tools the researchers hope to create.

"Regardless of what policies an ISP or government takes on issues like censorship and net neutrality, we believe those policies should be transparent," Feamster said. "In addition to new network measurement and security monitoring algorithms, we want to create and deploy a 'transparency watchdog' system that uses monitoring agents to keep constant tabs of network performance and availability in strategic Internet locations around the world."

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and new Galaxy Tab 10.1 hands-on: thinner than the iPad 2, dual-core power, TouchWiz 4.0

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 08:01 AM PDT

You know who took the iPad 2 launch pretty seriously? Samsung, that's who. Just as we had heard, the company's executives were impressed by Apple's ability to slim down its tablet and, well, it turns out that it took it as a challenge to come up with some thinner tablets of its own. That's right, in addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 that we have seen repeatedly teased over the last few weeks the company's announcing a totally revamped Galaxy Tab 10.1, and both slates are incredibly thin yet very well spec'd. On top of that, both will be the first Honeycomb tablets to stray from the pure Android 3.0 experience and add what Samsung's taken to calling its TouchWiz UX or TouchWiz 4.0. We've got all the details and some hands-on impressions waiting below, so hit the break!

Updated: Samsung came clean with the pricing at its press conference this morning. The WiFi 10.1 will hit on June 8th -- the 16GB version will cost you $499 and the 32GB $599. The 8.9 is $469 and $569 for 16GB and 32GB, respectively.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 hands-on
Samsung TouchWiz UX for Honeycomb

Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 hardware

As you can see from the gallery, both the 10.1 and the 8.9 look extremely similar, and boy are they thin. They measure just .33-inches thick, and as you can glean from this picture, they absolutely give the .34-inch iPad some real competition in terms of dimensions. The models we saw weren't final -- in fact, they didn't even power on -- but Samsung says the 10.1 will weigh 1.31 pounds and the 8.9 just 1.03 pounds. Both tablets have microSD slots, 3.5mm headphone jacks, and SIM slots, although there will be WiFi versions of both of them. The two tablets have the same array of cameras, which includes a 3 megapixel shooter with an LED flash on the back and a 2 megapixel lens on the front.

Internally, the Tabs will pack 1GHz dual-core processors. We're assuming it will be Tegra 2 since all the Honeycomb tablets thus far have used NVIDIA's silicon, but that's unconfirmed at this point. The 8.9 will be available with 16GB of storage and a 6000mAH battery, and the 10.1 will come in both 16GB and 32GB varieties and with a 6860mAH cell. Both are said to provide 10 hours of video playback. There are full specs of both of these in the press release below.

As we said, the two 10.1 and 8.9 models we saw prior to the launch weren't working units, but the hardware certainly seemed solid and way more polished than the original 10.1 that Samsung introduced back at MWC. Speaking of which, Samsung says it has no plans to bring that original version out in the US, but it will still hit Vodafone overseas.

TouchWiz UX

We know, we also cringed when we heard Samsung was planning to start adding its own software on top of Honeycomb, but TouchWiz UX actually adds a bit to the Honeycomb experience. You can see some of the new additions in the video below, but we're particularly big fans of the ability to resize widgets. Samsung also claims that will work with Google's own widgets. Additionally, its Mini Apps Tray, which hides on the bottom of the screen, is helpful for quickly launching apps, though we're not sure why this is needed with Honeycomb's own app launcher.

Beyond those main features, TouchWiz styling has been sewn throughout the OS -- the e-mail interface looks a lot like the one on the original Galaxy Tab and even the settings menu has been Samsung-ified. We're not going to make a call on the software at the moment, especially since we only saw it running on the older 10.1, but it certainly looks like it will add some useful features on top of Google's stock experience. We should also add that Samsung seemed to imply that in some regions the 8.9 and 10.1 would launch without the TouchWiz UX, but that it would be an update at a later time.

Pricing / Outlook

We wish we had more for you on this one, but Samsung simply isn't giving up the details on the pricing right now. That said, it is promising a summer arrival for the WiFi versions. Obviously, those pricing details are ultimately going to impact our end decision on these two new tablets, but if Samsung can rise above the rest and get competitive with the dollar signs, we'd say these rail thin tablets have a real shot of rising to the top of the Honeycomb tablet list.


Show full PR text
Samsung Unveils GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, World's Thinnest Mobile Tablets

Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9 to feature the first customized Android™ 3.0 experience
ORLANDO, March 22, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the global leader in Android™ mobile devices, announced two new additions to its family of GALAXY Tabs, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, the world's thinnest mobile tablets, measuring just 8.6 millimeters.

The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature Samsung's own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering superior multi-tasking and enhanced user interaction and navigation.

"The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung's constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world", said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business. "By combining Samsung's innovations in design and display with
our exciting new user experience, we've created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market."


Thinner & Lighter
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are the thinnest mobile tablets available. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 weighs 595 grams and 8.9 weighs 470 grams. Combining the GALAXY Tabs' ultra-thin form factor with a lightweight design adds to the outstanding mobility of these two products.

Super Fast
The new GALAXY Tabs will support HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. Also, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 include a 1GHz dual core application processor for a powerful multimedia and web browsing experience.

Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX"
Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu users can customize to display a variety of content on the home screen including digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds.
In addition, the interface includes an application tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are also in use, including large file downloads and document editing. This Mini Apps Tray provides a mixture of convenience and flexibility previously unheard of with tablet devices.

The Ultimate Entertainment Hub
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung's Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.

Ready for Business
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 will include an industry leading suite of solutions designed to give enterprise customers and IT managers more security. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading partners such as Cisco, Sybase, SAP and Citrix, Samsung's enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move.

GALAXY Tab 10.1
GALAXY Tab 10.1, with its WXGA TFT LCD display (1280 x 800) powered by 1GHz dual core AP, is 8.6mm thin and weighs only 595g. It is the perfect device for sharing and enjoying media content with family and friends. In addition, with its surround-sound stereo speakers and support for Flash 10.2, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 will deliver premium entertainment experience whether watching videos, movies or playing games.

GALAXY Tab 8.9
At just 8.6mm thin and weighing only 470g, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is the perfect device for today's mobile professional. Whether writing emails on a trip or reading an eBook on the couch, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 provides the ultimate tablet experience without compromising mobility.

The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 now join the original 7-inch GALAXY Tab to provide consumers with an unmatched array of choices to select the mobile tablet experience that fits their needs the best.


Samsung's entire line of GALAXY Tabs will be on display at the Samsung booth (#2440) at CTIA Wireless 2011, March 22 through March 24.

For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com

Toshiba updates STOR.E external HDDs to USB 3.0, sees no lightning and hears no thunder

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 07:56 AM PDT

Toshiba updates STOR.E external HDDs to USB 3.0, sees no lightning and hears no thunder
Allegiances are being drawn and battle plans laid out as the USB 3.0 vs. Thunderbolt war truly begins. Toshiba is, for the moment at least, staying friendly with the USB side, announcing updated versions of its STOR.E external HDDs, both packing Superspeed tech. On the smaller side is the ALU 2S, packing a 2.5-inch HDD internally that has up to 1TB on platters. If you need a little more you can step up to the Steel S, another external unit containing a 3.5-inch HDD with up to 2TB of storage. That one, unfortunately, will require an external power supply, while the littler ALU 2S will get by with only a USB cable. Both feature metal exteriors, increasing their usability as impromptu bludgeons, and both are slated to start shipping before this first quarter is through -- which should mean any time now.

Show full PR text
Toshiba adds new external hard disk drives to its portfolio:

STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S up to 2TB with USB 3.0

Neuss (Germany), 21st March 2011 – Toshiba Europe GmbH today announced STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S: two external hard disk drives featuring USB 3.0 connectivity for fast data transfers of up to 5 Gigabits per second and high enough storage capacities to host large multimedia libraries. STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E

ALU 2S will be available during the first quarter of 2011 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Toshiba expands its range of storage drives with USB 3.0

The ongoing digitalisation of entertainment content is fuelling user demand for reliable external hard disk drives with large capacities and fast data rates. Many users want to transmit large files such as videos, music tracks and photos quickly between the backup medium and the computer. STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S both feature a USB 3.0 port offering a data rate of up to 5 Gigabits per second. However, computers and peripheral devices with USB 2.0 only can still be used with these new state-of-the-art hard disk drives.

Large capacities for large digital media libraries

Both STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S come with a 2.5'' hard disk drive offering a capacity of up to 1TB. Powered through the USB connection, these two small and lightweight 2.5'' high capacity storage devices are perfect for mobile use. STOR.E ALU 2S will also be available with a 3.5'' hard disk featuring a capacity of up to 2TB for stationary use in the office or at home. It is targeted at users with huge digital video, music and photo libraries who need extraordinarily high storage capacity.

Robust casings radiating a sleek, stylish elegance

Thanks to their metallic casings, these new external hard disk drives are very robust and reliable. STOR.E ALU 2S will be available in black and silver-coloured brushed aluminium whilst STOR.E

STEEL S is made of steel and comes in three colour variations: silver, black and titanium.

Additional press materials and information

To download photos, please visit the Image Library at the Toshiba Press Lounge at http://eu.press.toshiba.eu/en/lists/pr_list_image_library_products.

About Toshiba Europe GmbH

Toshiba Europe GmbH (TEG) is a fully owned subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, Tokyo, a global corporation with more than 130 years of company history. Toshiba is a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology, a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products spanning information & communications systems; digital consumer products; electronic devices and components; power systems, including nuclear energy; industrial and social infrastructure systems; and home appliances.

Headquartered in Neuss, Germany, TEG is comprised of four business divisions: Computer Systems, Storage Device Products, Consumer Products and Electronic Systems Operations. Together, these divisions provide product offerings including industry leading portable computers and other mobile products and solutions, HDDs, DVDs, LCDs, TVs and electronic office equipment. As the headquarters for the EMEA region, TEG provides support and assistance to its local branch offices.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 740 companies, with 204,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.3 trillion yen (US$68 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

Live from Samsung's CTIA event!

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 07:53 AM PDT


11:30AM And we're done!




11:29AM 10.1 launches June 8th in the US, 8.9 comes "early this summer."

11:29AM The 8.9 is $469 and $569 for 16GB and 32GB.

11:29AM 10.1 WiFi version comes in 16GB and 32GB flavors; $499 and $599 respectively.

11:28AM Omar's back. "At Samsung, we don't believe in a one-size-fits-all strategy."



11:28AM 6,000mAh battery -- pretty impressive for a device of this size.

11:27AM "It keeps me one step ahead of everyone. And that works for me."

11:26AM "I don't have much time for gadgets. But once I picked up the Galaxy Tab 8.9, I couldn't put it down!"

11:26AM Now we're learning a bit about Joseph, CEO of a real estate firm. He loves his Galaxy Tab 8.9!




11:25AM He just pulled it out of his jacket pocket: "you can try this at home -- this is an off-the-rack suit, I promise you."

11:24AM Galaxy Tab 8.9! (Finally!)

11:24AM Omar's back -- "we didn't stop there." Another model for consumers who want "a bit more mobility."





11:24AM It's being angled as the "thinnest, lightest, and most full-featured large-screen tablet in the world."



11:23AM Sound Station dock with a big speaker around back. Good for movies we figure. Another Desk Dock model with HDMI-out.

11:23AM Now, we're looking at accessories. Samsung Stick -- carry it like a pen, works as a Bluetooth handset with vibration for call alerting. Pretty neat.


11:22AM Hardware-based encryption on both internal and external memory.


11:21AM "People want to bring these to work and have them supported by their IT departments. These will be the most enterprise-friendly tablets on the market."


11:20AM "For the US market, we'll be adding our popular Media Hub download service." Movies can be shared on up to five devices.




11:20AM New Music Hub, 1080p playback "on all Galaxy Tabs," surround sound system using dual speakers. Flash 10.2 support, of course.


11:19AM Here comes Nicholas DiCarlo, VP of product planning. "I think it's really obvious we've been trying to make a unique tablet."



11:18AM New Readers Hub "will make content jump right off the page."

11:18AM Omar says that the custom UI will be coming to "some" models, but isn't going into details.





11:17AM New version of Social Hub optimized for tablets that integrates email and social networks into a single view.



11:16AM TouchWiz 4.0, "designed specifically for Android 3.0 tablets." Live Panel customizable home screen.



11:15AM PLS display. We're sure these guys would love to be packing Super AMOLED Plus in here, but we're guessing it just doesn't scale to 10.1 inches yet in a cost effective way.





11:14AM 8.6mm thick!




11:14AM Dual WiFi antennas with 2.4 and 5GHz bands.


11:14AM HSPA+ up to 21Mbps. "We will also introduce Tabs in the future with LTE and WiMAX."

11:13AM Here we go: the "new and improved" Galaxy Tab 10.1! Yes, believe it or not, it's new and improved SINCE Mobile World Congress last month. "Virtually the same" thickness as the Galaxy S II.

11:12AM "It's always interesting to hear the true life stories of Galaxy Tab users." Those seemed like actors to us, but it's possible we just don't have a good read for natural humans.

11:11AM The 10.1 is "fast, like my life. When I need information, I need it now! With the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, I can access information, resources. I get what I need, right now."


11:10AM Now we've got an "independent filmmaker" who likes his 10.1. See where this is going?

11:09AM New Yorker Joan likes her 7-inch Tab, turns out.

11:08AM Now we're back to these New Yorkers and their Tabs on the screen.

11:08AM "Today, I'll present to you our next generation of Galaxy Tabs -- two new devices."

11:07AM "These products fit the diverse lifestyles of consumers." Still no mention of what these new devices are. (Though if you check a little site called Engadget, you'll find we've got hands-ons posted.)


11:06AM "Unfortunately, part of our story was leaked yesterday but there are plenty of surprises for you today."

11:06AM And now Kim's bringing out Omar Khan -- yes, the very same we've had on the Engadget Show!

11:05AM Whoa, TWO new Galaxy Tabs today!

11:05AM "People expect different user experiences for different screen sizes."

11:04AM "We've created a surprise to show you today. It just goes to show you how competitive the mobile market has become."


11:04AM "Good morning everyone! It's been only a month since our last major announcement at the Mobile World Congress in February. Here I am again to tell you how strongly committed and determined we are to lead the market."


11:03AM Here comes president JK Shin!



11:02AM Here comes Samsung Mobile director Kim Titus. "Welcome to this special episode of Samsung Mobile Unpacked. As you know, we hosted episode one just last month at Mobile World Congress."



11:01AM Looks like we're watching a video of three New Yorkers using their Galaxy Tabs. One for the 7, one for the 8.9, and one for the 10.1, we're guessing.

11:01AM "Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2011 -- Special Epsiode." A very special episode, or just a special episode?

11:00AM Here we go!

10:58AM Of course, that "78910" teaser Samsung's been using for the last few weeks to talk up the presumed announcement of the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is all over the screen.

10:54AM We've just been given our five-minute warning. Everyone ready?
We're in the door for Samsung's CTIA Wireless 2011 press conference, one of two blockbuster events today (the other, of course, being Sprint a little later on). We're expecting both phone and tablet news here, so hang onto your friends, your loved ones, and your computers -- this is going to get interesting. Follow the break!

Firefox 4 is officially released, how are you liking it?

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 07:35 AM PDT

Firefox 4 is officially released, how are you liking it?
Enterprising readers have probably been rocking the four-point-oh release of Firefox since it slipped out a little early last night, but now you can get yourself that same, fully-legit version from a new, fully-legit address. The browser's live and, as you can see from the rolling download counter Mozilla has set up, a couple-hundred-thousand of you have already got it going on. So, what are your thoughts? Let your voice be heard in the poll and comments below.

Are you enjoying Firefox 4?

Vodafone UK posts pre-order page for Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 07:34 AM PDT

Sony Ericsson's next great thing, the Xperia Play, has just appeared on Vodafone UK's pages as its newest pre-order treat. Scheduled for a March 31st launch with a price tag of £free if you're willing to pony up £35 or more a month on a two-year contract. Vodafone's Xperia Play will ship with six preloaded games including Crash Bandicoot, Fifa 10, Star Battalion, Tetris, Sims 3, and Bruce Lee on the included 8GB memory card -- and includes some unnamed "desk stand" if pre-ordered before April 1st. We're kinda curious if any of you out there are going to jump on this newest Android 2.3 toy, so feel free to let us know what you think in the comments below.

[Thanks, lewis]

Logitech launches Squeezebox Controller app for Android phones and tablets

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 07:18 AM PDT

We're not certain this is the "ground-breaking new product" Logitech was hiring Android engineers for, but Squeezebox fans packing an Android tablet or phone have something new to download now that an official remote app is available. It gives full control over WiFi to all the Squeezeboxes you can fit in your home and brings the usual controls, metadata and album artwork from player to your mobile's screen. While we're still keeping our fingers crossed for a Vizio-style Android music box in the future if you have a 2.1 or later device in hand and a Squeezebox Touch, Boom, Duet or similar on the end table, you'll want to head directly to that Market link below or check out the full description on Logitech's site.

Senator asks DOJ and FCC to do their jobs, provide friction for AT&T / T-Mobile tie-up

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 06:58 AM PDT

There's always one. Back in the winter of 2009, Senator Kerry made public his request for Fox and Time Warner to keep the Bowl Games online, and one Chuck Schumer took to writing an open letter to Steve Jobs regarding the iPhone reception woes that eventually led to a dedicated press event (mostly) disputing the matter. Now, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is urging the FCC and DOJ to "take a close look at the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger," noting that the outcome would undoubtedly have a huge impact on consumer choice, price and service in the wireless industry.

Of course, it's not like these two wouldn't be doing just that in the coming months, but it's good to see a fire starting early in Congress to make sure due diligence is done. Having a carrier that provides service to 42 percent of all US wireless subscribers has the potential to seriously shift the economics of things, and potentially more interesting are the implications of a rejection. In fact, many are suggesting that AT&T will likely have to sell off major assets and promise expansion to rural / poor areas in order to gain approval, which ties in nicely to Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead's own comments regarding concessions. We're also hearing that regulators could take as long as 18 months to fully investigate, and you can bet we'll be following the play-by-play as it all unfolds.

'Hummer' handsets now account for 24 percent of US smartphone sales, prove Steve Jobs wrong

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 06:37 AM PDT

Remember when Steve Jobs had a dig at Apple's mobile competition and proclaimed that "no one" would buy their Hummer-like 4-inch-plus smartphones? Well, going by the latest NPD data, that group of "no ones" among US smartphone consumers is now a meaty 24 percent. Separating handsets into screen categories of 3.4 inches and below, 3.5 to 3.9 inches, and those above 4 inches, the stat mavens discovered that the midrange is holding steady, but smaller-screened devices are starting to lose out to their jumbo-sized brethren. No prizes for guessing that Android-powered devices were behind that big sales increase, with the HTC EVO 4G and Motorola Droid X leading the way, followed by Samsung's multivariate Galaxy S range. Now, care to tell us more about our mobile future, Steve?

[Thanks, Skylar]

Disclaimer: NPD's Ross Rubin is a contributor to Engadget.
Show full PR text
The NPD Group: Larger Smartphone Screens Gain in Popularity

Driven largely by sales of high-end Android phones, mobile handsets with screens that are 4 inches or larger now comprise nearly one quarter of all smartphone sales.

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, March 21, 2011 – According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, U.S. consumers are willing to give up room in their pockets and handbags to gain a richer media experience on their mobile devices. The U.S. market share for iPhones and other smartphones with screen sizes between 3.5 inches and 3.9 inches have remained steady, but smartphones with the largest screens (4 inches or larger) have grabbed market share from devices with screen sizes that are less than 3.5 inches.

Based on the latest information from NPD's Mobile Phone Track, smartphones with 4-inch-or-larger screens, like Samsung's Galaxy S, HTC's EVO 4G and Motorola's Droid X, which debuted in the second quarter (Q2) of 2010, quickly grew to encompass 24 percent of the market by Q4 2010. The market share for iPhones and other smartphones with screen sizes between 3.5 inches and 3.9 inches increased 2 percent over the prior year's Q4; while the market share of smartphones with screens smaller than 3.4 inches, declined from 63 percent in Q4 2009 to just 36 percent of the smartphone market in Q4 2010.

The five best-selling handset models in 2010 that had screen sizes of 4 inches or larger were as follows:

1 HTC EVO 4G
2 Motorola Droid X
3 Samsung Fascinate
4 Samsung Captivate
5 Samsung Vibrant

"The explosion in Web and video content available for smartphones has caused consumers to rethink their phones' sizes," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD. "Larger displays offer a richer media experience, as well as a roomier surface for on-screen keyboards. Handset vendors are continuing to push the envelope of pocket real estate to complement the video capabilities of 4G handsets."

While men still make up the largest share of consumers purchasing smartphones with the largest screen sizes, women are increasingly likely to buy them. In Q2 2010 just 30 percent of large-screen smartphone purchasers were women, but by Q4 2010 women represented 40 percent of large-screen smartphone sales.

Data Note: The information in this press release is from Mobile Phone Track – NPD's consumer tracking of U.S. consumers, aged 18 and older, who reported purchasing a mobile phone. NPD does not track corporate/enterprise mobile phone purchases.

Aldebaran to create all-terrain disaster relief robots, make a hero of Nao?

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 06:11 AM PDT

We've seen Nao bust a move and play a little footy, and now its creator is making plans to take its bots off-roading in the name of disaster relief. Aldebaran robotics recently announced its intention to invest in and develop a range of robots that can traverse rocky roads to help in hazardous situations, citing the tsunami in Japan as a catalyst for the move. The company's yet to state how it will make this happen, but says it's already made contributions to Cap Robotique, the "French cluster dedicated to the development and innovation in the field of service robotics." If you ask us, we're all for Nao gettin' a little dirt under its nails, as long as it can still serve Fosse. Full PR after the break.
Show full PR text
ALDEBARAN Robotics to develop all-terrain robots to assist in
hazardous situations

(March 18, 2011 – Paris) While the benefit from robots assisting
humans in hazardous situations, such as following the recent tsunami
in Japan, is widely recognized and sought after, the few solutions
which do exist are very limited. It is for this reason that ALDEBARAN
Robotics has decided to develop and invest in a range of robots able
to intervene in hazardous situations.

"At this moment there is a veritable need for robots for our Japanese
partners. ALDEBARAN Robotics is the world leader in humanoid robots
which are able to walk; however we are unable to help. Our robots are
designed for research, education and personal assistance and not made
for such difficult situations. Following recent events I have decided
to immediately invest in the development of all-terrain walking robots
able to assist in these types of situations," said Bruno Maisonnier,
CEO and founder of ALDEBARAN Robotics.

The robotics industry continues to grow due to technology advances,
mecatronics, man-machine interaction, artificial intelligence,
geolocalization – all of which is leading to new applications for
robots and paving the way for an important market for personal
assistant robots.

ALDEBARAN Robotics is the inventor of NAO, a 58cm humanoid robot with
the ability to see, hear, speak and communicate not only with its user
but other NAO robots. Today more than 1,300 NAO robots are used in 40
countries across the world as a platform for research and education in
order to explore new applications such as a treatment for autistic
children or as a pedagogic tool for teachers. Currently, a second
humanoid robot, ROMEO, with a height of 1 meter 40 centimeters is
being finalized.

"Robots for the well-being of humans is the mission of ALDEBARAN
Robotics and the need for this type of robot requires the expertise of
many actors. We have thus contributed to the creation of Cap
Robotique, THE French cluster dedicated to the development and
innovation in the field of service robotics, a market which represents
$3.3B in 2010 and we will be very present at the upcoming InnoRobo
exhibition in Lyon, France from March 23-25, 2011," he added.

Live from CTIA's day one keynote with FCC chairman Julius Genachowski

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 05:54 AM PDT


10:29AM We're breaking to head over to Samsung -- back in a bit!

10:28AM Jim to de la Vega: "Facebook -- friend or foe?" de la Vega: "Friend." Jim: "But what if they hook up with, say, a LightSquared and go against you?" de la Vega: "Then frienemy."

10:27AM Jim: "Thank you for being cordial about this. We can't skirt the issue -- it's a front-page story in every paper."

10:26AM Hesse to de la Vega: "I thought you and T-Mobile already had 4G?" He smiles and pats de la Vega -- we're loving the digs here.

10:25AM de la Vega is defending the T-Mobile acquisition -- same arguments as usual. "We'll bring LTE to 95 percent of the population."

10:24AM Jim: "Have you lost customers of any speakable amount since Verizon started selling the iPhone?" de la Vega: "We're not through the first quarter, so we can't comment on that." Jim: "Well, it's just a couple of us here." de la Vega: "Well, can I do it in Spanish then?" Laughter; one person in the audience loudly said "yes, you lost customers."

10:23AM Hesse's talking about subsidies increasing as devices get more powerful. "We're going to try, of course -- I think all of us -- to pass that cost onto the end user." Wait, what? We think he's referring to higher ARPUs that come from smartphone users, but that was a brutal (if not shareholder-friendly) way to put it.

10:19AM Hesse: "You're going to see flexible displays -- phones that will expand into a tablet-like experience." We've been hearing this for years... we hope he's finally right.

10:16AM Jim to Hesse: "I get very angry when my phone freezes. Who's at fault? Why do things freeze?" Hesse: "Because you have Verizon." Sick burn!

10:15AM Jim: "Did you look at buying T-Mobile and pass because of regulatory concerns?" Mead: "We didn't look at that."

10:15AM Mead: "We feel very good about our spectrum position. We'll keep a close eye on things... there may be some interests on a market by market basis."

10:14AM "Dan [Mead], do you have a dog in this hunt?" Nervous laughter from the audience. Great dynamic here.

10:14AM Hesse: "I do have concerns that it'd stifle innovation [with 74 percent of spectrum] in the hands of just two." Some applause.

10:13AM "Dan Hesse, do you agree with that?" "Well, you know, my opinion doesn't matter. I think the FCC, the DOJ..." Awkward pause. Big laughter from the audience!

10:12AM de la Vega's talking about the role of the T-Mobile acquisition in the need for additional spectrum. "I think what you saw on Sunday helps to alleviate the spectrum exhaustion that both AT&T and T-Mobile face."

10:11AM "I don't want to worry about getting billed for overage. But the points Dan [Mead] made are very real. Right now we're maintaining our unlimited position."

10:11AM "What about you, Dan? Will you go to metering?" "Maybe, maybe not. When you look at the broadband at home, it's not metered." Not quite true with AT&T DSL anymore!

10:10AM "Why is it that I have to subsidize people that are downloading movies every night?" Mead: "Right now, we're out there with unlimited data plans. That's been very important to foster growth. But the whole industry is looking at whether there should be caps -- whether there should be metered billing. Like your water bill at home, you pay for what you use."

10:07AM Hesse: "I have to give my competitor and Apple some credit here... I think the iPhone phenomenon really started it. Google got into the act with Android very quickly, roughly in three years, the US has come full circle to be number one again in 4G."

10:06AM "Why are we so far behind other countries?" Mead: "That's a myth. We are not behind -- we are leading. When you look at the ecosystem that's emerging for 4G in particular, this is the most robust network in the world. We're very proud of this LTE network."


10:05AM Hesse: "Our industry contributed" to what happened in Egypt. de la Vega: "I think that mobility creates democracy, Jim."

10:03AM "So... do you guys hate each other?" "You saw us shake hands!"

10:03AM That got ZERO laughs, by the way.

10:03AM In introducing Mead: "Verizon Wireless, America's largest... whoops, out of date!"

10:03AM Here comes CNBC's Jim Cramer along with Ralph de la Vega, Dan Hesse, and Dan Mead of AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, respectively.

10:01AM Largent's talking about NTT DoCoMo -- they'd planned to exhibit here, but obviously those plans have changed. He's encouraging everyone to donate to the Red Cross' efforts.


9:59AM CTIA president Steve Largent is out.

9:59AM And he's off!

9:58AM $30 billion in spectrum translates roughly to $300 billion in consumer benefit, he says.

9:56AM He says voluntary auctions of broadcast spectrum could haul in $30 billion. "Not pocket change."

9:55AM Of course, new spectrum is still a priority for the FCC, but it's getting clearer that even a best-case licensing scenario won't free up enough to keep pace with data growth.

9:55AM Interesting -- this might be the strongest language we've heard Julius use in a speech to promote spectrum solutions that don't involve freeing up new spectrum: dynamic spectrum sharing, femtocells, so on.

9:52AM Next, streamlining rules for tower deployment and refurbishment for next-gen wireless services.

9:51AM A couple other biggies on the FCC's plate: roaming agreements (which we're sure rural carriers are pleased to hear) and next-generation 911 services -- texting, sending pictures and video to 911 call centers.

9:50AM He's still skirting parts of the net neutrality debate here by saying that the FCC's open internet rules passed last December "recognize the differences" between landline and mobile networks.

9:47AM "Spectrum is the oxygen that allows all of these mobile applications to breathe." You stole Dan's line, Julius!

9:46AM He's throwing out a bunch of figures emphasizing the explosive growth of the smartphone app ecosystem -- needless to say, they're all designed to bolster his case for more spectrum.

9:44AM "With mobile broadband, children can replace 50-pound backpacks" with digital textbooks.

9:44AM "With the emergence of machine-to-machine technology, pretty much everything can become connected."

9:43AM He's talking about a "virtuous cycle of innovation" between apps, services, and networks -- we've definitely heard that line before.

9:42AM "To some, it was a surprise that our Broadband Plan included major sections on mobile broadband."

9:41AM Genachowski's taking an interesting perspective here: as the "legacy" leader in technology, the US is more encumbered from adapting to new disruptive technologies than other countries approaching ubiquitous broadband with a "whiteboard" approach.

9:38AM "It's clear that America's global competitors aren't standing still. [American] leadership isn't a birthright -- it needs to be earned by every generation."

9:38AM "Too man Americans have no broadband access at all." Rural and senior communities have particularly low adoption rates.

9:37AM Whoa, he just namechecked 5G! Let us get some solid 4G first, alright, man?

9:36AM "Many [smartphones] have more computing power than NASA's lunar lander."

9:35AM Needless to say, Julius is going to focus on spectrum allocation -- why it's important, and why it's needed right now.


9:35AM "Broadband is no longer a luxury -- it's an essential platform."

9:34AM "I know everyone is talking about the transaction that was just announced -- I'm sure you can understand I'm not going to comment on that." Aww!

9:34AM Genachowski: "It's like Tomorrowland has been moved from the Magic Kingdom to the Orange County Convention Center."

9:32AM And Dan's wrapping up -- he's introducing FCC chair Julius Genachowski.

9:31AM "I must give props to this administration and this FCC in that they've made spectrum allocation a top priority."

9:30AM "Spectrum is the oxygen that gives our industry life and growth." Yep, here comes the boilerplate spectrum allocation pitch (not that we're complaining -- it's a really important topic).

9:28AM By January of next year, all American phones will use micro-USB as the standard charging interface. That actually got applause. "I know, that's been a pet peeve of mine for a long time."

9:27AM Talking about Sprint's and CTIA's green efforts -- recycling and buy-back programs are in full effect, regardless of manufacturer or carrier of the device you're trying to flip.

9:26AM "Wireless smart grids aren't just a concept, they're here now." Lots of talk about machine-to-machine communication here -- it's pretty clear that carriers are looking to vertical markets for new revenue sources as the consumer side starts to saturate.

9:23AM Here's another little Sprint plug -- Dan's talking about the carrier's Android app for locking out phones when they're traveling greater than 10 miles an hour.

9:23AM "Distracted driving, and improving the environment, are areas where everyone seems to agree in principle that more needs to be done. I'm pleased to say that the CTIA is taking the lead in these areas."

9:21AM "The US is expected to be the leading country for in-car internet access over the next six years."

9:21AM Healthcare is a big focus for wireless -- Dan's talking about Sprint's partnership announcement at HIMSS recently, a big healthcare informatics show.

9:19AM "Now we're upgrading to 4G using both the LTE and WiMAX standards." We're pretty sure he's referring to the US market as a whole, not Sprint -- but it's still funny to hear him say. And of course, the latest rumors have Sprint pegged for an LTE deployment anyhow.

9:18AM Dan's generally doing a pretty good job acting the part as CTIA chairman as opposed to Sprint CEO here -- relatively few mentions of Sprint in this opening address.

9:17AM 80 million tablet shipments projected in 2012.

9:15AM Quoting an IBM study: "The cellphone is no longer a gadget; it's what IT is going to become."

9:14AM Ah, very slick, Dan -- he just slipped in a plug for Sprint ID while talking up the explosion in mobile apps.

9:13AM "In the fourth quarter of 2010, Google's Android OS became the fastest growing smartphone platform in the world. Android now claims 29 percent of the market compared with 27 percent for both RIM's OS and Apple's OS." He's praising North America's leadership in smartphone platform development.

9:11AM Hesse's praising the US' leadership in 4G services -- a stark contrast to Europe's leadership in 2G and Japan's in 3G.

9:10AM He's praising NTT DoCoMo's amazing response to the earthquake -- just 1,000 cell sites are still down.


9:08AM Dan's kicking this off by telling a few groaners. "All kidding aside, it's a pleasure for me to be here."

9:07AM Here comes CTIA chairman (and Sprint CEO) Dan Hesse!

9:06AM Here we go!

9:05AM For those wondering, they've got Robyn playing right now with the bass turned WAY up. No, not playing live. We wish.

9:02AM Sorry that the comments aren't enabled, folks -- we're working on it!


8:57AM They're literally playing Angry Birds on the jumbotrons right now. Can this game be escaped?
We're seated in the auditorium for CTIA Wireless 2011's first keynote session, featuring FCC chairman Julius Genachowski -- who's frequented CTIAs in years past -- along with the bosses of Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, and Sprint. Needless to say, these are a bunch of heavy hitters about to take the stage... and we're curious whether they'll be saying a peep about AT&T's planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA. Tune in after the break!

Apple slinging iPad 2 to 25 more countries this Friday, even more next month

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 05:44 AM PDT

Still having trouble locating an iPad 2 here in the US of A? Grab your passport, bub. Starting on Friday, March 25th, Apple will start hawking its latest and greatest tablet in 25 other nations, with sales to begin at 5PM local time through Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers (or 1AM online). 'Course, this is a move we've been expecting all along, but at least the folks in Cupertino seem to be wasting no time in expanding availability. You can find the full list of nations just after the break, but if you're situated in Hong Kong, Singapore or South Korea, it looks as if you'll have to wait until April. A real downer, we know.
Show full PR text
iPad 2 Arrives in 25 More Countries This Friday

Available in Hong Kong, Korea & Singapore in April

CUPERTINO, California-March 22, 2011-Apple® today announced that iPad® 2, the second-generation of its third post-PC device, will go on sale in 25 additional countries this Friday, March 25. iPad 2 will be available at Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers at 5 p.m. local time, and online through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com) beginning at 1 a.m. Apple today also announced that all models of iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April.

"While competitors are still struggling to catch up with our first iPad, we've changed the game again with iPad 2," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We're experiencing amazing demand for iPad 2 in the US, and customers around the world have told us they can't wait to get their hands on it. We appreciate everyone's patience and we are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone."

iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple's new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April, and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.

iMovie® and GarageBand® for iPad apps are available for $4.99 (US) each from the App Storeâ„  on iPad or www.itunes.com/appstore. The Smart Cover is available in a range of colors in vibrant polyurethane for $39 (US) or rich leather for $69 (US).

Sony Ericsson's latest Xperia Play ads are disturbing, yet awesome (video)

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 05:23 AM PDT

Kristen Schaal has eyeballs. Red, fiery eyeballs lusting for the blood of her enemies on the battlefields of the PlayStation Suite. Yes, Sony Ericsson is keeping up the fine tradition of freaking us the hell out with its Xperia Play ads, this latest round starring an innocent-looking lady with a devilish demeanor. Skip past the break for those vids and if you're wondering why Kristen's so psyched about the Play, check out our very latest hands-on with the device -- it's coming to Verizon with stock Android, don't you know!

[Thanks, Calvin]





Wi-Fi Alliance launches hotspot certification program, aims to ease cell-to-WiFi handoff woes

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 05:00 AM PDT

If you've been paying even a slight bit of attention to carriers over the past year and change, you'd know that a number of 'em are resorting to citywide WiFi networks in order to relieve some of the stress being placed on their 3G networks. It's definitely a viable solution for a problem that requires oodles to time (and far too many signatures) to plant new cell sites, but there's a looming issue: compatibility. Naturally, the Wi-Fi Alliance is all over it, today launching an initiative to transform the user experience in hotspots. The Wi-Fi Certified hotspot testbed will address authentication and provision of service for public WiFi networks, essentially acting to "facilitate the seamless handoff of cellular traffic from smartphones, tablets and other portable electronics to WiFi, helping service providers manage demands on constrained licensed spectrum." We're told that the program will allow devices to "discover and automatically choose networks based upon user preferences, operator policies and network optimization," and in many cases, they'll be automatically granted access to the network based upon credential mechanisms, such as SIM cards. Hard to say what this will mean for limits and structuring, but we're bound to find out more as the 1H 2012 target launch date draws nearer. Full release is after the break, per usual.
Show full PR text
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Hotspot Program to Ease Subscriber Connectivity in Service Provider Wi-Fi® Hotspots

AUSTIN, TX, March 22, 2011 – An initiative to transform the user experience in hotspots is underway in the Wi-Fi Alliance®. Service providers and device manufacturers in the organization have formalized a set of industry market requirements that will lay the foundation for a new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing program that addresses authentication and provision of service for public Wi-Fi networks.

"Ensuring end users can easily access hotspot networks from various providers is a win for subscribers, service providers and device makers alike," said Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "We envision an automated, cellular-like experience for Wi-Fi users around the world in security-protected service provider hotspots."

"As a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance, France Telecom-Orange has actively contributed to the development of Wi-Fi hotspot certification, which is set to significantly improve user experience by facilitating connectivity in hotspots," said Rida Zouaoui, head of access networks standardisation of France Telecom-Orange. "By developing carrier-grade certification, this new generation of hotspots will allow Orange to provide Wi-Fi services that are both reliable and user-friendly. In addition, SIM-based authentication will enhance security and accessibility to Orange Wi-Fi hotspots, especially when roaming."

The Wi-Fi Alliance hotspot program will also facilitate the seamless handoff of cellular traffic from data-hungry smartphones, tablets and other portable electronics to Wi-Fi, helping service providers manage demands on constrained licensed spectrum. Data volume over cellular networks is forecast to nearly double from 2011 to 2012, reaching 4.56 million terabytes[1]. In an effort to address this trend, many service providers have recently announced expanded Wi-Fi hotspot deployment plans. As a result, the number of hotspots worldwide is expected to more than double by 2014, from the current estimate of 750,000.

"We are proud to participate in the Wi-Fi Alliance hotspot certification initiative", says Andrew Bocking, VP, Handheld Software Product Management, Research In Motion. "The program will provide users with a simpler and more standardized way to discover, subscribe and securely connect to hotspots around the world, than is possible today."

The key benefits of the hotspot program include:

* Network Discovery and Selection: Devices discover and automatically choose networks based upon user preferences, operator policies and network optimization
· Streamlined Network Access: In many cases, devices will be automatically granted access to the network based upon credential mechanisms, such as SIM cards, which are widely used in cellular devices today
* Immediate Account Provisioning: The process of establishing a new user account at the point of access will be streamlined, eliminating user steps and driving a common provisioning methodology across vendors
· WPA2™ Security: Over-the-air transmissions are encrypted using the latest-generation security technology

"Wi-Fi's performance and ubiquity make it a compelling solution for data offload, and service providers are leveraging Wi-Fi as an important part of their strategies," said Philip Solis, research director for mobile devices at ABI Research. "Having an industry-wide solution for provision and authentication enables service providers to take those strategies even further. It enables the development of roaming agreements and ready access to Wi-Fi for subscribers of numerous service providers."

"Cisco is dedicated to supporting open standards across all of our innovative Wi-Fi technologies," said Ray Smets, vice president and general manager, Wireless Networking business unit, Cisco. "By supporting the Wi-Fi Alliance certification, service providers can more easily optimize their networks by offloading data traffic to Wi-Fi and help deliver a better mobile experience to their end customers."

The planned launch of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED hotspot certification program is targeted for the first half of 2012. To learn more about Wi-Fi Alliance and see a list of member companies, visit www.wi-fi.org.

Verizon Wireless CEO 'not interested' in buying Sprint, won't waste time opposing T-Mobile / AT&T merger

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 04:54 AM PDT

Well, isn't this just something. It only took Sprint a matter of hours (on a Sunday evening, no less) to push out a detailed list of gripes concerning the proposed AT&T / T-Mobile USA tie-up, but Verizon Wireless won't even be wasting its time. According to an interview with Reuters ahead of CTIA, VZW CEO Daniel Mead confessed that his company wouldn't be lobbying the FCC or any other entity to stop the inevitable, noting that "anything can go through if you make enough concessions." That's a pretty bold quote in and of itself, but of course, this is coming from the man who made an awful lot of those so-called concessions in order to pick up Alltel a few years ago. Continuing on, he blasted out this gem: "We're not interested in Sprint. We don't need them." In other words, there's nary a chance in Hades that America's current largest wireless carrier will be making a bid to keep it that way by shelling out for The Now Network. Why? Quite simply, he'd rather focus on being the most profitable US carrier rather than the largest. Not exactly what you'd expect coming from Verizon Wireless' CEO, but hey -- if he's down for the competition, we're down with watching from the sidelines.

UK 4G spectrum set to be auctioned off next year

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 04:38 AM PDT

Ofcom, the UK version of the FCC, is currently sitting on two fat bands of prime 4G spectrum, at 800MHz and 2.6GHz, but it won't be doing so for long. This morning has seen an announcement from the independent regulator that it's looking to sell off those airwaves to the highest bidder, as early as 2012, pending the conclusion of a consultation on how to ensure the auction helps promote, rather than stifle, competiton. The 800MHz band comes directly from spectrum freed up by the country's transition to digital television, and together with the 2.6GHz is equivalent to three quarters of all the mobile spectrum the UK uses today. The usual suspects of O2, Vodafone and Everything Everywhere will be vying for prime position in the next wave of superspeedy internet ... we just wonder how 3G-centric network Three will react to the news.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Tascam outs new DR-07 Mark II audio recorder, touts adjustable mics

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 04:14 AM PDT

If you're in the market for a quality audio recording device to capture demos somebody other than your mother would listen to, here's your chance to get those songs past her and out into the real world. Tascam, maker of professional music studio equipment, has just announced their newest addition to the recording family, the DR-07. Depending on what you'll be recording, the device allows the user to capture sound in XY or AB configuration using the adjustable dual microphones -- the XY adjustment for a tight stereo recording and AB for ambient, larger noise. The Mark II comes bundled with a 2GB microSD slot, features 17.5 hours of battery life and grabs MP3 audio at up to 320 kbps or WAV audio at up to 96 kHz. If you're interested in picking one of these up, hit up the more coverage link and drop the $150.

Dolby introduces lighter, cheaper 3D glasses to better compete with RealD and IMAX

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 03:46 AM PDT

Dolby has been working on getting the cost of its 3D glasses down since bringing Infitec color shift technology to theaters back in '07 and it couldn't wait for CinemaCon 2011 next week before announcing the new models seen above. These should please theater operators by being cheaper than the old ones -- down to $12 or less per reusable pair from $17 last year and $27.50 the year before that -- and hopefully cinemagoers by being lighter, with a new multilayer optical film from 3M and redesigned frame to help block extraneous light. There's also RFID tags to help keep them from walking out of the moviehouse, and it claims they will fit over 98 percent of prescription glasses. So far RealD has lead the market with its cheaper glasses, multiple styles and home HDTV cross-compatibility, while IMAX is synonymous (usually) with big screens, but if theaters start passing down that savings in the form of lower ticket prices we might pick out a Dolby screen among the other 3D theater competition the next time we head to the theater.

Show full PR text
Dolby Announces Next-Generation 3D Glasses at CinemaCon 2011

High-performance, stylish, reusable 3D glasses deliver cost savings to exhibitors and improved comfort to moviegoers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB) today announced the availability of its next-generation Dolby® 3D glasses. Designed with Dolby's 3D technical know-how, the expertise of a leading eyewear design company, and 3M's new multilayer optical film lenses, the glasses are compatible with Dolby 3D Digital Cinema systems currently installed.
Dolby's Next Generation 3D Glasses (Photo: Business Wire)

Dolby's Next Generation 3D Glasses (Photo: Business Wire)

"With the newly designed Dolby 3D glasses, we look to maintain the premium quality visual performance that Hollywood has come to expect from Dolby 3D, while providing a more comfortable fit for cinemagoers and a lower price point for exhibitors," said Matt Cuson, Senior Marketing Director, Cinema, Dolby Laboratories. "The next-generation Dolby 3D glasses strike the perfect balance between style and performance and are designed to be used repeatedly, bringing per-ticket costs well below disposable single-use 3D glasses."

The new glasses are currently available at a list price of $12.00 or lower when purchased with a Dolby 3D bundle. Dolby also plans to make children-sized glasses available next quarter.

New Technology Increases Performance

* Dolby has partnered with 3M to develop a new multilayer optical film lens that greatly reduces the weight of the glasses, increasing comfort while providing the excellent optical performance moviegoers expect from Dolby 3D.
* A more robust mechanical design, the new nylon frame features wide side temples and a shelf along the top edge of the frames, which help prevent extraneous light from entering the glasses, reducing internal lens reflections.

Style Enhances Comfort

* Updated industrial design makes both the audience member and the movie look marvelous.
* The new frames fit comfortably over 98 percent of prescription glasses and are well-suited to youth and adults.

More Robust for More Use

* The next-generation Dolby 3D glasses can withstand the rigors of many wash cycles and can be reused hundreds of times.
* The new 3M lenses are scratch resistant and include an antireflective coating.

RFID Tags Added for Tracking

* Beyond the antitheft tag included in previous generations of Dolby 3D glasses, the new Dolby 3D glasses also include individually serialized RFID tags.
* These tags can be used for inventory tracking and management.

New Lower Cost

* Dolby 3D glasses are high-performance, environmentally friendly, passive glasses that require no batteries or charging.
* Because they are reusable, the per-ticket cost of Dolby 3D glasses can be well below the cost of disposable 3D glasses.
* The new glasses are available at a list price of $12.00 or lower when purchased with a Dolby 3D bundle.

Exhibitors interested in learning more about Dolby 3D should contact their nearest Dolby reseller or Dolby sales office, or visit Dolby in booth (1600A) during CinemaCon 2011 at Caesars Palace.

About Dolby 3D Digital Cinema

Dolby 3D Digital Cinema technology, in conjunction with digital cinema projectors featuring Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing™ (DLP) technology, provides exhibitors with an efficient and flexible solution designed to deliver a superior 3D experience. Dolby's 3D solution uses a unique full-spectrum color-filter technology that provides realistic color reproduction and extremely sharp images. Since launching in November 2007, Dolby has shipped over 7,600 Dolby 3D systems and has one of the largest global footprints with over 400 exhibitor partners in 67 countries.

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Founded in 1965 and best known for high-quality audio and surround sound, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, visit www.dolby.com.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. DLP Cinema is a trademark of Texas Instruments. S11/24064 DLB-G

Samsung's ultrathin 11.6-inch 9 Series laptop appears in Italy, gets hands-on treatment (video)

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 03:15 AM PDT

We told you it was coming, and now it's here: the 11.6-inch little brother to Samsung's ultrathin 9 Series laptop. As we expected, the 900X1A sports a Core i3-380UM processor, 2GB of RAM, and 1366 x 768 resolution, but instead of the anticipated 64GB of memory, it's rocking the same 128GB SSD as its older sibling. We've yet to hear when the new 9 Series will make it across the pond, but it should be available in Europe starting April 1st for €1,200 -- and, if you like 'em small and skinny, you can check out a video of the 900X1A after the break.

[Thanks, Marco]

Adobe patches Flash flaw with Acrobat / Reader update

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 02:37 AM PDT

Armageddon averted. Exactly as promised, Adobe has rolled out a fix this week for the zero-day security vulnerability in Flash that had us sweating the world was about to come crashing to an end. It's a somewhat circuitous route to getting your system patched up, however, as you'll need to download an out-of-cycle update for Acrobat and Reader -- the other software affected by this issue. Still, a small price to pay for protecting yourself from the evils of the internets.

[Thanks, Paul]

BlackBerry PlayBook priced at $500 for 16GB WiFi model, pre-orders begin today (update: available April 19th)

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 01:54 AM PDT

In the dead of night ... pre-orders happen. RIM has snuck out the first official pricing for its 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and, true to its promise, it costs less than $500. A cent less than $500. The 16GB WiFi-only PlayBook is now up for pre-order at Best Buy and is coming to a vast list of other retailers soon. Staples, Office Depot and RadioShack are among the popular US store chains, while AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will also carry the tablet. No T-Mobile on that list. Canadian pre-orders for the same model are now live as well, also at $499.99, albeit in the local dollar currency. A 32GB WiFi model will set Canucks back C$600 and the 64GB model is C$700, which might be indicative of US pricing too if price parity is maintained throughout the range. The almost full press release (still no release date) follows after the break.

Update: A second press release has confirmed full US pricing for the WiFi versions: 16GB is $500, 32GB is $600 and 64GB is $700. Scheduled to be available on April 19th!

Show full PR text
RIM Announces Retail Channels for BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry PlayBook to be available in over 20,000 Retail Outlets in the U.S. and Canada

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced plans to make the highly-anticipated BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet available in more than 20,000 retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada.

"The BlackBerry PlayBook is an amazing tablet that is already being widely praised as a multi-tasking powerhouse with an uncompromised web experience and an ultra-portable design," said Mike Lazaridis, President & Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "Given the high level of customer interest in the BlackBerry PlayBook, we are particularly pleased to be working with such an amazing lineup of retail partners."

The BlackBerry PlayBook delivers professional-grade, consumer-friendly experiences that redefine the possibilities of mobile computing. This ultra-portable tablet looks and feels great, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing less than a pound. It features a vivid 7-inch high-resolution display that is highly-responsive with a fluid touch screen experience. It also offers industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment.

The BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi will be available in three models and will feature a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $499 in the United States and Canada. The lineup of retailers and wireless carriers currently expected to carry the BlackBerry PlayBook in the United States and Canada includes the following companies*:

United States

AT&T
Best Buy
Cbeyond
Cellular South
Cincinnati Bell
Office Depot
RadioShack
ShopBlackBerry.com
Staples
Sprint
Verizon
BlackBerry from Wireless Giant

Canada
Bell
Best Buy
Chapters / Indigo
Costco
Future Shop
Mobilicity
MTS Allstream
Rogers
Sasktel
Sears
ShopBlackBerry.com
Staples
Telus
Tbooth Wireless
The Source
Videotron
Walmart
WIND Mobile
WIRELESS etc.
WIRELESSWAVE

BlackBerry PlayBook Specifications

7" 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen
Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
1 GHz dual-core processor
BlackBerry® Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)
1080p HDMI output
Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)
1 GB RAM memory
Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)
GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity
Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR support
Show full PR text
Best Buy Begins Accepting Orders For BlackBerry PlayBook today

Minneapolis, MN and Waterloo, ON - Customers eagerly awaiting the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet can begin placing their orders today. Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) and Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), a preferred retailer for the BlackBerry PlayBook, today announced the pricing and launch date for the highly anticipated tablet in the U.S. and Canada.

The BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi will come in three models, featuring 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage at $499, $599 and $699 respectively. It is scheduled to be available from all Best Buy stores and Best Buy Mobile stores in the US, as well as Best Buy and Future Shop* stores in Canada, on April 19. Customers in the US and Canada can place their orders beginning today by visiting their local Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile or Future Shop store or by ordering on-line (after 8am ET) at:

U.S. – www.bestbuy.com/playbook

Canada - www.bestbuy.ca/blackberry or www.futureshop.ca/blackberry

"Previews of the BlackBerry PlayBook have generated tremendous excitement and we know that customers are eager to get their hands on one," said Craig McLennan, Regional Managing Director, North America, Research In Motion. "We share that excitement and we are very pleased to announce that customers can begin placing their orders with Best Buy today."

"Tablets are becoming a bigger part of our business everyday and the launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook will heighten the level of excitement in this category," said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. "RIM has a tremendous history of producing great mobility products for our customers and we are excited to help launch the BlackBerry PlayBook."

BlackBerry PlayBook is the world's first professional-grade tablet. It features an ultra-portable design and delivers industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment.

BlackBerry PlayBook specifications:

7" 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen
Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
1 GHz dual-core processor
BlackBerry® Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)
1080p HDMI output
Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)
1 GB RAM memory
Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)
GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity
Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR support

HTC Pyramid turns around, shows us a qHD visage

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 01:28 AM PDT

Okay, so a dual-core, large-screened HTC phone isn't quite the unique event it was this time last week, but that shouldn't preclude the Pyramid from vying for our gadget lust. Today, a picture of its front end has made its way to GSM Arena, where a careful analysis of it side by side with a Desire HD confirms the same 4.3-inch screen size, but a likely resolution bump all the way up to qHD (or 960 x 540). A 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm chip and a 4.3-inch qHD display are the two crowning features on HTC's EVO 3D, so this looks to be its brother for another carrier. One last note of import is the home icon you see below the blurred-out applications menu -- that's stock Android fare right there. It doesn't necessarily mean the Pyramid will ship with stock Android, but we can dream, can't we?

Amazon Appstore for Android goes live, welcomes newcomers with free Angry Birds Rio

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 12:46 AM PDT

In spite of Apple's grumbling, Amazon's proceeding full steam ahead with the rollout of its Appstore for Android. The switch has just been flipped and early adopters will be welcomed with a free copy of Angry Birds Rio, whose Android launch Amazon scooped all to itself. Beyond day one, Rio will be a $0.99 app, but others will take its place as the online retailer is aiming to serve one usually-paid app for free each day. A total of around 3,800 applications are available at launch and you'll be able to get on board via either a dedicated Appstore app on Android (sideload link available below) or Amazon's web interface. The latter offers you a 30-minute Test Drive facility, where you can try out a program you might fancy for your phone before purchasing. Service looks to be US-only for now -- sorry, international users.

Update: The web Appstore has gone down. Don't panic, we're sure it's just teething troubles and not a smiting by the Cupertino ninja collective. In the mean time, the app still looks to be working okay.

HTC EVO 3D and EVO View 4G tablet spotted -- on Sprint's website, where else?

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 12:05 AM PDT

Oh, you know all about them, that much is true, but have you yet seen the HTC EVO 3D and EVO View 4G tablet? No, we hadn't either, until this very moment when another premature information upload on Sprint's website revealed their appearance. Two pre-registration pages exist for the as-yet unannounced products, one for the 1.2GHz dual-core EVO 3D smartphone and one for the 1.5GHz single-core EVO View 4G tablet. Both run Android and are unquestionably set to feature as Sprint's flagship devices in their respective categories. Beyond confirming that the EVO looks like an EVO and noting that the EVO View seems to have a black case rather than the silvery one that the HTC Flyer (the product it's based on) comes with, there's little new here -- you'll have to wait till Sprint finally makes all this hardware official over at CTIA to learn more.

Robonaut 2 gets unboxed in space, plans for galactic domination

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 11:48 PM PDT

Remember that nondescript space shuttle that launched about a month ago -- you know, the one responsible for carrying this here nondescript humanoid robot into the outer reaches of our galaxy? Well, things went according to plan and the robot has been successfully deployed in the International Space Station, making way for the first ever robot-human space crew. R2, weighing in at 300 pounds with just a torso, head and two arms, costed NASA and GM a cool $2.5 million to build, and there's no telling what kind of handling fees were applied when shoving him into his SLEEPR crate. Because of his dexterity, the bot is up above the clouds to help out with chores and assist crew members with science experiments and handling human tools -- easy for us to say, but even easier for you to grok if you slam the play button just after the break.

T-Mobile Sidekick 4G by Samsung priced at $99.99 with a two-year contract, we go hands-on

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 10:54 PM PDT

Ready for some serious Sidekick 4G news? We thought so. First up, we've finally got the official pricing details from T-Mobile. That's right, come this spring the revived Sidekick will be hitting the likely-to-be-acquired carrier for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate and two-year contract with unlimited data -- those that opt for the two-year contract but go with a lower-end data plan will have to pay $149.99 for the Android 2.2 handset. Sure, the pricing doesn't sound all that shabby, but how's the actual phone? There was no stopping us from getting our hands all over the first ever touchscreen-equipped Sidekick here at CTIA Wireless -- hit the break for our impressions and a hands-on video.
T-Mobile Sidekick 4G hands-on

We're going to start with that five-row keyboard, since we know that's what you're really after. Much like its Sidekick 3 and iD older brothers, the slightly-curved keys are almost perfectly spaced, and while they aren't rubbery like those on the Sidekick LX, they do have a nice smooth coating. However, there's going to be no covert texting in class with this one -- those keys along with the plastic home, jump, back, and menu buttons make noticeable clicking noises. So, how's the sliding mechanism? We admit we miss the 180-degree swivel, but the slider actually doesn't feel half bad. The rest of the primarily-plastic hardware feels decent for a mid-range phone, but has nothing on something higher-end like the G2. Sadly, as you will notice in the gallery, that there's no flash on the back, though there is a front-facing camera.

Software-wise, T-Mobile and Samsung have done some significant skinning to Android 2.2, and perhaps, the most polarizing change comes with the relocation of the phone, apps, and contact tabs to the right side of the screen when in landscape mode. The biggest addition comes with the jump menu -- you can launch the shortcut menu by holding down the jump button and then either use a keyboard shortcut or the touchscreen to make the "jump." Other software tweaks include a restyled music app and an unique unlock screen -- for the latter, you can swipe up and configure it to launch a specific app. We're hoping to bring you an in-depth review of the next generation Sidekick soon, but our short time with it has us convinced that more than a few Sidekick-devotees will be shelling out that $99.99 when the 4G goes on sale this spring.

T-Mobile's LG G-Slate priced at $529.99 with a two-year contract

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 09:50 PM PDT

Well, here ya go! T-Mobile has finally decided to come clean with the pricing on its 8.9-inch, 3D-capable LG G-Slate, and well, it isn't cheap. The Honeycomb, Tegra 2-powered tablet will set you back $529.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate and that's only if you agree to a two-year contract. Of course, this thing can record 3D video, connect to T-Mobile's "4G" HSPA+ network, and output 1080p video, but that still seems like quite a bit of money when you consider you're also locked into paying at least $20 in data every month. Ready to grace us with the WiFi version, LG? Hit the break for the short press statement.
Show full PR text
T-Mobile G-Slate with Google by LG: Powered by Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the G-Slate delivers a premium mobile entertainment experience with a brilliant 8.9-inch, 3D-capable, multitouch HD display and the ability to record 3D and full HD video. With the new G-Slate, customers can access their favorite TV shows, magazines, games and more with pre-installed applications such as T-Mobile TV, Need for Speed SHIFT HD and Zinio eReader. The T-Mobile G-Slate will cost $529.99 after $100 mail-in-rebate card with a qualifying mobile broadband plan on two-year agreement, voice line and enrollment in EasyPay.

LG's T-Mobile G2x announced, available 'later this spring' (update: preloaded with Tegra Zone)

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 09:38 PM PDT

Why, hello there. Shortly after our sneak peek on the CTIA show floor, T-Mobile lifted its magenta curtain and announced the G2x, aka LG Optimus 2X elsewhere around the world. Despite the lack of LG's custom UI (which will no doubt be welcomed by Android purists), this 4G stock Froyo device will come preloaded with goodies like Qik, Need for Speed Shift HD, T-Mobile TV, and DTS Ultra Mobile sound enhancer. Specific prices and dates have yet to be revealed, but we now have confirmation that the G2x will be "available nationwide later this spring," so the previously rumored April 20th launch might still be on track. Full press release after the break.

Update: Our friends over at NVIDIA also informed us that the G2x will be the first phone to be shipped with Tegra Zone preloaded. Makes sense considering this is yet another of those delicious dual-core Tegra 2 devices that are flooding the market these days.
Show full PR text
T-Mobile and LG Mobile Phones Introduce T-Mobile G2x with Google, a Powerful Gaming and Entertainment 4G Smartphone
T-Mobile's first smartphone to feature a dual core processor, the G2x is the latest smartphone to join T-Mobile's G-series lineup on America's Largest 4G Network


T-Mobile USA, Inc. and LG Mobile Phones (LG) today announced the upcoming availability of the T-Mobile® G2x™ with Google™ by LG. The latest 4G smartphone to join T-Mobile's exclusive line of G-series devices, the G2x is made for speed and mobile entertainment, with built-in support for 4G speeds on America's Largest 4G Network™, an NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor with dual-core CPU, brilliant 4-inch capacitive touch screen display and preloaded content, such as Need For Speed™ SHIFT HD.

"More consumers than ever are turning to their smartphones to stay entertained wherever they are with access to their favorite video games, TV programs and more," said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. "By combining the latest innovative hardware and pre-loaded content with our 4G network and the power of the dual core processor, the G2x offers the mobile gaming and entertainment experience our customers crave."

"The move into dual core technology is the next big leap forward in mobile technology creating a new superphone segment," said Tim O'Brien, vice president of marketing, LG Mobile Phones. "These super-powered processors will allow both developers and users to utilize the unmatched speed and power in multitasking, multimedia and functionality never before realized in a mobile handset."

The G2x will keep customers entertained with access to preloaded games and applications, including the following:

* Need for Speed™ SHIFT HD, developed by Electronic Arts (EA), is an award-winning, authentic racing game that combines the true driver's experience with real-world physics, pixel-perfect car models, and a wide range of authentic race tracks.
* DTS Ultra Mobile™, which includes two innovative audio technologies – DTS Envelo™ and DTS Boost™ – for a premium surround sound experience. When listening to music or playing games on the T-Mobile G2x, customers will enjoy rich, enhanced sound that adds depth, dimension and volume levels that are robust without distortion.
* A demo of Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance - N.O.V.A., developed by Gameloft, is a fast-paced sci-fi action game in which players operate as Kal Wardin, an elite soldier established to protect humanity from alien threats.
* T-Mobile TV, offering live and on-demand TV including news, sports and full-length entertainment, plus full episodes of your favorite shows.
* Zinio eReader, the largest online newsstand, enabling customers to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in new ways with more than 75,000 digital magazines from 26 countries.
* T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™, enabling video conversations with friends and family through T-Mobile's network and Wi-Fi.

Developed by graphics powerhouse NVIDIA, each CPU in the Tegra 2 processor runs at a speed of 1GHz and boasts low power consumption and high performance for playing video and audio. Combined with T-Mobile's lightning-fast 4G network, the G2x delivers a fast Web browsing experience, smooth game play, instantaneous touch response and seamless multitasking between applications for a compelling mobile entertainment experience.

In addition, the G2x will include NVIDIA's Tegra Zone application, which provides quick access to games optimized for the Tegra 2's dual-core architecture, which is built to handlethe performance requirements of mobile games that use PC and console quality graphics features.

The G2x comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and autofocus, and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera paired with the preloaded T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik for staying in touch with family and friends. With the phone's 1080p high-definition (HD) video recorder and DLNA compatibility, G2x customers can capture video and wirelessly connect to a compatible HD TV or other DLNA device for streaming full HD video content or enjoying a console-like gaming experience through HDMI mirroring, taking advantage of the phone's accelerometer and gyro sensor.

Powered by a stock version of the Android™ 2.2 operating system, the G2x offers access to more than 150,000 applications available on Android Market™ and integration with Google services such as Google Voice™, Voice Actions™ from Google, Google Goggles™, Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Places and Navigation, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Earth™ and more.

The G2x features smartphone essentials such as easy access to personal and work e-mail, including support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar, social networking, and instant messaging. The G2x also includes Swype® for easy text input, 8GB of internal memory with a microSD card slot with support for expandable memory up to 32GB, Stereo Bluetooth® 2.1, built-in 3.5mm headphone jack, Adobe® Flash® Player support and a music player.

The T-Mobile G2x with Google is expected to be available nationwide later this spring at T-Mobile retail stores and online at http://www.t-mobile.com.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play for Verizon hands-on (video)

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 08:06 PM PDT

Well, we knew it was coming, and tonight at CTIA we finally got our dirty little hands on Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play for Verizon. It's pretty much what we expected: an Xperia Play that's lacking a SIM slot but displaying a couple of Verizon tattoos logos. The front-facing camera is still on the menu, along with a tasty serving of Gingerbread -- Android 2.3.2, to be exact. Strangely, the custom skin we saw during our hands-on at MWC was nowhere to be found on Verizon's model, being replaced instead by what appears to be the stock Gingerbread UI with some Sony Ericsson wallpapers and widgets. The Xperia Play app was on full display on the demo phones, which came preloaded with Ashphalt 6, Bruce Lee, Crash Bandicoot, Star Battalion, Madden '11, and The Sims 3. Take a peek at our gallery below, and poke your way past the break for our hands-on video.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play for Verizon hands-on


Chris Ziegler contributed to this report.
at 11:42 AM

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