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Jobs breaks from medical leave to unveil iPad 2 (AP) : Technet |
- Jobs breaks from medical leave to unveil iPad 2 (AP)
- Review: Xoom emerges as first real iPad competitor (AP)
- Cell phone photo class is not just for taking pics (AP)
- How the iPad 2 stacks up against the competition (Ben Patterson)
- Apple unveils thinner, faster, camera-packing iPad 2 (Ben Patterson)
- Startup Gives Twitter a Private Messaging Option (Mashable)
- China rights group slams web curbs (AFP)
- A Tougher, Greener Battery Could Power Phones in Africa (LiveScience.com)
- Apple cuts original iPad price (Digital Trends)
- Emanuel: Fake Twitter wasn't always so far off (AP)
- Sony opens PlayStation Move for 'prestigious researchers and professionals' (Digital Trends)
- Bieber's hair clippings sell for more than $40K (AP)
- Hands-on review: Consumers unsure about Apple’s first tablet will want the iPad 2 (Appolicious)
- LifeProof Case protects your iPhone 4 from pretty much everything (Digital Trends)
- iPad 2 Keynote Streaming Video Now Available (Mashable)
- Apple's Jobs puts on lively iPad 2 show (Reuters)
- Comic Kinect Turns Human Interaction Into a Comic Book Fight Scene (PC World)
| Jobs breaks from medical leave to unveil iPad 2 (AP) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:47 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO – Apple is back with a refined second-generation tablet computer that squeezes more power into a thinner shell while keeping prices in check. It's a three-pronged push that should handily hold off competitors for another year. Underscoring the tablet's importance to Apple, CEO Steve Jobs briefly emerged from a medical leave Wednesday and made a surprising appearance to unveil the iPad 2 himself. With the original iPad, Apple proved there is great demand for a tablet that's less than a laptop and more than a smart phone, yet performs many of the same tasks. Dozens of copycat touch-screen devices are in the works, but so far none has broken into the mainstream consciousness the way the iPad has. "The competition is essentially going to be picking up the crumbs that Apple decides to leave behind," said Ashok Kumar, an analyst with Rodman & Renshaw. He said the number of software applications — or "apps" — available for the iPad gives Apple a huge advantage. "Is the tablet market anything beyond the iPad? So far the answer is no." Sarah Rotman Epps, a Forrester Research analyst, said iPads should make up at least 20 million of the 24.1 million tablet computers she expects people in the U.S. to buy this year. Except for Jobs' appearance, little came as a surprise after months of speculation about features and upgrades. The tablet has two cameras built in for taking photos, recording video and video chatting. The battery life will be the same as the original — about 10 hours of usage or a month on standby. The iPad 2 is faster than its predecessor. Ross Rubin, an analyst for the market researchers NPD Group, said that should make the iPad better for creating music, video and other content, rather than just consuming it. The iPad 2 is also thinner — 8.8 millimeters, or about a third of an inch, instead of the current 13.4 millimeters. It weighs just a bit less — 1.3 pounds, compared with the original 1.5 pounds. With a $39 accessory, people can connect the tablet to televisions, so they can watch high-definition videos on the bigger screen. The next-generation iPads will cost the same as the originals — $499 to $829, depending on storage space and whether they can connect to the Internet over a cellular network. Apple will add a white model to the current black. In the U.S., the iPad 2 will go on sale March 11 and work on AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless. Apple's online store began selling the original models for $100 off, starting at $399. Refurbished versions were even lower, starting at $349. A reporter who used a white iPad 2 immediately after the announcement found it noticeably thinner, with a more rounded back. YouTube video loaded quickly using AT&T's data service, and "Toy Story 3" played smoothly. Given its size, the iPad 2 appeared impractical for taking lots of photos, but both cameras will help with video chats — the front one to show the caller, and the back one to show what the caller is seeing. The iPad 2 shared the spotlight with the man who presented it — Jobs, who announced in January that he would take a third leave of absence to focus on his health. In the last decade, Jobs, 56, has survived a rare but curable form of pancreatic cancer and undergone a liver transplant. Jobs, looking frail in his signature black mock turtleneck and blue jeans, was greeted with a standing ovation. "We've been working on this product for a while, and I just didn't want to miss today," Jobs told an audience that included bloggers and Apple enthusiasts. "Thank you for having me." He did not address his health or say if and when he would return. Tablet computers existed long before the iPad, but it took Apple to build a device that made sense to consumers. Apple simplified the software, designed a sleek, shiny shell and sold 15 million of the iPads in nine months. The iPad was initially used for checking e-mail, surfing the Web and watching online video. But as the number of apps grew, the tablet made itself at home in offices, shops, restaurants and countless other settings. Competitors including Dell Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. have been trying since last year to lure consumers with smaller tablets, without much success. In February, Motorola Mobility Inc.'s Xoom went on sale with a new version of Google Inc.'s Android software that was designed for tablets, not smart phones. For a moment, the Xoom looks promising, with a comparably sized screen, a faster processor and a few other bells and whistles the original iPad didn't have. But the iPad 2 catches up again with dual cameras and a faster chip inside. It pulls ahead with a slimmer profile and the ever-expanding number of tablet-specific apps. After its March 11 U.S. launch, the iPad 2 goes on sale March 25 in 26 other markets, including Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and other European countries. Apple also introduced updates to the software that runs on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. The company said the update, iOS 4.3, will work on iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 models, except the new version for Verizon Wireless. Among other things, the new system turns iPhones and iPads with 3G cellular connections into personal Wi-Fi hotspots, so you can share the connection with computers or other devices — if your wireless carrier allows it. Many charge additional fees for this service. Apple also announced new software designed for the iPad, including a $4.99 version of iMovie for video editing and a $4.99 version of GarageBand, its music recording and editing software. GarageBand includes instruments that can be played by touching the iPad 2's screen, and it can even sense whether you're tapping quietly or banging on the "keys." The company also said Random House became the last major publisher to agree to sell its titles in Apple's e-books store. Shares of Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., rose $2.81, or less than 1 percent, to close Wednesday at $352.12. ___ Mintz reported from Seattle. AP Technology Writer Rachel Metz in San Francisco contributed to this report. |
| Review: Xoom emerges as first real iPad competitor (AP) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 01:43 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO – Motorola's Xoom has been hailed as the most likely tablet computer to rival Apple's iPad — the first with the goods to compete against the uncontested leader in this nascent but rapidly growing market. After trying it out, I found it to be a great gadget that, in many ways, can keep up with the black slab from Apple. The first black slab, that is. Unfortunately, Apple said Wednesday that it will start selling a new, improved iPad next week, which will likely make it difficult for the Xoom to snag many users. The Xoom is well-equipped, with a large, vivid touch screen and zippy processor. It's the first to use Honeycomb, Google Inc.'s flashy tablet-geared Android 3.0 software, which is a big improvement over older versions designed for phones but pushed onto some tablets. It's clear the software was designed for a tablet's larger touch screen. A persistent bar at the bottom of the screen displays virtual "home" and "back" buttons. You get information such as battery life and wireless reception and notifications for e-mails, instant messages and more. You also get a virtual button that can pull up miniaturized images of your most recently used apps, the way it looked when you last used them. That makes it convenient for speeding back over to a game or Web page. The touch-screen keyboard is also nicer, thanks to Honeycomb. It's easier to type e-mails and instant messages on the Xoom than on tablets running older versions of Android. Although it doesn't seem as easy to use as the iPad's virtual keyboard, the Xoom's keyboard is fairly spacious and was something I got use to typing with after several hours. Those who do a lot of typing can use a Bluetooth keyboard or connect a USB keyboard with an adapter through the Xoom's Micro USB port. There's one big blemish marring the Xoom's otherwise delightful package: its price tag. The Xoom, made by Motorola Mobility Inc. and available from Verizon Wireless, costs $800 without a cellular-service contract, about $70 more than a similarly apportioned iPad. You can get a Xoom for $600, but you'll have to sign up for a two-year data plan that runs at least $20 per month; by contrast, AT&T Inc. offers month-to-month data service for the iPad. Like the iPad, the Xoom lets you access the Internet through Wi-Fi, so a data plan isn't essential. While Motorola offers the Xoom in only one configuration right now — with 32 gigabytes of storage and data access through both Wi-Fi and Verizon's cellular network — Apple offers a range of iPads. The cheapest is $499 and comes with 16 gigabytes of built-in storage and Wi-Fi access. The most expensive is $829 for a 64-gigabyte version with Wi-Fi and the ability to access AT&T's data network for an additional fee. Apple's iPad 2, which will be available in black and white, will keep the same pricing structure, and a version of it will work with Verizon's network. Other than price, the Xoom and the iPad appear pretty similar: Both are thin, shiny slabs, though the Xoom's screen is a bit bigger (and the new iPad is noticeably thinner). The Xoom, like the iPad, has very few buttons: Volume buttons sit on one side, and a combined power and lock button is inconveniently positioned on the back. The Xoom also has some 3-D-esque views incorporated throughout Xoom's software. Play music on the Xoom and you'll notice your albums are viewable in a 3-D-like array, or open up the included YouTube app and you'll see a curved gallery of videos. I was happy to see an updated Web browser, which gives you the ability to open multiple tabs on a single screen; the iPad can't do that and instead forces you to open a new window for each Web page. Web surfing becomes easier and more clearly organized because you can see what you're doing all on one screen, without having to leave the webpage you're looking at. The browser also lets you surf the Web in "incognito mode," which means pages you visit won't be logged in the tablet's browsing or search history; that's a feature common on desktop browsers. Sadly, the Xoom didn't come with support for Flash videos, which is a popular online video format. An upgrade to allow that is coming soon. The Xoom's screen measures 10.1 inches diagonally, compared with the iPad's 9.7 inches. Its resolution is slightly higher than the iPad's, and videos and photos looked bright and sharp with vivid colors. It's great for reading books downloaded through the included Google Books app. The app looks similar to one for Apple Inc.'s iBooks, but it also has "day" and "night" settings. Those let you switch to a white-text-on-black-background view when reading in the dark. The Xoom includes a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 2-megapixel camera on the front — cameras were lacking on the first iPad, but the iPad 2 will also have front and rear cameras. The Xoom's back camera includes some simple color effects and scene modes for adjusting your images. The front camera works with Google Talk's video chat feature, so you can conduct video chats with friends. This is a nice addition I'd been waiting to see. I hoped there would be more tablet-specific apps available through Google's Android Market, but I only counted a handful, including a CNN application and the "Fruit Ninja" game. Several existing apps looked good on the Xoom's larger screen, however, including the game "Angry Birds." These features are backed up by a dual-core processor, which make the Xoom zip along. The Xoom's 1 gigabyte of random-access memory — the kind important for running programs — is much more than the iPad has. In my tests, the tablet rarely faltered and was quick to load content offline. Online, it was fairly speedy and reliable, and this is expected to improve. Currently, the Xoom uses Wi-Fi or Verizon's existing 3G data network for wireless service. Eventually, it will be upgraded to work on Verizon's faster 4G network. The battery is rated for up to about 10 hours of video playback, or about nine hours of Web browsing over 3G; I played YouTube videos over Verizon's network and got more than six hours of life out of the Xoom. Not bad, but it could be better. Regardless, the Xoom is a strong tablet, and the first true competitor to the iPad thus far. The new iPad looks enticing, but if you're set on getting a non-Apple tablet and can get past the Xoom's steep price, it's a good pick. ___ Rachel Metz can be reached at rmetz(at)ap.org. |
| Cell phone photo class is not just for taking pics (AP) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 02:29 PM PST PHILADELPHIA – A new cell phone photography class at a suburban Philadelphia university focuses on both the quality of the images and the ethical responsibilities that come with taking and publishing them. Cell phone cameras — and associated scandals — have become so ubiquitous that it's important for students to realize "the full gravity of what's at their fingertips and the power they can have," Immaculata University communications professor Sean Flannery said. Flannery teaches the class with Hunter Martin, a professional photographer who works with students on the mechanics of making the images, including composition, lighting and editing. Flannery deals with such issues as voyeurism, ethics, citizen journalism and the difference between public and private spaces. With cell phone photos constantly making headlines — images ranging from a US Airways jet afloat in the Hudson River to a shirtless Rep. Chris Lee, which led to his resignation — Flannery said his goal is "to sell the students on the notion that the camera phone and its usage in culture is news in the making." "I think it's part of our responsibility ... to teach kids how to use this tool," he said, adding that it's no different from teaching proper use of a videocamera in a broadcast news class. Cell phone photography courses are not new. New York University has offered a cell phone video class each fall since 2009. Immaculata officials believe theirs is different in addressing the ethical aspects as well. Stephen Vujevich, a 21-year-old senior, said he hopes the class will teach him how to be a responsible citizen journalist — by capturing and disseminating images from newsworthy moments — "instead of being the awkward onlooker." "Society is rapid ... it's viral," said Vujevich, of New Kensington, Pa. "When something happens, people want to know about it." About 20 students enrolled in the course this semester, the first time it has been offered. The university plans to offer again it next spring, though Martin said they may begin requiring smart phones. About a third of the current class has older, less sophisticated phones that are unable to e-mail pictures or download photo editing apps; some cannot take horizontal photos, Martin said. Flannery and Martin plan to exhibit the students' cell phone photos at a campus art show in April. Immaculata is a private Catholic university that serves about 1,000 full-time undergraduate students in Malvern, about 20 miles west of Philadelphia. |
| How the iPad 2 stacks up against the competition (Ben Patterson) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 11:57 AM PST Now that we've finally got the official details for the next iPad, those in the market for a new tablet can begin comparison shopping in earnest. On paper, it looks like the iPad 2 (read the announcement details right here) adds the features it needs to keep up with its upcoming tablet competitors. For example, we're talking a faster, dual-core processor (essential for speedy performance and smooth multitasking), dual cameras (including a front-facing lens for video chat, a key omission in the original iPad), and a thinner and lighter form factor. The second iPad also keeps a couple of key qualities from the first: 10 hours of battery life, and a $499 price tag for the cheapest, 16GB Wi-Fi-only model. But several of the tablets listed below, including the Dell Streak 7, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and (eventually) the dual-core processor-packing Motorola Xoom come with Flash support (the Xoom is still awaiting a software update from Flash developer Adobe), while the LG G-Slate and the PlayBook will connect with bleeding-edge 4G data networks. (The Xoom will ultimately do so as well, although you'll have to ship it back to Verizon Wireless for hardware and firmware tweaks.) Any true head-to-head evaluation of these tablets will have to wait until we get them in for testing, of course. For now, though, I've gone ahead and compiled a list of specs for the top iPad competitors that are either available now in the U.S. or are on their way soon. We're still waiting for full details and pricing on some of 2011's most-anticipated upcoming tablets, but hey—I figured you'd want to see the details we do have, at least. Specifications are supplied by the manufacturers—particularly when it comes to battery life. If I've reviewed or had hands-on time with any of the tablets, you'll find a link below the list of specs. All set? Then here we go... Apple iPad 2 Dell Streak 7 Dimensions: 7.9 by 4.7 by 0.5 inches HP TouchPad
LG G-Slate
Motorola Xoom
Samsung Galaxy Tab Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 RIM BlackBerry PlayBook — Ben Patterson is a technology blogger for Yahoo! News. |
| Apple unveils thinner, faster, camera-packing iPad 2 (Ben Patterson) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 10:23 AM PST A year after revitalizing the once-sleepy, now red-hot tablet market with the original iPad, Apple surprised absolutely no one Wednesday by taking the wrapper off a slimmer, trimmer version of the wildly popular slate, complete with a front-facing camera for video chat (finally!) and a souped-up processor. The new iPad 2 took the spotlight during a press event at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, with none other than Apple CEO Steve Jobs—who is still on medical leave, mind you ("he looks good," Engadget noted on its live blog)—taking the stage to unveil the much-anticipated follow-up to the best-selling original. The "dramatically faster" iPad 2 boasts a dual-core A5 "system on a chip" processor under the hood, said Jobs, good for twice the CPU power and nine times the graphics performance of the original while maintaining the same 10-hour battery life. (Related: How the iPad 2 stacks up against the competition) Also new: dual cameras (at last), including a front-facing camera for VGA-quality video chat, while the rear camera will be good for 720p video capture. (Apple hasn't listed specific megapixel counts for the iPad 2's cameras yet.) As predicted, the 9.7-inch display on the iPad 2 has the same resolution as that on the original: 1,024 by 768, to be exact, disappointing news for anyone hoping that the new iPad would boast an improved "retina"-style display.
Measuring 9.5 by 7.3 by 0.34 inches, the iPad 2 is slightly shorter and narrower than the original (according to Apple's specs, at least), with the listed weight of 1.33 pounds (or 1.35 for the 3G-enabled iPad 2) a bit lighter than the iPad 1. As with the first iPad, the iPad 2 comes with Apple's proprietary 30-pin dock connector for syncing and charging, along with a 3.5mm headset jack. Missing in action, however, is a slot for SD (or microSD) memory cards. A white version of the iPad will be available on "Day One," promised Jobs, with Apple probably hoping to avoid last year's debacle of the white iPhone that never quite arrived.
The iPad 2 retains the same price points as the original: $499 for the 16GB version, $599 for the 32GB model, and $699 for the 64GB model. The 3G-enabled versions will also come with the same $130 premium over the Wi-Fi-only models (think $629 for the 3G-ready 16GB iPad 2, $729 for 32GB, and $829 for the 64GB version), and they'll be available for both AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The ship date? March 11 in the U.S., and March 25 in 26 additional countries. Jobs also announced a new "Smart Cover" to go along with the iPad 2—one with magnetic clasps that either wakes up the iPad or puts it to sleep depending on whether it's being attached or removed. The polyurethane version of the case will sell for $39, while a pricier leather one goes for $69. Another new accessory is a $39 HDMI video-out cable that's capable of 1080p video mirroring. The cable works with all iPad apps, Jobs said, and it'll charge your iPad when plugged into a power source.
March 11 will also see the release of iOS version 4.3, with new features such as personal hotspot support for the iPhone 4 (nice), a speedier version of Safari, improvements to AirPlay media streaming, and FaceTime video chat. Not bad, but the iOS 4.3 release on the 11th will only be for iPads, third- and fourth-generation iPod Touches, and the GSM version of the iPhone—meaning that owners of the iPhone for Verizon (which runs a CDMA network) will have to wait. There will also be a new iPad version of Apple's iMovie video-editing app, which is slated to arrive March 11 for $4.99. Before unveiling the new iPad, Jobs confirmed recent rumors that book publisher Random House, the last of the major iBooks holdouts, would be offering more than 17,000 volumes through Apple's e-book store.
Jobs also took a shot at Honeycomb, Google's new Android-based tablet OS, by bragging that only 100 Honeycomb-ready apps are currently available for download, versus about 65,000 apps for the iPad—perhaps not the fairest comparison, since the first Honeycomb-enabled tablet only landed in stores about a week ago. The first iPad, originally unveiled last January before landing in stores the following April, was initially greeted with skepticism. Where's the camera, reviewers (including me, I'll admit) and wary consumers asked? Why no SD card slot—or USB, for that matter? How are you supposed to hold the thing, especially while tapping the on-screen keypad? Isn't it just a jumbo-sized iPod Touch? And what are you supposed to do with the thing, anyway? Valid questions all, but in the end, the numbers speak for themselves: 14.8 million sold in 2010 alone, a total that shocked even the most optimistic Apple watchers, with the iPad laying waste to the once-burgeoning netbook market and even taking a bite out of laptop sales. During Wednesday's event, Jobs claimed that the iPad now has a 90-percent share of the tablet market. Unsurprisingly, the massive success of the iPad has drawn a slew of competitors, with sleek new tablets from the likes of Dell, HP, LG, Motorola, and Samsung either on sale now or waiting in the wings. Most of the hottest new tablets (such as the Motorola Xoom and the upcoming LG G-Slate) are based on Google's tablet-oriented Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" OS, although we'll also be seeing such non-Android tablets as HP's WebOS-based TouchPad and the BlackBerry PlayBook from RIM. So, what do you think—is the iPad 2 a worthy successor to the iPad? Planning to get one on March 11, or will you instead go for one of the iPad's increasingly powerful, feature-packed competitors? (Image credits: Reuters, via Yahoo! News; Apple) — Ben Patterson is a technology blogger for Yahoo! News. |
| Startup Gives Twitter a Private Messaging Option (Mashable) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:04 PM PST This post is part of Mashable's Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. Name: Umagram Quick Pitch: Umagram lets you tweet private message links to people who don't follow you. Genius Idea: We've all done the Twitter direct message dance. We look up people we're trying to get in touch with on Google and find their Twitter handles. We send a message asking them to DM us. After they follows us, we send back another DM with our e-mail address in it. They e-mail us. We reply, and are thus FINALLY able to convey the information we wanted to. Umagram aims to help its users skip this tedious process and instead cut straight to the private, unrestricted conversation. Here's how it works: A user logs in with a Twitter account. To initiate a conversation, the user composes a tweet that mentions anyone with whom that person wants to participate in the conversation. Umagram posts the tweet with a unique link to the conversation on its messaging platform. Because users need to sign in to Umagram with a specific Twitter identity, only people named in the initial tweet have access to the conversation.
The conversation looks like a commenting platform, has no character limits, and allows users to attach documents. If someone responds to the conversation, he can choose to tweet a reply message to the person who initiated to indicate he's done so. Unlike the DM approach, the solution keeps e-mail addresses on both sides private. Founder David Rostan built the platform, originally referred to as "Unnamed Messaging Application" (hence, UMA), when he ran into problems making professional connections for his other startup, corporate social responsibility forum Socialyell.com. While he knew the Twitter handles for the people he thought would participate on the site, the DM dance was growing tiring. Rostan started the platform to solve this problem for himself and others, but in the future, he thinks that Umagram could be a good solution for customer service via Twitter, pitching media outlets, and a convenient way to make introductions. Another app, Privately, is working on a similar idea, but is still in private beta.
Sponsored by Microsoft BizSparkBizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today. |
| China rights group slams web curbs (AFP) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 07:27 PM PST BEIJING (AFP) – Rights campaigners face "severe repression" in China, with the heavily-censored Internet the main battleground in the fight for freedom of expression, a Hong Kong-based group has said. The Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), a network of activists, detailed a litany of rights abuses in its annual report on the events of 2010, from more than 3,500 cases of arbitrary detention to allegations of torture. The group called on Beijing to release all rights activists including jailed Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, investigate security personnel accused of rights violations and guarantee free expression and unfettered Internet access. "The fact that Liu is serving an 11-year prison sentence for engaging in peaceful advocacy for human rights and democracy also highlights the severe repression that those engaging in human rights activism can face," it said. The 24-page report said the Internet was vital to activists as a tool for spreading information and organising protests but said it was "the principal arena where the battles for freedom of expression were fought out" in 2010. CHRD noted attacks on the websites of activist groups including its own, the shutdown of activist blogs and microblogs, the suspension of their web access and changes to the "state secrets" law that put web campaigners at risk. It described the Internet blackout in China's far-western Xinjiang region -- where deadly ethnic violence erupted in July 2009 -- as "the most extensive and protracted electronic communications shutdown in the Internet era in China". The Chinese government has expended tremendous resources to police the web, blocking anti-government postings and other politically sensitive material with a system known as the "Great Firewall of China." Foreign social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are officially blocked, yet are accessed by some of China's world-topping 457 million Internet users via proxy servers. Authorities in China have become increasingly nervous about the Internet's power to mobilise ordinary citizens in the wake of unrest in the Arab world, and an anonymous online call for anti-government "Jasmine" rallies at home. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last month renewed a call for global Internet freedom, pointing at China as one of several countries that restrict web access, impose censorship or arrest bloggers who criticise the government. CHRD condemned restrictions on the right to freedom of association, saying those curbs worsened during "sensitive" periods such as in the weeks following the announcement of Liu's Nobel win. It decried the illegal detention of petitioners seeking redress for alleged wrongdoings at the local level, saying it had documented more than 2,600 cases involving so-called "black jails". Hundreds more were subjected to house arrest, short-term detentions by police or "enforced travel" -- being made to leave one's home at a sensitive period for a number of days, CHRD noted. |
| A Tougher, Greener Battery Could Power Phones in Africa (LiveScience.com) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:35 PM PST One of the problems facing developing countries is that people in rural communities tend to walk around with dead cell phones. That is because mobile devices are cheaper than ever, but power plants are still expensive. But as a work-around in off-the-grid communities, phone owners have learned to run charge cords off of used car batteries. Now, Fenix International, a San Francisco-based design firm, may have a better solution for these communities: a new ruggedized battery and generator system called ReadySet. The device, its designers believe, could put more electricity in off-the-grid homes, create jobs, reduce indoor air pollution by replacing kerosene lanterns with LEDs, and eliminate car battery acid leaks. Plus, the telecom industry is hooked on it. Network carriers can make 10 to 14 percent more money from users who can keep their phones charged, and an estimated 500 million cell phone users worldwide live off the grid, according to a report from the mobile communications group GSMA. “Building upon the existing culture was the inspiration for this solution,” said Michael Lin, founder of Fenix. “People in developing communities have a variety of needs, of course, but access to electricity is exciting in that it empowers people to improve their lives in a number of areas.” Ready, set… ReadySet is a plastic-encased brick optimized for charging phones and powering electronics. It has USB and cigar-lighter ports to serve the chargers most commonly found in East Africa, and it can recharge in a standard electrical outlet, a solar panel or on a mount for a stationary bicycle called a “Velo.” The device needs no assembly. Under its cute case, ReadySet is a lead-acid battery, so it shares the same guts that a car battery has. The difference is that because it is programmed to shut off before it is fully drained, this device retains its ability to charge for longer than a car battery does. It is also acid leak-resistant, unlike a car battery. Fenix's lab testers dropped the battery onto concrete from three feet above, sprayed it with salt water, blasted it UV rays, ran it through thousands of cycles — and it still stayed intact and leak free. Will it sell? Fenix is pilot-testing ReadySet in ten African markets. Retail sales should begin by June, and it may make its way to the developed world by the end of the year. The price for the kit should start at US $150, and the cost could fall if orders pick up. That price, however, could be a sticking point for poor rural consumers, many of whom earn $2 to $4 per day. But in Lin's view, ReadySet could pay for itself by enabling business. In pilot tests, small business owners supplement their income by selling charges for $0.25 each. That is nothing new—people have paid for phone charges from car batteries for several years. “We are working to distribute ReadySet with several large mobile phone network operators that have in excess of 100 million subscribers,” Lin said. This story was provided by InnovationNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience.
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| Apple cuts original iPad price (Digital Trends) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:03 PM PST The iPad 2 still isn't available for preorder, but if it's any consolation, the original iPad is now $100 cheaper. The 16GB iPad with Wi-Fi will now only cost you $399, on up to the 64GB, Wi-Fi + 3G model, which now runs for $729. If you're in the market for a new iPad, all the new flashy bells and whistles of the iPad 2 might be too much to ignore. But hey, if you don't care about a little extra bulk, dual cameras, a gyroscope, and Photobooth, you're in luck. Although something tells us that anyone looking at tablets is going to be convinced to pay up for a dual-core processor. Here's a quick look at some iPad 2 specs compared to the original before you make any purchasing decisions: |
| Emanuel: Fake Twitter wasn't always so far off (AP) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 05:23 PM PST |
| Sony opens PlayStation Move for 'prestigious researchers and professionals' (Digital Trends) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:26 PM PST
Before any PlayStation deviants out there get too excited, notice the "innovators" keyword. By that, Sony means industry insiders and academics. PlayStation has been treading carefully on this ground, especially considering it's currently in the throes of battling PS3 hackers and banning console imports. Maybe pressure from competitors has been making Sony consider a more open platform. Microsoft recently announced it would release the Kinect SDK after seeing what hobbyists were capable of creating. Microsoft has taken incremental steps since initially threatening legal action against Kinect hackers, ultimately trying to put itself in the favor of their ingenuity. Up until now, Sony hasn't been quite as lenient. Aside from one member of the Move team saying he'd like to see what this technology could do in the right hands, the only commentary Sony has made on hacking is that it really, really doesn't like it. It seems that last month's DICE Summit in Las Vegas did hint that something was in the works. We reported that a session at the conference would "bring developers up to speed on developer for the PlayStation Move controller…We will discuss the new Move Server project that will make it possible for academics and hobbyists to developer software." In Sony's press release from GDC today, it makes it explicitly clear who it considers expert enough to gain such a privilege. "A handful of prestigious researchers and professionals in the medical, academic and human-computer interaction fields have already expressing interest in creating innovative applications that leverage the unique motion-sensing technology offered by PlayStation Move." It doesn't sound like your local PS3 modders will be handed the Move SDK just yet. But don't give up hope: Sony has notoriously fought hackers, so consider this a baby step in the opposite direction. |
| Bieber's hair clippings sell for more than $40K (AP) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:54 PM PST NEW YORK – Justin Bieber's hair is officially the stuff of legend: His hair clippings have sold for more than $40,000 on eBay. After the 17-year-old pop sensation chopped off some of his famous locks, he brought the clippings to the "Ellen" show. Host Ellen DeGeneres put them on eBay. When the bidding ended, the clippings went for $40,668. The proceeds are being donated to The Gentle Barn, which rescues neglected and abused animals and uses them to help disadvantaged kids. Bieber's magic touch continues. He's got two albums in the top five on the U.S. album chart this week, and his movie, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (3-D)," has grossed almost $70 million at the box office since its release last month. ___ Online: |
| Hands-on review: Consumers unsure about Apple’s first tablet will want the iPad 2 (Appolicious) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PST |
| LifeProof Case protects your iPhone 4 from pretty much everything (Digital Trends) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 07:00 PM PST
Toting around your mobile appendage at all times has its hazards — water, dirt, grime, weather elements, and falls, you name it. For many of you, we know that mobile appendage is the oh-so-handy iPhone 4. While it has countless excellent qualities, sturdiness through all of life's situations is not one of them. The LifeProof Case ($70 pre-order) aims to change that by making your iPhone 4 as invincible as possible, including (claimed) protection from water, weather, snow, dirt, dust, grime, bumps, and falls. The slim and cleanly-designed case offers total phone functionality while only adding 1.5mm to the iPhone 4′s thin profile. The case is designed to military specifications of waterproofing and shock resistance and can survive under water to two meters. If you've been dying to take your iPhone underwater, you can also purchase the waterproof headphone adapter that will soon be available. Now we can all take our phones everywhere…even the shower. Whether that is progress or descent into insanity we're not sure. |
| iPad 2 Keynote Streaming Video Now Available (Mashable) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 02:09 PM PST Today will be remembered as the day the iPad 2 first showed its pretty face. Now the recorded video stream is available, letting you see for yourself as Steve Jobs and his cohorts deliver the news. What else do you think this day will be remembered for? Watch the video here. According to Webtrends, people were commenting more about Steve Jobs than the iPad 2:
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| Apple's Jobs puts on lively iPad 2 show (Reuters) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:35 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A thin but energetic Steve Jobs made a surprise return to the spotlight on Wednesday, taking the stage to unveil Apple Inc's new iPad and drawing a standing ovation. The Silicon Valley legend has been out on medical leave since late January and his reappearance, in trademark turtleneck and jeans, bolstered Apple shares and reassured investors and fans worried about his health. Defying speculation in some tabloid reports that he was seriously ailing, Jobs took swipes at rivals and mocked competing tablet computers. Striding back and forth across the stage at the Yerba Buena Center, Jobs spoke passionately about the iPad 2's features as No. 2 and heir apparent Tim Cook looked on. The $499 device is thinner than the iPhone 4, twice as fast as the last tablet, camera-equipped, and ships March 11 in the United States and March 25 in 26 more countries. The surprisingly fast roll-out highlights the fierce competition in the tablet market. "We've been working on this product for a while and I just didn't want to miss today," Jobs told a packed auditorium in San Francisco with his characteristic flair and energy. A relaxed-looking Jobs lingered near the theater stage for more than 20 minutes after the show wrapped up, chatting amiably with acquaintances and Apple employees. In the run-up to the event, there had been almost as much speculation about whether Jobs would appear as there was about the device itself. Jobs, who has been treated for a rare form of pancreatic cancer, remains on medical leave for an undisclosed condition. An Apple spokesman referred questions about his medical leave back to Jobs' statement in January that he planned to remain involved in major strategic decisions for the company. His appearance on Wednesday comes at a critical moment. Apple is launching the next generation of its ground-breaking tablet computer just as its main adversaries are releasing their first such devices. "Steve Jobs is the most important asset for Apple without a doubt and that's why investors are so curious about whether he will remain and continue to have an impact," said Robert Lutts, chief investment officer at Cabot Money Management. "The stock went up after his appearance but not as much as it normally would if Apple had a fully healthy CEO." IPAD 2 ARRIVES NEXT WEEK The iPad 2 goes on sale at AT&T Inc and Verizon Wireless, and at $499 is about $100 cheaper than Motorola Mobility's Xoom. Its shares slid 4 percent. Avian Securities analyst Matthew Thornton said Motorola investors were concerned by both its earlier-than-expected release and its still-aggressive pricing. "The hardware is as good as anything on the market, the price is still very aggressive, and the software just buries the competition," said Gartner analyst Van Baker. "They're still the guys to beat by a large margin." "This does serious damage to the competitors in the market. Xoom now looks like an extraordinarily expensive tablet, and the HP tablet looks under-featured." Apple sold nearly 15 million iPads in nine months of 2010, two or three times as many as analysts had predicted. The company is expected to sell 30 million or more this year, which would generate close to $20 billion in sales. That is despite a growing cast of competitors such as Motorola, Research in Motion and Hewlett-Packard Co. Shares of Cupertino, California-based Apple rose 0.8 percent to close at $352.1 on Nasdaq. It held steady in after-hours trade. "It's pretty positive. It's definitely a sign that he's in good enough health," said Vijay Rakesh at Sterne Agee. Tablets are seen as a must-have device for consumers and many businesses over the next few years. Analysts expect the market to surge to more than 50 million units this year, and 200 million units by 2015. As in the smartphone market, Apple's chief rival is expected to be Google Inc's Android platform, which is free to license and is being used on a number of tablets. The iPad, along with the iPhone, is expected to fuel Apple's growth over the next several years. The two product lines already make up more than half the company's revenue. Apple's products tend to be priced at a premium to its rivals, but the iPad has been priced aggressively low versus the competition, both to dominate the market and because the company can leverage its own retail network and pre-bought manufacturing capacity. That has pinched the company's margins, a problem Apple seems happy to live with if the tablet can deliver such startling growth. A longer-term problem might be the question of who might replace Jobs were he to step down -- Cook is the favorite for the top job and has been running Apple in his boss's absence. But for now, concerns that Jobs might have to exit -- stirred by sensationalist and unsubstantiated tabloid reports -- appear to be allayed by Wednesday's proceedings. "Investors know his illness is pretty serious, but it's comforting to know that while he's in his supposed leave of absence, he's still involved," said Capital Advisors Growth Fund co-manager Channing Smith. "The new product looks good and the key is they continue to innovate, which is what we want to watch rather than looking at Steve Jobs." (Writing by Edwin Chan; Additional reporting by Bill Rigby in Seattle, Sinead Carew and Liana B. Baker in New York, Noel Randewich and Braden Reddall in San Francisco; Editing by Richard Chang) |
| Comic Kinect Turns Human Interaction Into a Comic Book Fight Scene (PC World) Posted: 02 Mar 2011 04:56 PM PST Life would be better with flashy comic book sound effects. At least, that's what one group of students thinks. Four students at Carnegie Mellon University worked together to create "Comic Kinect," a Kinect hack that adds comic book-esque sound effects to ordinary contact. The software tracks users' skeletons, and then adds graphics where they contact each other to simulate the look of a fight. The end result is something that looks like footage out of the old live action Batman series, with punches that stop just short of their intended target eliciting a striking "POW" or "WHAM." If you're interested in replicating the effect at home, you're unfortunately out of luck at the moment. There's no sign of the source code. But if you're looking for comic book fun, why not try this Super Saiyan hack? Blair Hanley Frank wishes he was a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Like this? You might also enjoy...
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