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Thursday, April 14, 2011

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ASUS debuts, showcases new 3D and IPS-based Designo displays

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:32 AM PDT

If it ain't broke, don't fix it; ASUS has taken this old adage to heart, offering up some moderate, but worthwhile changes to its latest consumer and 3D monitor lines. Retaining the award-winning style of its Designo series, the outfit is launching a trio of new 22-, 23-, and 24-inch IPS and VA panel displays -- each vaunting a 178-degree viewing angle, 1920 x 1080 resolution as well as more accurate color reproduction and a higher contrast ratio than previous models. Too bad this change didn't carry over to ASUS' 3D line -- despite adding an integrated IR transmitter for NVIDIA 3D Vision, the 1080p 27-inch LED VG278H sports a backlit TN panel (boo), same as it's predecessor. But hey, at least the integrated transmitter ought to free up some desk space... right? No official price on these just yet, but check out the more coverage link below for a spate of eyes-on impressions.

[Thanks, TheLostSwede]

TiVo survey hints at multiroom companion box, four tuner DVR in the future

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:11 AM PDT

If you were wondering what is next for TiVo, another leaked customer survey may give some indications. ZatzNotFunny has a few screenshots, and the questions ask customers about their interest in a companion box that could sit in another room and stream live TV or recordings from the DVR on a second TV, as well as their interest in a DVR with four tuners. Windows Media Center fans with four tuner InfiniTV setups or Moxi owners with three are unlikely to accept anything with less, and TiVo itself already ships a three tuner box for Virgin Media in the UK while cable and satellite providers have largely stuck with two, making it a logical feature to beat them on. Those weren't the only features users were asked about, they also ranked items like the ability to hide SD versions of channels from the guide, browse recorded shows on every DVR from any box and other UI related options. TiVo is apparently figuring out where it should allocate resources going forward and while we'd suggest enabling the second core of that processor and extending the new Premiere UI across all menus, they didn't ask us. Check out the full text of the survey a tipster forwarded to us after the break and see if TiVo missed anything else you might want them to focus on.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Show full PR text
There were mainly two questions. The first wanted a numerical rating from 0 to 100 for two options. The only stipulation was that the total of the two ratings summed to 100.

(1) A companion device for your DVR. It allows a second TV (in another room) to watch live TV (in HD) and also watch the recordings from your DVR.
(2) A 4-tuner high-definition DVR that allows you to record up to 4 shows at one time (and watch a 5th show that is previously recorded).

The second question provided a more extensive list of features which we were to choose those we thought interesting. Again, from that subset, we were to provide numerical ratings that summed to 100.

(1) Sort your recordings by season and episode number. For example, if you recorded 20 episodes of The Simpsons on your DVR, this feature would allow you to browse and watch them from earliest season to latest.

(2) Mark on demand movies you want to watch in the future. Come back to that list later, when you are ready to watch and see all the movies you previously marked.

(3) For channels you receive in HD, automatically hide the standard definition versions from the onscreen program guide.

(4) When searching for a movie or show, if it isn't available to watch or record now, have an option to save this search and automatically record it if it becomes available in the future.

(5) Customize a list of shortcuts to your favorite tasks (such as: go to the Search feature, go to Netflix Instant) and access it using a dedicated button on the remote control.

(6) Ability to watch recorded TV shows and movies from any connected DVR in your home, without having to copy the show to the DVR you are using.

(7) From any one DVR in your home, view a single, integrated list of *all* the TV shows and movies that have been recorded on any DVR in the home.

(8) When searching for a specific TV show or movie, if it is not available from a channel or video provider I currently get, list other ways I could get it, such as subscribing to a premium channel or signing up for a different video provider (Netflix, Hulu)

(9) When a conflict prevents a show from being scheduled, suggest another DVR in the home that is available to record it.

(10) Find and record upcoming sporting events by specific league or team.

(11) When browsing the onscreen program guide, see at a glance what programs the DVR recommends for you based on shows and actors you have enjoyed in the past.

(12) Organize and view your recorded shows in different ways (to include: shows you already started watching, all sports together, all movies together).

(13) Ability to see a list of live TV shows and movies that are: playing now, available on favorite channels, popular, liked by friends, or new.

(14) When looking for a movie or show to watch, see the available programs ordered by time: What is free & on right now, from on demand, or can be recorded later this week.

(15) When setting up recordings, display *all* conflicting programs and choose exactly which programs to record and which to skip.

(16) Set up a recording for specific seasons of a TV show, instead of all episodes (e.g. record only Season 1 of Lost).

(17) Customize a list of shortcuts to your favorite tasks (such as: go to the Search feature, go to Netflix Instant) and access it from the DVR's main screen.

(18) In the onscreen program guide, group channels affiliated with the same network (NBC, HBO, etc.) together in the guide, even if they have widely separated channel numbers.

(19) Record every episode of a TV show on every channel that it appears on.

(20) View a 3-line "mini Guide" while watching live TV, displaying 3 channels of program guide information at a time, so that more of the show you are watching is visible.

(21) Use search to find a particular station (like HBO, NBC or ESPN). Selecting a channel from the results takes you directly to live TV for that channel.

Microsoft confirms IE10 won't run on Vista, millions of IE9 users shrug

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 10:50 AM PDT

If you're part of the dwindling group still using Windows Vista, you'll have to wait until your next upgrade to take IE10 for a spin -- Microsoft has confirmed that the latest version of its browser won't run on its last-gen operating system, either in developer preview form or when the final software ships. While it's tempting to interpret that as an attempt on Microsoft's part to put the widely loathed Vista in its past, there's actually a precedent for this -- remember that Microsoft cut off XP support when it unveiled IE9. As a Microsoft rep told Computerworld, the company would rather not have to develop software for a lowest-common denominator. At least, if you do have to stick with the newly minted IE9, you can be sure you'll be in good company.

iOS 4.3.2 now available to download, fixes iPad 3G and FaceTime woes

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 10:21 AM PDT

If you're hankering to be riding the very latest mobile software from Apple, hit up your iTunes, for version 4.3.2 of iOS is now available for downloadin' and updatin'. Fixes for occasional "blank or frozen" FaceTime video and iPad 3G issues get top billing, while the obligatory security updates fill out the rest. The size of this mighty software drop? A hefty 666.2MB.

[Thanks, Ravi]

Microsoft's latest WP7 chassis spec includes second-gen Snapdragon, optional gyroscope

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 10:04 AM PDT

The minimum specs for Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 OS have taken a nice bump upwards, it has been revealed at this year's MIX. Current WP7 handsets are all running the Qualcomm MSM8x50 Snapdragon, the original 1GHz chip with Adreno 200 graphics, but Microsoft has now upgraded the requirement to Qualcomm's second-gen part, the MSM8x55 and the more powerful Adreno 205 GPU. That's already seen widespread adoption among devices like the HTC Thunderbolt and Xperia Play, but Microsoft isn't content with just one option and is also throwing in Qualcomm's MSM7x30, a fine multimedia performer that's already hit the market inside the T-Mobile G2. The latter part also comes with Adreno 205, making it a constant of future Windows Phone devices, while the option to include a gyroscope has also been provisioned for. Video of the MIX 11 session explaining these tweaks and much more about WP7 architecture can be found after the break.

South Pacific's Vanuatu grabbing fiber internet connection, sidesteps 'remote' stereotype

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 09:49 AM PDT

Ever been to Vanuatu? Neither have the vast majority of the world's inhabitants -- particularly those who simply can't function off the grid. For ages, the island archipelago has relied on sluggish, unpredictable satellite connections for eBay bids and liveblog following, but it looks as if fares to the blossoming nation are about to head even further north. Around this time next year, the Pacific Island destination will be connected to the real internet, thanks to an undersea optical fiber backbone cable linking it to nearby Fiji. Interchange and Alcatel-Lucent will be working to lay and operate the 1,230 kilometer cable system, which will "link directly into the high capacity Southern Cross Cable between Sydney and Hawaii." At first, the system will be equipped to handle 20Gbis/sec -- a figure that dwarfs the country's current capacity by 200x. In time, that should creep up to 320Gbit/sec, enabling your future vacation videos to hit YouTube in record time. Total cost? $30 million, or a drop in the bucket compared to the economic boom that's bound to transpire.
Show full PR text
Pacific Island's Vanuatu to join the world's optical fibre Internet backbone

Paris, April 14, 2011 – Interchange Limited, a Vanuatu based company, and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) have signed a landmark agreement to deploy Vanuatu's first international submarine cable system linking Port Vila, Vanuatu, to Suva, Fiji. Scheduled for completion in mid 2012, this new system will deliver faster, more efficient and cost-effective Internet connectivity to the pacific island nation, while removing the current dependence on satellite and strengthening Vanuatu's competitive position as an e-business hub.

Interchange will construct, own, and operate the 1230 kilometre submarine cable system, which will link directly into the high capacity Southern Cross Cable between Sydney and Hawaii enabling Vanuatu businesses to connect to global telecommunications highway via USA, Australia, Asia and Europe.

Initially equipped for 20 Gbit/s data transfer, which is over 200 times Vanuatu's current capacity, the new submarine cable system is designed with an ultimate capacity of up to 320 Gbit/s to support the continued growth of Vanuatu's e-business economy well into the future. Its deployment will increase internet speeds for new and existing Internet Service Providers and deliver the lower cost capacity that Vanuatu needs to encourage economic growth and support its burgeoning tourist industry.

Interchange CEO, Simon Fletcher said: "This submarine cable will open new growth opportunities for the local economy. Vanuatu's current satellite connectivity is relatively expensive, with high latency and is capacity constrained. Interchange believes telecommunications infrastructure, via submarine cable systems, is the most cost effective and reliable means to bring high bandwidth capacity and technologies to Vanuatu facilitating growth in tourism and other industries."

"Projects like Vanuatu are further proof of the need for connectivity to extend high-speed communications in area that are still unserved or currently depending on satellite connections," said Philippe Dumont, President of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks SAS. "Submarine cable networks provide a cost-effective and direct operational way to accelerate penetration of broadband access, while prepare for reliably supporting new applications such as data centre interconnections over time."

At a cost of USD $30 million, the submarine cable project is largely funded by the private sector. However the Government of Vanuatu has shown strong support for telecommunications infrastructure project with Vanuatu Post coming forward as a seed investor in Interchange Limited. The Vanuatu Government has also committed to the pre-purchase of capacity to enhance the utility of the e-government network by extending it internationally.

Vanuatu will now join Fiji, PNG, Samoa, American Samoa, New Caledonia and French Polynesia as smaller South Pacific Island countries which have a submarine cable.

Interchange Limited has secured an option with ASN for the extension of the system from Vanuatu to Noumea. This extension would enable connectivity for New Caledonia to Fiji as well providing Vanuatu with diverse cable outlets. The option can afford the benefit of an integrated solution reducing the cost compared to a separate standalone implementation. Such an extension would further enhance the network security for both New Caledonia and Vanuatu. This greater certainty of continued operation will equip Vanuatu to exploit its position as a pivotal location for e-business and data centres in the Pacific. Additionally the extension cable can run in close proximity to Tanna offering the potential for a cable connection between Vila and Tanna.

Archos flashes 7c Android tablet, brags about its 1.2GHz clock speed

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 09:26 AM PDT

After taking a breather from cranking out new tablets, Archos is at it again, this time with the Archos 7c Home Tablet, a 7-inch number that ARMdevices.net caught on camera during a visit to the company's Chinese outpost. This slate packs a Cortex A8 processor and RK2918 chipset, which the rep quaintly says is "faster than any chipset you can find" -- you know, owing to its 1.2GHz clock speed and all. Alas, it runs Android Gingerbread (2.3) and not Honeycomb (3.0), so you'll have to do some hacking to get your Android Market fix. Although the 7c has a capacitive display, the woman leading the demo appears to jab at browser links with her finger -- a throwback to some less-than-responsive resistive screens we've tested. On the bright side, 1080p video plays smoothly -- at least in the few seconds before the camera pans away. The 7c is headed to the US and Europe in June for an unknown price, but for now you can head past the break to see it in action.

Editorial: RIM, we've been here before

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 08:12 AM PDT

By now you've no doubt read or at least heard about the New York Times interview where RIM's co-CEOs wound up asking most of the questions and challenged conventional wisdom about the company, or seen the BBC interview that Mike Lazaridis put an abrupt end to (see below, if you haven't). Those both offer plenty of juicy morsels for folks like us to chew on, but they're also indicative of a broader sense of frustration from the company that's getting difficult to ignore. One that is strikingly similar to what we've recently seen from another company that grew to dominate on the world stage, became a figure of national pride in its home country, and is now struggling to reinvent itself in the face of stiff competition: Nokia.

To get an idea of how similar the two situations are, we only need to look back to 2009 -- admittedly an eternity in the smartphone business, but not really that long ago. While Nokia still dominated the worldwide smartphone market with Symbian by year's end, there were clear signs that was about to change, with Nokia's share slipping a full ten percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 alone -- largely at the expense of Apple and, yes, RIM. After that, it wasn't long before the company's CEO found himself in the hot seat, while Gartner and countless others began tossing around phrases like "re-arranging the deck chairs." We all know what happened next.

Now the numbers are painting a similarly difficult position for RIM. According to a recent Gartner report, RIM's market share is expected to continue a slow decline to just eleven percent by 2015 (long after its switch to QNX), while Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 7 (boosted in part by Nokia's acceptance) are all projected to continue to grow or hold their own, and leave RIM in a relatively distant fourth place by 2015.

Of course, those projections are just that... projections, and RIM could well still swing things in its favor if it makes the right moves -- even if the PlayBook isn't quite the magic bullet it was hoping for. It won't, however, if it continues with a headstrong approach and ignores any criticism -- or worse, continues to vent its frustrations in public. I'm not pretending to know what all those right moves might be, but RIM could learn a few things from the hard questions Nokia posed to itself when it finally came to the realization that it was a fading giant.

In his now famous "burning platform" memo, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said the company had to choose whether to "build, catalyze or join an ecosystem." With its slow shift to QNX as its primary operating system, continued promises about the current BlackBerry OS, and half-hearted embrace of Android apps, it's increasingly starting to look like RIM is trying to do all three, but only succeeding in tying itself to a sinking ship.

Trexa's EV platform comes out of its shell, reveals its true torque-tube nature

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 07:55 AM PDT

We liked what we saw when we first set eyes upon Trexa's EV platform, but the company decided to ditch the skateboard façade for a slimmer, cylindrical form factor. After stripping away that somewhat chunky exterior, Trexa used a torque tube (where the center tube is the main load-bearing structure for the suspension and drivetrain) to create an egalitarian EV platform suitable for any road going application. The Entertube chassis's both flexible (2WD or 4WD) and scalable -- from a nine-inch diameter tube with seven kWh of juice in an eight-foot wheelbase to an 18-inch diameter tunnel with a massive 90kWh power pack crammed in a 180-inch wheelbase. That means there's an EV for for every occasion, from small cars to semi-trucks and anything in between. What you see is a production prototype, but it's being commercialized as we speak, so it won't be too long until Enertube-powered EVs are ready for the open road. Until then, you'll have to settle for the plethora of pics below and press release after the break.
Trexa Enertube EV Chassis
Show full PR text

Los Angeles, April 11, 2011--Trexa LLC, the electric drive vehicle platform manufacturer,
announced today the filing of a U.S. patent application for its Enertube™ tubular energy
storage technology in connection with the unveiling of the TREXA® production
prototype. The first TREXA vehicle platforms will be shipped to customers for evaluation
in May.

While the TREXA concept vehicle platform introduced early last year featured an iconic "skateboard" form, the production platform is pure function. Driving this design is the Enertube, which is an energy storage system that doubles as the main load-bearing structure for a variety of vehicles. This proven concept of using a so-called "torque tube" or "backbone" chassis dates to the 1960ʼs. Differentiating the TREXA platform are interchangeable parts on all four suspension corners, which keeps parts count low, makes platform integration fast, and makes maintenance easy for end-users. All the major mechanical subsystems, including the transaxle, are manufactured by TREXA in the USA with support from Tier 1 automotive suppliers.

Vehicle applications mount to the TREXA vehicle platform by way of several hard points located on the front and rear suspension subframes. The subframes are attached to the Enertube. A pushrod suspension and 2WD or dual-motor 4WD options enables broad adjustability for both on and off-road applications. After a vehicle application is mated to
these subframes, the Enertube is able to be removed for maintenance or future upgrade of the modular battery. The current generation Enertube utilizes thermally stable lithium iron phosphate cells and a proprietary third-generation BMS (battery management system), which have been extensively tested and proven since the TREXA engineering team developed EDrive, the first commercially demonstrated li-ion PHEV, in 2006.

Central to the TREXA patent application is scalability of the battery system. The nine inch diameter Enertube utilized on the 96" wheelbase prototype contains 7 kWh of energy storage capacity, suitable as a platform for a local use plug-in vehicle or small series PHEV. However, small increases in tube diameter dramatically increase energy storage capacity. For example, an increase in diameter from nine inches to twelve yields a twofold increase in energy capacity. TREXA plans to offer Enertube-based platforms in a range of diameters and lengths, representing energy storage capacities to over 100 kWh. As a result, TREXA platforms could be the basis for electric drive vehicles ranging from golf carts to Class 8 trucks.

TREXA has formed an alliance with a large publicly-traded specialty vehicle manufacturer to commercialize the platform and Enertube technology. TREXA is also exploring electric racing in connection with a major auto racing league. In addition, the company is working with the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute to develop advanced functionality platforms for government and agricultural applications. The company plans to make specific announcements about its developer and supplier relationships in the coming months.

"TREXA is both a learning and a teaching company," said CEO Seth Seaberg. "We have spent a great deal of time in the past few years understanding what our developers need so we can educate them about, and provide them with, the appropriate and scalable battery technology. The Enertube is the culmination of that considerable effort."

Although initially it will work with established vehicle manufacturers and automotive R&D divisions, TREXA does have future plans to offer systems to independent, kit and custom car builders. "The DIY market has incredible potential, and there is no question that the re-emergence of electric drive is a result of grassroots efforts," said Seaberg. "So we are exploring how and when we might offer platforms, development guidelines, and support to the general public."

TREXA is funded in part by Crunch Energy LLC, a firm dedicated to developing innovative new technologies that help the world use less energy. TREXA expects to close its next round of funding this summer.

For more information, visit the companyʼs web site, www.trexa.com email info@trexa.com.

Verizon Guy gets let go, turns out that wasn't his name anyway

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 07:34 AM PDT

Verizon Guy gets let go, turns out that wasn't his name anyway
You won't be able to hear him for much longer, folks. Paul Marcarelli, aka "Verizon Guy," is being let go. As it turns out that wasn't even his character's name, VZW settling on "Test Man" when scripting the early shots. Now that company is "taking its ads in a different direction," a direction that apparently does not include Mr. Marcarelli. But, based on the tales he recounted to The Atlantic, that may be a good thing. Paul once heard someone say "Can you hear me now?" at his grandmother's funeral -- as her body was being lowered into the grave. Yup, it's time for a role change.

Kogan's Agora Internet TV Portal promises Android Market access, our LCDs remain skeptical

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 07:12 AM PDT

Believe it or not, we're still rooting for Ruslan Kogan and the rest of his Aussie compatriots, but the company's announcement today of an Android 2.2 set-top TV box with full Market access is, as usual, equal parts intriguing and unbelievable. The Kogan Agora Internet TV Portal: Powered by Android is priced at A$149 with a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor from Samsung, 512MB of RAM, 2GB of flash storage, HDMI output and three USB ports for external storage, that it claims will bring the full internet -- including everyone's favorite Angry Birds -- to your TV screen. According to the sales page it's expected to ship May 27th to anywhere you like, as long as it's in Australia or the UK. We'll mark our calendars to see if it beats official Google TV boxes to Market access in the living room (we're still waiting for the TV shown off last year), but in the meantime check after the break for a press release with more details on this box, a familiar looking 7-inch tablet that also claims access to the Market's thousands of apps and a couple of netbooks. Finally, we spotted a video from ARM fan Charbax checking out what could be the OEM version of the TV box at CeBIT, so that's included after the break as well.
Kogan Agora Internet TV Portal, tablet, netbooks



Show full PR text
Kogan Expands Agora Range with Internet TV Portal, Tablet and Laptops

Melbourne, Australia, 14 April 2011 - Kogan today expanded the Agora range with the Internet TV Portal, 7" Tablet PC, and 12" Laptop.

The Kogan Agora Internet TV Portal: Powered by Android (starting at $149), Kogan Agora 7" Tablet PC: Powered by Android (starting at $139), and Kogan Agora 12" Laptop (Starting at $299/Standard and $319/Pro) go on sale today, direct from the manufacturer at Kogan.com.au.

All products in the new Agora range are currently for sale at market shattering prices on Kogan's LivePrice pricing system (patent pending).

Ruslan Kogan said the new product range shows that Aussie companies are capable of creating technology that can compete on the world stage.

"The Kogan team has been working hard for many months to bring out the expanded Agora range.

"The Kogan Internet TV Portal is powered by Android, and it lets Australians experience the whole web on the biggest screen in their home.

"Everyone can now watch what they want, when they want. They can stream movies from content providers across the globe including YouTube, Ustream, and any website with video. They can browse the web, chat to their friends on social media, share and view photos, movies and music, and even play games like Angry Birds on their TV!

"The Kogan Agora 12" Laptop is a complete productivity device for the budget conscious. It comes pre-loaded with practically all the software you'll ever need on a computer. At these prices, there is now no reason why every student shouldn't have their own laptop.

"We've created a laptop that is not only extremely affordable and functional, but one that you're proud to show off. It's thin, light, and stylish.

"With the Kogan 7" Android Tablet, we have created a device with all the features our customers need, at an unheard-of price. You no longer have to feel guilty about spending big bucks on a tablet entertainment device.

"The products we're launching today are a direct result of thousands of conversations with customers through Facebook, Twitter, and the Kogan blog.

"We're delivering the latest world leading technology at prices everyone can afford, showcasing true Aussie ingenuity and innovation," Kogan said.

Kogan Agora Internet TV Portal: Powered by Android - Starting at $149
Powered by Android - full access to Android Market
Use the optical remote or bundle with the Kogan Agora Android Keyboard ($39)
Internet browsing, plus Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on any TV
Easily stream video through any available website or application
Access thousands of applications direct through any TV
Bring the Internet and Android Gaming and Productivity to the biggest screen in your home

Kogan Agora 7" Tablet w/ Capactive Touchscreen: Powered by Android - Starting at $139
Bright 7" Capacitive Touchscreen
Powered by Android
Access thousands of Apps and Games
Built-in microphone and front-facing camera
Lightweight and stylish design
Capture, view and share photos, music and movies

Kogan Agora 12" Ultra Portable Laptop - Starting at $299
Pre-loaded with everything you need straight out of the box - Internet, office applications, Music, Photo and Video Software Packages, Ubuntu OS & Windows Compatible
Widescreen 12" LED screen
Intel Celeron Ultra Low Voltage SU 2300, 1GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive
1.3MP Camera
Weighs only 1.32kg

Kogan Agora Pro 12" Ultra Portable Laptop - Starting at $319
Pre-loaded with everything you need straight out of the box - Internet, office applications, Music, Photo and Video Software Packages, Ubuntu OS & Windows Compatible
Widescreen 12" LED screen, full size keyboard
Intel Celeron Ultra Low Voltage SU 2300, 2GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive
1.3MP Camera
Weighs only 1.32kg

Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 lands an Amazon pre-order at $1,149

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 06:50 AM PDT

Samsung may have priced its slinky new laptop at a buck under $1,200, but you know Amazon likes to dance to its own tune. The online retailer is now listing the 11.6-inch Series 9 at $1,149, saving you a nice bit of change, though it hasn't yet been willing to disclose a release date. The specs should be familiar by now, an Intel Core i3-380UM takes center stage, surrounded by 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 3.0, a 5680mAh battery, and a 1366 x 768 display with 400 nits of brightness. Amazon's just the latest of a growing batch of online stores now offering this laptop for pre-order, so check out Samsung's retailer listing below if you're looking for alternatives.

[Thanks, Imtiaz]

Hisense unveils new consumer WHDI accessories, cable haters rejoice

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 06:42 AM PDT

Hisense WHDI transmitter
Hisense is still betting on the WHDI horse for wireless HD. The standard's standard-bearer AMIMON announced its chips would be powering a new line of accessories from the Chinese manufacturer at the Global Sources Electronics & Components World Expo (GSECWE?), including a transmitter for laptops (above), a case for iPhones, and a receiver for TVs (both below). Obviously beaming a round Super Mega Worm to your big-screen is enticing, but we're sure you're most excited by the ability to stream Hulu from your laptop to your TV while reclining on the couch. And if you've got a 3D set, fret not, WHDI can push polarized pixels thanks to support for HDMI 1.4a. Sadly, info on pricing and availability is nonexistent, but we wouldn't expect to find these in your local Best Buy. Yet.
Hisense WHDI Receiver

Hisense WHDI iPhone Case
Show full PR text
New Hisense Accessories Wirelessly Mirror High Definition Content from Laptops and iPhones to the TV with AMIMON WHDI Technology

HERZLIA, Israel, April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AMIMON, the market leader in wireless HDTV semiconductor solutions, announced today that Chinese Hisense is introducing three new accessories based on WHDI™ (Wireless Home Digital Interface™) standard to allow users to connect HD sources, such as laptops, iPhones and other devices, to the TV.

Hisense will demonstrate a WHDI Transmitter Stick, WHDI Receiver and WHDI case for iPhone® at the Global Sources Electronics & Components World Expo, April 12-15 at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.

Visitors to the Hisense booth (#7M26) will observe HD transmission from a notebook computer to the TV via a WHDI Stick. This enables wireless mirroring on the TV screen of any content available in the notebook, such as games, YouTube, Blu-ray movies, Hulu or any other PC application, including 3D, at resolution of up to 1080p/60Hz.

The demonstration will also include wireless mirroring from an iPhone to the TV. The WHDI wireless transmitter module, integrated with a mobile phone, presents the ultimate solution for wireless connectivity of uncompressed HD video and audio from the phone to any HD display, such as LCDs, plasma displays and projectors.

AMIMON's WHDI wireless video chipsets provide an excellent user experience from these devices to the big screen with crystal clear picture quality, link robustness and low latency (less than 1mSec) for interactive applications. Uses include CE, gaming, business, network, conference and in-room and multi-room use in the home for sharing HD content with full coverage, through walls, no line of sight required.

"No other technology has been able to meet the same level of performance as WHDI. The affordability of wireless HD mirroring without compressing and without compromising video quality, along with AMIMON's support and experience in China, make WHDI an excellent choice for the smooth development of HD products for the Chinese market," said Ehud Shchori, Director, Hisense Accessories Division.

"As one of the biggest CE brand names in China and one of the top TV makers, Hisense's choice of AMIMON for these products is a testament to the quality and performance of our WHDI technology," said Shimon Greenberg, vice president of sales, AMIMON. "Laptop and iPhone users will now be able to enjoy all their HD content, such as movies, games and apps, on the big screen with excellent user experience."

The WHDI standard delivers the highest image quality for in-room and multi-room HD wireless connections, including uncompressed 1080p/60Hz HD video, at no delay. WHDI utilizes a 40MHz channel in the 5GHz unlicensed band. WHDI includes support for the 3D formats required by the HDMI™ 1.4a specification and range of over 30 meters (100 feet) through obstacles and walls. WHDI supports HDCP revision 2.0, providing superior security and digital content protection.

About AMIMON

AMIMON is a leading provider of wireless high-definition video semiconductor solutions for universal connectivity among CE video devices. AMIMON is a founding member of the Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) consortium formed by leading CE companies to define a new industry standard for in-room and multi-room wireless HDTV connectivity. AMIMON is headquartered in Herzlia, Israel, with offices in Santa Clara, Calif., USA; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Taipei, Taiwan and Shenzhen, China. More information is available at www.amimon.com and www.whdi.org.

About Hisense

Hisense (HK) is a subsidiary of the Hisense group of companies. It is a multibillion dollar global conglomerate, with two listed companies - Hisense Electric and Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings. Hisense, Kelon and Ronshen are its three famous trademarks, providing a wide range of products and services including multimedia, home appliances, telecommunications, information technology and mobile accessories. Hisense continues to expand its business into high-end industries through constant R&D. For more information on Hisense products and services, visit www.hisense.com or accessories@hisense.com.

Comcast Extreme 105 serves up 105Mbps internet speeds for home users with deep pockets

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 06:18 AM PDT

We first caught wind of Comcast's 105Mbps broadband plans back in May of last year, but the time since then has been filled with silence until this very moment, when the service has gone official. Neither the name nor basic concept have changed, however, with the Extreme 105 offering 105Mbps download speeds tied to 10Mbps uploads. Pricing has been tweaked a little, starting at $105 a month for the first year when taken up as part of a Triple Play bundle. Comcast claims coverage of 40 million people with its new rollout, including folks in Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Miami, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Washington DC, and "the majority" of Boston. More markets will come "on a rolling basis." So what say you, are 105 megabits per second worth 105 dollars per month?
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COMCAST offers The fastest residential internet service to the most homes in the U.S.

'Extreme 105' Now Available to More Than 40 Million Homes From Coast to Coast

PHILADELPHIA – April 14, 2011 – Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services, announced today that its newest ultra-fast Xfinity Internet speed tier, Extreme 105, is now available to more than 40 million homes in major markets across the nation including San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Chicago, Miami, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and the majority of Boston, among others.

"This speed tier continues to expand our portfolio of Internet service offerings and takes them up to a whole new level," said Cathy Avgiris, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Communications and Data Services. "With it, we're powering the digital home of the future, where entire families using multiple devices – laptops, gaming consoles, tablets, smartphones – can all take advantage of high-bandwidth applications simultaneously ensuring they each have a great online experience."

The Extreme 105 Mbps service, which also offers up to 10 Mbps upload speeds, is available for new or existing customers at an introductory rate of $105 per month for 12 months as part of their Triple Play bundle. In addition, the service comes with a wireless home networking gateway that turns an entire house into its own WiFi hotspot. Comcast offers Extreme 105 service on a standalone basis, and also offers a variety of other speed tiers in either bundles or as standalone packages, so there's something for everyone and consumers can choose a service that best meets their needs.

Extreme 105 is made possible through the use of DOCSIS 3.0 technology. At a connection speed of up to 105 Mbps, Comcast customers can not only download and watch a hi-def movie in about 5 minutes, but also play online interactive games, send and receive email attachments, shop, and update social networking Web pages faster than ever before.

Chip Yates goes 190MPH on an electric motorcycle, takes you along (video)

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 05:43 AM PDT

Chip Yates goes 190MPH on an electric motorcycle, takes you along (video)
It's amazing what an electric motor and some lithium-ion junk in the trunk can do. For the SWIGZ team, which earlier bested some internally-combused competition on the track, the results are 190MPH from a standing start, completed at the Mojave Mile event. As you can see in the video below the 241HP bike wasted no time in getting up to that speed -- also wasting no time getting into an unsettling head shake and speed weave. Thankfully it was all over in less than 30 seconds and the new (unofficial) record was recorded: 190.6MPH. Fastest for an electric bike in a standing mile -- and pretty darned quick for any bike.

Tweetbot might replace your iOS Twitter client (video)

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 05:16 AM PDT

We awoke this morning to a deluge of hype surrounding Tweetbot, the version 1.0 Twitter client from Tapbot. So we sucked down some legal stimulant and ponied up the entrance fee to give it a go on an iPhone 4 (the app requires iOS 4.1 or later). Granted, we're still in the honeymoon period but we're definitely impressed. The design elements, animations, and audio tones are slickly implemented and the functionality is rich and intuitive. We're especially smitten by the right and left swiping actions used to reveal conversations and replies, respectively, and the customizable tab bar that gives quick access to lists and retweets. In fact, the list integration is so good as to finally make Twitter lists useful on a smartphone. We also applaud Tapbot's plucky release in light of Twitter Inc.'s preference that developers stop reproducing the Twitter client experience, especially since the result is superior to Twitter's own free iOS app. Sure, the user interface can be a bit overzealous at times (think HTC Sense vs. Windows Phone 7) but it's more fun than it is distracting, especially during these early hours. At $1.99 it's definitely worth a look -- just promise to view the video overview after the break first, ok?

HTC Sense 3.0 will only support Sensation, EVO 3D, Flyer and newer devices; older hardware left behind

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 04:43 AM PDT

Unfortunate news for anyone who saw HTC's Sense 3.0 UI and started dreaming about seeing it on their Desire HD, Incredible S or any other handset that doesn't ship with it preloaded. HTC has said that because of the hardware requirements of the fancier new Android skin, only the dual-core Sensation 4G and EVO 3D smartphones and the 1.5GHz Flyer tablet will be benefiting from it for now. The company's expected to introduce more tablets in the summer and its inevitable march forward with smartphones will continue, but Sense 3.0 -- and those delectable multifunctional lock screens -- will remain the exclusive privilege of its highest-end devices.

Update: Those older devices may be missing the boat, but they will at least get a set of floaties. HTC left a message on Twitter that the company is "working to incorporate other aspects" of Sense 3.0 that will come to older devices. Hopefully this includes that flash new weather app.

What is 'ix.Mac.MarketingName' and why is it listed as a supported device for iOS apps?

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 04:19 AM PDT

On today's session of "things to ponder before lunch," we have a strange new text string added to the iTunes preview of some iOS apps, which identifies an "ix.Mac.MarketingName" as one of the compatible devices with software designed for iOS. We're seeing it listed alongside a whole bunch of apps, but importantly not all of them, which hints that it might not be just a stray piece of code or a bug in the system. The location-aware and voice-centric MyVoice Communication Aid and Microsoft's Bing for iPad apps do not include that funky MarketingName code, suggesting that it's there as a placeholder for a new supported device of some sort -- could apps finally be coming to the Apple TV? For now, we'd rather not stack speculation on top of uncertainty, so we'll just jot this down as another interesting development in the walled garden of Cupertino and wait patiently to see what (if anything) comes from it.

[Thanks, Daniel, Chris and Nick]

LG Optimus 2X to be upgraded to Gingerbread in June or July, says Danish support site

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 03:41 AM PDT

Other than saying Gingerbread will be forthcoming for its dual-core Optimus 2X Android handset, LG has been pretty mum on the subject of software updates. It's good, therefore, to finally extract a timeframe out of the company, albeit from a somewhat obscure source. LG's Danish support site tells us that the P990 (the internal code number for the 2X) will be updated to Android 2.3 "in June-July 2011." That's a fair bit later than we might have expected or hoped for the upgrade to happen, particularly given the various software foibles that the device we reviewed suffered from, but the summer of 2011 will always be preferable to the summer of never. A final warning is perhaps merited here to say that LG has a history of inconsistency when it comes to software roadmaps, so consider this one scribbled down in pencil until we hear more concrete confirmation from the company.

[Thanks, Michael]

IDC and Gartner's latest PC shipment stats show why Acer needed to make a strategic change

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 03:06 AM PDT

Gianfranco Lanci's departure from Acer last month came as a bit of a surprise, but looking at some fresh PC shipment data from the IDC, we can now understand why it had to happen. In Q1 of 2011, Acer suffered a precipitous 42.1 percent drop in PC shipments to the United States, falling from 2.3 million units in the first quarter of 2010 to 1.3 million in the first three months of this year. That's matched by a global downturn of 15.8 percent for the company's computer business, taking its market share from 12.9 percent down to 11.2. A percentage point and a half might not seem like much, but in the high stakes business of selling high volumes of devices with low profit margins, that can clearly make the difference between winning and losing, between living and dying (as a CEO). On a happier note, Lenovo surged upwards by 16.3 percent globally amid a market that shrunk a little overall. The IDC -- whose numbers are considered preliminary until companies confirm them in their quarterly financial reports -- identifies Acer's exposure to the shrinking interest in netbooks as the chief reason why it's now having to reorganize itself. That overhaul is already underway with a new logo and some attractively priced tablets, but it's likely to be a while before Acer gets back to challenging HP for world domination.

Update: Gartner has dropped its figures for the first quarter as well, and while it doesn't see Acer losing out quite so badly in the US (minus 24.9 percent year-on-year), it agrees on its worldwide market struggles, placing its decrease in shipments at 12.2 percent.

Dell's WiFi-only Streak 7 goes Euro-trippin', now available in the UK for £299

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 02:37 AM PDT

With one of the original 5-inch Streak's chief downsides being that it was considered too small to be a proper tablet, Dell did the sage thing this January and introduced a 7-inch variant in the Streak 7. The newer slate is outfitted with a nice Tegra 2 dual-core chip, 16GB of storage, a 5 megapixel rear- and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, a WVGA (800 x 480) display, and now the eminently reasonable UK price of £299 ($487). Alas, where Dell fell short with its Streak family expansion was in installing Android 2.2 on the 7, which hasn't changed during its trip over the Altantic, and in offering pretty poor battery life -- which might actually be a bit better here since Brits are receiving the WiFi-only model. Then again, if we're having to praise a device for improving itself by omitting a valuable feature like 3G, perhaps that tells you all you need to know about its viability. At least the Streak 7 is priced correctly and Dell does promise a Honeycomb update is in the offing. You can order yours at Dell's UK outlet linked below or jump past the break to familiarize yourself with the company's press release.
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DELL UNVEILS STREAK 7 AS THE ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE

BRACKNELL, UK, 14 April 2011 –Dell's new feature-rich seven-inch Android™ tablet, the Streak™ 7 is now available in the UK. The sleek compact form factor preloaded with Dell Stage, Dell's unique user interface, makes Streak 7 the ultimate entertainment hub for families and consumers craving a rich multimedia and web experience both at home and on-the-go. With a wealth of features, Streak 7 adds to Dell's rapidly expanding mobility portfolio, which also includes the acclaimed Streak 5 pocket tablet.

Portable, passable and easily shared, the Streak 7's smooth, fast performance makes Web browsing, video streaming and game playing an enjoyable experience. Its brilliant seven-inch WVGA touch screen with Gorilla® Glass makes Streak 7 ideal for watching movies or reading books and magazines.

In addition to a rich entertainment experience, the Streak 7 easily captures and shares life moments with the rear-facing 5 megapixel camera for high-definition stills and video recording. With a Wi-Fi + 3G model of the Streak 7 coming later this spring, capturing spontaneous moments with family and friends will be even easier.

Featuring Google's™ Android 2.2 operating system, a dual core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and full support for Adobe® Flash® Player, Streak 7 gives users access to more than 100,000 applications, games and widgets from Android Market™.

"Dell is continuing to create the very best in entertainment, mobile and gaming experiences," said Aongus Hegarty, vice-president of Dell's Consumer, Small and Medium Business unit for EMEA. "With Streak 7, families, students and mobile professionals will gather, share, and find new ways to interact and keep in touch."

The new Streak 7 will feature Dell's innovative Stage user interface, which provides a seamless and unified experience for accessing all your favourite content. Later this year, Dell will add syncing to Stage so people can keep their photos, contacts, calendars and other personal content synchronised across their Dell Stage-equipped devices, from tablets to PCs, connected through their home network.

AVAILABILITY AND PRICING INFORMATION:

The new Dell Streak 7 Tablet with Wi-Fi is available now, starting at £299 including VAT and delivery at http://www.dell.co.uk/streak.

New silver-packing transparent conductive film could mean more durable touchscreens

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:56 AM PDT

We first heard of the wonders of silver ink back in 2009, but it wasn't until earlier this year, with talk of 3M's new capacitive touchscreens, that we experienced its real-world potential for display technology. Well, it looks like 3M's not the only name in the Ag game, in fact Tokyo-based Toray Industries recently announced the development of a transparent conductive film that ditches the traditional ITO (indium tin oxide) for silver wire. In order to produce this new material, a layer of Ag wires, measuring several hundred nanometers, is applied to a polyester (PET) film by way of a wet method. The result, the company said, is a more flexible, durable, and transparent film that is well suited to touchscreens of just about any size -- what's more, it decreases dependence on rare earth metals. There's no word yet on when the film will appear on real-deal devices, but we'll definitely keep an eye out for the silver screens. Full PR after the break.
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Toray Advanced Film Developed New Transparent Conductive Material Using Silver Nanowire Ink

- Best in the world in transparency and conductivity, superior flexibility, natural color, durability and workability; to be mass-produced for use in touch panels -

Toray Advanced Film Co., Ltd. (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Susumu Yamaguchi; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") today announced that it has succeeded in developing a silver nano-wire based transparent conductive film with the world's best transparency and conductivity -light transmittance of 90% or above and surface resistivity*1, which is a measure of conductivity, between 150 and 250 Ω/sq- using wet coating method. The material also boasts superior flexibility, natural coloration, durability and workability, and the Company expects to begin its mass production in the near future.

Transparent conductive films are generally ITO films*2 by use of vapor deposition or sputtering methods, making them not much suitable for bending as they are thin and brittle inorganic material, and they sometimes affect the flexibility of the final product. Furthermore, the primary raw material Indium being a rare metal, there is also the issue of depletion of resources. On the other hand, wet coating films using organic conducting materials, while superior in flexibility tend to be susceptible to discoloration*3 when conductivity is improved. They also have issues on durability under high heat and higher moisture circumstance though some products using such materials are available in the market. At the same time, in touch panel and display applications, it is necessary to not only have durability and reliability but also compatibility with pattern processing and other peripheral technologies without losing optical characteristics.

Against this background, the Company recently entered into a strategic partnership with Cambrios Technologies Corporation (head office: Sunnyvale, California; CEO: Michael Knapp), a U.S.-based electronic materials manufacturer, to develop a new product that addresses the above issues by bringing together high transparency, high conductivity nanowire ink technology of Cambrios with the Company's superior film processing technology.

Key technological points of the transparent conductive film developed this time using silver nanowire ink are as follows: (1) nano-level coating thickness control technology, (2) wet-method multilayer laminating technology, and (3) product design proposals that suit the fabrication process of the user. The product is considered better suited for mass production in comparison with ITO films which require sputtering or other such vacuum process. Also, given its superior flexibility and invisible patterning properties*4 in addition to high transparency and conductivity, the new film is expected to find application in touch panels used in cellular phones, smart phones and tablet PCs. The material can also address the need for lower resistance required by larger-sized touch panels and therefore the Company expects it to contribute to the display technology revolution in the future. Going forward, the Company hopes the film would eventually be used in 3-D touch panels, solar cells and organic EL electrodes.

Intel to support USB 3.0 alongside Thunderbolt, coming with Ivy Bridge in 2012

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:07 AM PDT

We were just pondering this very thing yesterday -- would Intel dedicate itself to Thunderbolt and give USB 3.0 the cold shoulder -- and now we have our answer from the Santa Clara crew, albeit delivered from Beijing. The Chinese capital is the site of Intel's currently ongoing developer conference, which is where Kirk Skaugen, VP of the company's Architecture Group, assured the world that the promise for native USB 3.0 support in Intel chipsets will be fulfilled. Not this year, mind you, but it'll be with us in 2012 as part of the Ivy Bridge CPU refresh. That matches AMD's plans to support USB 3.0 in Fusion APUs, and was augmented with a strong word of endorsement from Skaugen about the connector's future. He urged developers to embrace USB 3.0 on an equal footing with Intel's proprietary Thunderbolt interconnect, describing the two technologies as "complementary." If you say so, captain.

Nokia W7 and W8 tipped as first Windows Phone models

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 12:29 AM PDT

If you can accept what we're about to tell you as rumor, and nothing more, then we'd like to let you in on the latest scuttlebutt surrounding Nokia's first dip into the shallow Windows Phone waters. Eldar Murtazin, the eternal Nokia antagonist, claims to have the inside scoop on Nokia's current Windows Phone device plans while getting an early hands-on with a prototype. Besides demonstrating a natural extension of the Nokia naming strategy to accommodate the new Windows Phone devices, Eldar tells us that model W7 is built around an X7 hardware base while the new W8 handset is a variant of Nokia's N8 cameraphone (conceptualized in the above pic). According to Eldar, all of Nokia's WP prototypes are built upon Qualcomm chipsets per Microsoft's requirement (and Nokia's dismay). The W7 model is currently being used in-house for development purposes and will likely be the first to market, according to Eldar, with an 8 megapixel autofocus camera and flash. Murtazin claims that the W7 reminded him of the HTC Mozart without any noticeable customizations to the OS. If neither of these models appeal to you, hold tight -- Eldar says that Nokia has a dozen Windows Phone devices planed for 2012. Of course, it's early days so any, or all of this might change before Nokia ships its first device later this year or early twenty-twelve. Imagine it: Nokia hardware slathered in Mango -- mmm mmm good.

Conceptual 'Fujitsu Lifebook X2' folds into quarters, makes regular notebooks look lame

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 12:07 AM PDT

Being that doomsday and the robot apocalypse are nearing quickly, now seems an appropriate time to gaze into the future of laptop design, right? Well, maybe those anomalies aren't actually around the corner, but you know us -- we always fancy a warm cup of concept tea. Designer Park Hyun Jin over at Yanko recently posted some renders of the Fujitsu Lifebook X2, a laptop-like invention of his fervent imagination that allows for two orientations thanks to its four folds. The design features a full QWERTY keyboard that can be used when the notebook is folded out in full, as well as a half-folded option with an onscreen keyboard, pictured above. Naturally, we'd love for this concept design to become a reality, but we can't wrap our brains around the seam between the two screens. Well actually, we could probably get used to it.

Google funds project to teach computers regret, sadly won't lead to apologetic machines

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 11:17 PM PDT

We've seen a rather creepy array of robots programmed to mimic human emotions, but teaching a machine to feel regret? Now, that's a new one. With funding from Google, a team of Tel Aviv University researchers is working on an algorithm to teach computers to learn from their experiences, thus reducing instances of "virtual regret." According to the team's lead, such an algorithm would allow servers and routing systems to more efficiently deal with internet traffic, by recognizing and documenting things like sudden spikes in traffic or increased attention to an online product. Basically, the more they learn from their past inadequacies, the more effectual the machines become. Google's apparently interested in the potential impact on programs like AdSense and AdWords. Now, if they could just teach online advertisers a sense of shame... Full PR after the break.
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Programming Regret for Google
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

TAU scientists give computers "hindsight" to anticipate the future

Human beings are well aware that hindsight is 20/20 - and the product of this awareness is often what we call "regret." Could this hindsight be programmed into a computer to more accurately predict the future? Tel Aviv University computer researchers think so - and the Internet giant Google is anxious to know the answer, too.

Prof. Yishay Mansour of Tel Aviv University's Blavatnik School of Computer Science launched his new project at the International Conference on Learning Theory in Haifa, Israel, earlier this year. His research will help computers minimize what Prof. Mansour calls "regret." Google recently announced that it will fund Tel Aviv University computer scientists and economists to develop this foundational research, a nexus on the cutting edge of computer science and game theory.

"If the servers and routing systems of the Internet could see and evaluate all the relevant variables in advance, they could more efficiently prioritize server resource requests, load documents and route visitors to an Internet site, for instance," Prof. Mansour says - an efficiency that Google finds very attractive.

Helping computers think better

Of course computers can't "feel" regret - but they can measure the distance between a desired outcome and the actual outcome. Prof. Mansour recently developed an algorithm based on machine learning, or "artificial intelligence," to minimize the amount of virtual regret a computer program might experience.

"We are able to change and influence the decision-making of computers in real-time. Compared to human beings, help systems can much more quickly process all the available information to estimate the future as events unfold - whether it's a bidding war on an online auction site, a sudden spike of traffic to a media website, or demand for an online product," says Prof. Mansour. Google hopes to use the research to improve its own online technologies and businesses, such as its AdWords and Adsense advertising platforms.

Prof. Mansour adds that his algorithm will adapt to the situation at hand. Since Internet users, people, are not predictable, the algorithm in effect can study and "learn" as it is running. After the task is finished, the results are "almost as if you knew all the variables in advance," says Prof. Mansour.

The academics of Internet advertising

Tel Aviv University is highly specialized in the type of research that most interests Google, and the "regret" project strengthens existing ties between the university and the Internet giant. TAU's Prof. Mansour and Prof. Noam Nisan of Hebrew University will head the 20-person team working with Google, which includes eight Tel Aviv University scientists. The head of Google Israel is Prof. Yossi Matias, a Tel Aviv University faculty member.

Academic input in algorithmic game theory and algorithmic mechanism design will greatly benefit the industry, Google hopes. "We are asking how we can give incentives to get bidders and buyers in the auction to behave intelligently, by understanding the dynamics of the auction process," says Prof. Mansour.

Motorola and Huawei drop pending lawsuits, enter into new info-sharing agreement

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 10:34 PM PDT

After months of fighting on the playground, Motorola and Huawei have finally come to an agreement to settle their differences once and for all. Both parties have now dropped their pending lawsuits, with Motorola originally accusing Huawei of stealing trade secrets from its former employees, and later on Huawei getting all worried about Motorola leaking confidential information over their partnership to the rivaling Nokia Siemens Networks. The new agreement will now allow Motorola "transfer its commercial agreements with Huawei to NSN for a fee," which would then permit NSN use this info to service Motorola's networks that utilise Huawei's equipment. Aww, isn't it nice when money solves everything? Press release after the break.
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Motorola Solutions and Huawei Issue Joint Statement

CHICAGO, Ill. – April 13, 2011 Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. announced today that they have entered into an agreement to settle all pending litigation between the two parties pending the satisfaction of certain conditions. For its part, after further review of the matter, Motorola Solutions has agreed to withdraw its claims and dismiss, with prejudice, Huawei as a defendant in the Motorola v. Lemko, et al. litigation pending in the Chicago federal district court. For its part, Huawei has agreed to withdraw its claims and dismiss, with prejudice, its lawsuit against Motorola Solutions and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) in the Chicago federal district court and to resolve its claims against Motorola Solutions and NSN by entering into an agreement that allows Motorola Solutions to transfer its commercial agreements with Huawei to NSN for a fee, and allows NSN to receive and use Huawei confidential information to service the networks Motorola deployed worldwide using Huawei's products and technologies.

In 2000, Motorola and Huawei entered into an important, successful commercial relationship during which Motorola resold certain Huawei products under the Motorola name. Over the next ten years, Motorola purchased $880 million in technology from Huawei that covered core networks and radio access networks.

"We regret that these disputes have occurred between our two companies. Motorola Solutions values the long-standing relationship we have had with Huawei. After reviewing the facts, we decided to resolve these matters and return to our traditional relationship of confidence and trust. I am pleased that we can again focus on having a cooperative and productive relationship," said Greg Brown, President & CEO of Motorola Solutions.

"Throughout our decade long relationship with Motorola Solutions, Huawei has contributed cutting edge technology to Motorola Solutions for use around the globe. Huawei provided Motorola's experts and counsel with source code and millions of documents. Huawei acted properly and above board at all times and developed its products independently and without the use of any Motorola trade secrets. With the resolution of these cases, and the misunderstandings put to rest, Huawei is pleased to move forward with its efforts to provide innovative solutions to its customers," said Guo Ping, Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President of Huawei.

European R&D advances 'internet of things,' hastens our Phildickian future

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 09:47 PM PDT

Why can't our refrigerator fire off an urgent email when the milk has gone lumpy? And the toilet paper dispenser warn us it's empty – before we sit down? And when will our microwaves run BitTorrent? EUREKA, the European R&D network, knows how badly you crave networked objects, and rather than mock you, it's moving to help. To that end, it has developed small, inexpensive, battery-powered sensors able to link everything from consumer electronics to environmental monitors to factory robots – creating the much-anticipated "Internet of Things." But unlike the over-hyped RFID, it's technology you'd actually use. Instead of knowing whether your keys are indeed on the RFID reader, the network could gently remind you that you left them in your car, which is now 100 miles away with someone else at the wheel, but, luckily for you, low on gas. Gaze into the so-called future of things with EUREKA's press release, conveniently embedded after the jump.
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Low-Cost Wireless Sensor Networks Open New Horizons for the Internet of Things

ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2011) - The ESNA project enables high effective networking based on cheap wireless sensors in a wide range of business applications -- from more comfortable and energy-efficient environmental controls to precision monitoring of agricultural resources.

The EUREKA ITEA software Cluster ESNA project has developed a flexible framework for business-oriented wireless-sensor network applications using a standard architecture to facilitate communications between all types of smart device -- from domestic appliances and environmental controls in the home to the latest process control equipment in factories. ESNA offers an impressive balance between advanced technological innovation and a business-oriented approach to defining applications. A series of implementations that were demonstrated in the EUREKA project have already led to real applications including precision agriculture, energy monitoring and management in buildings, and industrial process control.

More and more everyday appliances -- from fridges and washing machines, through heating and ventilation controls, to modern multimedia systems -- are increasingly intelligent. As home networking becomes the norm, linking all these devices will be a key driver of our future world, providing a high level of control over our everyday environment for our comfort and safety. And by using the ubiquity of the Internet, such control and interactivity can be extended across our society through the so-called 'Internet of things' from factory production to modern agriculture.

Interconnecting low cost devices

Key to this has been the development of wireless networks that enable the interconnection of all types of sensors using radio communications. The matchbox-sized devices can be incorporated into almost any device -- and at derisorily low cost. While manufacture of such devices has inevitably moved to Asia, the use of these components in wireless sensor networks has been the subject of immense interest in Europe

Battery power offers high flexibility as no power cabling is needed. And devices are multifunctional -- nodes can be equipped with many different sensor capabilities, such as temperature, humidity, movement, radiation, gases and light, opening up a broad spectrum of applications. Dynamic network establishment adds to robustness -- if one node fails, the network automatically rearranges itself to continue operation.

"We discussed wireless sensor network applications at an ITEA brokerage event in Barcelona in 2005," explains project leader Olle Olsson of the Swedish Institute of Computer Science (SICS). The subject attracted interest from partners with complementary interests in a wide mix of technologies, and from partners with more market-oriented focus, wanting to target specific markets and bridge the gap between technology and actual use.

"We saw the way EUREKA operated was good, because it enabled the matching of product and application-oriented technology development in the same project. The result was a project that combined technology 'geeks' and organisations keen to supply technologies for specific markets. We also had end users interested in using rather than selling technologies."

ESNA had two objectives: developing a strong and multifunctional basic software platform supporting very flexible application needs and demonstrating the use of this platform to meet the needs of specific market areas with relevant application frameworks.

Business-oriented applications

The EUREKA project enabled the development of business-oriented wireless sensor network applications using standard open-source architecture, technology and application-development guidelines, and proof-of-concept implementations. The ESNA architecture supports off-the-shelf sensor network nodes and guidelines cover network dimensioning and the type of nodes to use for different application domains.

"We did develop some really new things," says Olsson. "We worked on a standards-compliant generic platform based on the emerging IPV6 Internet standard, developing the world's smallest implementation of IPV6 in terms of lines of code." ESNA also made a particular effort to reduce energy use. The result was new software-controlled technology enabling devices to operate as long as possible on one set of batteries.

"On the basic software side, we consolidated the open-source Contiki software," says Olsson. "This is an open source, portable operating system for wireless sensor networks. It is designed for microcontrollers with small amounts of memory."

On the applications side, ESNA developed methods for interoperation with other IP environments to ensure wireless sensor networks were not separate, stand-alone islands but rather part of enterprise-wide IT environment. "This involved supporting industrial standards in various application areas. We now have solutions that are innovative in terms of integrating other technologies and systems."

Acer brings HN274H and HS244HQ 3D monitors to the US, motorbikes not included

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 09:01 PM PDT

In case you're looking for some more options in the 3D monitor market, Acer's just announced a couple of new models for the US that might do the job. First up is the HN274H pictured above, which claims to be the first 27-inch LED-backlit monitor supporting both HDMI 3D and NVIDIA 3D Vision -- Blu-ray or TV set-top box for the former, PC gaming for the latter (via the usual DVI-DL). Though limited at 1920 x 1080 resolution, this display boasts a 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio with 300cd/m2 brightness and 2ms response time, along with a built-in IR emitter for the included NVIDIA 3D glasses, as well as a handful of ports: VGA, DVI, and three HDMI. All this for $689.

If you prefer something smaller and more budget friendly, then there's the 23.6-inch HS244HQ as well. For $449 you get the same HD resolution, brightness, and response time, though contrast ratio is lowered to 12,000,000:1. Most importantly, there's no support for NVIDIA 3D Vision here (though you still get a pair of Acer 3D glasses), meaning gamers will have to consider other options. Press release after the break.
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Acer's Newest 3D Displays Deliver Eye-Popping Stereoscopic Entertainment and Learning; 27-Inch Display is the First to Feature Both NVIDIA® 3D Vision and HDMI® 3D for Connecting to PCs and CE Devices

New 27-inch and 23.6-inch displays bring 3D fun to Blu-ray players, game consoles, PCs and more; Displays deliver up to 100 million:1 contrast ratio for highest level of clarity and detail available today

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 14, 2011 – Acer America Corp., the number one provider of 3D displays worldwide(1), today debuts its new Acer® 3D Series Displays for customers in North America. The new 27-inch (HN274H) and 23.6-inch (HS244HQ) widescreen 3D LCD displays are the ultimate visual medium for enjoying the vivid realism and depth of three dimensional entertainment and learning.

The new 3D LCDs provide thrilling full HD 3D visuals via HDMI or DVI-DL to PCs, Blu-ray Disc™ Players, game consoles, cameras and 3D TV programming via a set-top box. Supporting the HDMI 3D solution, the displays deliver immersive 3D broadcasting, Blu-ray movies, gaming and photography. The solution is also ideal for schools, as education content providers create new 3D curriculum that makes learning more engaging.

"Acer's newest 3D displays are a powerful tool for providing fun and visual excitement for years to come. Their compelling benefits include an ultra high level of clarity and 50 percent more power savings than other 3D solutions," said Dan Oka, senior product marketing manager for peripherals, Acer America. "Setting the standard for premium 3D multimedia, the new Acer 3D displays give the sensation of full immersion in a virtual world, while the contemporary design sports stylish features, convenient touch-sensitive controls and earth-friendly materials."

Acer 27-Inch Widescreen 3D LCD (HN274H)
The Acer HN274H is the first 27-inch LED monitor to support both HDMI 3D and NVIDIA 3D Vision solutions. It delivers full HD 3D imagery via HDMI when connected to CE devices. Its DVI-DL connection provides twice the bandwidth of DVI for supporting very high resolution images when attached to a PC.

This display offers an astonishing ultra-high 100 million: 1 contrast ratio, which delivers the highest level of clarity and detail available today. This breakthrough is made possible by Acer Adaptive Contrast Management, which optimizes contrast by analyzing every scene, adjusting images frame by frame, and enhancing detail and gradation even in very bright or dim scenes.

Providing a complete 3D package, the monitors include NVIDIA® 3D glasses with active 3D shutter technology. The monitor itself has a built-in IR emitter, so no external IR emitter is needed to connect to a PC. With a set-top box, users can view the latest in satellite 3D TV programming or host a 3D movie party with additional 3D glasses and simple connection to a Blu-Ray Disc™ player.

A large display with sleek dimensions of 25.5-inches (W) x 18.4-inches (H) x 7.6-inches (D), it's a great size for enjoying today's fastest high-def 3D games and the depth that stereoscopic imaging lends to digital photographs. It offers a variety of input options including 1xVGA, 1xDVI and 3xHDMI with HDCP support and provides cables for all three.

Acer 23.6-Inch Widescreen 3D LCD (HS244HQ)
Measuring 22.6-inches (W) x 16.6-inches (H) x 6.8 –inches (D), the HS244HQ is a practical size for more space constrained areas. It supports HDMI 3D and boasts a very high 12,000,000:1 contrast ratio, which showcases the crispest whites and deepest blacks for exceptional viewing definition of all content. A quick 2ms response time enables immersive graphics and enhanced video display for incredible visuals that literally pop from movies, games and photographs.

For added convenience, this 23.6-inch display has a built-in IR emitter and comes with Acer 3D glasses featuring advanced active shutter 3D technology. It has both 1xVGA and 2xHDMI with HDCP support for input. Cables for both options are included.

Both Displays: Phenomenal Resolution; Appealing Eco-Conscious Design
The 1920 x 1080 resolution delivers excellent detail, making these displays perfect for advanced 1080p full HD gaming and widescreen cinematic playback. The LCD active matrix TFTs have a 16:9 aspect ratio and support full HD resolution with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz – far exceeding the mandatory requirements for full HD 3D movies, games and TV. The fast 2 ms response time yields incredibly realistic graphics and video.

Both displays sport an attractive look and feel with a smooth, curved base rimmed in silver and an intricate vent design for 360 degrees of flair. Adding more style are sleek, touch-sensitive controls and a tear dropped power key. An eColor Management button allows users to tailor the performance, such as brightness, saturation and contrast. In terms of mounting options, the displays come with an adjustable stand and are VESA-compliant (100 x 100mm) for mounting to a wall. They provide viewing angles of 170 degrees left/right and 160 degrees up/down and include two 2W speakers.

The LED technology consumes up to 68 percent less power than standard LCD displays – saving energy and money. Environmentally-conscious, the displays are durable, RoHS compliant and constructed of mercury-free white LED backlight. They also come in recyclable packaging materials.

Pricing and Availability

The Acer 27-inch (HN274H) and 23.6-inch (HS244HQ) Widescreen 3D LCDs are available for U.S. customers at leading retailers with MSRPs of $689 and $449, respectively. Both come with a three-year parts and labor limited warranty(2) .

iPhone-controlled Sphero ball gets a chariot for roving FaceTime sessions, office races

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 08:33 PM PDT

A tiny robotic ball able to be controlled by a smartphone doesn't exactly need any more selling points, but Orbotix's Sphero now has an extra one nonetheless. It's been outfitted with a chariot that can be used for FaceTime sessions or low-level surveillance -- or chariot races around your office, naturally. Of course, this is strictly a DIY affair, but we're guessing this is one project you will actually want to do yourself once you see the video after the break.

[Thanks, Ross]

iCade hits FCC, gets torn asunder

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 07:54 PM PDT

Ion iCadeThe Ion iCade, our favorite April Fools' joke turned actual product, has just passed through the FCC and moved one step closer to retail reality. The arcade cabinet for your iPad had all its Bluetoothy bits laid bare and even brought along its user manual, in case you're the type who bothers to read those sordid things. There aren't too many surprises here except, perhaps, the inclusion of an Ikea-esque hex key -- some assembly required. With the green light from the feds, though, that means the iCade is right on schedule for its May 31st release. If you want to ensure you nab one of the first batch, you can pre-order it now for $99 from either GameStop or ThinkGeek. And, while you wait for the blissful marriage of Atari's Greatest Hits and Bluetooth joystick, you can peep the pics in the gallery after the break.

Ion iCade Hits FCC

This is Windows Phone Next -- developers take notes (video)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 07:16 PM PDT


Microsoft delivered a big batch of mobile happiness at its annual MIX developers' conference this morn, promising a host of major features including multitasking, background audio, push notifications and raw sensor data (not to mention over 1500 new APIs) in the next version of Windows Phone. Of course, it's one thing to tell you how pumped attending developers might be to bite into a nice juicy mango next month and another to see for yourself, so feast your eyes on the best of Windows Phone Next in the video above. Not bad, eh?

Sean Hollister contributed to this report.

BlackBerry PlayBook review

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 06:00 PM PDT

The words "play" and "book" are a bit of an odd choice for RIM's latest attempt at consumer relevance, a tablet that, at its core, runs one of the most hardcore and industry-friendly operating systems known to man. The OS is QNX and the hardware is, of course, the BlackBerry PlayBook. It's an enterprise-friendly offering that's also out to conquer the consumer tablet ecosphere, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the BlackBerry handsets that have filled the pockets of corporate executives and BBM addicts around the globe.

It's something of a serious tablet when compared to the competition running software from Apple and Google and, while it certainly has games, its biggest strengths are rather more boring. It does a really great job at displaying PowerPoint presentations, for example, and has the security chops to keep last quarter's dismal sales figures from falling into the wrong hands. Exciting stuff? No, but useful features for sure, and regardless of whether you find those intriguing or boring this is RIM's seven-inch, Flash-having but 3G-lacking tablet clad in an unassuming but extremely sophisticated exterior. It's what's running behind the glass that disappoints.
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook

Hardware


The black PlayBook, with its angular edges and dark styling, looks decidedly nondescript, more likely to open up a wormhole somewhere in orbit around Jupiter than leap into someone's hands at retail. Only the chrome logo 'round the back adds some flare, with the word "BlackBerry" subtly embossed below the display on the front. The chassis is cool metal, ever so slightly rubberized, the edges squared off, and there is absolutely no flex or give anywhere. It feels perfectly solid and doesn't yield to any attempted contortions, despite being just 0.4-inches thick -- less than a tenth thicker than an iPad 2. At 0.9 pounds, it's considerably lighter, but a bit heavier than the .83 pound Galaxy Tab.

Debate about the perfect tablet size rages on, but we have to say the slightly smallish factor here creates a device that's comfortable to roam with. The light weight certainly makes it easier for reading and the more hand-friendly size makes it feel more comfortable to carry. That size, plus the dark coloring, makes this slate a bit less obvious than much of the competition, which is certainly part of its understated charm.

Up top are four buttons, the only physical controls to be found: volume up, volume down, play/pause, and an unfortunately small power button that's flush with the chassis. It's impossible to find by feel and, once located, difficult to activate. You can't really hit it without using a fingernail and even then it requires a lot of pressure to modulate. Plus, it's located centrally on top of the device, exactly where your fingers likely aren't.
BlackBerry PlayBook vs. iPad 2

It sounds crazy, but this is, hands-down, the worst part of the hardware. Think about how often you use the power button on your phone to toggle the screen and then imagine having to stab really hard at it with a fingernail instead. It's hugely frustrating and, while you can turn the screen on by swiping all the way from bezel-to-bezel, even on this seven-incher that's a bit ornery -- and there's no way other than the power button to disable the screen.

A five megapixel camera peeks out the back, while a three megapixel unit handles front-facing duties. That one is tucked under the glass and situated just above the seven-inch, 1,024 x 600 display that will threaten neither rods nor cones when on maximum brightness. It does, however, deliver great clarity and excellent viewing angles.

Hidden away on the bottom are three ports: micro-HDMI, micro-USB, and a proprietary three-prong charging connector for use when the thing settles down in its docking cradle or gets cozy with the optional external adapter -- charging at twice the rate of micro-USB. Up top there's one more hole, a humble 3.5mm headphone jack, but if you look closely you'll also spot stereo speaker grilles cut into either side of the glass.

Internals

Running the show is a dual-core, 1GHz TI OMAP processor that's expertly massaged and manipulated by the QNX OS here. QNX is a decidedly efficient and bulletproof operating system that powers everything from jet fighters to, well, little black tablets. That's backed by 1GB of RAM and 16, 32, or 64GB of storage, with the smallest costing $499 and each subsequent step adding $100 to the cost of entry.

Graphics are handled by a PowerVR design, which quite handily offloads video decoding and gaming acceleration from the processor, enabling this thing to decode and display 1080p video over HDMI while still ticking along quite smoothly and running productivity apps on the seven-inch display. Not a hint of dithering or pixelation, of course. Apps load quickly, tend to be impressively responsive, and switching from one to the next is effortless.

Early builds of the PlayBook software (we're now on our third since taking possession of the thing) seemingly had some issues managing memory, and on multiple occasions we found upper corners glowing red. Our first thought was that the guns on our CRT had been misaligned by a wayward magnet, but this is just how the PlayBook alerts you to issues, in this case a lack of memory. Memory management seems to be much improved in the most recent build we've received, but you can certainly still kill unwanted apps whenever you want by simply swiping them vertically, off into oblivion.

Connectivity


There are various flavors of 4G coming down the pipe for the PlayBook later this year, including a WiMAX sampler for Sprint as well as HSPA+ and LTE for... well, for other carriers. That leaves us with 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity, plus Bluetooth of course. Using that last standard you can pair up a keyboard and mouse; do so and a microscopic cursor appears on the screen. Left clicks for taps and right-clicks for gestures, initiated at the edge of the screen rather than off of it. This, as you'd expect, turns intuitive gestures into clumsy mouse flicks.

Curiously, though, the device doesn't support simple USB mass storage -- you can't just plug it in to your laptop and dump a bunch of files on it. You can mount it as a drive over USB, but then you have only access to a small, read-only volume that contains a single driver. Install that and the PlayBook shows up as a network drive.

Deliciously, this driver allows you to access the device over the network or connected directly over USB, but if you're rocking something other than a Mac or a PC you're going to be disappointed the first time you try to tether here. And, with no simple mass storage mode, it's far more complicated that it should be if you just want to get a file off the thing.

Battery life

With day-to-day usage, WiFi on, screen reasonably bright, checking out some websites and playing some tunes, the PlayBook has plenty of juice to get you through a couple days without breaking a sweat. It'll handily survive your all-day presentation at the office, make you look cool in front of your boss, then still have plenty of battery life left to chill out to some N.W.A. on the flight home.

But, compared to the competition, it delivers a solid mid-pack performance. We looped a standard MPEG4 video clip with WiFi enabled and screen brightness at about 65 percent, managing seven hours and one minute before everything went dark. That's about an hour more than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but over an hour less than the Motorola Xoom. The iPad 2, meanwhile, manages ten and a half hours when similarly stressed.

Battery Life
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook 7:01
Apple iPad 2 10:26
Apple iPad 9:33
Motorola Xoom 8:20
Dell Streak 7 3:26
Archos 101 7:20
Samsung Galaxy Tab 6:09

Software

Operating system
PlayBook interface

Like webOS? If so, you're going to love what's hiding under the PlayBook's (healthy) bezels -- capacitive digitizers that recognize a variety of gestures. System gestures originate to the side of the pixels and terminate on the screen -- except for the swipe to turn the screen on, which has you dragging from one bezel all the way across to the opposite one.

To switch from one app to the next you can swipe inward from the left or the right, which pops the app out of full-screen and lets you move forward or back in the queue. A tap then maximizes your new favorite app. Or, a swipe up from the bottom gives you an even higher-level view of your running apps, which you can again zing your way through. Grabbing one and throwing it upward sends it to the garbage collector, or you can tap the tiny X that appears next to its name.

Swiping from the top of the app brings down a context menu, extra controls that let you save files in Word to Go or jump from one album to another in the media player. Finally, swipe in from either top corner of the screen and you get a system context menu that displays the date and time, simple media controls, battery and connectivity indicators, and a little gear you can tap to tweak your system settings.

Ultimately it's very intuitive to use and, even better, it feels really good. The dynamic action of throwing a frustrating application right off of the screen is quite satisfying, and the lack of any multi-finger antics certainly makes task-switching a far surer affair. Everything is quick and responsive -- just what you expect on a tablet that costs this much money.

Keyboard

At first blush, the keyboard on the PlayBook seems quite good. In landscape mode the keys are spread wide but still reachable by thumbs if you hold this tablet by its horizontal extents -- well, if you don't have particularly short thumbs, anyway. Flipped into portrait it's an even easier reach, but obviously a bit more precision is required.

However, spend a few minutes pecking away and things start to look rather more dire. Neither numbers nor special keys are available without digging into the symbol menu -- even the exclamation point and the question have been driven to obscurity. This means if you want anything more exotic than a humble period or comma you're going to have to go find it. In fact, typing "you're" right there required hitting the symbol key to find the apostrophe -- there's no system-wide auto-correction here (it only works in some apps), no long-presses for alternate characters. What year is this, again?

There is, at least, copy and paste, and it's well-implemented, using a pair of blue tabs to highlight the text you want. Drag them to define the bounds of your text and then your selection is filed away into your clipboard of holding. Annoyingly, though, a double-tap on any word doesn't highlight it.

Browser


RIM has provided a full Webkit browser for you to get your surf on, and it's a reasonably good one. Pages load quickly and naturally are rendered in full desktop mode, with all the pinch-to-zoom goodness and snappy motion you'd expect. Flash Player 10.1 is on-board and works well. YouTube videos play perfectly fine and stutter-free when embedded within pages, though there is a dedicated YouTube app you can use if you like. Even Flash games like Bejeweled play well, important if you're still riding that particular horse.

We ran the browser through SunSpider JavaScript test, where it returned a quite healthy 2,360. That's maybe 10 percent slower than the iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom manage, but still quite respectable.

We should note that we noticed some weirdness in the browser with the most recent (third) revision of the PlayBook software we received. When the system was running under load, with numerous other apps hanging around in the background, the browser would frequently and disconcertingly close. It would simply disappear about half-way through loading whatever page we tried. Closing a few apps seemed to fix it, but behavior like this is always a little unnerving.

Calculator


Yes, we're really writing about the calculator app here. It's one of the many apps on the tablet developed by The Astonishing Tribe, a dev team acquired by RIM who previously worked to define much of the look and feel of Android. The calculator app in particular stands out with the team's patented style. Whether you're in standard or scientific mode, a "paper" tally prints each calculation, digital pulp that can be virtually torn off and disposed. Cute. Slightly more practical is the integrated unit converter, which means we'll never have to look far to get horsepower from kW, and the tip calculator could make your next night on the town go a little more smoothly -- assuming you didn't spend the entire meal playing with your tablet.

Pictures


This is another of the TAT-developed apps, and though simple it shows some nice touches with overlaid transitions as you swipe from image to image. It's of course quite minimalistic, but a pleasure to use.

Adobe Reader

PDF and enterprises go together like executives and golden parachutes, so it's no surprise that Adobe is on-board here with a custom version of Reader. It's a PDF viewer at heart and, therefore, boring. But, performance is great, whether thumbing through boring statistics or pinch-zooming in on tables and charts, even with files laden with megabyte after megabyte of stock images of beautiful people smiling.

Music


Open the music app and you have four big, handy buttons to choose from: artists, albums, genres, or all songs -- the latter for users who can't be constrained by such arbitrary classifications. Albums are simply displayed in a giant grid, tap one to play it, while artists and individual songs go into a long list. The lists are a bit unwieldy, especially since you can't jump to a certain letter, but there is real-time filtering via a search dialog.

Documents to Go suite

The PlayBook comes loaded with Word, Sheet, and Slideshow to Go from DataVis, giving you the ability to view PPT, DOC, and XLS files, even create the latter two right on the tablet. Viewing and editing documents is certainly easy enough and of course being able to do so makes for heightened productivity, but trying to enter Excel formulas using the on-screen keyboard will raise only your blood pressure.

BlackBerry Bridge


Bridge was one of the last pieces of the puzzle to come together in the PlayBook, added mere hours ago, and it's one of the strongest yet weakest aspects of the device. Here you pair your PlayBook up with a phone running BlackBerry OS 5 or 6, which must itself be running the Bridge app. The two talk sweet nothings over Bluetooth and, once connected, a new suite of applications is enabled on the tablet.

In this way you get your standard productivity stuff: e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, and memos. There's also an option to run the Bridge Browser, viewing the web through the phone interface, but as of this moment that feature is simply busted -- the app crashed every time we tried it. The other apps, though, are good. Simple. They're exactly what BlackBerry smartphone users are going to want, but they're also exactly what non-BlackBerry smartphone users will want and, if you don't have a phone to pair, they disappear.

Yes, you can get to your web mail provider of choice here, but the lack of dedicated, basic productivity applications like these feels like a huge oversight. This is RIM expecting 100 percent crossover between PlayBook buyers and current BlackBerry owners, and that seems unnecessarily limiting. Yes, these apps are coming, but they should be here now.

What's missing

Non-Bridge productivity apps (e-mail, calendar, etc.) are the biggest omission, but other things are missing too, like that awesome scrapbooking app from TAT that got us feeling all crafty. It's nowhere to be found. Also missing? The mysterious Android compatibility, support that is coming but sadly won't be working at launch. The ability to run Android apps could totally change the game -- or it could be a non-event. We won't know until RIM flips the switch and lets us all try it out.

Overall, the selection in App World and on the device itself is rather limited at the moment. RIM is quick to point out that there are thousands of apps in the pipeline, written in some combination of Adobe AIR or HTML 5 or Java or within the PlayBook's native compilation engine. We're sure they're coming, but right now it's slim pickins.

Cameras


Again, the PlayBook has three megapixels up front and five around the back, enabling 1080p MPEG4 video recording in a tablet and, we must say, doing a fair job of it. You're going to want a lot of light but, if things aren't too dim, video quality is quite good, as you can see in the sample clip above. Images, too, need a lot of light to keep the grain monster at bay, and the lack of a flash doesn't help in that department, but get the lighting right and the results are decent. Focus is sharp and images look bright. This is definitely a tablet that you could use to take some attractive photographs, if you can get over the social repercussions of waving this seven-inch viewfinder around on vacation.
BlackBerry PlayBook sample images

Accessories


RIM kindly provided a few accessories for us to experiment with, including the $50 Convertible Case, which adds a good amount of girth to the tablet but also offers a lot of protection, and serves as a stand, too. But, $50 is a lot of cash for a case. (There is, at least, a thin sleeve included with the PlayBook.)

We also received the Rapid Charging Pod, a $70 magnetic stand that uses that three-pronged proprietary charger at the bottom. It's said to be twice as fast as micro-USB charging and its weighted, magnetic design holds the PlayBook firmly in place for watching content while charging. But, the lack of audio output is unfortunate and, again, $70 seems like a lot for a tiny little dock.

Wrap-up


Writing this review has been a lot like trying to hit a moving target thanks to a series of software updates that have been dropping every few days. The PlayBook of today is considerably better than the PlayBook of yesterday, which also was a big step forward from the one we were reviewing two days before that. This is both encouraging and worrying -- encouraging that RIM is actively working to improve things, but worrying that things as critical as memory management are still being tweaked at the eleventh hour.

This means we're not entirely sure what the PlayBook that goes on sale next week will look like. We thought we had "final" software on Sunday -- and then we got another update. So, what we see at the moment is a framework with solid fundamentals but a framework that is, right now, unfinished. We have hardware that looks and feels great but isn't being fully served by the software. And, ultimately, we have a tablet that's trying really hard to please the enterprise set but, in doing so, seems to be alienating casual users who might just want a really great seven-inch tablet. Oh, and don't forget that bummer of a power button.

Right now, the BlackBerry PlayBook is a tablet that will come close to satisfying those users who gravitate toward the first word in its name: BlackBerry. Those who were more excited about the "play" part would be well advised to look elsewhere, at least until Android compatibility joins the party. Then, well, anything could happen.

Jacob Schulman contributed to this review.

Bridgestone builds world's largest e-paper tablets, shuns consumers (video)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 05:42 PM PDT

Bridgestone AeroBee Tablets
If you thought the Kno was unwieldy, check out these A4 and A3 paper-sized AeroBee terminals from Bridgestone. The company, best known for its tire commercials featuring adorable animals about to get run over, unveiled two new tablets with 21-inch and 13-inch (underwhelming) color e-paper screens -- the largest available on the market. You can check them out in the video after the break, but don't get too excited, these beasts aren't destined for consumers. Instead, they're being marketed to businesses which will likely use them as in-store displays or kiosks. Next step: coffee table-book e-readers. Though, we suspect In the Shadow of No Towers would lose something in the translation.

NASA animation depicts Curiosity's soft landing on Mars, courtesy of a 'sky crane' (video)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 05:21 PM PDT


Sending a rover to a distant planet is no small feat, so we might as well make the landing even more spectacular, right? That's exactly what NASA has in mind for its Curiosity Mars rover, albeit for more practical reasons. Launching in late 2011 and expected to land on Mars in August 2012, this mobile laboratory will see a unique descent after entering the Martian atmosphere: there'll be the usual separation from the heatshield and backshell, but at about 380 seconds into the entry, the rover will be gently lowered down by wire from a "sky crane," as opposed to taking a leap of faith. Once the landing is complete, the hovering sky crane will then detach from the rover and fly off for a dramatic disposal -- let's just hope it won't hit the now-dormant Spirit. See for yourself in the video above.

NewSight Japan uses film, software to give the iPad a 3D display... sort of (video)

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 05:02 PM PDT

Given Apple's track record of adopting newfangled technologies -- you know, like SD slots -- we're going to go ahead and assume Steve Jobs & Co. aren't planning on adding a 3D display to the iPad anytime soon. Now that you've swallowed that distasteful dose of reality, NewSight Japan is inviting you to mod it yourself in a way thankfully doesn't involve performing open-heart surgery on your magical slate. The solution -- whose name we can't decipher on the company's Japanese website -- combines software with a film placed over the display (not to worry, this won't impede mulltitouch gestures). Unfortunately, it doesn't flip 2D images to 3D, so those operating sans a 3D-enabled camera or conversion software are apt to be sorely disappointed. That said, it'd fit right into a utopian universe where 3D movie downloads were the norm.

Gigabyte's pricey S1080 tablet goes on sale in Taiwan

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 04:40 PM PDT

As far as tablets go, Gigabyte's S1080 is about as far as you can get from the iPad, with its dual-core Atom N550 processor, 320GB hard drive, and Ethernet port. (And, you know, the fact that it runs Windows 7.) Still, the company is going head to head with Apple's magical slate -- it just priced the 10-inch, 3G-enabled tablet at NT$22,900 ($787), a shade higher than the NT$22,800 price of a first-generation iPad with 3G and 64GB of storage. (Taiwan hasn't gotten the iPad 2 yet.) If having a Windows tablet with mouse buttons, of all things, floats your boat, it can't be beat, though finding a cheaper Windows slate should be a cinch.

Galaxy S II benchmarked, makes other phones cry in shame

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 04:18 PM PDT

Galaxy S II Benchmarked
The first benchmarks of Samsung's 1.2GHz Galaxy S II -- we saw the 1GHz variant tested previously -- are rolling in, and it's fast. Almost suspiciously so. Its speedy dual-core Exynos CPU pulled off a 3,053 in Quadrant and scored double what the similarly specced HTC Sensation did in Smartbench2011. Those scores also represent a more than threefold improvement over the original Galaxy S. Of course, these are purely synthetic benchmarks and may not translate into an equally improved experience in day to day use. We'll know for sure when we get our hands on one for a proper review in the coming weeks. Full benchmarks are after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Galaxy S 2 vs. HTC Sensation

Galaxy S 2 Quadrant Benchmark
at 11:54 AM

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