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- Sharp announces WiFi-enabled Freestyle Aquos portable TV for Japan
- Verizon CFO suggests next iPhone will be a 'global device'
- Hulu blocked on the BlackBerry PlayBook, Android fans say, 'told you so'
- Motorola Xoom, Nexus S 4G hitting Sprint in early May?
- PlayStation Network down for a long count, what's up Sony? (update: down for 24+ hours!)
- Samsung's LTE-enabled Droid Charge coming to Verizon on April 28th for $300 on contract
- Protean Electric in-wheel motors have the stuff to make an F-150 turn green
- Panasonic Chargepad wirelessly juices up mobile chargers, nothing else
- The iPhone tracking fiasco and what you can do about it
- Nissan recovering from quake, ramps up Leaf deliveries
- Toshiba's waterproof Camileo BW10 does 1080p video, 5 megapixel stills for $150
- Verizon reports 'strong' Q1 earnings: $27 billion revenue, 2.2 million iPhone activations
- Augmented reality Tetris game uses Kinect hack, Wiimote, smooth jazz (video)
- Ideum releases MT55 HD multitouch table for hands-on museum-goers (video)
- Amazon launches German Kindle Store with 650,000 titles and lots of long words
- Universe expansion: dark matter's out, anti-gravity's in, matter and antimatter still can't get along
- iHub gets shut down by the iPolice
- ECOtality announces Blink Mobile EV charging app
- Nokia and Microsoft sign definitive agreement, bring Windows Phone handsets closer to realization
- Amazon to take on Apple this summer with Samsung-built tablet?
- Nokia's Q1 2011: smartphone share down to 26 percent, 'more challenging' times ahead
- iCade arcade cabinet for iPad starts selling at $100, already on backorder
- Google shutting down most of Google Video, urges you to back up your greatest hits now
- Qualcomm reports record quarterly revenues, boasts 100th Snapdragon device
- Samsung Galaxy S II to arrive in UK on April 27th, but only through Phones 4u
- ASUS Eee Pad Transformer hits US on April 26th for $399
- Verizon starts delivering long overdue Froyo update to Fascinate users
- SanDisk and Toshiba announce world's smallest NAND flash memory chips for tinier gadgets
- BiliBot combines Kinect, iRobot Create and gripper arm for affordable ROS fun (video)
- Buick, GMC getting IntelliLink smartphone connectivity
- Yahoo to retain search data for 18 months, says it's in your best interest
- HTC Sensation 4G launching on June 8th, because Google AdWords says so
- Fujifilm FinePix XP30 reviewed: average ruggedized cam, with GPS
- Eye-tracking microdisplay delivers Terminator vision, distracts joggers
- UPenn's PhillieBot throws out first pitch, Skynet calls for a reliever (video)
- Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind
- Beats by Dr. Dre get the ColorWare treatment, minus the color (video)
- Verizon Wireless: we might sell the BlackBerry PlayBook, if we feel like it
- KnightHawk 3G network-in-a-box breaks soldiers' backs, helps them get online anywhere
- Houston grandmother becomes host of first 'super WiFi' hotspot, proves you're never too old for wireless
| Sharp announces WiFi-enabled Freestyle Aquos portable TV for Japan Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:56 AM PDT  The phrase "portable TV" may conjure up images of a handheld device or luggable 5-inch CRT for most folks, but it looks like Sharp is intent on changing that perception. It's just announced its new Freestyle Aquos portable TV -- a 20-inch, WiFi-enabled LED set that comes paired with a wireless digital TV tuner so you can roam around your house with it. As you can see above, it also comes complete with a handle (which can be used to hang it on a wall), and a built-in kickstand for some tabletop or countertop viewing. It even packs DLNA support so you can access your media library although, contrary to its tablet-esque appearances, you can just reach out and touch it -- you'll have to do things the old fashioned way with a remote control. There's still no word on any plans for a North American release, but folks in Japan will be able to pick one up in their choice of black, white or pink in early June for ¥100,000 (or roughly $1,220). Head on past the break for a video. |
| Verizon CFO suggests next iPhone will be a 'global device' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:31 AM PDT  That pretty clearly suggests that the next iPhone -- supposedly coming in September -- will be a world phone, which just so happens to coincide with rumors to same effect we've heard as recently as this week. Of course, there's been talk of a dual-mode GSM / CDMA iPhone even before that, considering that the Qualcomm baseband chip used in the Verizon iPhone is technically capable of supporting both CDMA and GSM networks -- Apple simply chose not to or wasn't able to take advantage of that particular functionality at the time. |
| Hulu blocked on the BlackBerry PlayBook, Android fans say, 'told you so' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:19 AM PDT  |
| Motorola Xoom, Nexus S 4G hitting Sprint in early May? Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:56 AM PDT  [Thanks, Anonymous] |
| PlayStation Network down for a long count, what's up Sony? (update: down for 24+ hours!) Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:55 AM PDT  Update: PSN is acknowledging on its EU blog that the network outage may be a result of "the possibility of targeted behaviour by an outside party." Still no ETA for when services will be restored. Update 2: PSN is now reporting that the network may be offline for "a full day or two." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| Samsung's LTE-enabled Droid Charge coming to Verizon on April 28th for $300 on contract Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:34 AM PDT 
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| Protean Electric in-wheel motors have the stuff to make an F-150 turn green Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:27 AM PDT  |
| Panasonic Chargepad wirelessly juices up mobile chargers, nothing else Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:06 AM PDT  Update: As reader SegueToNowhere points out, the Chargepad has a Qi logo, meaning it should work with your favorite Qi devices. |
| The iPhone tracking fiasco and what you can do about it Posted: 21 Apr 2011 08:46 AM PDT  Regardless, the story laid dormant for months until the O'Reilly team was able to visualize the data in a very personal way. Running the team's open-source iPhoneTracker software to see the detailed locations of our worldly travels is absolutely fascinating. Imagining the same data file in the hands of a stalker, misguided detective, or a jealous lover is downright creepy. But how is it possible that an issue like this has avoided the tech community at large for more than a year? And more importantly, what can you do about it? Read on to find out. Sure the visualization is powerful, but so is the emotive energy that surrounds any issue related to Apple. Toss in big brother privacy concerns and you've just unleashed the perfect storm into the blogosphere echo chamber. Yet, we heard nary a peep emitted outside of forensic circles until yesterday. Ryan Block, lover of fine coffee and Engadget Editor Emeritus, postulated an answer to our question over at GDGT, theorizing that perhaps the forensic community, unlike the security world, is so insular that it lacks the incentive to go public with such privacy concerns. After all, criminals will change their behavior if they know what you're tracking. But who's the so-called "criminal" in this case? For that, we have to dig into Apple's privacy policy, something you accept every time you blindly click away Apple's terms and conditions. The policy was last updated on the 21st of June, 2010 -- the same day that Apple released iOS 4. Guess what? It talks a lot about collecting and using non-personal information, including location data. Here are a few choice paragraphs: Apple then cites several examples: The company later expounds on location services specifically: Problem is, the location data is very personal and hardly anonymous because it's stored right on your phone -- the most personal device we own. The consolidated.db is also replicated (unencrypted by default) to any PC or Mac your iPhone syncs with, and subsequently any additional backup devices you might use (Windows Home Sever, Time Capsule, etc.). Apple's not alone in this behavior, either. Just last month, The New York Times ran a story titled, "It's Tracking Your Every Move and You May Not Even Know." In this case, however, "it" does not refer to Apple, it references the cellphone companies who have to track your location in order to provide the best possible service. That meant 35,000 longitude and latitude coordinates collected over a six month period for one very unhappy Deutsche Telekom subscriber who had to go to court in Germany to find out what his provider knew. See, like the United States, German carriers are not required to report the data they collect. Don't get us wrong, we're not letting Apple off the hook here -- we also want to know why the company needs to collect and maintain so much of our location data for such a long time. But we, as consumers, have to pay better attention if we want to reserve the right to scream foul. If this issue really concerns you, then there are a few things you can do right now to take control of your privacy. First, you can go into iTunes and start encrypting your iPhone and iPad backups. Second, you can purge the consolidated.db files sitting on your various hard disk drives. Lastly, if your device is jailbroken, you can install the free Untrackerd app to continuously clean the consolidated.db file. That should keep you busy while we wait for Apple to respond. |
| Nissan recovering from quake, ramps up Leaf deliveries Posted: 21 Apr 2011 08:16 AM PDT  Nissan Accelerates LeafF Deliveries To U.S. Consumers; Reopens Reservations In Launch Markets May 1 - New Marketing Campaign Illustrates 'Value of Zero' – - First post earthquake-produced Nissan LEAF's to arrive in the U.S. this month – - Deliveries to total many thousands by end of the summer – - Nissan LEAF featured in Hollywood documentary 'Revenge of the Electric Car' – Nissan Americas today announced it will accelerate the U.S. market launch of the Nissan LEAF, the world's first and only affordable, all-electric vehicle designed for the mass market. Beginning May 1, the company will reopen reservations to select consumers as both vehicle production and U.S. deliveries move into the many thousands. Nissan completed its first reservation session in September 2010 after achieving its goal of 20,000 U.S. reservations, three months prior to the first Nissan LEAF delivery. Reservations first will reopen in the launch states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Individuals who already have registered on the Nissan LEAF website – a group that now totals 340,000 potential owners – will be given the first opportunity to reserve a spot in line to purchase a Nissan LEAF. More markets will follow, with market availability in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia) this fall, and nationwide ordering in 2012. "Nissan is pleased to report that the first vessel carrying post earthquake-produced Nissan LEAFs is scheduled to arrive to U.S. shores April 27," said Carlos Tavares, Chairman, Nissan Americas, at the keynote address of the New York International Auto Show. "Nissan LEAF deliveries are about to grow from the few hundreds, to the many thousands, and all current customer orders will be fulfilled by the end of this summer." This announcement comes on the heels of the April 18 debut of Nissan's new ad campaign for the all-electric car, titled "Value of Zero." The campaign is a celebration of the 100-percent electric Nissan LEAF, which uses zero gas and emits zero tailpipe emissions. The campaign tagline, "Zero is Worth Everything," highlights the car and reveals the true value of zero, through topical imagery arranged in the circular shape of a zero. The Nissan LEAF also is featured in the highly anticipated documentary "Revenge of the Electric Car." Filmmaker and electric-car advocate Chris Paine directs the movie, which follows executives including Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn in his industry-leading pursuit of zero-emission leadership. "Revenge" opens April 22, Earth Day, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. More than 500 Nissan LEAFs have been delivered to U.S. consumers since the December 2010 launch of this groundbreaking vehicle. With the help of CARWINGS, the advanced telematics system that comes standard on every Nissan LEAF, the company has compiled aggregate data about the use patterns of these first Nissan LEAF owners. The average trip length of these early adopters is 7 miles; most charge on a Level 2, 220-volt charger at their homes; and the average charging time is 2 hours and 11 minutes. Nissan LEAF owners are a combination of conscientious environmentalists and tech-savvy individuals. They are highly educated, have excellent credit, and are in the nation's top 15 percent for household income. The week of New York International Auto Show marks the debut of the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC, a purpose-built prototype that wraps production Nissan LEAF components and technology in a dramatic, ready-to-go-racing carbon-fiber body. The Nissan LEAF also is a candidate for the prestigious World Car of the Year and World Green Car of the Year awards, which will be awarded April 21 during the show. The week culminates in Earth Day, April 22, when the Nissan LEAF will participate in Earth Day 2011 in New York. Nissan, which is a sponsor of the festivities, is participating in a CO2 E Drive – an electric vehicle drive that winds through Manhattan and finishes in Times Square. In Times Square, a select number of cars from the convoy, which includes the Nissan LEAF, will be profiled in a car runway show where the green features of the car will be described to the assembled media and public. About Nissan North America In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 and 2011 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information about Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.Infiniti.com. About Nissan Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award. |
| Toshiba's waterproof Camileo BW10 does 1080p video, 5 megapixel stills for $150 Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:51 AM PDT 
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| Verizon reports 'strong' Q1 earnings: $27 billion revenue, 2.2 million iPhone activations Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:27 AM PDT  Yesterday was AT&T's turn, and today it's Verizon revealing its earnings for the first quarter of 2011. The company has reported $27 billion in consolidated revenue from its wireless and wireline businesses, which is up 5.3 percent year over year (on a non-GAAP basis), while profits rose to $1.4 billion. Fueling that growth was 1.8 million net additions to its wireless customer base, which now totals 88.4 million customers (and 104 million connections). It also saw 207,000 net additions to its FiOS internet business and 192,000 net additions to FiOS TV, which bring those total customer bases to 4.3 million and 3.7 million, respectively. As for that little iPhone 4 launch, Verizon says it's resulted in 2.2 million activations -- that's quite a bit less that AT&T's 3.6 million iPhone activations for the same quarter, as you've no doubt noticed, although it does also have the benefit of a much cheaper iPhone 3GS in addition to the iPhone 4. Verizon also said that demand was "strong" for its new LTE devices (including 260,000 HTC Thunderbolt activations), and that deployment of its LTE network remains on track, with it expected to be available in more than 175 markets by the end of the year -- in fact, that's actually up a bit from the 147 figure we last heard. Head on past the break for the company's full earnings report. First-Quarter Performance Affirms 2011 Revenue and Earnings Guidance 1Q HIGHLIGHTS Consolidated 51 cents in diluted earnings per share (EPS), compared with EPS of 16 cents and adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) of 48 cents in 1Q 2010. Wireless 6.3 percent year-over-year increase in service revenues in 1Q 2011; data revenues up 22.3 percent; 25.8 percent operating income margin and 43.7 percent Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP). 1.8 million net additions, excluding acquisitions and adjustments, includes 906,000 retail postpaid net customer additions; continued low retail postpaid churn of 1.01 percent. 104.0 million total connections, includes 88.4 million retail customers. Wireline 207,000 net FiOS Internet and 192,000 net FiOS TV additions; 4.3 million total FiOS Internet connections and 3.7 million total FiOS TV connections. 10.5 percent year-over-year increase in consumer ARPU; FiOS consumer retail revenues now represent approximately 54 percent of total consumer revenues. 12.8 percent increase in strategic enterprise revenues, which now represent approximately 46 percent of total global enterprise revenues. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) today reported strong first-quarter 2011 earnings, as industry leader Verizon Wireless continued to effectively balance customer growth and profitability, while growth in FiOS and strategic enterprise services contributed to another quarter of improvement in wireline margins. Verizon reported 51 cents in EPS in first-quarter 2011, compared with first-quarter 2010 earnings of 16 cents per share. There are no adjustments to first-quarter 2011 earnings results. Adjusted first-quarter 2010 earnings, excluding the impact of divestitures and non-operational charges (non-GAAP), were 48 cents per share. On Track to Meet Revenue and Earnings Objectives "In the first quarter, Verizon Wireless solidified its industry leadership with results that once again showed sustainable, profitable growth," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg. "We are executing on our business plans and building momentum, and we are on track to meet both our revenue and earnings objectives for the year." Seidenberg added, "Wireline EBITDA margins expanded for the fourth consecutive quarter, driven by continued strength in FiOS revenues and disciplined cost management. Our strategic acquisition of Terremark, which closed earlier this month, improves our ability to provide integrated, enterprise-class cloud solutions and accelerate growth." Consolidated Revenue Growth Accelerates On a consolidated basis, Verizon's total operating revenues were $27.0 billion in first-quarter 2011, an increase of 0.3 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. Last year's results included revenues from operations that have since been divested. On a comparable basis (non-GAAP), first-quarter 2011 total operating revenues increased 5.3 percent compared with first-quarter 2010 -- up from growth of 2.3 percent on the same basis comparing fourth-quarter 2010 with fourth-quarter 2009. Approximately 77 percent of first-quarter 2011 revenues were generated by higher-growth wireless, FiOS and strategic enterprise services, compared with approximately 72 percent of comparable first-quarter 2010 revenues. As previously stated, Verizon is targeting comparable top-line revenue growth rates in the range of 4 percent to 8 percent for full-year 2011. The company is also targeting EPS growth of 5 percent to 8 percent in 2011, over a comparable adjusted base of $2.08 per share in 2010. Verizon continues to expect 2011 capital spending to be essentially flat, compared with the 2010 investment of $16.5 billion. In first-quarter 2011, Verizon's capital expenditures totaled $4.4 billion, compared with $3.4 billion in first-quarter 2010, as the company aggressively invested in growth opportunities, including the deployment of Verizon's nationwide 4G LTE (fourth-generation, Long-Term Evolution) wireless broadband network. With 4G LTE deployment well under way, Verizon's capitalized interest will be lower in 2011, resulting in higher interest expense of about $150 million for each quarter this year. Cash flow from operations totaled $5.0 billion in first-quarter 2011, down from $7.1 billion in first-quarter 2010. Operating cash flow from higher net income in first-quarter 2011 was offset by the launch of the iPhone and satisfaction of Verizon's full-year 2011 pension funding obligation of $392 million. In addition, the first half of last year included cash flows from since-divested properties. Verizon said its cash flow outlook for 2011 remains strong, and there is no change regarding the anticipated 2012 timing of a Verizon Wireless dividend to its parent companies. The effective income tax rate attributable to Verizon for the first quarter was 30 percent. For full-year 2011, Verizon anticipates an effective tax rate to be in a range consistent with the past three quarters, post the Frontier and Alltel divestitures. Verizon Wireless Delivers Strong Operational and Financial Results Verizon Wireless delivered strong growth in revenues, retail customers and other connections; increased retail postpaid ARPU (average monthly service revenue per user) and smartphone penetration; and delivered a strong EBITDA margin. In the first quarter of 2011: Wireless Financial Highlights Service revenues in the quarter totaled $14.3 billion, up 6.3 percent year over year. Data revenues were $5.5 billion, up $1.0 billion or 22.3 percent year over year, and represent 38.1 percent of all service revenues. Total revenues were $16.9 billion, up 10.2 percent year over year. Retail postpaid ARPU grew 2.2 percent over first-quarter 2010, to $53.52. Retail postpaid data ARPU increased to $20.51, up 17.3 percent year over year. Retail service ARPU also grew 2.2 percent, to $51.88. Wireless operating income margin was 25.8 percent. Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP) was 43.7 percent. Wireless Operational Highlights Verizon Wireless added 1.8 million total connections, including 906,000 retail postpaid customers, and 897,000 wholesale and other connections. These additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments. At the end of the first quarter, the company had 104.0 million total connections, an increase of 6.1 percent year over year, including 88.4 million retail customers and 15.6 million wholesale and other connections. At the end of the first quarter, 32 percent of Verizon Wireless' retail postpaid customer phone base were smartphones, up from 28 percent at the end of fourth-quarter 2010. Retail postpaid churn remained low at 1.01 percent, and total retail churn was 1.33 percent. Both improved year over year. Following the launch of its 4G LTE mobile broadband network in 38 markets in December 2010, the company so far has named more than 100 additional markets where 4G LTE is being rolled out. By year-end, Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network, the fastest and most advanced 4G LTE network in the U.S., is expected to be available in more than 175 markets, covering a population of more than 185 million people throughout the country. The company introduced three 4G LTE devices: the ThunderBolt by HTC, the first 4G LTE smartphone; the Verizon USB551L, a modem made by Novatel Wireless; and a Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot. Demand was strong for new LTE devices -- as well as for Apple's iPhone 4, which produced the most successful first-day sales in Verizon Wireless history when it was introduced in February to existing customers. Verizon Wireless continued to invest in its 3G network, the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network. The company announced plans to open the Verizon Wireless Application Innovation Center in San Francisco later this year, where developers, engineers and others can work together on innovative applications that will run on the company's 3G and 4G networks. Continued Wireline Margin Expansion and FiOS Growth Verizon's Wireline segment delivered continued margin expansion and growth in FiOS customers and revenues, as well as accelerated growth in revenues for strategic enterprise services. In the first quarter of 2011: Wireline Financial Highlights Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 23.6 percent, compared with 21.1 percent in first-quarter 2010. This was Wireline's fourth consecutive quarter of sequential margin expansion. First-quarter 2011 operating revenues were $10.1 billion, a decline of 2.2 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. This is an improvement from a decline of 2.8 percent comparing fourth-quarter 2010 to fourth-quarter 2009. First-quarter 2011 total operating expenses were $9.9 billion, a decline of 3.9 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. Revenues for Verizon's FiOS fiber-optic services to consumer retail customers generated approximately 54 percent of consumer wireline revenues in first-quarter 2011, compared with approximately 45 percent in first-quarter 2010. Consumer revenues grew 1.9 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. Consumer ARPU for wireline services was $90.55 in first-quarter 2011, up 10.5 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. ARPU for FiOS customers continues to be more than $146. Global enterprise revenues totaled $3.8 billion in the quarter, up 1.0 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. Sales of strategic enterprise services -- such as security and IT solutions, as well as strategic networking -- increased 12.8 percent compared with first-quarter 2010, and accelerated from a growth rate of 8.0 percent comparing fourth-quarter 2010 with fourth-quarter 2009. Strategic services now represent approximately 46 percent of global enterprise revenues. Wireline Operational Highlights Verizon added 207,000 net new FiOS Internet connections and 192,000 net new FiOS TV connections in first-quarter 2011. Verizon had 4.3 million FiOS Internet and 3.7 million FiOS TV connections at the end of the quarter. FiOS Internet penetration (subscribers as a percentage of potential subscribers) was 33.1 percent by the end of the first quarter, with the product available for sale to 13.0 million premises. This compares with 29.0 percent and 12.0 million, respectively, at the end of first-quarter 2010. FiOS TV penetration was 29.1 percent by the end of first-quarter 2011, with the product available for sale to 12.6 million premises. This compares with 25.4 percent and 11.5 million, respectively, at the end of first-quarter 2010. Broadband connections totaled 8.5 million at the end of first-quarter 2011, a 3.0 percent year-over-year increase. FiOS Internet connections more than offset a decrease in DSL-based HSI connections, leading to a net increase of 98,000 broadband connections from fourth-quarter 2010. These are the most broadband net additions since second-quarter 2009. Total voice connections, which measures FiOS Digital Voice connections in addition to traditional switched access lines, declined 8.2 percent to 25.5 million -- the smallest year-over-year decline since first-quarter 2008. During the quarter, Verizon moved decisively to accelerate its "everything-as-a-service" enterprise cloud strategy by announcing its acquisition of cloud and managed IT infrastructure leader Terremark Worldwide, which closed in April. Verizon continued to deploy secure IT and communications solutions that enable better business outcomes for multinational enterprise, medium-sized and government customers. These included a new cloud-based unified communications service, an enhanced set of Enterprise Identity Management offerings, and delivery of SAP's Customer Relationship Management service through Verizon's flagship cloud offering, Computing as a Service. In addition, Verizon completed new agreements during the quarter with a range of multinational corporations, including Delphi Automotive. Verizon expanded its global network infrastructure, continuing to broaden its global scope and capabilities. The company installed 38 additional Private IP edge routers for a total of 852 edge routers in 238 sites throughout 63 countries; activated the first 100GE (gigabit Ethernet) transmission trunk between routers on Verizon's backbone network; implemented Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) on its public IP backbone in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions; and activated 7,021 miles of the Europe India Gateway submarine cable system, which connects the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The Wireline workforce totaled 92,000 at the end of first-quarter 2011, a year-over-year decline of 16,000 (adjusted for divested operations), primarily as a result of incentive offers that led to voluntary separations. NOTE: Reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made, where appropriate, to reflect comparable operating results for the divestiture of overlapping wireless properties in 105 operating markets in 24 states during the first half of 2010; the wireless deferred revenue adjustment that was disclosed in Verizon's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2010; and the spinoff to Frontier of local exchange and related landline assets in 14 states, effective on July 1, 2010. See the accompanying schedules and www.verizon.com/investor for reconciliations to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for non-GAAP financial measures cited in this document. NOTE: This presentation contains statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following important factors could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: the effects of adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies; the effects of competition in our markets; materially adverse changes in labor matters, including labor negotiations, and any resulting financial and/or operational impact; the effect of material changes in available technology; any disruption of our key suppliers' provisioning of products or services; significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment returns on plan assets; the impact of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, breaches of network or information technology security or existing or future litigation and any resulting financial impact not covered by insurance; technology substitution; an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations or adverse conditions in the credit markets impacting the cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of financing; any changes in the regulatory environments in which we operate, including any increase in restrictions on our ability to operate our networks; the timing, scope and financial impact of our deployment of broadband technology; changes in our accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions; and the inability to implement our business strategies. |
| Augmented reality Tetris game uses Kinect hack, Wiimote, smooth jazz (video) Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:07 AM PDT  |
| Ideum releases MT55 HD multitouch table for hands-on museum-goers (video) Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:42 AM PDT  Ideum Releases New HD LCD Ruggedized Multi-touch Table CORRALES, New Mexico (April 20, 2011) Ideum has announced the release of its new MT55 HD 55" multitouch table. A newly released video shows all of the table's features. http://www.youtube.com/user/multitouchexhibits The MT55 HD is a fully integrated system with an LCD, multitouch overlay, ultra clear tempered glass, powerful computer, UPS battery backup, and integrated cooling cell. The table even has an integrated Bose Audio system. It has single-†button operation. The MT55 has a large 55" LCD with full 1920x1080 HD resolution. Its unique pedestal design houses a powerful computer while the surface is only 3" inches thick. The pedestal and top surface are built with aluminum and steel. The entire unit stands 31″ tall, matching ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. The integrated HP computer system is packed with power. The CPU is an Intel® Quad Core i7 with 4GB of RAM, dual 250GB SATA Hard Drives and NVIDIA Quadro 600 PCI video card. The system is multitouch-â€enabled from start up and runs Windows 7 Professional 64-â€bit. The computer system is backed with a three-â€year HP warranty. The LCD has an LED backlight and is rated for 50,000 hours. The screen is protected by hardened, 5mm tempered glass. The table supports up to 32 simultaneous touch points. A lockable cabinet protects the computer and all of the other components. The table comes complete with WIFI, Bluetooth, and Ethernet capability. It also has HDMI output to allow you to easily mirror the table's display. "Hidden" Ethernet (CAT5), HDMI, and USB 2.0 ports are included. "A large, maintenance-â€free, all-â€in-â€one solution is what our customers have been asking for," said Jim Spadaccini, Director of Ideum. "The MT55 HD–which comes with a huge LCD display, a full warranty, and integrated software and is a complete package that cannot be found anywhere else." The MT55 HD ships with GestureWorks for Flash and Flex. With support for more than 200 gestures, GestureWorks is the most advanced multitouch SDK available. The package includes nearly a dozen pre-â€built Open Exhibits multitouch components. The new video features music by Moby, the track Lacrimae will be released on his upcoming album, Destroyed, to be released on May 17th. |
| Amazon launches German Kindle Store with 650,000 titles and lots of long words Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:49 AM PDT  AMAZON.DE LAUNCHES GERMAN KINDLE STORE WITH THE LARGEST SELECTION OF ANY E-BOOKSTORE IN GERMANY Amazon's Free "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle Apps Now Available in German Thousands of Free German Classics Available on Kindle LUXEMBOURG, 21 April 2011 - (NASDAQ: AMZN)-Amazon.de today launched the Kindle Store (www.amazon.de/kindlebuecher), the biggest e-bookstore in Germany, with the largest selection of ebooks including more than 650,000 titles, 71 of 100 Spiegel bestsellers, and over 25,000 German-language titles with thousands of German classics downloadable for free only on Kindle. Amazon also announced that its series of free "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" apps for the most popular devices, including iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac and Android-based devices, are now available in German-language versions. In addition, in response to customer demand, Amazon is now offering the latest-generation Kindle and Kindle 3G with an English user interface directly from Amazon.de. "After 12 years of selling print books on Amazon.de, we are excited today to offer the millions of Amazon.de customers access to the biggest e-bookstore in Germany," said Greg Greeley, vice president, European Retail. "German customers are passionate about books and reading, and just as we've seen in the U.S. and the U.K., we believe they will quickly embrace the advantages of reading on Kindle." The German Kindle Store's vast selection includes titles from German-language authors including Arno Geiger, Kerstin Gier and Charlotte Link, plus 71 of 100 Spiegel bestsellers and thousands of German classics downloadable for free only on Kindle. Additionally, the Kindle Store features thousands of independently-published German-language titles through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing service. Top German and international newspapers and magazines are also available for single purchase or subscription including Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Handelsblatt and Die Zeit. New subscriptions are auto-delivered wirelessly to Kindle and start with a free 14-day trial. Free Kindle reading apps are now available in German language for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac and Android-based devices. Amazon's Whispersync technology syncs your place across all devices, so you can pick up reading where you left off. Plus, with Kindle Worry-Free Archive, books you purchase from the Kindle Store, and any notes or annotations you create, are automatically backed up online in your Kindle library on Amazon.de where they can be re-downloaded wirelessly for free, anytime. Kindle is the bestselling product in Amazon's history and offers the latest electronic-ink technology with 50 percent better contrast, a sleek design with a 6-inch screen, light weight of just 8.5 ounces, readable in bright sunlight with no glare, and up to one-month battery life. Kindle has an English keyboard and English-language menus that allow customers to find, discover and read a large selection of German and English books. Kindle is available for just 139€ and Kindle 3G is only 189€. Both Kindle devices are now available with free two-day shipping from Amazon.de. "Customers have been asking us to make our latest-generation Kindle available from Germany and we are pleased to do that today," Greeley continued. "Plus, any German customer with a smartphone, tablet or PC and a free Kindle reading app can buy and read ebooks from the Kindle Store today." Customers can start shopping our new German ebookstore at www.amazon.de/kindlebuecher, and can learn more about our Kindle and Kindle 3G devices at www.amazon.de/kindleWi-Fi and www.amazon.de/kindle3G. |
| Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:29 AM PDT  |
| iHub gets shut down by the iPolice Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:02 AM PDT  [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| ECOtality announces Blink Mobile EV charging app Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:32 AM PDT  ECOtality Releases Blink™ Mobile Application for Smartphones and Mobile Devices Blink Network Extends to Mobile Devices to Help Users Locate Blink Charging Stations, Get Station Information and Receive Charging Status Updates EDTA, Washington, D.C. – April 19, 2011 – ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, today released the Blink™ Mobile Application for smartphones and mobile devices that extends the capabilities of the Blink Network. The mobile application will be on display on the Apple® iPad™ 2, the iPhone™ 4, the Motorola Xoom™, the Google Nexus S™, and the BlackBerry® Torch™ at the Electronic Drive and Transportation Association (EDTA) annual conference in Washington, D.C. The Blink Mobile Application allows users to access the Blink Network anywhere. The Blink Mobile Application is a multi-use, multi-platform, multi-device application that is available for both Blink Members and non-members of the Blink Network. Users will be able to locate Blink Chargers and receive information about charging stations and availability, as well as charging status updates and notifications. "ECOtality is committed to providing the tools that make EV infrastructure work–and the Blink Mobile Application grants access to the Blink Network anytime, anywhere, giving drivers the charging information they need whether they are running errands, commuting to work or planning a road trip," said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. "ECOtality has long maintained that EV adoption is a viral activity, this application is the first of many in development that will connect EV drivers to their car." Find Blink Chargers on the go with blink™Map Mobile Electric vehicle drivers will be able to find available public charging stations through the new smart phone app regardless of whether they are Blink Network members. Drivers can use their current location, provided by the mobile device's wireless or GPS coordinates, or manually set a location by entering a city or postal code. Once a location has been entered, blinkMap Mobile will display nearby commercial charging stations on the blinkMap, and offer driving directions, allowing drivers to select the charging stations at locations convenient to them. Currently, ECOtality is installing Blink charging stations at locations that fit the lifestyle of EV drivers, granting drivers the ability charge at grocery stores, retail locations, restaurants and employment centers. The blinkMap is also available online through the Blink Network at blinknetwork.com. View Blink Charger Information and Status Tapping on a charger pin icon will display Blink charger information, including availability and status. Additional details for the station will be displayed, including the type of charging available at the station (Level 2 or DC Fast Charging); the current status of the station (Available, In Use or Unavailable); the charger's pricing; and information about the host site where the charger is located. Through the EV Project ECOtality will install Level 2 charging stations, which can provide a charge in four to six hours, and DC Fast Charging stations, which can fully charge a battery in under 30 minutes. Receive Charging Status Updates Through the application, electric vehicle drivers can receive notifications of their charging status updates, on their mobile devices, whether they are using a Blink Home Charger or charging at public locations using the Blink Commercial Pedestal Charger or the Blink DC Fast Charger. The charging status feature will deliver alerts on the current charging status. Users will be notified of all charging statuses, including the start and duration of charging, charging completion, and if their EV has become unplugged or an electrical fault has occurred. The Blink Mobile Application will also notify users of any updates to your EV charging either by email or text message (SMS). Application users will be able to choose how they receive charging status notifications through the Settings menu. They can also define a default charger locator setting using their mobile devices' GPS or a zip code, set units of measurement to Metric or Imperial systems and can edit account details. Coming to an App Store Near You The Blink Mobile Application will be available Summer 2011 for free via all major mobile device application stores and for download and at blinknetwork.com. Use of the Blink Mobile Application will not require a Blink Membership and will be available to all application and Blink Network users regardless of whether or not they are Blink Members. Blink Mobile Application on Display at EDTA ECOtality will display the Blink Mobile Application on a variety of mobile devices and platforms at EDTA, taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. ECOtality will also exhibit the Blink line of EV charging products and solutions in Hall D at Booth 214. ECOtality will be charging vehicles during EDTA's Ride and Drive on Tuesday, April 19, from 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM and Wednesday, April 20, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, through the Company's Blink Level 2 Commercial Pedestal Charger. The Ride and Drive will kick off with a Motorcade and press conference with Secretary Chu, on Tuesday, April 19 at 10:00 AM, starting at the U.S. Department of Energy building, located at 1000 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington D.C. ECOtality is project manager of The EV Project and will oversee the installation of approximately 14,000 commercial and residential charging stations in 18 major cities and metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8 million, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grants are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to approximately $230 million. For more information about The EV Project, please visit www.theevproject.com. |
| Nokia and Microsoft sign definitive agreement, bring Windows Phone handsets closer to realization Posted: 21 Apr 2011 03:57 AM PDT  Nokia and Microsoft sign definitive agreement ahead of schedule Nokia Corp NOK | 4/21/2011 6:12:28 AM Espoo, Finland, Apr 21, 2011 (Thomson Reuters ONE via COMTEX News Network) -- Key contributions to new global mobile ecosystem agreed and significant progress made on engineering of new products Nokia Corporation Stock exchange release April 21, 2011 at 13.10 (CET +1) Espoo, Finland and Redmond, US - Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement on a partnership that will result in a new global mobile ecosystem, utilizing the very complementary assets of both companies. Completed ahead of schedule, the definitive agreement is consistent with the joint announcement made on February 11. In addition to agreeing to the terms of their partnership, including joint contributions to the development of the new ecosystem, Nokia and Microsoft also announced significant progress on the development of the first Nokia products incorporating Windows Phone. With hundreds of personnel already engaged on joint engineering efforts, the companies are collaborating on a portfolio of new Nokia devices. Nokia has also started porting key applications and services to operate on Windows Phone and joint outreach has begun to third party application developers. "At the highest level, we have entered into a win-win partnership," said Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia Corporation. "It is the complementary nature of our assets, and the overall competitiveness of that combined offering, that is the foundation of our relationship." "Our agreement is good for the industry," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "Together, Nokia and Microsoft will innovate with greater speed, and provide enhanced opportunities for consumers and our partners to share in the success of our ecosystem." The relationship is structured around four broad areas: 1. A combination of complementary assets, which make the partnership truly unique, including: - Nokia to deliver mapping, navigation, and certain location-based services to the Windows Phone ecosystem. Nokia will build innovation on top of the Windows Phone platform in areas such as imaging, while contributing expertise on hardware design and language support, and helping to drive the development of the Windows Phone platform. Microsoft will provide Bing search services across the Nokia device portfolio as well as contributing strength in productivity, advertising, gaming, social media and a variety of other services. The combination of navigation with advertising and search will enable better monetization of Nokia's navigation assets and completely new forms of advertising revenue. - Joint developer outreach and application sourcing, to support the creation of new local and global applications, including making Windows Phone developer registration free for all Nokia developers. - Opening a new Nokia-branded global application store that leverages the Windows Marketplace infrastructure. Developers will be able to publish and distribute applications through a single developer portal to hundreds of millions of consumers that use Windows Phone, Symbian and Series 40 devices. - Contribution of Nokia's expertise in operator billing to ensure participants in the Windows Phone ecosystem can take advantage of Nokia's billing agreements with 112 operators in 36 markets. 2. Microsoft will receive a running royalty from Nokia for the Windows Phone platform, starting when the first Nokia products incorporating Windows Phone ship. The royalty payments are competitive and reflect the large volumes that Nokia expects to ship, as well as a variety of other considerations related to engineering work to which both companies are committed. Microsoft delivering the Windows Phone platform to Nokia will enable Nokia to significantly reduce operating expenses. 3. In recognition of the unique nature of Nokia's agreement with Microsoft and the contributions that Nokia is providing, Nokia will receive payments measured in the billions of dollars. 4. An agreement that recognizes the value of intellectual property and puts in place mechanisms for exchanging rights to intellectual property. Nokia will receive substantial payments under the agreement. With the definitive agreement now signed, both companies will begin engaging with operators, developers and other partners to help the industry understand the benefits of joining the new ecosystem. At the same time, work will continue on developing Nokia products on the Windows Phone platform, with the aim of securing volume device shipments in 2012. The scale of both companies' mutual commitment is significant and is in keeping with the intention to build a new ecosystem based on this long-term, strategic partnership. About Nokia Nokia is committed to connecting people to what matters to them by combining advanced mobile technology with personalized services. More than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia, from our most affordable voice-optimized mobile phones to advanced Internet-connected smartphones sold in virtually every market in the world. Through Ovi (www.ovi.com), people also enjoy access to maps and navigation on mobile, a rapidly expanding applications store, a growing catalog of digital music, free email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, and Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the leading providers of telecommunications infrastructure hardware, software and professional services globally. |
| Amazon to take on Apple this summer with Samsung-built tablet? Posted: 21 Apr 2011 03:35 AM PDT  The GDGT piece goes on to present a very reasoned argument that paints Amazon, not Samsung or the rest of the traditional consumer electronics industry, as Apple's chief competition in the near-term tablet space. An idea that'll be tough to argue against if Amazon -- with its combined music (downloadable and streaming), video, book, and app ecosystem -- can actually launch a dirt-cheap, highly-customized, 7-inch Android tablet this summer as Pete predicts. Oh, and the fact that Amazon already has our credit card details will certainly make for easy adoption. Hit the source below for the full read or, better yet, stay tuned for the next Engadget Show where we'll be nerding-out with the son of the father of the father of Engadget. |
| Nokia's Q1 2011: smartphone share down to 26 percent, 'more challenging' times ahead Posted: 21 Apr 2011 03:15 AM PDT  |
| iCade arcade cabinet for iPad starts selling at $100, already on backorder Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:41 AM PDT  |
| Google shutting down most of Google Video, urges you to back up your greatest hits now Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:19 AM PDT  |
| Qualcomm reports record quarterly revenues, boasts 100th Snapdragon device Posted: 21 Apr 2011 01:50 AM PDT  Qualcomm Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2011 Results Record Revenues $3.9 Billion GAAP EPS $0.59, Non-GAAP EPS $0.86 - Raises Fiscal 2011 Revenue and Earnings Guidance - SAN DIEGO - April 20, 2011 - Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, today announced results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 ended March 27, 2011. "We are pleased to report record quarterly revenues, and we are raising our revenue and earnings guidance for the year as the demand for smartphones across an array of geographies and tiers continues to grow," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. "In addition, we have resolved the second of the two previously disclosed licensee disputes. We continue to execute on our strategic priorities as our partners deploy our technologies and solutions to offer leading wireless products and services to consumers worldwide." Second Quarter Results (GAAP) • Revenues: $3.88 billion, up 46 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) and 16 percent sequentially. • Operating income: $1.07 billion, up 38 percent y-o-y and down 3 percent sequentially. • Net income:1 $999 million, up 29 percent y-o-y and down 15 percent sequentially. • Diluted earnings per share:1 $0.59, up 28 percent y-o-y and down 17 percent sequentially. • Effective tax rate: 21 percent for the quarter. • Operating cash flow: $1.77 billion, up 123 percent y-o-y; 46 percent of revenues. • Return of capital to stockholders: $316 million, or $0.19 per share, of cash dividends paid. Non-GAAP Second Quarter Results Non-GAAP results exclude the Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI) segment, certain share- based compensation, certain tax items that are not related to the current year and acquired in- process research and development (R&D) expense. • Revenues: $3.87 billion, up 45 percent y-o-y and 16 percent sequentially. • Operating income: $1.65 billion, up 55 percent y-o-y and 17 percent sequentially. • Net income: $1.45 billion, up 47 percent y-o-y and 8 percent sequentially. • Diluted earnings per share: $0.86, up 46 percent y-o-y and 5 percent sequentially. The current quarter excludes $0.18 loss per share attributable to the QSI segment and $0.09 loss per share attributable to certain share-based compensation. • Effective tax rate: 22 percent for the quarter. • Free cash flow: $1.85 billion, up 125 percent y-o-y; 48 percent of revenues (defined as net cash from operating activities less capital expenditures). Detailed reconciliations between results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and Non-GAAP results are included at the end of this news release. In the comparisons summarized above, the following should be noted with respect to results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011: GAAP and Non-GAAP results included $401 million in revenues related to prior quarters as a result of agreements entered into with two licensees to settle ongoing disputes, including an arbitration proceeding with Panasonic Mobile Communications Co. Ltd.; GAAP results included $310 million in expenses in the QSI segment related to the FLO TVTM restructuring plan; and GAAP and Non-GAAP results included $120 million in impairment charges related to our Firethorn division, including $114 million in goodwill impairment. Second Quarter Key Business Metrics • CDMA-based Mobile Station ModemTM (MSMTM) shipments: approximately 118 million units, up 27 percent y-o-y and flat sequentially. • December quarter total reported device sales: approximately $40.0 billion, up 44 percent y-o-y and 18 percent sequentially. • December quarter estimated CDMA-based device shipments: approximately 195 to 200 million units, at an estimated average selling price of approximately $200 to $206 per unit. Cash and Marketable Securities Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled approximately $22.1 billion at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to $19.1 billion at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and $18.2 billion a year ago. On April 7, 2011, we announced a cash dividend of $0.215 per share payable on June 24, 2011 to stockholders of record as of May 27, 2011. On January 5, 2011, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement under which we intend to acquire Atheros Communications, Inc. for $45 per share in cash, which represented an enterprise value of approximately $3.1 billion on that date. The transaction has received the approval of Atheros' stockholders and certain foreign regulators, and the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, has expired. The completion of the merger remains subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including the receipt of an additional foreign regulatory approval. We continue to expect the merger to close in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives The QSI segment manages our strategic investment activities, including FLO TV, and makes strategic investments in early-stage and other companies and in wireless spectrum, such as the Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum won in the India auction. GAAP results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 included an $0.18 loss per share for the QSI segment. The second quarter of fiscal 2011 QSI results included $376 million in operating expenses and restructuring charges primarily related to FLO TV. We have agreed to sell substantially all of our 700 MHz spectrum for $1.9 billion, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The agreement follows our previously announced plan to restructure and evaluate strategic options related to the FLO TV business and network. Under the restructuring plan, the FLO TV business and network were shut down on March 27, 2011, and we are no longer pursuing the MediaFLO Technologies business. Restructuring activities under this plan were initiated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and are expected to be substantially complete by the end of fiscal 2012. The spectrum was classified as held for sale at March 27, 2011. In the second quarter of fiscal 2011, restructuring and restructuring-related charges related to this plan included in QSI results were $310 million. We estimate that we will incur future restructuring and restructuring-related charges associated with this plan of up to $65 million, which are primarily related to lease exit and other costs. Business Outlook The following statements are forward looking and actual results may differ materially. The "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of this news release provides a description of certain risks that we face, and our annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provide a more complete description of risks. Our outlook does not include provisions for future asset impairments or the consequences of injunctions, damages or fines related to any pending legal matters unless awarded or imposed by a court, governmental entity or other regulatory body. Further, due to their nature, certain income and expense items, such as realized investment gains or losses, or gains and losses on certain derivative instruments, cannot be accurately forecast. Accordingly, we only include such items in our business outlook to the extent they are reasonably certain; however, actual results may vary materially from the business outlook. In addition to our ongoing operating costs, our business outlook for fiscal 2011 includes restructuring and restructuring-related charges attributable to FLO TV that are currently expected to be incurred. We have not included any estimates related to the Atheros business in our third fiscal quarter or fiscal 2011 outlook. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. |
| Samsung Galaxy S II to arrive in UK on April 27th, but only through Phones 4u Posted: 21 Apr 2011 01:09 AM PDT  PHONES 4U TO BE THE FIRST MOBILE RETAILER TO LAUNCH THE NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY S II LONDON, UK. 21st April 2011: Phones 4u can today confirm that from the 27th April, it will be the first mobile retailer to offer the new Samsung Galaxy S II. The youth mobile retailer has an exclusive lead to market on the device, which will be available both in Phones 4u stores and online. Customers can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S II and get a FREE 8GB memory card, as well as read a hands-on review of the smartphone by visiting the Phones 4u website. The new super-slim mobile from the lovely people at Samsung is a mere 8.49mm thick. But don't be fooled, that doesn't stop it packing a punch in the functionality department. Sporting the first Super AMOLED Plus display, you can watch movies, browse the internet and watch HD content all on a super vivid, high impact 4.3" screen. It has 1080p full HD video recording and playback capabilities, and a 1.2 GHz dual-core application processor for super fast performance, faster internet browsing and faster multi-tasking. The Samsung Galaxy S II also boasts an 8MP rear-facing camera with LED flash, and a 2MP front facing camera for taking those all-important Facebook profile pictures! The new Samsung Galaxy S II isn't just about being super slim and super fast though...it's super convenient too. Not only does it offer instant social connectivity; the Social Hub allows you to streamline email, SMS, IM and SNS all into one place. The Music Hub, powered by 7 Digital, provides access to over 13 million tracks for discovering, downloading and enjoying on the go. For the gaming fans out there, Samsung's Game Hub allows you to download and choose from over 20 social network and premium games. Plus, the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors make for a true-to-life extreme gaming experience! The clever Say N Go feature means you can get your shiny new Samsung Galaxy S II to do whatever you want it to, whether that's making calls or listening to your fave song...just by saying the word! With a customizable UI, you can even personalise the magazine style layout with your most frequently used content; music, games, video, email...the choice is yours. Russell Braterman, Marketing Director at Phones 4u commented, "With its super-slim good looks and the latest Android 2.3 operating system, the Samsung Galaxy S II is the next step in the evolution of mobile. We're really proud to be the first retailer to offer the Samsung Galaxy S II to our customers. The original Samsung Galaxy S was hugely popular when it launched last year, and we're confident the Galaxy S II will be just as successful as its predecessor." The Samsung Galaxy S II will be available from Phones 4u stores and online from 27th April. It will be available on contract Free from £35 a month on a choice of networks or on pay as you go for £499. Those who pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S II at Phones 4u online before 27the April will receive a FREE 8GB memory card |
| ASUS Eee Pad Transformer hits US on April 26th for $399 Posted: 21 Apr 2011 01:01 AM PDT  |
| Verizon starts delivering long overdue Froyo update to Fascinate users Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:42 AM PDT  [Thanks, Jason] |
| SanDisk and Toshiba announce world's smallest NAND flash memory chips for tinier gadgets Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:07 AM PDT  SANDISK ANNOUNCES 19-NANOMETER MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY-WORLD'S SMALLEST, MOST ADVANCED PROCESS NODE Industry-leading 19nm 64-gigabit X2 memory chip; smallest NAND flash memory chip in the world Volume production scheduled for the second half of 2011 Milpitas, California, April 20, 2011 - SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today announced a 64-gigabit (Gb), 2-bits-per-cell (X2) based monolithic chip made on 19-nanometer (nm) technology, the most advanced memory process technology node in the world. This latest technology enables SanDisk to produce embedded and removable storage devices with the high capacities and small form factors used in mobile phones, tablet computers and other devices. SanDisk will sample its 19nm 64Gb X2 device this quarter and expects to begin high-volume production in the second half of 2011. At that time, SanDisk will also add 3-bits-per-cell (X3) products fabricated with the 19nm process technology to its product lineup. "We are excited to introduce the world's smallest and lowest-cost NAND flash chips based on industry-leading 19nm process technology in our ongoing collaboration with our manufacturing partner Toshiba," said Yoram Cedar, executive vice president and chief technology officer, SanDisk. "Products based on this technology are designed to enable new applications, form factors and consumer experience that will continue to drive the flash industry to new heights." The 19nm memory die uses the most sophisticated flash memory technology node to date, including advanced process innovations and cell-design solutions. SanDisk's All-Bit-Line (ABL) architecture with proprietary programming algorithms and multi-level data storage management schemes help yield multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory chips that do not sacrifice performance or reliability. |
| BiliBot combines Kinect, iRobot Create and gripper arm for affordable ROS fun (video) Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:33 PM PDT  [Thanks, Travis] |
| Buick, GMC getting IntelliLink smartphone connectivity Posted: 20 Apr 2011 10:39 PM PDT  Buick IntelliLink Coming to 2012 Regal, LaCrosse and Verano Hands-free, voice-controlled interface helps drivers safely use mobile electronics NEW YORK – Buick, the fastest-growing major automotive brand in the United States in 2010, will bring a higher level of in-vehicle wireless connectivity and customizable infotainment options to its 2012 Verano, Regal and LaCrosse models. The upgraded capability will enhance the luxury vehicle experience that Buick buyers have come to know and love. Buick IntelliLink uses Bluetooth or USB to connect the driver's smartphone to a new 7- or 8-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display radio. IntelliLink expands on Buick's current Bluetooth and USB capabilities to allow smartphone control via voice activation and steering wheel-mounted controls. It also enables streaming stereo audio from the phone through services like PANDORA® Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio®. Most importantly, Buick IntelliLink enables seamless integration of stowed portable devices with each vehicle's infotainment system, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. "Today's tech-savvy consumers expect more from their cars' infotainment systems," said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. "They want a system that allows them to customize their in-vehicle experience with smartphones and other portable media devices. The availability of IntelliLink on every Buick sedan in 2012 and every Buick model in 2013 takes connectivity and media personalization to a new level." Consumer interest in onboard connectivity is rising with smartphone sales. Apple sold 16.2 million iPhones in the fourth quarter of 2010, and Android sales jumped 886 percent from 2009 to 2010. By the end of 2013, there will be 1.1 billion smartphones with annual sales of 300 million units, according to the research firm Parks Associates Industries. "About 70 percent of all new car buyers want some form of connectivity," said Micky Bly, executive director leading GM's infotainment engineering efforts, citing GM research. "Whether it's because they want to listen to their favorite music or explore local restaurants on a Friday night, today's car buyer expects so much more out of their time in a car." One doesn't need a smartphone to benefit from IntelliLink. The system works with a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, USB flash drive or digital audio player. Even without a mobile device, Buick owners will benefit from IntelliLink's enhanced voice recognition technology and OnStar's on-screen turn-by-turn directions. IntelliLink's voice activation capability benefits from Buick's library-quiet interiors. Quiet Tuning systems, processes and components are built into every facet of the vehicle's architecture to block or absorb sound and dampen or eliminate vibrations. Quiet Tuning also calls attention to the audio fidelity of Buick's Bose® and harmon/kardon® sound systems. Additional benefits provided by IntelliLink include: Enhanced hands-free voice control system powered by Nuance®, which allows simple voice commands to initiate phone calls and select radio stations or media from portable MP3 players and smartphones. A tap of a button on the steering wheel enables intuitive verbal control of many radio features like "play (artist name)" or "call (name of contact)". When a smart phone is connected you can say "tune (Internet radio, station name)." PANDORA Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio allow users to create personalized radio stations based on favorite artists or genres and enables access to thousands of audio programming choices, allowing customers to build a personalized listening experience. IntelliLink integrates control of both of these apps for a driver-directed listening experience. Gracenote® identifies the music collection on the driver's USB device, MP3 player or smartphone and presents information such as artist name, genres and album cover art on the IntelliLink screen and enables users to select similar music to the tunes they love. Gracenote also improves the accuracy of IntelliLink's voice activation system by allowing users to access music using artist nicknames, such as "The Boss," "The Stones," or "Snoop" using IntelliLink's voice control interfaces activated through the touch-screen or steering wheel buttons. Upgraded USB connectivity adds the ability to play music files directly from flash memory devices and gives the customer the ability to update IntelliLink with future feature enhancements. Buick IntelliLink's designers drew inspiration from the intuitive, easy-to-use interfaces found on many popular consumer electronics. The influence can be seen on the home page with application icons that animate when activated. The touch screen's fluid, contemporary graphics and elegant color palette evoke Buick's "inviting luxury" aesthetic and advance the sophisticated design language established in the current LaCrosse's navigation system. The debut of Buick IntelliLink extends the OnStar experience from safety and security to information and entertainment by seamlessly integrating the capability of a smartphone into the vehicle so that hand-held phones may be safely stowed while driving. When OnStar debuted in 1996, it pioneered in-vehicle connectivity with the auto industry's first embedded telematics system. It has grown from primarily offering automatic crash notification and security features to include remote vehicle diagnostics, turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to slow down stolen vehicles. In November 2010, OnStar released a smartphone application for all 2011 Buick vehicles that incorporated remote start, lock/unlock, and vehicle status checks. GMC IntelliLink Enhances Terrain's Connectivity Capability Small SUV's voice-controlled interface helps drivers safely use mobile electronics NEW YORK – GMC, the brand known for professional grade capability and engineering excellence, is taking in-vehicle connectivity to the next level on the 2012 Terrain. The small SUV with segment-leading fuel economy will expand its already-extensive list of standard and available features in late 2011 with a simple-to-use, customizable infotainment system and expanded wireless capability. The 2012 Terrain will be the first vehicle to offer GMC IntelliLink, which uses Bluetooth or USB to connect the driver's smartphone to Terrain's new seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display radio. IntelliLink expands on the current Terrain's Bluetooth and USB capabilities to allow smartphone control via voice activation and steering wheel-mounted controls, and streaming stereo audio from the phone through services like PANDORA® internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio®. Most importantly, IntelliLink enables seamless integration of stowed portable devices with Terrain's infotainment system, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. "Today's car buyers don't want to settle for mass market radio, and they don't have to," said John Schwegman, U.S. vice president of GMC Marketing. "They expect to have access to personalized media wherever they are, and the introduction of GMC IntelliLink on Terrain makes media personalization easier than ever." Consumer interest in onboard connectivity is rising with smartphone sales. Apple sold 16.2 million iPhones in the fourth quarter of 2010, and Android sales jumped 886 percent from 2009 to 2010. Two and a half years ago, only one in 10 Americans had a smartphone. By the end of 2013, there will be 1.1 billion smartphones, with annual sales of 300 million units, according to research firm Parks Associates Industries. "About 70 percent of all new car buyers want some form of connectivity," said Micky Bly, executive director leading GM's infotainment engineering efforts, citing GM research. "Whether it's because they want to listen to their favorite music or hear movie times on the way to the theater, today's car buyer expects so much more out of their time in a car." One doesn't need a smartphone to benefit from IntelliLink. The system works with a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, USB flash drive or digital audio player. Even without a mobile device, GMC owners will benefit from IntelliLink's enhanced voice recognition technology and OnStar's on-screen turn-by-turn directions. The new benefits provided by GMC IntelliLink include: Enhanced hands-free voice control system powered by Nuance®, which allows simple voice commands to initiate phone calls and select radio stations or media from portable MP3 players and smartphones. A tap of a button on the steering wheel enables intuitive verbal control of many radio features like "play (artist name)" or "call (name of contact)". When a smart phone is connected you can say "tune (internet radio, station name)." PANDORA internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio allow users to create personalized radio stations based on favorite artists or genres and enables access to thousands of audio programming choices allowing customers to build a personalized listening experience. IntelliLink integrates control of both of these apps for a driver-directed listening experience. Gracenote® identifies the music collection on the driver's USB device, MP3 player or smartphone and presents information such as artist name, genres and album cover art on the IntelliLink screen and enables users to select similar music to the tunes they love. Gracenote also improves the accuracy of IntelliLink's voice activation system by allowing users to access music using artist nicknames, such as "The Boss," "The Stones," or "Snoop" using IntelliLink's voice control interfaces activated through the touch-screen or steering wheel buttons. Upgraded USB connectivity adds the ability to play music files directly from flash memory devices, and gives the customer the ability to update IntelliLink with future feature enhancements. GMC IntelliLink retains all the capabilities of today's entertainment units, and adds to Terrain's comprehensive list of standard and available features, which includes purposeful technologies such as: Standard rear-vision camera that provides a view of objects or people directly behind the vehicle Standard USB audio connectivity and MP3 playback for your portable music player – plug it in and control the features right from the radio or the optional steering wheel controls and USB thumb drives or (say USB enabled storage devices) Standard XM Satellite Radio, which provides coast-to-coast tunes Programmable power liftgate that can be set to open to a lower height, clearing garage obstructions or making it easier to reach for those of shorter stature Remote vehicle start that can be used to automatically heat up a cold Terrain on a January morning, or cool it down on a hot August afternoon. GMC IntelliLink's designers drew inspiration from the intuitive, easy-to-use interfaces found on many popular consumer electronics. The influence can be seen on the home page with application icons that animate when activated. The touch screen's structured, technical graphics and red-and-grey color combination evoke GMC's "professional grade" personality and Terrain's bold exterior styling. The debut of GMC IntelliLink extends the OnStar experience from safety and security to information and entertainment by seamlessly integrating the capability of a smartphone into the vehicle so that hand-held phones may be safely stowed while driving. When OnStar debuted in 1996, it pioneered in-vehicle connectivity with the auto industry's first embedded telematics system. It has grown from primarily offering automatic crash notification and security features to include remote vehicle diagnostics, turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to slow down stolen vehicles. In November 2010, OnStar released a smartphone application for all 2011 GMC vehicles that incorporated remote start, lock/unlock, and vehicle status checks. GMC IntelliLink will be available on Terrain before expanding to other vehicles in the GMC lineup over the next 18 to 24 months. |
| Yahoo to retain search data for 18 months, says it's in your best interest Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:36 PM PDT  We've heard this one before: a seemingly well intentioned corporation makes promises to uphold user anonymity, but when market pressure proves too much to handle, it's left to weigh the benefits of privacy over profit. Well, it looks like Yahoo's not immune to such goings on, as it's just announced that it will renege on its previous data retention promises and hold on to raw search data for 18 months. That's a pretty significant change, as the previous policy boasted data retention limits of only 90 days. If you ask Yahoo, though, it's just good business. In a post to its policy blog, Anne Toth said "we will keep our log file data longer than we have been – offering consumers a more robust individualized experience – while we continue our innovation in the areas of transparency and choice to protect privacy." We suspect "more robust individualized experience" actually means more aggressive targeted ads, but we'll just have to wait and see. The new policy goes into effect this July. |
| HTC Sensation 4G launching on June 8th, because Google AdWords says so Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:33 PM PDT   |
| Fujifilm FinePix XP30 reviewed: average ruggedized cam, with GPS Posted: 20 Apr 2011 07:50 PM PDT  With this ruggedized, GPS-equipped FinePix XP30 from Fujifilm, you won't have any trouble proving to your friends that that penguin photo your grandmother uses as her "screen saver" really was taken in Antarctica. Unless it happens to be snowing in Antarctica. Or even cloudy. This otherwise average 14.2 megapixel camera is the first to include GPS, but the gurus at Photography Blog had trouble getting a fix while testing in England. They also had issues with the battery door flipping open when the camera was dropped, and sand getting trapped in the zoom rocker -- not problems you want to see on a ruggedized cam. Like most rugged cameras, the XP30's image quality also doesn't compare to its land-limited cousins, according to the review, so this $240 Fuji might be a better bet as a second shooter than your be-all and end-all camera. Head on over to Photography Blog for the full review. |
| Eye-tracking microdisplay delivers Terminator vision, distracts joggers Posted: 20 Apr 2011 06:47 PM PDT   SID Display Week 2011 Dresden, 30.03.2011 May 17 - 19, 2011 in Los Angeles/USA Booth No. 1019, German Pavilion Fraunhofer IPMS, Dresden carries out customer specific developments in fields of microelectronic and micro systems technology serving as a business partner that supports the transition of innovative ideas into new products. Fraunhofer IPMS develops and fabricates modern MEMS and OLED devices in its own clean room facilities. In addition to R&D services it offers ramp-up within a pilot production. With modern equipment and about 200 scientists and engineers, the range of projects and expertise covers sensor and actuator systems, microscanner, spatial light modulators, wireless microsystems as well as organic materials and systems. At SID Display Week 2011 (exhibition) Fraunhofer IPMS presents: OLED microdisplay based Eyetracking HMD The Fraunhofer IPMS works on the integration of sensors and microdisplays on CMOS backplane for several years now. For example the researchers have developed a bidirectional microdisplay, which could be used in Head-Mounted Displays (HMD) for gaze triggered augmented-reality (AR) aplications. The chips contain both an active OLED matrix and therein integrated photodetectors. The combination of both matrixes in one chip is an essential possibility for system integrators to design smaller, lightweight and portable systems with both functionalities. Rigo Herold, PhD student at Fraunhofer IPMS and participant of the development team, declares: »This unique device enables the design of a new generation of small AR-HMDs with advanced functionality«. The OLED microdisplay based Eyetracking HMD enables the user on the one hand to overlay the view of the real world with virtual contents, for example to watch videos at jog. And on the other hand the user can select the next video triggered only by his gaze without using his hands. On the SID 2011 a demonstrator will be presented for the first time, that has the following technical specifications: Monochrome Special Eyetracking-Algorithm for HMDs based on bidirectional microdisplays Front brightness: > 1500 cd/m² Rigo Herold will present the system at the exhibitor forum at May 17, 2011 4:00 p.m.: »Eyecatcher: The Bi-Directional OLED Microdisplay«. |
| UPenn's PhillieBot throws out first pitch, Skynet calls for a reliever (video) Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:44 PM PDT We'll hand it to the University of Pennsylvania -- mixing robotics and sport definitely isn't easy. But in the heart of Citizens Bank Park today, the so-called PhillieBot came close to generating a universal chorus of boos after it failed to successfully toss a first pitch to the Phanatic. We're guessing it'll be wound up a bit more before trying again; after all, it's not like Philly needs another reason to pelt an otherwise lovable character with vitriol (or snowballs). |
| Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:21 PM PDT  NREL, Industry Leaders Join Forces to Help Consumers Plug In |
| Beats by Dr. Dre get the ColorWare treatment, minus the color (video) Posted: 20 Apr 2011 04:38 PM PDT  |
| Verizon Wireless: we might sell the BlackBerry PlayBook, if we feel like it Posted: 20 Apr 2011 04:20 PM PDT  'Course, we wouldn't cry too hard if Big Red ends up passing -- Sprint's 4G version ought to satisfy anyone pining to pick one up with an integrated cell radio. Too bad Mike Lazaridis isn't around to opine on just how "unfair" such a statement is.
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| KnightHawk 3G network-in-a-box breaks soldiers' backs, helps them get online anywhere Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:58 PM PDT  While it's easy enough to envision soldiers scaling battlegrounds with portable hotspots in tow, it's a useless solution for warriors deployed to remote areas that have patchy service to begin with. Enter the KnightHawk 3G, a rugged network-in-a-box that cooks up connectivity in otherwise uncovered areas. The self-contained WCDMA network runs over the 2100MHz spectrum, promising download speeds as fast as 14.4mbps and max upload rates of 5.76mbps. It has capacity for up to 60 simultaneous voice calls and can handle 14 HSPA connections at a time. And it'll help keep our troops in top shape -- you can't tell from the photos, but that thing weighs 45 pounds.
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| Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:35 PM PDT  This ain't your grandma's WiFi -- that is, unless your grandma is 48 year-old Leticia Aguirre. The Houston woman became the host of the very first "super WiFi" hotspot, earlier this week -- the new network takes advantage of unused UHF TV channels to bring internet service to underserved communities. In collaboration with researchers at Rice University, a Houston-based non-profit fittingly referred to as Technology for All (TFA), facilitated the setup and is in the process of deploying more whitespace hotspots across the area. The FCC approved use of whitespace for the new "super WiFi" back in September of last year. Full PR after the break.
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