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Thursday, May 19, 2011

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, Arc getting Android 2.3.4 update next week, Facebook integration in tow

Posted: 19 May 2011 11:33 AM PDT

There's still no confirmation as to when it will be headed to the soon-to-be-released Verizon Xperia Play, but Recombu is reporting that at least some iterations of the phone will be getting upgraded to Android 2.3.4 next week, at which point the Xperia Arc will also get bumped up to the same version. Assuming there's no surprises in the next week, that would seem to make them the first non-Nexus phones to get the update. What's more, in addition to various Android-related updates, both phones will also be getting Sony Ericsson's so-called "Facebook inside Xperia" update, which promises to more deeply integrate your phone (including your calendar, contacts, and even music) with the social network. The company's also confirmed that the Facebook integration will be included on all future Xperia phones, and it will be headed to all Xperia models released so far this year.

Verizon finally killing unlimited data plans this summer, says it'll get iPhone 5 at same time as AT&T

Posted: 19 May 2011 11:07 AM PDT

Verizon's been telegraphing its intent to drop unlimited data plans for nearly a year, and despite the fact that LTE smartphones launched with all-you-can-eat options, those plans haven't changed one bit. Reuters reports that Verizon will finally nix the megabyte buffet this summer, replacing it with a fully tiered data pricing scheme, though CFO Fran Shammo also floated the idea that tiered data could open up an avenue for family data plans. We've never really enjoyed sharing minutes, so we doubt counting our kilobytes will be much fun, but we suppose there's always room for Verizon to pleasantly surprise us with a really low price for mobile web browsing. Right? By the by, Fran also reiterated claims that the next iPhone will be a global device, and said that when it launches on AT&T, it'll hit Verizon stores at the very same time.

Phone Oximeter saves lives, puts Journey's lawyers on red alert (video)

Posted: 19 May 2011 10:44 AM PDT

We'll be honest with you, we don't know a lot about marketing healthcare devices to everyday people, so perhaps posting a goofy YouTube video with some re-written classic rock songs is standard practice in the industry. Whatever the case, the University of British Columbia's Electrical & Computer Engineering in Medicine team managed to bring its Phone Oximeter to our attention, and all said, this could be a handy little device for monitoring vitals outside a hospital setting. The meter hooks up to a smartphone -- an iPhone for trials, but we're told it works with Android, Windows, and others -- displaying the wearer's blood oxygen level and heart and respiratory rates, and transmitting the readings to the hospital. The department has already done some field testing with the system, trying it out at the Vancouver General Hospital and bringing it to Uganda, where low cost medical devices and Journey spoofs are in high demand. Video probably only meant for its creators' friends and family after the break.

[Thanks, Walter]


Garmin announces rugged, camera-equipped Montana GPS, trademarks name of another US state

Posted: 19 May 2011 10:21 AM PDT


Watch out Oregon, Garmin's getting ready to throw you to the grizzlies. Montana, the GPS-maker's new handheld series, offers three models, including two with a built-in 5 megapixel camera. We wouldn't expect image quality to best that of a good cellphone, but we assume you'll at least be able to get a fix for your geotags. The base model Montana 600 includes a 3-axis compass and 4-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen display for $550, while the 650 adds the camera for $630, and the 650t pairs that cam with pre-loaded topographic maps for $700. All three rugged models include a 16-hour battery, or you can toss in three AA's for up to 22 hours of juice on your next off-road or whitewater rafting adventure, or whatever else you do for fun in Montana.

[Thanks, Kyle]
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The Ultimate in Touchscreen Toughness: Garmin® Montana™ Gives New Meaning to Rugged and Versatile

OLATHE, Kan./May 18, 2011/Business Wire - Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the Montana™ handheld GPS device – the most advanced Garmin handheld featuring a ruggedized design with multiple mounting and battery options, dual-orientation and screen layout options and support for a wide range of Garmin cartography. It has a barometric altimeter for elevation profiling and ability to profile the route ahead using included worldwide elevation model. The included 3-axis compass gives it a heading while standing still or not held level. Montana's responsive touchscreen is a sprawling 4-inches and the photos taken by its 5-megapixel autofocus camera are displayed in sunlight-readable brilliant color. It's versatile. It's tough. It earned the name Montana.
"Montana was designed with the 'get dirty, go hard then go home crowd' in mind, who are always after adventure," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "We now have one device to fulfill all of your rugged GPS needs. From navigating waterways in your boat and traversing the back country in your ATV, to hiking the Austrian Alps and even receiving spoken turn-by-turn directions on the way to the grocery store, Montana has the versatility and mapping compatibility to do what you need it to."

Anywhere and everywhere: With Montana's new ruggedized design there is no longer a need to hold back, regardless of your adventure. Montana is fully waterproof and capable of withstanding all the mud and grit you can throw at it, even when connected to its optional powered mount. Use the power mount capability and City Navigator® for spoken, turn-by-turn driving directions, or the rugged mount for your motorcycle or ATV. If you are on foot, simply plug headphones into Montana's 3.5mm audio jack to hear the spoken prompts. To see Montana in action go to, http://sites.garmin.com/montana/.

When it comes to mapping, Montana has you covered with support for Garmin's wide array of detailed topographic, marine, and road maps. Montana also supports BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery (subscription required), that lets you download satellite images to your device and integrate them with your maps. In addition, Montana is compatible with Custom Maps, free software that transforms paper and electronic maps into downloadable maps for your device.

Stay powered: Montana offers two battery options to keep your device powered during remote hunting trips or other outdoor adventures. When you have a chance to rest and recharge each night, a thin, light weight lithium ion battery pack, lasting up to 16 hours, comes in the box. For those trips where you're off the grid, Montana also works on three AA batteries, giving users an additional 22 hours of use without being weighted down.

Go paperless: Montana supports geocaching GPX files for downloading geocaches and details straight to the unit. Montana stores and displays key information, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and paper print outs! Simply upload the GPX file to your unit and start hunting for caches. Caches can be downloaded from OpenCaching.com, a completely free online community for creating, sharing and finding geocaches around the world.

While you are out searching for your next cache or trekking through untouched wilderness, capture locations and memories with Montana's 5-megapixel digital camera. Each photo is automatically geotagged with the location of where it was taken, allowing you to navigate back to that exact spot in the future. Snap and view pictures in landscape or portrait orientation. For more storage, insert a microSD card; you can even view pictures from other devices on microSD with Montana's picture viewer.

Montana is the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent more than 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users' lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin's other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin.

About Garmin International Inc.

Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin's products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin is a registered trademarks and Montana is a trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

Grace One electric bicycle is ready for purchase, our bank accounts are still preparing (video)

Posted: 19 May 2011 10:01 AM PDT

Your average electric bicycle has a basket on the front and a lot of shame in the rear. Not the Grace One. When we first saw it almost two years ago, in the fall of 2009, it looked... well it looked like a pretty kickass bike. Since then the design has been thoroughly refined, the frame redesigned, but still the stacked projector headlamps remain in their aluminum housing in front of the bars. They're a hint at the high-tech nature of this bike, which features integrated Li-ion batteries that charge in about an hour and spin a hub-mounted motor in the rear wheel, giving you a top speed of 30MPH and a range of up to 31 miles -- all for a mere €4,199 ($6,000). If your finances can manage it the bike is available now, but if they can't you'll have to make do with a celebratory video of the thing in action after the break. Word of advice: get those glow sticks cracked and shaken up before you hit play.
Grace One electric bicycle




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GRACE ONE AVAILABLE NOW –

Grace starts series production with Grace One E-Motorbike

E-mobility revolutionized our way of transportation. With design, engine power and driving performance GRACE sets a milestone in this new era.

GRACE managed to set up a series production for its exclusive E-Motorbike to make it available for a larger market. The GRACE ONE is the result.

Matching the GRACE PRO in power, driving pleasure and aesthetics, the use of factory-made components enabled us to lower the customer price to 4199 €. Quality made in Germany.

By now GRACE already provides a pan-european network of 50 retailers. Our customers are spread all over the world ranging from Australia, South-Africa to Taiwan.

One and a half years ago the GRACE PRO E-Motorbike showcased for the first time in an art gallery in central Berlin.

Invented and designed by young entrepreneur Mikel Hecken for his daily trips from Biesenthal to Berlin. For the development of his own vehicle concept, Hecken found the ideal partner in Kalle Nicolai, owner of renowned mountain-bike manufacturer Nicolai GmbH.

The result is a high-tech E-Motorbike that is perfectly suited to match individual customer demands.

GRACE ONE is presented to the public on May 19, 2011. The Grace launch event takes place in Collectors Room in Berlin.

Fujitsu to launch 7-inch Android tablet later this year, might be priced lower than $400

Posted: 19 May 2011 09:32 AM PDT

Fresh off the Japanese launch of its LifeBook TH40/D Windows 7 tablet, it appears that Fujitsu is gearing up to release a new seven-inch Android slate. According to DigiTimes, Fujitsu's forthcoming slab is scheduled to hit the market during the third quarter of this year and will run on Android 3.1 Honeycomb. It's unclear whether or not the device will sport the same stylus support and sliding keyboard that its Windows 7 counterpart features, but Fujitsu is reportedly planning on selling the tablet for anywhere between about $350 and $700, which effectively ranges from "bargain" to "blimey." We're certainly hoping that the final price falls on the low end of that spectrum, but we'll have to wait and see if our dreams become a reality.

Nostalgia: Steve Jobs tours the first Apple Store at Macworld 2001 (video)

Posted: 19 May 2011 09:09 AM PDT

Since we'd rather not attempt to pick out a birthday present for the retail store that has everything, we're breaking out the home movies to see just how far it's come in the past decade. Here's some footage from Macworld 2001, in which a chipper Jobs takes us behind the wood barricade for a "little private tour" of the first ever Apple Store in Tysons Corner, VA, showing off a rear-projection screen for playing commercials and debuting the hyperbolically-named Genius Bar. All said, not that much seems to have changed with the stores in the past ten years, save, of course, for the inventory -- of particular note are the MP3 player and PDA sections, both populated with third-party hardware. Apple would scorch the earth of the music player market later that year with introduction of the iPod. The personal organizer still had a little time left, but surely even back then the iPhone was a twinkle in old Steve's eye.


Sony reportedly tells developers PlayStation Store will return May 24th

Posted: 19 May 2011 08:51 AM PDT

We wouldn't recommend setting aside time to enjoy your "Welcome Back" package just yet, but it looks like we now have our first solid indication of when the PlayStation Store will finally return to PlayStation 3 and PSP users. According to a memo reportedly sent by Sony to its publishing partners and obtained by Gamasutra, the store is set to return on Tuesday, May 24th -- assuming there aren't any more unforeseen hiccups, that is. That will also, of course, bring with it a backlog of new games and other content that should have been released by now, although those will apparently be released in stages over the following weeks, rather than all at once.

E Ink shows concepts galore at SID 2011: snowboards, radios, thermostats, oh my!

Posted: 19 May 2011 08:25 AM PDT

E Ink's 300ppi 9.7-inch panel -- touting "laser print quality" and a ridiculous 2400 x 1650 screen resolution -- was just the tip of the e-paper iceberg here at SID 2011. The aforesaid display isn't shipping in any commercial products just yet, but given that OEMs are already accepting 'em, we were told to expect ultra-fine print devices in the not-too-distant future. The screen, which was jointly developed by Epson, truly did look astonishing up close, forcing us to get awkwardly close to see the pixels behind the pictures. Outside of that guy, though, the outfit's booth was splattered with concepts -- everything from an E Ink-infused snowboard (shown above) to a rugged radio. There was even a prototype sheet music reader (dreamed up by Lenart Studios) that looked downright outstanding, not to mention a thermostat that would have any Home Depot junkie swooning. Have a gander at the galleries below, and peek past the break for a brief video tour. Oh, and Burton -- you should seriously get on this.
E Ink snowboard concept eyes-on at SID 2011

E Ink's concept sheet music holder at SID 2011

E Ink's 9.7-inch 300ppi display at SID 2011


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E Ink and Epson Achieve World-Leading ePaper Resolution

- TOKYO, Japan, and HSINCHU, Taiwan, May 17, 2011 -

E Ink Holdings Inc. and Seiko Epson Corporation ("Epson") today announced the joint development of a 300-dpi electronic paper device with razor-sharp text and images for ePaper Document Readers. Combining E Ink's high-resolution ePaper display and Epson's high-speed display controller platform, the new device will enable the world's highest resolution ePaper tablets. With sharply improved readability and ease-of-use the ePaper Document Reader is expected to catch on in business and education settings where huge amounts of data have to be processed, as well as in countries that use character-based text, including Japan and China.

Thin, lightweight, energy-efficient eReaders with easy-to-read, paper-like displays have won over consumers, who are snapping up ePaper devices in unprecedented numbers, causing the market to surge. Demand has also been on the rise in business and education, market segments that require exactly what ePaper provides: the fast and accurate display of enormous amounts of information. Applications in these segments demand higher resolution than that offered by today's 160-dpi displays due to the need to crisply render, with smooth gradations, engineering diagrams, illustrations, Asian characters, and other fine or intricate content. These market segments also demand faster page navigation and sophisticated user interfaces to allow instant viewing of vast amounts of data.

"As the adoption of eReaders continues to rise worldwide, the opportunities for our EPD technology are expanding in new market segments including business and education," said Scott Liu, chairman of E Ink. "We continue to improve E Ink's technology to meet the demands of our customers and the needs of consumers, and this new EPD delivers the low power, sunlight readability and thin, lightweight form factor users have come to expect from E Ink at an even higher resolution."

"We developed this device specifically to meet the high data demands of business and academia," said Torao Yajima, managing director at Epson. "Our IC controller and processing power enables the display to handle large files while maintaining the excellent display control and operability found in today's EPDs, including fast page navigation and a sophisticated user interface."

Epson's high speed controller platform is an ideal choice for developers who wish to develop high resolution eTablets with ease and within a very short period.

The respective roles of E Ink and Epson and the products they offer are described below.
E Ink

E Ink will manufacture, sell and support the newly developed 300-dpi ePaper displays, which measure 9.68 inches on the diagonal and have 2,400 x 1,650 pixels. These paper-like, high-resolution displays demonstrate in full the very best features of ePaper: crisp and clear text and images on an easy-on-the-eyes screen, a thin and light form factor, and ultra-low power consumption.
Epson

Epson will manufacture, sell and support a high-resolution, high-speed display controller platform optimized for controlling E Ink's high-resolution display. Leveraging Epson's experience with image processing technology developed for photo-quality printers, the display controller platform combines a display controller IC, applications processor, system power management IC, and firmware to provide excellent display control and improved operability.

Moving forward, E Ink and Epson plan to continue collaborating to promote the popularization of ePaper based devices in the business and education markets by developing technology, expanding and upgrading the product lineup, and providing customer support.

Verizon adds 4G LTE to nine more cities, expands coverage in Chicago, Philadelphia

Posted: 19 May 2011 08:06 AM PDT


Verizon Wireless customers will be able to jet on to the LTE network in nine new cities, taking advantage of lightening-fast speeds on their HTC Thunderbolts and 4G mobile hotspots. The expansion includes Mobile and Montgomery (AL); Greater Fairfield and New Haven (CT); Gainesville, Pensacola, and Tallahassee (FL); Fayetteville-Lumberton (NC); and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen (TX). We also have access in Albany, though VZW has yet to confirm launching LTE in New York's capital city. The carrier has also expanded coverage in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, so if you haven't been able to connect in the past, dust off that enable-4G button and give it another shot. This week's additions bring the list of LTE cities to 55, so we're just over the 35 percent mark towards the carrier's goal of 147 cities by year's end.
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Verizon Wireless Launches Nine New 4G LTE Markets Today and Expands 4G LTE Network in Five Major Cities

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless is turning on the world's most advanced wireless network in nine additional metropolitan areas today, as well as expanding the 4G LTE network in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans and Philadelphia. The wireless leader announced today the 4G LTE network is now available in Mobile and Montgomery Ala.; Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.; Gainesville, Pensacola and Tallahassee, Fla.; Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.; and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen, Texas.

David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, noted, "We're now offering consumers and businesses in 55 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet, while continuing to offer the nation's most reliable 3G network coast to coast. We plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013."

Consumers can choose from several devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network, including the newly-launched DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC smartphones, MiFi® 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot. Laptop users can enjoy speeds up to 10 times faster than the company's 3G network with three USB modems from Novatel, Pantech and LG. In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

When customers travel outside of a 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless' 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Verizon Wireless' 3G network is the most reliable network in the country, allowing customers with laptops and smartphones to download and use cool apps, from mobile social networking platforms to GPS-enabled maps. Customers can also can rapidly browse the Web to keep up with news, sports, stock quotes, Hollywood gossip and more, work on-the-go with fast file sharing and stream must-see video and customized radio stations. Customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G devices will be able to take advantage of 4G speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas.

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy game-changing 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized. Verizon Wireless' consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company's 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless' vision also includes bringing its 4G LTE network beyond major cities. The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless' core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum. Already, 10 rural companies have signed on to leverage Verizon Wireless' scale for infrastructure while keeping their customers on the cutting edge of technology, including Bluegrass Cellular, Cross Telephone, Pioneer Cellular, Cellcom, Thumb Cellular, Strata Networks, S&R Communications, Carolina West / Clear Stream, Custer Telephone Cooperative and Convergence Technologies.

While Verizon Wireless' 3G network covers more than 290 million Americans, the company's 4G LTE network is already available in 55 metropolitan areas, including:

Mobile Ala.
Montgomery Ala.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Oakland, Calif.
San Diego, Calif.
San Francisco, Calif.
San Jose, Calif.
Denver, Colo.
Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn.
Washington, D.C.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Gainesville, Fla.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Miami, Fla.
Orlando, Fla.
Pensacola, Fla.
Tallahassee, Fla.
Tampa, Fla.
West Palm Beach, Fla.
Athens, Ga.
Atlanta, Ga.
Chicago, Ill.
West Lafayette, Ind.
New Orleans, La.
Baltimore, Md.
Boston, Mass.
Detroit, Mich.
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
St. Louis, Mo.
Las Vegas, Nev.
New York, N.Y.
Rochester, N.Y.
Charlotte, N.C.
Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.
Wilmington, N.C.
Akron, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Pa.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Columbia, S.C.
Hilton Head, S.C.
Clarksville, Tenn./Hopkinsville, Ky.
Cleveland, Tenn.
Nashville, Tenn.
Bryan-College Station, Texas
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
Houston, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Temple-Killeen, Texas
Seattle, Wash.

Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, with many being fostered at the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and the Application Innovation Center, slated to open in San Francisco later this year.

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network.

Galaxy S II and Galaxy S screens compared at the subpixel level (video)

Posted: 19 May 2011 07:42 AM PDT

One Galaxy S II review not enough for you? Hey, we understand, a dual-core phone deserves at least two goes through the Engadget test chambers. Today marks the publication of our Engadget Spanish analysis, which, among other things, compares the GSII against its forebear, the Galaxy S, at the subpixel level. Yes, we've got video capturing the improvement Samsung has made in its new Real-Stripe (RGB) pixel arrangement on the Galaxy S II's Super AMOLED Plus display over the older, less awesome PenTile RGBG layout of the Plus-deprived Super AMOLED panel. You can see it after the break or dive into the source link for a more comprehensive comparison. Non-Spanish speakers will want to jump to the 1:40 mark in the vid for all the microscopic action.
Samsung Galaxy S II versus Galaxy S... fight!

HTC Trophy officially set to launch on Verizon May 26th

Posted: 19 May 2011 07:24 AM PDT

HTC Trophy officially set to launch on Verizon May 26th
"Soon" just got a lot more explicit: May 26th. That's when the HTC Trophy arrives on Verizon Wireless, finally bringing some Windows Phone to the carrier and setting up for what will be a very busy day. Do you want some dual-core hotness in the Droid X2? Maybe some LTE lovin' with Netflix in the form of the LG Revolution? Decisions, decisions, but those who go the way of Microsoft will find themselves touching a 3.8-inch WVGA display powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 16GB of onboard storage. It's $149.99 after the requisite contract fuss and mail-in rebate, small price for a phone that's been officially deemed ready.

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HTC Trophy™ Brings Windows Phone 7 To Verizon Wireless

Combine Business and Play with a Smartphone That Lets Customers Do What They Love

05/19/2011

BASKING RIDGE, NJ - HTC Trophy™ is the first Windows Phone 7 device to come to Verizon Wireless, bringing a new dimension of gaming and entertainment to the nation's most reliable 3G network.

Windows Phone is the only phone that lets you play games with Xbox LIVE. Customers can sync directly with Xbox LIVE mobile to access their avatar, profile and gamer score to keep track of their wins. HTC Trophy also allows consumers to play by themselves or challenge friends in turn-based games. In addition to the many mobile gaming features, customers who buy an HTC Trophy before July 15 get a free Xbox 360 console game. Game enthusiasts can choose from Halo: Reach, Kinect Sports and Lode Runner – up to $60 value.

HTC Trophy features the Music + Video Hub, giving customers quick access to music and movies on their device. Customers can stream or download millions of songs with a Zune Pass subscription and access over 15,000 quality apps and games in Windows Phone Marketplace through the Marketplace Hub.

Additional features:

1 GHz Snapdragon® processor
WVGA 3.8-inch touchscreen
Surround sound through SRS WOW HD™
5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
720p HD video capture
16 GB on-board storage
Wi-Fi connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n
Global ready - allowing customers to enjoy wireless voice and data service in more than 200 countries, with more than 125 with 3G speeds
HTC Hub-customization through downloadable applications that offer even more entertainment and productivity
View and edit Microsoft Office® documents, including Excel®, Word® and PowerPoint® with the Office Hub and data access on SharePoint® servers
Pricing and availability:

HTC Trophy will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on May 26, and in Verizon Wireless Communication Stores on June 2 for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
HTC Trophy customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a smartphone data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access and an unlimited smartphone data plan is $29.99 for monthly access.
Verizon Wireless customers traveling outside of the United States should contact Verizon Wireless' global customer support team at 1-800-922-0204 before embarking on their trip to ensure their phones have the right features for global usage.
For more information about Windows Phone, visit www.windowsphone.com. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative wireless devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

Kindle books officially take over print sales at Amazon, pulp starts making retirement plans

Posted: 19 May 2011 07:01 AM PDT

Kindle books officially take over print sales at Amazon, pulp starts making retirement plansThe Kindle has been a huge success, no doubt about that, but we are continually amazed at just how big a success it has become. Amazon too, apparently. The company just issued a press release to announce that digital book sales have now exceeded sales of all print titles, both hardcover and paperback combined. As of April 1st, for every 100 print books that Amazon has sold (of any kind) the company moved 105 Kindle books, and no that doesn't include downloads of free titles. Also of note: the ad-supported reader that's shipping for $114 is now selling more quickly than the normal, $139 version. Proof, then, that people will put up with more ads in more places for 25 bucks.

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Amazon.com Now Selling More Kindle Books Than Print Books

Kindle with Special Offers for only $114 is already the bestselling member of the Kindle family
SEATTLE, May 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

(NASDAQ:AMZN)--Amazon began selling hardcover and paperback books in July 1995. Twelve years later in November 2007, Amazon introduced the revolutionary Kindle and began selling Kindle books. By July 2010, Kindle book sales had surpassed hardcover book sales, and six months later, Kindle books overtook paperback books to become the most popular format on Amazon.com. Today, less than four years after introducing Kindle books, Amazon.com customers are now purchasing more Kindle books than all print books - hardcover and paperback - combined.

"Customers are now choosing Kindle books more often than print books. We had high hopes that this would happen eventually, but we never imagined it would happen this quickly - we've been selling print books for 15 years and Kindle books for less than four years," said Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO, Amazon.com. "In addition, we're excited by the response to Kindle with Special Offers for only $114, which has quickly become the bestselling member of the Kindle family. We continue to receive positive comments from customers on the low $114 price and the money-saving special offers. We're grateful to our customers for continuing to make Kindle the bestselling e-reader in the world and the Kindle Store the most popular e-bookstore in the world."

Recent milestones for Kindle include:

Since April 1, for every 100 print books Amazon.com has sold, it has sold 105 Kindle books. This includes sales of hardcover and paperback books by Amazon where there is no Kindle edition. Free Kindle books are excluded and if included would make the number even higher.
So far in 2011, the tremendous growth of Kindle book sales, combined with the continued growth in Amazon's print book sales, have resulted in the fastest year-over-year growth rate for Amazon's U.S. books business, in both units and dollars, in over 10 years. This includes books in all formats, print and digital. Free books are excluded in the calculation of growth rates.
In the five weeks since its introduction, Kindle with Special Offers for only $114 is already the bestselling member of the Kindle family in the U.S.
Amazon sold more than 3x as many Kindle books so far in 2011 as it did during the same period in 2010.
Less than one year after introducing the UK Kindle Store, Amazon.co.uk is now selling more Kindle books than hardcover books, even as hardcover sales continue to grow. Since April 1, Amazon.co.uk customers are purchasing Kindle books over hardcover books at a rate of more than 2 to 1.
Kindle offers the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read. The U.S. Kindle Store now has more than 950,000 books, including New Releases and 109 of 111 New York Times Best Sellers. Over 790,000 of these books are $9.99 or less, including 69 New York Times Best Sellers. Millions of free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are also available to read on Kindle devices. More than 175,000 books have been added to the Kindle Store in just the last 5 months.

All Kindle Books let you "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" - on all generation Kindles, as well as on the largest number of devices and platforms, including iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Android-based devices, and soon HP TouchPads and BlackBerry PlayBooks. Amazon's Whispersync technology syncs your place across devices, so you can pick up where you left off. With Kindle Worry-Free Archive, books you purchase from the Kindle Store are automatically backed up online in your Kindle library on Amazon, where they can be re-downloaded wirelessly for free, anytime.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle, Kindle 3G, Kindle with Special Offers and Kindle DX are the revolutionary portable readers that wirelessly download books, magazines, newspapers, blogs and personal documents to a crisp, high-resolution electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper. Kindle 3G and Kindle DX utilize the same 3G wireless technology as advanced cell phones, so users never need to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot. Kindle is the #1 bestselling product across the millions of items sold on Amazon.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, and www.amazon.it. As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

Ericsson to manage Clearwire's 4G network as part of cost-cutting deal

Posted: 19 May 2011 06:40 AM PDT

Now that Clearwire definitely isn't producing its own smartphone, the company has apparently decided to focus its efforts on maintaining its WiMAX network -- with the help of Ericsson. Yesterday, the 4G operator announced that it had struck a seven-year deal with the Swedish telecom firm, just a few months after fighting a brief trademark lawsuit filed by Sony Ericsson. Under the arrangement, Ericsson will assume all network engineering, operations, and maintenance responsibilities, allowing Clearwire to concentrate on cutting costs and increasing efficiency. Clearwire will retain ownership over its technology and will still handle all customer relations, but about 700 of its employees will be transferred to Ericsson. The Kirkland-based company says its decision was at least partially influenced by new best friend Sprint, which forged a similar partnership with Ericsson back in 2009. Financial details on the new deal remain fuzzy, though Clearwire says it expects to see a major reduction in operating costs -- which sounds like the right prescription. Full presser after the break.
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Clearwire Selects Ericsson for Managed Services

* Clearwire to Leverage Ericsson's Global Best Practices, State-of-the-Art Tools and Processes to Maximize Efficiencies, Provide Continued Network Quality and Reduce Operating Costs
* Clearwire Retains Ownership of All Network Assets and Full Responsibility for Future Network Technology and Strategy Decisions
* Ericsson Responsible for Network Engineering, Operations and Maintenance
* Ericsson to Add Approximately 700 Clearwire Employees

KIRKLAND, Wash. and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 18, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearwire Corporation (Nasdaq:CLWR), a leading provider of 4G wireless broadband services in the U.S., and Ericsson (Nasdaq:ERIC) today announced a seven-year, managed services partnership that will transfer the day-to-day management of Clearwire's 4G network to Ericsson and allow Clearwire to realize operational efficiencies and reduce operating costs.

"Clearwire's effort to reduce costs and maximize efficiency while delivering a high quality mobile broadband service to our customers extends to all parts of our business," said Erik Prusch, Clearwire's chief operating officer. "By engaging Ericsson, a proven leader in managed network services, we can achieve those objectives, and benefit from their extensive global expertise and best-practices developed while serving clients around the world."

"We greatly appreciate the tireless contributions the talented people on our network services team have made in building Clearwire's 4G network and laying the foundation for our success," Prusch continued. "We are pleased they will have new opportunities within Ericsson to support our customers, and further position Clearwire as the leader in mobile broadband."

Key aspects of the partnership include:

* Clearwire retains ownership of all network assets and full responsibility for future technology and strategy decisions.
* Ericsson will be responsible for network engineering, operations and maintenance, including field services, 24X7 network monitoring, end-to-end engineering, provisioning and routine maintenance.
* Clearwire will remain the primary point of contact for all interactions with customers, wholesale partners and equipment vendors.
* Approximately 700 Clearwire employees are expected to begin performing their network functions as Ericsson employees in locations around the United States before mid-year 2011.

"The responsibility for network engineering, operations and maintenance of one of the leading mobile broadband networks in North America is one that Ericsson takes very seriously," said Angel Ruiz, head of Ericsson's North American operations. "We look forward to welcoming the Clearwire employees to Ericsson and appreciate the unique skills and expertise they bring to our company."

"This managed services partnership is the next logical step for both Clearwire and Ericsson, one that will have significant near-term and long-term benefits for Clearwire's employees, customers, retail distributors and investors," observed Berge Ayvazian, Senior Consultant with Heavy Reading. "It also represents Ericsson's second managed services contract in the U.S., building on the Network Advantage agreement that has already delivered major operational and economic benefits for Sprint."

In 2009, Ericsson entered into a similar network management partnership with Sprint, Clearwire's largest shareholder and wholesale partner. Ericsson's experience and track record for success in Managed Services will also offer Clearwire an efficient, cost-effective way to manage its network. Ericsson has invested more than $1 billion in state-of-the-art tools, processes and global best practices. The networks that Ericsson manages for operators serve over 800 million subscribers worldwide. In addition, Ericsson provides 24/7 tech support to operators for well over two billion subscribers.

Battery-powered 'Black Current' VW Beetle flaunts itself in drag (video)

Posted: 19 May 2011 06:18 AM PDT

Electric supercars have been hitting some crazy speeds recently, but this is on another level. The Black Current is a Volkswagen Beetle reborn as an electric drag racer. It hits 135mph and demolishes the quarter-mile straight in 9.51 seconds. What's more, it does it quietly -- all you can hear is the delicious screech of sticky rubber. Plug into the video after the break for a taste of what it's like behind the wheel. And can someone please explain why that other car on the left even bothered to turn up?

Mophie Juice Pack Plus iPhone charging case now Verizon-friendly

Posted: 19 May 2011 05:59 AM PDT

Until now, Verizon iPhone owners looking for the Mophie battery boost had three options: lugging around a Powerstation plug-in, settling for the Juice Pack Air's measly 1500mAh battery, or slipping into an ill-fitting Juice Pack Plus AT&T case -- an awkward fit, thanks to a slight difference in the handsets' button placement. That long national nightmare is finally over, however, now that the 2000mAh Juice Pack Plus is compatible with both carriers, giving users up to eight more hours of 3G talk time and a few extra millimeters of thickness for around $100. The rubberized charging case is available in black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and a limited edition purple, of which only 2,000 were made. Oooh, exclusivity.
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mophie Announces juice pack plus Now Compatible with All iPhone 4s

Powerful External Battery Case also Available in Limited Edition Purple


Santa Ana, Calif. (May 18, 2011)-mophie™ today announced the availability of the juice pack plus, now compatible with all iPhone 4s. The enhanced capacity iPhone 4 rechargeable external battery case more than doubles the time to rock, talk, surf and send and is an essential accessory for any iPhone user. In tandem with the launch, mophie has designed a special edition purple juice pack plus case, now available on mophie.com

The plus boasts a 2,000 mAh battery capacity and is the largest of any external battery case produced by mophie. Designed for iPhone 4 power and protection, the case has an ultra-thin and light-weight design, a dual injected rubber grip for extra hold, and is only one millimeter thicker than mophie's flagship case, the juice pack air. The special edition purple juice pack plus, of which only 3,000 were produced, features a purple band around the edge of the case. Additional colors include black-on-black, and black with cyan, magenta or yellow banding.

"It is our continued mission to deliver solutions to all Apple fans that enhance their user experience through superior design, utility and style, and we're excited to provide our most powerful battery case to all iPhone 4 users," said Susan Schedel, vice president of sales and marketing, mophie. "We have wanted to do a limited edition juice pack for a while and the launch of the dual-compatible plus was the perfect opportunity to launch something special in both design and function."

The juice pack plus for iPhone 4 is now available for purchase on www.mophie.com for $99.95. Key features and benefits of the one-size-fits-all juice pack plus, include:

· The Ultimate Power Solution-Packing a 2,000 mAh capacity, the advanced battery technology delivers an incredible amount of "juice" in a small form factor, more than doubling battery life while only adding one mm of thickness

· Up to 8 additional hours talk time on 3G; 16 hours 2G

· Up to 7 additional hours internet use on 3G; 11 hours WiFi

· Up to 44 hours additional audio playback

· Up to 11 hours video playback

· Acoustic Sound Enhancement-The juice pack plus design acts as a virtual speaker box, redirecting sound from the bottom of the iPhone 4 to the front, resulting in a richer, fuller sound quality

· Choice of Color-The juice pack plus is available now available in black, cyan, magenta, yellow and for a limited time, purple

· Pass-through USB-Included USB cable enables you to simultaneously charge and sync your iPhone 4 to iTunes without having to remove it from the juice pack plus

· Standby/Charging Switch-Features a simple toggle switch that allows for standby and charging mode so you only have to use the juice pack plus battery when you need it

· Efficient Electronics-Embedded electronics results in no signal interference with the iPhone 4

· 4 Light LED Battery Status Indicator-An integrated LED status indicator tells you exactly how much "juice" is left and also displays how much time remains during the charging process

Ricoh's new electronic paper promises greater brightness, enhanced color

Posted: 19 May 2011 05:39 AM PDT

Color E Ink technology still has some kinks to work out, but Ricoh thinks it may have just taken a big step forward with its latest display. The company's electronic paper, introduced at SID this week, promises to reproduce images that are 2.5 times brighter than competitors' offerings, while covering a color range that's four times wider. To achieve this, Ricoh used a simple lamination method, layering three strips of electrochromic material between two substrates. Unfortunately, however, there's no indication that the technology will be commercially available anytime soon, as Ricoh still needs to incorporate its e-paper onto more practical screen sizes, as well as enhance the display's durability -- both of which sound like pretty major hurdles to us. Full press release after the break.
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Ricoh Achieves Color Electronic Paper Display with Significantly Enhanced Brightness and Color Reproducibility

Tokyo May 18 - Ricoh Company, Ltd. (President & CEO: Shiro Kondo) announced that the company, utilizing its original display method, has achieved a display of color still images with about 2.5 times brighter (in white reflectivity) and about 4 times wider color reproduction range compared with presently commercialized or announced color electronic paper technologies.

Electronic paper, having no luminous source, differs from a conventional display unit-it requires no electric power except for rewriting characters and images. Known as a technology gentle on the environment and the human eye, 6.6 million monochrome devices for reading digital books are now sold annually throughout the world and sales are predicted to exceed 11 million readers in 2011 (*1). Although color devices have long been desired, the methods proposed for color electronic paper have thus far not been able to solve the lack of brightness or color reproducibility, even in theory. Therefore the color electronic paper market is expected to grow significantly with future technology development, greatly expanding possible applications.
(*1) Gartner Report: "Competitive Landscape: Connected E-Readers, North America," published on December 8, 2010.

Ricoh developed the world's first new organic electrochromic material (*2) producing three primary colors (Cyan, Magenta and Yellow) while improving memory properties in March 2009. The company at the same time proposed a simple laminating element structure, forming three electrochromic layers between two substrates. This was made possible by stepping outside the box and beyond the original display methodology hitherto in vogue. This proved the feasibility of color electronic paper capable of achieving a bright display at low power consumption and low cost.
(*2) Joint development with Yamada Chemical Co., Ltd. (Kyoto, President: Shimpei Yamada).

Based on this result, Ricoh moved from the development phase of element technology to the development of a practical application of prototypes featuring high resolution electronic paper. This led to success in achieving bright images with high color image reproducibility. Ricoh will accelerate development toward practical application by improving reliability/repetition durability (guaranteeing tens of thousands of rewrites) and larger screen size. Although development will expand to include document display devices that can display fine characters, the evolution will progress with various applications developing in parallel.

Ricoh introduced this technology at DISPLAY WEEK 2011 of SID (The Society for Information Display) held in Los Angeles from May 15 to 20.

HP Pre 3 listed for pre-order on Amazon.de: €449 for the best of webOS

Posted: 19 May 2011 05:17 AM PDT

We're not dealing with price estimates anymore, here's an honest-to-goodness pre-order for the HP Pre 3. Amazon Germany, a traditionally quick retailer to put device listings up, has added the webOS 2.2 QWERTY slider to its online catalog at a price of €449 ($640) -- though availability is predictably undefined for now. Lest your memory needs a refresher since the Pre 3's announcement back in February, this is a 3.6-inch smartphone with a WVGA (800 x 480) resolution, a 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8x55 processor, 512MB of RAM, and a pair of cameras, the rear of which can record 720p video and 5 megapixel stills. To fill the time until a launch date is made known, why not consult our handy chart for a detailed look at how else the Pre 3 improves on its Pre-decessor.

[Thanks, Timo]

BBC shows us what it's like to live with a bionic hand

Posted: 19 May 2011 05:01 AM PDT

We've posted a fair share on bionic limbs and their advancements over the years, but rarely have we had the chance to see a video of one in real world use, on a real person. The BBC has shared a video of a man named Patrick using his bionic arm, which -- long story short -- was partially the result of being electrocuted at work. This is his second one to date and specifically, it's a prototype Otto Bock mind-controlled prosthetic arm equipped with six nerve sensors that let him use the hand as if it were his own-- it supports pinching and gripping with the fingers as well as lateral and circular movement of the wrist. Although the footage is a mundane roll of various day to day tasks -- gripping a bottle to pour a glass of water for instance -- it's quite amazing to realize technology is helping him do things he'd otherwise be deprived of. We'd suggest checking it out at the BBC by clicking the source link below.

Intel admits Apple 'helps shape' its roadmap, keeps foot lodged firmly in mouth

Posted: 19 May 2011 04:35 AM PDT

We knew Intel and Apple had a close working relationship when it came to developing Thunderbolt, but now an exec from Santa Clara has taken the declarations of mutual admiration to the next level. Tom Kilroy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Sales and Marketing Group, told a Reuters tech summit that Apple isn't merely important to his company's plans, it actually "helps shape [Intel's] roadmap." Those are strong words coming from the world's biggest maker of processor chips, one that you wouldn't expect to be beholden to any hardware or software partner. Additionally, it marks the second time this week that Intel has indirectly slighted Microsoft, the first one being a damning analysis of Windows 8 on ARM by fellow Intel SVP Renee James. It'd be easy to conclude that we're seeing cracks developing in the old Wintel bond, but we reckon it's more likely that Chipzilla is simply finding the wrong words to express otherwise benign thoughts. Hit the source link for more from Mr. Kilroy.

Hacked Kinect duo teams up with HD projector to make 360 Snowglobe display (video)

Posted: 19 May 2011 04:13 AM PDT

Flatscreen displays? Decidedly old hat; students from Queens University have a better idea: snowglobes. Hacking together a 3D HD projector, two Kinect sensors, and a hemispherical mirror mounted inside of an acrylic sphere, "Project Snowglobe" has created a pseudo holographic display -- presenting a 360-degree view of a digital object. The all-angles display is compelling, but it's strictly a single-user affair; the object isn't actually projected in 3D -- it instead follows the movements of a lone Earthling, rotating and shifting position, in sync with the viewer. The display standard of the future? Maybe not, but pretty darn cool, all the same. Hit up the video after the break to check it out.

Gartner: 1.6 million Windows Phone 7 devices sold in Q1, consumer interest remains tepid

Posted: 19 May 2011 03:32 AM PDT

Direct sales figures for Windows Phone 7 handsets have been remarkably difficult to come by since Microsoft's OS reboot at the end of last year, but here come the stat gurus at Gartner to provide us with their best estimate. 3.6 million of the world's smartphone sales in the past quarter were counted under the Microsoft mobile OS umbrella, of which 1.6 million featured the very latest WP7 software. That means Redmond partners sold more Windows Mobile devices in the first three months of 2011 than ones bearing the sparkling new operating system. Guess now we know what LG meant when it said the Windows Phone launch didn't meet expectations. Gartner sees these numbers as evidencing a failure "to grow in consumer preference" by WP7's launch devices, though it predicts better things ahead, with Nokia's participation helping to accelerate the platform's momentum. For more (much more!) stats relating to the global cellphone market in Q1 2011, click on the source link for Gartner's full disclosure.

Amazon adds electronics to trade-in program, pawns 2,550 gadgets and counting

Posted: 19 May 2011 03:14 AM PDT

If you've got some spare gadgets and need to make a quick buck gift card, there are any number of ways -- Walmart, Target, Best Buy and even eBay will instantly quote you a dollar figure these days. Now, Amazon is joining their ranks as the latest firm eager to stockpile still-somewhat-valuable tech, by adding electronics as the latest category for trade-ins. Pick from the 2,550 items currently recognized and describe the condition your camera / GPS / calculator is in, and Amazon will let you know how many dollars worth of credit it can give you alongside a prepaid shipping label. We can't tell if Amazon will give you better deals than the competition, but this beautiful brown Zune did fairly well. Never you mind that it typically sells for upwards of $40 at auction -- Amazon has mouths to feed, you know?
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Amazon Trade-In Program Expands With Thousands of Electronics
Great Trade-In Values on Used Textbooks, Video Games, Movies and now Electronics Ship For Free, All in One Box

SEATTLE, May 18, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced the Electronics Trade-In Store, offering customers a new way to conveniently trade in used electronics for Amazon.com Gift Cards. The Electronics Trade-In Store enhances Amazon's existing Trade-In program, giving customers great value on everything from video games and DVDs to textbooks and now electronics, without visiting multiple stores. Starting today, customers can trade in electronics, including tablets, cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, GPS devices and more. With Amazon Trade-In, only one box is needed to ship multiple items and shipping is free. Simply visit http://www.amazon.com/tradein and start searching for items to trade in.

"Technology is constantly evolving and newer, better versions of consumer electronics are introduced all the time," says Paul Ryder, vice president of Electronics for Amazon.com. "We want to give customers the opportunity to get great value from their used electronics. Hundreds of thousands of customers have already received millions of dollars in gift cards from the other products in our program. The Electronics category is a natural extension and we are delighted to offer our customers more trade-in options."

Regardless of where electronics and other products may have been purchased, customers start by simply searching for items to trade in. If the product is listed as eligible for trade-in, then customers can click the Trade-In button to add items to their trade-in shipment. Amazon's Trade-In program offers a variety of condition types including "Like New," "Good" and "Acceptable," giving customers an easy way to view multiple trade-in values. Once customers have added all the items they would like to trade in to their trade-in shipment, they can print a pre-paid shipping label and ship everything for free. After the product is received and inspected, an Amazon.com Gift Card will be deposited into the customer's Amazon.com account, generally in less than 48 hours. There are no claim codes or waiting for a check in the mail. Amazon.com Gift Cards can be used on purchases towards millions of items on Amazon.com.

Amazon's Trade-In program (http://www.amazon.com/tradein) offers great value on used products, and starting today, customers can now trade in used electronics.

Amazon.com Gift Cards are issued by ACI Gift Cards, Inc., a Washington company.

Sharp shows off the world's first Super Hi-Vision LCD with 16x more detail than 1080p

Posted: 19 May 2011 02:39 AM PDT

While Japan's NHK has been working on the successor to HDTV, Super Hi-Vision, for years, there haven't been any direct-view HDTVs capable of showing its full 7,680 x 4,320 pixel resolution until this prototype unveiled today by Sharp. Its 103 pixels per inch may be just a fraction of those found in some of the pocket displays we've seen at SID this week, but that's still far more than the 36ppi of a 60-inch 1080p HDTV. If estimates are correct, we'll still be waiting until around 2020 for that 33MP video and 22.2 channel sound to actually be broadcast, although there's a possibility of some demonstrations happening during the 2012 Olympics. Skip past the break for the available specs and a video demonstration, or just head over to the NHK's Science & Technology Research Laboratories in Tokyo between the 26th and 29th of this month.


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Sharp and NHK Successfully Develop 85-Inch Direct-View LCD
Compatible with Super Hi-Vision, a World First*1

NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Matsumoto) and Sharp Corporation (Abeno Ward, Osaka; President: Mikio Katayama) have jointly developed an 85-inch LCD compatible with Super Hi-Vision, a next-generation television broadcast format. This is a world first for a direct-view display.

NHK began R&D into Super Hi-Vision, which has dramatically higher resolution than current HDTV, in 1995 and aims to begin trial broadcasts in 2020. With approximately 33 megapixels (7,680 [H] x 4,320 [V] pixels), or 16 times the resolution of HDTV, Super Hi-Vision will offer powerful, life-like image reproduction.

Under the joint development, Sharp's UV2A*2 LCD technology was used to create for the first time in the world a direct-view LCD compatible with the unprecedentedly high display performance of Super Hi-Vision. The combination of the Sharp technology and NHK's expertise and know-how in Super Hi-Vision will make possible ultra-detailed, super-high-quality images. The incredibly detailed images on the giant screen will immerse the viewer in a virtual-reality-like experience.

Super Hi-Vision-Compatible LCD
Screen size 85 inches (approx. 1.9 x 1.05 m)
Pixel count 7,680 (H) x 4,320 (V) pixels
Brightness 300 cd/m2
Gradation 10 bits for each RGB color
*1 As of May 19, 2011, for direct-view displays compatible with Super Hi-Vision.
*2 UV2A: Ultraviolet induced multi-domain Vertical Alignment. A photo-alignment technology for precisely controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in a simple LCD panel structure.

This LCD will be shown to the public at NHK's Science & Technology Research Laboratories in Tokyo from May 26 to 29, 2011

Microsoft rebuts Intel's claims about Windows 8, calls them 'factually inaccurate'

Posted: 19 May 2011 02:07 AM PDT

Bad Intel! Microsoft has issued a strongly worded response to comments this week from Intel SVP Renee James describing the future of Windows 8 on ARM as fragmented and backwards-incompatible. Those statements, says Microsoft, were "factually inaccurate and unfortunately misleading," though we're left without clarification as to what specifically was untrue. James claimed that legacy x86 programs won't be running on the ARM architecture, requiring a re-write for developers and probably a re-purchase for users. She also went on to suggest that each of the four hardware suppliers for Windows 8 systems-on-chip will have a different code stack, incompatible with the rest, which sounds like a far worse allegation to us. Now the issue is to try and figure out which of those two big accusations Microsoft has taken offense to. The Redmond team had nothing more to say on the matter, offering only a reminder that Windows 8 is still at the tech demo stage and there's still a long way to go.

UCube speakers run off USB, are coming to an Amtrak quiet car near you

Posted: 19 May 2011 01:25 AM PDT


You can use these USB-powered UltraLink UCube speakers on a bus, on the beach, or on the table at your favorite McDonald's, but please -- for the love of god -- don't. Remember: with great convenience comes great responsibility, and if these speakers are as impressive as the dramatic marketing video below implies, disruption of the peace is about to know no bounds. At $150 per pair, these sleek sound machines aren't cheap, but each speaker is able to pump out 15 watts of peak power -- you won't be filling a large room with crisp, distortion-free sound, but they're probably loud enough to play your tunes or flicks for a group of friends, or to annoy strangers in a park. UltraLink claims that the speakers use DSP-controlled power supplies to "store energy during quiet passages," allowing the 3.25 inch cubes to reach their 15 watt peak output with 170-degree listening angles. We haven't had a chance to go hands on, but if these speakers sound half as good as they look, we may have a better solution for playing music in the CES trailer next year.



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UltraLink Debuts First Product in New Personal Audio Brand

UFi... It's All About U!

Ontario, California • 5/17/2011 • A new UltraLink® personal audio brand called UFi™ launches the first in a new line of products, the $149.99/pr UCube Compact USB Digital Speakers.

Wherever you hang, your music and movies follow! At just three-inches square UCubes are personal and portable, ideal for home, on your desk or on the go! Available in brilliant fashion-forward colors they look as fabulous as they sound on custom brushed aluminum stands. It's one look and "I want them!"

You're gonna love their small sleek footprint, iconic design and big dynamic sound; they create a wide stereo image so everyone can enjoy music and video! Just plug the speaker with the USB connector into your computer's USB port and you're ready to roll! UCubes... for U!

Inside UCubes

We designed UCubes with equal parts science and art. DSP-controlled power supplies and DSP-equalized signals for the very special BMR Balanced Mode Radiator driver deliver an astounding 170 degrees of stereo image so everyone can enjoy the experience. UCubes are artful too; their gorgeous custom aluminum stands put them at just the right angle for listening, and their smooth, shiny surfaces and beautifully curved sides look iconic, elegant and awesome!

Plug'n'Play

All-USB signal and power delivers vastly improved sound and supreme portability with a minimum of cabling and no external power supply. Connect the speakers with the cable provided, then plug the left speaker into your computer's USB port and you're ready for music, movies or video wherever you are. UCubes will in most cases self-install, but if not check the UCube Tech Zone!

Digital Signal Processing

While USB ports are limited to 5 volts, UCubes' "smart" DSP-controlled power supplies store energy during quiet passages allowing the class-D amplifier to reach a full 15W equivalent power output for clean, dynamic sound that won't break up when you pump up the volume. The audio signal is also DSP-equalized to perfectly match the UCube's special BMR driver and enclosure eliminating the need for a crossover.

BMR Driver

The advanced-design BMR Balanced Mode Radiator is a full-range, flat-diaphragm driver that delivers vastly improved off-axis response of up to 170 degrees, true room filling sound. Casually place UCubes wherever convenient, or place them both sides and equidistant from your computer facing straight ahead, then slowly turn them in towards you. Find just the right balance between their awesome focus and the positively huge listening area. You'll be surprised to hear that the sound doesn't come from the speakers but from the space around them!

Logitech outs a pair of keyboard cases, gets into the tablet accessories game

Posted: 19 May 2011 01:12 AM PDT

Technically, we suppose Logitech already made a play for the tablet accessories market when it launched a rebranded Zaggmate keyboard case earlier this year, but today the peripheral manufacturer's getting serious about slates with the launch of two new portable products. Lacking a Smart Cover to keep your iPad 2 on edge? You could try the $70 Logitech Tablet Keyboard pictured above, which comes with a hardshell sleeve that doubles as a tablet stand and dedicated iOS or Android shortcuts. The keyboard itself is slick, roomy and somewhat plasticky, with a definite Notion Ink Adam vibe. There's also a redesigned Zaggmate, now known as the $100 Logitech Keyboard Case, which comes with "a more intuitive keyboard layout and improved keystrokes for even more comfortable typing" -- a claim we weren't able to test -- as well as a rebranded $100 Logitech Z515 Bluetooth speaker system, and a $50 Bluetooth mouse. Pricey? Definitely. Worthwhile? Decide for yourself later this month, when they're scheduled to hit shelves.
Logitech's tablet keyboards, hands-on

Michael Gorman contributed to this report.
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Logitech Transforms Places You Use Your iPad or Android Tablet with Lineup of Accessories

Introduces Range of Products Including New Logitech Keyboard Case, Logitech Wireless Speaker, Logitech Tablet Keyboard, Logitech Tablet Mouse

FREMONT, Calif. - May 19, 2011 -Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) unveiled a line of iPad and Android-based tablet accessories that enable you to make the most of your tablet, no matter how or where you use it.

"People love their tablets - the category is growing quickly and is here to stay," said Azmat Ali, Logitech senior director for tablet products. "We've created a great lineup of products for tablet users, and it's just the beginning. Over the coming months you can expect to see additional products for iPad® and Android™ tablets that are designed to help people create, consume and communicate."

Encompassing products for both iPad and Android-based tablets, the new lineup from Logitech features a wide range of accessories - from keyboards to speakers - that help create the perfect environment for your tablet. Whether you want to use your tablet to catch up with friends on Facebook®, post quick updates to your blog, or share your favorite music – Logitech has a product for you.

Highlights of Logitech's new lineup of tablet accessories include:

Logitech Keyboard Case

Created in collaboration with ZAGG®, the latest Logitech® Keyboard Case features the same sleek aluminum cover with military-grade, high-density padding as Logitech's previously announced version. The protective case wraps around the iPad 2 to cover the screen and sides, and the Logitech Keyboard Case uses Bluetooth® connectivity to pair the keyboard quickly and easily. The new Logitech Keyboard Case incorporates a more intuitive keyboard layout and improved keystrokes for even more comfortable typing. It also adds a recess just behind the keyboard that props up an iPad 2 in portrait or landscape mode, virtually eliminating setup and packup time.

Logitech Wireless Speaker

When you want to share your favorite music, the Logitech® Wireless Speaker is a great choice. It eliminates cables and lets you place your speaker wherever you want - up to 50 feet away from your iPad or Android tablet depending on use, settings and environmental conditions. And you'll get rich, full stereo sound - even from across the room - with your speaker's dual two-inch drivers and plenty of bass. A rechargeable battery powers your speaker for up to 10 hours depending on your use and settings-so you can take your music with you wherever you go. And setup couldn't be easier. Just pair with your tablet using Bluetooth wireless, and you are ready to listen.

Logitech Tablet Keyboard

The Logitech® Tablet Keyboard, a keyboard-and-stand combo, comes in two versions, one for Android-based tablets and a second for iPads, and is designed to travel easily, set up quickly and add a touch of convenience to all the places you use your tablet. It pairs easily with your tablet over Bluetooth wireless, so you can use it on your desk, lap or anywhere within 30 feet of your tablet, depending on use, settings and environmental conditions.

Logitech Tablet Mouse

A perfect companion to the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android, the Logitech® Tablet Mouse pairs with your Android-based tablet using Bluetooth, and offers smooth, accurate laser tracking, and side-to-side scrolling. The Logitech Tablet Mouse is designed specifically to work with tablets running the recently announced Android™ 3.1 (Honeycomb) platform.

Information about these products and additional accessories for iPad and Android-based tablets, including speaker docks, headphones, wireless speakers, keyboards and mice, is available on the tablets accessories page of Logitech's website.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Keyboard Case is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May and in EMEA beginning in June for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Wireless Speakers are expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May and EMEA beginning in June for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning May and in EMEA beginning in June for a suggested retail price of $69.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May for a suggested retail price of $69.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Tablet Mouse is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). Visit our blog or website for more information.

Facebook granted patent for tagging digital media

Posted: 19 May 2011 12:56 AM PDT

It's taken the US Patent and Trademark Office four and half years to consider it, but Facebook now finally has a patent on one of its central features: photo tagging. Applied for in October 2006 and just granted this week, this legal doc gives Mark Zuckerberg and a couple of his buddies credit for designing a method for identifying users in "a selection of an item of digital media." That could be photos, video, audio, or text -- the main drive of the patent is that it lets people associate a given chunk of media with a person and inform others of this association. The wording of Facebook's claims is rather specific -- you have to, for example, allow the identified person the opportunity to reject the identification -- so having this patent need not necessarily preclude other sites like Flickr from engaging in similar, but not identical, behavior.

Dell Streak Pro Honeycomb tablet pictured, likely to be with us in June

Posted: 19 May 2011 12:12 AM PDT

Android Honeycomb OS, 10-inch screen size with 1280 x 800 resolution, and NVIDIA's Tegra 2 (T20) chip on the inside. If those specs sound familiar, it's because most manufacturers already have a tablet just like Dell's upcoming Streak Pro. This slate from Round Rock got us a little hot under the collar recently, when it appeared it would ship with the T25 Tegra 2 silicon -- which runs at 1.2GHz and offers 3D support -- but nope, it's same old, same old from Michael and company. Still, the Streak Pro will apparently come will a brushed aluminum back, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB storage options, dual mics, dual cameras (2 megapixel on the front, 5 megapixel 'round back), and a choice of four colors: blue, pink, black, and red. If that's not enough customization for you, Dell's also adding its Stage UI atop Android, while support for AT&T's LTE network is also said to be under consideration. You can see some of the new tablet's accessories at the source link below, which also advises us to expect the Streak to go Pro in June, as previously anticipated.

Comcast brings Xfinity TV VOD to iPhone, iPod Touch, but only on WiFi

Posted: 18 May 2011 11:39 PM PDT

Comcast rolled out a v1.5 update today for the iPhone / iPod Touch versions of its Xfinity TV app which allows them to access the video on-demand streaming that has been available on the iPad since February. Just like the iPad however, they'll only work over WiFi -- no streaming over 3G or downloading for offline viewing here, although unlike Cablevision and Time Warner's iPad apps, you don't have to be on your own WiFi for it to work. The slate of content has expanded to include 25 networks and over 6,000 hours of video, so for those confusing times when you're within reach of WiFi but can't get close to a TV, you can still queue up something for viewing. The official Twitter account advises a delete / reinstall for those having issues since upgrading, if you're a Comcast subscriber who hasn't already snagged the free app for its channel changing and remote DVR scheduling capabilities, you can do so at the link below.

[Thanks, Nick & Colby]

Tron lightcycle case mod is totally awesome, 100 percent 3D

Posted: 18 May 2011 10:58 PM PDT


So, we already have a street-legal Tron lightcycle, but why stop there? After weeks of work, Bods Mods just completed its 40-inch long lightcycle PC, complete with ATX motherboard, liquid cooling, and plenty of blue light strips. The designer started the from-scratch custom build in SketchUp, Google's 3D modeling app, followed by loads of foam shaping and Dremel work. Judging by the dozens (if not hundreds) of images posted to the Cooler Master forum, this is one of the most complex case mods we've seen, with incredible details down to the translucent Crucial and SSD logos painted on the lightcycle engine. Bods Mods entered its lightcycle case in Cooler Master's 2011 Case Mod Competition, though the entries themselves are far more exciting than the first place prize: a boring, non-modified case full of components.

Sony SmartAR delivers high-speed markerless augmented reality, blows minds (video)

Posted: 18 May 2011 10:26 PM PDT


Some may agree that over the years, augmented reality's been slowly losing its appeal given its sometimes laggy and unreliable performance -- most implementations require a weird marker to be in clear sight, and the graphics rendering speed on your handheld device would rely on your slow and steady hands. As such, we were initially skeptical when Sony's SmartAR announcement came along; but as you can see in the video above, said technology took us by surprise with its super slick responsiveness, and the markerless object recognition makes a compelling hassle-free selling point. What's more, the same clip also shows off SmartAR handling large 3D space with ease -- notice how the virtual objects continue to animate even when the original anchor object is out of sight. Sony hasn't given any dates here, but there's no doubt that once SmartAR is available to game developers and advertisers, it'll rake in some nice pocket money for the electronics giant.
Show full PR text
Sony develops "SmartAR*1" Integrated Augmented Reality technology

- Featured with markerless and high-speed object recognition & tracking as well as
dynamic 3D space recognition & image rendering -

Sony has developed integrated 'Augmented Reality (hereafter referred to as 'AR') technology' called as "Smart AR." When capturing visuals through a camera on a device such as a smartphone, the technology enables additional information to be displayed on the device's screens such as virtual objects, or images and texts that cannot be identified by visual perception alone. The technology employs the markerless approach, forgoing any requirement for special markers such as 2D barcodes. The object captured by the camera is quickly recognized and can be tracked at high-speed along with the movement of the camera, as it is displayed over the actual 3D space.

AR technology has recently been the subject of much interest, and is being used in a variety of applications such as advertisements, promotions, games, and information searches. Sony began researching AR in 1994 with two-dimensional barcodes recognition (marker approach), and in 1998, it developed VAIO "PCG-C1" personal computers equipped with software which automatically recognized 'CyberCode*2.'

  "SmartAR" technology combines 'object recognition technology' (markerless approach in which no special markers are required) for recognition of general objects such as photographs and posters with Sony's own proprietary '3D space recognition technology,' which has been fostered through the research of robots such as "AIBO" and "QRIO." With "SmartAR" technology objects can be recognized and tracked at high-speed. In addition to displaying virtual objects or additional image or text information (hereafter, 'AR information'), the technology also facilitates the expression of AR information over an extended space, thus producing a dynamic, large-scale AR experience.

  Furthermore, information can be acquired or navigated by simply touching the AR information directly on the screen of the smartphone or other device, thus achieving an intuitive and seamless user interface that is unique to "SmartAR."

  Sony will continue to experiment with "SmartAR" technology with the aim to add new value for various services and business applications such as advertising and games.

< Main features >

(1) Object recognition that enables the markerless approach

  AR information can be displayed on the captured image which appears on a device's screen, including those images that do not have any special markers for AR. This technology is also compatible with image recognition technologies that use conventional markers (such as "CyberCode*2"). Because "SmartAR" can recognize everyday objects such as posters and menus, it has the potential for a wide variety of applications.

  "SmartAR" object recognition technology identifies objects by analyzing features detected from a portion of the image (hereafter, 'local features') together with their positional relationship. Our feature matching technology that employs a proprietary probabilistic method that matches local features with minimal calculations enables high-speed recognition that is resistant to changes in lighting or the position of the object. In addition, recognition is still possible even if the object captured appears to be comparatively small in the display.

(2) High-speed tracking ('rapid & accurate')

  Sony achieved its natural-feeling 'rapid & accurate' AR by quickly displaying AR information on the screen and then tracking the camera's movements at high-speed. This has been realized by combining object recognition technology with our proprietary matching technology that uses features detected from a portion of the image ('local features') and image tracking technology that is capable of dealing with changes in the shape of the object.

(3) 3D space recognition

  With our dynamic, large-scale AR, virtual objects can be merged with 3D structures detected in the physical world. For example, even if the AR image is a gigantic virtual character whose size exceeds the dimensions of the device's screen, the technology allows the user to grasp the entirety of the virtual character when the camera is moved around. Furthermore, it is also possible to move the virtual object in the actual 3D space as if it were really there.

  Three-dimensional space recognition technology is based on use of the disparity observed by the camera movements to estimate the shape of the 3D space and the position and angle of the camera. By combining this with object recognition technology, devices become capable of identifying and remembering 3D space constructions.

(4) AR Interaction

  Information can be intuitively acquired and navigated by directly touching the AR information displayed on the smartphone or device's screen. The distinctiveness of "SmartAR" technology comes from the user interface which enables users to naturally use and operate additional information and virtual objects.

Withings WiFi Body Scale enters the living room on Panasonic VIERA Connect TVs

Posted: 18 May 2011 09:38 PM PDT

Have you recently considered a Withings WiFi Body Scale only to be dismayed by its inability to display your weight on your living room TV? Well, today's your lucky day (for some of you, at least), as the company has just announced that a Withings app is now available for Panasonic VIERA Connect-enabled TVs, which will let you access your complete Health Dashboard from the comfort of your couch, or recliner as the case may be. Full press release is after the break.
Show full PR text
Withings and Panasonic Connect Your Body Scale with Your Television Using VIERA Connect™

Available now, users of the Withings Scale can access their Health Dashboard directly on their Panasonic VIERA Connect™- enabled VIERA® HDTVs

Paris, France – May 18, 2011- Withings is proud to announce that its Withings application is now available for download on Panasonic's VIERA ConnectTM Market. First announced in January at the Consumer Electronics Show, your body scale and your television can now come together seamlessly with the partnership between Withings and Panasonic – a leader in high definition, 3D and connected TV entertainment. By combining both innovative devices, users can now access their Withings health dashboard right on their Panasonic VIERA Connect-enabled VIERA® HDTV screen with the touch of a button turning your living room into a virtual gym.

The WiFi Body Scale is a revolutionary product that transforms an ordinary bathroom scale into an automatic weight tracking device for up to 8 people. It wirelessly records a user's body weight, lean & fat mass, and calculated body mass index (BMI) onto his/her own secure webpage and/or free Withings iPhone application, WiScale. Now, this data dashboard can be easily accessed directly from the VIERA Connect™ menu page with just one button.

"Withings is excited to take its monitoring system onto a new medium- your television," said Co-Founder of Withings Cedric Hutchings. "By partnering with Panasonic it has given us a chance to continue expanding and making it easier to facilitate the access of all your information via your MAC, PC, mobile device and now your television."

Panasonic's VIERA Connect IPTV feature allows owners of VIERA ConnectTM-enabled 2011 VIERA HDTVs to enjoy internet content directly on their television with the push of a button and without the need for a PC. VIERA Connect offers a robust collection of applications including expanded video streaming, and two-way interactive features from gaming to social networking, and fitness programs.

VIERA Connect is a significant enhancement of Panasonic's connected IPTV offerings available exclusively on its 2011 VIERA Connect-enabled HDTVs. VIERA Connect offers a robust collection of applications including expanded video streaming, and two-way interactive features from gaming to social networking, and fitness programs. With VIERA Connect MarketTM, consumers can also personalize their VIERA Connect experience via a rich catalog of apps from third-party application developers

"The introduction of our first VIERA IPTVs in 2008 elevated the television's place in the home to a whole new level for consumers and changed the way they interact with their TV," said Panasonic Corporation of North America Vice President Merwan Mereby. "Collaborating with cutting edge brands like Withings has enabled us to push that to even greater heights literally making the HDTV the centerpiece for home entertainment, connectivity and now fitness. With the addition of the Withings app to our VIERA Connect Market, your television can now play a key role in your fitness goals right from the comfort of your living room."

For more information, contact PR representatives below or visit www.withings.com/press.

About Withings:
Withings designs, develops, and industrializes connected objects. Withings is a French start-up established by three executives from technology and telecom industry. With a focus on innovation and design for everyday products, Withings introduced in September 2009 its first-of-its-kind WiFiBodyscale in the world. Withings is an actor of the Internet of Things. Increasing capacities of an object by network resources allows accessing to infinite calculation and storage capacities without increasing the cost. The object's interfaces are also ported to devices like mobile phones or computers, to benefit from their resources. Withings makes internet connected objects. www.withings.com.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company:
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

Apple gets cozy with EMI, Universal, and Sony over cloud music licensing

Posted: 18 May 2011 08:39 PM PDT

Ah, so it's all coming together now. Following a report on Warner Music inking a cloud streaming deal with Apple, CNET is back with fresh information that sees three more major record companies jumping on board. Citing "multiple music industry sources," we're told that EMI is the latest addition to Apple's cloud music portfolio, while Universal and Sony are close to sealing the deal to permit this rumored iCloud service. If true, such endorsement will no doubt add pressure on Google and Amazon over their cheeky, license-free cloud streaming offerings -- not a bad way to fend off competition, though it's not clear how much money's involved. Guess we'll know more at WWDC next month.

NVIDIA driver page outs 3D Vision support for Dell XPS 15z, surprises no one

Posted: 18 May 2011 07:51 PM PDT

Michael Dell may aim to tease, but NVIDIA is just giving it away: a recent driver update lists Dell's upcoming XPS 15z laptop as one of several snagging 3D Vision 3DTV Play, scoring prospective buyers 3D gaming via NVIDIA-supported 3DTVs. Little surprise here, considering the 15z's predecessor rocked a GeForce GT 540M (also 3DTV Play supported), which we'll note, falls under this driver update. Although we're still short on official hardware specs, we won't be shocked if the 15z has the graphical chops to handle Duke Nukem Forever, Portal 2, or any of the other 3D Vision games whose profiles were added in the update. Now, the real question: would the Dell dude approve?

[Thanks, Tigrux]

NXP and Cohda teach cars to communicate with 802.11p, hopes to commercialize tech by 2014

Posted: 18 May 2011 07:04 PM PDT

Ford promised to give our cars X-ray vision, and this little blue box might be the key -- it's apparently the first standardized hardware platform for peer-to-peer automobile communications. Called C2X (for "car-to-x"), the module inside is the product of Cohda Wireless and near-field communications gurus at NXP, and it uses 802.11p WiFi to let equipped cars see one another around blind corners, through other vehicles, or even chat with traffic signals up to a mile away. Pocket-lint got a look at the technology during Automotive Week, and got a good idea of when we can expect the tech; NXP says it should begin rolling out in 2014, and hopes to have 10 percent of the cars on the road gleefully gabbing by 2020.
Show full PR text
NXP Demonstrates New car-to-x Communication Platform: Major Milestone Towards Safer Road Traffic

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - May 17, 2011) - NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today gave a live demonstration of car-to-x (C2X) communication on a public road in the Netherlands. With this demo, NXP is the first semiconductor company to take the step from showing concepts to actually demonstrating an automotive-ready hardware platform for connected mobility. NXP has co-developed the C2X platform with Australian-based Cohda Wireless. Combined with telematics for location-based services and networking security, the platform enables the fully connected car and is therefore a major milestone towards mass deployment for safer road traffic.

C2X communication uses IEEE802.11p, a wireless standard designed specifically for automotive applications. This allows cars to communicate with each other (car-to-car) as well as with intelligent traffic infrastructure (car-to-infrastructure) around them. The newly developed C2X platform from NXP and Cohda actually "sees" around corners in order to recognize traffic blocks or risks before they are visible to the human eye. Drivers therefore receive early warnings of cars hidden from sight behind trucks or approaching from around corners. Other use cases are warnings about emergency vehicles and traffic jams, or traffic light signals allowing drivers to adjust their speed and optimize driving.

The C2X platform is able to meet the requirements of the automotive industry: reliable signal reception for fast-moving objects even in difficult surroundings, cost-efficient design, and flexible programming. It uses Cohda's Advanced IEEE 802.11p radio and is based on NXP's multi-standard radio reception platform. NXP's expertise as a global leader in car entertainment semiconductors and Cohda's patented reception algorithms are critical factors for successful development.

The C2X demo is one of several connected mobility demos which NXP is presenting during Automotive Week 2011, from May 14 to 22, 2011 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. As project leader of the Dutch SPITS research project (SPITS: Strategic Platform for Intelligent Transport Systems), NXP is a major contributor to Automotive Week. For a whole week the Brainport Region is the international stage for the latest technological developments in the automotive field. Industry, Dutch government and research institutes are joining forces with the theme of "Building the Future in Mobility." Other demonstrations from NXP at Automotive Week 2011 include intelligent traffic data analysis from the in-vehicle networks, as well as emergency and breakdown calls based on NXP's telematics module, ATOP.

Kurt Sievers, senior vice president and general manager of the Automotive business at NXP Semiconductors, explains: "Connecting the car to the environment demands in-depth expertise in secure connectivity, Software-Defined Radio architectures, and telematics. These technologies are at the very heart of NXP's automotive portfolio. NXP has therefore set a high priority on gaining the pole position in connected mobility. The SPITS project has been extremely valuable for us as it brought experts and research partners from all parts of the value chain together all working towards the same goal: efficient and sustainable mobility solutions."

For more information, please visit:our Automotive Week event page:
www.nxp.com/spits
www.automotiveweek.nl

About SPITS project

SPITS stands for Strategic Platform for Intelligent Transport Systems. SPITS is about ensuring that mobility become more efficient and sustainable. It focuses on three main areas: traffic management and safety, concepts for open in-car platform, and downloadable services. SPITS was aimed at creating an open and affordable intelligent transport system platform, which is scalable, secure and real-time. The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs has subsidised the project. The consortium is lead by NXP Semiconductors and consists of eight companies (NXP, TomTom, TNO, Logica, Catena, Task24, Foutress, GreenCat), one research institute, and four universities. These partners cover the entire mobility value chain, enabling the complete development of all elements necessary in the system. The SPITS project has involved two years of innovative thinking, close cooperation between organisations, and the construction of prototypes to prove the validity of the system. The SPITS system comprises the vehicle on-board unit (OBU), the Road Side Unit (RSU) infrastructure, and the Back Office (BO) service centre. Communications between these elements is a major part of the Strategic Platform. After the SPITS project officially ends, consortium members will continue to refine the SPITS results for commercial use across Europe and beyond. These projects represent an investment by the Government to retain key knowledge from R&D companies within the Netherlands, following the economic crisis.

About NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions that leverage its leading RF, Analog, Power Management, Interface, Security and Digital Processing expertise. These innovations are used in a wide range of automotive, identification, wireless infrastructure, lighting, industrial, mobile, consumer and computing applications. A global semiconductor company with operations in more than 25 countries, NXP posted revenue of $4.4 billion in 2010. Additional information can be found by visiting www.nxp.com.

Pleo bares it all for FCC approval

Posted: 18 May 2011 06:29 PM PDT

Poor Pleo. Everyone fell in love with the little green dino at first sight, but no one actually bought the thing. Undaunted, the adorable fleshy robot made a triumphant return at this year's CES as Pleo RB (that's "Reborn"), with the help of adopted manufacturer Innvo Labs. The newly invigorated 'bot brings voice recognition, more sensors, and RFID-based command learning technology to the table. With all its new gear in place, Pleo was poked, prodded, and peeled by the FCC, revealing, among other things, that new RFID reader in its chin. The results are gruesome and not recommended for faint of heart robot dinosaur lovers. You've been warned.
Pleo Hits the FCC

Evidence of webOS netbook and keyboard-less phone pop up in developer logs

Posted: 18 May 2011 05:56 PM PDT

webOS Netbook
Well this is interesting: a webOS dev spotted a pair unnamed devices in his log files -- one sporting a 1024 x 768 screen and a non-sliding keyboard, and the other a smartphone with no physical QWERTY input. Don't look so surprised: it was all but confirmed by leaked training materials that webOS was coming to netbooks and HP has already announced its intention to bring desktops and laptops into the fold. Of course, this could also just be a TouchPad connected to a certain special keyboard. All we know is something bigger than a phone with physical keys is out there running an unannounced version of the OS dubbed Nova Dartfish. The second mysterious "device" showing up in the logs may be that keyboard-less handset that posed for Mr. Blurrycam back in April. Whatever it is, it's running webOS 3.0 and has a measly 480 x 320 screen like the Pre 2 -- so it's certainly not a high-end smartphone. The logs also reveal that neither is packing a removeable battery, which is sure to disappoint some of you. If you prefer your rumors delivered with lots of quotation marks and colons the full log reports are after the break.

webOS Netbook?

keyboard-less webOS phone

HP's Pavilion dv6t and dv7t available with 1080p screens, people who bought three months ago sigh

Posted: 18 May 2011 05:33 PM PDT

When HP's Pavilion Quad Edition dv6t and dv7t went on sale three months ago, we couldn't think of too many detractors, but we did take issue with the fact that these 15.6- and 17.3-inch screens maxed out at 1600 x 900 resolution. If you fall into that camp, well, the Powers That Be over at HP heard you -- both machines are now available with 1080p displays, for an extra $150. As before, both come standard with 2GHz quad-core Core i7 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6490M graphics with 1GB of video memory, 4GB of RAM, and 640GB hard drives. HP is also offering free upgrades to 6GB RAM and 750GB hard drive space, though no promises on how long that'll last. Before you get too excited, though, 1080p displays are only an option on these so-called Quad Edition models and the dv6t Select Edition -- meaning, you can't opt for a lower-end dv6 or dv7t and expect to upgrade it. Confusing naming conventions aside, if you're tempted, we suggest you avail yourself of some sweet coupons at the source links.

[Thanks, Sourabh]
at 11:53 AM

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