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Thursday, June 2, 2011

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Podcasts down in iTunes desktop store

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 10:41 AM PDT


Want to download the latest Engadget Show from the iTunes Store on your Mac or PC? Well, you probably can't -- right now, at least. That section appears to be down for most of us at the moment, with the Podcasts tab presenting a "not enough memory available" error message on each click. We've confirmed the error on iTunes 10.2.1 and 10.2.2.12 -- the latest version -- and aren't able to get past the home page. We're sure Cupertino is working on a fix, but you may need to put your podcast obsession on hold, or jump on your iOS device for all that tech talk in the meantime.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Update: We're also unable to download apps from both the Mac and iOS App Stores. Jump past the break for the App Store error.

Live from D9: AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega takes the stage

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 10:36 AM PDT



2:06PM Ralph: "In LA, there's five big players. T-Mobile USA has the lowest share -- MetroPCS is number four. In this market, AT&T is number two. Verizon's number one, and Sprint's number three."

2:05PM Walt's talking up competition, asking for share of the regional carriers.

2:05PM Ralph: "We're going to take LTE to 97 percent of the US population."

2:04PM Ah, the churn stayed the "same" through that -- now that actually is fairly impressive.


2:04PM Ralph: "They're happier now than they were. Let me give you a few facts -- if you look at our Q1 results, they speak for themselves. With Verizon launching an iPhone in the US, we reported the single largest amount of smartphone sales (5.5m+) in Q1 history for our company." Right, but how is this directly addressing gripes in the Big Apple?

2:03PM Walt: "But are your NYC customers happy with you? The ones I know aren't."

2:03PM "We have more customers that use smartphone apps, so we're seeing things in our network that others around the world have *never seen.* In NYC, we've devoted 40MHz to our HSPA network -- that's equal to four carriers -- and we're starting work on our fifth."

2:02PM "What we've seen with this data growth, no other carrier in the world has seen. We've number one in the world for quantity of HSPA customers. We have the most smartphones of any provider in the world."

2:02PM Ralph: "We aren't happy with that status, and we've improved on our network metrics. On a macro level, we have improved metrics in NY and SF -- the best we've seen in three years."

2:01PM Walt: "Why should we believe that AT&T is competent to manage what will become America's largest carrier, when you're consistently rated as providing the best service? Please don't take this personally!"

2:01PM Ralph: "We think you'll see improvements with this merger, similar to AT&T / Cingular. We saw churn rate reduced by 50 percent when that went down as people decided to stick around due to heightened quality."


2:00PM "In some cities that are dense -- NYC and SF -- it'll equal five to ten years of work for one of us. He just *promised* that quality would improve in both New York City and San Francisco.

1:59PM Ralph: "When we overlay our network to their network, it improves the quality and capacity for both customer bases."


1:58PM Ralph: "We're seeing spectrum usage that we've never seen before. It used to take two years to eat up 10MHz of spectrum, and now it takes around a year. Things aren't being driven by voice, but by data."


1:58PM Walt's getting right to it: "Why's it good for consumers if AT&T swallows up T-Mobile?"

1:57PM Again, the battery adapter should cost between $30 and $50, while the charge station will cost around $100 to $150 (consumer) and industrial ($300 to $500). They're now begging for venture capital, and we're guessing they'll have a few phone calls... right... about... now.

1:56PM There will be two models of the uBeam system: industrial model, meant for multi-person usage, and the consumer model. Coffee shops, bookstores and classrooms will use the former, so you could technically sit in a Starbucks all day (read: not recommended) and have your devices recharged wirelesly. It's unclear if your laptop would be included, though -- that's some pretty heavy power draw.




1:52PM In other words, if your charging puck is "in your pocket, it probably won't charge," as it really needs to be out in the open to receive the signals. There's your catch, we suppose. But hey, baby steps! Wireless power has a long way to go, but at least we're talking about it being a reality rather than a pipe dream.

1:52PM Ah, we're told that the waves couldn't transmit "through a human," so the optical place for the transmitter would be in a ceiling.

1:51PM uBeam's giving us a short pitch on how the tech works -- effectively, there's vibrations of transducers that generate electrical currents and can be beamed over the air. Yeah, we've heard of wireless power before, but these guys actually expect to ship a product by the year's end. And they just graduated from uPenn, and couldn't tell a lie if they tried.

1:49PM About the size of a flash drive, uses ultrasound technology to transfer power (i.e. totally safe for humans and pets alike), and the current model takes around 3.3 hours to charge the "battery puck" that we mentioned on our earlier coverage.



1:48PM Ah, Walt just pulled a fast one -- we'll have to wait a few minutes on Ralph, as uBeam (a startup we covered here on Day 1) is taking the stage to (re)show off its wireless power demo.


1:45PM Things are running just a bit behind, so now we're reading about Google email hacks in China.


1:42PM Pixeled people are watching over us. And yeah, AT&T service seems great in here.


1:41PM What the hey? We'll read along, too. "Microsoft to limit tablets" says the headline. Probably a solid read, if not a touch controversial. The fine print's a bit... fine, though.


1:38PM
And we're in! Some guy's reading a newspaper about tablets. A newspaper.
Can you handle one more? Seriously? We're planted here in SoCal for the final day of D9, and we've got one more liveblog comin' your way. This go 'round, it's AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega, and while we've no evidence whatsoever that it'll be talked about, we're guessing the proposed (and highly conversed) T-Mobile USA merger will be the primary topic of discussion. Join us after the break for the blow by blow, won't you?

Visualized: the coolest desktop chassis at Computex, literally

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 10:31 AM PDT

Having a gadget encased in ice is always a cool stunt (pun intended), but Fractal took one step further by using blocks of ice cut out of a Swedish river, and then have them shipped all the way to Computex in Taiwan. Apparently that's how Scandinavians roll. As for the actual products, frequent desktop builders may have already heard of Fractal for its silent, minimalistic chassis, which recently made their way to the US market. While we didn't get a chance to check out how quiet the live machines were, the cases' build quality was surprisingly solid for their prices, and we were also impressed by the attention to detail on dampening noise wherever possible. Hit the source link below to check out Fractal's Define, Arc, and Core series cases.
Visualized: the coolest desktop chassis at Computex, literally

Qualcomm CEO confirms death of Mirasol e-reader display, looks forward to 'next version'

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 10:09 AM PDT

Remember that Mirasol e-reader display Qualcomm was hoping to release this year? Yeah, it's not happening. Speaking at a press briefing in San Diego yesterday, Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs confirmed that the 5.7-inch panel has been abandoned after failing to meet expectations. Instead, the company will devote its attention to the "next version" of the technology, which has Jacobs feeling optimistic:

"We have a really interesting roadmap -- we're starting out on e-readers because we figured having E Ink as a competing technology was a good way to get started. But if you think about the power consumption of the screens that are out now [on tablets], they're very bright OLED screens that use up a lot of the power of the battery. We don't today have as vibrant color as an OLED display - but we have a roadmap that gets us to a much brighter color."

Presumably, this roadmap would include that low-power "converged e-reader" we heard about a few weeks ago, slated for release by the end of the year. Jacobs also mentioned that Qualcomm is planning to invest a billion dollars in its Taiwan Mirasol plant, which might help produce the kind of volume that, say, Amazon would demand for its Kindle displays. It's all speculation, of course, but Qualcomm certainly seems to have some big plans in store for the rest of the year.

HTC Doubleshot slides through the FCC

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:44 AM PDT

HTC Doubleshot, aka MyTouch 4G Slide
Rumor has it that the HTC Doubleshot, aka the MyTouch 4G Slide, will be popping up in T-Mo shops across the country on July 6th. But, before consumers can turn in that paper they've been stackin' for one, the handset has to make it by The Man. Well, the FCC just cleared an HTC phone with a QWERTY keypad and a 1700MHz radio inside, and there's a good chance it just so happens to be that Sensed-up, dual-core Gingerbread slider we've been waiting for. Sadly, regulators don't have any teardown pics for you to ogle but, hey, we've got an FCC tag -- that's gotta count for something... right?

Toshiba Thrive tablet with Android 3.1 ships in July, starts at $429

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:31 AM PDT

That Toshiba Thrive tablet that surfaced on J&R's site last month? Turns out, someone got a little excited -- the company just confirmed the listing went up prematurely and that the price was wrong. But, we just got word that the Thrive will indeed debut as Tosh's first tablet for the US market with pre-orders beginning June 13th at Best Buy, along with the usual "office superstores" and "e-commerce players," and a mid-July ship date (we're hearing the 10th). The 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) tablet runs Android 3.1, and comes in three sizes: 8GB ($429), 16GB ($479), and 32GB ($579). Not bad, when you consider the 16GB model undercuts the Galaxy Tab 10.1 by $20.
Toshiba Thrive


If you've been following along, you already know it's powered by Tegra 2 and has WiFi, Bluetooth, full-sized USB and HDMI ports, an SD slot, a 2 MP front-facing camera, and a 5MP rear one. But the company also just unleashed a slew of other details. Head on past the break for a run-down, won't you?
The Thrive's got a haptic display and a button to lock the screen orientation. It also comes with a Toshiba-branded file manager and Swype pre-installed -- though, as always, you can switch to the stock Android keyboard. Tosh also bundled its Resolution Plus software, which it already uses to clean up and upscale video in its TVs and laptops. And, it also has a removable battery that's rated up to seven hours of continuous HD video playback, and promises to recharge up to 90 percent in an hour and a half.

We're stoked to handle one of these in person, as you can imagine, but at the moment we're a bit concerned about the weight: at 1.6 pounds, it's about as heavy as the first-gen iPad, which, like, scads of other tablets, have since gone on a diet. Then again, Tosh was late to the netbook market and served up one of the best minis of all time, and few other tablet let you swap out the battery, so we'll just have to reserve judgment until we get one of these bad boys in to review.

Garmin's Astro 320 GPS handheld offers nine-mile coverage, keeps your hunting dogs in line

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:21 AM PDT

Before you and your pooches head out to hunt innocent ducks this year, you might wanna check out Garmin's new Astro 320 dog tracker -- a handheld GPS device designed to help hunters keep even closer tabs on their four-legged sentries. The latest addition to the Astro family can simultaneously track up to ten hunting dogs per receiver, with a revamped antenna and three-axis electronic compass covering up to nine miles of flat terrain. Boasting a 20-hour battery life, the 1.7GB handheld can also tell hunters whether their canines are running or pointing, while its mapping capabilities provide their precise coordinates relative to powerlines, buildings, and individual trees. All this information is displayed on a 2.6-inch display, where users will be able to access 100k or 24k topographic and satellite maps. A keypad lock function, meanwhile, will make sure you don't accidentally press any buttons while you're in the thick of a hound-led hunt. The handheld will be available in July for $500, with the full system (including a DC 40 tracking collar) priced at $650. You can flip through the gallery below for images of some antenna-toting doggies, or head past the break for a more testosterone-laced pic and the full PR.
Garmin Astro 320


Show full PR text
Garmin® Introduces Next-Generation Astro® 320 Dog Tracker

Industry-Leading Map Capability, Increased Range, Enhanced Features

OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today the Astro 320, a new handheld dog tracking receiver. The new Astro 320 has features that hunters have been asking for – like increased range, a simplified user interface, and must-have mapping capability.

"Garmin is clearly the expert when it comes to reliable GPS technology, and we're the pioneer in satellite dog tracking," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "Since the original Astro was delivered, we've listened closely to feedback from houndsmen and bird dog owners. The Astro 320 is the result of that feedback."

Thanks to an included redesigned antenna, the maximum range between the Astro 320 and a Garmin tracking collar has been increased by nearly 30 percent – up to nine miles in flat, unobstructed terrain. Like its predecessor, the Astro 320 can track up to 10 dogs per receiver at once, and the unit is fully compatible with Garmin's DC 20, DC 30, and DC 40 dog tracking collars and accessories.

Robust mapping capability has always been a hallmark of the Astro line, and the new Astro 320 delivers even more highly detailed, full color, sunlight readable mapping capabilities. In addition to the pre-installed basemap, the Astro can be loaded with 100k or 24k Topo maps or photorealistic BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery ($29.99 annual subscription required). The Astro 320 has 1.7 gigabytes of on-board memory available for loading maps, and a microSD slot for pre-loaded cards.

Mapping depicts important nearby geographical features – and lets hunters know, for example, if their dog has crossed a creek or is nearing a dangerous road. With BirdsEye Satellite Imagery, hunters can pinpoint buildings, powerlines, and even individual trees – directly on their Astro 320. State wildlife departments are also offering more and more downloadable third-party maps of public hunting boundaries, which help ensure dogs and their owners are on legal ground. Hunters and trainers can also download, view and save their dog's tracks to a computer for viewing in Garmin's BaseCamp utility – a great tool for evaluating performance.

All these features are integrated into a refined user interface for easier and more useful operation. Not only does the Astro 320 indicate a dog's distance and status, (running, pointing, or treeing) but it can be toggled to indicate the direction the dog is moving on the unit's map page. Each dog's precise distance can also be presented on the map page, and users can choose an option that auto zooms the map so all dogs can be seen on the display at any time. Alternately, dogs that are too far away to fit on the map's current zoom scale can be notated on the display's margin in the direction of the dog's location. The user can also choose the duration that each dog's tracklog is viewed on the display – or toggle it off completely for a cleaner display. Taken together, these refinements give dog handlers more data that is more easily understood – making their hunt or training session safer, more productive, and more enjoyable.

A new three-axis electronic compass lets hunters accurately view their dog's position when holding the Astro 320 at any angle. In addition to audible alerts, Garmin has also incorporated a new vibration feature on the Astro 320, and the new handheld also features a handy keypad lock so buttons aren't accidentally pushed while being carried in a pocket or through thick brush. Dog handlers can wirelessly transfer waypoints, tracks, and even their dog's tracking settings to other Astro 320 users. The new Astro 320 is fully waterproof and runs on two AA batteries for up to 20 hours.

For current Astro users looking to upgrade, the Astro 320 handheld unit has an MSRP of $499.99. A complete system, which includes an Astro 320 and one DC 40 tracking collar and accessories, will be available for $649.99 (MSRP). The Astro 320 is expected to be available in July 2011. For more information, please visit http://sites.garmin.com/astro.

Foxconn plant reopens, resumes operations following explosion

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 09:02 AM PDT

Foxconn confirmed today that its manufacturing plant in Chengdu, China has reopened and resumed operations following an explosion in its iPad 2 production facility last month that killed three employees and left others in hospital. The company has also announced that while its investigation into the incident is "ongoing," it has already addressed the preliminary finding that the explosion was "likely due to an explosion of aluminum dust in a ventilation duct." To that end, it says it has put in place "improvements in workshop ventilation," as well as a "a total revamping of the policies and practices related to the disposal of that dust." All Things D has the company's complete statement at the link below.

T-Mobile announces June availability for Samsung Exhibit 4G and Gravity Smart

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT


We've heard rumblings that Samsung's Exhibit 4G would be making its way to T-Mob on June 8, but now the carrier has confirmed that the Gingerbread smartphone will be available sometime in June. The Exhibit will join Samsung's Gravity Smart, both featuring grounded sub-$100 price tags (after $50 rebate) when they hit stores. T-Mob is displaying the Exhibit with violet and black finishes, and says you'll see "theoretical" peak download speeds of 21Mbps on the HSPA + handset. As for the Smart, the carrier's first Android-powered Gravity smartphone will launch with 2.2 Froyo, and includes a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, so you'll be sending Group Texts to 50 of your closest friends with four rows of hardware keys. Both phones include 3 megapixel rear-facing cameras with flashes, while the Exhibit adds a front-facing cam as well, so that myTouch 4G girl may be hawking a new smartphone on your TV later this month.
Show full PR text
T-Mobile USA and Samsung Mobile Introduce Two New Feature-Rich and Budget-Friendly Android™-Powered Handsets

Expected to become available this month, the Samsung Exhibit™ 4G and Samsung Gravity™ SMART will each deliver on-the-go entertainment and connectivity for less than $100

BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS - June 2, 2011 - T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. 1, today announced the upcoming availability of two new feature-rich Android™-powered handsets, the Samsung Exhibit™ 4G and Samsung Gravity™ SMART, each less than $100 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a qualifying rate plan on a two-year agreement.

"The Samsung Exhibit 4G and Samsung Gravity SMART will expand T-Mobile's product portfolio to include two affordable options for customers who crave rich connectivity and unique entertainment experiences," said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. "T-Mobile is continuing to help families easily make the move to smartphones with these new Android-powered handsets, together with data plans as low as $10 per month, all running on America's largest 4G network™."

"The Samsung Exhibit 4G and Samsung Gravity SMART are two examples of Samsung's commitment to delivering quality smartphones at a variety of price points," said Dale Sohn, president, Samsung Mobile. "The Samsung Exhibit 4G shows Samsung's dedication to delivering premium entertainment content, while the Samsung Gravity SMART builds on the success of our Gravity line of phones with premium messaging options, both at an exceptional value."

Samsung Exhibit 4G
One of the fastest smartphones running on America's Largest 4G Network™2, the Samsung Exhibit 4G is a full-featured, touch-screen device that does not compromise on rich entertainment capabilities. Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread and equipped with a speedy 1GHz processor, the Exhibit 4G delivers a full entertainment package to the palm of your hand at blazing fast speeds.

Through the delivery of faster speeds comes an enhanced viewing experience when enjoying live and on-demand channels from preloaded T-Mobile® TV, including free programming from select stations like ABC News Now, FOX Sports, PBS Kids and Azteca America. Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which features a robust collection of new releases and TV shows. In addition, the Exhibit 4G offers hours of amusement with preloaded family favorites such as Bejeweled® 2, Hasbro's SCRABBLE (in U.S. and Canada only) and Doodle Jump.

Becoming available in two color finishes - violet and black - the Exhibit 4G is the perfect companion for someone looking for their first, or next, Android smartphone. With theoretical peak download speeds of 21Mbps, capturing and sharing memories via email, social networks or video is quick and easy. The Exhibit 4G comes equipped with a 3-megapixel camera with flash and a camcorder, as well as a front-facing camera with video chat pre-installed, enabling customers to virtually connect with friends and family via T-Mobile's network or Wi-Fi.

Samsung Gravity SMART
As the first Android-powered handset in the successful Gravity product lineup, running on Android 2.2 Froyo, the Samsung Gravity SMART is perfect for T-Mobile customers who are looking for an affordable, yet functional messaging device. Built to deliver a premium messaging experience, the Gravity SMART comes equipped with Group Text™ and combines a spacious, horizontal, four-row, slide-out, QWERTY keyboard with a 3.2-inch touch-screen display featuring Swype™ for easy text input, even with the keyboard closed. In addition, pin it notes enables customers to pin important messages to Gravity SMART's home screen for quick reference.

Keeping in touch with friends and family is easy and fun with the Gravity SMART, which features integration with popular social networking sites and a full HTML Web browser for posting and viewing status updates. The Gravity SMART also includes a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash, digital zoom and a camcorder for capturing photos and videos.

The Samsung Exhibit 4G and the Gravity SMART offer access to more than 200,000 applications available on Android Market™ and full integration with Google Mobile™ services.

Availability

The Samsung Exhibit 4G and the Samsung Gravity SMART, both exclusively from T-Mobile, are expected to be available to T-Mobile customers in June. Customers can visit http://samsung.t-mobile.com/exhibit-4g for more information on the Samsung Exhibit 4G or http://www.t-mobile.com or http://www.samsung.com/newsroom for more information on the Samsung Gravity SMART.

Kogan Agora is world's first Google Chromium OS laptop, ships next week

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 08:11 AM PDT


Kogan, the Aussie company behind such gadgets as the fist-sized Bluetooth GPS watch and gesture-controlled IPTV, is adding a Chromium OS laptop to its family of Google-powered Agora products. The 11.6-inch computer has a spec list rivaling the midrange notebooks of 2006, including a 1.3 GHz Celeron processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 30GB SSD. That's not a lot of oomph, but with cloud-based storage and Google's open source Chromium running the show, this thin client laptop should be in decent shape. There's also a 3.5-hour battery, SD card reader, webcam, Bluetooth, and an HDMI output. Like all Kogan products, the Agora is only available in Australia (AUD 349, about $372) and the UK (£269, about $440), so if you live down under or across the pond and don't want to install the open-source (free) OS yourself, look for the laptop to hit Kogan's online stores tomorrow.
Show full PR text
Kogan Launches World-First Laptop Powered by Google's Chromium OS

Sydney, Australia, 3 June 2011 - Kogan today released the world's first laptop powered by Google's Chromium OS, available for sale and ready to be dispatched.

The Kogan Agora Laptop powered by Chromium OS goes on sale today for £269 in the United Kingdom and $349 in Australia and ships direct to customers next week.

Kogan's Chromium OS Laptop is based on the popular Agora hardware, adds a Solid State Drive, lets users operate entirely in the cloud, and boots in 4.5 seconds.

Ruslan Kogan said the world-first product was testament to Kogan's efficiency and agility.

"We've been able to beat the rest of the world to bring the first commercially available laptop running Google's Chromium OS.

"Google's Chromium OS is an open source project, making it a constant work in progress. This means the system will improve over time and new features and improvements will keep getting introduced by the open source community.

"While Chromium is still in its early stages, we know the operating system is innovative technology which represents the future of computing. It may take some getting used to for some to operate entirely in the cloud, but the massive benefits for the end user are driving acceptance of entirely web-based services.

"What we've found from talking to our customers is that many of them are already using cloud services without even realising it. They're uploading photos to services like Flickr, storing all their contacts in Gmail, and even hosting files on DropBox.

"Loading up a laptop with Google's open source software can be strange at first. However it's clear that everyone from casual users to pros are embracing cloud services with all their personal computing needs.

"The real beauty is that no matter which Chromium powered computer you're on anywhere in the world, it will appear exactly as you expect, tailored to your needs. Google is also working hard to ensure that Chrome integrates seamlessly with all Android based devices.

"Samsung and Acer announced Chromebooks based on Chromium OS last month, but we've beaten them to market. Kogan is the most agile consumer electronics manufacturer in the world. We react faster to market trends than anyone else.

"The first Kogan Agora Laptops powered by Google's Chromium OS will be in customer's hands next week and we're very excited. Our business has already been operating entirely in the cloud for years!" Kogan said.

For more information on Google's open source Chromium OS project, which powers the Kogan Agora Chromium OS Laptop: http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os

About Kogan

Kogan is a designer, manufacturer and retailer of consumer electronics. Kogan's streamlined business model allows us to bring the latest and best consumer electronics and home appliances direct to the door of smart shoppers through kogan.com.au and kogan.co.uk. We engage our customers through our blog, Facebook and Twitter, and release new products based on the feedback we receive. We believe there is always a better way to create and deliver the technology people want.

LTE Galaxy Tab 10.1 gets official on Verizon, orders start June 8

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 07:51 AM PDT

LTE Galaxy Tab 10.1 gets official on Verizon
WiFi not good enough for you? Verizon's here to give you a bit more range. Customers will be able to pre-order an LTE-enabled version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 starting on June 8th, but the company's playing coy about when exactly it will ship. The "coming weeks" is the best week can get, though if that wasn't vague enough for you the press release embedded below also says "this summer." Those willing to sign on to a new two-year agreement are looking at $530 for the 16GB model and $630 for the 32GB. That's a $30 premium over the WiFi edition -- not counting the next two years worth of monthly data charges, of course.

[Thanks, Bedan]

Show full PR text
Verizon Wireless Adds 4G LTE-Enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 to Portfolio

4G LTE-Enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, Exclusive from Verizon Wireless, Measures Only 8.6 Millimeters Thin

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and DALLAS, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), today announced the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 will be available on the fastest, most advanced network in coming weeks. The slim and sleek Galaxy Tab 10.1 debuts with Android™ Honeycomb and will be available in either Metallica Gray or Glossy White. Customers will be able to pre-order the device online on June 8 at www.verizonwireless.com/galaxytab4glte. When the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits Verizon Wireless stores this summer, it will be accompanied by an array of optional accessories such as a full-sized keyboard dock and a multi-media docking station.

"The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a great option for customers who want to enjoy the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network – the fastest network in America," said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless. "Customers can also use the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 wherever they are on the nation's largest 3G network."

Dietel added, "The tablet market is exploding as customers are discovering new uses for the technology that features a large screen, powerful processing speeds and access to Android Market™'s 200,000 applications. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is perfect for customers who want to take advantage of Google™'s new movie rental option and view their favorite film on-the-go."

"Samsung Mobile is excited to expand its mobile tablet portfolio with Verizon Wireless to include the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. "The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the thinnest and lightest tablet in the world that delivers a truly mobile multimedia experience on an Android Honeycomb platform."

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 offers full support for Google™ Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and more. Customers will relish the 10.1-inch enhanced display with a 1280x800 resolution HD screen, 1 GHz dual core application processor, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera. Both consumers and business customers will find a multitude of uses for the Galaxy Tab that range from video chat to business tools, including those that allow for the opening and editing of documents, spreadsheets and presentations. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 features Adobe® Flash® Player to deliver an enhanced Internet browsing experience and access to content-rich Websites.

Verizon Wireless will offer two 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 models both priced with two year customer agreements: $529.99 for the 16GB model and $629.99 for the 32GB model. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, go to: www.verizonwireless.com/galaxytab4glte.

LightSquared's LTE breaks GPS in New Mexico trial, angers John Deere

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 07:33 AM PDT

LightSquared breaks GPS
With Best Buy, Cricket, and Leap already signed on as partners, LightSquared has a lot riding on the success of its nationwide LTE network. Unfortunately, the Airforce's concerns about it interfering with GPS have been born by a test run in New Mexico. Officials in charge of the state's 911 systems as well as trucker hat kings Deere & Co. reported loss of service up to 22 miles away from LightSquared's cell tower. The company believes it has a solution to the interference problem, but hasn't specified exactly what the fix might be. Now the 4G wholesaler's future rests on a June 15th report to the FCC detailing the potential issues for both consumer navigators and the precision GPS systems used by the military and airlines -- but when even John Deere is lobbying against you things start to look a little bleak.

Fujitsu fingerprint / palm reader does large-scale biometric identification, won't tell fortunes

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 07:13 AM PDT

So it can't predict the future, but the latest biometric reader from Fujitsu can tell that you're one in a million -- quite literally. Looking something akin to the love child of Simon and a Polaroid camera, this as-of-yet unnamed device is apparently the "world's first biometric authentication technology that combines data on palm vein patterns with fingerprint data from three fingers." That's a mouthful, but Fujitsu says the combination of these two biometric authentication techniques allows for accurate identification of an individual in a pool of one million in just two seconds. What's more, it expects to up that capacity to groups of ten million by the end of 2011. For professional evildoers rocking three fingers and a palm, maybe now's a good time to start rethinking your career path.

[Thanks, Pavel]

Sony NGP may become 'PS Vita,' give us 100 percent of our RDI of handheld gaming

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:53 AM PDT

If you're like us, you've been spending most of your time in the lead up to E3 scouring the source code of gaming company sites searching for clues about next week's announcements. We happened to miss Sony's "Vita" namedrop in the code of a post about the "future of handhelds," but one reader managed to catch it before the company removed it completely. The inclusion of the name is the latest in a series of slip ups that lend credence to the notion that the decidedly generic Next Generation Portable title isn't the official name for the company's less investment heavy handheld. There's certainly the possibility that Sony was using the name PS Vita while developing the device internally, though mentions seem to be popping up more and more as we push closer to the big event. Either way, we're certain to get a big dose of vitamin Sony in a matter of days.

AeroVironment to light up I-5 with EV chargers, add 'Oregon Trail' to the Green Highway

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:33 AM PDT

Retire your oxen and sell your wagon, the Oregon Trail just went electric. Okay, not the real, historic Oregon Trail, but a respectable 150-mile stretch of Interstate Five. The Oregon Department of Transportation is teaming up with AeroVironment to dot an undisclosed number of 480-volt Level 3 chargers between the California / Oregon state border and the Willamette Valley area as part the West Coast Green Highway initiative. The project aims to cover the entire I-5 corridor with electric vehicle chargers, spanning from the tip toe of the Golden State, all the way up to Washington's hat. Oregon's leg of the project should be ready for drivers this fall, making roadtrips to the Beaver State accessible to EV owners -- dysentery free. Hit the break for dry, but factual press release.
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Oregon Department of Transportation Selects AeroVironment to Build First Phase of West Coast "Green Highway" Along Interstate 5

AeroVironment to select locations and install its Level 3 Fast Charging Stations along I-5 Corridor from the California state line to the Willamette Valley.

Drivers will be able to charge their electric vehicles in minutes as they travel along a key Oregon highway.

MONROVIA, Calif., June 1, 2011 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that it has been selected by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODoT) to install its high-power Level 3 electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations along the I-5 corridor from the California state line to the Willamette Valley. This is the beginning of the "Green Highway," a vision for safe and consistent charging infrastructure spanning the West Coast, allowing EV drivers to travel with confidence from San Diego to Vancouver, B.C.

AeroVironment, selected to provide charging stations for the Nissan LEAF and BMW ActiveE, and co-developer of the first modern day EV, will install the fast charging stations along a 150-mile span of the I-5. The stations will be placed at convenient locations and will allow drivers to recharge their electric vehicles from a fully-discharged state in less than 30 minutes.

"Fast charging stations along high-traffic transportation corridors will help make driving electric vehicles between communities a viable option for Oregonians" said Art James, project director with the Oregon Department of Transportation. "The state of Oregon is committed to providing EV drivers with practical, safe and reliable EV recharging infrastructure, which is why we selected AeroVironment as one of our partners. AeroVironment secured this contract for the southern leg of the 'EV Green Highway' project by demonstrating its support, customer service, and price and value."

AeroVironment's Level 3 fast charging stations deliver high-power, DC charging for EV drivers with very little time to spare, mirroring the way drivers currently use gasoline stations. The fast charging stations are CHAdeMO compliant, meaning that they are compatible with fast-charge capable EV models such as the Nissan LEAF. The company's proprietary charging system is based on proven technology that has made AeroVironment a leading provider of heavy-duty EV fast chargers, supporting some of the most demanding supply chains in the world.

"Oregon is demonstrating tremendous leadership in advancing the 'Green Highway' "said Mike Bissonette, senior vice president and general manager of Efficient Energy Systems for AeroVironment. "We look forward to working with ODOT and other stakeholders in the state to design the optimal corridor to support local and long-distance travelers."

AeroVironment will analyze driving distances, common destinations, vehicle range and other factors in its selection of the EV fast charging sites at eight interchanges identified by ODOT along a 150-mile segment of the I-5 in Southern Oregon. The company is also experienced in working with utilities and will collaborate with local utilities to prepare for the deployment. The company anticipates installing the fast charging stations along Oregon's 'Green Highway' by the end of this fall. The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) awarded through the State Energy Program (SEP). The U.S. Department of Energy administers the funds, approves the projects and reviews the state's progress.

In addition to 480-volt fast charging stations AeroVironment also provides J-1772 compliant 240-volt Level 2 charging stations, installation and support services and data communications network services. More than 2,000 AeroVironment Level 2 charging stations have been installed in 21 U.S. states since late 2010.

Crux Loaded case almost turns your iPad into a laptop for $250

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:11 AM PDT

Plenty of people are happy using the iPad as Apple intended -- as a tablet -- but some of you have been searching for a way to add a sleek keyboard and trackpad to the device since day one. The Crux Loaded clamshell case brings both input devices to the mix, and even packs an external battery within its base, adding 7.5 hours of juice. Sound good? Unfortunately, you'll need to wait until fall to shell out a whopping $249 for the case, assuming Apple opens the Bluetooth iGate to the Loaded's trackpad. You'll also need to hand over $30 for a remote desktop app if you plan to use the combo to control your computer (no, Crux hasn't found a way to run OS X natively on the iPad, as the image above might imply). With its netbook-like price, however, we'd rather keep our wallets Loaded than pay $249 for a case -- but if you've been dying for a way to make your tablet slightly more functional, you may be in luck later this year.

TI-Nspire CX graphing calculator now shipping, color officially 'in'

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 05:49 AM PDT

It may have been hard to believe when it was announced back in February, but you can rest assured that Texas Instruments' new color TI-Nspire CX calculator is indeed real, and shipping right now. Assuming you're ready to make the jump from monochrome, the $165 asking price will buy you a 3.2-inch 320 x 240 display, 100MB of storage, 64MB of memory, and TI's new version 3.0 operating system that comes complete with 3D graphing capabilities. Of course, TI isn't completely breaking new ground here -- Casio's had a graphing calculator with a "high res" color screen since way back in 2010.

[Thanks, Michael]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits NYC Best Buy June 8, nationwide on June 17

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 05:21 AM PDT

Wondering when you can get your own Galaxy Tab 10.1, one that exchanges the cute field of robots on the back for an upgrade to Android 3.1? It appears that day is next week, with the NYC Best Buy in Union Square becoming the first to offer this tablet on Wednesday, June 8th. Those outside of the boroughs will be able to purchase theirs on the 17th, when this hunk of Honeycomb hits other retailers. The price? 16GB for $499, 32GB for $599, all in WiFi-only, though Sprint is said to start selling a similarly non-3G version sometime this summer. The press release below also confirms that the UI has been tweaked, adding in TouchWiz UX customizations, so it won't be an entirely pure experience, but just how unclean it will be remains to be seen.


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Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, World's Thinnest Mobile Tablet, Makes Official Landing in U.S.
Premium Android Honeycomb Tablet with Ultra-slim, Lightweight Design and Brilliant 10-inch Touchscreen Available Exclusively at Best Buy Union Square Store in New York City Starting June 8; Available Nationwide Starting June 17

Press Release Source: Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC On Thursday June 2, 2011, 8:09 am
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, and Samsung Electronics America, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the upcoming retail availability of the Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, starting June 8. The WiFi-enabled tablet measures at just 8.6 millimeters slim, making it the thinnest mobile tablet currently available in the world. The 32GB version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available for $599, while the 16GB version of the device will be available for $499.

A limited quantity of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available for purchase exclusively at the Best Buy Union Square store in New York City on June 8. Best Buy customers may also pre-order the Galaxy Tab 10.1 online or in-store beginning that day.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by Android™ 3.1 Honeycomb, offering faster and smoother transitions between different applications, more intuitive navigation to and from home screens and broader support of USB accessories, external keyboards, joysticks and gamepads.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the thinnest mobile tablet currently available in the world, measuring in at an ultra-slim 8.6 millimeters. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also boasts an incredibly light weight of just 1.25 pounds (565 grams) for outstanding mobility and comfort in the user's hands.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is designed with a brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution delivering vibrant colors and crisp clarity. This expansive screen is centered inside a narrow bezel to enhance the wide viewing angle.

"Ensuring that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 launched with Android 3.1 Honeycomb was part of our constant commitment to meeting the needs of our customers," said Dale Sohn, President and CEO of Samsung Mobile. "The Galaxy Tab 10.1's ultra-thin design and 10-inch touchscreen are impressive differentiators in the tablet market place. We're going to make the Galaxy Tab 10.1 even more powerful, entertaining and secure through a series of upgrades coming to this device."

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will receive these new upgrades through a software update that customers can access over the air in the near future. Those upgrades are currently scheduled to include:

FEATURES/SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH FUTURE SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX"

Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu for customizing the home screen of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds.

In addition, the TouchWiz UX includes a "Mini Apps" tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are already in use.

Samsung Media Hub

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 software upgrade will introduce the evolution of Samsung's popular movie and TV content service, known as Media Hub. Media Hub has been redesigned with a new user interface for even easier downloads of rented or purchased content. The new version of Media Hub also includes an HD Extender which allows the user to playback Media Hub content on TV through an HDMI cable from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 dock or adaptor.

Readers Hub & Social Hub

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also gain access to Samsung's Readers Hub service, which is a robust library filled with more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspapers and 2,300 magazines. Also, the software upgrade will install Samsung's Social Hub service, which aggregates email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface.

Optimal Enterprise Solutions

In addition, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 integrates several enterprise solutions to provide support for exchange device management policies, improve the security of data and services maintained on the tablet and meet IT guidelines for remote device access. The enterprise solutions include:

On-device encryption of user data
Enhanced Exchange ActiveSync Support
Cisco AnyConnect SSL VPN
F5 SSL VPN
Versatile Content Sharing

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also receive Samsung's Allshare service, for seamless content transfer between the tablet and other DLNA-enabled devices such as HDTV's, monitors and digital cameras. The software upgrade will also transform the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 into a device capable of accepting streaming content from a TV to the tablet itself.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES AVAILABLE AT PRODUCT LAUNCH

Impressive Speed, Power & Battery Life

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also includes a Nvidia Tegra 1GHz dual core application processor for powerful gaming and multimedia performance. The Tab's ultra-thin design does not sacrifice battery life, thanks to a 7000 mAh battery providing up to 9 hours of continuous use on a single charge2.

Full Adobe Flash Player Compatibility

The device offers extensive Web browsing access through Adobe® Flash® Player compatibility. Flash Player delivers beautiful HD video, faster graphics rendering, and high performance on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and is designed to take advantage of native device capabilities - enabling richer, more immersive user experiences.

Quality Cameras and Sound

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 features a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera providing smooth video chat capabilities and seamless 1080p HD video playback3. High quality speakers are positioned on the right and left sides of the device for a rich, deep audio experience.

Google™ Mobile Services

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is preloaded with the full suite of Google Mobile Services including access to more than 60,000 Android Market™ applications for Galaxy Tab 10.14, Gmail™, Google Search™, Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps, and Google Talk™ with video and voice chat.

Availability & Pricing

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available exclusively starting June 8 at the Best Buy Union Square location in New York City. Starting June 17, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available at Best Buy online and in-store along with Fry's Electronics, Amazon.com, Micro Center, Tiger Direct and Newegg. These retail outlets will have the 32GB version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition available for $599, and the 16GB version of the device will be available for $499. In addition, the WiFi version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available through Sprint starting mid-summer 2011. Visit www.samsung.com for additional details.

Does this Xperia Play have HDMI output? (updated: dev unit)

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 04:59 AM PDT

Does this Xperia Play have HDMI output?
Here's a little intrigue to go along with your morning cuppa. The Xperia Play is a lovely bit of hardware lacking in a few crucial areas -- one being an inability to play games over HDMI. That's a definite problem for those who aren't quite ready to devote themselves wholesale to gaming on the (very) small screen. We had hoped Sony might release a micro-USB to HDMI adapter at some point, and indeed when we first saw the image above of a Play pumping graphics to an HDTV that's what we thought we had. But, on closer examination, we realized that the cable is coming out of the left side of the handset. On the current retail Play there's nothing there but shiny chrome, which you can see for yourself after the break. We also took a look at the exposed motherboard, and there are no obvious contacts. This could be a developer edition with additional ports, but none of the dev whitepapers we've pored over this morning mention any such things, so maybe a revised version of the hardware is coming that adds a hole where once there was none. We'll keep working to find out what's up, but weigh in for yourself in the comments below.

Updated: Sure enough, this appears to be just a developer unit, one which we expect to be seeing a lot more of at E3 next week.

[Thanks, Sam]




Intel's Museum of Me finally gives your Facebook ego the attention it deserves

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 04:29 AM PDT

You've mastered the art of the high-cheekboned self-shot. Your acute taste in Iranian New Wave cinema is on full display. That leggy blonde who just so happens to appear in all 200 of your Spring break photos? Why yes, you two do have a thing going on, but honestly, it's no big deal. You didn't even tag her. Yes sir, your Facebook profile is in top form -- a veritable shrine to your unparalleled wit, your ferocious intellectual prowess and your unearthly solipsism. But is it enough? Is your life really getting the Stalinesque digital commemoration it so sorely deserves? These are the questions you have to ask yourself before walking into Intel's Museum of Me -- an interactive ad campaign for the Core i5 processor that takes online ego-stroking to an entirely new level of dystopia. All you have to do is allow Intel's app to harvest your Facebook information, and the program will begin curating an "art" exhibition devoted to your "life." The result is a brief video tour of your very own museum, replete with heartstring-tugging music and the requisite profile picture collages. It's just like walking through the MoMA, but instead of staring at a Lichtenstein or Pollock, you're reminded of, say, those three years you spent with the girl who broke your heart and smashed it to pieces -- or, you know, something like that. If you're into that sort of self-torture, hit the source link to build your own.

HTC EVO View 4G (Flyer) headed to Sprint on June 24th

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 03:58 AM PDT

Are you seeing what we're seeing? That yellow starburst touting a "starting 6/24" promotion date is neatly affixed to the HTC EVO View 4G (aka, Flyer). If the grab above, nabbed from Sprint's internal Rewards Me site is to be believed, then we've got 7-inches of WiMax-loving Android tablet headed our way in three weeks time. Smack in the middle of the promised summer ship date. It's also a good bet that we'll be seeing the EVO 3D at about this time too. Anyone taking odds?

[Thanks, tipster]

Nintendo 3DS eShop to launch on June 6 with internet browser and free Excite Bike

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 03:37 AM PDT

Why wait until June 7th when you can instead get your update on June 6th? That's the question Nintendo has answered this morning, telling us that the coveted eShop update for the 3DS will come a day earlier than previously anticipated. This will finally give gamers the ability to download some titles straight to their system, but more importantly will give everyone a free copy of Excitebike, the NES classic, naturally re-mastered so that the 2-D side-scrolling racer will have a little bit of depth. Super Mario Land and a few other downloadable titles will come along help launch the show, with Nintendo pledging to add new content every Thursday thereafter.

But wait, there's more! Pokemon fans will be able to use their AR card to check out those they've already caught in 3D, and if you've purchased any DSiWare games you'll be able to download those to your 3DS. Last, but certainly not least, will be a full internet browser that you can spin up without exiting a game, which might make keeping tabs on that Ocarina of Time walkthrough a little easier. It has, after all, been a long time since last we vanquished Ganondorf and his Gerudo chums. Again, all this is set to go live in the evening of June 6th (which could still be June 7th where you are), so now might be a good time to invest in that bigger SD card you've had your eye on.

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June 6 Nintendo 3DS System Update Adds Internet Browser, Online Store and Pokédex 3D

Nintendo Offers Free Re-mastered 3D Version of NES Classic Excitebike for Limited Time

NOTE: Multimedia available here

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nintendo of America has announced that the first major system update for the hand-held Nintendo 3DS™ system will be available in North America the evening of June 6, Pacific time. By installing the free update via a wireless broadband Internet connection, Nintendo 3DS users will have access to an Internet browser and the Nintendo eShop, which contains a variety of new content, including Pokédex™ 3D, an application that lets fans see Pokémon™ characters in 3D. To celebrate the grand opening of the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo is offering the NES™ game Excitebike™ re-mastered in 3D as a free download until July 7 for anyone who installs the system update. Upcoming Virtual Console™ content available in the Nintendo eShop includes Game Boy™ games Super Mario Land™, Alleyway™ and Radar Mission™. New content will be added to the Nintendo eShop on Thursdays.

The Nintendo eShop is a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games that have been re-mastered in 3D called 3D Classics, Game Boy and Game Boy Color "Virtual Console" games in their original 2D glory, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare™ games. Visitors can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.

Within the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo 3DS users will also be able to download the free Pokédex 3D application and start collecting data for more than 150 Pokémon from the Pokémon™ Black Version and Pokémon White Version games. This new application lets users view each Pokémon in 3D with animated motion and sound. The Pokémon image can be rotated 360 degrees, allowing users to zoom in and view it from any angle. The detailed Pokédex also allows users to search, sort and filter all of the data they receive in a variety of ways, making it the essential guide for Pokémon fans. Players can complete their Pokédex by sharing data with friends and using the SpotPass™ feature, or by scanning special Pokémon AR Markers (augmented-reality markers). Once users have received data for a Pokémon, the AR Viewer allows them to view that Pokémon image in a real-world setting in real time, and create photos to share with friends.

"The Nintendo 3DS system is constantly evolving and growing," said Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. "The Nintendo eShop is a one-stop resource for a broad range of Nintendo information and downloadable games and applications. It expands the Nintendo 3DS experience with new and entertaining content."

Other capabilities that go live with the system update include a free Internet browser that has the capability to show 3D images on sites specifically designed to show 3D images. The browser can also be used during game play. Users can stop their Nintendo 3DS game and go to the browser by pressing the Home button and then resume their game when they are finished browsing.

The system update also gives Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™ system owners the ability to easily transfer most of their previously downloaded Nintendo DSiWare™ games to their new Nintendo 3DS systems.

In the near future, users will be able to download a free application for a short-form video service that will enable them to view specially selected video content, including 3D movie trailers, comedy clips and music videos automatically received when the SpotPass feature is activated.

To install the recommended system update, Nintendo 3DS users can simply start the "System Settings" from the Home Menu, select "Other Settings" and scroll the page right to select "System Update."

Remember that the Nintendo 3DS system features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo3ds.com.

Life-size Angry Birds comes with giant slingshot, more realistic explosive death (video)

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 03:18 AM PDT


Angry Birds was designed to be played on a device that fits in your pocket, so playing the game projected on a wall doesn't exactly feel natural. Throw a life-size slingshot into the mix, though, and things really get zany. The slingshot was on hand at the University of Queensland (Australia) last night, and had apparently been "months in the making." Details are scant, so we're not sure exactly how the slingshot communicates with the game, but however it works, it appears able to do its thing fairly well -- with only a brief delay after release. This slingshot appearance may be a one-time deal, so if you want to try flicking the bird on the big screen, Angry Birds for Chrome (and a mouse) may be your best option for now.

Google admits sensitive email accounts have been hacked, some users knew months ago (update: China says wha?)

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 02:39 AM PDT

The Contagio security blog posted evidence back in February of targeted attacks against government and military officials on Gmail. Today, nearly four months later, Google has finally admitted this is true: hundreds of personal accounts have been compromised by hackers it believes to be working out of Jinan, the capital of China's Shandong province. The accounts include those of "senior U.S. government officials, Chinese political activists, officials in several Asian countries (predominantly South Korea), military personnel and journalists." The hijackers' aim appears to have been to spy on their targets using Google's automatic forwarding function. But unlike the PSN fiasco, Google insists its internal systems "have not been affected." Instead it seems the hackers used a phishing scam, possibly directing users to a spoof Gmail website before requesting their credentials. Google says its own "abuse detection systems" disrupted the campaign -- but in a footnote right down at the bottom of their official blog page they also credit Contagio and user reports.

Update: And in comes China's response, courtesy of Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei. "Allegations that the Chinese government supports hacking activities are completely unfounded and made with ulterior motives." Ok then, that settles that.

Texas Instruments announces multi-core, 1.8GHz OMAP4470 ARM processor for Windows 8

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 01:54 AM PDT

When Qualcomm announced a pair of Windows 8-compatible ARM processors yesterday, we knew Texas Instruments wouldn't be far behind. Sure enough, the company has just announced a new addition to its OMAP 4 family of ARM SoCs, with the 1.8GHz OMAP4470. TI's new chip is powered by a pair of 1.0GHz ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore engines, as well as two, 266MHz ARM Cortex-M3 cores that handle multimedia duties. According to the company, this multi-core structure will enable faster web browsing and more frugal power usage, while putting the OMAP4470 in square competition with quad-core chips like NVIDIA's Kal-El and Intel's latest Sandy Bridge line. The SoC was designed for tablets, netbooks and smartphones running Android, Linux, or the next version of Windows, and can support a max QXGA resolution of 2048 x 1536, and up to three HD displays. There's also a single-core PowerVR SGX544 GPU capable of running Direct X 9, OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenVG 1.1, and OpenCL 1.1. The OMAP4470 is expected to hit the OEM and OED markets in the first half of 2012, but you can find more information in the specs sheet and press release, after the break.


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TI's OMAP4470 apps processor: It's all about the user experience

Latest OMAP™ 4 platform processor sets new standard for mobile computing, bringing up to QXGA display resolution, HD UIs and 2x Web browsing performance

TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- COMPUTEX -- Building on the OMAP™ 4 platform family's technological achievements , Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) introduced today the power-efficient OMAP4470 applications processor, designed to deliver the perfect balance between processing power, graphics, display subsystem functionality and multilayered user interface (UI) composition. The multicore OMAP4470 processor surpasses current market solutions with clock speeds up to 1.8 GHz, an 80 percent increase in Web browsing performance, increased memory bandwidth, a 2.5x boost in graphics functionality-via the POWERVR™ SGX544 core from Imagination Technologies-and a unique hardware composition engine. Mobile computing and gaming applications running on operating systems such as Android, Linux and the next version of Microsoft Windows will benefit from the OMAP4470 processor's enhanced capabilities. Customers designing ultrathin laptops, tablets or smartphones around previously released OMAP 4 processors gain the added benefit of pin-to-pin hardware and software compatibility for maximum re-use and faster time-to-market.

"Superior mobile computing relies on a user experience that dwarfs all others. Fast and crisp Web browsing, HD and liquid UIs, support for the latest applications-these are the elements consumers judge and buy their devices on. The OMAP4470 processor delivers the maximum experience possible with an unmatched, power-efficient architecture," said Remi El-Ouazzane, vice president, OMAP platform business unit, TI.

Making HD UIs a reality

Courtesy of its advanced graphics architecture, OMAP4470 enables customers to leverage tomorrow's leading-edge display technology by supporting resolution up to QXGA (2048x1536). The new applications processor drives still more unparalleled HD UIs with simultaneous support for up to three HD screens and up to 2x more layered imaging and video composition than competitive solutions-a capability required by the sophisticated UIs of next generation operating systems. This feature is enabled by the combination of a hardware composition engine with a dedicated 2D graphics core, a highly sophisticated display subsystem, and dual-channel LPDDR2 memory enabling up to 7.5 GB/s of throughput to composite the graphics and/or video data output. This frees the GPU to perform graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming or widget creation while the compositing process is assigned to more power-efficient hardware subsystems.

Powerful enough for desktop applications yet highly power-efficient for mobile applications, Imagination Technologies' POWERVR SGX544 GPU complements the OMAP 4 platform's promise of high performance, low power. The OMAP4470 processor is the first OMAP offering to leverage the POWERVR SGX544. Combining the SGX544's features with the sophisticated OMAP architecture enables TI customers to deliver a new set of applications to end-users, including DirectX-driven games and videos.

"Graphics processing is now at the very heart of the mobile computing experience, providing the gateway to an enriched experience of user interface, gaming, location services, web and media," said Hossein Yassaie, CEO, Imagination Technologies. "Combining the OMAP 4 platform's low-power, high-performance architecture with the extensive acceleration capabilities and API support of Imagination's POWERVR SGX544 will enable experiences that will really make people sit up and take notice."

Availability

The 45nm OMAP4470 processor is expected to sample in the second half of 2011, with devices expected to hit the market in first half 2012. These products are intended for high-volume mobile OEMs and ODMs, and are not available through distributors.

NVIDIA Kal-El reference tablet hands-on (video)

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 01:11 AM PDT

As if showing up in two of the first four reference devices for Windows on ARM wasn't enough of an achievement for NVIDIA's quad-core Kal-El superchip, it decided to visit us in person here at Computex to demonstrate its splendid graphical prowess. Running Android 3.1 on a 10-inch, 1280 x 800 screen, it gave us a first-hand look at the Glow Ball demo that wowed us in video form just a couple of days ago. What we saw on the dev tablet before us was no less impressive; lighting was being rendered in real time and scattered over a multiplicity of surfaces, while the cloth simulation was, to use a terrible pun, silky smooth. NVIDIA also ran us through a sightseeing tour of the Unreal Development Kit and Lost Planet 2, noting that the PC game took only a couple of months to port over to work on the Kal-El architecture. Unfortunately, no new details were forthcoming about when Kal-El devices might be coming or what developers we should expect to see coding games and other content to exploit the platform's evidently mighty capabilities. For now, we'll just have to sate ourselves with the video after the break.
NVIDIA Kal-El development platform hands-on

The 'oh sh_t' moment that Nokia decided to abandon MeeGo

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 12:43 AM PDT

Bloomberg Businessweek just published an amazingly thorough piece on Nokia, pre- and post-Elopcalypse. We've long wondered how MeeGo, an OS that Stephen Elop himself said "inspires both confidence and excitement" in October 2010, could be cast aside so quickly in favor of Windows Phone, an OS still struggling to find traction in the heated smartphone market. Well, now we know. Bloomberg recounts a January 3rd meeting between Nokia's Chief Development Officer Kai Oistämö and Nokia's freshman CEO. After Kai expressed his concern with MeeGo's ability to effectively respond to Apple's iOS and Android operating systems, the two decided to interview two dozen "influential employees" about MeeGo, ranging from execs to engineers. Here's how Bloomberg recounts the events that followed:

Before the first interview, Elop drew out what he knew about the plans for MeeGo on a whiteboard, with a different color marker for the products being developed, their target date for introduction, and the current levels of bugs in each product. Soon the whiteboard was filled with color, and the news was not good: At its current pace, Nokia was on track to introduce only three MeeGo-driven models before 2014-far too slow to keep the company in the game. Elop tried to call Oistämö, but his phone battery was dead. "He must have been trying an Android phone that day," says Elop. When they finally spoke late on Jan. 4, "It was truly an oh-s--t moment-and really, really painful to realize where we were," says Oistämö. Months later, Oistämö still struggles to hold back tears. "MeeGo had been the collective hope of the company," he says, "and we'd come to the conclusion that the emperor had no clothes. It's not a nice thing."

Nokia is now on track to release at least one Windows Phone handset in 2011 with a dozen more in 2012.

Nokia Play To adds DLNA streaming to waning Symbian (video)

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 12:12 AM PDT

Nokia Play To
Still rockin' a Symbian phone from Nokia? Don't let Android and WP7 owners hog all the media streaming fun. Nokia Play To brings DLNA's push features to Symbian^3, albeit in beta form. Hit up the source link, install the app, and you'll imbue your handset with the surprisingly rare ability to beam videos, photos, and music to any DLNA-capable receiving device jacked into your TV -- heck, it could be your TV. Check out the video after the break if you want to see it in action before you click download.

FaceNiff makes Facebook hacking a portable, one-tap affair (video)

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 11:28 PM PDT

FaceNiff
Remember Firesheep? Well, the cookie snatching Firefox extension now has a more portable cousin called FaceNiff. This Android app listens in on WiFi networks (even ones encrypted with WEP, WPA, or WPA2) and lets you hop on to the accounts of anyone sharing the wireless connection with you. Right now it works with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Nasza-Klasa (a Polish Facebook clone), but developer Bartosz Ponurkiewicz promises more are coming. You'll need to be rooted to run FaceNiff -- luckily, we had such a device laying around and gave the tap-to-hack app a try. Within 30 seconds it identified the Facebook account we had open on our laptop and had us posting updates from the phone. At least with Firesheep you had to sit down and open up a laptop, now you can hijack Twitter profiles as you stroll by Starbucks and it'll just look like you're sending a text message (but you wouldn't do that... would you?). One more image and a video are after the break.

Facebook account hacked

Qualcomm announces dual- and quad-core Snapdragon processor support for Windows 8

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 10:46 PM PDT

After months of rumors, leaks, and speculation, Windows 8 is finally official on ARM and x86 platforms. Terrific. Now Qualcomm has jumped on Microsoft's coattails with details about the silicon the company will offer to support Microsoft's next generation OS. First on the list is Qualcomm's dual-core MSM8960 Snapdragon with integrated 3G/LTE modem capable of speeds up to 2.5GHz, followed in early 2012 by the quad-core Snapdragon APQ8064. Of course, ARM licensees Texas Instruments and NVIDIA will be feeding at the Windows 8 table as well, as will Intel and AMD. But we're hungry for specifics now, and only Qualcomm is offering up any detail.
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Qualcomm Collaborates With Microsoft on Next Version of Windows

- Snapdragon Family of Processors Will Support Next Evolution of Mobile Computing -

TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) announced today that its upcoming award-winning Snapdragon™ family of smart mobile processors, including the MSM8960™ with integrated 3G/LTE modem, is designed to power devices running the next version of Windows. The companies' collaboration continues to address the converging and fast-changing mobile computing landscape, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon family of dual-core and quad-core processors will enable optimal computing performance, extended battery life and connectivity, and top-notch graphics and multimedia in devices.

"Qualcomm and Microsoft have a long and productive history of collaboration focused on driving innovation forward, and we are pleased to be among the leaders of the next evolution of mobile computing," said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of product management, computing and consumer products at Qualcomm. "Our upcoming family of Snapdragon processors is intelligently integrated, optimized for mobile and built smarter, making it the ideal processor to address consumers' growing demands for new, innovative experiences and usage scenarios that we believe will be delivered by the next version of Windows."

The first processor in the Snapdragon family to power devices using the next version of Windows will be the MSM8960, which is sampling this month, followed by the quad-core Snapdragon APQ8064™, which is anticipated to sample in early 2012. Qualcomm has built its Snapdragon family of mobile processors from the ground up to deliver enhanced power efficiency for devices running the next version of Windows. The MSM8960 from the Snapdragon family of mobile processors provides the first dual-core solution with an integrated multi-mode 3G/LTE modem and is designed to meet the multi-tasking requirements of the next version of Windows. The Snapdragon family of mobile processors will include dual and quad asynchronous CPU cores that can be independently controlled to deliver maximum performance at maximum efficiency.

"Windows 8 will enable customers to have the flexibility, connectivity and power that they expect from Windows today with new, touch-only devices like tablets. This will require high-performing, low-power processors like those from Qualcomm, with features like 3G and 4G wireless wide area network (WWAN) connectivity," said Mike Angiulo, corporate vice president of Windows planning, hardware and PC ecosystem. "We collaborate with Qualcomm because Snapdragon-powered devices will help Windows 8 consumers experience more out of their Windows device and enable hardware manufacturers to try exciting new PC designs."
Qualcomm will be showcasing the latest Snapdragon-powered tablets and smartphones at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2011. For more information on Snapdragon processors, please visit www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon.

Sony begins full restoration of its PSN and Qriocity services (update: intermittent issues)

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 09:56 PM PDT

Can it be happening? Is Sony's security nightmare finally over? Seems to be. On Tuesday, Sony promised full restoration of its PlayStation Network and Qriocity services in the Americas, Europe, and Asia (excluding Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea) by the end of the week. Now Sony is proclaiming that today is the day for full restoration with details of its "welcome back" package to be announced from each region. The PlayStation Store is already up with a "huge lineup" of new games, demos, add-ons, themes, avatars, and videos along with an updated Playstation Plus. Hey, look on the bright side Sony, even though you've lost the confidence of millions of your customers, at least now they're aware of your Qriocity service. Full press release after the break.

Update: Working fine for us from London. We signed in to the PlayStation Store and even fired up Black Ops multiplayer just for kicks.

Update 2: We're now seeing error "80710D36" occasionally when trying to access the PlayStation Store, presumably due to congestion. We're seeing this from both London and New York.
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FULL RESTORATION OF PLAYSTATION®NETWORK SERVICES BEGINS TODAY
Full PlayStation®Network Services Restored; Music Unlimited Powered by Qriocity™ to Become Available on PlayStation®3, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), VAIO and other PCs


Sony Corporation
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.


Tokyo, June 2, 2011 - Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced today that Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) will fully restore all PlayStation®Network services today June 2, 2011, in the Americas, Europe/PAL territories and Asia, excluding Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. The company will also resume Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity™ for PlayStation®3 (PS3®), PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), VAIO and other PCs.

Details of "Welcome Back" package program offered to all registered PlayStation Network* and Qriocity account services will be announced from each region.

Announcement for restoration in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea as well as for the remaining services on Qriocity will be made as they become available.

* Only available for those countries and regions with access to PlayStation®Store.

EVO 4G getting Gingerbread on June 6th (or Friday if you're impatient)

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 08:59 PM PDT

Well, this was inevitable. After Sprint's website snafu outing its Android 2.3 intentions for the EVO 4G, we've received evidence that points to June 6th as its release date. Better yet, if you're willing to manually check for its availability, you might even find a happy surprise this Friday. In addition to Gingerbread, users will find SMS and Gmail fixes, along with a tweak to the phone's power management software. Hopefully you've got WiMAX, because this update is coming over-the-air. Should everything go according to plan, users will have less than a week to say goodbye to Froyo. It's a trusty companion for sure, but that spicy aroma is quite enticing. Hit the break for some corroborating clues.

[Thanks, Tone Bone]

Qualcomm unleashes tri-band WiFi and new mobile wireless chipset

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 08:38 PM PDT

Qualcomm and WiGigQualcomm might be all juiced up about getting its Snapdragon processor in 250 upcoming devices, but that doesn't mean the company has forgotten its wireless roots. The San Diego-based chip maker announced that its partnership with Wilocity has finally bore fruit in the form of the AR9004TB chipset. This tri-band wireless setup adds 60GHz WiGig to the usual 2.4 and 5GHz dual-band 802.11n formula for "multi-gigabit in-room performance." Though far from finalized, the 802.11ad standard being pushed by the WiGig alliance should be able to hit speeds of 5Gbps -- more than enough to blast several HD video streams around your home. It also packs Bluetooth 4.0 for your less bandwidth intensive (and more battery sensitive) computing needs. Going smaller scale, Qualcomm also unveiled the WCN3660, a wireless chipset to complement its Snapdragon CPU in smartphones and tablets. Inside this sliver of silicon is a dual-band Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth 4.0, and an FM radio. It also supports Wi-Fi Display (not to be confused with WiDi) for beaming video to a WiFi-enabled TV or monitor. Head on after the break for more PR than you can shake an antenna at.
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Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity Announce Tri-band Wi-Fi: Industry's First Standards-compliant, Multi-gigabit Wireless Chipset

- Qualcomm Atheros AR9004TB Solution Adds In-room 5 Gbps Performance to Industry Leading Wi-Fi Technology -

TAIPEI, Taiwan and SAN JOSE, Calif., May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), and Wilocity, a leading developer of 60 GHz multi-gigabit wireless chipsets for the mobile computing, consumer electronics and peripheral markets, today announced the AR9004TB, the industry's first tri-band Wi-Fi chipset that integrates the multi-gigabit performance of in-room 60 GHz band with seamless handoff to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band Wi-Fi. The new AR9004TB solution is the first chipset capable of supporting a wide range of applications, from I/O to video to networking, at the same speeds as equivalent wired connectivity technologies, while maintaining whole home coverage and complete interoperability.

AR9004TB is a significant step forward in delivering the most seamless, high-performance wireless networking connectivity. By using a fully standards-compliant and interoperable approach, Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity can help device makers deliver more than 10 times greater speed in Wi-Fi performance, resulting in faster data and video transfers between devices. These enhancements will help power even more advanced devices, applications and experiences, from gaming to video streaming, smart synchronization and wireless docking. New fast session transfer technology in the AR9004TB will drive a seamless transition between multi-gigabit in-room performance to whole home and enterprise wireless coverage.

"The new AR9004TB solution strengthens and expands our industry-leading portfolio of wireless and wired connectivity technologies for consumer and enterprise devices," said Amir Faintuch, senior vice president and general manager, consumer business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "By incorporating 60 GHz multi-gigabit transfer with proven 802.11n Wi-Fi technologies, Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity are creating an even more valuable offering for customers looking to expand their presence in the market. AR9004TB will allow users to enjoy new generations of rich applications in the home and at work while also helping keep their devices and information fully synchronized."

"As the promise of multi-gigabit wireless technology becomes reality, Wilocity is proud to take its place, with Qualcomm Atheros, at the head of the long line of future WiGig and draft 802.11ad products that will follow," said Mark Grodzinsky, vice president of marketing, Wilocity. "The AR9004TB solution is the first to offer multi-gigabit Wi-Fi and wireless bus extension, coupled with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for a truly wireless experience for a wide range of applications from I/O to networking to video. For the first time, the fastest way to access data from products that implement this groundbreaking technology will be wireless."

The AR9004TB solution is the first tri-band Wi-Fi chipset to integrate support for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 60 GHz bands. As such, it is the first chipset to bring standards-based, multi-gigabit wireless networking to the market, integrating 802.11n and WiGig/802.11ad technologies in the same form factor. Consumers utilizing devices based on this technology will enjoy 802.11n Wi-Fi for whole home connectivity along with 802.11ad for networked synchronization of HD movies in seconds (versus tens of minutes), I/O connection to USB3/SATA hard drives, instant "sync and go" between mobile platforms, streaming display to projectors/TVs/monitors, and high-performance wireless docking.

The 60 GHz technology found in AR9004TB is based on the latest specifications from the Wireless Gigabit Alliance and IEEE 802.11ad and will be Wi-Fi Alliance certified. The AR9004TB also supports the latest Bluetooth 4.0 specification, which includes both high-speed and low-energy operation to extend personal area connectivity to a variety of devices. It includes a new message-based coexistence interface that allows superior interference avoidance and cancellation for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth coexistence.

Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity will be demonstrating the AR9004TB tri-band Wi-Fi solution in Taipei, Taiwan in conjunction with the COMPUTEX TAIPEI trade show, with product sampling expected to begin in summer 2011.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including the features, benefits and performance of Qualcomm Atheros' and Wilocity's products and technologies, including the AR9004TB chipset, the expected sampling of the AR9004TB beginning in summer 2011, and the anticipated growth of the multi-gigabit wireless market, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, difficulties in the development of new and enhanced products, general economic conditions, the effects of competition and technological change, and the risks detailed in Qualcomm Atheros' (formerly Atheros Communications, Inc.) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as amended, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other reports filed with the SEC by Qualcomm Incorporated from time to time.

About Wilocity

Wilocity is a leading developer of next-generation 60 GHz multi-gigabit wireless chipsets for the mobile computing, consumer electronics and peripheral markets that will enable mobile device manufacturers to deliver the thin and light platforms that consumers want without sacrificing the performance and functionality that consumers need. Based on the Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig) specification, Wilocity's wireless bus extension technology will enable truly multi-gigabit wireless for a wide range of applications from I/O to networking to video. For more information, please visit www.wilocity.com.

About Qualcomm Atheros

Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is a leading provider of wireless and wired technologies for the mobile, networking, computing and consumer electronics markets. The organization is focused on inventing technologies that connect and empower people in ways that are elegant and accessible to all. With its broad connectivity portfolio, Qualcomm Atheros provides its global customer base with high-performance, end-to-end solutions, featuring Wi-Fi®, GPS, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, HomePlug® powerline and PON technologies. Qualcomm Atheros leverages its substantial expertise in RF, signal processing, software and networking to deliver highly integrated, low-power, system-level solutions that enable customers to create high-performance, differentiated products. For more information, go to www.qca.qualcomm.com.

Qualcomm Atheros is a trademark of Qualcomm Atheros Inc. HomePlug is a registered trademark of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.

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Qualcomm Atheros Announces Highly Integrated Connectivity Solution for Superior Performance in Smartphones and Tablets
WCN3660 Combo Chip Brings Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM Radio Connectivity to Qualcomm's 28nm Snapdragon Family of Mobile Processors

TAIPEI, Taiwan and SAN JOSE, Calif. – May 31, 2011 - Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), today announced it has begun sampling its new WCN3660 combo chip, which is designed to bring expanded connectivity options to the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ family of mobile processors. Optimized for use in smartphone and tablet devices, the WCN3660 supports an extensive suite of advanced Wi-Fi connectivity options with multiple Wi-Fi standards. The WCN3660 chip also supports Bluetooth 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 and the worldwide FM radio frequency band. Designed to interface with Qualcomm's 28nm Snapdragon mobile processors, the new WCN3660 is a highly integrated solution, enabling customers to provide enhanced connectivity in mobile devices, while reducing the board area required for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® and FM radio support by up to 50 percent over existing solutions.

"With the launch of the WCN3660, Qualcomm Atheros is demonstrating its commitment to provide an extensive connectivity portfolio of discrete, combo and integrated platform solutions to our smartphone and tablet customers," said Amir Faintuch, senior vice president and general manager, consumer business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "Qualcomm Atheros is pleased to help enable a new generation of mobile devices that connect users to the growing array of must-have social, media and cloud applications."

The WCN3660 chip features single-stream, 802.11n with dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) operation to enhance mobile wireless multimedia applications. The chip also supports mobile hotspot functionality for up to 14 clients with industry standards-based Wi-Fi Direct™ for peer-to-peer wireless connections without an access point present. The WCN3660 also will support the emerging Wi-Fi Display™ standard for streaming video directly from a smartphone or tablet to a Wi-Fi-enabled display or television.

The WCN3660 chip has an integrated dual-band power amplifier, transmit antenna switch and on-chip matching circuit, which allows the chip to meet the most stringent carrier requirements while minimizing solution size and power consumption. Bluetooth standards supported by the WCN3660 chip include high-speed Bluetooth 3.0 for audio streaming and device connectivity, and low-power Bluetooth 4.0, which is designed to work with low-power sensors, health monitoring devices and other low data-rate applications. The FM radio capabilities of the WCN3660 include support for both FM receiver and transceiver functionality; worldwide FM band support (76 to 108 MHz); RDS support for Europe and RBDS support for the U.S.; autonomous search, seek and manual tuning; and active noise cancellation.

The WCN3660 chip is compatible and directly interfaces with Snapdragon devices manufactured in the 28nm process, including the MSM8960™, MSM8270™, MSM8x30™ and APQ8064™. It uses a fully calibrated, wafer-level package smaller than 15mm-squared for direct mounting to a PCB for ease of design and implementation. The WCN3660's small size and low power consumption in both active and standby modes help provide excellent battery life in mobile devices. To minimize interference and provide high LTE data throughput and optimal audio quality, the WCN3660 interfaces directly with the centralized coexistence manager in the Snapdragon device to provide real-time, intelligent packet arbitration and scheduling, providing an LTE/ISM coexistence solution that is optimized beyond the capabilities of standard filtering approaches.

"Qualcomm Atheros is utilizing its systems expertise to deliver a highly innovative and integrated architecture for connectivity solutions in smartphones and tablets," said David Favreau, vice president of product management, Qualcomm Atheros. "The new WCN3660 combo chip with the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors provides a powerful solution for always-connected mobile devices that support WAN, WLAN and WPAN connections."

The WCN3660 is optimized to work with a broad range of mobile operating systems including Android, next-generation Windows and Windows Phone, Palm® WebOS™ and QNX®. Samples of the WCN3660 chip are available now, with a commercial release scheduled for late 2011.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including the features, benefits and performance of Qualcomm Atheros' products and technologies, including its WCN3660 combo chip, and the expected timing of commercial release of the WCN3660 chip in late 2011, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, difficulties in the development of new and enhanced products, general economic conditions, the effects of competition and technological change, and the risks detailed in Qualcomm Atheros' (formerly Atheros Communications Inc.) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as amended, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other reports filed with the SEC by Qualcomm Incorporated from time to time.

About Qualcomm Atheros

Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is a leading provider of wireless and wired technologies for the mobile, networking, computing and consumer electronics markets. The organization is focused on inventing technologies that connect and empower people in ways that are elegant and accessible to all. With its broad connectivity portfolio, Qualcomm Atheros provides its global customer base with high-performance, end-to-end solutions, featuring Wi-Fi®, GPS, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, HomePlug® powerline and PON technologies. Qualcomm Atheros leverages its substantial expertise in RF, signal processing, software and networking to deliver highly integrated, low-power, system-level solutions that enable customers to create high-performance, differentiated products. For more information, go to www.qca.qualcomm.com.

Kinect enabled head-tracking previewed in Forza 4 spotlight video, turns heads (video)

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 08:19 PM PDT


Ever since Johnny Chung Lee was snatched up by Microsoft's Project Natal team to work on Kinect, we've been curious to see how his Wii head-tracking skills would come to fruition on the device. This week, an Inside Xbox episode shows us how it will work with Forza 4, and the Kinect enabled head-tracking appears to run fairly smoothly compared to others we've seen (just try getting similar results on Gran Turismo 5 with a PlayStation Eye). There's no word about other titles planning to make use of this new feature, but we'll surely find out more while we're at E3 next week, and possibly get some hands heads-on time while we're at it.

Microsoft reveals ARM-powered Windows 8 prototypes (eyes-on)

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 07:44 PM PDT

Remember how Microsoft unveiled that whole "Windows 8" thing earlier today? It's back for more: here at Computex 2011 in Taipei, prototype ARM-based Windows 8 slates and smartbooks are coming out of the woodwork. Foxconn, Wistron and Quanta all unveiled early hardware for the new OS, with chips from Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and NVIDIA powering their live tiles -- including NVIDIA's upcoming Kal-El, which got both a tablet and a super-slim prototype notebook to call its own. Dell's also got a XPS development station up on stage, which Microsoft used to demo the UI -- it's bulky and ugly as such things are, but it suggests that Dell's also likely to have a portable Windows 8 machine at some point. For its part, Qualcomm is promising a chip that can instantly wake from sleep, and one of the devices showed that USB host support works fine and dandy. Unfortunately, none of these machines will make their way to market, but it's nice to know that the OEMs care enough to show their solidarity here.

Update: Video now added after the break.
Windows 8 devices at Computex 2011
Windows 8 ARM development devices from Qualcomm, TI and NVIDIA

Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 preview event at Computex 2011!

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 07:00 PM PDT


10:52AM And that's that. Let's go and see if we can't get to handle those dev machines!

10:52AM The Build conference in September will have "everything" about Windows 8.


10:51AM Evidently, Microsoft is taking a more active role in pushing the hardware for Windows 8 devices forward.

10:51AM "We have some recommendations on bezel sizes so you can easily hold the system" while also being able to use it comfortably.


10:50AM Minimum of 1366 x 768 resolution for the best Windows 8 experience. 1024 x 768 will be the absolute minimum for the new UI fanciness and 1024 x 600 will let you run Windows 8 in the classic desktop mode.


10:49AM Supporting a whole range of new sensors as well.

10:49AM UEFI engagement will help with speeding up boot times. "I've seen systems with SSDs inside them that can go from a cold boot to the Start screen in under 6 seconds."

10:48AM OEM Activation 3.0. A seamless activation experience for end users and it'll streamline things for hardware partners.


10:47AM "From day one, we started engineering these systems with a much closer integration of hardware and software than ever."

10:47AM He's pointing out that whether you're running x86 or ARM, you'll be enjoying the same apps.


10:46AM "The same app, completely cross-platform, based on the Windows 8 application development platform."

10:46AM Hardware-accelerated HTML5 shown off on the dev Kal-El tablet.

10:45AM And now a tablet with the same super-powered chip.



10:45AM Woah, a skinny laptop running NVIDIA's quad-core Kal-El chip!


10:44AM "You can build them virtually any size and shape, all being able to run Windows."


10:44AM Showing a USB stick connected to one of the dev devices and shows that it works just as it does on the desktop.


10:42AM Mike also showed us a Snapdragon system-on-chip just so we know teeny tiny these things are.

10:42AM A new mode called "always on, always connected." It'll permit for instant wake-up from sleep and keep the ARM tablets constantly connected to the web. We're also promised great battery life.





10:40AM We saw motherboards back at CES, now dev devices. These won't ever be on sale, but it shows progress.

10:40AM Qualcomm, NVIDIA and TI developer reference systems for Windows 8 on ARM.


10:39AM "Not multiple versions of Windows, just one version of Windows running on all of them."


10:39AM "With or without touhscreens, with or without keyboards, the full Windows experience."

10:39AM Windows adapts to it by launching apps in full screen instead of side by side as on the widescreen diplays.

10:38AM Now also showing Windows 8 on a tablet that doesn't have a 16:9 display resolution.


10:38AM "The Llano processor that's coming out this quarter." We already kind of knew that, but good to have confirmation, Microsoft!

10:37AM Showing an HP dv6 will AMD Llano inside. Hah!


10:37AM PageUp and PageDown buttons will allow you to move between tiles on non-touchscreen devices.

10:36AM "Windows 8 will be able to run on a wide range of machines because it will have the same system requirements or lower."


10:36AM "Windows 8 is an upgrade for the entire ecosystem of PCs."

10:36AM "How is this going to work on all the other systems?"

10:35AM 1366 x 768 resolution on that Dell system.

10:35AM You can also do a split-screen interface, where you see both the new and the old UI side by side.

10:35AM The big difference with Windows 8 is that when you get into the apps, they're all optimized for touch.



10:34AM Switching between the live-tile UI and the usual desktop is instantaneous. We're seeing some seriously impressive performance here. And it's all done on that Dell XPS proto system.



10:34AM Now he brought us back out into the familiar Windows desktop. It looks identical to the current Windows 7 desktop UI.




10:33AM There's a look at the onscreen keyboard, which is identical to the nice one in WP7. Also a split version that we saw earlier at d9.

10:32AM "A browser optimized for touch. Optimized for panning and zooming."

10:32AM "With Windows 8, we're gonna be introducing IE 10."







10:32AM "Real multitasking" demonstrated, where a video plays back while you negotiate your way around other apps. Frankly, Windows has always been able to do that, but this is indeed pretty swanky when it comes to tablets.

10:31AM The full screen experience is designed for 16:9 widescreens.


10:30AM And if you're holding a tablet, all the controls are right under your thumb.

10:30AM Woah, you can switch between apps by just dragging them in from the side.


10:29AM Swiping in from the side brings in a sub-menu that looks equivalent to the taskbar in the current Windows.

10:29AM "On day one, when Windows 8 ships, hundreds of millions of developers will already know" how to develop for it.



10:29AM Created on Windows' new application development platform. Based on HTML5, JavaScript and CSS.

10:28AM "The first thing you notice is that the apps are chromeless, they immediately take up the whole screen."

10:28AM Notifications, new tweets, new email, "it's all presented to you immediately without having to take that extra step."

10:28AM The tiles that you see on the Start screen are live. "They represent your apps, your people, your contacts, the things that you care most about."



10:27AM Ridiculously smooth scrolling.

10:27AM Log in by swiping up on the lock screen and you're right into the Start screen.

10:27AM A Dell XPS development station.

10:27AM Here comes a look at the hardware on stage.

10:26AM The devices we use to connect to the web have changed. "Thinner and lighter, resume from sleep immediately... some of them have batteries that run for weeks on end."


10:26AM Today, we're facing trends to do with immersive experiences, touchscreens, and the web.

10:25AM When Windows 7 was being designed, the trends were around ultra-portable notebooks, which is why it was made to run so efficiently.

10:25AM "Windows has continuously adapted" to new trends and development in the industry.

10:24AM Mike: "I'll begin with a little bit of background on some of the decisions behind Windows 8."



10:24AM Here comes Mike Angulo, who is responsible for Windows planning and Microsoft hardware.

10:23AM Big thanks expressed to the hardware manufacturers working with Microsoft.



10:22AM "We refer to the next version of Windows internally as Windows 8."

10:22AM "An update on the next version of Windows."





10:20AM The event will begin in one minute.


10:19AM Yes, there are some extremely skinny notbooks on show too.


10:15AM It seems we're on the brink of being shown the first Windows 8 ARM devices.

10:14AM Intel and AMD placards are joined by Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and NVIDIA!

10:10AM We're seeing tablets and monitors up on the stage, both featuring the new tile UI of Windows 8.



10:08AM And yay, the doors have opened, we're in!


9:56AM We're just about to be let into the event venue, high up in the swanky W Hotel.
Microsoft finally debuted the next version of its Windows operating system, codenamed Windows 8, at D9 earlier today, and now it's hitting up Computex over in Taipei with a partner preview event. We don't know quite what will be revealed here, but the new Win 8 UI has a touch-friendly look designed specifically to make tablet users feel more at home, so a peek at new slate hardware might not be completely out of the question. Join us after the break for all the live updates from the event.

HTC EVO 3D gets more RadioShack love, June 24 sticks out as possible launch date

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 06:53 PM PDT

We've been hearing all sorts of details on the HTC EVO 3D as of late, but the only thing that hadn't popped out at us was the launch date. We knew the day was drawing near, evidenced by the phone being put up for pre-orders at Sprint and RadioShack, but we have a little more to chew on. The June 24th launch date on this promotional flyer jumps off the page more than the EVO 3D does, and we really want to believe it; but even if this is an official flyer, it could simply mean that's when RadioShack will begin selling it and it won't be related to Sprint's official launch. Still, if you've been waiting with bated breath to get your hands on your very own copy of The Green Hornet -- oh, and a sweet phone while you're at it -- hang tight just a smidge longer.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

LucidLogix brings GPU virtualization to AMD notebooks, all-in-ones, keeps sharing the graphics love

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 06:38 PM PDT


Late last year, LucidLogix introduced us to Virtu, the GPU virtualization software that makes disparate GPUs play nice on Sandy Bridge PCs, and now its extending the love to AMD Bulldozer and Brazos machines. The latest version of the software, dubbed Virtu Universal, also extends GPU virtualization to all-in-ones and notebooks (on both AMD and Intel), enabling simple switching between discrete graphics and the integrated ilk. What's more, the program ushers in the debut of Virtual Vsync, which claims to bring "maximum gaming frame rates and responsiveness, while eliminating distracting and image-distorting visual tearing." Of course, we'll believe it when we see it, which, if LucidLogix has its way, should be before the ball drops in Time Square. Full PR after the break.
Show full PR text
LUCID TAKES VIRTU GRAPHICS VIRTUALIZATION TO MORE PLATFORMS, MORE SYSTEMS
New Virtu Universal Immediately Available for Notebooks, All-in-One and Desktop PCs based on Either AMD or Intel Integrated GPUs

KFAR NETTER, Israel and TAIPEI, Taiwan – COMPUTEX 2011 – June 1, 2011 – LucidLogix demonstrated today for the first time at Computex 2011 its Virtu™ Universal® GPU virtualization software, on notebooks, All-in-One (AiO) and desktop PCs based on both Intel® and AMD integrated graphics processing units (GPUs). Virtu Universal is a new product that builds on the capabilities of the popular LucidLogix Virtu™ GPU virtualization software for Intel Sandy Bridge H61, H67 and Z68-based motherboards.

Virtu Universal dynamically allocates graphics resources between integrated and discrete GPUs on Intel second-generation Core processors and AMD Brazos and Bulldozer platforms, allowing the systems to take full advantage of the processing power provided by both GPUs. Consumers will no longer have to choose between popular media processing features like Intel QuickSync video transcoding and DirectX 11 3D gaming performance. Virtu provides consistent, simultaneous performance with both.

"We've had an amazing adoption of Virtu on select Intel Sandy Bridge-based systems," said Offir Remez, president and founder of Lucid. "It was a natural step for us to extend this capability to all Sandy Bridge platforms including notebooks and AiO PCs as well as sharing it with the AMD fanbase."

Virtual Vsync Delivers No Compromise Game Performance and Quality

In addition to the recently introduced Lucid Virtu software benefits of complete media and 3D gaming performance, LucidLogix Virtu Universal also features Virtual Vsync benefiting all gamers from casual to hard-core who no longer have to compromise between visual quality and performance. Virtual Vsync delivers maximum gaming frame rates and responsiveness, while eliminating distracting and image-distorting visual tearing. Virtual Vsync breaks past the limits of standard Vsync (60 FPS) to deliver:

• Unlimited frame rates - some as much as 120 FPS and beyond with in-game Vsync on.
• User-defined frame rate and visual quality selection
• Flawless visual quality without tearing
• Maximum responsiveness to mouse and keyboard – some as much as 250 percent or more
• The infrastructure to support for next-generation platforms

"Once again, Lucid's ongoing innovations in GPU virtualization keeps the end customer in mind and eliminates common performance and feature compromises on PCs," added Remez. "We believe gamers will be amazed at the boost in visual quality and keyboard responsiveness provided in Virtu Universal enabled systems."

Virtu Universal is available to system manufacturers using AMD Brazos and Bulldozer, Intel Sandy Bridge Z68/H67/H61, and other Intel integrated graphics, like the G41 platform. To date Virtu technology has been verified with hundreds of games and applications and is bundled with motherboards from many of the worlds' leading brands. The flexible nature of Virtu Universal makes the technology highly likely to be found on a variety of upcoming mobile and desktop PCs this year. For more information, visit www.lucidlogix.com.

Bigfoot updates gaming NICs, practices blatant bandwidth favoritism

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 06:24 PM PDT

You didn't shell out on a monster graphics card only to see your YouTube-worthy Black Ops killstreak interrupted by a network slowdown, did you? Well, Bigfoot's tried and tested solution to limited bandwidth is smarter network management -- delivered most recently by the "Advanced Stream Detect" technology in its Killer Wireless N adapters. ASD is meant to automatically classify traffic and prioritize gaming, video and audio streams that demand consistently high network performance. Now the company has annouced at Computex that it's extending this capability to its older standalone Killer 2100 NIC as well as the E2100 embedded NICs in gaming motherboards from MSI, ASUS and Gigabyte. Owners of any of these products can benefit from a "free and easy" software update via Bigfoot's website -- you'll find full instructions in the PR after the break. Go on, kill, kill, kill.

Show full PR text
Bigfoot Networks turbo-charges streaming HD video and audio performance on all Killer™ Networking Platforms
Advanced Stream Detect™ Now Available for Killer 2100 and E2100 Customers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – May 30, 2011 – Today at Computex, Bigfoot Networks, the technology company behind the Killer™ line of high-performance networking products, announced that its exclusive Advanced Stream Detect™ technology is now available for all of its networking platforms including Killer E2100 embedded networking platforms, Killer 2100 add-in cards and the Killer Wireless-N family of wireless networking adapters.

Advanced Stream Detect now classifies all network traffic automatically and prioritizes streams which are particularly sensitive to network performance, such as HD video, online games, video and audio conferencing, voice chat and more. As a result of this unprecedented network intelligence, users can watch HD video while downloading large files, send instant messages and play games simultaneously, or navigate the Web while video conferencing without all of the pausing and stuttering associated with slower, less intelligent networking solutions. With a free and easy software update, owners of Killer 2100 network cards, as well as Killer E2100-based motherboards and expansion devices, can now take advantage of these ground-breaking networking features.

"The Killer E2100 networking platform is a unique technology and a fan favorite in our award-winning G1-Killer line of gaming motherboards," said Richard Chen, VP of worldwide sales and marketing at GIGABYTE. "Our customers tend to be PC DIY enthusiasts who demand the best performance for everything they do on their computers, whether it be online gaming, video streaming, voice conferencing or email. We're very pleased to see that the Bigfoot Networks' Killer E2100 networking platform now offers even more with the new Advanced Stream Detect update, allowing existing G1-Killer motherboard users to enjoy a better media streaming experience without having to pay for the additional features."

Advanced Stream Detect Features/Benefits:
- Intelligent, adaptive network analysis and management for all network traffic types.
- Automatic detection and prioritization of streams such as HD video, video chat and online games over other network traffic such as Web browsing, instant messaging and file downloads.
- Smooth, uninterrupted gaming, better online video and high-quality audio streams, even while performing other simultaneous online activities.
"Based on the amazing response we received to Advanced Stream Detect when we launched our Killer Wireless-N adapters, we knew we had to bring the same technology to the Killer 2100 and Killer E2100 platforms," said Michael Howse, CEO of Bigfoot Networks. "Some of today's most popular applications such as Skype®, YouTube®, Netflix® and, of course, online games are the most sensitive to latency and network contention. Previously, you had to run network-intensive programs one at a time to achieve top performance. With Advanced Stream Detect, you can run videoconferencing, stream music and video, play games, and even download huge files in the background without affecting your online experience."

Bigfoot Networks' Killer E2100 platform accelerates network performance on such industry-leading products as the ASUS ROG Rampage III Black Edition motherboard, ThunderBolt LAN/Audio Combo Module, and the GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboard line. To update current Killer 2100 and Killer E2100 products with Advanced Stream Detect, visit bigfootnetworks.com/ASD.

Creative Live! inPerson HD webcam does onboard processing, doesn't milk your CPU

Posted: 01 Jun 2011 05:57 PM PDT

When Logitech and Microsoft released a bunch of HD webcams last year, Skype refused to certify them for use with its HD video calling service. (That's not to say these webcams won't work with Skype HD -- it's that Skype won't guarantee that they'll work well.) And why this resounding slap in the face? Because Skype will only certify HD webcams that come with onboard video processing and therefore run even on tardy old machines. And that is precisely why Creative has followed the lead of other manufacturers like FaceVsion and Freetalk in including a built-in H.264 encoder with its latest offering, maintaining judder-free video and a chill-axed CPU. The webcam also has more flexible autofocus and a "quad mic" system, which together should allow users to sit as far as 10 feet away and still be seen and heard clearly. The only problem? A $150 price tag that's significantly more than the competition and only slightly easier to face than your cousin's acne condition at 720p. If you're still keen though, check out the PR after the break.

Show full PR text
Creative Introduces the Live!® Cam inPerson HD - HD Video and Voice Web Camera for Skype HD Video Calling

MILPITAS, CA – May 31, 2011 – Creative Technology Ltd today announced that Skype has certified the new Creative Live!® Cam inPerson HD for video and voice quality, meeting the exacting requirements for HD video calling in Skype. The Creative engineering team set out to significantly improve the video and voice quality of web cams to provide an outstanding HD video calling experience with Skype. The result is the Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD, in which Creative has integrated an H.264 video encoding processor, ensuring the fastest possible video frame rate for HD video calling and alleviating the problem of choppy video that users often experience, even with lower definition video calling.

By performing the H.264 encoding on the Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD instead of using the PC, the user is not required to have the highest-performance PC to experience smooth HD video quality with Skype. In addition to the leap forward in video quality, the Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD features crystal-clear voice through the implementation of Creative's quad mic array. To achieve improvement in voice quality, the mics are precisely spaced across the nine-inch flat-panel surface of the camera. This quad mic implementation coupled with Creative's noise-canceling technology removes ambient noise much more effectively than web cams with single or stereo mics and allows the user to be heard with substantially greater clarity.

"In order for web cams to become Skype Certified we put them through a rigorous video and voice testing and qualification process," said Ed Botterill, Head of Skype Certification at Skype. "The Live! Cam inPerson met these exacting specifications and provides an excellent solution for Skype video calling."

The Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD features built-in H.264 compression, in order to deliver smooth, glitch-free HD video, ensuring fluid motion and high-quality video streaming over the web. Often when users experience jerky motions or choppy video when video calling, the cause is likely the PC's CPU being overworked while trying to process the stream of data. With hardware accelerated video all of this work is offloaded from the PC's CPU and performed right on the Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD, delivering smooth movements and video calls every time. The Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD also features auto focus, for clear, detailed images and videos from a range of distances, giving users the freedom to sit directly in front of the camera or up to 10 feet away and still be seen clearly.

"We wanted to eliminate choppy video, which is typically caused when the PC can't handle the encoding fast enough, so we engineered the camera to have the highest frame rate possible," said Steve Erickson, Vice President and General Manager for Audio and Video at Creative Labs, Inc. "As a technology leader in audio and voice processing for more than three decades we know that voice quality is critical to having a great video calling experience, so we also elevated the audio in the Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD with a quad mic array. Just like you can't accept a phone call when the audio is poor, you can't have a great video call with poor voice."

Rounding out the robust feature set of the Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD is the bundled Live! Central 3 software suite with advanced video and audio effects, avatar creation, movie creation, desktop sharing features and surveillance capabilities.

Pricing and Availability
The Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD is available now for US$149.99 at creative.com. For more information about Creative's complete line of web cams check out www.us.creative.com.
at 11:34 AM

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