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Monday, June 13, 2011

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Motorola Droid / Milestone 3 gets previewed, Verizon release finally nearing?

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 12:12 PM PDT

The Motorola Droid 3 hasn't exactly been doing the best job of staying under wraps, and it (or the international Milestone 3 variant, to be specific) has now landed in the hands of Chinese website xda.cn, which has provided what's surely the most extensive look at the phone to date. That includes some additional confirmation of specs like a 4-inch qHD screen (of the PenTile variety, it seems), an 8 megapixel camera, HDMI out and a 1500 mAh battery, as well as what appear to be the first benchmarks of the phone and its dual-core OMAP 4430 processor, which is apparently slightly hampered by a mere 512MB of RAM. In other Droid 3 news, Droid Life notes that the device has turned up in Gameloft's compatibility listings for its Android games, and says that its hearing that Verizon is now targeting a July 7th launch. That's obviously still far from confirmed, but it seems safe to bet that a release can't be too much farther off now. Hit the source link below for xda.cn's complete preview.

Moneta Onyx phase-change memory prototype can write some data 7x faster than traditional SSDs

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:39 AM PDT


As file sizes for many data types continue to grow, smaller chunks are also becoming more ubiquitous, particularly on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and search tools like Google. These high-volume, small-size blocks of data may soon be served up from a specific type of SSD, like the Moneta Onyx prototype developed by a team at the University of California, San Diego. Onyx uses phase-change memory (PCM), which can rewrite single bits of data (1s and 0s) on demand, rather than rewriting data in larger chunks, yielding sustained 327 megabyte per second (MB/s) reads and 91MB/s writes with smaller file types -- two to seven times faster than the most efficient commercial SSDs. PCM specifically benefits granular data, rather than large files that must be transferred completely (like photos and documents), so the tech is more likely to appear on devices serving up short text-based messages. Traditional SSDs can write larger files faster than the Onyx prototype, though the new drive offers speedier read speeds across the board. It'll be at least a couple years before PCM becomes commercially available, but once (and if) it does, you'll be reading about your coworker's breakfast or college buddy's traffic jam milliseconds faster than before.

Kobo eReader Touch Edition review

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT

When it first announced the launch of its eReader Touch Edition late last month, Kobo referred to itself again and again as the "David" in a reader market full of "Goliaths." It's not difficult to see why -- the company's chief competition in the space is Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony, all giants in their respective fields. In spite of overwhelming odds, however, Kobo has managed to stay afloat, and even competitive. True to form, however, Barnes & Noble launched its own device a mere day after Kobo, which for most intents and purposes, looks an awful lot like the eReader Touch Edition. In fact, the devices were seemingly so alike that we created a head to head, in order to see for ourselves precisely what set them apart.

The new Nook also managed to beat Kobo's device to market, offering a more than worthy competitor to Amazon's latest. The question with the launch of the Kobo then, is not only whether the David can compete in a market so dominated by the Kindle, but if the eReader Touch Edition has enough to set it apart from the superficially identical Nook.
Kobo eReader Touch Edition review
Kobo eReader Touch Edition review
Hardware

At first glance, the eReader Touch Edition looks an awful lot like the new Nook. In fact, we found ourselves mistaking the two on more than one occasion, reaching into our bag to grab one and coming up with the other. Both devices are significantly smaller than the third generation Kindle, a fact afforded them by the absence of a physical keyboard and the presence of a touchscreen. Placed side by side, Kobo's eReader is also noticeably smaller than the Nook. Both are roughly the same height (there's only so much you can do with a six-inch screen), but the Kobo is half-an-inch narrower and 0.7-inch thinner, really living up to its promise of being able to slip into a pocket, a definite selling point for anyone looking for a truly portable reader.


The Nook's slightly larger footprint has a benefit, however, making the device easier to hold, particularly with its concave backing, which is easily gripped with a single hand. That's not to say the Touch is hard to hold, its small size and a latticed back offer up some grip. Lack of physical page turning buttons also helped the Kobo shed a few precious fractions of an inch off its sides. Like the Nook, however, rumors of the Kobo's single button were greatly exaggerated -- the reader actually has two: a narrow silver Home button on the front and a sliding Power button on the top. We're not entirely sure why Kobo didn't just go from broke and incorporate both of these features into the same button, but the presence of two buttons certainly isn't a deal-breaker.

After using the Kobo for an extended period, we actually began to miss the Nook and Kindle's physical page turn buttons, which make it a lot easier to use the device with a single hand. The zForce infrared touchscreen is responsive, certainly, but doesn't afford the same sort of accuracy of physical buttons, and attempts at page turn swipes sometimes registered in the opposite direction or not at all -- reading for any extended length of time will probably require you to hold the tiny reader in both hands.


Like the new Nook, the Kobo packs 2GB of on-board storage (1GB of which is available for actual book storage) -- that's half of what's offered in the latest version of the Kindle, but unlike the competition, Amazon's device doesn't have expandable memory via microSD. The Kobo and Nook are both expandable by up to 32GB -- that's a lot of books. Kobo's current battery claim is up to a month of life, depending on usage, versus the claimed two months on the Nook and Kindle. For most users, however, the difference in life in likely moot when we're talking about devices that can potentially last for so long that users will likely forget the last time the thing was charged.

Inside the reader is a 800MHz Freescale i.MX508 processor, the same speed as the Nook, both decidedly fast than the Kindle's 532MHz processor. The speed is noticeable when zippily flipping through pages at a faster rate than on the Kindle, a process helped along by the fact that the devices only need to do a full page refresh (with the screen briefly turning black) every half-dozen pages or so. Like the Nook, the Kobo comes in WiFi-only, and while the device doesn't have Barnes & Noble's sort of brick and mortar infrastructure, the lack of a 3G likely won't be a huge deterrent for anyone, save for heavy travelers who absolutely must download books on the go.

Display

With all of the major players having adopted the technology, it seems safe to call Pearl E Ink the industry standard. On that front, you won't really see any major differences between the latest devices. E Ink has its pluses and minuses, to be sure. For clarity, it's hard to beat, particularly with the latest Pearl technology. To the naked eye, it really does offer up the sort of contrast we've become accustomed to reading old timey paper books. The relatively low power consumption of these displays is also a large part of the reason we're talking about a battery life of a month or two. Of course the Pearl E Ink display has a relatively slow refresh rate and lacks color, the latter of which is certainly a strike against reading comics, children's books, and many magazines on the device.

Software

The eReader Touch is all about simplicity. While some of the competition is intent on blurring the line between e-readers and tablets, Kobo's device is firmly dedicated to its original intention: reading. There are very few features included on the device that detract from that noble pursuit, and as such, the Kobo is simple to a fault. No matter where you are, pressing the Home button will back to the Home page -- it's often where you're going anyway, but the inclusion of a simple Back command would have made navigation a bit more intuitive.


The Home page is the hub of the device, and like just about everything else about the eReader Touch, it's stripped down to only the most necessary functionality. At the center of the page are images of your most recent purchases, which can be opened with a touch. Along the top are buttons for your library, the Kobo store, and the device's Reading Life competitive reading app. Along the bottom are icons for settings, help, and a cloud icon that syncs the info on the reader over WiFi with a touch.

The reading experience itself is quite simple, the bulk of the page devoted to the text, with the title in small print along the top and your progress in a given chapter at the bottom. Readers can either swipe across the page or tap in the margin to go forward or back in the text. Tapping the bottom will bring up a small bar, offering to return you home (the same functionality as the physical Home button), advance in the text, or adjust the font -- the reader offers two styles and about a dozen sizes. Another icon in the bar offers a slew of options, including returning to the table of contents, updating bookmarks, marking the text as finished, and highlighting a selection.


It's also possible to highlight a selection by holding down on it in the text. The touchscreen is a bit tricky for highlighting, and the process takes a little while to master. Once highlighted, you have the option to save the selection or look it up in the included Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Unlike the Nook, the eReader Touch doesn't really offer much in the way of social functionality, surrendering the title of "the ultimate book club device" to Barnes & Noble's reader. Instead, it includes the company's Reading Life service, which makes reading a one-person competition (which, let's face it, it always has been for many of us). The app displays reading stats and offers up "awards" for doing things like finishing a book -- a fun feature for some, perhaps, but we suspect that the sort of folk who would go out of their way to buy a dedicated e-reader likely don't need that manner of motivation.

The built-in shop offers up a number of categories to get you started, including New York Times Bestsellers, Oprah Book Club picks, and Free eBooks -- the latter, not surprisingly, doesn't offer much in the way of recent bestsellers, but there are some classic gems, like Anna Karenina. Due to the lack of physical buttons, search is conducted with a virtual keyboard, which is not ideal in combination with the zForce touchscreen, lagging a bit in response time. In fact, the whole of our interactions with the store were a bit laggy, in spite of our fast WiFi connection. We also ran into a problem downloading a title from the store, which refused to fully load, even after restarting the device several times. When we woke up the next morning, however, the problem seemed to have resolved itself.

Like the Nook, the Touch has a "hidden" Web browser, a last minute addition that arrived with the latest software upgrade. Located in the Settings tab, the browser is still in beta and suffers from the manner of performance issues one would expect on a dedicated e-reader -- still, it's a neat addition, nonetheless.


The Kobo also reads PDFs, which can be dragged and dropped onto the device from a connected PC. The reader shines in its PDF display functionality, letting you zoom in and out and pan across files, whereas most of the competition simply fits the documents to the page. Like most of the non-reading functionality, zooming and scanning within PDFs is not a particularly speedy process, however.

Wrapup

For those looking for a device strictly for reading, the new Kobo is a nice little option. It's small enough to slip into a pocket, can do more with a PDF than the competition, and at $129, it's $10 cheaper than both the Nook and Kindle WiFi. There's also nothing in the way of social functionality on the device, but we didn't really miss it.

Ultimately, however, the eReader Touch Edition has one fatal flaw: it's not as good as the Nook. The software can be a bit slow at times, and after using the Nook at length, it's hard to deny that physical page-turning buttons would be a nice option. Had Barnes & Noble not introduced the device and beaten Kobo to market, the eReader would be a serious contender for the title of the best devoted e-book reader on the market. As it stands, however, the device can't quite match up to the competition.

Brando's Bombshell MP3 player gives the TSA something new to balk at

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 10:41 AM PDT

Nah, grenade and bomb-shaped PMPs aren't anything new, but we'll confess to never seeing anything quite like this. Hosted up at the always-unpredictable Brando website, the USB Bombshell MP3 Player acts as a portable speaker, a radio and a markedly volatile MP3 player. There's an inbuilt USB port and SD card slot for loading up your favorite Rise Against albums, and the integrated Li-ion battery pack should keep it ticking for an undisclosed amount of time. 'Course, sneaking this one past airport security could be an adventure unto itself, but those willing to live life with the pin pulled can get one headed their way for $43.

[Thanks, Lawrence]

Sony, Panasonic, others to launch cross-platform e-book service, later this year

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 10:17 AM PDT

Don't look now, but there's some major synergy going on in Japan's e-book market, now that Sony, Panasonic, Rakuten and Kinokuniya have all joined forces on a new digital quest. Today, the quartet of companies announced they're working on a system that would allow users to purchase and read content across their respective e-readers, injecting the e-cosmos with a heavy dose of free love and good vibes. Under the new service, customers would be able to manage their downloads and browse bestsellers within a centralized web-based marketplace, regardless of the device they go to bed with every night. Because within this new universe, there would be no "mine," "yours," or "theirs" -- all will be one and one will be all. The chieftains have already held powows with a handful of digital publishers, though they expect to have more friends around the campfire by the time the project launches later this year.

YouTube subtly adds HD preview images, logoless playback option

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:49 AM PDT

It ain't nearly as monumental as the day that YouTube actually started supporting high-def videos, but it'll certainly make those who routinely upload HD content a bit happier. We're talking about two new additions put forth by the YT team: HD preview images and a logoless playback option. Any new video uploaded to the site in a resolution of 480p or higher will have an HD preview image wherever the player is embedded, and we're told that preexisting HD videos will be updated "in the next few weeks." Moving right along, that pesky YouTube watermark (seen above) will be no more should you choose to nix it, but it's not as simple as just ticking a box; you'll need to add "?modestbranding=1" at the end of the video URL in order to make it disappear. So, celebratory drinks at noon?

HP reportedly in talks with major labels over cloud-based service

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:23 AM PDT

We've already seen some rumors of a cloud-syncing music store for the HP TouchPad, not to mention talk of "Music Synergy," and it now looks like there could be some more movement on that front. According to Billboard.biz, HP's discussions with the major record labels about a cloud-based service of some sort are now "heating up," although that apparently doesn't mean an actual launch is imminent. One major label exec told Billboard that the service could be "something like Qriocity for a variety of media, which can be delivered on any HP device," but added that "we don't know how serious they are," which isn't exactly an encouraging thing to hear. That uncertainty was echoed by other unnamed sources, who were reportedly unsure about how quickly HP could launch such a service (at least six months away, according to some), while one other said that HP is still "trying to narrow down what their service will look like."

ASUS to ship 300,000 Eee Pad Transformers in June, surpass all non-iPad tablet sales

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 08:54 AM PDT


ASUS has had a hard time meeting demand for its Eee Pad Transformer since the device's launch earlier this year, but we clearly don't have component shortages to blame. Jerry Shen, the Taiwanese company's CEO, says that he expects to sell 300,000 of the tablets this month, following shipments totaling 400,000 in April and May. That figure puts the device in the number two spot for worldwide tablet shipments, just behind the prevailing iPad 2. At that rate, ASUS's latest hybrid will bring in NT $2.5-3 billion (approximately $86.6-104 million), accounting for 10 percent of the company's total revenue for June -- a figure which could increase after sales pick up in Europe and mainland China in Q3. As for North America, it looks like e-tailers are finally able to maintain inventory of the $399 (16GB) flavor -- it's listed as in stock with major sites, including Amazon and Best Buy.

Boxee users without a Box on PC, Mac or Ubuntu are getting a fall update, open source release

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 08:31 AM PDT

Ever since the Boxee Box was released fans running the software on their PCs have been left by the wayside, but as we expected that changes this fall with updates for the PC, Mac and Ubuntu versions. CEO Avner Ronen announced on the official blog that while updates for the downloadable version "will most likely lag behind the versions of Boxee for devices" the company hopes to keep them more up to speed going forward. Still think you could do a better job of updating the software yourself? Done, since Boxee also plans to make an open source version available. There's no date attached to that effort and given past experience with delayed Boxee releases we wouldn't clear our college football watching schedule just yet, but for everyone who would rather roll their own media device there is still a future in the Boxee platform.

Shocker! The internet is not egalitarian, popular forum posters have it easy

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 08:11 AM PDT

Researchers at the University of Georgia analyzed six years' worth of Usenet posts, and you know what they discovered? Life ain't fair. The most popular two percent of posters who started discussion threads hogged 50 percent of all replies, while everyone else struggled for attention. What made some thread-starters more attractive than others? Thankfully it wasn't rampant flaming. The distinguishing trait was actually how factual they were: only 12 percent of posts by popular posters contained personal opinions or comments. However, posting a bit of news isn't all it takes to win followers. In a related experiment, 200 volunteers were unleashed onto "simulated" discussion forums and their behavior revealed an even more important factor. The slightly flummoxed researchers called it a "preferential attachment", which pulled readers towards posters who already had an excess of followers. In other words, life still ain't fair. For a delightfully factual breakdown of the full results, check out the PR after the break.
Show full PR text
An egalitarian Internet? Not so, UGA study says

Athens, Ga. – The Internet is often thought of as a forum that enables egalitarian communication among people from diverse backgrounds and political persuasions, but a University of Georgia study reveals that online discussion groups display the same hierarchical structure as other large social groups.

"About 2 percent of those who start discussion threads attract about 50 percent of the replies," said study author Itai Himelboim, assistant professor in the UGA Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. "So although we have this wide range and diversity of sources, only a few of them are actually attracting attention."

Himelboim, whose latest findings appear in the early online edition of the journal Communication Research, examined discussions among more than 200,000 participants in 35 newsgroups over a six-year period. He focused his analysis on political and philosophical newsgroups on Usenet, the oldest Internet discussion platform, and is currently exploring patterns of communication in newer social networking services, such as Twitter.

To identify the differences, if any, that exist in the content posted by popular participants and their less popular counterparts, Himelboim and colleagues Eric Gleave and Marc A. Smith of Connected Action Consulting Group examined the content of a subset of the messages. Only 12 percent of messages from the popular posters presented their own comments and opinions; most of the time, they simply imported content from other news sources. Of the imported content, 60 percent came from traditional media, such as The New York Times, CNN and other national and local outlets, while 8 percent came from blogs and personal websites. Fifteen percent of posts used content from online-only news sites, and 6 percent of posts used content from government and nonprofit organizations.

"For the news media, these findings are pretty encouraging," Himelboim said. "We still need someone to go out and search for information to bring it to us, and that's a traditional journalistic role."

For those who fancy the Internet as a great equalizer that brings equality to the voices of the masses, however, the findings suggest that it could never meet that lofty ideal. Himelboim said he wasn't surprised to find that online discussion groups tend to become hierarchical. Even in grade school, he pointed out, everybody wants to be friends with the most popular kid.

What did surprise Himelboim was that the larger the group gets, the more skewed the network of interactions becomes. People exhibit what's called a preferential attachment toward those with many connections, which suggests that having many connections makes it easier to make more connections. Himelboim said that because people can only spend so much time communicating with others, the growth of these so-called hubs comes at the expense of their less-connected counterparts.

In a related study that randomly assigned nearly 200 participants to one of several simulated forums, Himelboim and his colleagues found that posting high-quality content is necessary for attracting attention-but not sufficient. That is, high quality posts with few replies drew few additional replies and never became hubs.

So what does one need to do to attract attention on the Internet?
"That's the million dollar question," Himelboim said. 'But just posting a lot will not make you a hub for attracting attention."

Fits.me imitates ladies of all shapes and sizes, tries clothes on for you (video)

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:44 AM PDT

Fits.Me Female FitBot
Unless you're in the rather strange habit of going to stores, trying on clothes, and returning home to purchase them online, you never know how they look on you until the package arrives on your doorstep. Last year Fits.me tackled this little niggling e-commerce issue with a shape-shifting male mannequin and finally, after a year of tireless work, the fairer sex has its own FitBot -- turns out the female form is much more difficult to replicate. Again, the adjustable, human stand-in is making its debut at the British retailer Hawes & Curtis and our more womanly readers can head to the source to get a better idea of how the White Hipster Shirt would drape across their particular body type simply by moving a set of sliders. But, before you go, check out the pair of videos after the break.


TiVo Premiere Q and Preview boxes are official along with an updated iPad app

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:18 AM PDT

An early release over the weekend took any surprise out of the news, but now TiVo has officially announced its plans for the new TiVo Premiere Q and TiVo Preview set-top boxes and an update for its iPad app at the 2011 NCTA Cable Show. Both boxes are firsts for TiVo, the Premiere Q (pictured above) because it has four tuners and can stream video to up to three other boxes in the home, and the Preview because it lacks a hard drive or any DVR capabilities entirely. The Preview can function on its own or as a multiroom thin client streaming from TiVo DVRs, and both promise full integration with video on-demand and other cable-provided services. There's no word on any retail plans and as expected RCN and Suddenlink will be the first to offer the boxes. The TiVo iPad app is also getting a cable-friendly makeover with a new version that can browse video on-demand offerings and flick them to any available TiVos for viewing, just like it does for internet video. We complained about the slow pace of updates for the existing Premiere DVR yesterday, so we'll try to have a fresh outlook on the official announcements (PR and more pictures are after the break) and consider a future where TiVo isn't tied to DVRs or being offered at retail.





Show full PR text
TiVo Unveils Full Family of Set Top Boxes for Comprehensive Whole Home Solution

Introduces Company's First Quad-Tuner DVR Gateway and First Non-DVR HD Set-Top Box; RCN and Suddenlink First Cable Operators Planning to Offer New Products

CHICAGO, IL, Jun 13, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a creator and leader in advanced television services and digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced the next generation of its whole home solution with the addition of robust HD video streaming and two new set-tops to its service provider product family. TiVo Premiere Q, the company's first-ever quad-tuner gateway set-top box, and TiVo Preview, its first non-DVR HD set-top box, will join TiVo's existing advanced television solutions offered to cable operators.

Consistent with TiVo's mission to bring the TiVo experience to every screen in the house, these new products enable TiVo's operator partners to provide a superior advanced television experience to non-DVR households, single DVR households, as well as multi-room DVR households. With its four tuners and support for broad range of video on demand content over IP, the TiVo Premiere Q serves as an advanced video gateway, while TiVo Preview provides the full TiVo user experience for non-DVR households and also functions as a thin client complement to those using a TiVo DVR, creating a fantastic multi-room viewing experience. Both set-top boxes support the full integration of operator services such as Video on Demand, PPV, CallerID on the TV and linear programming, plus access to broadband applications and services.

"TiVo's solution for cable has stood apart in delivering the only offering that fully integrates the operator's linear and VOD content with broadband content and application choices," said David Sandford, TiVo's Vice President and General Manager of TiVo's service provider business. "With the introduction of the TiVo Premiere Q and TiVo Preview, TiVo is extending its advanced user experience and leading multi-room capabilities to provide cable operators a cost effective and highly differentiated solution for every type of household and every television in the house."

Beyond its quad tuners and industry leading DVR features, TiVo Premiere Q brings a number of benefits to operators deploying whole home solutions. TiVo Premiere Q is unique in that it supports 4 simultaneous recordings and the ability to view streaming broadband content, while at the same time supporting up to 3 HD streams over a MoCA or Ethernet home network. It is also the only STB of its kind that integrates a bridge between the MoCA and Ethernet networks to simplify and reduce the cost of installation, allowing the Premiere Q to easily connect to existing home networks.

TiVo Preview completes the whole home solution for operators that can now deploy the TiVo user experience in every room of the home. It provides the same HD user experience as the TiVo Premiere and Premiere Q and fully integrates an operator's linear and VOD content with broadband content and application choices, and immediate streaming access to DVR content from a TiVo Premiere or Premiere Q. Similar to Premiere Q, Preview includes integrated MoCA and Ethernet for home networking and multi-room applications.

"As the first cable operator to deploy TiVo Premiere last year, rolling out a whole home solution from TiVo is the logical next step for our company," said Jim Holanda, CEO of RCN. "We look forward to offering our customers the TiVo user experience, with access to their recordings, RCN VOD and broadband content options on every television screen in the home."

These products will initially be available through select cable operators. RCN will be the first domestic cable operator to offer subscribers the Premiere Q and Preview, in addition to its current TiVo Premiere offering. Suddenlink expects to extend its current TiVo offering through these and other TiVo products. Operators who embrace any of TiVo's three products will now be able to realize expanded whole-home capabilities and the same user experience on every TV. TiVo plans to make both new products available to its cable operator partners later this year.

TiVo unveiled both products during the 2011 NCTA Cable Show in Chicago. For more information visit the TiVo booth #ES-1 located in the main exhibit hall.

About TiVo Inc. Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo's intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry www.tivo.com

TiVo and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. Copyright 2011 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, the future availability of TiVo Premiere Q and TiVo Preview set-top boxes, including expected functionality, features and capabilities. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "intend," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include delays in development, competitive service offerings and lack of market acceptance, as well as the other potential factors described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. TiVo disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE: TiVo



TiVo Enhances iPad App to Benefit Cable Operators

New Version of TiVo's Companion Application Adds Operator's VOD Catalog and Integrates VOD Prominently Into the Overall Search Results

CHICAGO, IL, Jun 13, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced that it has enhanced its TiVo App for iPad to include new features tailored to its cable partners. Launched on the App store earlier this year, the TiVo App for iPad enables users to search, browse, explore and share their favorite entertainment all without interrupting what's playing on the television. Once found, the user simply "flicks" the selected content from the iPad to their TV screen.

The new version of TiVo's companion iPad application automatically adds the operator's Video on Demand into the search and browse features within the App, allowing viewers to quickly find a TV program or movie and enjoy it on TV. The App also automatically detects and integrates the operator's branding, linear programming and VOD catalog when connected to a TiVo box provided by the operator.

"Operators are constantly looking for new ways to connect with their subscribers," said David Sandford, TiVo's Vice President and General Manager of TiVo's service provider business. "The enhancements we have made to our iPad App help cable operators bring TiVo's innovative user interface directly into the hands of their subscribers, thereby offering consumers the ultimate remote control and viewing on demand experience. We have only just begun to refine our offering to the operator community and look forward to bringing additional elements to the TiVo iPad App."

To learn more visit www.tivo.com/ipad.

TiVo made this announcement during the 2011 NCTA Cable Show in Chicago.

About TiVo Inc. Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo's intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry www.tivo.com

TiVo and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. Copyright 2011 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE: TiVo

Autodesk 123D solid modeling software hits beta, hobbyists cheer $0.00 pricetag

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:54 AM PDT

If you've spent any time whatsoever in SketchUp, there's a better-than-average chance you'll have a ball within Autodesk 123D. The new Windows-based program -- which quietly slid into beta a couple of weeks ago -- is a gratis, stripped-down version of Autodesk's famed Inventor application, but it still offers a plethora of design tools for something that's being given away free of charge. We're told that just the basics are here, and sadly, it's not open source; that said, it does have an option for exporting to STL, and you will find support for assemblies and constraints. Eager to toss something else in your 3D modeling toolkit? Hit the links below to get started, and feel free to check your wallet at the door.

The Xsens ForceShoe watches your step, helps you walk better

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:29 AM PDT

The technology-laden Xsens ForceShoe might better be described as a sandal. However, if you're the type of bipedal perfectionist who wants to analyze your gait using an array of 6DoF force sensors and magnetic trackers (not to mention that cunningly-disguised wireless data transmitter), then the chances are your toenails can also stand a bit of scrutiny. In fact, although the ForceShoe is primarily designed for physio patients, we think its inventors at the University of Twente might just have stumbled upon the next-gen Nike+ accessory we've all been waiting for. Unfortunately they're not on sale, but if you're a researcher looking to measure the orientation, acceleration, angular velocity, force and torque of your feet in three dimensions, you're welcome to hop past the break for the full press release.
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Xsens introduces powerful kinematics and kinetics tracking sensor packed shoes

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands,-31 May, 2011- Xsens, the leader in professional 3D tracking systems, today announced the introduction of the ForceShoeTM – sensor packed shoes for extremely accurate measurement of 3D motion, 3D forces and 3D torques. The fully ambulatory ForceShoe is the first commercially available system making it possible to analyze joint forces and torques outside of the laboratory. The ForceShoe brings state-of-the-art advanced biomechnical human performance analysis, out of the lab, to the real world - such as the ergonomics of a factory assembly line or the performance of an athlete on the sports field. For research use only, technology evaluation kits are available from Xsens, effective immediately.

Xsens has licensed the technology behind the ForceShoe from Prof. P.H. Veltink of the University of Twente, a leading group in advanced 3D ambulatory measurement techniques, and are now making this expertise widely available for further research in clinical rehabilitation, ergonomics and sports applications. Colleen Monaghan, Product Manager, Movement Science of Xsens explains, "We are very much looking forward to engaging in discussions with the scientific community about the different potential end-uses of this exciting technology".

Prof. Veltink of the University of Twente, adds "We are very pleased that our ideas aimed at measuring advanced 3D kinematics and kinetics outside of the restricted lab environment are now being developed further, and finding their way to more widespread use. The technology behind the ForceShoe not only concerns the measurement of 3D kinematics, force and torques but also patent pending methods to track power transfer in ambulatory settings. The accuracy of the system is carefully validated and published in close cooperation with several other leading research groups."

The ForceShoe research kit contains a pair of ForceShoes, an Xbus Master and Xsens MT SDK. Each ForceShoe contains 6DoF force/torque sensors integrated with customized Xsens MTx 3D inertial and magnetic trackers. Synchronized data is transmitted from the attached Xbus Master in real-time to a computer, running the easy-to-use MT Software Development Kit for (real-time) access to the raw, measured data.

The ForceShoe is just the first outcome of a strong research program lead by the MIRA institute of the University of Twente. Exciting new possibilities will emerge from new projects such as the ongoing "FUSION" and "PowerSensor" projects, sponsored by STW, or "INTERACTION" sponsored by the European Commission, each with strong consortiums of leading organizations in this field, including MIRA and Xsens.

Jaybird JF3 Freedom Bluetooth stereo headset shipping next week, enhanced with new cushions

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:08 AM PDT

Jaybird's been pretty quiet about its latest Bluetooth offering. In fact, the company actually sneaked a few of its JF3 Freedom sports headphones into some stores back in April, but they quickly ran out of stock -- we imagine it was either a test run or the product needed some tweaking. Regardless, we've just been informed that the JF3 will finally be available to all starting next week, with Jaybird's online store currently taking pre-orders for $99 a pop (including free delivery), followed by wider availability at retail stores in late July. What's more, these sweat-proof stereo buds are now enhanced with new blade-like silicon ear cushions -- head past the break to watch Jaybird founder Judd Armstrong ecstatically shake his head to show off the secure fit.
Jaybird JF3 Freedom Bluetooth headphones

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Originally announced at CES in January, JayBird launches the new JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Headphones with secure fit ear cushions for sports.

Website: http://www.jaybirdgear.com
Feature Videos and Review: http://www.youtube.com/jaybirdsporttv

Key features include:
1) Small wireless Bluetooth buds
2) Secure fit for sports thanks to the proprietary honey comb design ear cushions
3) Great sound performance, tuned to avoid listener fatigue during long work outs
4) Sweat proof design with Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat

Completely forget about your headphones with Freedom Bluetooth earbuds. No wires and an incredibly secure fit for sports.
The Freedom features a clean, natural looking design and wearing style, 6 hours music and play time, a premium hard shell magnet sealed carry case, 3 sizes of ear tips, and 3 sizes of secure fit ear cushions for sports.

Inspired by the fog lamp grill of a sports car, and with the soft comfort of silicon, the new hexagon design ear cushions offer superb comfort and secure fit for sports. The honey comb center gives a balanced amount of resistance against the back bowl of the ear (top, back and bottom), thus holding the ear tip securely forward in the ear. Three sizes of ear cushions are provided in addition to 3 sizes of ear tips.

Freedom has been selling in retail stores without any announcement since April, and now, JayBird has enhanced the offering with new secure fit silicon sports ear cushions. The enhanced Freedom is available now and exclusive on the JayBird online store for $99 with free shipping (and will reach retail stores late July). Existing Freedom owners can order a free set of the new ear cushions from jaybirdgear.com/jf3.


Technical Specifications

Construction

Heavy-duty case construction
Sealed against sweat and moisture
Rubberize overmolded sealed buttons
Tangle-free flat cord
High integrity light-weight construction
Audio

Type: In-Ear Style
Noise-isolation: No
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Output 15mW RMS (with level limit)
Total Harmonic Distortion <5% (1KHz, 10mW)
Protocol: BT 2.0, A2DP, Handsfree, Headset
Speaker sensitivity: 117 +-3dB At 1KHz
Audio Format: 16-bit Stereo
Operation

Operating: 14F - 140F (-10C - 60C )
Storage: -22F - 176F (-30C - 80C)
AC power: DC 5A 100mA

Bluetooth

Tx Power: Bluetooth Class 2.1+EDR
Codec: SBC Range: 10 meters/33 feet
Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz
Response Bandwidth 20-20000Hz
Pairing

No of Paired Devices: 2
Pairing passkey: 0000
Integrated Microphone

Type: 4mm omni-directional
Sensitivity: -34 dB + /-3dB (1KHz, 0dB = 1V/Pa)
Battery

Music Play Time: 6 Hrs*
Talk Time: 6 Hrs*
Standby Time: 250 Hrs*
Charging Time: 2 hrs
Charging: USB (included)
Type: 250 mAh Lithium Polymer
* May vary dependent on usage & device

Weight & Dimensions

Width: 18 mm
Height: 40 mm
Depth: 8 mm
Weight: 16 g

Button Controls

AVRCP Music Controls (Play, pause, Next, Back)
Call Controls (answer, end, reject call)
General (Volume, pair, power)

In The Box

JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Headphones
USB Cable
3 pair eartips
3 pair secure fit ear cushions
Premium Carry case
User Manual

Compatible Products

iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad
iPod nano and classic with Bluetooth adapter
Andriod and other smart phones
MP3 players, PC/Mac
Gaming Devices

See JayBird Bluetooth adapters for non-bluetooth products.
Warranty

1 Year Limited Warranty
Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat

Sharp begins Eco House evaluation in Japan, aims for eco-friendly tech mecca

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 05:47 AM PDT

Looking at vacation homes in Osaka, are you? If you happen upon a blueprint that looks anything like the crib shown above, we're guessing that it'll cost you a pretty penny. Er, yen. Sharp has just started the evaluation process on its newly completed Eco House -- an abode that aims to emit precisely zero carbon emissions while not compromising on the technology within it. It's outfitted with a cadre of energy-saving appliances and AQUOS TVs, all networked in via HEMS and programmed to display energy usage to whatever landlord decides to stop by for the day. Not surprisingly, some of the energy is being sourced from photovoltaic modules, and we're told that a downright absurd 180-inch LCD will be "evaluated for suitability to today's green-conscious world." Something tells us the company won't have too many issues finding volunteers to occupy the joint.

Bill Gates' kids 'aren't deprived,' they have Zunes

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 05:24 AM PDT

Bill Gates doesn't give too many interviews, but the Daily Mail's Caroline Graham sure managed to get a lot out of him during their recent sitdown. Gates spent much of the time discussing his global health foundation, which, according to him, has become "full-time work for the rest of my life." And, while he acknowledged that he's still involved with Microsoft on a "part-time" basis, he reaffirmed that he has no desire to return to the throne. Does this mean he's finally ready to lift his household's notorious Apple embargo and allow his kids to own iPods? Not exactly:

"They have the Windows equivalent. They have a Zune music player, which is a great Windows portable player. They are not deprived children."

Hear that? Bill's kids aren't in need! In fact, they even earn allowances and "do chores," just like your kids. Sure, their pops may have billions of dollars stowed away under his mattress, but he says his offspring will only receive a "minuscule portion" of that fortune. Cue the violins.

Logitech G400 optical gaming mouse available for pre-order, wants to replace your aging MX518

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 04:56 AM PDT

It's been almost a decade since Logitech introduced the now revered and oft-imitated MX518 optical gaming mouse, and this mainstay peripheral is finally getting a well-deserved upgrade as the new G400. Externally, the design isn't much different; it's merely sporting a stealthier grey hue and a cable that's "thinner and twenty-five percent lighter." All of the tweaks Logitech has made to help improve your fragging life are internal. The optical sensor is twice as sensitive with a maximum 3,600 DPI resolution (selectable down to 400) that maintains a tracking speed of 140 inches per second, and the mouse reports 1,000 times per second over USB (up from 250). This little guy will even work with the macros on G-series keyboards. If your clicker-finger is starting to itch for one, $50 will snag you a pre-order from Logitech in the US where it's due out on June 19th, while the rest of the planet will have to rock their 518s into July.

Nintendo 3DS has resistive touchscreen for backwards compatibility, what's the Wii U's excuse?

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 04:20 AM PDT

In case it somehow snuck in under your radar, E3 just happened. The LA-based gaming extravaganza is where Nintendo introduced its next generation of home console, the Wii U, also served as the location where our buddies from Joystiq caught up with Hideki Konno, the company's 3DS hardware chief. When queried as to why the 3DS uses the same, nowadays archaic, resistive touch technology as in the original DS, Mr. Konno answered candidly that "it's all about the backwards compatibility. We have to play DS games on this and we want to make sure they work." Not an unreasonable assertion by any means, however those same Joystiq sleuths also determined pretty conclusively that the Wii U's bodacious 6.2-inch controller also uses a resistive touchscreen -- could the primeval tech be getting recycled again for similar reasons? Nintendo's made no announcements about game compatibility on the Wii U beyond confirming that it'll play all Wii titles, but this at least it gives us some extra food for rumination (and speculation) while we wait for the new console's 2012 release.

Scientists produce laser light from human kidney cells, we get in touch with our inner Cyclops

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 04:01 AM PDT

Scientists have just created living laser light out of a human cell and some jellyfish protein, but it's not quite as terrifying as it sounds. Developed by Malte Gather and Seok Hyun Yun at Massachusetts General Hospital, the new technique revolves around something known as green fluorescent protein (GFP) -- a naturally glowing molecule found in jellyfish that can be used to illuminate living material. After genetically engineering a human kidney cell to express this protein, Gather and Yun wedged it between two mirrors in an inch-long cylinder, filled with a GFP solution. Then, they infused the system with blue light, until the cell began to emit its own pulses of bright green laser light. Researchers also noticed that the cell could regenerate any destroyed fluorescent proteins, potentially paving the way for scientists to conduct light-based therapy and medical imaging without an external laser source. Hit the source link for more information, though you'll need a subscription to Nature Photonics to access the full article.

Sky Go consolidates live TV streaming on UK PCs and iOS devices next month

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:11 AM PDT

Over in the UK, Sky TV is streamlining its efforts to serve up TV channels away from the TV by launching the new Sky Go service July 6th. It combines and replaces the existing online Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services into one offering that's free for subscribers, and in August will open up to those who don't have Sky TV service for between £15-£40 per month. The new package also means changes for Sky Player on the Xbox 360 (which has its own changes in store) and Fetch TV, which will now just be "Sky" and will no longer count as one of the two allowed Sky Go device activations. Check the link below for the full list of channels which includes all the Sky Sports feeds, MTV, Disney and even ESPN without requiring the WatchESPN app we have in the US. There are a few drawbacks however, as it drops support for Windows Media Center and so far only iOS devices (running version 4.0 or higher - no first gen iPod Touches allowed) are on the approved list, but the official FAQ mentions an Android version on the way this year.

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Sky TV Goes Online and Mobile for all 10 million customers
Sky Go brings together online and mobile TV in a single, simple service,
free to Sky TV customers

From next month, all Sky TV customers will have the opportunity to watch Sky channels and programmes on PCs, laptops, mobiles and tablets at no extra charge.

Available free to all Sky TV customers, Sky Go will provide flexible access to Sky content across multiple devices including the iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac. Launching on July 6 th , it brings together two existing services: Sky Player, Sky's online TV service, and Sky Mobile TV, the UK's largest mobile TV service, with these services rebranded as Sky Go . Offering even more value from the Sky subscription, this will allow customers to watch live linear channels in line with their subscription while on the move in the UK and Ireland.

Sky Go will give customers yet more control and choice over how, when and where they enjoy Sky. Each Sky home will be entitled to register up to two devices, through which they can enjoy access to live channels and selected on-demand content.

On mobile and tablet devices, customers will be able to access all five Sky Sports channels, ESPN and Sky News, with further channels to be added over time.

On laptops and computers customers will be able to access more than 30 live channels, including all five Sky Sports channels, Sky Movies, Sky News, Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts, MTV, Disney, G.O.LD, Nickelodeon, NatGeo, History, Eden and ESPN, supported by an extensive library of on-demand content.

Sky Go will be available from August to non-Sky TV customers, with monthly subscriptions priced from £15-£40. Sky will also remain available on Xbox and Fetch TV, but will rebrand simply as Sky (currently Sky Player).

In time, Sky Go will be supported by Sky's acquisition earlier this year of The Cloud, a leading public Wi-Fi network that offers wireless access in over 4,500 public locations - across coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, public transport hubs and other public spaces. Out-of-home Wi-Fi will support a higher quality experience for online services including Sky Go and other high bandwidth services and applications. Further details on the roll out of the network, including timings, will be announced in due course.

Stephen van Rooyen, Deputy MD of Sky's Customer Group, comments :
"The explosion of smartphones and tablets demonstrates the increasing consumer demand for accessing entertainment and communicating on the move. We have already responded to this by offering a range of services, including live TV, across many new innovative platforms and devices, like laptops and iPhones.

"Clearly the consumer appetite is there, and it's growing. In responding to that, and to create even more value, choice and flexibility for our customers, we are now going to offer online and mobile access to Sky content at no extra charge. The future support of a nationwide Wi-Fi network will help us supercharge that experience further still."
-END-

Toshiba Thrive pre-order now live, starts at $430 and ends up in your hands in mid-July

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 02:13 AM PDT

As promised, Toshiba is marking June 13th with pre-order availability of its Thrive Android (3.1!) tablet, a device whose life aspiration and name happen to coincide perfectly. This 10-inch Tegra 2 portable has the usual 1280 x 800 resolution, dual cameras (5 megapixel on the back, 2 megapixel up front), a gigabyte of RAM, and a 23WHr battery, but it also brings nice expandability with full-size HDMI, USB 2.0 and SD card slots. The Easy Grip back covers can be swapped -- which, yes, means you can also replace the battery -- though you'll have to splash out $20 for any non-black hues. The 8GB Thrive costs $430, followed by the 16GB unit at $480 and the 32GB option at $580. You can order yours directly from Toshiba or at Amazon, Best Buy or Office Direct, with deliveries slated for mid-July.

[Thanks, Matthew]

PhoneIt-iPad available via Cydia now, claims it'll turn your iPad 3G into a phone (video)

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:36 AM PDT

They hacked Facetime onto the iPhone 3GS, and now they've done it again -- the iPhoneIslam team's bringing cellular calling and texting to your jailbroken iPad 3G. We haven't been able to test it for ourselves quite yet, but the new PhoneIt-iPad app should be available through the team's Cydia repository right now, and it'll cost $20 to bring out the full potential of your slate. And with that, it's only a matter of time before iPad sidetalking becomes a meme.

Codemasters website hacked, 'tens of thousands' of personal accounts compromised

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:03 AM PDT

This must be the season of the hacking witch as we've now seen yet another company's online security walls breached. Independent UK games developer Codemasters, responsible for titles like Dirt 3 and Overlord, has reported that its website was hacked on the third of June, exposing the names, addresses (both physical and email), birthdays, phone numbers, Xbox gamer tags, biographies, and passwords of its registered users. Payment information wasn't compromised, but when you consider that almost everything else was, that feels like hollow consolation. For its part, Codemasters says it took the website offline as soon as the breach was detected and a subsequent investigation has revealed the number of affected users to be in the tens of thousands. Those who might have been affected directly are being emailed with penitent apologies, while the rest of us are being pointed to the company's Facebook page while its web portal is kept offline.

KinectShop concept is ready to televise your shopping revolution (video)

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 12:31 AM PDT

Does anybody actually enjoy the laborious process of trying out clothes? The sheer physical effort, the risk of breaking a sweat... it's just not for us. We're much more comfortable with virtual reality fitting rooms, which is where Microsoft's Kinect motion camera has found yet another raison for its etre. Razorfish, the folks who already impressed us with some neat Kinect hacking, now have a new shopping platform that's said to actually wrap clothes around your frame and thereby provide a 3D preview of what you and they would look like together. The current iteration only shows some giddy ladies exploring the wide world of handbags, but they do look suitably impressed with the system. There are also sharing options via QR codes and NFC, plus the obligatory social networking tie-ins. Skip after the break to see the KinectShop on video.

Sonic.net starts trial of 1Gbps fiber-to-the-home internet in California, asks just $70

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:49 PM PDT

You'll be forgiven for not being intimately familiar with Californian ISP Sonic.net, though we get the feeling you'll also wish it operated a little closer to your abode by the time you've finished reading this. You see, Sonic has always dabbled in the business of high-speed, low-price internet connectivity, and now it's going for the jugular with a new fiber-to-the-home service, which costs just $69.95 a month, reaches speeds up to 1Gbps, and bundles in two phone lines and unlimited long distance calling. Just for reference, Comcast's "Extreme" 105Mbps connection costs $105 a pop when taken as part of a bundle, whereas Sonic's budget menu option will net you a 100Mbps line for $39.95 (plus a phone line with unlimited calls). Understandably, Sonic's grand plan is starting out small, with a trial in Sebastopol spanning 700 households, but provided the company doesn't go bust by giving people so much for so little, expansion to bigger cities will follow, with San Francisco and Santa Rosa being the prime candidates. And just in case you're questioning Sonic's credentials, Google's chosen the ISP to manage its gigabit fiber network at Stanford University, and who knows ultrafast broadband better than Google?

[Thanks, Roland]

HP rolls out the YouTube carpet for TouchPad slate, prices accessories (video)

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 11:01 PM PDT

Now that HP's TouchPad has a confirmed July 1st release date, the company's going to do its darnedest to make sure you're excited for the slate, and the company's starting off rather well if you ask us -- instead of attempting to find a new anthem, it's simply showing off what the dual-core tablet actually does. The nine YouTube videos after the break may not be the most exciting things you'll watch all day, but they certainly do show off the multitasking magic of HP's card-based operating system. If that's not nearly enough TouchPad information, though, Geekazine also taped a 37-minute conversation with HP product manager Tim Pettitt, where he reveals that the final TouchPad won't have a traditional gesture area, but it will recognize the traditional swipe up for opening and closing apps. By the by, all the TouchPad's accessories have now been priced: you'll drop $30 for a charger, $50 for the official folding case, $70 for the Bluetooth keyboard, and $80 for the new Touchstone dock. Pricey.

















Panasonic Lumix GF3 official: 12.1 MP, 1080i video, no hot shoe in sight (hands-on)

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 10:00 PM PDT

Last week, we caught a glimpse of the Lumix DMC-GF3, a new addition to Panasonic's ever-growing family of Micro Four Thirds shooters. Turns out, the camera we spied in that YouTube video was legit: the company just made it official and yes, it's missing a hot shoe. Available in four colors with 12.1 megapixel resolution, it uses Panny's latest imaging processor, shoots 1080i AVCHD video, and has a 3-inch touchscreen, ISO range of 160 to 6400, and the usual array of intelligent Auto enhancements. Unlike the GF2 -- which isn't going anywhere, by the way -- it's designed with the greenest of novices in mind, which means it forgoes things experienced photogs might like, such as a hot shoe and viewfinder. This one has a mono, not stereo mic, and swaps in a simple scroll wheel on the back side. Panasonic also rejiggered the touch UI to make certain settings easier to find and added a miniature art filter -- already a staple on Olympus' PEN series. Oh, and as a beginner-friendly camera, it looks more like a point-and-shoot than a DSLR -- it's 15 percent lighter than the GF2, and 17 percent smaller.

The GF3 will be available in July for $699 with a 14mm lens, to be followed in late August by a $599 kit that comes with a 14-42mm lens. In the meantime, head on past the break and check out our impressions after spending a few minutes with a not-final unit and a 14mm lens. We only got to play with it in a fluorescent conference room, alas, but hopefully our handful of test shots will give you a taste of what you can do with the depth of field should you spring for the higher-end of the two kits.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 hands-on!

In many ways, the GF3 isn't that great a departure from the GF2, whose uncluttered chassis also has a power switch, shutter, video recording button, simple playback and menu buttons, and a navigation pad. Either way, you won't find the traditional mode dials that the original GF1 has. Thanks to that scroll wheel, the GF3's design looks even more minimal than the GF2's, and it feels noticeably lighter. The lack of any hot shoe also means it has flatter surfaces, making it look more like the kind of point-and-shoot Panasonic's target customer is used to. In fact, the back side of the camera is about the size of a BlackBerry Bold, though a phone, of course, is far thinner.

As far as the image quality goes, we were only able to snap a few shots in a drab room. But for now, we can say it offers fast focusing, as promised, and intelligent Auto was quick to change the mode (as denoted by an onscreen icon) as we changed subjects, moving closer to them and then scooting backward again. The color reproduction seems pretty faithful, and the UI is easy enough to navigate, though we weren't blown away by the responsiveness of the pre-production screen. But we can see where the screen's matte finish would make it easier to frame shots in direct sunlight. Hopefully, we'll soon be able to spend more time with one and see if our impressions hold up after we've played with it for a week.
Show full PR text
PANASONIC UNVEILS THE LUMIX GF3, THE COMPANY'S SMALLEST AND LIGHTEST DIGITAL INTERCHANGELABLE LENS SYSTEM CAMERA WITH A BUILT-IN FLASH*

The LUMIX GF3 Body Weighs Just 7.83oz and Produces High-Quality Photos, Full-HD Video Recording Capabilities and Smart Touch-Screen Controls
SECAUCUS, NJ (June 13, 2011) – Panasonic today announces its latest compact system camera (CSC), the mirror-free Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF3 is the company's smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a built-in flash*1, with its body size comparable to that of a smartphone and weighing just 7.83oz (body only), less than a standard 8oz cup of coffee. The Panasonic's LUMIX GF3 realizes all the features desired from a traditional DSLR interchangeable lens camera, only it accomplishes them in an ultra-compact body that is lightweight and simple to master.

This remarkable reduction in size and weight is thanks to advancements in new mirror-free camera technology, and large DSLR format sensors that are more compatible with a new class of compact Micro Four Thirds (MFT) System lenses. This new class of Compact System Cameras offers a weight and compactness not seen in traditional DSLRs, yielding greater portability and creative control. The DMC-GF3's image quality comes from a large DSLR-sized 12.1-megapixel sensor and newly advanced image processing technologies.

The LUMIX GF3 digital camera is based on the Micro Four Thirds standard of lenses, which includes Panasonic's 3D lens, thus the LUMIX GF3 not only provides outstanding still photos, full-High Definition 1080/60i video, but is also capable of shooting 3D still photos.

The Panasonic LUMIX GF3 produces high-quality photos with true-to-life details, thanks to excellent resolution, image rendering and color reproduction; high-grade lens options; and extremely precise Auto Focus (AF). Plus, the LUMIX GF3 creates the right balance between resolution and noise reduction, thus producing life-like images with accurate auto exposure and white balance, creating rich colors. Taking a page from the renowned LUMIX GH2's image quality, the LUMIX GF3 boasts full sized DSLR like Image quality thanks the same Venus Engine FHD image processor. The Venus Engine FHD image processor makes impressive low noise images from its 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor. Notably, images shot in low-lit situations at high ISO sensitivity setting, are stunningly clear with extremely sharp resolution. The image processor also excels in energy consumption by extending the battery life, despite its smaller size.

Thanks to a new mount, the LUMIX GF3 is approximately 16.7% smaller and 16.2% lighter than its predecessor, the LUMIX GF2. Despite its small size and unlike many CSC cameras in this class, the LUMIX GF3 still maintains a built-in flash and features a new pop-up mechanism that helps prevent the vignetting effect due to short distances between the flash unit and the interchangeable lens. With a newly-designed aluminum body that incorporates an ergonomic grip, and a well-designed control dial combined with a 3-inch touch enabled screen, the LUMIX GF3 is extremely intuitive and easy to use.

"The Panasonic GF3 compact system camera is extremely small and its newly-designed rounded body is quite attractive, which we expect to be popular among those users wanting to step-up from a point-and-shoot, yet who view traditional DSLRs as bulky and overly complex," said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "While the size and weight of the GF3 has been greatly reduced, Panasonic does not compromise what is at the core of every LUMIX, which is exceptional photo and video quality with an easy-to-use interface."

All models in Panasonic's LUMIX G Series of digital cameras feature Contrast AF for their focus system, as opposed to phase-difference AF systems, used in traditional DSLRs, which is susceptible to a mechanical margin of focus errors at wide apertures. With a Contrast AF system, focusing is controlled by the image sensor so that mechanical margin of error is reduced to achieve precise focusing, thus boosting higher number of in focus shots, especially when shooting in low light with wide open lens aperture. As a result, when the LUMIX GF3 is used with Panasonic's new wide aperture interchangeable lens, the LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm / F1.4 ASPH, also announced today, the performance of the Contrast AF system is optimally maximized.

The Panasonic LUMIX GF3 features a high-speed and extremely precise Contrast AF system that locks in approximately 0.18 seconds. Taking further advantage of Contrast AF, the LUMIX GF3 incorporates full-area focusing which makes it possible to set focus on any point in the field- of-view. The LUMIX GF3 also features Light Speed AF, an extremely fast AF which measures at approximately 0.1 seconds*2, which is achieved by reducing the detection time for focusing by doubling the sensors drive speed from 60 fps to 120 fps. With the combination of touch-control shooting, focusing on close up macro or still life objects is evermore quick and accurate thanks to the newly adopted Pinpoint AF that unlike a DSLR, offers near pixel level touch control focusing.

Manual control over focus is available in the DMC-GF3 and now features a quick 4x magnification feature. By simply touching the subject, that subject is then enlarged in a small window, allowing you to keep the rest of the image in view as a framing reference. Beyond 4x, that small window fills the monitor so even more control over focus fine-tuning can be achieved. This handy feature is available from both the MF (Manual Focus) Assist and AF + MF focus modes.

At the heart of the LUMIX GF3's simplified functionality is a large 3.0-inch touch enabled LCD (460k- dot) that allows for intuitive touch control of menus and most shooting, focusing, playback and effects controls. Menus can be customized using simple drag-and-drop actions similar to those on some touch-enabled smartphones. This allows for a custom user interface, giving Quick Menu access to functions that can be tailored to any user's expertise level. Users can also release the shutter using the touch-screen. Once locked onto a subject, the LUMIX GF3 tracks the subject with the AF Tracking feature and another touch allows the user to select the size of the AF area. In addition, Pinpoint AF function allows even more precise focus setting by further enlarging the focusing area. With increased customization, users can set the touch shutter and touch AF ON/OFF based on their preference. Touch-control also makes playback of photos and videos easy to flip through like pages in a book.

For those who miss the tactile feel of a traditional DSLR mode dial, the DMC-GF3 offers an innovative mode thumb wheel that quickly cycles though all available modes with visual feedback provided on the large 3'' touch-enabled LCD.
The LUMIX GF3 records 1920 x 1080 full-HD video in the AVCHD format, which features almost twice the recording time in HD quality than the conventional Motion JPEG. A dedicated video record button on the top lets users instantly start recording video, without having to hassle with any menu settings. The LUMIX GF3 allows for Touch AF in video recording, enabling professional-like features, such as rack focusing. For instance, by touching the subject on the screen, the focus is shifted to the subject.

Contributing to its ease-of-use, the LUMIX GF3 features Panasonic's acclaimed iA*3 (Intelligent Auto) mode – and the new advanced iA Plus mode – are automatically engaged once the iA button is pressed, helping to make shooting video and photos with the LUMIX GF3 extremely simple – even to users new to compact system cameras. Panasonic's iA features include MEGA O.I.S. (included in several lenses), Intelligent ISO Control, and Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent D-range Control and Intelligent Resolution. With the new iA Plus mode, the LUMIX GF3 easily enables commonly desired manual enhancements not available from standard camera auto modes such as peripheral defocusing around faces, exposure compensation, and color balance adjustments which are visually adjusted by moving an on screen slider with the user's finger or the thumb wheel,.

The LUMIX GF3, like all CSCs in the Panasonic LUMIX G Series, is equipped with a highly-efficient Dust Reduction System. In some system cameras, if dust or other foreign matter gets inside the digital camera while the lenses are being changed, it's possible that the debris could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in your photos. However, the Panasonic Dust Reduction System helps to eliminate this problem by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor that vibrates vertically approximately 50,000 times per second - thus repelling dust and other particles from the LUMIX GF3's sensor.

Two modes - Photo Style and Creative Control - let users at any skill level get creative with their photos. With Creative Control, the user can choose the most-frequently-used color modes (Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, High Dynamic and newly added Miniature Effect*4 mode) with easy access. In Miniature Effect mode, the peripherals are defocused while saturation and contrast is emphasized so the photos look like a diorama. The Photo Style mode revitalizes the conventional film mode with settings in Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery, Portrait presets while enabling finer adjustment of contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction.

The LUMIX GF3, like all the CSC in the LUMIX G Series of digital cameras, is compatible with other Micro Four Thirds lenses and the full sized Four Thirds System standard via an optional mount adaptor. Other accessories available to the LUMIX G Series include external flashes, PL and ND filters, leather cases, straps, and more. The Panasonic LUMIX GF3 will be available in black, white, red and brown bodies for a suggested retail prices of $699.99 with the 14mm lens kit system starting in July 2011, and $599.99 with the 14-42mm lens kit system starting in late August 2011; and. For more information on Panasonic LUMIX G Series compact system cameras, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

Acer ships AMD-powered Revo RL100 HTPC to Americans: $499 and up

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 09:01 PM PDT

Acer actually popped out its Revo RL100 media center right around six months ago, but for those unable to make the trip to Asia, today's the day for getting jovial. Said player is now shipping to the US of A, hailed as a "digital hub" and outfitted with a dual-mode wireless touchpad / keyboard as well as the company's own clear.fi streaming solution. A pair of models will be available -- one with Blu-ray and one without -- with the entire box measuring just 1- x 11.81- x 7.09-inches. As expected, an HDMI port 'round back will handle the bulk of the data transmissions, and an internal NVIDIA Ion graphics chip will be responsible for 1080p video playback. Within, you'll get a 1.3GHz AMD Athlon II K325 CPU, 750GB SATA hard drive, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, three USB 2.0 ports, a multi-card reader, 802.11b/g/n WiFi and an Ethernet socket. Windows 7 Home Premium will be the OS of choice, and it can be yours for the tidy sum of $499.99 (or $569.99 if you're looking to add BD capabilities).
Acer Revo RL100 HTPC press gallery
Show full PR text
ACER REVO RL100 MEDIA CENTER;THE DIGITAL HEART OF THE LIVING ROOM

Sleek system with Blu-ray makes aggregating and sharing digital data among home devices simple and seamless; Winner of Computex Best Choice and Design & Innovation awards

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 13, 2011 – Acer America Corp. announced today that the slim and stylish Acer Revo RL100 media center is now available at leading technology retailers in the United States. A digital hub for a den or living room, it connects to a flat-screen TV and comes with a dual-mode wireless touchpad/keyboard for smooth navigation from the comfort of the couch. There are two models available, including one with Blu-ray.

Outfitted with Acer clear.fi, the Acer RL100 automatically interconnects all Acer home-based and mobile devices, including smartphones, making it easy to consolidate and share HD multimedia throughout the household. This means users can access HD movies and personal content from any Acer device in the house for enjoying on a big screen TV.

This unique system won both Best Choice and Design & Innovation awards at Computex 2011 in Taipei. The Best Choice awards jury selects Taiwan's best information and communications technologies (ICT) products in the overseas market each year. The Design & Innovation awards, organized in cooperation with the world-leading industrial design institution iF Design, honors products showcasing excellence and originality in construction.

Available in a very slim, low profile black chassis that's about the size of a game console, the Acer Revo RL100 measures just 1.0 inches (H) x 11.81 inches (W) x 7.09 inches (L). It's sleek, understated and flexible with the ability to lay flat or upright on a stand depending on the user's preference. It connects directly to a TV via an HDMI port and seamlessly integrates with a high-definition 5.1 channel surround sound system. Enhanced with Dolby® Home Theater v3, the Acer Revo RL100 provides an immersive, crystal-clear audio experience.

The smooth acceleration for HD home cinema features next generation NVIDIA® ION discrete graphics with support for 1080p/720p HD video playback and Web HD Flash acceleration. Equipped with an AMD Athlon™ II K325 processor (1.3GHz), a 750GB SATA hard drive (1) and 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, the Acer Revo RL100 has plenty of power and storage for cinematic entertainment.

Flexible Dual-Mode Wireless Touchpad/Keyboard
The Acer Revo RL100 comes with a dual-mode wireless touchpad/keyboard. With the press of a toggle button, the wireless multi-gesture touchpad transforms between a back-lit full-function keyboard and a simple touch-based mouse. The keyboard is about the size of an index card that enables a large amount of text to be typed using fingers or thumbs.

A feature called Free Touch provides screen navigation, cursor movement and application control with the use of just one-finger. Using two-finger pivot motion, PDF files can be rotated 90 degrees. Users can also pinch for zooming and browse photos, web pages, documents or media albums back and forth by sliding three fingers horizontally and vertically.

Acer clear.fi: Simple Sharing, Set-Up, Search and Scalability
The integrated Acer clear.fi media sharing system is based on the concept that it's easier if all personal multimedia content is integrated into a single system with a common interface. clear.fi works by automatically detecting the clear.fi-enabled devices connected to the wireless home network and allowing digital content stored on these to be shared with other devices leveraging the same interface. clear.fi is Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compatible, allowing users to access media on DLNA-capable devices such as network attached storage (NAS), Microsoft® Xbox 360, Playstation® 3, some digital cameras and cell phones. Highly scalable, all Acer-branded consumer devices now have clear.fi embedded and can instantly join the wireless home network to share stored multimedia.

Connectivity and Software
Acer Revo RL100 has three USB 2.0 ports (one in front, two in back) for connection to a wide gamut of digital devices. The integrated multi-in-one card reader supports MultiMediaCard™ (MMC), Secure Digital™ (SD) Card, xD-Picture Card™ and Memory Stick™. It also offers an optical S/PDIF port for connecting to an external home theater audio system and both wired and wireless connections to the internet via integrated 802.11b/g/n wireless and an Ethernet port.

Practical software includes Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium, Microsoft® Office Starter 2010, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Acer Recovery Management, Nero Essentials, Clear.fi, eSobi™, Wild Tangent Zone and NetFlix®.

Pricing, Availability and Warranty
The new Acer Revo RL100 is available now at leading retailers. It comes with a one year parts and labor limited warranty and toll-free technical support.(2) The Acer Revo RL100-U1002 has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $499.99 and the Acer Revo RL100-UR20P with a Blu-ray drive has a MSRP of $569.99.

Droid Charge update brings personal hotspot back in time, adds improvements

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 08:53 PM PDT

Boy, it sure has been a fun ride for Samsung Droid Charge fans. Since the beginning of this month, said LTE phone's been plagued by a rather silly bug: its mobile hotspot feature only works if you set the date to some time in May. Thankfully, Verizon has now released an update that'll bring the device back in time for some hassle-free hotspot action, so that TARDIS of yours can be stowed away for now. Also added in the package is a whole stash of enhancements here and there, including boosted battery life during voice calls, better browser performance, new email folder structure, improved GPS performance, and many more goodies. As usual, anticipating owners can keep an eye out for the OTA update notification, but feel free to chill in May if you're enjoying the vacation.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Robots make breakfast for scientists, bide time (video)

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 07:33 PM PDT

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a growing robot -- it's also an easy and relatively quick way to lull a group of scientists into a false sense of security. Now, we're not saying that James and Rosie here had an ulterior motive when they put together a breakfast of Bavarian sausage and baguettes for a group of researchers at Munich's CoTeSys lab -- as far as robotic couples go, they seem very nice. James, a US-designed PR2 robot, sliced the bread, while German-designed Rosie boiled up some sausages, as some hungry roboticists looked on patiently. Oddly, this isn't the first time we've seen a robot prepare a morning meal -- it's nice to know, however, that after the robot apocalypse, at least we'll all still be well fed. Super sped up video of cooking robots after the break.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: solar train tunnels, refillable battery goop, and the world's first 3D-printed bikini

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 06:15 PM PDT

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.


This week green transportation left fossil fuels in the dust as Inhabitat reported that a record-breaking electric VW Bug rocketed from 0-60 in 1.6 seconds and Team Steam unveiled a space age vehicle that is vying for the title of "fastest steam car on earth." We also spotted the world's first natural gas-powered supercar, while a team of Cambridge students unveiled a sleek solar racer that will attempt to travel 1,800 miles in the World Solar Challenge. Oil fuels also lost more luster as GM's CEO called for a $1 gas tax increase in the US, while MIT unveiled a new type of liquid flow battery that could refuel electric vehicles in a snap.

As the summer sun hits its stride groundbreaking solar power projects are lighting up left and right - this week Google unveiled a new solar patent that could make solar energy cheaper than coal, while QSolar rolled out an array of rainbow-hued Kristal panels that can replace windows and walls. Photovoltaic gadgets also had their moment in the sun as Pixel Qi pulled back the curtain on a cheap, efficient solar-powered tablet and a wave and sun-powered seafaring robot received $22 million in funding.

Speaking of solar power, this week we applauded the opening of a two-mile-long photovoltaic train tunnel that will provide power to the Paris-Amsterdam high-speed rail line. We were also wowed by Steve Jobs' vision for Apple's new spaceship-shaped clean energy campus, and our Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition is really heating up, so be sure to vote for your favorite green lamp before the contest ends next week. Finally, we shared 6 great green Father's Day gifts for tech-savvy dads, and as summer gets set to begin we brought you exclusive photos of the recently opened section 2 of New York's High Line park, a beautiful suspended swimmer's oasis in Denmark, and the world's first 3D-printed bikini.

Marco Tempest's magic show uses iPods to deceive and delight

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 05:44 PM PDT


Marco Tempest calls himself a "technoillusionist" -- he combines magic tricks with the technological artistry (and occasionally the black-turtlenecked panache) of Steve Jobs. We last saw him hacking through an augmented reality illusion; this time he's using three iPods to enable his trickery, as he offers a video essay on deception, lies, and magic. It's sort of like his take on F For Fake, with more touchscreens: see him call out liars, declare himself an honest magician, and lift a smiley face out of the display and into real life, all in the video above.

Switched On: Apple's cloud conundrum

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 05:00 PM PDT

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

It is hard to believe that Apple has been trying its hand at the Internet services space since the year 2000, when it launched iTools. Like nearly all of iCloud, with which it shares its trademark vowel prefix, iTools was free. Unlike iCloud, though, its collection of services was all over the map, ranging from Web page creation to greeting cards. iCloud marks the third reboot of Apple's Web services suite since that foray. In the intervening years, we've seen .Mac (essentially a subscription version of most iTools features), and MobileMe, which paved the way for the contact and calendar synchronization that will be free as part of iCloud.

Modern-day Apple has shown an appreciation for seamless network access since the launch of the iMac in 1998, which eschewed floppy drives in favor of network-based sharing. One can even trace a belief in the power of the network further back to eWorld, AppleLink, and even the Mac's early, simple networking technologies, AppleTalk and LocalTalk. Internet services are clearly complementary to advanced devices running sophisticated software -- two areas where Apple excels. So why has the cloud rained on Apple?

First, while a crowd of young companies such as Dropbox, SugarSync, MiMedia and others have pursued cloud services for consumers and businesses alike, it's difficult to find an example of any company that has built profitable and compelling consumer cloud services at Apple's scale (although some of this depends on definition). While its ecosystem competitors Google and Microsoft have formed a fierce rivalry in Web media based on search and mapping services -- from which Apple has thus far abstained -- their network storage initiatives haven't gotten much further along. Microsoft, for example, offers 25 GB of cloud-based storage with SkyDrive, but is only now stepping up efforts to hook it into its operating systems. And while Google has long offered growing gigabytes for Gmail, storage of consumer content has taken longer to roll out -- Google Music steps up an offering that began with a single gigabyte of free photo storage for PicasaWeb.

Second, it has been difficult for Apple to pounce on a key maturing technology to offer disruptive timing or pricing the way it has with other technologies. Unlike with capacitive touch screens and retina displays on the iPhone, flash memory in the first iPod nano, or 1.8" hard drives in the original iPod, Apple can't swoop in, exercise its scale, and fluster competitors.

It is a beast of a challenge to market something as abstract as "the cloud."

Third, and most significantly, the cloud has not drifted into many of Apple's areas of excellence -- industrial design, marketing and retail. It is a beast of a challenge to market something as abstract as "the cloud." Unlike sleek devices that tantalize eyes or software that engages fingertips, good cloud services disappear in the background. Compare the typically static Apple keynote slides to the WWDC ones that required animation to illustrate the concept of pushing data to multiple devices. And the cloud can't be merchandised in an Apple retail store, although store staffers can help explain it.

Over the long-term, Apple must differentiate and succeed in the cloud as more of the computing and entertainment value shifts there. For now, though, the value that it brings will be clouded indeed. The company derives relatively little revenue from iTunes music sales, less from free iPhone apps, and no direct revenue for the iLife software when it bundles them with Macs. But they all contribute to a user experience monetized through its hardware products. Such is the near-term promise of iCloud. Apple users won't pay for it, but they will buy it anyhow.

Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.

Mac OS X Lion beta reveals "Restart to Safari" browser-only mode (update: honeypot)

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 04:18 PM PDT

MacRumors was digging through the latest developer beta of Mac OS X Lion when it found a rather intriguing new option -- if you choose "Restart to Safari" on the user lock screen, the computer will reboot into a mode which consists entirely of the web browser. If that sounds familiar, perhaps you've heard of Google's Chrome OS, a partially-fledged operating system that runs within the browser itself... but we haven't heard Apple express a desire for any such thing. Now, certainly we've seen a number of Windows desktops and laptops ship with a secondary, browser-centric OS like Splashtop in order to have an instant-on mode, but if you have to boot and reboot the computer to get to Safari, that doesn't sound like much of an improvement. Perhaps it's a way to let guests (or children) entertain themselves without giving them access to your files? All we know for certain is that it's a most mysterious option.

Update: But perhaps not as mysterious as we thought -- 9to5 Mac spotted its genesis earlier this week, and it's a bona fide honeypot. If your Mac gets stolen, the idea goes, it'll need to be connected to the internet for you to be able to track it with Find My Mac or perform a remote wipe, so you'll let the thieves browse this guest account to keep them busy without letting them peruse your personal files. Cue the Admiral Ackbar, we suppose. [Thanks, Jamie]

T-Mobile G2 quietly discontinued, Z-Hinge's future remains unclear

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 03:44 PM PDT

We'd had some indication that the T-Mobile G2 was nearing end of life status, and it looks like that inevitable milestone has already come to pass. According to TmoNews, the HTC-built device was officially discontinued by T-Mobile on June 6th, no doubt in an effort to make a bit a bit of room in the carrier's QWERTY slider lineup for the likes of the MyTouch 4G Slide. Of course, existing G2 users do still have some good news to look forward to -- namely, a Gingerbread upgrade that should breath a bit of new life into their crazy-hinged handset.

SceneTap app analyzes pubs and clubs in real-time, probably won't score you a Jersey Shore cameo

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 02:35 PM PDT

So, here's the skinny -- when SceneTap launches in a month or so, it'll provide Android and iOS users with a frightening amount of analysis before you hit the town. As the story goes, the startup will be tapping into an infrastructure of cameras spread across an untold quantity of bars. The goal? To provide a real-time snapshot of what the demographics are at any location on any given night. According to the company, demographic information, social commentary and "other comprehensive features" will be shown, all of which will help people decide where they'd like to go. For the privacy freaks, they'll (hopefully) be comforted by the fact that no actual recording is going on, and each person is tracked anonymously. Hailed as a "new type of social network," SceneTap will initially cover 50 clubs, and of course, there's no DUI checkpoint feature for those hoping to do something as impractical as drink and drive afterwards. Head on past the break for the rest of the deets, and be sure to ping the company if you're hoping for a Snooki Sighting push alert in version 2.0.
Show full PR text
SceneTap, a New Mobile Application and Website, Gives Real-Time Info on Your Local Bar Scene

Chicago-based startup revolutionizes the way people go out at night by automatically tracking and revealing the number of people in a bar, the male-to-female ratio, and the average age of each customer, in real-time, with no need for user participation.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SceneTap, a startup that applies the best aspects of the most popular social networking sites to local barhopping, will soon offer real-time information that answers the age-old question: "What's going on tonight?"

"It's important for us to empower our users and bars to be involved and interact with one another within the application"

Accessible for free via iPhone and Android applications or the Web, SceneTap lets users view information on the number of people, male-female ratio, and average age breakdown of patrons in their favorite venues across their city.

"The same questions pop up each time people go out: 'Where should we go tonight? What type of crowd will it be? Are there any deals or specials we can take advantage of?'" said Cole Harper, co-founder and CEO of SceneTap. "With SceneTap, you can easily access that information and more in real-time. There's no more guessing on what the scene will be like. Whether you're a knowledgeable local or just touring the city, you can locate your ideal bar at the tap of a button."

The technology behind SceneTap

With a Chicago-focused launch scheduled for July and plans to go nationwide in the following months, SceneTap's unique technology will allow consumers to get a real-time snapshot of bars in their area. This snapshot includes nightly specials and exclusive SceneTap deals, along with demographic information, social commentary, and other comprehensive features that will help people decide where they would like to go. SceneTap has installed an entire infrastructure of cameras in each of its participating bars, utilizing cutting-edge facial detection and "people-counting" technologies to automatically collect and provide data on the venue's customers. Since there is no recording and each person is tracked anonymously, there are no privacy issues or liability risks related to the service.

The social side of SceneTap

From a social perspective, users can check-in using their geo-based locations, communicate with other users and the venue staff themselves, and even rank the popularity of bars, deals, and specials. The startup has already partnered with over 50 bars in popular neighborhoods of Chicago, ranging from such venues as Casey Moran's and Rockwood Place in Wrigleyville to Hub51 and Public House in River North. SceneTap has already expanded its presence in advance of the Chicago launch, having signed bars and begun establishing networks in New York, Boston, DC, Miami, Austin, Columbus, St. Louis, Phoenix, San Diego, Las Vegas, and popular college towns across the country.

"This is a new kind of social network," added Harper. "It's a community of shared interest that is focused on nightlife in cities. Best of all, it will have a positive influence on both bars and their patrons - it's the ultimate marketing tool for venue managers and serves as a comprehensive resource for bar-goers. Everyone can find what they're looking for on SceneTap."

How does SceneTap work?

* Open SceneTap to see featured bars, deals, and specials in your area
* Locate nearby bars in map view or list view and receive immediate information
* Or, search more specific criteria: by number of people at the bar, age range of patrons, gender ratio, "type of scene," distance, and more
* Browse specials, real-time SceneTap deals, and what people are saying on the bar's page
* Access additional bar information (including its website) so you know it's the right spot for you
* Map out your trip to the bar from your current location, or even just check out the street view
* Socialize your interactions with Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and other services so you don't have to leave the app

People in cities across the country are encouraged to visit www.SceneTap.com for more information on the upcoming website and mobile technologies. Even after initial launch, users will have an opportunity to vote and help determine the next markets that are served, as well as which bars within those markets will be granted access to the exclusive network.

"It's important for us to empower our users and bars to be involved and interact with one another within the application," said Harper. "The communication and mutual incentives form a behavioral layer within the social network that will create a powerful, tangible experience for all our users. Hopefully, SceneTap will be as much a utility as it is a portal of entertainment."

TiVo Premiere Q, Preview boxes bring quad-tuner or non-DVR options to the lineup

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 01:42 PM PDT

In an early preview of TiVo's plans for The Cable Show this week in Chicago, TMCNet has posted information on two new set-top boxes that will be offered by cable operators RCN and Suddenlink. As suggested by recent surveys and forum posts, the Premiere Q is a quad-tuner DVR with multiroom streaming of up to three HD feeds via MoCA or Ethernet, while the Preview is TiVo's first box without a hard drive and serves as a client to the main box. Another revelation is news that an updated version of TiVo's iPad app will include be able to browse cable VOD, allowing users to select it on the tablet and then "flick" it to their box where it starts playing. If the information holds up the new hardware seems competitive and modern enough, but we're wondering if TiVo will continue to serve end users who prefer to buy equipment instead of lease and are waiting for things like the new DirecTiVo or software updates that enhance performance on the Premiere and finish off its HD menu system.

[Thanks, @BrennokBob]

DIY iPad photo booth captures the moments you might be too drunk to remember

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 12:29 PM PDT

DIY iPad photo booth captures the moments you might be too drunk to remember
Tired of the same old PC-enabled photo booth popping up at every wedding, Bar Mitzvah, and Secretary's Day celebration you attend? Well, you're not alone -- a German photographer named Rocco has tapped his apparent frustration over the conventional photo booth rig to create his very own iPad-connected setup. Rocco's arrangement features a Nikon DSLR, wireless flash trigger, and an iPad, using the ShutterSnitch app, stuffed into a little black box and connected to a foot pedal that allows partiers to hit the switch when they see fit. Once captured, the photos are transferred to the iPad's screen, allowing subjects to browse and email their favorite look-how-wacky-I-am shots. If you're looking to upgrade your photo booth setup for your next Rapture BBQ or World IPV6 Day celebration, follow the source link for instructions.

[Thanks, Chris]
at 12:17 PM

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