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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now shipping in Arctic White -- Titan Silver edition still to come

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 11:32 AM PDT

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now shipping in Arctic White -- Titan Silver edition still to come
We already knew it was coming -- Samsung hasn't been particularly shy about its teasing -- but the big day has finally arrived, and the Series 5 Chromebook is now officially shipping to those eagerly awaiting the Google-powered laptop. If you weren't among the high-end coupon clippers who snatched one up during the surprise sale at Gilt a couple of weeks ago, you can now pick up a Chromebook of your own. At least for now, however, it looks like you'll have to settle for a white exterior -- the "Ttian Silver" (also known as black) edition is still in pre-order mode at both Best Buy and Amazon.

Battery-less transmitters pave the way for wireless baby sensors

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 11:10 AM PDT

NFC BabyThe radio waves that saturate the air around us may, or may not, give us headaches and cancer, but we can tell you for certain they're capable of powering tiny wireless chips. Renesas Electronics Corp has created a new ultra-low power wireless transmitter that can push data to both Bluetooth and WiFi receivers without the need for a battery or AC adapter. Instead of the typical tens of milliwatts, the little transmitters require only a few microwatts of power, which can be harvested from environmental radio waves through LC resonance. The creators envision adhesive sensors that send a baby's body temperature to laptops and ads that beam coupons to smartphones over short distances -- you know, the sort of stuff NFC can do, but without the specialized hardware.

US DOJ greenlights Google's $900 million bid for Nortel patents; Apple, RIM also interested

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 10:51 AM PDT

It looks like Google will be able to bid on Nortel's patent portfolio after all, now that the Department of Justice has weighed in on the matter. According to the Wall Street Journal, El Goog's $900 million bid has passed a governmental antitrust review, just a few days ahead of next week's auction. Rivals like Microsoft, AT&T and Verizon had previously filed complaints with the DOJ, arguing that the sale of Nortel's 6,000 patents would give an unfair advantage to the auction's winner by providing it with a fresh arsenal for patent-infringement lawsuits. Google, however, claims it needs the portfolio to defend itself against legal challenges, since it has comparatively few patents to its name. The DOJ apparently sees nothing illegal with this argument, having determined that singular ownership of Nortel's intellectual property would pose no threat to market competition. This is obviously music to Google's ears, but the battle isn't over yet. Sources tell the Journal that both RIM and Apple are interested in filing their own bids for the patents, and have already begun discussing the matter with the Justice Department. None of the companies involved have commented on the story, but it'll all go down on June 20th, when the auction finally gets underway.

LG trots out ultraslim Nano Full LED TVs, polarized Cinema 3D sets

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 10:21 AM PDT

The never-ending battle between active and polarizing 3D alternatives still isn't anywhere near its impossible-to-determine finale, but it's pretty clear that LG's intent on supporting the latter. Those who aren't fazed by losing resolution so long as batteries aren't required in their 3D glasses should be elated to hear of the outfit's latest Cinema 3D sets, with the 32-inch 32LW5700, 42-inch 42LW5700 and 47-inch 47LW5700 pushing three-dee down to smaller scale displays. We've never been particularly fond of the 3D effect on bedroom-sized panels, but those looking for something a bit less gargantuan may beg to differ. The trio will support USB HDD recording, an integrated tuner, and of course, the inclusion of an IPS panel should make both 2D and 3D images alike look downright ravishing. Those fine to settle for the way we've always watched TV can opt for the 2D-only 47LZ9600 (47-inch) / 55LZ9600 (55-inch), both clocking in at 8.8mm thick and offering a native 1080p resolution, a built-in TV tuner and support for USB recording. The whole lot is expected to hit Japan later this month, with other dignified nations to surely follow suit shortly.

Elusive Galaxy Tab 8.9 hitting Nordic countries in September

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:53 AM PDT

Samsung today issued a slew of press releases announcing the arrival of new tablets in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. The news, naturally, focuses on the company's flashy Galaxy Tab 10.1, which will arrive in those countries in August. What's really interesting here, however, is the mention of the more compact Galaxy Tab 8.9, which has been out of the spotlight as of late, reportedly due to screen problems. The issues (if there were indeed any) have apparently been resolved, and the 8.9 is set to be released in the aforementioned Nordic territories in September -- either that or it's going to take an extra month to shave an inch and change off of those remaining 10.1 models.

Olivetti's OliPad 110 tablet runs on Honeycomb, olive oil

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:31 AM PDT

Just a few months after unleashing what it called Italy's first tablet, Olivetti is turning its attention to what might be Italy's first tablet upgrade -- the OliPad 110. Much like its predecessor, this 1.3-pound slate rocks an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and a 10-inch touchscreen, but runs on Honeycomb and boasts a higher-res, 1280 x 800 display. There's also a two-megapixel camera strapped to the front, a five-megapixel lens 'round back and 16GB of onboard memory. No word yet on pricing or availability, but you can check out more pics of this bella signorina at the source link, below.

Console vs. PC redux: how mobile gaming will reshape the industry (again)

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT

Console vs. PC redux: how mobile gaming will reshape the industry (again)
They're a growing threat, these simple games with their simple designs, simple controls, and simple graphics. They don't offer the full, premium experience that the real gamers want. They aren't hardcore enough. They aren't serious enough. They're just too... casual.

In the '90s these were all complaints used to describe the strengthening console menace. Back then, a younger me squandered his meager income at the local Babbage's or Electronics Boutique, stores full of PC games in cardboard boxes -- console titles relegated to a few little shelves. It wouldn't take long for those consoles to take over those stores and, along the way, the entire industry. Between just 1998 and 2006 console software sales more than doubled, from $2.5 billion to $6.7 billion, while PC game sales dropped from $1.8 billion to $970 million. Even the FPS, once exclusive domain of the PC, is now a console enterprise, with Call of Duty: Black Ops launching on 4.9 million sales on the Xbox 360 and PS3. The PC version, meanwhile, sold less than 400,000 copies (the NPD lumped them in with sales of the Nintendo DS and Wii versions).

Who cares about ancient history? If you're a gamer you should, because it's happening again. This time, though, its console gamers lobbing the same lamentations at Angry Bird players, Words With Friends addicts, and ever-sneaky Fruit Ninjas. As smartphones and tablets get more powerful, the dedicated gaming machine looks more and more quaint. Where once software supported hardware in one big, happy family, it's all becoming rather more... disjointed. For a gamer like me, that's a little troubling. If app gaming does for consoles what those consoles did to the PC scene a decade ago, a lot of big game studios are going to be in trouble, and a lot of gamers are going to be pining for the good 'ol days.


It's hard to tell at what point mobile gaming became a serious threat to the console scene, but surely nobody at Nintendo lost any sleep when Snake crawled its way into the hearts of many a Nokia user back in the late '90s. Then, just a few years later, Steve Jobs started comparing iPod sales to those of dedicated gaming machines. I initially thought the very notion was preposterous; that an iPod didn't hold a candle to the DS and PSP I took with me on every flight. In the ensuing months, however, I've changed my tune.

In recent years we haven't exactly seen a lot of innovation on the console gaming front. Sure, there was a giant rush to jump on the motion gaming bandwagon -- Microsoft with the Kinect and Sony with the Move, even Nintendo sauntering back in with the MotionPlus -- but none of those technologies have delivered the new gameplay experiences that even grizzled veterans like myself secretly hoped they might. Nor have they succeeded in whetting my appetite for something truly new. As someone whose youth was punctuated by a three-year console cycle, booting up the same 'ol hardware almost six years later feels wrong.


On the portable gaming front things are moving -- but slowly. Over the past seven or so years Nintendo and Sony have both been slowly refining their portable systems of choice, but not even Nintendo's glasses-free 3D technology really qualifies as something particularly innovative. It is, after all, just another graphics technique, no more important than texture mapping or anti-aliasing, things that revolutionized the way our games look, but not how they play.

With nothing really changing it's mighty easy for the others to catch up, and of course those others are the smartphones, the iPods, and the tablets. They aren't there yet -- the Samsung Galaxy S II has a dual-core processor running at 1GHz while the Xbox 360 has 3.2Ghz spread over three cores -- but mobile devices are gaining ground quick. And, with services like OnLive, one could say that hardware no longer matters.

The PC's place as the pinnacle of graphics perfection has never been in doubt -- if you had the money.
Regardless, hardware is losing its importance. Going back to the PC vs. console war, the consoles never had the upper-hand, or if they did it wasn't for long. Whenever I'd be wowed by a new system at E3, NVIDIA or ATI or somebody else would come along with a fresh slab of PCI, AGP, or PCIe and blow my mind. That single card would inevitably cost more than an entire gaming console (and require a new power supply and cooling rig to go along with it), but the PC's place as the pinnacle of graphics perfection has never been in doubt -- if you had the money.

Yet still the consoles drank the PC gaming scene's milkshake, and better graphics here aren't going to save dedicated systems from what looks to be impending mobile doom. And it will mean doom for many. The industry has been propped up to massive heights by huge sales of $60 blockbuster games, titles carefully honed by hundreds of pairs of hands brought together at massive development studios. Meanwhile, the most popular mobile downloads cost $9.99 or less, way less, and it remains to be seen whether mobile gamers would ever dream of spending six times that on a single game, even a proper release like Gears of War. Those publishers that focus exclusively on "big" releases are going to have a hard time adapting.

While we'll surely get one more generation of great dedicated gaming hardware from the big three, I have my fears that it will be the last.
While we'll surely get one more generation of great dedicated gaming hardware from the big three, I have my fears that it will be the last. Sony sees the writing on the wall, with its (currently half-assed) PlayStation Suite program for devices, and Microsoft is testing the waters with Xbox Live integration on Windows Phone. It's only a matter of time before everybody's following suit -- or getting left behind. But don't worry, console gamers, because it's not all bad news. We're actually on the verge of some very interesting changes which, believe it or not, could work out for the best. Think about it: all modern phones have Bluetooth, so connecting external gaming controllers is easy -- even a keyboard and mouse. HDMI output is now more-or-less standard, and hopefully WHDI ubiquity isn't far off.


We'll soon live in a world where you can get your Angry Birds fix on the train and then, when you get home, drop your phone into a charging stand, drop yourself onto the couch, and enjoy Drake's next big adventure in 1080p with a real controller in your hands. Significant other want to watch TV? Just keep playing on the smaller screen -- similar to what Nintendo is talking up with its Wii U, but minus the throwback console middleman.

Assuming this comes to pass, and I think it will, home gaming will never quite be the same. As someone who still gets excited about the next big console, ripping open exotic new games in curiously colored boxes, getting a whiff of the freshly printed manual inside, I don't think activating a new smartphone and downloading a launch title will ever deliver the same thrill. But, the first time I get to play a little Halo or Uncharted or Modern Warfare from coach class at 30,000 feet, and do so with full graphics and gameplay, I think I'll probably get over it.

HP messes with our brains, files six new TouchPad trademarks

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 08:39 AM PDT

HP has filed a bunch of TouchPad-related trademarks all in one go, and they must mean something, right? The USPTO database shows a TouchPad7, TouchPadGo, TouchPadFlex, TouchPadTwin, TouchPadGeo and TouchPadPro; unfortunately though, the descriptions provided with each trademark are so broad as to be useless, so we're not going to indulge HP by speculating as to what each moniker might mean. Who knows? Maybe it's all bluff, designed to spook other tablet manufacturers into taking up trout fishing instead, or maybe Jon actually did convince Leo to approve a webOS tablet for every day of the week. In the world of trademarks, stranger things have happened.

[Thanks, Brum]

Best Buy adds $50 dock to its collection of HTC Flyer accessories

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 08:11 AM PDT

Surely by now you've recouped that $80 you begrudgingly forked over for your Flyer stylus, right? Good. Because the parade of accessories for the 7-inch slate continues. Now, Best Buy's selling a matching white micro-USB dock for $50. It's perfect for transforming the slate into the aluminum-clad bedside alarm of your dreams, but you can also connect your own MHL adapter to the rear micro-USB port, allowing you to output video to an HDTV. Looks like more than a few folks are sweet on the idea of porting HTC Watch to a bigger screen -- the dock's back-ordered with a one- to two-week delay. But is it worth the fifty bucks? We'll leave that to you and your wallet.

Google and Slooh Space Camera make today's lunar eclipse viewable worldwide (video)

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 07:49 AM PDT

As you may or may not be aware, there's a lunar eclipse today, and it turns out Google's decided to do something a little special this time for those not able to see it outside for themselves -- or those that simply prefer to stay indoors. It's teamed up with Slooh Space Camera to make the rare 100-minute long eclipse viewable online through a variety of means, including a live stream on YouTube, in the Sky layer on Google Earth, and in Slooh's Android app and Google App Engine-based website (which comes complete with narration from actual astronomers). It all gets started at 11:20AM PDT or 2:20PM EDT -- hit the source link below to choose your viewing preference.

Update: It's happening, people. Live stream is after the break.

Verizon prolongs its free hotspot party on 4G LTE phones, but then what?

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 07:22 AM PDT

If you've been maxing out on Verizon's mobile hotspot offer that came with your new Samsung Droid Charge, HTC Thunderbolt or LG Revolution, then do carry on. The offer has been extended again, letting you use your 4G LTE handset as a WiFi hotspot for free until July 6th. On that miserable day, a software update will pull the plug and then who knows how much you'll have to pay? Verizon says its $20/GB tethering charge won't apply to 4G LTE phones, but it doesn't state exactly how much it will cost. Oh well, who needs 12Mbps anyway?

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 updates your Facebook, turns your iPhone into a wireless mic

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 06:54 AM PDT

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5
All your sci-fi dreams of being able to talk to your gadgets and have the do your bidding are slowly becoming a reality. Nuance, the company behind Dragon NaturallySpeaking, has been at the forefront of the technology since 1997 and, with the release of 11.5, it has added a few neat tricks to its dictation-taking repertoire. On the desktop side, new widgets allow you to post updates to your Facebook and Twitter accounts simply by saying "post to" you social network of choice before spouting off your status update -- perfect for drunk tweeting when those beer goggles make it hard to hit the keys. Nuance also released the Dragon Remote Mic App for iOS, which turns your Apple device into a wireless mic that beams commands and dictated notes straight to your PC. We're pretty excited for all this voice control stuff -- so long as our computers don't start refusing our requests in a detached monotone. Check out the PR after the break.
Show full PR text
Nuance Releases Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 11.5 and New Dragon Remote Mic App for Apple iOS

Leading Speech Recognition Application Adds New Social Media Sharing Capabilities, Correction and Editing Features and More; New Remote Mic App Turns iPhone into Wireless Mic that Allows you to Dictate into and Control Applications on your PC

BURLINGTON, Mass., – June 13, 2011 – Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN), a provider of speech solutions, today unveiled Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5, a new release of the world's best-selling speech recognition software for the PC. Building on the improved accuracy, faster performance and intuitive new interface introduced in Dragon 11, Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 adds new features that make it easier to create documents, send emails, surf the Web, share social status and interact with many PC applications.

In conjunction with the launch of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5, Nuance introduced the Dragon Remote Mic App, a free application on the Apple iOS app store which makes it possible to use an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad as a wireless microphone for Dragon via a Wi-Fi network connection. Many customers have requested to use their smartphones and other mobile devices with Dragon to have more flexibility with how and where they dictate with Dragon. The new Dragon Remote Mic App takes advantage of the nearly 200 million iOS devices in use today, and transforms the device into a wireless microphone that easily captures dictation and controls applications on your PC.

Check out Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 and the new Dragon Remote Mic App here.

Dragon has quickly grown in popularity as a mobile application for the Apple iOS, and millions of people around the globe have downloaded Nuance's Dragon Dictation app, which allows users to speak text for SMS text messages, emails, social media updates and more. The app has been ranked as a number one free application in nearly every region it has launched since its launch in December of 2009. With amazing accuracy and speed, the Dragon Dictation and Dragon Search mobile apps for iOS have given millions of people a peek at the power of Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

"As mobile devices and social networks have become a more important part of our customers' lives, they have asked us for more flexibility in how they can use Dragon," said Peter Mahoney, senior vice president and general manager, Dragon, Nuance. "People who have never tried Dragon before will be genuinely impressed with all the ways it lets you interact with your digital world. Those who are already familiar with Dragon will see some exciting improvements that extend its use with social sharing, and add flexibility with microphones and recording devices."

New to Dragon? The Dragon family of speech recognition software lets you control your computer with your voice. It's the hands-free way to turn speech into text, whether you are capturing family stories, surfing the Web, posting an update to Facebook or Twitter, or helping your children cut homework time in half. Dragon gives people an easy, natural way to get more done in less time.

Current Dragon Users will appreciate the new upgrades and features in Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5, including:

Enhanced Commands and Social Features – Dragon collapses common multi-step tasks on the PC into direct voice commands. You can send emails and schedule meetings, post an update to Facebook or Twitter, search the Web for information, quote or bracket text easily, search your desktop, and navigate between Windows, simply by speaking the action you want to complete. Dragon 11.5 includes commands to consolidate multiple mouse clicks and keystrokes into a direct voice command, such as:
"Post to Facebook [I love Dragon]"
"Post to Twitter [Tweeting is so much easier by voice]"
"Harry said 'Empty Quotes' I'm going to the party with or without you"
"Search Amazon for Bluetooth headset"
"Search Twitter for haiku"
"Search maps for 11 West 53rd St., New York, NY"
"Search Dragon Help for working with Gmail"
"Send an email to Mike Smith"
"Open My Pictures"
Dragon Remote Mic (Requires Dragon Premium, Professional or Legal version 11.5) – Turn your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a wireless microphone to dictate into or completely control applications on your PC via a Wi-Fi network connection. If you want to free yourself from your corded headset, now you can use a device that you may already have.
Improved User Interface – The Dragon Sidebar helps you discover and remember common commands. Now you can glance at or explore global, application-specific, and custom-created commands, while also viewing Dragon's user tips. Version 11.5 delivers additional application contexts to the Sidebar (including WordPad, Vocabulary Editor and Command Browser) and layout improvements to maximize content and readability.
Smarter Formatting, Correcting and Editing – Dragon users can issue simple voice commands to format text, such as "Bold New House Listings," or "Capitalize Today's Featured House." In addition, Dragon can apply (and undo) correction, formatting and editing to one or all instances of a word or group of words. The Dragon Correction Menu suggests more alternate recognitions by default and enables users to quickly add phrases to the vocabulary, or to prevent an undesired word from being recognized. In Dragon 11.5, the Spelling Window (allowing users to type or spell out a word) is now resizable and delivers more readable options for alternate words and phrases, making it easier for users to modify or correct text.
Getting Started with Dragon is Faster and Easier – Dragon 11.5 adds enhancements to make getting started simpler. It's now much faster and easier to create a user profile, or to enhance existing profiles with the Enhanced Profile Upgrade Wizard.
More Software Support – Adding to Dragon's existing software compatibility –including Microsoft Office 2010 applications and Full Text Control, Menu Tracking, and Natural Language Commands support for Word 2010, Outlook 2010, and Excel 2010, OpenOffice Writer, and updated user interfaces for netbooks – Dragon 11.5 adds support for even more applications and operating systems including:
Internet Explorer 9
Windows Live Mail 2011 (V15)
OpenOffice Writer version 3.3
Windows 7 SP1
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

"Overall, Dragon 11.5 is the best version of Dragon that Nuance has released – and I've been using it since version 9," said Steve Smith, an Information Technology Consultant. "Performance is outstanding and recognition speed is virtually instantaneous. In my experience, the recognition accuracy in Dragon 11.5 is so improved that I only need look at my dictation when I mispronounce a word. Adding words to the vocabulary is easier now – a great feature since I use a large number of acronyms."

Availability

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 Home and Premium are available immediately starting at $99.99 through Nuance's Web site as well as its global network of reseller partners, software retailers and professional sales organizations. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 is a free upgrade for current registered Dragon 11 users. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional 11.5 and Legal 11.5 will be available in the coming weeks from Nuance and through Nuance's value added resellers worldwide. For additional information on features, editions, pricing and volume licensing programs, please visit http://www.nuance.com/dragon.

The new Dragon Remote Mic App is available immediately as a free download in the Apple App Store here. Simply follow the instructions included with Dragon to use the new app to turn your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a wireless microphone.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Dragon has long been a leading speech recognition application on the desktop, used by millions of people around the world. As demand for speech has grown, Nuance has sought to make speech recognition accessible to more people, from more places and devices. Nuance has launched several Dragon Mobile Apps – including Dragon Dictation, Dragon Search, Dragon for E-mail and FlexT9 – for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and select BlackBerry and Android devices to allow people to send email or text messages or update their social status on the go by voice.
Nuance Communications

Nuance Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with information and how they create, share and use documents. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance's proven applications. For more information, please visit www.nuance.com .

Trademark reference: Nuance, Dragon, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other company names or product names referenced herein may be the property of their respective owners.

HTC Kingdom soars into FCC's database, WiMAX radio signals a Sprint release

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 06:33 AM PDT

Up until now, all we've had to go on were leaked Blurrycam photos and a few morsels "from the inside." Now, however, HTC's going to have an awfully difficult time denying the existence of its so-called Kingdom, known to the FCC as PH44100. The filing itself doesn't reveal a whole heck of a lot beyond what we already knew -- a 4.3-inch qHD display, namely -- but the presence of both a CDMA and WiMAX radio assures us that it'll be heading for Sprint sooner rather than later. A qHD contender for The Now Network? Yes, please.

Shazam adds LyricPlay, lets you act like you knew the words to that song all along

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Remember the song that was playing at the bar last night that you just had to know the name of? You busted out the iPhone and fired up Shazam to tag that sucker, and now that you've got it in your collection, so you can forever relive that magical first time you heard it. But whatever happened to immediate gratification? And since when was it possible to enjoy a song without fumbling through the lyrics? This morning's upgrade to the popular music tagging app has your back -- the premium versions of the service have added the LyricPlay feature, which syncs to the song you're listening to, displaying its lyrics as it plays. The feature is currently available on the $6 Shazam Encore and (Shazam) Red apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. It works with 25,000 plus songs and growing, and is set to become the bane of bartenders around the world by the middle of next week.
Show full PR text
Shazam Makes First Corporate Acquisition with Synchronized Lyrics

Purchase enables unique, new feature, "Shazam LyricPlay" in Encore, giving fans lyrics for more than 25,000 songs in sync with music

London, UK – 15 June 2011 - Shazam®, the world's leading mobile discovery company, today announced its first corporate acquisition with the purchase of synchronized lyric technology from Tunezee, a Silicon Valley-based company. As a part of the announcement, Shazam is immediately launching Shazam LyricPlay, a new feature in the Encore premium App that allows Shazamers to view lyrics synchronized in real-time with the music they are listening to, wherever they are.

Andrew Fisher, Shazam's CEO said, "Shazam leads the marketplace for mobile discovery and we constantly strive to develop even greater consumer experiences. We are committed to make the necessary investments to build or acquire innovative technology in order to enhance these experiences as we continue to innovate and enhance the world's leading mobile discovery service."

The new feature automatically synchronizes lyrics with a music source. Shazam incorporated it into its core technology, improving its accuracy, and added a layer of animation and visualization to create a fun and engaging way to see the lyrics in real-time with the song. In parallel, Shazam has built a database of lyrics to launch the new feature with a comprehensive and growing library of more than 25,000 of the most popular Shazam'd songs.

Shazam LyricPlay creates a more interactive experience, letting fans go beyond discovering the song title, artist and other great information; now they can also see the lyrics with eye-catching visual themes in synch with the music they have just Shazam'd.

How does Shazam LyricPlay work?

For anyone using Shazam Encore they simply:

1) Tag a song they like;

2) Activate the feature by tapping the new LyricPlay icon when it appears in a Tag result and turning their device horizontally to a landscape position, then watch the lyrics as they scroll, jump, pop or slide in real-time with the song;

3) Stop LyricPlay by tapping the lyrics for options to return to the Tag result for that song.

Each LyricPlay session will be distinctive, as striking visualization themes integrate colors from the cover art of the tagged track.

"We believe Shazam LyricPlay is a world's first and significantly enhances the magical experience Shazamers love," Fisher concludes.

The feature is available for free within the Shazam Encore and (SHAZAM) RED Apps for iPhone and iPod touch and is available* in the US, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

LyricPlay is the latest product innovation announced by Shazam. Most recently, Shazam released 'Shazam Friends' for iOS and Android, a real-time feed of songs that Facebook friends have tagged, creating a continuously updating list for Shazamers to discover and share new music with others.

The updated Shazam Encore and (SHAZAM) RED Apps are currently available for existing Shazamers. New users can download the premium Encore App for $3.99 for a 1-year subscription or a one-time fee of $5.99 on iOS.



* Launching first in the US and Canada for Shazam Encore and rolling out into other territories.

HTC pulls a 180, now says Gingerbread is coming to Desire

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 05:49 AM PDT

So, here's the tally: as of June 14th, there's just "not enough memory" in the Desire for Gingerbread to run properly. As of the 15th, however, there is. We won't pretend to understand what changed so drastically in the past 24 hours, but what is clear is that the aforesaid handset maker is listening to its most demanding of users. While it's safe to assume that the Average Joe (or Jane) wouldn't be able to recognize the difference between Android 2.2 and 2.3, folks clamoring for the update seem to have coerced the company to make things work. In other words, it looks like the update is back on... now it's just a matter of making it run well. Kudos HTC, and godspeed.

[Thanks, Frederik]

Wii U will not play DVDs or Blu-ray, Iwata says

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 05:20 AM PDT


Planning to replace that aging Blu-ray player with a Wii U? Not so fast. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata says the gaming console won't play DVD or Blu-ray discs, due to patent licensing fees.

Wii U does not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities. The reason for that is that we feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray, such that it didn't warrant the cost involved to build that functionality into the Wii U console because of the patents related to those technologies.

So there you have it. Iwata doesn't want to hand over a bag of cash for baby Blu's "bag of hurt." By the time the Wii U hits store shelves in 2012, we may be buying Blu-ray players just for their Netflix capabilities, so here's to hoping the console at least carries over that functionality from its predecessor.

Microsoft's ergonomically alliterative Comfort Curve Keyboard makes a contoured comeback

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 05:10 AM PDT

Like a vinyl record left out in the sun too long, Microsoft's Comfort Curve Keyboard has returned, albeit slightly more warped than before. The ergonomic peripheral is an attempt to improve the comfort and posture of users who just don't go in for the split variety. The 3000 features uniformly-sized QWERTY keys, offering up a similar layout to traditional straight keyboards. You'll be able to get your fingers on the input device in August for $20, to see if the comfort does indeed match the curves.

Acer lowers forecast for tablet, notebook shipments, blames limping European economy

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 04:36 AM PDT

Acer had high hopes for 2011, but it looks like its expectations may have been a bit too optimistic. Today, the company issued revised forecasts for shipments of its tablet PCs, predicting to move between 2.5 and three million units by year's end -- down from the five to seven million it projected earlier. Acer chairman J.T. Wang expects current quarter notebook shipments to dip by ten percent from their Q1 levels, before stabilizing or slightly increasing during Q3. According to the new-look firm, these downward revisions are largely due to lagging economic growth in Europe, though its Asian and US markets "remain healthy." European inventories are expected to decrease to normal levels by the end of this month, which should allow the company's market share to rebound during the second half of this year. It's certainly not a dire outlook, but it's probably not the start new Corporate President Jim Wong was looking to get off to, either.

Starbucks rolls out mobile payment app for Android users, java junkies

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 03:42 AM PDT

After having already introduced its own iOS app, Starbucks has now decided to bring mobile mocha payments to Android users, as well. With the free Starbucks for Android app, all you have to do is add credit to your mobile Starbucks Card, scan the app's barcode at the cash register, and that triple shot skinny latte will be yours to pound. Available on devices running Android 2.1 or above, the service will also locate all outlets within your immediate vicinity, while offering even more coffee-based incentives, via Starbucks' rewards program. Thus far, there are about 6,800 stores that support mobile payments, though the company is planning to add an additional 1,000 locations, this July. Coffeeholics can find more information in the PR after the break, and can download the app from the source link, below.
Show full PR text
Starbucks Strengthens Mobile Payment Footprint with Launch of Starbucks for Android App and Upcoming Rollout of Mobile Payment at Safeway's Nearly 1,000 Starbucks Locations

Customers Will Be Able to Experience the Fastest Way to Pay at More Than 9,000 U.S. Starbucks Stores with Their Android Device™

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) today announced the latest offering of the Starbucks mobile platform with the launch of Starbucks for Android™ app providing more consumers access to the fastest way to pay and other features to manage their Starbucks Card on-the-go. In addition, the company announced that Safeway, Inc., one of the nation's largest supermarket chains, plans to rollout mobile payment in July at nearly 1,000 Starbucks in Safeway supermarkets across the United States, including the company's Vons, Pavilions, Dominick's, Randalls, Tom Thumb and Genuardi's stores. Starbucks for Android is available through Android Market™ for Android phones running 2.1 or above and follows the successful rollout of Starbucks Card Mobile Apps on other platforms. With mobile payment capability at nearly 6,800 U.S. company-operated Starbucks stores and more than 1,000 Starbucks Target locations, bringing mobile payment to Starbucks Safeway stores will extend the reach of Starbucks mobile payment to roughly 9,000 Starbucks locations across the country.

"The expansion of our mobile payment footprint has been driven by customer interest and input. With the addition of Starbucks for Android to the Starbucks app line-up, a Starbucks mobile payment app may now be used on approximately 90 percent of smartphones currently in use," said Adam Brotman, vice president, general manager, Digital Ventures at Starbucks Coffee Company. "Starbucks is committed to providing customers richer experiences – both in our stores and on-the-go. By expanding mobile payment capabilities to Android smartphones and with Safeway now offering mobile payment in its close to 1,000 Starbucks locations, we're giving customers the opportunity to experience mobile payment in more ways and at more Starbucks locations."

Starbucks for Android Features:

Starbucks for Android, available from Android Market, is available for Android phones running 2.1 or above and is designed to offer a rich user experience, specifically addressing Android interaction paradigms including device hardkeys and action bar softkeys. Starbucks for Android allows users to:

* Pay with your phone: Enjoy the fastest, more convenient way to pay at nearly 6,800 company-operated stores as well as more than 1,000 Target stores and coming this summer to nearly 1,000 Starbucks locations in Safeway stores. Just download the app, enter your Starbucks Card number, scan and go.
* Manage your card account: Access your Starbucks Card balance directly from your phone.
* Reload your card balance: Use your smartphone to reload your Starbucks Card using any major credit card.
* Check your My Starbucks Rewards status: Find out how close you are to earning your next free drink.
* Find nearby Starbucks stores: Save time by finding a Starbucks store near you.

Starbucks Delivers on Customer Requests

The introduction of Starbucks for Android and expansion to nearly 1,000 Starbucks in Safeway stores was fueled by customer requests and the growing customer interest in mobile wallets. "We've received a tremendous number of requests on MyStarbucksIdea for a Starbucks app for Android," says Brotman. "We're excited to introduce an Android app that our customers can use as part of their daily routines."

Starbucks mobile offerings build on the popularity of the Starbucks Card and My Starbucks Rewards loyalty program. Today, one in five transactions in U.S. Starbucks stores are paid for with a Starbucks Card. "Our customers have shown us that they love the utility, convenience and fun of our mobile apps and especially the ability to pay with their Starbucks Card using a smartphone. My Starbucks Rewards members, in particular, have been quick to adopt mobile payment as part of their everyday visit," says Brady Brewer, vice president Starbucks Card and Loyalty. "While mobile payment is the top feature, customers' next favorites are the ability to reload their Starbucks Card and track their progress toward their next free drink in the My Starbucks Rewards program."

Starbucks for Android is available for Android phones running 2.1 or above. To download Starbucks for Android, visit Android Market at https://market.android.com/.

DIY Virtual Boy arcade cabinet costs only a headache to play

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 02:57 AM PDT

As you may have noticed, we have a bit of a soft spot for Nintendo's other 3D device, the Virtual Boy -- despite its many, many flaws. So, it seems, does DIYer Tighe Lory, who liked the oddball console so much that he built an full-size arcade cabinet for it. As you can see above, that comes complete with some custom joysticks that replace the Virtual Boy's controller, along with a sliding mechanism that lets you adjust the Virtual Boy itself to just the right height instead of forcing you to hunch over a table. It even has some buttons on each side specifically for Galactic Pinball, and some other authentic arcade touches like a Nintendo serial plate and a backlit marquee. Head on past the break for Tighe's grand tour on video.


Windows Phone beta app plays nice with WHS 2011, streams media from your network

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 02:15 AM PDT

Fancy accessing your Windows Home Server directly from your Windows Phone? Then you might want to experiment with the Phone Connector add-in for WHS 2011 beta (aka Vail). This lets you connect you to core network functions and settings via an app on your handset, including alerts, user accounts and connected devices. Crucially, it also streams all your lovely media, so long as it's in WP-supported codecs. And if you pin the app to your home screen, you'll get a nifty live tile with your network's name, free disk space and a breakdown of network health alerts. Sure, you might have a bit of fuss to get this RC working, but then that's half the fun.

Warner brings Pay-Per-View, Video on Demand to China, hopes people will actually pay for it

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 01:26 AM PDT

Piracy may run rampant in China, but that hasn't stopped Warner Bros. from launching the country's first national Pay-Per-View and Video on Demand service. Under the program, movies like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 1 will be broadcast on You On Demand's platform, and distributed to Chinese living rooms in cooperation with China Home Cinema -- a branch of CCTV-6. According to You On Demand's estimates, the service should be available in about three million homes by the end of this summer, and will have the potential to reach a full 200 million cable-equipped households. That's certainly a huge market, and one that could provide some serious revenue -- assuming, of course, that people are actually willing to pay for movies. Full PR after the break.
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WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT TO BECOME FIRST STUDIO TO OFFER FILMS ON DEMAND NATIONALLY VIA TELEVISION SETS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

YOU ON DEMAND, CHINA'S FIRST-EVER NATIONAL
PAY-PER-VIEW AND VIDEO ON DEMAND PLATFORM, WILL DISTRIBUTE WARNER BROS.' FILMS TO A POTENTIAL
200 MILLION CABLE HOUSEHOLDS

FIRST WARNER BROS. TITLES WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER VIA YOU ON DEMAND BRANDED CABLE AND INTERNET PROTOCOL (IPTV) SERVICE


BEIJING, CHINA, June 15, 2011 – Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced the studio will begin offering its films nationally On Demand to consumers' television sets in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Through a distribution agreement with CAV Warner Home Entertainment Co., Ltd., Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group's joint venture in China, and YOU On Demand Holdings, Inc.'s (OTCBB: CBBD) PRC joint venture, YOU On Demand Media, consumers will be able to access Warner Bros.' new release and catalog films this summer through the first national Pay-Per-View and Video On Demand platform in China.

YOU On Demand will operate under an exclusive 20-year joint venture with CCTV-6's pay TV arm China Home Cinema (CHC), to become the first national Pay-Per-View and Video On Demand platform in China. Warner Bros. Entertainment will leverage YOU On Demand's platform to provide a potential 200 million cable households access to the studio's films on their television sets. YOU On Demand anticipates their service will be available in three million cable TV homes in China by the end of this summer, which is comparable to the subscriber base of top cable operators in the United States.

"China is developing methods for consumers to view movies outside the cinema in a legitimate fashion," said Jim Wuthrich, President, International Home Video and Digital Distribution, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "Through YOU On Demand's platform, millions of potential consumers will be able to view our films. They will make it easy for consumers to see the latest films including 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.'"

"Our distribution agreement with Warner Bros. marks a historic milestone for our company," said Shane McMahon, YOU On Demand's Chairman and CEO. "I'm excited for the millions of Chinese consumers that will be able to experience and enjoy the very best content that Hollywood has to offer through the YOU On Demand platform."

Droid 2 Global gets Gingerbread, customizable dock and more in latest update from Verizon

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 11:59 PM PDT

Droid 2 Global users, your moment in the Gingerbread sun has arrived. Verizon's put up a page with download instructions for a 103MB update, taking your QWERTY slider from version 2.4.330 to 4.5.600. Updating isn't the most taxing of activities, you just look for a system update in the About Phone menu and then give your blessing for the download to commence. VZW will also be prompting tardy users to take their OTA medicine in due course. So what's new apart from Android 2.3? Well, the big change is that the previously static phone, contacts and apps icons at the bottom of the UI have now been turned into a user-customizable dock, with three links of your choosing sidling up next to the App Launcher. There's also a freshened up UI look, a Download Manager App, user-definable App Groups, encryption for data both on the device and its SD card, improvements in battery life while using WiFi and Bluetooth, and the obligatory stability fixes. If all that sounds irresistible and you have the requisite phone in hand, go get it!

[Thanks, Jon]

Western Digital Nomad case protects your My Passport drive from falls, spills, and curious lizards

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 11:25 PM PDT

It's possible -- likely, even -- that you're reading this while jumping out of a plane, wrestling a mountain lion, or having some equally hardcore adventure. If so, you're just the type of active consumer Western Digital's courting with its Nomad case. Designed for the My Passport external hard drive line, it combines a hard polycarbonate exterior with an elastomer interior that keeps the drive snug and secure, and provides another option if you'd rather upgrade your existing drive than spend the clams on a rugged one. It includes a USB port, making your data accessible even when the case is closed, and will set you back $30 according to WD. Lizard not included.
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WD Nomad™ Rugged Case Protects My Passport® Hard Drives for Outdoor Photographers, Adventurers and Other Road Warriors

WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES RUGGED CASE Built for the harsh realities of life. WD Nomad(TM) Rugged Case for My Passport(R) portable hard drives. (PRNewsFoto/Western Digital Technologies) IRVINE, CA UNITED STATES
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WESTERN DIGITAL LOGO Western Digital Corp. logo. (PRNewsFoto) LAKE FOREST, CA USA 23 November 2004
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IRVINE, Calif., June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WD® (NYSE: WDC), the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced the WD Nomad™ rugged case (photos), a durable case designed to protect My Passport® portable hard drives from drops as high as seven feet, moisture and spills and other mishaps associated with active, on-the-go lifestyles, such as those of outdoor photographers, adventurers and other road warriors.

The WD Nomad rugged case features a polycarbonate exterior and shock-absorbing elastomer cushion inside. It conforms to strict military standards (MIL-STD-810G) for ruggedness. The heavy-duty latch and silicon liner seal out dirt, dust, and moisture.

The WD Nomad rugged case is ideal for hikers, business travelers, outdoor and travel photographers, and others who professionally or personally bring their digital equipment and assets with them. The uniquely functional design includes an opening for the drive's USB connector, so the user can access the drive while it remains in the case. In addition, a molded exterior ring allows users to attach a carabiner, cable, or nylon strap for more convenient accessibility.

"Consumers and professionals are more mobile than ever before and portable hard drives allow them to take their videos, photos and other files everywhere they go," said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD's branded products group. "As the worldwide leader in external storage, WD understands how to protect data on hard drives, and we have put the same commitment to quality into the design of this rugged case. With the My Passport drive and WD Nomad rugged case, owners can rest assured they are doing everything they can to protect their digital lives whether they're traveling for fun or doing their daily commute."

"My work as an adventure photographer/filmmaker takes me to remote locations all over the planet. I have always depended upon the ultra-reliable My Passport portable hard drives to back-up my images and video, but Mother Nature has often made this task a bit of a challenge," said Bruce Dorn of the Directors Guild of America and WD Creative Master. "I am often in the wettest, nastiest, grimiest, and most remote locations, so I am thrilled by the new WD Nomad rugged case. Tough as a vault, these handsome new cases are now a permanent part of my kit."

The new WD Nomad rugged case is compatible with My Passport drives including My Passport Essential™, My Passport Essential SE, My Passport Elite™, My Passport for Mac®, and My Passport SE for Mac.

The WD Nomad rugged case is available now at WD's online store (www.wdstore.com) and select U.S. retailers. MSRP is $29.95 USD.

About WD

WD, one of the storage industry's pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. Its advanced technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and home entertainment products.

WD was founded in 1970. The company's storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital® and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

Western Digital, WD, the WD logo and My Passport are registered trademarks; WD Nomad is a trademark of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies. All other brand and product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies. Limited warranty applies to WD Nomad case only, not the product inside. See WD's limited warranty terms and conditions at http://support.wdc.com/warranty/policy.asp?custtype=end⟨=en for details.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110614/LA18785)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000711/WDCLOGO)

SOURCE Western Digital Technologies

Nintendo Wii U console shown off in its bright, minimalistic entirety

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 10:12 PM PDT

Nintendo hasn't been too keen on letting us mere mortals stroke the Wii U, as no amount of coins could unlock the console's cabinet at E3. Surprisingly though, Inside Games managed to get up close and personal to this white box outside its little cave, and then came home alive with a few clear shots. Mind you, there's hardly anything exciting here: we're just gazing at some air vents on the side and back, plus a few ports -- including HDMI -- on the latter. As pointed out by our brethren over at Joystiq, only time will tell whether this curvy Wii U will come with an attachment to imitate its predecessor's vertical standing. Check out the backside after the break.

D-Link MainStage WiDi 2.0 adapter puts your laptop on the TV, is less dangerous than it sounds

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 08:47 PM PDT

D-Link MainStage
It was only a matter of time before D-Link entered the WiDi fray. Even though Intel is pushing manufacturers to pack the wireless display tech into practically every laptop (and even a few tablets), options for actually getting that feed on your TV have been scarce. The decidedly nondescript MainStage adapter gives you at least one more choice and, since it boasts WiDi 2.0, you can beam 1080p video and 5.1 surround sound to your home theater from up to 33 feet away -- all while you continue to browse and chat on the small screen. You can find them now in all the usual places (Newegg, Best Buy, Amazon, etc...) for $129.99, but our neighbors to the north in Canada will have to wait till July to get their hockey-loving mittens on one. Check out the PR after the break.
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D-Link Now Shipping MainStageTM for Intel® Wireless Display, Enabling Consumers to View and Enjoy Laptop Content on a Big Screen HDTV

D-Link's Easy-to-Use MainStage for Intel® WiDi-Enabled Laptops Allows Consumers to Surf the Web, Watch Movies and Shop Online From a TV

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 14, 2011) - D-Link today announced its MainStage™ for Intel® Wireless Display (DHD-131) is now available, offering consumers an easy way to enjoy and share content from laptops(i) on an HDTV, from surfing the Web, to viewing photos, to streaming online videos.(ii) Delivering the web directly to TV screens, D-Link's new MainStage makes the biggest screen in today's homes the "main stage" for an array of home entertainment in 1080p HD and 5.1 digital surround sound.(iii)

"The Internet is truly indispensible in today's homes -- whether for enjoyment, work, school, or sharing family moments," said Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of consumer marketing, D-Link North America. "MainStage lets you wirelessly project movies and TV shows from Netflix and Hulu, or personal home videos and photo slideshows, to the best screen in the home, the HDTV. If you already own a notebook with Intel Wireless Display, it's one of the easiest ways to work and play online from your couch."

D-Link® MainStage enables consumers to seamlessly enjoy and share PC content from an Intel® Core™ processor-based notebook on a TV. Simply plug MainStage into the TV using an HDMI or A/V cable and with a push of a button automatically connects to your router, allowing consumers to surf the web and view home movies from a home network or laptop. In addition to enjoying content at home, MainStage also offers today's mobile professionals an easy way to send colorful and animated presentations and online content to flat-panel displays in conference rooms for a range of business presentation needs. Furthermore, while MainStage users are showing a movie or presentation on the big screen, they can simultaneously work on the notebook that is projecting to the TV.

"D-Link's MainStage TV adapter is a great example of Intel® WiDi 2.0 in action," said Joe Van de Water, consumer product marketing manager at Intel. "Intel WiDi 2.0 lets you wirelessly stream content from your PC to your HDTV with no cables or attachments to your PC. With Intel WiDi 2.0, you can enjoy Blu-ray movies, DVD movies, and content from Internet services like Intel Insider on your HDTV with up to 1080p HD clarity and 5.1 surround sound, and also share pictures, music, or videos."

MainStage for Intel® Wireless Display is compatible with any Intel® Wireless Display enabled system. 1080p and Blu-ray or other protected content playback is only available on second generation Intel® Core™ processor-based PCs with built-in visuals enabled, a compatible media player and supporting Intel WiDi software and graphics driver installed. For more information on laptop requirements and compatible products, please visit www.intel.com/go/wirelessdisplay.

Availability and Pricing
MainStage (DHD-131) is now available throughout D-Link's network of retail and e-tail outlets for an MSRP of $129.99 in the U.S., and will be available in Canada in July for $129.99. It will also be offered at the company's online store, http://www.dlinkshop.com.

About D-Link
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011, D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for home, small business, mid- to large-sized enterprise environments, and service providers. An award-winning designer, developer, and manufacturer, D-Link implements and supports unified network solutions that integrate capabilities in switching, wireless, broadband, storage, IP Surveillance, and cloud-based network management. For more information visit www.dlink.com, www.dlink.ca or connect with D-Link on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dlink) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/dlink).

D-Link, MainStage and the D-Link logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of D-Link Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other third-party marks mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright © 2011. D-Link. All Rights Reserved.

(i) Works only with laptops with Intel® Wireless Display powered by the Intel® Core™ Processor Family

(ii) Any device, content, or application you can access on your home network or your PC

(iii) 1080p resolution and digital surround sound available only if supported by file format. Requires TV that supports 1080p and digital surround sound.

N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 attachment makes it look complicated, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 07:16 PM PDT

N-Control Avenger makes it look complicated, we go hands-on (video)
At first glance, the N-Control Avenger looks like the fevered dream of a quirky lunatic, destined for fame and failure as a legendary crapgadget. When one showed up on our doorstep, we were admittedly skeptical. Could a lever- and pulley-laden Xbox 360 controller clamshell really give us a competitive edge? Wouldn't all the extra bits and pieces only result in a cumbersome mess? Is this doodad really worth the $50 asking price? We went hands-on to find out, and boy howdy, were we surprised.
N-Control Avenger hands-on

So, why would we want to cover our controller in snake-like tendrils and funky pulleys? Why, ease of access, of course. It may not seem apparent at first glance, but flicking the Avenger's flexible extremities toggles the attached controller's X, Y, and B buttons -- allowing players access to most of the controller's functions without abandoning the right-hand thumbstick. The backside of the Avenger features two notched lengths of rubber strung between a built-in controller stand and a pair of matching levers over the left and right triggers. This lever-pulley setup make the triggers accessible from almost any point on the rear of the controller, and can be customized to react to anything from the slightest touch, to a hearty yank.

At first this does feel a little awkward and cumbersome, but within an hour, flicking prongs and nudging levers felt natural and organic. Not only could we access game functions like reload, jump, and melee quicker, but doing it just felt better. Activating face buttons suddenly felt more like subtle gesturing and less like simple toggling. Mastering the trigger controls was a bit more challenging, but eventually we settled on a comfortable, loose tension setup. Finally, after adjusting and mastering the contraption's appendages and straps, we settled into a deep slouch, instinctively propping the controller's attached kickstand against our belt for a notably comfortable round of Bulletstorm.


The N-Control Avenger is a lot of things: it's comfortable, well designed, functional, intimidating, and above all, not to be mistaken for a crapgadget. The only thing it isn't, however, is appropriately priced. The Avenger -- a plastic shell, mind you -- rings in at $49.99. Perspective? That's enough to snag yourself a wireless Xbox 360 controller in its own right. So there's a choice -- better controls, or more controllers? Tough call. Us? We'll wait until N-Control gets the idea to ship a full-fledged third party controller that delivers both.

DXG 3D camera costs 70 bucks, or just three easy payments of $23.99

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 05:47 PM PDT


Oh, so your infant's first words were "3D camera," were they? Now you can reward your little princess with her first cam without needing to switch to store-brand baby food -- after turning off the Home Shopping Network, of course. The DXG-018 3D camera will run you just under $70, but it'll be worth every penny when your little early adopter grows up to be a gadget fiend with 15 maxed-out credit cards and $80,000 in debt. In the meantime, they'll be teething on a 1.44-inch LCD, dual lenses, an SD card (sold separately), and a pair of AA batteries. The kit also includes three 3D viewers, which apparently display 4-by-6-inch prints in three dimensions. DXG says the cam was created with kids in mind, shipping in pink, lavender, orange, green, and yellow, but it may also make a decent gift for adults, assuming they've never used a camera or viewed 3D content before.
DXG-018 3D camera
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SNAP AND SHARE 3D PHOTOS LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH THE DXG-018 3D POCKET CAMERA AND 3D VIEWER

DXG Creates an Easy and Fun Way to Capture and View 3D Pictures with No 3D TV Required

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA - June 14, 2011 – DXG is bringing the beloved View-Master® back with an exciting technology twist that lets users create and share their own 3D content with the new DXG-018 3D pocket camera and viewer. Available today at www.dxgusa.com, the DXG-018 3D camera and viewer bundle retails for $69.99.

Shoot, Print and Share Memories in 3D
Available in five eye-catching colors – pink, lavender, orange, green and yellow – the DXG-018 features a dual-lens 3D camera which snaps color pictures that are saved onto an SD card (sold separately). Photos are easily transferred from the SD card by inserting it into any printer or computer, or using the included USB cable. Using standard 4x6 photo paper, pictures automatically print as side-by-side images with dotted lines for optimal cutting and sizing to fit into the included 3D cardboard viewers. Once the photos are ready, simply slide them into the viewers, look into the windows and enjoy the 3D magic.

"We are excited about the DXG-018 3D camera and viewer because it makes 3D technology easy, fun and accessible to every type of consumer, with no 3D TV required," said Paul Goldberg, senior vice president of sales and marketing at DXG USA. "We designed the product with kids in mind, making it extremely easy to use and portable. The cardboard viewers are truly a fun and one-of-a-kind way to share 3D memories because they can be folded, dropped in an envelope and mailed to grandma who can feel like she's in the scene with her grandkids."

The DXG-018 3D camera bundle includes three cardboard viewers, with additional viewer packs sold separately at www.dxgusa.com.

About DXG USA

DXG USA, The Digital Camera Company, one of the fastest growing camcorder manufacturers in the U.S., provides intuitively designed high-definition camcorders for the youth and mainstream markets. Compact, fashionable and affordably priced, DXG digital camcorders are setting trends for quality and utility. DXG USA is a fully owned subsidiary of DXG Technology Corp., one of the world's leading manufacturers and designers (OEM/ODM) of digital cameras and camcorders. DXG Technology has won numerous design and innovation awards and employs more than 4,000 people worldwide. Complete information on DXG USA can be found at www.dxgusa.com.

AI competition pits Ms. Pac-Man against ghosts in the Manichean struggle of our time (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 04:20 PM PDT

While the world breathlessly awaits the Pac-Man reality TV show, the University of Essex held a programming competition starring that other yellow chomper. The Ms. Pac-Man vs. Ghost Team contest pitted 13 competitors from nine different countries against one another, to see who could create the most elusive Ms. Pac-Man or the wiliest ghost gang. The participants coded routines for the titular hero or Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Sue, with organizers then running the programs against one another on the Java-based playing field. The highest single-game score went to Atif, who racked up 69240 points versus DarkRodry's ghosts, while ghost team Legacy2TheReckoning held RandomMsPacMan to a mere 410 points. Another competition will take place in August, so limber up your coding fingers, Pac-Maniacs. In the meantime, strap on your headgear and cheer on your round yellow hero in the video below.

Brando's iPad 2 telescope is perfect for watching the next Apple keynote

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 03:17 PM PDT

If you're like us, you've spent entirely too much time wondering how the movie Rear Window might have played out differently, had someone just handed Jimmy Stewart's character an iPad to play with. With the introduction of the Super Gear Telescope, it seems that the plot would've been mostly the same, just as soon as he finished beating Angry Birds. The Brando add-on brings 6x zoom to the iPad 2 and generally looks far less awkward than its iPhone predecessor. All in all, $26 seems like a small price to pay to see what the neighbors are looking at on their own iPads.

Comcast to show off new Xfinity TV guide with Facebook tie-ins, Intel CPU Thursday (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 02:49 PM PDT


Thanks to one of our readers getting an early install, we've already dug deep into Comcast's next generation Xfinity TV DVR, but on Thursday Brian Roberts will show it off in full (along with "new broadband speeds") at the 2011 NCTA Cable Show . According to the press release the new guide that blends internet content with TV broadcasts will include customizations and sharing tied to Facebook along with hardware built by Pace around an Intel CPU -- if anyone needs a suggestion for a service to add after Skype, we're thinking OnLive could be a good fit. The detail we're waiting to hear is when it will be upgrading the pitiful boxes currently available in our neck of the woods, but until then we have another tipster to thank for pointing out a cache of demo videos posted on the portal for initial testers in Georgia. The 17-minute compilation of walkthrough videos is embedded above, just try not to drool too hard over the HD formatted UI.

[Thanks, Cypherstream]


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COMCAST CHAIRMAN AND CEO BRIAN L. ROBERTS TO UNVEIL
NEXT GENERATION TELEVISION EXPERIENCE AND NEW BROADBAND SPEEDS

Comcast Taps Industry Leaders Facebook, Intel Corporation, Pace plc and thePlatform

New Xfinity TV Experience Delivers Advanced Search, Personalization and Interactivity

Philadelphia, PA and Chicago, IL – June 14, 2011 – Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) today announced that it is working with leading technology and content providers to deliver the company's next-generation Xfinity® TV experience. This new experience transforms the way consumers watch television with a new guide and user interface that makes the TV screen more interactive, personal and social. Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts will demonstrate this new service and new speeds at the 2011 NCTA show in Chicago on Thursday, June 16 during the General Session that begins at 9 am CT.

Now available in a market trial in Augusta, GA, Xfinity TV brings an entirely new user experience to television that makes it easier to search and select from tens of thousands of choices. Through this experience, customers enjoy:

Fast, intuitive search that lets users find what they want to watch in seconds from thousands of choices on TV, On Demand, on their DVR, or from a selection of additional content.
A more personalized TV experience called MyTV® where users can see and access all of their recordings, favorites and recommendations in one place that reflects their interests, favorite series, sports teams, movies and music.
Interactive apps that are easy to access and enhanced for TV, like traffic and weather, and social apps like Facebook® that let users share and discover what to watch with their friends.

"We've made great progress on providing better tools – first on the web, then on tablets and mobile devices – to make it easier to find what you want to watch, when you want it from thousands of choices. We're excited to bring those advanced capabilities to the TV set to enable a richer, more personalized experience," said Sam Schwartz, President of Comcast Converged Products. "This is a new platform for continuous innovation and new product development. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of what's possible and we look forward to working with industry leaders like these as we continue to evolve what it means to watch TV."

Xfinity TV integrates technology, content and applications from industry leaders including:

Integrating with Facebook to bring social apps to TV, making it easy for people to share their TV experience with friends, wherever they may be.
Intel Corporation provided the Intel® Architecture-based CE SoC for the new set-top boxes, delivering the CPU and graphics performance required for the service's advanced user interface, fast responsive performance and new interactive applications.
Pace plc, a leader in digital TV technology, developed the powerful hybrid set-top box with tru2way and IP capability that enables the new television experience.
thePlatform®, a leading video publishing company wholly owned by Comcast, is bringing its cloud-based video publishing system, mpx, as the content management infrastructure for the service.

This is the first of a series of products made possible by Xcalibur, an advanced application and video platform that uses cloud computing services in the Comcast network to bring new, more innovative television services to consumers, faster.

Mr. Roberts' demonstration will be live streamed on June 16 beginning at 9 am CT/10 am ET at http://2011.thecableshow.com/live and on http://blog.comcast.com/. Video replays will be available on both sites following the June 16th presentation. Demos of this next generation Xfinity TV experience will also be available in the Comcast Cable booth (Booth #1201) at The Cable Show 2011 at McCormick Place in Chicago on June 16th.


About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
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Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

23-Inch NEC MultiSync EX231Wp makes desktop displays a little bit greener

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 02:17 PM PDT

NEC EX231Wp
If you remember last year's EX231W (note the lack of "p") then you pretty much know all you need to about the company's latest business-class 23-incher, the EX231Wp. It's got the same 14.6mm bezel, 250-nit brightness, 25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 1920 x 1080 resolution. It even kept the pair of sensors for measuring ambient light and detecting meatbags sitting in front of it, which allow the screen to adjust its brightness and conserve energy. Really, the only big difference is that NEC has managed to trim the power consumption from an already respectable 31W to just 27W under normal use. The display will start shipping in July for $319 and you'll find more spec fun in the PR after the break.
Show full PR text
NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS ADDS THIN, LIGHTWEIGHT DESKTOP MODEL TO ULTRA-SLIM MULTISYNC EX SERIES
CHICAGO - June 13, 2011
EX231Wp Offers PVA Model with Stunning Contrast Ratio, Incredible Viewing Angles, Slim Depth with LED Backlighting

NEC Display Solutions of America, a leading provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, announced today the addition of the 23-inch PVA panel MultiSync® EX231Wp, which joins the 23-inch, TN panel MultiSync EX231W. This sleek desktop monitor offers a premium-grade, performance-driven PVA panel that allows for increased viewing angle, sharp contrast ratio and ease in transporting between different locations. Ideal for multiple monitor setups, the MultiSync EX231Wp is designed for financial and corporate environments, business users on-the-go, small-scale digital signage, small-to-medium-sized business client meetings and presentations.

The MultiSync EX231Wp will be on display in NEC Display Solutions Booth No. 1901 at InfoComm 2011 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL on June 15-17.

The new MultiSync EX231Wp stands out with its true minimalist design. It features an ultra-thin bezel width (14.6mm), depth (14.2mm) and weight (9.3 pounds with stand). The LED backlighting technology allows the MultiSync EX231Wp to consume as little as 27W, making it one of the most power-efficient desktops in its size category. Additionally, the quick-release button enables stand removal and allows simple setup with the photo-frame stand (optional accessory), making the MultiSync EX231Wp an ideal business travel companion. The PVA panel provides customers with greater image quality with full high-definition resolution, high contrast ratio (3000:1 typical, 25,000:1 dynamic), excellent viewing angles (178° vertical, 178° horizontal) and minimized color shift for crisp text, bright colors and pure imagery.

Integrated features of the MultiSync EX231Wp include the human sensor, which detects user activity in front of the monitor and reduces its power up to 94% with inactivity. Users have the ability to adjust the inactivity length and sensor settings. Similarly, the monitor's built-in ambient light sensor detects external light sources, white display area and adjusts the display's brightness accordingly. The USB port on top of the display enables the quick connection of a webcam or speaker for video conferencing, as well as easy thumb drive access.

"The ultra-slim MultiSync EX231Wp was created to give business users more functionality with the ability to easily implement web conferencing, small-scale digital signage, portability in between meetings and simple multi-screen setup," said Lynn Gu, Product Manager for NEC Display Solutions. "We anticipate our customers traveling with their MultiSync EX231Wp to client meetings or using a mount solution to tile multiple monitors together. The unique capabilities this product presents are unlike anything else in our IT desktop lineup."

The MultiSync EX231Wp includes the following features:

23-inch, 16:9, PVA panel with LED backlighting
1920 x 1080 full HD resolution
250 cd/m² brightness
3,000:1 typical contrast ratio (25,000:1 dynamic)
27-watt power consumption
Advanced connectivity with DisplayPort and DVI-I inputs
USB port
Fully adjustable stand with 110mm height-adjust, tilt, swivel and pivot
Quick-release stand
Touch-sensitive On Screen Display (OSD®) controls
Ambient light sensor
Human sensor
ECO Mode™, carbon footprint meter and cost meter
Intelligent Power Management (IPM) system and off timer
Dynamic Video Mode enhances video and images with real-time optimization of brightness, color and contrast (standard, text, movie, game and photo)
External power supply via mini AC adaptor
ENERGY STAR 5.0 and TCO 5.2 compliance
EPEAT Gold compliance
Windows 7 and Windows Vista™ certified
Optional accessories include photo frame stand and carrying bag (July availability)

The MultiSync EX231Wp ships with a 3-year limited parts and labor warranty and will be available in July 2011 at an estimated street price of $319.

About NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.
Headquartered in Itasca, Ill., NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc., is a leading designer and provider of innovative desktop LCD monitors, commercial- and professional-grade large-screen LCD displays, a diverse line of multimedia and digital cinema projectors, and integrated display solutions. NEC Display Solutions develops leading-edge visual technology and customer-focused solutions for a wide variety of markets, including enterprise, healthcare, education and digital signage. For additional information about NEC Display Solutions of America monitors, consumers can call (866) NEC-MORE, or visit the website at www.necdisplay.com. For digital images, please visit http://www.necdisplay.com/products/digitalmedialibrary/.

About VUKUNET
VUKUNET, from NEC Display Solutions of America, is the engine that powers the digital out-of-home advertising business. VUKUNET is the only universal ad serving platform that drives ads to any digital out-of-home network, regardless of content management system. VUKUNET makes the buying, flighting and reporting of digital out-of-home ad campaigns easy. For additional information about VUKUNET, visit www.vukunet.com or call (877) 805-VUKU. For VUKUNET logos and digital images, please visit http://www.vukunet.com/pressresources.aspx.

Shocker! Gamer behavior is actually quite predictable

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT

Isn't it curious how you always crack open a beer before settling in for some GTA? Or how you tend to put an anxious hand over your wallet when logging onto PSN? No soldier, it is not curious. Not at all. But this is: Researchers at North Carolina State University claim they've found a way to predict your in-game behavior with "up to 80 percent accuracy." After analyzing the decision-making of 14,000 World of Warcraft players, they noticed that different players prefer different types of achievements. These preferred achievements clump together into statistically significant groups, known as "cliques", even if they have nothing obvious in common. So a WoW player who likes to improve their unarmed combat skills also, for some psychological reason, tends to want points for world travel. What's more, the researchers believe that clique-spotting can be exploited outside the rather specific world of WoW, in which case their method could prove lucrative to game designers, online retailers and pretty much anyone with an interest in predicting your next move. Want to know more? Then we predict you'll click the PR after the break.
Show full PR text
What Gamers Want: Researchers Develop Tool To Predict Player Behavior

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new method that can accurately predict the behavior of players in online role-playing games. The tool could be used by the game industry to develop new game content, or to help steer players to the parts of a game they will enjoy most.

"We are able to predict what a player in a game will do based on his or her previous behavior, with up to 80 percent accuracy," says Brent Harrison, a Ph.D. student at NC State and co-author of a paper describing the research. The research team developed the data-driven predictive method by analyzing the behavior of 14,000 players in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft.

"In a game like World of Warcraft, which is constantly developing new content, this could help guide content design decisions," Harrison says.

"A good game stands on its own," says Dr. David L. Roberts, an assistant professor of computer science at NC State and co-author of the paper. "If you want to improve it, you have to make sure players will like any changes you make. This research can help researchers get it right, because if you have a good idea of what players like, you can make informed decisions about the kind of storylines and mechanics those players would like in the future."

"This work could obviously be used for World of Warcraft or other MMORPGs," says Roberts, "but it also applies to any setting where users are making a series of decisions. That could be other gaming formats, or even online retailing."

Harrison adds that the new methodology could also help game designers guide players to existing content that is suited to their gaming style.

"For example," Roberts says, "you could develop a program to steer players to relevant content. Because it is a data-driven modeling approach, it could be done on a grand scale with minimum input from game designers."

The researchers developed the new method by evaluating the task-based "achievement" badges that players in World of Warcraft earn. These achievements are awarded whenever a player accomplishes a specific goal or series of goals.

Specifically, the researchers collected data on 14,000 players and the order in which they earned their achievement badges. The researchers then identified the degree to which each individual achievement was correlated to every other achievement. The researchers used that data to identify groups of achievements – called cliques – that were closely related. Those cliques could then be used to predict future behavior. For example, if a clique consists of seven achievements, and a player has earned four of them, the researchers found that they will probably earn the other three. However, many of the cliques that the researchers identified consist of 80 or more different achievements.

One interesting element of these findings is that the achievements that are highly correlated – or part of the same clique – do not necessarily have any obvious connection. For example, an achievement dealing with a character's prowess in unarmed combat is highly correlated to the achievement badge associated with world travel – even though there is no clear link between the two badges to the outside observer.

The paper, "Using Sequential Observations to Model and Predict Player Behavior," will be presented at the Foundations of Digital Games Conference in Bordeaux, France, June 29-July1.
NC State's Department of Computer Science is part of the university's College of Engineering.

Nintendo's Iwata talks about Wii U's place in the living room

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:17 PM PDT

Nintendo took some inspiration from the TV remote for its Wii controller, and it apparently thinks its new Wii U controller could well be the "TV remote of the future." That's just one tidbit from All Things D's sitdown with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who also talked more broadly about the Wii U's new role in the living room. As evidenced by E3, that will include catering to more hardcore gamers than the Wii did, but Iwata says the Wii U is also an effort to take some of the couch time back from folks playing games on tablets, smartphones or laptops. To that end, Iwata says that Nintendo's mission is to "shorten the distance between people and gaming" and remove some of the barriers involved with console gaming, further adding that it's also trying to "reach out to the people who are not interested in video games." Though it's not saying much about it, Nintendo's no doubt hoping to win back a few investors as well. As you may have noticed, the company's stock slipped significantly following its E3 announcement and, while it's bounced back a bit since, it's still well off its Wii-fueled heights of recent years.

Keepin' it real fake: Xperia Arc KIRF has KIRFy dual-core processor (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:44 PM PDT

Keepin' it real Fake: Xperia Arc KIRF has KIRFy dual-core processor
Is that 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255-powered Xperia Arc just too darn fast? We may have just the KIRF you're looking for. A simple phone with a simple name: the "DR." This petite pretender shaves 0.2-inches off of the Arc's 4.2-inch display, adding only 0.03mm of thickness along the way. Forget that Adreno 205 graphics processor, this baby runs on a Meditek MTK6516 ARM compatible processor, a setup often mistakenly advertised as dual-core with a whopping 416MHz core for running Android 2.2.1, and a second 208MHz core dedicated exclusively for the wireless radio. For the record, radio-dedicated partitions are usually skipped on core counts. Wrap it up with premo luxuries like a 3.5-inch headphone jack and 2 megapixel camera, and you've got an Xperia knock-off that's... well, pretty timid. But hey, it's only 1000 yuan ($154), so at least you can get dangerously close to Xperia territory without shattering the bank. If that's enough for you, check out a hands-on video (in Chinese) after the break.

Garmin to purchase Navigon, plans to complete acquisition by late July

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:14 PM PDT


News of Garmin's plans to acquire Navigon leaked out earlier this month, but we now have official word that the GPS giant will bring the smaller German company under its wing beginning in late July. Pending regulatory approval, the deal would have Navigon, one of the largest GPS brands in Europe, functioning as a subsidiary of Garmin, which has a much stronger presence in North America. The companies were unable to reveal any financial information, though previous estimates priced the deal in the "mid-double-digit million" Euro range. Navigon says it's not ready to share any details concerning the acquisition, but we're unlikely to see major effects in the US, where the company has smartphone apps but hasn't sold dedicated GPS devices in several years.
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Garmin® Ltd. Announces Signing of Agreement To Acquire Navigon® AG

Schaffhausen, Switzerland and Hamburg, Germany /June 14, 2011/Business Wire - Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) and Navigon AG announced today that Garmin Ltd. and the shareholders of Navigon AG have signed an agreement for a subsidiary of Garmin to acquire privately-held navigation provider Navigon AG ("Navigon").

"This acquisition is a great complement to Garmin's existing automotive and mobile business. Navigon has invested significantly in the European automotive OEM business, and we feel that we can rapidly expand our automotive OEM footprint and capabilities through this transaction," said Cliff Pemble, Garmin's president and COO. "With Navigon, we are also acquiring one of the top-selling navigation applications for the iPhone and Android platforms – something that we expect will help drive revenue for the combined company going forward. Combining Navigon's and Garmin's strength also improves our competitiveness and standing particularly in Europe."

Navigon is headquartered in Germany. In addition to its automotive OEM and navigation application for smartphones, the company has an estimated seven percent share in portable navigation devices (PNDs) in Europe. In regards to PNDs, Navigon's products are known for their compelling design, performance, and innovative software features.

"We look forward to sharing expertise, technologies, and relationships between Navigon and Garmin in order to serve more customers, expand product offerings, and lead the market in hardware and software innovation," said Egon Minar, CEO of Navigon. "Our two companies each bring complementary strengths to the table, but what we share is a passion for customer satisfaction through innovation."

Navigon will operate as a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transaction will not be released.

Apple retail chief Ron Johnson takes his empire-building genius to J.C. Penney

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 11:42 AM PDT

Ron Johnson
You may not know the name Ron Johnson, but you're definitely familiar with his work -- this is the man who built Apple's retail empire. Eleven years ago Jobs brought Johnson on to create the first Apple store, stealing him away from his position at Target. Now the man who brought you the Genius Bar and roaming, iPhone-wielding sales reps is moving on, and taking his expertise to the department store stalwart J.C. Penney. A spokesperson for the Cupertino crew told All Things D that the company was already searching for his replacement, but we're more interested in what Johnson will be doing with the shopping mall staple when he takes over as CEO on November 1st. We can only imagine that iPad-based virtual fitting rooms and desks of Jean-iuses will be helping you pick out your next pair of Levis. PR after the break.
Show full PR text
J. C. Penney Company Names Ron Johnson as Its Next Chief Executive Officer, Effective November 1

MYRON E. (MIKE) ULLMAN, III TO BECOME EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Johnson Has Led Apple Inc.'s Retail Since Its Inception
Will Join J. C. Penney's Board of Directors on August 1

PLANO, Texas, June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III, chairman and chief executive officer of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP), today announced that Ron Johnson, an innovative and highly regarded retail executive, has been named the Company's next chief executive officer, succeeding Mr. Ullman in that role. Mr. Johnson will assume the CEO position on Nov. 1, 2011, and report to Mr. Ullman, who will become executive chairman. Mr. Johnson will also join the Company's Board of Directors, effective Aug. 1, 2011.

Mr. Johnson, 52, has served for the past 11 years as senior vice president of retail at Apple Inc., where he led its retail strategy, which from its start in 2001 now numbers over 300 stores in the U.S. and abroad. He joined Apple after 15 years at Target Corporation, where he was a key merchandising executive.

Mr. Ullman said, "I am delighted that Ron is joining our Board and the Company, and look forward to working with him as we continue to transform the jcpenney brand. He is widely recognized and highly regarded in the retail industry for his creativity and innovation, his commitment to empowering employees to deliver an unparalleled customer experience, and to making stores exciting places where people love to shop. His tremendous accomplishments at Apple and Target speak to his great consumer merchandising, marketing and operational talent."

Thomas J. Engibous, lead director of J. C. Penney Company's Board, said, "The Company has made outstanding strides under Mike Ullman's leadership and it has great potential ahead thanks to the Long Range Plan for growth he and the management team developed and are executing, which includes top management succession planning. The progress made under Mike's leadership is reflected in the Company's ability to attract an executive of Ron Johnson's talent and track record as it continues to focus on achieving its objective of becoming America's most exciting place to shop. We look forward to Ron joining our Board and then to his assuming the chief executive role as he, Mike and their team work towards achieving the Company's goals."

Mr. Johnson said, "I've always dreamed of leading a major retail company as CEO, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help J. C. Penney re-imagine what I believe to be the single greatest opportunity in American retailing today, the Department Store. I have tremendous confidence in J. C. Penney's future and look forward to working with Mike Ullman, the Executive Board and the Company's 150,000 associates to transform the way America shops."

As a demonstration of his confidence in J. C. Penney's long-term potential, Mr. Johnson requested and has committed to make a personal investment of $50 million in the Company through the purchase, at fair market value, of 7 1/2-year warrants on 7.257 million shares ofJ. C. Penney Company stock. The warrants cannot be sold or hedged for the first six years of their term and have a strike price of $29.92, the closing price of the stock on the business day prior to Mr. Johnson's commitment to purchase the warrants.

About Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson brings to J. C. Penney Company over 25 years of retail experience and a long and successful track record of delivering year-over-year growth for multi-billion dollar companies.

Before joining Apple, Mr. Johnson held a variety of positions with Target Corporation, serving in his last role there as vice president of merchandising. In his 15-year merchandising career with Target he had responsibility for such categories as Men's Apparel, Women's Apparel and Accessories, Children's and Home. He is most noted for launching and leading the Design Initiative at Target, which began with the Michael Graves collection for home and included several other key brands such as Calphalon, Carr, Bodum and more.

Mr. Johnson received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Arts at Stanford in Economics.

About Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III

Mr. Ullman joined J. C. Penney as Chairman and CEO in late 2004. Over the next several months, he and the Company's Executive Board designed a Long Range Plan for the growth of J. C. Penney to position it for leadership in the retail sector, and they have made great progress in delivering on its goals. This has included enabling the Company to navigate through the challenging economic environment of the past several years and to emerge with an enhanced reputation for style at compelling prices, industry-leading customer service, innovation in the digital experience, leading-edge technology across the organization, significant financial strength and a commitment to operational effectiveness.

Importantly, under Mr. Ullman the Company has put in place a succession planning process for senior management, including for the CEO position. The appointment of Mr. Johnson is a key step in that process.

Even prior to joining J. C. Penney Company, Inc., Mr. Ullman had a distinguished track record in the retail business, both domestically and internationally. His leadership experience included serving as group managing director of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods manufacturer (from 1999-2002); chairman and chief executive officer of DFS Group Limited, the travel retailer (1995-1999); chairman and chief executive officer of R. H. Macy & Co., Inc. (1992-1995); and group managing director of Wharf Holdings, Ltd. in Hong Kong (1986-1989). Among his other roles, he was appointed a White House Fellow by President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Ullman currently serves as deputy chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; presiding independent director of Starbucks Corporation; Board member of the Retail Industry Leaders Association; and chairman of the board of Mercy Ships International.
at 11:53 AM

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