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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

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Firefox 5 is officially released, how are you liking it?

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:23 AM PDT

Why it seems like only yesterday that our little Firefox had its last major upgrade. As expected, the browser turned 5.0 today, and you can celebrate by downloading it now from Mozilla's site. We'd like to know how your test drive of the update is going so far. Let us know in the poll and the comments below.

Are you enjoying Firefox 5?

AT&T to offer $50 unlimited prepaid plan, ready to 'GoPhone' June 26th

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT

Boost and Verizon shouldn't have all the fun, right? The latest kid to do a cannonball into the low-cost prepaid pool is wearing a blue-and-orange swimsuit, as AT&T will be ready to start up $50 unlimited GoPhone plans June 26th. The new prepaid selection sheds $10 off its previous limitless talk and text offering, while tossing in web access for Quick Messaging Phones. In order to be fully competitive in the pay-as-you-go realm, the aforementioned plan will allow the same texting privileges across our borders; you'll be able to SMS or IM your buddies in Mexico, Canada, and 100 other countries. The unfortunate (albeit unsurprising) part is that heading the smartphone route will come at an additional monthly cost, ranging from $5 to $25. Even though it seems Big Blue is a little tardy for the party, a wireless giant is never late -- it arrives exactly when it means to. Full press release after the break.


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Prepaid Calling Just Got Better: Nationwide Unlimited Talk, Text & Web Plan Now Available for $50

AT&T Customers Can Save More Than 20% With No Long-term Commitment Starting June 26

Dallas, Texas, June 21, 2011

Key Facts

-Consumers can sign up for an unlimited talk, text and web nationwide GoPhone® plan for $50 per month starting on June 26 with AT&T* -- a savings of more than 20%.

-Plan includes unlimited text and instant messaging to Mexico, Canada and 100 additional countries.

-Customers can apply this new GoPhone plan to quick messaging phones such the Pantech P7040p, available for purchase on the same day for $59.99.

-Available to new and existing GoPhone customers with a feature phone.

Customer Benefits

AT&T GoPhone customers can now take advantage of a new unlimited talk, text and web nationwide plan for $50 per month. Unlimited text and instant messaging to Mexico, Canada and 100 other countries are also included at no additional cost.

GoPhone service can be purchased at AT&T company-owned retail stores, online at att.com/gophone and thousands of authorized retailers nationwide. Smartphone customers can choose unlimited talk and text for $50 and select one of three data package options from $5 to $25.

Earlier this month, AT&T announced the new Pantech P7040p, a stylish quick messaging phone, would also be available on June 26 in company-owned retail stores for $59.99. With a full keyboard, the Pantech P7040p is ideal for maximizing the value of this new plan.

Quotes

"As summer approaches, consumers want a plan that provides even more value as they connect with their loved ones in the U.S and abroad," said Judy Cavalieri, vice president, Voice and Prepaid Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "GoPhone provides customers a unique opportunity to experience the dependability and availability of AT&T's national wireless network with no long term commitment."

Sputnik 0667 PC mod: perfect for your early 1900s living room

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:21 AM PDT

Do ya hate that slick, aluminum unibody design that you just shelled out a thousand plus smackers for? Looking for something that just screams alt-tech, not high-tech? Then please, feast your steampunky eyes on this beauty of a PC mod that'll fit perfectly alongside your Memaw's china closet. Crafted by Swedish art student Love Hulten, this wood-grained cabinet of wonders takes its design cues from "the 20th century and old hi-fi." Hiding under that well-varnished hood is a Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 Mini-ITX motherboard with a 3.2GHz Core i3 500 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD and a GeForce GTX 460 GPU and a log-fire power supply. Love's hybrid commode is up for sale, but you'll have to contact the artist himself to get pricing. Check the sources below for a few more shots, as well as a bit of inspiration from the last millennium.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hitting Sprint on June 24th, bring your own 4G

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:53 AM PDT

Samsung wouldn't get any more specific than "mid-summer" when it revealed that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 would be coming to Sprint, but it turns out you don't have to wait much longer to pick one via the carrier. Sprint has just announced that the WiFi-only tablet will be available through its website and other channels starting June 24th for the same $499.99 it demands elsewhere (though you'll have to wait until July 24th to get one at a Sprint retail store). It also not-so-subtly notes that the tablet is "even more amazing" when paired with an Overdrive Pro 4G mobile hotspot or Novatel MiFi -- sold separately, of course. Full press release is after the break.
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Sprint Expands Mobile Tablet Portfolio With Launch of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 on June 24 for $499.99

Ultra-Thin and Lightweight Tab Boasts a 10.1-inch HD Touchscreen, Android 3.1 and a Dual-Core Processor; Power Galaxy Tab 10.1 with an Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless or MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Novatel Wireless for access to blazing-fast Sprint 4G speeds

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), June 21, 2011 - Sprint customers will be able to enjoy the convenience of Samsung Galaxy TabTM 10.1 16GB Wi-Fi version beginning June 24 through direct ship sales channels, including Sprint Stores, Web sales (www.sprint.com), Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and Sprint Business Sales for $499.99 (excludes taxes). It will be available for purchase in Sprint retail stores on July 24.

This powerful tablet boasts a brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen (1,280x800) display delivering sharper movies, better game graphics, and crystal clear video chats. At just 0.34-inches, it is the world's thinnest mobile tablet. It comes with AndroidTM 3.1 Honeycomb with Android MarketTM providing access to more than 60,000 apps for Galaxy Tab 10.11 and an immersive, lightning-fast Web browsing experience.

"Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 expands Sprint's tablet innovation, growing our lineup to five options," said David Owens, Sprint vice president of product development. "This gives Sprint customers a one-stop-shop for all of their tablet needs. Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a dynamic tablet, but it is even more amazing when paired with the Sprint 4G network through our OverdriveTM Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless or MiFi® 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Novatel."

Galaxy Tab 10.1 is designed with a brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with WXGA 1,280x800 resolution, delivering vibrant colors and crisp clarity. The aspect ratio of the display is ideal for widescreen viewing of movies, TV shows and photos. It features two cameras – a rear-facing 3-megapixel camera with camcorder, flash and zoom, and a front-facing, 2-megapixel camera – enabling video chat.

Additional key features include:

Android 3.1 Honeycomb offering faster and smoother transitions between different applications, more intuitive navigation to and from home screens, and broader support of USB accessories, external keyboards, joysticks and gamepads
Android Market for access to more than 60,000 applications for Galaxy Tab 10.1
Mobile Email–IMAP and POP, GmailTM, MSN Hotmail® and Yahoo!®
Google Mobile Services, including YouTube, GmailTM, Google TalkTM and Google MapsTM
HD camcorder with 720p video capture
Full HTML Web browser with Google Search and Adobe® Flash® Player (10.3)
1GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor
1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage
Wi-Fi enabled
Stereo Bluetooth Technology 2.1
Galaxy Tab 10.1 customers can expect a software update planned for this summer that will enable more favorite features and services including:

Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX"
Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu for customizing the home screen of Galaxy Tab 10.1 with digital pictures, favorite websites and social network feeds. In addition, the TouchWiz UX includes a "Mini Apps" tray of commonly used features, such as task manager, calendar and music player, which can be launched while other major applications are already in use.
Samsung Media Hub
The software upgrade will introduce the evolution of Samsung's popular movie and TV content service, known as Media Hub. Media Hub has been redesigned with a new user interface for even easier downloads of rented or purchased content. The new version of Media Hub also includes an HD Extender, which allows the user to play back Media Hub content on TV through an HDMI cable from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 dock or adapter.
Readers Hub & Social Hub
It will also gain access to Samsung's Readers Hub service, which is a robust library filled with more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspapers and 2,300 magazines. Also, the software upgrade will install Samsung's Social Hub service, which aggregates email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface.
Versatile Content Sharing
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also receive Samsung's Allshare service, for seamless content transfer between the tablet and other DLNA-enabled devices, such as HDTVs, monitors and digital cameras. The software upgrade will also transform Galaxy Tab 10.1 into a device capable of accepting streaming content from a TV to the tablet itself.
Sprint was unbeaten among major wireless carriers for customer satisfaction according to results from the 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index. In addition to tying for first place among wireless carriers, Sprint was also the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, during the last three years, according to the survey.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 51 million customers at the end of 1Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Seesmic Twitter app drops BlackBerry support, RIM's frown sags even lower

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:44 AM PDT


The third-party app experience has always seemed like an afterthought for RIM. Lousy selection and a half-baked install process are just some of the issues plaguing BlackBerry owners and developers, but there's no blow stronger in the app world than when a dev drops support for a platform, after dedicating the resources necessary to bring a product to market in the first place. That's exactly what Seesmic has done with its popular social media app -- effective June 30th, the company will drop support for BlackBerry, "in order to focus development efforts on (its) most popular mobile platforms." It goes so far as to suggest that users "try out Seesmic for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 7," which would of course mean replacing that BlackBerry with another, more app-friendly device. The move doesn't necessarily indicate that other devs will follow suit, but if jumping ship does become a trend, it could put a significant damper on RIM's future earnings, to say the least.

USB-IF releases extensions to USB video class 1.1, offloading compression is a go

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:17 AM PDT

For those unaware, a USB video class describes a device that's capable of streaming video -- you know, things like webcams, camcorders, TV tuners and even still-image cameras. For the longest time, you needed to rely on your machine to do the grunt work associated with encoding video, but new extensions to the USB video class 1.1 have enabled those very devices to support H.264. In other words, H.264 encoding can now be offloaded to the device itself, and furthermore, the compression provides more bandwidth for additional USB devices. We're told that the H.264 Payload specification is compatible with drivers based upon the USB-IF's UVC 1.0 and 1.1 specifications and relies on proper support of the MJPG and/or Stream Based payload format, and if you're an engineer looking to integrate, the goods you need are stocked away in the source link below.
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USB-IF Releases Extensions to USB Video Class 1.1

USB Device Class Definition for Video Devices: H.264 Payload Now Available

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The USB-IF's Video Work Group completed a supplement to the USB Video Class (UVC) 1.1 that adds the extensions to support H.264. The USB Device Class Definition for Video Devices applies to all devices or functions within composite devices that are used to manipulate video and video-related functionality. This includes devices such as webcams, digital camcorders, analog video converters, analog and digital TV tuners, and still-image cameras that support video streaming.

H.264 encoding enables a host to offload compression to a device such as a webcam. In addition, compression provides more bandwidth for additional USB devices.

Devices supporting H.264 encoding are able to interface with the host using defined controls and video streaming interface(s). The H.264 Payload specification is compatible with drivers based upon the USB-IF's UVC 1.0 and 1.1 specifications and relies on proper support of the MJPG and/or Stream Based payload format. The new controls are defined using standard UVC extension control units. Additional extensions may be developed in the future to enhance control of encoders and decoders for various compression and decompression technologies.

UVC 1.1 from the USB-IF is an open standard and the specification was written with support from USB-IF member companies.

The USB-IF's USB Device Class Definition for Device Class Definition for Video Devices: H.264 Payload is available at http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs#approved.

Dry ice makes graphene cheaper, greener, and by the (relative) boatload

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:55 AM PDT

Amartya Chakrabarti and Graphene
Dry ice isn't just great for keeping steaks cold and filling your bathtub with fog, it may also play a major role in producing the miracle metal graphene. Researchers at Northern Illinois University have discovered that burning magnesium in frozen carbon dioxide produces a thin layer of the hyped-to-the-lattices carbon nanostructure. The so-called dry-ice method has several advantages over previous techniques, not the least of which is the ability to pump out the relative of pencil lead on a much larger scale. It also happens to be faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly compared with the lengthy processes involving hazardous chemicals used in most graphene production. It's pretty great news but, honestly, all we want to know is when the stuff is going to start powering super-fast internet connections -- that complete Flying Circus collection isn't going to download itself.

Apple iCloud will halt backups, MobileMe email, when storage limit is reached

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:26 AM PDT

Hey there, future iCloud power user, take a gander at the MobileMe email from MacRumors above -- that's what to expect when you approach the 5GB storage limit. Apparently, automatic backups and your MobileMe account's email traffic will pause until you delete some files or purchase more space via your iDevice or a computer -- for an undisclosed cost. That's one sliver of info which Apple's remaining tight-lipped about despite unveiling the mostly free cloud service weeks ago. Also worth noting, as TUAW points out, is that content purchased within the iTunes ecosystem won't impact your quota. Hey, those app downloads can sure make it easy to fill up a drive, ya know.

The Engadget Show returns this Friday, June 24th -- win a ticket to the taping!

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT

After a month-long slumber, the Engadget Show is back! We're taping this week, on Friday, June 24th at 6:00pm! Editor-in-chief Tim Stevens will be your guide through the world of technology. It'll all start with an in-studio look at some of this month's biggest gadgets before diving off to enjoy some gratuitous footage of a collection of durable gadgets doing what they do best -- getting beaten up. Finally, Rick Karr returns to take us on a tour through the often tragic world of US broadband access and give us new reason to think about moving abroad. We'll also have live music, giveaways, and maybe a few surprises.

The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint and will take place in our intimate NYC studio, so if you want to get in, you'll need to win a ticket in advance. But don't worry, if you can't get there in person we'll have a download up soon after taping.

Sprint is also offering guaranteed tickets to The Engadget Show taping to the first 60 entrants who text "ENGADGET" to 467467 or enter online! Standard text messaging rates apply. Click for the Official Rules and see how to enter online.

Here are the details if you win a ticket:
  • The event is all ages.
  • We'll open doors and begin seating at 5:15pm on June 24th, and the taping begins at 6:00PM. We'll be closing the doors at 5:50PM.
  • Winners must pick up their tickets before 2pm on June 24th or risk forfeiting their seat.
  • Please bring a photo ID with you to claim your ticket.
  • The show length is around an hour.
If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.

Kiro robot teaches Korean kindergarten by day, discusses Kandinsky by night

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:19 AM PDT

This little girl loves Kiro. Why? Because he's probably the raddest robot teacher she's ever seen. Developed by Korea's Robot Research Institute, the bot recently wrapped up a three week trial period in a kindergarten classroom, where he apparently spent most of his time screening educational videos on his abdomen, playing interactive games, and keeping his students in rapt attention. When he wasn't busy dishing out Ritalin to his underlings, Kiro also served as a guide at the Dong-A University Museum, in Busan. After programming the droid with enough knowledge to make him sound smart, engineers set him loose within the art gallery, where he would provide visitors with background information in hushed, docent-dulcet tones. He loves kids. He loves art. He's always smiling. He's the kinda bot you could bring home to Dad. Scope him out for yourself in the video, after the break.

Eizo industrial monitor does 4K resolution at 36-inches, start saving now

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:54 AM PDT

Looking for a display that can do justice to all that 4K footage you've been shooting on your Red One or Arri Alexa lately? Okay, perhaps not. But if you were, then the DuraVision FDH3601 from Eizo Nanao could handle it easily with 4096 x 2160 pixels spread over 36.4-inches of LED-backlit real estate. It comes with another big number too: a price tag of ¥2.88 million ($36,000), which gently hints at the fact that this beast is primarily aimed at specialist industrial applications. Eizo claims it's perfect for air traffic control, where staff can make full use of specs like "Digital Uniformity Correction" circuitry to compensate for uneven color or brightness, motion sensors to power the monitor on or off as needed, and a stand that can be minutely adjusted to get the perfect angle. Suddenly, despite the heavy burden of responsibility and the fact that you have to keep your phone switched off all the time, that career choice seems almost worth it.

Mitsubishi's latest 23-inch Diamondcrysta fulfills your matte, IPS desktop display dreams

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:29 AM PDT

Mitsubishi Diamondcrysta Wide RDT233WX-Z
It seems like, if a company isn't hopping on board the OLED train, it's the IPS express that's catching their flat-panel fancy. Mitsubishi is banking the wider viewing angles provided by the in-plane switching tech can carry its 23-inch Diamondcrysta Wide RDT233WX-Z to desktop display success. The 120Hz monitor features the Giga Clear Engine II LSI for smoothing out high-speed video and a special movie mode for better performance when showing 24p films. Around back are the usual assortment of connections, including a pair of HDMI ports, DVI-D, mini D-Sub, and the Japanese D5 jack. Perhaps best of all, unlike most recent 1080p monitors we've seen, the latest Diamondcrysta skips the glossy sheen for a matte coating. The RDT233WX-Z goes on sale in Japan on June 29th for around 54,800 yen (about $683) and you'll find the PR, in all its machine translated glory, after the break.
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Mitsubishi 23-inch widescreen LCD display "Diamondcrysta WIDE" RDT233WX new-Z (BK) released

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, 23-inch wide LCD display to clearly IPS system to smooth out fast-motion "Diamondcrysta WIDE (wide diamond crystallites)" RDT233WX new products-Z (BK) released on 29 June The.

The new product is compatible with full HD ※ 1 with 120Hz LCD panel driving schemes IPS, velocity interpolation "clear picture speed," a condensed and super-resolution technology and high-definition technology, "Giga clear engine Ⅱ" by built-in , smooth fast moving images to display vivid images and crisp with a natural sense of resolution.

※ 1 Full HD: 1920 × 1080 pixels display

Wide LCD 23 "Diamondcrysta WIDE" RDT233WX new-Z (BK)

RDT233WX-Z (BK)
View larger picture
New Features
1. The velocity interpolation scheme and the LCD panel IPS, displayed on the smooth fast-motion
· The IPS mode LCD panel driving 120Hz, can display images in vivid colors when viewed from an angle
· "Clear picture speed" of 60 frames per second image interpolation to be displayed at 120 frames per second smooth
2. Super-resolution technology "Giga clear engine â…¡" on-board display in a natural sense of resolution high definition video
· "Giga Clear engine â…¡" The displays high quality images and crisp with a natural sense of resolution
· Automatically detects the locations prone to flicker, flicker can prevent the super-resolution processing
· "Giga Clear Window" by super-resolution techniques can be applied only to specified areas
3. PinP function of parent-child screens, comfortable two-enabled digital screen
· ※ 2 PinP function compatible with digital display 2 can be viewed on a PC screen images and video footage parents
· In the application of resolution enhancement techniques to screen the child can watch the video and crisp even in computer work
※ 2 PinP: Picture in Picture. And HDMI2 HDMI1, pin mini D-Show and D5 PinP combines non-SUB15 pin

Apple Final Cut Pro X now available on Mac App Store

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 05:51 AM PDT

At last! Just as promised, Apple's long-awaited Final Cut Pro X is now available on the Mac App Store for just $299.99, meaning keen editors can immediately grab hold of this suite to crack on with some real-time 4K video editing. Of course, this is assuming that you have a 64-bit Mac rig with beastly specs in the first place -- check with Apple to make sure that you're all set to go. Accompanying this major software release are Motion 5 and Compressor 4 kits, both of which will cost you an extra $49.99 each, so make that roughly around $400 for the full monty. Press release after the break, but we guess you folks are already busy trimming clips on that magical Magnetic Timeline, so good luck in next year's Oscars.

Update: We spoke to Apple and confirmed that there won't be a boxed version, upgrade pricing, or "Express" version available. Individual users can purchase a single license to use on multiple machines that they own, while business users will need to purchase one license per machine. Volume education pricing is available for purchase by institutions only.
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Apple Revolutionizes Video Editing With Final Cut Pro X

CUPERTINO, California-June 21, 2011-Apple® today announced Final Cut Pro® X, a revolutionary new version of the world's most popular Pro video editing software which completely reinvents video editing with a Magnetic Timeline that lets you edit on a flexible, trackless canvas; Content Auto-Analysis that categorizes your content upon import by shot type, media and people; and background rendering that allows you to work without interruption. Built on a modern 64-bit architecture, Final Cut Pro X is available from the Mac® App Store™ for $299.99.

"Final Cut Pro X is the biggest advance in Pro video editing since the original Final Cut Pro," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "We have shown it to many of the world's best Pro editors, and their jaws have dropped."

"I'm blown away by what Apple has done with Final Cut Pro," said Angus Wall, Academy Award-winning film editor. "Final Cut Pro X is incredibly modern and fast, but most importantly it lets you focus on telling your story in the most creative way, while it actively manages all of the technical details."

At the heart of Final Cut Pro X is the Magnetic Timeline, a trackless approach to editing your footage that lets you add and arrange clips wherever you want them, while other clips instantly slide out of the way. You can use Clip Connections to link primary story clips to other elements like titles and sound effects, so they stay in perfect sync when you move them. You can even combine related story elements into a Compound Clip that can be edited as a single clip. The groundbreaking new Auditions feature lets you swap between a collection of clips to instantly compare alternate takes.

Content Auto-Analysis scans your media on import and tags your content with useful information. Final Cut Pro X then uses that information to dynamically organize your clips into Smart Collections, so you can easily find the clips you want by close up, medium and wide shots as well as media type and the number of people in the shot. You can also tag parts of clips with Range-based keywords to add custom search criteria to your media.

Completely rebuilt from the ground up, Final Cut Pro X is a 64-bit app that takes full advantage of the latest Mac hardware and software so you never have to wait for the next edit, even if you're working with 4K video. Final Cut Pro X uses multi-threaded processing and the GPU on your graphics card for blazing fast background rendering and superb real-time playback performance. Additionally, a ColorSync-managed color pipeline ensures color consistency from import to output.

Final Cut Pro X also includes powerful tools for audio editing and color correction, and is complemented by two companion apps, Motion 5 for professional motion graphics and Compressor 4 for advanced media encoding, available from the Mac App Store for $49.99 each.

Pricing & Availability
Final Cut Pro X is available today for $299.99 from the Mac App Store. Motion 5 and Compressor 4 are available today for $49.99 each from the Mac App Store. Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Pro X can be found at www.apple.com/finalcutpro.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Apple unveils updated Time Capsule, bumps storage to 3TB

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 05:48 AM PDT

New Time Capsule
It's been a good long while since Apple unveiled a new Time Capsule, almost two years since the 2TB model rolled out. At the time that was a volume of storage that you couldn't possibly fill up -- even if you ripped your entire Peter Gabriel collection in lossless. Now, nearly 24 months later, you're out of room for the latest Greatest Hits compilations, never mind Scratch My Back and the subsequent buddy album. Now Apple has your back, releasing an updated Time Capsule offering up to 3TB of storage for all your former Genesis frontman listening needs.

Update: The new Time Capsules have finally hit the Apple Store and prices haven't changed -- now you just get more for your money. The 2TB model slides into the $299 slot while the 3TB takes over the $499 position.

Google TVs pop up in Android Market device listings, still can't download apps

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 05:10 AM PDT

Just days ago, Google snapped up SageTV to bolster its Google TV ecosystem. Now, the team in Mountain View appears to be on its way to making good on its promise to put the Android Market on the platform as well. Those with a Revue or other Google TV system can now see them listed as "other" in their list of My Devices in the Market. Of course, you can't actually download any apps to your Google-fied box just yet, but it's a start, right? Besides, if you're really that anxious for Google to give you access to Market apps, you can just get your hands dirty and do it yourself.

Sliding Keyboard: it's like Swype, but for Windows Phone 7

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 04:32 AM PDT

In the Android realm, Swype has been life-changing for many; of course, reverting back to the messaging ways of old has been a must when jumping ship to WP7. Now, gesture tracing crosses the aisle, and it's hopping over to Microsoft's turf courtesy of Invoke IT's Sliding Keyboard. With the look of the regular ol' WP7 keyboard, this set of arm floaties records the user tracing out text, just like ex-Android fans are accustomed to. The company goes a bit further by offering a pair of goggles -- in the form of Bing search, text messaging and email options along the bottom of the app. Sure, it's seeing its fair share of first-revision bugs (word recognition seems a bit poor based on early reviews), but at a cool $1.29 (and a free trial preceding that), it's a good bit cheaper than a therapy session. Right?

ClamCase for iPad 2 is a little lighter, suited for picture taking and $149

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 03:50 AM PDT

Just in case you bought an iPad 2 but really needed a netbook, ClamCase is back with a redesigned version of its case / battery powered Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard combo. This one is a hair thinner and a little lighter than the previous version (reviewed here), with cutouts for the back camera and speaker grille plus integrated magnets to awaken and sleep your tablet when the case is opened or closed. The keyboard has also reportedly been refreshed for an improved feel, but even though the black version is on sale now for $149 (white ships next month) there's still a 4-5 week wait for shipping to get a hands-on and find out for yourself. Logitech's Keyboard Case for iPad 2 is another option for $100, but it will only protect your precious slab on one side -- something to consider while you're checking out specs.


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ClamCase Keyboard Case for Apple iPad 2 Arrives

So impressively versatile...Maximize your iPad experience with protection, multiple positions, and a full QWERTY keyboard. ClamCase + iPad = The Perfect Marriage of Style and Functionality.

Hollywood, California – June 21, 2011 – ClamCase® announces the ClamCase for iPad® 2: The second-generation of its breakthrough all-in-one keyboard, case and stand for Apple® iPad is available now.

The ClamCase for iPad 2 builds off of the features that made the original ClamCase an instant global success with consumers, professionals and educational institutes alike. ClamCase for iPad 2 is a lighter, sleeker model, and includes additional features for productivity and entertainment.

ClamCase products offer an incredibly practical solution for those who have experienced the magic of the Apple iPad, and are looking to take their device to the next level. ClamCase is the only tablet case on the market today that not only enhances the mobility of the iPad with a highly functional keyboard and durable hard-cover case, but also maintains the freedom of the tablet design with its patent-pending 360 hinge.

ClamCase for iPad 2 will continue to include the Bluetooth® "Easy Sync" system, and a long battery life (with over 100 days of standby). The new hard shell case now includes cutouts, which expose the back camera and built-in iPad speakers, and is available in both black and white models.

ClamCase, a consumer electronics design company based in Hollywood, California, manufacturers and distributes the worlds most popular tablet keyboard cases and peripheral devices. ClamCase® products are in high demand worldwide for their desirable features and ability to enhance FaceTime®, Facebook®, YouTube®, Netflix®, online gaming, endless apps, and web surfing. ClamCase products protect the iPad investment, while greatly increasing mobility and productivity.

The ClamCase for iPad 2 is now available for order through the ClamCase online store. For more information, please visit clamcase.com or call 800-939-0335 to speak with a customer service representative.

Nokia N9 first hands-on! (update: video)

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:57 AM PDT

The N9 has arrived. Functional units of Nokia's long-awaited MeeGo smartphone have finally landed into our eager hands and we've got a gallery of images to provide you with below. What we can say from our first experience is that we're in the presence of a fantastically designed device with a gorgeous AMOLED screen and some highly responsive performance. Hold tight as we're updating our fuller impressions after the break, where you'll soon be treated to our first hands-on video with the Nokia N9.

Update: Hands-on video plus a live demonstration of the N9's ability to pair Bluetooth devices over NFC (very impressive!) can now be found after the break.
Nokia N9 detailed hands-on
Nokia N9 first hands-on


The N9 UI, as you'll have learned from the product announcement, is Nokia's Harmattan skin atop MeeGo 1.2, which is built around three core home views. The central one is your app organizer / launcher, to one side of which you have a notifications and activities section -- which will be populated by phone calls, calendar alerts, and social network updates -- and to the other you get a live app switcher. That trio is navigable in a carousel fashion, meaning that you can keep cycling through all three by flicking your finger in one direction. Double-tapping the screen wakes the phone up and then you can unlock it with a swipe in any direction. Similar swipes, starting from one edge of the screen and going to the other, allow you to exit apps into the home screen. What we can say about all these aspects of the interface is that they're done exceedingly well and make the somewhat aged OMAP3630 processor look terrific. Fluid animations are evident throughout, navigation is natural, and this marks a major advance over anything else Nokia has given us on the software front in terms of touch-based UI.

Physically, the N9 feels about as good as a device built out of plastic can do. Nokia's devoutly calling it polycarbonate in order to highlight that this isn't just any old plastic, it's a high-grade variety that inspires confidence in its durability while also having the sharp looks to keep aesthetes happy as well. The whole phone is essentially built into the external shell, which does mean the battery isn't user-replaceable and there's no microSD expandability, but at least you can hot-swap the MicroSIM (yes, Micro) card without needing to reboot the handset.

The Clear Black AMOLED display is truly a sight to behold, with stunning viewing angles, a curved Gorilla Glass front, and some pretty excellent (for AMOLED) performance out in the sunlight. We compared it side by side with a Super LCD-equipped Incredible S and the N9 more than held its own. The screen is easily one of this new phone's great strengths, though we'd argue the intuitive UI, responsiveness, and eye-catching industrial design are pretty high up on that list too. All in all, we're highly impressed by what Nokia has put together here, though the N9 does prompt us to ask why the company has opted against making MeeGo its long-term smartphone OS of choice. What we've seen today is a damn fine smartphone with some very neat ideas, one which certainly merits the title of being Nokia's flagship. Or it will do, when it launches later in the year.

Sigma Design's 'ultra thin' TV box design promises HD in a tiny package

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:22 AM PDT

It's not much bigger than many of the wall warts currently filling outlets in your power strip, but this reference design from Sigma Designs could be your next cable box. With HomePlug networking, Z-Wave RF remote control technology and the ability to process multiple 1080p streams at once built in, it only needs to be plugged in to the wall (and connected to a TV via HDMI) to get to work. connect to the network and pull in video from the internet, feeds from an IPTV provider like U-Verse (or Comcast eventually), or multiroom streams from a connected DVR. At its heart is the SMP8670 chip unveiled at CES that's optimized for XBMC, Adobe AIR and Flash which could make it an ideal extender for someone like TiVo or Boxee, if Sigma can get them to bite on the concept. Until then, all we can show you are a few pics of the bare internals in the gallery and a press release after the break.
Sigma Ultra-Thin set-top box
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SIGMA DESIGNS ULTRA-THIN PLATFORM ENERGIZES SET-TOP-BOX MARKET

Reference Design Integrates Media Processing, Home Connectivity and Home Control Technologies Creating a New Class of High Performance, Ultra-Thin Set-Top Box

Milpitas, CA -- June 20, 2011 -- Sigma Designs, the world leader in connected media platforms, is poised to energize the set-top-box market by unveiling the industry's most advanced set-top box design, enabling an experience only found in devices that are combined with networking gateways. Sigma Designs will supercharge this growing market of set-top-boxes by enabling these products to stream high-definition content from the Web, in 1080p, via networking through the AC power adapter, all in a device so small that it fits behind consumers' TVs.

"Service providers are looking for ways to cut costs while improving the consumer experience," said Thinh Tran, chairman and CEO at Sigma Designs. "With the Sigma ultra-thin, telcos and cable companies can enable users to self-install their set top box for dramatically reduced deployment costs. Just as importantly, this high performance solution delivers more reliable quality of service, a form factor consumers' love and the biggest ecosystem of interoperable home control products to control."

Sigma Designs ultra-thin reference platform is unlike existing set-top boxes. This revolutionary self-installable ultra-thin design doesn't require a power cord; it plugs directly into AC power outlets for easy installation by consumers and uses Sigma's award-winning HomePlug AV with ClearPath for the most reliable networking over the home's electrical wiring. With a state-of-the-art media processor, this new platform decodes multiple HD IPTV streams and connects to a HDTV through a simple HDMI connector.

The new system also integrates Z-Wave RF technology for the most advanced remote control functionality. With Z-Wave, the ultra-thin can be placed out of sight, behind the TV or in a cabinet without affecting its functionality and can be used to control not only the TV, but also over 500 available Z-Wave devices including the lighting, door locks, thermostats and more. This is the first design of its kind to weave together the comprehensive functionalities and necessary processing power to address most every need for the consumer to control their connected home.

Sigma Designs will make the fully integrated ultra-thin set-top box reference design available to service providers and their set-top equipment suppliers. These customers will have the advantage of quick time-to-market through these turnkey solutions, whereby they will have a single agreement and point of contact for direct support.

The new ultra-thin reference platform is the first in a series of Sigma-enabled solutions developed to support the needs of the ever evolving, feature-rich set-top box market. Its core technologies include:

** SMP8670 media processor
The SMP8670 is a new media processor targeted at thin-clients, optimized to run over-the-top application environments such as Adobe AIR for TV, Adobe Flash Player and other graphically rich environments. This new solution is 40% faster than previous Sigma thin-client solutions and dramatically improves the responsiveness of these new, advanced user interfaces. The SMP8670 is also very power efficient -- consuming 30% less power than previous versions.

** CG2110 HomePlug AV technology with ClearPath
Sigma's HomePlug AV with ClearPath is a breakthrough home networking technology that enables unprecedented, carrier-class streaming of HD video, voice and data over existing powerlines in the home. Sigma's award-winning platform uses all three wires -- phase, neutral and ground to deliver improved performance and up to twice the throughput. It is the only MIMO (multiple in, multiple out) solution currently available over powerline. Conforming to the universal HomePlug AV standard, Sigma's HomePlug AV with ClearPath has the unique ability to deliver triple play, whole-home DVR, HDTV and 3DTV to every power outlet within the home -- even within multi-phased homes, across surge protectors and through EMI filters.

** Z-Wave technology
Z-Wave is the leading technology for home control and energy management. Today, over 500 completely interoperable products worldwide from over 170 manufacturers support Z-Wave -- far more than rival technologies. The leading makers of lighting, thermostats, shade controls, door locks and more have created the broadest ecosystem of solutions. That is why ADT, Schlage, Verizon, Vivint and more all deploy home services based on Z-Wave.

Apple AirPort Extreme refresh outed by the FCC, lends credence to Time Capsule rumors

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:48 AM PDT

The FCC just trumped Cupertino's plan to sneak out an updated AirPort Extreme wireless base station with the outing of an Apple 3x3 802.11n access point, model A1408. It's not clear what's changed over Apple's existing dual-band router but its arrival in the FCC database coincides nicely with a 9to5Mac rumor calling for the imminent launch of new AirPort Extreme at a lower price point. And hey, if you're lucky, it'll also arrive with support for the new three-stream standard for 450Mbps over both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands -- but that's just speculation on our part. We should also point out that the appearance of the AirPort Extreme lends credence to 9to5's other rumor of cheaper 2TB and 3TB Time Capsules. And guess what? Today's Tuesday, Apple's favorite day to launch new gear, so don't be surprised to see Apple updating its store sooner rather than later.

Japanese 3DS to get 3D TV service, North America waits with bated breath

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:29 AM PDT

3DS owners outside of Japan can look forward to missing out on yet another Nintendo sponsored video service -- at least for now. With the help of Fuji TV, Nintendo's Itsu no Ma ni Terebi (or "SpotPass TV") will bring a number of short format 3D TV programs to the fledgling handheld, including shows featuring cute animals, sumo wrestling idol girls, and daily tips on performing magic tricks. Like its Wii predecessor, this video service is currently a Japan-only affair, but there's still plenty of summer left for the big-N to make good on its GDC Netflix promise.

Intel adds to ULV processor line with 1.8GHz Core i7 and i5 options, one of them to star in ASUS UX21

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 12:38 AM PDT

Intel's so-called Ultrabooks may be a little way off into the distance at the moment, but the company isn't making you wait until its Ivy Bridge rollout to get a taste for ultraslim laptops with some real power inside them. A trio of new ultra-low voltage CPUs, each rated with a TDP of just 17W, has been added to the company's catalog, starting with the top-tier Core i7-2677M, whose pair of cores run at 1.8GHz by default but can be sped up to 2.9GHz when duty calls. Then there's the i7-2637M, which looks to only differ in clock speeds (1.7GHz default, 2.8GHz under Turbo Boost), and the i5-2557M that makes do with a 3MB L3 cache (1MB less than its i7 brethren) and a 1.7GHz / 2.7GHz speed range. All three 64-bit, 32nm processors also integrate a GPU (350MHz base clock, maxes out at 1.2GHz) within their walls, which is what makes their ascetic power consumption all the more impressive. OEMs should soon start splicing these new options into their next generation laptops, and while the obvious speculation centers around a MacBook Air refresh, CNET tells us the Core i5-2557M has already found a home in ASUS' upcoming UX21, a (purportedly) sub-$1,000 11.6-inch featherweight contender.

Monsoon Vulkano Flow, Blast launch DVR-to-mobile feature for iPhone, iPad and Android

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Monsoon Multimedia is again advancing its Vulkano line of set-top boxes with a feature not found on Sling, TiVo or Roku, adding the ability to make DVR recordings directly to iPad, iPhone or Android devices. While users can still watch TV from anywhere in the world using the Vulkano, the new DVR-to-mobile feature is restricted to WiFi and will only work with the Vulkano Flow and eventually the Blast. Sure you could store your shows on a hard drive and move them over or stream later, but this way fans of The Killing on AMC can be disappointed by the season finale later on even while offline. Updates for the platform-appropriate $13 apps should arrive shortly, while Blackberry users are assured the feature is on the way soon for them too.

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Monsoon Announces Direct Recording of TV Content on iPad, iPhone and Android Phones and Tablets

$99 Vulkano Flow First to Allow Direct Recording of Your TV Programming to Smartphones and Tablets

SAN MATEO, CA – June 21, 2011 – Monsoon Multimedia, a leading provider of video convergence products, today announced the addition of Direct to Mobile Recording for its Vulkano line of products. The Vulkano line of devices now offers direct mobile recording via Wi-Fi for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Content is encrypted to avoid copyright infringement.

The Vulkano Flow gives consumers the freedom to watch their TV anywhere in the world using smartphones, tablets and computers. Vulkano users can now instantly begin recording their favorite television programming so they never miss historic news or memorable sporting moments.

"The Vulkano line of devices has been created to offer consumers the ultimate flexibility in entertainment and we are proud to be the first to offer direct recording to mobile devices," said Colin Stiles, EVP Sales and Marketing at Monsoon. "Consumers are making smartphones and tablets an essential part of their every day lives and are expecting to view and browse the TV content that they pay for at their leisure, no matter where they are in the world."

Direct to Mobile Recording also offers time-shifting features, including pause, rewind and fast-forward.

Summary of Direct to Mobile Recording Features on Vulkano Devices:
• Direct to mobile recording supports iPhone and iPad now, Android and Blackberry devices coming soon
• iPhone/iPad recording in mp4 formats containing H264+AAC
• Android recording in mp4 formats containing H264+AAC
• BlackBerry recording in ASF formats containing WMV3 and WMA
• iPhone/iPad recording in D1 or 640x480 or 352x240 resolutions
• Android recording in D1 or 640x480 or 352x240 resolutions
• Insufficient memory alert

Pricing and Availability
The Vulkano Flow ($99.99) is now available at Fry's Electronics, Amazon, MicroCenter, other leading retailers and etailers as well as at www.myvulkano.com. Android, tablet and additional smartphone applications can be purchased for $12.99 each in their respective app stores.

About Monsoon Multimedia
Monsoon Multimedia provides advanced, standards-based multimedia products and convergence technologies for the PC, Mac, iPad and major smartphones. Founded by the founders of Dazzle and Emuzed, the company has offices in California, India, Russia and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.monsoonmultimedia.com.

For regular Vulkano updates follow us at www.Twitter.com/MyVulkano

Become a Fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MyVulkano

Android 3.2 shipping this summer for 7-inch tablets, Huawei's MediaPad gets handled

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:59 PM PDT

We knew that Android 3.2 was little more than a tailor-made edition of Android 3.1 for 7-inch slates, but even after speaking with Huawei, we weren't exactly sure when it would be rolling out to things other than its own MediaPad. Our pals over at This is my next managed to confirm that it'll be landing as early as this summer, and for better or worse, it'll be the last major Android release prior to Ice Cream Sandwich hitting retail devices in Q4. Moreover, it's bruited that v3.2 will bring support for Qualcomm CPUs as well as NVIDIA's Tegra 2 chipset, which could lead to HTC's Flyer getting an upgrade of its own. As for more current plans, it seems as if the Motorola Xoom -- a slate that was just recently updated to 3.1 -- will see another point increase in the coming weeks, which should give us a solid indication of what to expect software-wise with the MediaPad drops a few months later. Speaking of which, both CNET and M.I.C. Gadget were on-hand in Singapore for a look at the show-floor model of that very tablet, and you can feast your eyes on the pictorial proof down in the source links below.

Nokia's N950 developer MeeGo handset gets official: 4-inch display, QWERTY keyboard, same childlike dreams (updated)

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:40 PM PDT

If it weren't for a book's worth of confirmation text from Nokia, we'd swear the N950 was just as much a unicorn today as it's been every day prior. Even now, the developer version of the newly-announced N9 is coming to us sans imagery, with only a scant few hardware specifications to piece together something of an image in our minds. Thankfully, the mere mention of a "QWERTY keyboard" leads us to believe that it'll look an awful lot like a leak we spied back in August of 2010. Needless to say, this MeeGo-based device won't ever be widely available, but those interested in breaking out the code can look forward to a 4-inch TFT LCD (compared to the N9's far superior 3.9-inch AMOLED), an identical 854 x 480 screen resolution, a "different" 8 megapixel physical camera, a different location for said camera, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a slightly less sensitive magnetometer. It's also devoid of an NFC module, and the 1320mAh battery falls a bit short of the 1450mAh cell tucked with the downright delectable N9. Mum's the word on price and availability, but Nokia's not hesitating to remind us that the N950 units that do ship will be of "beta quality and come without any warranty or support whatsoever." Don't even front -- you're still buying one.

Update: The N950 device after the break was pulled from a Qt developer video looking very much like those early N9 leaks (and not the E7 slider) presumably protected by a plastic case.

Update 2: Another N950 without the case can be seen above.

[Thanks, Mark and Alan]

Nokia's Play 360 Bluetooth speaker uses NFC daps to pair with your phone

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:37 PM PDT

Nokia's N9 got most of the attention earlier today, but the gang from Espoo also announced a nifty new portable speaker to complement its slice of MeeGo. Called the Nokia Play 360, this little barrel of omnidirectional audio streams music from your phone via Bluetooth. It also makes the pairing process easy with NFC -- a simple tap of your N9 or Nexus S to the speaker gets the tunes flowing. Not only that, when you get two of these sound boxes together, they sense each other through NFC and switch your sound to stereo. So, what's the price of such aural enjoyment? It'll cost you €149 ($213) when it ships in Q3 of this year.

HTC EVO 3D on sale now to Sprint Premier customers: $200 on a two-year contract

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:15 PM PDT

Settled on an EVO 3D, did you? If you just so happen to be a part of Sprint's Premier club, it looks as if your floodgates are wide open. A spate of tipsters (as well as our own Richard Lawler) have confirmed this evening that Sprint's latest whiz-bang superphone is indeed on sale to an elite few, with $199.99 netting you the handset along with a particularly daunting two-year ball / chain combination. $549.99 buys it outright, but there's no clear indication on if these are indeed shipping out in the morning. Either way, we're guessing it's going to be mighty hard to resist this fellow -- you know, Because life is in 3D.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Symbian Anna shipping on N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 in July, download set for August

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:51 PM PDT

We've already seen Symbian Anna begin shipping on the Nokia X7 and E6, but this little lady is about to become much more popular. Nokia has announced it will begin distributing its latest OS on the N8, E7, C7, and C6-01 -- all beginning next month. Unfortunately, if you're among the millions who already own one of these handsets, you'll have to wait until August for an OTA or PC-assisted update. Not like there's any rush, seeing that Symbian will be kicking until 2016 and all.

Nokia's N9 official: a luscious slab of MeeGo coming later this year

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:41 PM PDT

Stephen Elop said that Nokia would unveil its first MeeGo device this year, and he just made good on his word with the N9 (also known as Lankku). Just as we spotted earlier, the N9 is a solid slab of 3.9-inch AMOLED screen (854 x 480) sans a keyboard or physical switches of any kind (well, aside from that oh-so-necessary volume rocker and camera button). The phone comes with 16GB or 64GB of onboard memory and 1GB of RAM wrapped in a polycarbonate shell that's colored all the way through, so dings and scratches won't show -- unless the wounds run deep, of course. An OMAP3630 1 Ghz processor does the computing while a PowerVR SGX530 GPU is around for graphical grunt work. Connectivity comes courtesy of quad-band GSM and penta-band WCDMA radios, plus Bluetooth 2.1, NFC, and GPS. There is also a dedicated camera button for the 8 megapixel wide-angle shooter, which is capable of aperture F2.2 for low light picture taking and true 16:9 720p video recording. Oh, and it's an AF shooter, not EDoF.

The entire thing measures 116.45- x 61.2- x 7.6-12.1mm and weighs 135 grams, with a battery capable of lasting up to 50 hours (music), 4.5 hours (720p video), or between seven and 11 hours (GSM yappin'). You'll also get gratis turn-by-turn drive and walk navigation with voice guidance in Maps, a dedicated Drive app, proximity sensor and a choice of hue: black, cyan, and magenta. Other hardware specs include 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, an ambient light sensor, compass, orientation sensor, a micro SIM slot, tethering support and a 3.5mm "AV connector." It'll be humming along on MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan, with apps being compliant with Qt 4.7 and HTML5 support bundled in.

As for software? Aside from Angry Birds Magic, Galaxy on Fire 2, Real Golf 2011 and OpenGL ES 2.0, those who take the plunge will be greeted with a Webkit2-based browser, pinch-to-zoom support, unified notifications for Facebook, Twitter and RSS feeds in the Events view as well as social networking profiles and status updates merged into phone contacts. MeeGo touts a user interface simplified to three home views -- events, applications and open apps -- with a swipe gesture able to take you back to the home view. For those looking to expand upon what's loaded from the factory, Ovi Store access is included, but we've no idea what kind of pricing will be affixed. We'll be getting a fair bit of hands-on time with this guy in just a few hours, so keep it locked here for our first impressions!
Nokia's N9 official: a plastic slab of MeeGo coming later this year












Show full PR text
The Nokia N9: a unique all-screen smartphone
Published June 21, 2011

Singapore - Nokia today announced the Nokia N9, built for people who appreciate a stunning blend of design and the latest smartphone technology. To learn more about the design of the Nokia N9 visit: http://swipe.nokia.com

One swipe and you're home
The Nokia N9 introduces an innovative new design where the home key is replaced by a simple gesture: a swipe. Whenever you're in an application, swiping from the edge of the display takes you home.

The three home views of the user interface are designed to give fast access to the most important things people do with a phone: using apps, staying up to date with notifications and social networks, and switching between activities.

The industrial design of the Nokia N9 is an example of extreme product making and craft. The body is precision-machined from a single piece of polycarbonate and flows seamlessly into beautiful curved glass. The laminated deep black display means that the user interface just floats on the surface of the product.

The Nokia N9 also packs the latest in camera, navigation and audio technology for a great all-round experience.

"With the Nokia N9, we wanted to design a better way to use a phone. To do this we innovated in the design of the hardware and software together. We reinvented the home key with a simple gesture: a swipe from the edge of the screen. The experience sets a new bar for how natural technology can feel," said Marko Ahtisaari, Nokia's head of Design. "And this is just the beginning. The details that make the Nokia N9 unique - the industrial design, the all-screen user experience, and the expressive Qt framework for developers - will evolve in future Nokia products."

Innovative all-screen design
With no need for a home key, the all-screen Nokia N9 makes more room for apps to shine. The 3.9-inch AMOLED screen is made from scratch-resistant curved glass. The polycarbonate body enables superior antenna performance. This means better reception, better voice quality and fewer dropped calls.

Camera, maps and multimedia
The 8-megapixel Carl Zeiss autofocus sensor, wide-angle lens, HD-quality video capture and large lens aperture enable great camera performance even in lowlighting conditions. This makes the Nokia N9 one of the best camera-phones ever produced.

The Nokia N9 features free turn-by-turn drive and walk navigation with voice guidance in Maps. With the new dedicated Drive app, you can get in your car and start navigating to your destination right away.

You can watch videos in true 16:9 widescreen format. And because the Nokia N9 is also the world's first smartphone with Dolby® Digital Plus decoding and Dolby Headphone post-processing technology, you get a surround sound experience with any set of headphones.

Touch just got better
Fitted with the latest in wireless technology, Near Field Communication (NFC), the Nokia N9 allows you to easily share images and videos between devices by touching them together. Pair it with Bluetooth accessories like the new NFC-enabled Nokia Play 360° wireless music speaker only once, and you get a great surround sound music experience with just a tap.

Colors and Memory
The Nokia N9 will be available in three colors - black, cyan, and magenta with storage options to accommodate plenty of content: 16GB and 64GB. The Nokia N9 is scheduled to be in stores later this year, with availability and local pricing to be announced closer to the sales start.

More information about the Nokia N9 can be found at: http://swipe.nokia.com.

DirecTV takes the germs out of your hotel remote, bed still questionable

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:17 PM PDT

Hotel rooms are gross. Well, some of 'em are. It doesn't take a germaphobe to know that your room's previous occupant may have had less-than-ideal hygienic priorities, so it'll probably come as a great relief to you frequent flier types that DirecTV has decided to do something about it. Bundled into its new Residential Experience for Hotels program is a proprietary germ-free remote control for every room. That's all well, clean and good, but what makes this experience even homier are the 100+ HD channels DirecTV added so you can make heavy use of that enhanced interactive program guide. Yessir, now you can watch HBO and, erm, 'adult offerings' without ever having to wash your hands; the new service is currently in testing with an intended launch for later this summer. It remains to be seen whether the EPA will swoop down to backhand DirecTV for dubious anti-microbial claims like it did IO Gear some years back. In the meantime, it's a solid sanitary high-five for the hospitality industry.
Show full PR text
June 20, 2011 12:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time
DIRECTV Debugs the Television Remote – Germ-Free HD Coming Soon to a Hotel Room Near You

DIRECTV Introduces 'Residential Experience' for Hotels – 10 Times More HD; Interactive Program Guide; Full Residential Lineup; First Anti-Microbial Remote Designed by DIRECTV for Lodging Industry
HITEC 2011

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DIRECTV, the world's largest pay-TV provider, is changing the way hotel guests experience their favorite movies, shows and news programs, all while removing the invisible germs usually found on TV remotes.

"With approximately 20 percent of hotels currently offering HD service to their guests, we expect this new service to significantly expand the HD offering in this market with the added benefit of a sanitized remote."

DIRECTV's innovative new Residential Experience for Hotels will transport the living room experience into the hotel room with more than 100 HD channels, an enhanced interactive program guide, the full residential programming lineup, and the first anti-microbial remote designed by DIRECTV specifically for the lodging and hospitality industry.

The DIRECTV Residential Experience for Hotels is currently testing in select properties across the country and will launch later this summer. The DIRECTV service delivers the programming to compact, easily hidden set-top boxes in each hotel room so that guests can enjoy the same great DIRECTV experience they get at home. Additional benefits of the system include:

Interactive program guide – DIRECTV's co-branded interactive programming guide offers easy navigation and search functionality, just like at home. During testing, 96 percent of guests said it was easy to navigate the new DIRECTV Residential Experience guide.
Expanded HD channel offering – Guests gain access to up to 10 times more of their favorite HD programming, with more than 100 HD channels including CNN, ESPN and HBO.
Simplified, germ-free remote – Updated remote offers simple, intuitive design and the first anti-microbial remote designed by DIRECTV specifically for the lodging and hospitality industry.
No upfront equipment costs – Cost-effective, scalable technology solutions to fit each property's unique needs.

"We understand consumers want the same programming diversity and ease-of-use they have at home while they're travelling, and DIRECTV's Residential Experience for Hotels will deliver those same features and benefits right into the hotel room," said Rod Keller, vice president of Commercial Sales for DIRECTV. "With approximately 20 percent of hotels currently offering HD service to their guests, we expect this new service to significantly expand the HD offering in this market with the added benefit of a sanitized remote."

DIRECTV's Residential Experience for Hotels will be introduced at the HITEC conference in Austin, Texas, which runs from June 20-23 at the Austin Convention Center. The service will be available to hoteliers across the country beginning later this summer.

DIRECTV's service for lodging and institutions provides guests with free-to-guest programming in hotels, motels, hospitals, dormitories and nursing homes with the choice of a package or an a la carte basis. DIRECTV's single-dish solution enables properties to install one mini-dish per rooftop, and if a property is already wired for video distribution, installation is that much easier. For more information on DIRECTV for hotels or other businesses, please visit directv.com/business.

Hulu adheres to Apple's revised in-app subscription rules, others to fall in line?

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:34 PM PDT

A mere eleven days have passed since Apple relaxed its in-app subscription rules, and now All Things D has stumbled upon screenshots of the first major subscription program to comply. A forthcoming update to the Hulu Plus iOS app will nix all references that previously pointed towards Hulu's own website for signing up new users, allowing Hulu to skirt around implementing Apple's in-app subscription mechanism (and the thirty percent cut that goes along with it). That said, it'll also kill Hulu's opportunity to easily inform folks of where to pony up for Hulu Plus, but we suspect the added friction is worth losing a few eyes instead of buoying Cupertino's warchest. Seeing as there's under a fortnight until Apple's new rules come into effect, we certainly wouldn't recommend betting against a slew of similarly-positioned apps to follow suit.

Japan speeding ahead with 500km/h Maglev train

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:42 PM PDT


Traveling the 515 km (320 miles) from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen bullet train currently requires 2 hours and 25 minutes (and costs a small fortune, too). Come 2045, travel between Japan's two largest metro areas will take just over one hour, following the launch of the country's longest maglev track, which just received construction approval from Tokyo. The nine trillion yen project (approximately $112 billion) was first proposed in the 1970s, but was tabled indefinitely due to its astronomical costs, most of which stem from an extensive network of tunnels that will represent 60 percent of the route. You'll be able to get your Japanese Maglev fix beginning in 2027, when the Central Japan Railway launches its high-speed route between Tokyo and Nagoya. One notable neighbor to the west is already operating its own maglev train. China's Shanghai Transrapid has been blasting riders to Pudong airport since 2004, and once achieved a top speed of 501km/h (311 mph). The country is also constructing a 1000km/h vacuum-based train that it plans to launch within the next few years.

Gigabyte's S1080 Windows 7 slate now up for US pre-order, ships July 1st for $650

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:58 PM PDT

After having first gone on sale in Taiwan, and later Australia, it's only fair that Yanks now have a shot at Gigabyte's monstrous Windows 7 slate. You may recall the S1080 for its 320GB drive, dual-core Atom N570, Ethernet port, and (curious) VGA output. Or perhaps you were stoked on that optical mouse and tactile mouse button combo. Well, all that stands between you and your future LAN-partying, tablet-toting self, are 650 clams and a handful of days -- you know, given that scheduled ship date of July 1st. Rounding out the remaining specs are 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, 1.3 megapixel webcam and a USB 3.0 port. If the thought of a Windows 7 slate with a mouse and a smattering of ports has your heart aflutter, we'd like to ask: why are you still here? Oh, and before you hit the source links, don't forget the snazzy optional dock with optical drive + speakers that'll ship later this summer.

Intel plans exascale computing by 2018, wants to make petaflops passé

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:13 PM PDT

Sure, Fujitsu has a right to be proud of its K supercomputer -- performing over 8 petaflops with just under 70,000 Venus CPUs is nothing to sneeze at. Intel isn't giving up its status as the supercomputing CPU king, however, as it plans to bring exascale computing to the world by the end of this decade. Such a machine could do one million trillion calculations per second, and Intel plans to make it happen with its Many Integrated Core Architecture (MIC). The first CPUs designed with MIC, codenamed Knights Corner, are built on a 22nm process that utilizes the company's 3D Tri-Gate transistors and packs over 50 cores per chip. These CPUs are designed for parallel processing applications, similar to the NVIDIA GPUs that will be used in a DARPA-funded supercomputer we learned about last year. Here we thought the war between these two was over -- looks like a new one's just getting started. PR's after the break.
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Intel Equipped to Lead Industry to Era of Exascale Computing

Intel® Many Integrated Core (Intel® MIC) Architecture Shows Strength as Critical Component of Intel's Exascale Computing Solution

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

With collaboration partners, Intel aims to deliver complete technology solution for exascale performance by the end of the decade.
Demonstrations from key supercomputing centers such as Forschungszentrum Juelich, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, CERN and KISTI underscore momentum of Intel® Many Integrated Core Architecture.
Intel processor-powered supercomputers make up 77 percent of the latest TOP500 list of supercomputers and nearly 90 percent of all new systems in 2011.
International Supercomputing Conference 2011
SANTA CLARA, Calif. & HAMBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC), Kirk Skaugen, Intel Corporation vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group, outlined the company's vision to achieve ExaFLOP/s performance by the end of this decade. An ExaFLOP/s is quintillion computer operations per second, hundreds times more than today's fastest supercomputers.

"Intel is uniquely equipped with unparalleled manufacturing technologies, new architecture innovations and a familiar software programming environment that will bring us closer to this exciting exascale goal."
Reaching exascale levels of performance in the future will not only require the combined efforts of industry and governments, but also approaches being pioneered by the Intel® Many Integrated Core (Intel® MIC) Architecture, according to Skaugen. Managing the explosive growth in the amount of data shared across the Internet, finding solutions to climate change, managing the growing costs of accessing resources such as oil and gas, and a multitude of other challenges require increased amounts of computing resources that only increasingly high-performing supercomputers can address.

"While Intel® Xeon® processors are the clear architecture of choice for the current TOP500 list of supercomputers, Intel is further expanding its focus on high-performance computing by enabling the industry for the next frontier with our Many Integrated Core architecture for petascale and future exascale workloads," said Skaugen. "Intel is uniquely equipped with unparalleled manufacturing technologies, new architecture innovations and a familiar software programming environment that will bring us closer to this exciting exascale goal."

Paving the Way to Exaflop Performance

Intel's relentless pursuit of Moore's Law -- doubling the transistor density on microprocessors roughly every 2 years to increase functionality and performance while decreasing costs -- combined with an innovative, highly efficient software programming model and extreme system scalability were noted by Skaugen as key ingredients for crossing the threshold of petascale computing into a new era of exascale computing. With this increase in performance, though, comes a significant increase in power consumption.

As an example, for today's fastest supercomputer in China, the Tianhe-1A, to achieve exascale performance, it would require more than 1.6 GW of power – an amount large enough to supply electricity to 2 million homes – thus presenting an energy efficiency challenge.

To address this challenge, Intel and European researchers have established three European labs with three main goals: to create a sustained partner presence in Europe; take advantage of the growing relevance of European high-performance computing (HPC) research; and exponentially grow capabilities in computational science, engineering and strategic computing. One of the technical goals of these labs is to create simulation applications that begin to address the energy efficiency challenges of moving to exascale performance.

Skaugen said there is the potential for tremendous growth of the HPC market. While supercomputers from the 1980s delivered GigaFLOP/s (billions of floating point operations per second) performance, today's most powerful machines have increased this value by several million times. This, in turn, has increased the demand for processors used in supercomputing. By 2013 Intel expects the top 100 supercomputers in the world to use one million processors. By 2015 this number is expected to double, and is forecasted to reach 8 million units by the end of the decade. The performance of the TOP500 #1 system is estimated to reach 100 PetaFLOP/s in 2015 and break the barrier of 1 ExaFLOP/s in 2018. By the end of the decade the fastest system on Earth is forecasted to be able to provide performance of more than 4 ExaFLOP/s.

Intel MIC Architecture Software Development Momentum

The Intel MIC architecture is a key addition to the company's existing products, including Intel Xeon processors, and expected to help lead the industry into the era of exascale computing. The first Intel MIC product, codenamed "Knights Corner," is planned for production on Intel's 22-nanometer technology that featuring innovative 3-D Tri-Gate transistors1. Intel is currently shipping Intel MIC software development platforms, codenamed "Knights Ferry," to select development partners.

At ISC, Intel and some of its partners including Forschungszentrum Juelich, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ), CERN and Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) showed early results of their work with the "Knights Ferry" platform. The demonstrations showed how Intel MIC architecture delivers both performance and software programmability advantages.

"The programming model advantage of Intel MIC architecture enabled us to quickly scale our applications running on Intel Xeon processors to the Knights Ferry Software Development Platform," said Prof. Arndt Bode of the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre. "This workload was originally developed and optimized for Intel Xeon processors but due to the familiarity of the programming model we could optimize the code for the Intel MIC architecture within hours and also achieved over 650 GFLOPS of performance."

Intel also showed server and workstation platforms from SGI, Dell, HP, IBM, Colfax and Supermicro, all of which are working with Intel to plan products based on "Knights Corner."

"SGI recognizes the significance of inter-processor communications, power, density and usability when architecting for exascale," said SGI CTO Dr. Eng Lim Goh. "The Intel MIC products will satisfy all four of these priorities, especially with their anticipated increase in compute density coupled with familiar X86 programming environment."

TOP500 Supercomputers

The 37th edition of the Top500 list, which was announced at ISC, shows that Intel continues to be a force in high-performance computing, with 387 systems or more than 77 percent, powered by Intel processors. Out of all new systems to the list in 2011, Intel powered systems accounted for close to 90 percent. More than half of these new additions are based on latest 32nm Intel Xeon 5600 series processors which now alone power more than 35% of all systems in TOP500 list, three times the amount comparing to last year. Intel also powers 5 systems in top 10.

The semi-annual TOP500 list of supercomputers is the work of Hans Meuer of the University of Mannheim, Erich Strohmaier and Horst Simon of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, and Jack Dongarra of the University of Tennessee. The complete report is available at www.top500.org.

More information on ISC'11 including detailed description of showcased Intel MIC architecture-based demos and performance, Skaugen's presentation and pictures are available at http://newsroom.intel.com/docs/DOC-2152.

Raytheon readying directed energy warheads to fry enemy electronics, cook allied Pop Tarts

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 04:30 PM PDT

Raytheon, the people who brought you the pain ray, are at it again. The defense giant is planning an arsenal of "directed energy warheads" expected to use radio and microwaves to electronically neutralize targets rather than blow them up. The company's being typically secretive about details, but mentions the recent acquisition of Ktech, a firm specializing in airborne electronic warfare and enemy vulnerability assessment, giving us a clue about how it might all work. It's believed the tech will be retrofitted to existing missiles: the new payloads will identify vulnerable electronics then disrupt or even destroy them with a radio frequency beam or high-powered microwaves (HPM). The warheads would monitor the results, providing valuable battlefield intelligence -- while, of course, killing fewer dudes on the ground. With industry rival BAE working on a seaworthy microwave gun to fry boat engines, we're looking forward to future of friendly drones circling overhead, always ready to heat up our Hot Pockets.

Toshiba's quad-core Satellite L750D goes on sale for $699 as one of the first available Llano laptops

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:26 PM PDT

When AMD came clean with its Fusion A-Series platform, the outfit was quick to admit that some manufacturers have already started slipping these hybrid CPU / GPU chips into their spankin' new PCs. Still, at this early stage we still haven't spotted many of 'em -- if anything, we have a better idea what's on tap for later this summer. But here we have the Toshiba Satellite L750D-ST4N01, the first available Llano-packing notebook we've seen since the A-Series' launch. At $699, this 15.6-incher might seem like a forgettable system with its 4GB of RAM, 640GB 5400RPM hard drive, 1366 x 768 panel, and three USB 2.0 ports. Heck, Toshiba barely even gave the L series lip service when it announced a slew of laptops last week. But, what makes this seemingly ho-hum machine special is that it packs AMD's mid-range quad-core A6-3400M chip and an AMD Radeon HD 6520G graphics core -- a combination that adds just $10 to the cost over a similarly configured Satellite L755-S5258 with a dual-core Core i5-2410M processor and integrated Intel graphics. The L750D isn't for you? The deluge of A-Series systems hasn't even begun yet, friends. And while the jury's still out on real-world battery performance, this should make it crystal clear that if nothing else, AMD is taking no prisoners when it comes to pricing.

[Thanks, Eric]

Mars Express captures Phobos in orbit, has bad video to prove it

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 02:55 PM PDT


Alright stargazers, listen up! You know that video you just watched above? Yeah, well that's not terrible 1995-era CGI, it's actually mind-blowing footage of the Martian moon, Phobos, passing by Jupiter in the distance. Credit goes to the insanely brainy folks over at the European Space Agency who captured 104 images of this special alignment on June 1st over a measly 68 seconds using their Mars Express probe. True, it does take a little bit of imagination to get the full sense of just how awe-inspiring this is, but consider this -- the distance between Mars Express and Jupiter at the time of alignment comes in at 529 million kilometers. That's about 329 million miles for those of you still not sufficiently impressed. Try doing that with your high-end DSLR.

LightSquared announces 'solution' for GPS issue, says LTE network will roll out on schedule

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 02:28 PM PDT

LightSquared may have steadfastly insisted otherwise, but recent tests showing that its wholesale 4G LTE network interferes with GPS have been getting tough for it to ignore, and it turns out the company has been quietly working on a backup plan. In addition to fessing up that one of the 10MHz blocks used by its network does indeed interfere with many GPS receivers, LightSquared has also now announced a two-fold "solution" to the problem. That will involve it using only a lower block of the 10MHz spectrum that it says doesn't interfere with GPS (with a few "limited" exceptions), and a new agreement with Inmarsat that LightSquared says will let it "accelerate the schedule" to begin using the alternative block of spectrum. Those new measures, LightSquared says, will let it roll out its network in accordance with its original business plan, and give it enough spectrum to serve its customers for the "next several years." What happens after that is a bit less clear, but LightSquared says it believes its network can "live harmoniously, side-by-side, with GPS users," and that "enlightened and responsible spectrum management will give the American public the best of both worlds." The company's full press release is after the break.

[Thanks, Nick]
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LightSquared Solution to GPS Issue Will Clear Way for Nationwide 4G Network

RESTON, Va., June 20, 2011 - LightSquared™, the nation's first wholesale-only integrated wireless broadband and satellite network, today outlined a comprehensive solution to the problem of interference with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. This solution will permit LightSquared to proceed with its business plan, protect the public's stake in GPS and lay the foundation for the future co-existence of a variety of wireless broadband services and GPS.

"This is a solution which ensures that tens of millions of GPS users won't be affected by LightSquared's launch. At the same time, this plan offers a clear path for LightSquared to move forward with the launch of a nationwide wireless network that will introduce world class broadband service to rural and underserved areas which still find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide,'' said Sanjiv Ahuja, LightSquared Chairman and CEO.

Results of Testing

Early test results indicated that one of LightSquared's 10MHz blocks of frequencies poses interference to many GPS receivers. This block happens to be the specific set of frequencies that LightSquared planned to use for the initial launch of its nationwide wireless broadband network.

Based on those same early test results, LightSquared determined that another 10MHz block of the spectrum did not create such an interference risk. This block is lower on the spectrum band and located further away from the GPS frequencies, greatly reducing the risk for interference.

Test results show this lower block of frequencies is largely free of interference issues with the exception of a limited number of high precision GPS receivers that are specifically designed to rely on LightSquared's spectrum. In its original plan, LightSquared planned to move into this other frequency block as its business grew over the next two to three years.

LightSquared's Plan

After assessing this information, LightSquared immediately began developing an alternative deployment plan focused on the lower block of spectrum to launch its nationwide wireless broadband service. It also entered negotiations with Inmarsat, the satellite company that controls the alternative block of spectrum in the L Band, to accelerate the schedule for LightSquared to begin using the frequencies.

LightSquared recently reached an agreement with Inmarsat that will allow the rollout of its wireless network in a timeframe that keeps to the original business plan and is in accordance with regulatory requirements. As part of this revised plan, LightSquared will modify its FCC license to reduce the maximum authorized power of its base-station transmitters by over 50%. This action will limit LightSquared to the power it was authorized to use in 2005, which will provide additional protection to GPS.

This new plan will give LightSquared enough spectrum to serve its growing customer base for the next several years. During this time, LightSquared will not use the spectrum it originally planned to use for the launch of its network.

LightSquared will use this time to work closely with the FCC and the NTIA, as well as the relevant US government agencies and commercial GPS users, to explore mitigation possibilities and operational alternatives that will allow LightSquared to continue to expand its business and serve American consumers' increasing need for wireless broadband services which are so critical to the development of a 21st century economy. At the same time, LightSquared is committed to protecting GPS services, which have become indispensible to millions of Americans.

LightSquared believes that its next-generation, 4G LTE wholesale network can live harmoniously, side-by-side, with GPS users. Enlightened and responsible spectrum management will give the American public the best of both worlds – a world class wireless broadband network and a GPS service that continues to enrich and protect our lives. With this plan, LightSquared has taken a giant step toward that goal.

About LightSquared
LightSquared's mission is to revolutionize the U.S. wireless industry. With the creation of the first-ever, wholesale-only nationwide 4G-LTE network integrated with satellite coverage, LightSquared offers people the speed, value, and reliability of universal broadband connectivity, wherever they are in the United States. As a wholesale-only operator, LightSquared will deploy an open 4G network to be used by existing and new service providers to sell their own devices, applications, and services - at a competitive cost and without retail competition from LightSquared. The deployment and operation of LightSquared's network represent more than $14 billion of private investment over the next eight years.

Canon takes a cue from Pentax, starts selling the T3 in assorted colors

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 02:09 PM PDT

Well, looky here, Canon just let its hair down. The company was clearly in an experimental mood, and got the harebrained idea that consumers just might snap up red and brown DSLRs the way they do its candy-colored point-and-shoots. The outfit's now selling its beginner-friendly EOS Rebel T3 in red, brown, and metallic gray -- all in addition to your garden-variety black, of course. Sure, that's tame by Pentax's wacky standards, but for Canon it's pretty... outlandish. Since the camera went on sale this spring, its price has dropped from $599 to a promotional $549 for the kit, which includes an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom II lens. As for the body, if you'll recall, it has a 12.2 megapixel sensor that records 720p video (a rarity for an entry-level model), a nine-point autofocus system, ISO 100 to 6,400, and a 63-zone dual-metering system. Novices who just want to be different can, as always, hit up the source link for more info.

VZW leak teases HTC Thunderbolt update: Skype Video, Android 2.3.4 coming June 30th?

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:43 PM PDT

It's taken Verizon Wireless a painfully long time to get here, but it looks like the HTC Thunderbolt -- the carrier's once flagship 4G LTE device -- might finally be getting the much talked about, but not-quite-officially delivered Skype with Video. We first brought you news of a leaked build back in April, but if this rumored June 30th release pans out, you'll get to experience mobile video chat with your honeybun first-hand, as well as some Android 2.3.4 loving. As is the case with most carrier updates, Big Red appears to be loading this one up with some goodies -- not just bloatware. Sure, the requisite VZW apps are on-board, but how's about some Gtalk Video, a pre-loaded Amazon Appstore, and a handy fix for those irritating reboots? Keep in mind, we're still firmly planted in rumor territory, but it does seem like Thunderbolt owners are getting closer to the initial dream.
at 12:13 PM

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