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- Samsung to roll out Galaxy Tab 10.1 TouchWiz UX update on August 3rd in NYC, and NYC only
- Amazon tablet rumors flare on leaked supplier parts list
- Verizon's version of the Samsung Galaxy S II will support LTE (update: still unconfirmed)
- Android Market seen running on BlackBerry PlayBook (video)
- Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse
- Sony officially outs new A, E, and S series Walkmans
- Vodafone axes EVO 3D before it even hits shelves
- Olympus launches SP-810UZ, packs 36x wide-angle zoom in a compact camera
- Android Market update reportedly rolling out to the dessert-themed faithful
- Engadget comes to your TV on Boxee, Roku, Yahoo and DivX starting today
- Sprint's Assurant Advanced Protection Pack protects against theft and damage, not alliteration
- IEEE brings white space internet one step closer, we almost felt a twinge
- Boeing and BAE partner to put a laser on a machine gun, make the world a better place
- Xperia X10 gets Gingerbread update, gratuitous cookie pictures ensue
- InterDigital files ITC complaint against Nokia, Huawei, and ZTE for 3G patent infringement
- ASUS Wavi waltzes through FCC, ready to stream from your PC to your TV
- LG turns it around, reports profits back in the green
- BookBook iPhone 4 case doubles as wallet, attempts to fool miniature luddites
- Samsung Galaxy S II with WiMAX stops by the FCC on its way to Sprint
- Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag
- Olympus PEN E-PL3 gets a price tag, release date
- Drift Innovation unveils compact Drift HD, still up for your extreme antics (video)
- Sun CEO's deleted blog post to help end Oracle vs Google patent dispute?
- Fujitsu Toshiba announces au IS12T, the world's first Mango phone (hands-on!)
- Akamai sees internet speeds climb, Asia still dominates broadband arms race
- Keepin' it real fake: the iPhone 4 has a fan in China (video)
- Fox restricts online streams of new TV shows to 'authenticated' pay TV subscribers
- Microsoft renews alliance with SUSE, throws $100 million in pocket change at Linux
- Bird's Eye iPad app lets you use Twitter while looking down on it
- Garmin confirms its acquisition of Navigon is complete
- Mass Effect 3 N7 replica gets real world debut for your Spacer pleasure
- Kingston Wi-Drive for iOS hits stores today, lets you create your own portable music server for $130
- Chinese government to track users of free WiFi, small businesses react with service cutoffs
- Leaked memo slates Xoom 4G upgrade for September, early adopters weep (updated)
- Microsoft signs off on Windows Phone 'Mango' RTM build
- 'This American Life' tackles patent trolls, lives to broadcast about it
| Samsung to roll out Galaxy Tab 10.1 TouchWiz UX update on August 3rd in NYC, and NYC only Posted: 27 Jul 2011 10:59 AM PDT  Everyone else will get it eventually, of course, but Samsung is once again giving folks in New York City first dibs on its latest Galaxy Tab wares. In this case, it's the previously announced update that brings the TouchWiz UX to the tablet, and adds things like Samsung's Live Panel, Mini Apps, and a newly redesigned Media Hub interface. That will first be available to the press during a media event on August 3rd, after which Samsung will open the doors at its Samsung Experience store to the public from 1PM to 6PM, and let any Galaxy Tab 10.1 owner side-load the update onto their device. Needless to say, we'll be there to bring you all the details if you aren't able to make it yourself. |
| Amazon tablet rumors flare on leaked supplier parts list Posted: 27 Jul 2011 10:37 AM PDT  Last time on Days of our Rumored Amazon Tablets' Lives: Bezos teased us with a "stay tuned" cliffhanger, but shook his head at the notion of a color E Ink Kindle this year. While DigiTimes spilled its cup of beans about the devices' possible use of Fringe Field Switching displays and fabrication by Quanta Computer, the Wall Street Journal threw its two cents in with a report pegging a couple of new Kindles for Q3. Now loose-lipped sources are feeding the DigiTimes hearsay flames with a leaked supplier parts list that has Wintek, J Touch and CPT providing touch panels with NVIDIA processors at the tabs' cores. The Seattle-based company also purportedly plans to ship four million of these 7- and 10-inch slates by 2011's end. So, what to believe? We'll find out in due time, but with all this gossipy buzz you can place your bets on something. |
| Verizon's version of the Samsung Galaxy S II will support LTE (update: still unconfirmed) Posted: 27 Jul 2011 10:11 AM PDT  The jury's still out on when Verizon will get around to releasing the Samsung Function -- its own version of the highly covetable Galaxy S II -- but that hasn't stopped Big Red from whetting our appetite. The country's largest carrier has taken to the Twitterverse to confirm that its upcoming pride and joy will include an LTE radio, answering quite possibly the most perplexing mystery concerning Verizon's take on the device. We're still yearning for pricing, availability, and even images of the device to show up, but this little nugget alone may be enough to keep our impatience at ease for a while longer. Update: VZWSupport just tweeted some disappointing news: "Clarification -- I am speaking of the new Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1 that is 4G." Tomato, tomahto, tablets, smartphones, are we right? |
| Android Market seen running on BlackBerry PlayBook (video) Posted: 27 Jul 2011 09:51 AM PDT We've already seen the Android App Player leak out, and now the BlackBerry PlayBook has taken one more (unofficial) step towards being a full-fledged, psuedo-Android tablet. While it's described as a "proof of concept," the video above from CrackBerry forum member Lawguyman shows that the tablet is at least capable of running the Android Market and downloading apps, albeit with a few PlayBook-induced obstacles -- check out the furious swiping around the 1:30 mark. Here's hoping for a slightly more official solution before long. [Thanks, Steve] |
| Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse Posted: 27 Jul 2011 09:00 AM PDT  Despite the obvious -- that consumers would buy a mini to reduce the sheer burden of operating a convoluted desktop setup -- Apple's gone and yanked what has become a staple in both Macs and PCs alike. For years, ODDs have been standard fare, spinning CDs, DVDs, HD-DVDs (however briefly) and Blu-ray Discs, not to mention a few other formats that didn't do much to deserve a mention. Compared to most everything else in the technology universe, the tried-and-true optical drive has managed to hang around well beyond what it's creator likely had in mind, but it's pretty obvious that 2011 is to the ODD what 1998 was to the floppy drive. At least in the mind of one Steven P. Jobs. For those who claim to be a bit newer to the world (read: not "of age"), you may not be intimately familiar with the backlash that came as the original iMac was introduced. Front and center sat a tray-loading optical drive, but a 3.5-inch floppy disc drive was nowhere to be found. "On a computer aimed at the home office and education?!" Yes, on a computer aimed at the home office and education. Without polling a soul, Apple decided the industry should move right along, and those insistent on maintaining a legacy profile were given the oh-so-abhorrent (I kid, I kid) option of snapping up an external alternative. I'm guessing here is where you start to see history repeating itself. Over the past few years, Apple's been slyly but deliberately severing ties with a piece of hardware that most rational humans still view as essential on a full-scale computer. Nearly three years ago to the day, the original MacBook Air was introduced alongside a $99 external SuperDrive -- a peripheral that was nearly as tall as the laptop it was designed to complement. At the time, I never really saw it as the beginning of the end. My failure was not realizing that Apple rarely does one "thing" without eventually spreading that very "thing" as far as it can reasonably go... and oftentimes, further. I also cheered the move; it was a necessary sacrifice to craft the slimmest ultraportable known to man, and the simple reality is that ultramobile machines are engineered with compromise in mind. It's a well-recognized assumption that a ludicrously small computer will be lacking a few features that are prevalent on larger machines, just for the sake of being abnormally small.  My point? Ultraportables were never actually used as archival machines. Sure, you may have wanted to use one to watch the occasional DVD, but more often than not, ultraportables were being purchased by serious road warriors with one thing in mind: productivity and connectivity. Tossing in a DVD was somewhere so far down the chain that the loss of an ODD was effectively a non-factor. And then, Apple planted a stake in the wondrous western swath of North Carolina. It took what felt like eons for the folks in Cupertino to actually get its Maiden, NC data center operational, but when I saw Steve Jobs himself extol its virtues and harp on its promise at WWDC this year, I should've realized what was coming next. iCloud wasn't even the beginning -- it all began on the software front with iTunes. I've believed for years that Apple figured out what no one else could early on: it's dangerously easy to change brands, but escaping an ecosystem is absolute torture. Apple raked in the masses with its iTunes Music Store, which eventually began to hawk movies, music videos, exclusive content, iTunes LP material, and just about anything else your digital heart could ever want. Yes, even The Beatles. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. Pairing iTunes and iCloud (along with that homespun data center) was a dagger to the heart of physical media, and if nothing else, stood as an undeniable example of where Apple was envisioning the future of media. In Apple's world, everything's just a download away -- even its latest operating system, which weighs in at 4GB. Reaching over to grab a data-filled Frisbee has now been deemed a long-lost art, and it also clashes with the company's newfound mantra of having absolute cloud access to everything. I've gotta say, though -- it's a wee bit difficult to shove 50GB worth of Blu-ray goodness into a North Carolina sky, and I'm saying that while residing just a few hours to the right.  Even if Apple knows that the cloud is the next frontier, does the best route really involve the sudden death of the optical drive? The loss of the floppy was forgivable; even in 1998, while I was poking along on a 56k dial-up connection, I could upload 1.44MB -- the cap on most standard 3.5-inch floppies -- in a matter of minutes. Neither the RIAA nor the MPAA ever doled out a single record or motion picture on a floppy disc. In reality, the floppy was never really rooted in any industry outside of the storage one. But compare that to a modern-day Blu-ray Disc. Even with DOCSIS 3.0 at my home, it'd take well beyond a day to upload 50GB to any outside destination, and even a single-sided DVD would take hours on end for those with an average broadband connection. Oh, and we haven't even broached the topic of monthly data caps. Moreover, consumers are buying movies and music by the truckloads on physical media, not to mention games, applications, maps, etc. Those informing you that the "disc is dead" are clearly not looking at the numbers. People aren't buying as many discs, but tossing 'em in the proverbial grave is more sensationalistic reaction than anything else.  I made crystal clear in my Mac mini review just how awful a decision it was to nix the ODD in the consumer version of the machine, particularly with Apple making no efforts whatsoever to shrink the chassis in the drive's absence. My primary beef is the removal of an optical drive on a desktop. Is Apple seriously so naive that it thinks all Mac mini users will be perfectly fine taking to the wild, wild web to find whatever content and software they'd like to enjoy, including new-release films and 1080p content? And what, may I ask, comes next? Funny enough, rumors are currently reaching fever pitch surrounding the next generation of 15- and 17-inch Apple laptops. No sooner than the 13-inch Air was loosed onto the world, I longed for a 15-inch model with a similar design. Sleek and lightweight, but with plenty of palm rest space, a stupendous high resolution display (that's the real kicker, if you're curious), and an even stronger battery. If TUAW and MacRumors have their sources straight, I may be looking at a dream fulfilled by Christmastime. And if my senses are correct, neither of these things will boast optical drives... despite being classified as MacBook Pros, not MacBook Airs.  So, where does that leave us? Staring at the stark possibility of a Mac lineup with an ODD-less entry-level desktop, no standard MacBook at all (outside of education), and nary a MacBook Air / Pro with an optical drive. And if I'm really going out on a limb, I might say that the iMac is next on the chopping block -- you know, once Apple retools it to be as thin as the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display it just outed. It's a future I'm pretty chafed about (seriously, a "Pro" machine with no ability to toast films from iDVD or Final Cut Pro?), but Apple's got the market share, the cash -- and frankly, the cahones -- to take a calculated risk while simultaneously nudging buyers to rely more and more on its own ecosystem. For everything.  So with that, I end on a rather hopeless note. The optical drive, so far as Apple is concerned, is dead. And if I had to guess, I'd say it's just a matter of time before it figures out a way to deplete its remaining inventory while crafting ever-thinner machines that make it nigh impossible to question the rationale. But hey, at least we've got the Mac Pro. For now. |
| Sony officially outs new A, E, and S series Walkmans Posted: 27 Jul 2011 08:42 AM PDT  Three New Sony® Walkman® MP3 Players Boast Premium Sound, Stylish Design and Improved Functionality |
| Vodafone axes EVO 3D before it even hits shelves Posted: 27 Jul 2011 08:27 AM PDT  |
| Olympus launches SP-810UZ, packs 36x wide-angle zoom in a compact camera Posted: 27 Jul 2011 08:04 AM PDT  Have Lens Will Travel: Olympus SP-810UZ™ Boasts The World'S Longest Zoom In A Compact Camera Amazing 36X Ultra Wide Zoom, 3.0" Wide LCD and New Magic Filters Maximize Performance, Flexibility and Creativity for All of Life's Adventures CENTER VALLEY, Pa., July 27, 2011 – Travelers looking for a camera flexible enough to get up close for beautiful macro images of flowers while exploring exotic islands or to capture the magnificence of the Old Faithful geyser from hundreds of feet away without changing lenses, now have the ultimate camera with the introduction of the new SP-810UZ. Featuring a wide 1:2.9-5.7 24-864mm* zoom lens and a 36x optical zoom, this S-series camera is one of the smallest compact cameras currently on the market with a zoom of 36x**, providing further proof that Olympus lets you capture it all. "The SP-810UZ is the best zoom performance Olympus has ever delivered," said Jennifer Schmell, product manager Olympus Imaging America Inc. "No compact camera from Olympus has ever offered such impressive wide-angle zoom performance. As the most powerful camera in Olympus' ultrazoom category, it succeeds the prestigious SP-800UZ." Expert Still and HD Movie Performance From the sidelines of the soccer field to bird-watching on a riverboat, engage AF Tracking technology to lock focus on your fast-moving subjects and keep them in focus, even while they move in and out of the frame. The fast, wide 1:2.9-5.7 24-864mm* zoom lens combined with Dual Image Stabilization, enhanced ISO sensitivity, Shadow Adjustment Technology and TruePic III+ image processor guarantee tack-sharp photos and virtually eliminate blur in high-definition (HD) videos. With HDMI Control, you can use your HDTV's remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera's menus from the comfort of your couch. Be Creative and Express More Ten Magic Filters apply your own creative vision to movies and stills for greater artistic freedom. New Miniature Filter narrows the depth of focus and enhances color and contrast to convert your real-life images to look like a magical toy world. The new Reflection Filter adds a reflection to your subject as though it were standing over a glassy, still lake. In 3D-mode, the SP-810UZ combines two photos of the same subject from different angles to generate dynamic 3D images that can be viewed on a 3D-compatible monitor or television. Another creative highlight is In-Camera Panorama, which helps you capture a super-wide angle photo simply by panning the camera across the scene to combine three shots into one inside the camera. Easy Operation By eliminating time-consuming manual settings, the SP-810UZ frees you to concentrate on your subject. Intelligent Auto Mode recognizes the five most common photo scenarios and automatically optimizes settings such as focus and lighting. Don't forget the family pet! Activate Pet Detection mode to automatically capture your furry friend's face when it looks at the camera. The SP-810UZ is also compatible with an optional Eye-Fi SD card, adding Wi-Fi capability so you can automatically upload images to your computer as you take them. Be the life of the social media party by uploading your shots immediately. Availability The Olympus SP-810UZ will be available in black, starting in September 2011. It will ship with a Lithium-Ion Battery (LI-50C) & Charger, USB Cable, USB-AC Adapter, Audio/Video Cable, Protective Lens Cap w/ Strap, Camera Strap, Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card, Instruction Manual and [ib] Software CD-ROM. U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations Olympus SP-810UZ Estimated Street Price: $329.99 |
| Android Market update reportedly rolling out to the dessert-themed faithful Posted: 27 Jul 2011 07:40 AM PDT  Fans of frozen, cultured dairy products and holiday cookies, it's time to get your handsets ready -- that new, not-so-shiny Android Market appears to be making its way to users now. Both our inbox and the Twitterverse are afire with news that the redesigned market is delivering, not just apps, but books and movies to Android phones across the US as you're reading this. Of course, as we've already mentioned, you could just skip the waiting game and start perusing the Editor's Choice section right now by downloading and manually installing the APK. If you don't remember why you're supposed to be excited, check out the video after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| Engadget comes to your TV on Boxee, Roku, Yahoo and DivX starting today Posted: 27 Jul 2011 07:18 AM PDT  July 27, 2011, 9:00 a.m. EDT AOL Launches AOL HD New App for Television Platforms Streams AOL Original Online Content in High-Def to Boxee, Roku and More NEW YORK, Jul 27, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- AOL Inc. AOL -4.77% today announced the launch of AOL HD, a dedicated app that will deliver rich high-definition video to users across connected TV platforms including Boxee, Roku and Yahoo! Connected TV. AOL HD will allow consumers to watch high quality AOL video and audio content for free by streaming online offerings directly to users' television sets. Utilizing the latest connected TV platforms in the marketplace, AOL HD delivers on AOL's strategy to deliver content to its audience across multiple screens: computer, mobile and now television. "There has been explosive growth in the number of users who watch and interact with internet content on their televisions," said Rob DelaCruz, General Manager for AOL HD. "We're uniquely positioned to serve this audience, delivering premium original content in a rich high definition experience and engaging users across all of their screens." AOL HD will feature three main channels of high-definition AOL Huffington Post Media Group content -- entertainment, technology and home. Each channel will feature a breadth of rich content from properties like Moviefone, Engadget and HuffPost Entertainment. Other content will include cooking videos from celebrity chef personalities like Curtis Stone and Gail Simmons, as well as AOL Music's full CD Listening Party (CDLP) audio content, which allows users to listen to free previews of entire albums before they're released. AOL will introduce new video channels and content, including casual games, later this year. "AOL has invested a lot of resources to create, curate, and deliver an impressive array of compelling content," said Avner Ronen, CEO of Boxee. "We're happy AOL has chosen Boxee to help distribute their content to our nearly two million users across the globe." "Roku customers are looking for a variety of entertainment options, and AOL HD delivers," says Jim Funk, Vice President of Business Development at Roku. "From technology and entertainment news to home improvement and cooking tips, the AOL HD channel is a great addition to the Roku platform." With the launch of AOL HD, AOL will be able to interact with users in the comfort of their living rooms by delivering compelling content and entertainment while also providing AOL advertisers with more innovative ways to reach potential customers. Initially launching on Boxee, Roku, Yahoo! Connected TV and Divx, AOL HD will reach an installed user base of over 10MM users* and be available for immediate download from each platform's app library. Plans to expand AOL HD to other connected platforms are scheduled in the coming months. Additional information on AOL HD can be found at http://hd.aol.com . * Compiled by AOL from partner numbers. About AOL AOL Inc. AOL -4.77% is a premier global media company with a suite of brands and products serving consumers, advertisers and publishers worldwide. The AOL Huffington Post Media Group is a leading source of news, opinion, entertainment, community and digital information comprised of a wide range of destination websites, including AOL.com, The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Moviefone, Engadget, Patch, AOL Music, StyleList and MapQuest. The AOL Advertising.com Group includes Advertising.com, ADTECH, Pictela, Video, inclusive of AOL Video, goviral and 5min Media, Content Solutions and Sponsored Listings and serves a combined content and advertising market at scale through video, brand advertising, content and ad serving. AOL is focused on engaging consumers and providing online advertising services and solutions on both AOL Huffington Post Media Group destination websites and third party websites, in addition to serving consumer platforms including AOL Mail, AIM, about.me, and mobile experiences. AOL also operates one of the largest Internet subscription access services in the United States, which serves as another distribution channel for its consumer offerings. SOURCE: AOL |
| Sprint's Assurant Advanced Protection Pack protects against theft and damage, not alliteration Posted: 27 Jul 2011 06:45 AM PDT 
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| IEEE brings white space internet one step closer, we almost felt a twinge Posted: 27 Jul 2011 06:10 AM PDT  Kudos to the IEEE for rushing this new 'super WiFi' standard through so very speedily for the sake of rural communities with poor web access. Designated "IEEE 802.22," it promises to bring speeds of up to 22Mbps to devices as far as 60 miles away from the nearest transmitter. How's that possible? Well, the standard carefully exploits swathes of unused white space within transmission bands that were originally reserved (and jealously guarded) for analogue TV. These frequencies currently contain nothing but hiss and occasional communications from dead people, but one day they could and should be filled with the hopes, aspirations and Facebook updates of country folk who are very much alive. Read the signs in the PR after the break. IEEE 802.22TM-2011 Standard for Wireless Regional Area Networks in TV Whitespaces Completed PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IEEE, the world's largest professional association advancing technology for humanity, today announced that it has published the IEEE 802.22TM standard. IEEE 802.22 systems will provide broadband access to wide regional areas around the world and bring reliable and secure high-speed communications to under-served and un-served communities. This new standard for Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs) takes advantage of the favorable transmission characteristics of the VHF and UHF TV bands to provide broadband wireless access over a large area up to 100 km from the transmitter. Each WRAN will deliver up to 22 Mbps per channel without interfering with reception of existing TV broadcast stations, using the so-called white spaces between the occupied TV channels. This technology is especially useful for serving less densely populated areas, such as rural areas, and developing countries where most vacant TV channels can be found. IEEE 802.22 incorporates advanced cognitive radio capabilities including dynamic spectrum access, incumbent database access, accurate geolocation techniques, spectrum sensing, regulatory domain dependent policies, spectrum etiquette, and coexistence for optimal use of the available spectrum. The IEEE 802.22 Working Group started its work following the Notice of Inquiry issued by the United States Federal Communications Commission on unlicensed operation in the TV broadcast bands. Additional information on the standard can be found at the IEEE 802.22 WG page. To purchase the standard, visit the IEEE Standards Store. To learn more about IEEE-SA, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ieeesa, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ieeesa or connect with us on the Standards Insight Blog at http://www.standardsinsight.com. About the IEEE Standards Association The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body within IEEE, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 900 active standards and more than 500 standards under development. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org/. About IEEE IEEE, the world's largest technical professional association, is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org. |
| Boeing and BAE partner to put a laser on a machine gun, make the world a better place Posted: 27 Jul 2011 05:30 AM PDT  Boeing, BAE Systems to Develop Integrated Directed Energy Weapon for US Navy Team has initial contract to build a laser weapon demonstrator unit Agreement formalizes effort to develop directed energy system for enhanced ship defense ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., July 25, 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that its Directed Energy Systems (DES) division has signed a teaming agreement with BAE Systems to develop the Mk 38 Mod 2 Tactical Laser System for defense of U.S. Navy ships. The Navy awarded the BAE Systems team an initial contract in March to build a demonstrator unit of the system. Boeing is a subcontractor to BAE Systems under this contract. "Boeing is committed to developing this directed energy system that will significantly enhance ship defense," said Michael Rinn, Boeing DES vice president. "Combining BAE's engineering expertise with the proven directed-energy proficiency of Boeing's DES division creates a team uniquely qualified to integrate directed-energy technology into the Navy's shipboard armaments." The Mk 38 Mod 2 Tactical Laser System couples a solid-state high-energy laser weapon module with the operational Mk 38 Machine Gun System. The addition of the laser weapon module brings high-precision accuracy against surface and air targets such as small boats and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system also provides the ability to deliver different levels of laser energy, depending on the target and mission objectives. Boeing and BAE Systems have been working together for the past two years to develop this capability. In 2010, Boeing DES conducted two experiments in the field to demonstrate the system's ability to track surface targets and maintain a laser aimpoint with high precision. "The Mk 38 Mod 2 system is revolutionary because it combines kinetic and directed energy weapons capability," said Rinn. "Our approach is an affordable solution for the customer, because this system can be integrated seamlessly into existing shipboard command interfaces." The Mk 38 Mod 2 Tactical Laser System project unites Albuquerque-based Boeing DES -- the industry leader in directed energy and acquisition, pointing and tracking systems -- with BAE Systems, a leading designer and supplier of major shipboard armaments to the U.S. Navy. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 65,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense. |
| Xperia X10 gets Gingerbread update, gratuitous cookie pictures ensue Posted: 27 Jul 2011 04:50 AM PDT  Update: Mike wrote in to let us know that Sony Ericsson is backing off again, now saying that information about the X10 update "was a bit too premature." Shocking, we know. |
| InterDigital files ITC complaint against Nokia, Huawei, and ZTE for 3G patent infringement Posted: 27 Jul 2011 03:46 AM PDT  InterDigital Files Complaint Against Nokia, Huawei and ZTE With International Trade Commission Company Seeks Importation Ban for 3G Wireless Products that Infringe on U.S. Patents KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiaries InterDigital Communications, LLC, InterDigital Technology Corporation and IPR Licensing, Inc. (collectively, "InterDigital") have filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") against Nokia Corporation and Nokia Inc. (collectively, "Nokia"), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and FutureWei Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Huawei Technologies (USA) (collectively, "Huawei") and ZTE Corporation and ZTE (USA) Inc. (collectively, "ZTE" and together with Nokia and Huawei, "Respondents"). The complaint alleges that the Respondents have engaged in unfair trade practices by making for importation into the United States, importing, and selling after importation, certain 3G wireless devices, including WCDMA and cdma2000 mobile phones, USB sticks, mobile hotspots, and tablets, and components of such devices that infringe seven of InterDigital's U.S. patents. The action also extends to certain WCDMA and cdma2000 devices incorporating WiFi functionality. In conjunction with the ITC filing, InterDigital® has also filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that Respondents' 3G wireless devices infringe these same InterDigital patents. "Over the past thirty years, InterDigital has invested nearly one billion dollars in the development of advanced digital cellular technologies, creating important innovations, and helping to drive an industry creating billions of wireless connections" InterDigital's complaint with the ITC seeks an exclusion order that would bar from entry into the U.S. any infringing 3G wireless devices (and components) that are imported by or on behalf of Respondents, including wireless mobile phones, USB sticks, mobile hotspots, and tablets capable of operating with a 3G WCDMA or 3G cdma2000® system. InterDigital's complaint also seeks a cease and desist order to bar further sales of infringing products that have already been imported into the United States. The complaint asserts U.S. Patent Nos. 7,349,540, 7,502,406, 7,536,013, 7,616,970, 7,706,332, 7,706,830, and 7,970,127. "Over the past thirty years, InterDigital has invested nearly one billion dollars in the development of advanced digital cellular technologies, creating important innovations, and helping to drive an industry creating billions of wireless connections," said Lawrence Shay, President of InterDigital's patent holding subsidiaries. "During that period, we have signed dozens of license agreements with manufacturers, giving them access to a patent portfolio of approximately 19,000 issued patents and patent applications – among the largest wireless portfolios in the world," continued Shay. "The vast majority of our agreements have been reached without the need for litigation. However, despite having engaged in good faith efforts to license our patents to Nokia, Huawei and ZTE, we have not been able to reach an acceptable resolution. As a result, to protect our intellectual property and the interests of our licensees, we made the decision to bring legal action against these parties." By statute, the ITC has 30 days from the filing of the complaint to decide whether to formally institute an investigation. As of June 30, 2011, the company's patent portfolio consisted of approximately 1,400 U.S. patents and approximately 8,000 non-U.S. patents. In addition, as of June 30, 2011, the company had approximately 1,250 pending applications in the U.S. and approximately 8,250 pending non-U.S. patent applications. The patents and applications comprising the company's portfolio relate predominantly to digital wireless radiotelephony technology (including, without limitation, 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies). |
| ASUS Wavi waltzes through FCC, ready to stream from your PC to your TV Posted: 27 Jul 2011 02:50 AM PDT  Remember when we first encountered the ASUS Wavi just before CES? Well now the wireless streaming device that looks to get your TV and your PC in sync has moseyed on through the FCC, and in the process, confirmed a few of our suspicions. The duo will allow you to stream content in full 1080p via a 5GHz band and at distances of up to 25 meters (about 80 feet) -- of course, with a clear line of sight between the two. Not to be forgotten is the Xtion 3D depth camera, which provides a more expensive Kinect-esque experience, that will round out the trifecta for what we hope will be even more embarrassing dance-offs. At any rate, keep your eyes peeled for this tandem, as they should be on shelves in no time. |
| LG turns it around, reports profits back in the green Posted: 27 Jul 2011 01:50 AM PDT  |
| BookBook iPhone 4 case doubles as wallet, attempts to fool miniature luddites Posted: 27 Jul 2011 01:03 AM PDT  Twelve South puts your money where your phone is. Introducing BookBook for iPhone. Combine your wallet and iPhone case Charleston, SC, July 26, 2011 - Twelve South is pleased to announce the arrival of a new must-have accessory for iPhone owners. BookBook for iPhone 4 is a beautiful, pocket-sized wallet that holds both iPhone 4 and your driver's license, debit card, cash and receipts. The new BookBook for iPhone 4 is available now at Apple Store and twelvesouth.com for $59.99. More info and images can be found here. Made exclusively for iPhone 4, this tiny vintage book replaces the need for a traditional wallet, which means one less item to keep up with, and one less thing in your pocket or purse. Two of your must-have items, iPhone and wallet, become one item. Having iPhone inside BookBook means you will never forget your wallet again. The sturdy leather cover provides maximum protection for iPhone. Open BookBook for edge-to-edge access to iPhone. There are no frames getting in the way of your thumbs. All buttons and ports are accessible. You can sync or listen to iTunes while iPhone is in the book. Soft, chocolate brown suede lines the interior of the wallet. BookBook features a handy ID window, making it easy to flash your license. The window has a convenient thumb slide for quick removal of your ID when needed. There are two slots for credit/debit cards and a vertical pocket for cash, receipts or business cards. BookBook conveniently puts your bank card next to your bank and finance apps. Andrew Green, Creative Director at Twelve South, said "There are many iPhone cases out there in all shapes and sizes, but we couldn't find the one we wanted. So we rolled up our sleeves and designed the ultimate case. A cool, pocket-sized book that serves as a wallet and iPhone case. It's a phone book and checkbook rolled into one." Made with genuine leather, each BookBook is hand-distressed so no two are exactly alike. Since it looks just like a pocket-sized book, it's an easy way to disguise your wallet and phone. The stylish design keeps you and your iPhone from looking like everyone else. |
| Samsung Galaxy S II with WiMAX stops by the FCC on its way to Sprint Posted: 26 Jul 2011 11:50 PM PDT  |
| Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag Posted: 26 Jul 2011 11:13 PM PDT  AViiQ Portable Charging Station, the Ultimate Travel Charger Now Available 26 Jul 2011 Innovative 3+1 USB travel charging hub and sleeve eliminates tangles and cords SANTA ANA, Calif – July 26, 2011 – AViiQ, the award-winning mobile electronics accessory and design company specializing in solutions for on-the-go users, announces the availability of the AViiQ Portable Charging Station, the revolutionary travel sleeve that charges three USB devices at the same time using only one power outlet and eliminates hassles caused by tangles and carrying multiple chargers. Designed with convenience in mind, the AViiQ Portable Charging Station features multiple internal and external pockets to keep device-specific cables neat and organized. Small enough to fit in a purse, laptop bag or backpack, the travel sleeve measures 10"x5"x1.5" and weighs less than 1 lb, making it perfect for travelers who desire versatility and portability. "The number of chargers and gadgets we travel with has increased dramatically, and it isn't unthinkable to travel with a cell phone, headset, iPad, camera, projector, or even more," says Alan Yeung, Co-Founder of AViiQ. "The AViiQ Portable Charging Station eliminates and consolidates all those chargers into one ultra-portable, elegant sleeve." In addition to charging devices with different power requirements, including the iPad which requires 10 watts, a specialized data port allows for easy syncing and data backup while charging. The AViiQ Portable Charging Station is made with high quality nylon fabric and ABS plastic for their superior strength and shock absorption qualities, making it durable enough for even the most demanding travelers. The AViiQ Portable Charging Station comes with 30 day money back 100% satisfaction guarantee. It is available for $79.99 and can be purchased directly at www.AViiQ.com Additional Specs Dimensions: 10" x 5" x 1.5" Weight: Less than 1 lb Material: ABS Plastic & Nylon Fabric Warranty: 3 years |
| Olympus PEN E-PL3 gets a price tag, release date Posted: 26 Jul 2011 10:00 PM PDT  Last month, Olympus lifted the veil on a trio of 12.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds cameras, replacing both models in its PEN line and adding the small and light E-PM1. We already knew to expect an August ship date for the $900 E-P3, but now the company filled us in on its tilt-enabled E-PL3, which will be available in black, white, red, and silver when it ships in September. Priced at $700, the kit will include either a 14-42mm zoom or 17mm fixed lens, and will retail for a full c-note higher than its predecessor, the E-PL2. Olympus also announced the VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), which will feature a 100-percent field-of-view, 90-degree rotation, and brightness and color temperature adjustments -- though it sounds like that last feature could potentially leave you with off-color images if you mistake the EVF's white balance for what the camera will capture. We're still waiting on availability for the runt of the litter, but we imagine the E-PM1 will make its stateside debut soon -- perhaps even with a price tag lower than its rather pricey, beefier siblings. SWING INTO ACTION! OLYMPUS UNLEASHES THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PEN E-PL3 CAMERA FEATURING TILTING LCD AND THE NEW VF-3 ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER Price and Availability Announced for Compact PEN E-PL3 Camera That Delivers Maximum Flexibility, Innovation and Amazing Image Quality for All; New Accessory Viewfinder Expands Your Point of View CENTER VALLEY, Pa., July 27, 2011 – Imaging enthusiasts will rejoice knowing that they can finally get their hands on the desirable Olympus PEN E-PL3 – a powerful camera designed for photographers craving a portable camera with pro quality and point-and-shoot simplicity. The PEN E-PL3 is an interchangeable lens camera offering a sleek, metal body packed with versatile controls and lenses with professional image quality. Available in September, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 will be sold at the affordable price of $699.99 and will deliver amazing image quality and lightning fast speed for brilliant still images and high-definition (HD) video. It will ship bundled with either a wide-angle zoom M.Zuiko 14-42mm lens (28mm-84mm equivalent), optimized for fast autofocus (AF) and silent AF operation, or the M. Zuiko 17mm ultra-compact and portable wide-angle pancake lens (34mm equivalent). The PEN E-PL3 is a member of the Olympus PEN family of compact system cameras that also includes the new E-P3 and E-PM1. Designed to help innovation seekers capture and share their unique visions, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 combines pro quality with the portability of a point-and-shoot and features found on bulkier DSLR-type cameras. Olympus also expands the power of its PEN Micro Four Thirds system family today with the introduction of the compact VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder. Attractively priced at $179.99, the VF-3 easily attaches to Olympus PEN models with an accessory port, as well as the Olympus XZ-1 for eye-level convenience. Packs a Powerful Punch in a Small Package The E-PL3 offers something for everyone. Packed with the technology and image quality normally found in a DSLR, it's the size of a small, portable point-and-shoot camera and can easily travel with you. Its 3-inch, tilting high-resolution LCD screen helps you see high above the crowd to capture amazing stills and HD video of live performances, sports events and more. Easily move to eye-level to capture superb detail of children at play or even lower to the ground to record baby's first steps or a pet soundly sleeping. Never worry about missing a spontaneous moment because the E-PL3 shoots at 5 frames per second. Offering the versatility of interchangeable lenses, excellent quality low-light shooting thanks to the camera's AF Illuminator, a high ISO of up to 12,800, with a blazing fast autofocus system, a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor and TruePic™ VI Image Processor, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 becomes the ultimate travel companion. Discretely document all of the color and pageantry of the city, even in low-light, as you make your way to your next destination. Staying in for a more relaxed evening at home? Tech-enthusiasts will want to keep the E-PL3 ready by their side to capture friends and family, while showcasing their creativity. Easy-to-use technologies like in-camera Art Filters and image effects empower users to apply their unique artistic vision to images and videos so they can easily share professional-quality creations. Accessing all of the camera's options is quick and easy with a new intuitive interface. See the World through Your Own Eye The VF-3 is perfect for photographers who like the option of holding the camera up to their eye to compose. With 100-percent field-of-view, none of the recordable subject area is cropped, making composition with the VF-3 easy and accurate. The magnification and built-in diopter adjustment of the VF-3 allow for easy viewing. The VF-3 can be rotated up to 90-degrees to accommodate more obscure shooting angles for additional creative control. Furthermore, if you are the kind of person who likes to tweak the settings on your TV, you'll love the ability to adjust the brightness and color temperature to your own particular tastes. "The Olympus PEN E-PL3 is designed to capture spontaneous, authentic moments in amazing detail without the need to sacrifice portability or quality," said Katie Roseman, senior product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. "We've packed the affordable E-PL3 with technologies and image quality normally found in bigger DSLR-type cameras. Now, with the new VF-3, consumers can get more of a DSLR-like experience from our cameras by looking through the viewfinder to compose the shot." Availability The Olympus PEN E-PL3 kit will be available in black, white, red and silver, starting in September 2011. The kit includes the PEN E-PL3 body, lens, USB cable, video cable, BLS-1 Li-Ion battery pack, Li-Ion battery charger, shoulder strap, OLYMPUS [ib] software CD-ROM, manuals and registration card. The updated Olympus Viewer 2 software is included with all new Olympus PEN cameras. The software helps users edit and organize photos and play back AVCHD video. Olympus Viewer 2 also enables users to experience new functions, including the application of new art filters, effects and variations. U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations Olympus PEN E-PL3 Body with MSC M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED m14-42mm II R f3.5/5.6 Zoom or 17mm Lens Estimated Street Price: $699.99 Olympus VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder Estimated Street Price: $179.99 |
| Drift Innovation unveils compact Drift HD, still up for your extreme antics (video) Posted: 26 Jul 2011 09:21 PM PDT  |
| Sun CEO's deleted blog post to help end Oracle vs Google patent dispute? Posted: 26 Jul 2011 08:14 PM PDT  |
| Fujitsu Toshiba announces au IS12T, the world's first Mango phone (hands-on!) Posted: 26 Jul 2011 07:01 PM PDT  Update: In addition to pink, it'll reportedly also come in a yellowish / greenish hue, as well as jet black. |
| Akamai sees internet speeds climb, Asia still dominates broadband arms race Posted: 26 Jul 2011 06:22 PM PDT  Akamai's 'State of the Internet' Report Enters Fourth Year of Analyzing Global Connectivity, Attack Traffic and Broadband Consumption - Company introduces data visualization tool to track historical trends over time - More than 584 million unique IP addresses connected to the Akamai Platform in Q1 2011 - Global average connection speed increased 23 percent year over year to 2.1 Mbps View all images Akamai Technologies logo. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the leading provider of cloud optimization services, today released its 1st Quarter, 2011 State of the Internet report. Based on data gathered from the Akamai Internet platform, which carries between 15-30 percent of the world's Web traffic at any one time, the report provides insight into key global Internet statistics such as the world's fastest and slowest regions for connection speed, origins of attack traffic and the highest-performing geographies for mobile connectivity. (Editor's note: see attached statistics that highlight three-year trends.) With the State of the Internet report entering its fourth year of providing quarterly analysis, Akamai has released a new data visualization tool showcasing trends by geography in several measured categories. The tool allows users to generate and download graphs highlighting average connection speed, average peak connection speed, and high broadband/broadband/narrowband adoption rates. In addition, the online tool offers quick, easy and customized views of trend data since the report was first published at the beginning of 2008. Highlights from Akamai's 2011 first quarter report: Internet Penetration In the first quarter of 2011, more than 584 million unique IP addresses from 237 countries/regions connected to the Akamai Internet platform. This represents 5.2 percent more IP addresses than connected in the fourth quarter of 2010, and an increase of 20 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago. Consistent with last quarter's report, the top ten countries/regions accounted for nearly 70 percent of the total IP addresses, indicating that the majority of the world's unique IP addresses are concentrated within a proportionally small number of geographies. This report welcomed Italy into the top ten with its 11 percent quarter-over-quarter growth and saw Canada drop out of the top ten. Mobile Consumption & Connectivity In the first quarter of 2011, the average measured connection speed for known mobile providers worldwide ranged from a high of slightly more than 6 Mbps to a low of 163 kbps. The report also identifies a service provider from Poland delivering the highest average mobile connection speed in the first quarter 2011, bumping last quarter's fastest provider from Greece to the number two spot. Consumption figures indicate that during Q1 2011, users at seven percent of the surveyed mobile providers consumed an average of 1 GB per month from Akamai's platform. Users at 73 percent of surveyed providers consumed an average of 100 MB of content from Akamai, and users on the remaining 20 percent of providers consumed less than 100 MB. As a result of Akamai's recently announced partnership with Ericsson, the report now includes data collected by the equipment provider. Overall mobile data traffic, as measured by Ericsson, experienced 130 percent yearly growth in the first quarter, and is now more than double the volume of voice traffic. Attack Traffic The latest findings reflected in the report show some significant changes in Q1 2011 related to sources of attack traffic. Most notably, Myanmar not only made its first appearance on the list, but also ranked #1 by generating 13 percent of attack traffic during this period. Among other changes, the United States rose from 5th to 2nd, accounting for 10 percent of observed global attack traffic. Russia dropped into 4th place, accounting for 7.7 percent of global observed attack traffic, down from 10 percent in the previous quarter. With respect to attack traffic originating from mobile network providers, Italy remained in the top spot, responsible for 25 percent of observed attack traffic in the first quarter. 100 Fastest Cities Worldwide In the first quarter of 2011, analysis of the top 100 fastest cities around the world, based on average connection speeds, reflected the following: Cities in Asia dominate the list, including 61 cities in Japan, five cities in South Korea, and Hong Kong. Lyse, Norway is the fastest city in Europe (#33 out of 100) 18 U.S. cities made the list, with Riverside, CA ranking as the fastest U.S. city (#39 out of 100) Getting Away from Narrowband Looking at the world's narrowband connections (connections to Akamai at speeds slower than 256 kbps), the report shows global adoption of narrowband decreased by 15 percent in the first quarter 2011. Only 3.3 percent of all connections to Akamai were made at narrowband speeds. France led with the lowest narrowband adoption rate of .3 percent. About the Akamai State of the Internet report Akamai's quarterly State of the Internet report is based on data collected from the globally-distributed Akamai Internet Platform, carrying as much as 30 percent of global Web traffic on any given day, and with servers located in 650 cities, 72 countries and deployed within approximately 1,000 of the Internet's most important networks. To learn more, and to access the archive of past reports, please visit www.akamai.com/stateoftheinternet. To download the figures from the Q1 2011 State of the Internet report, please visit: http://wwwns.akamai.com/soti/soti_q111_figures.zip. About Akamai Akamai® provides market-leading, cloud-based services for optimizing Web and mobile content and applications, online HD video, and secure e-commerce. Combining highly-distributed, energy-efficient computing with intelligent software, Akamai's global platform is transforming the cloud into a more viable place to inform, entertain, advertise, transact and collaborate. To learn how the world's leading enterprises are optimizing their business in the cloud, please visit www.akamai.com and follow @Akamai on Twitter. |
| Keepin' it real fake: the iPhone 4 has a fan in China (video) Posted: 26 Jul 2011 05:23 PM PDT  Update: Jasper wrote in with a link of where you can buy one for yourself, if you're still suffering from a heat wave. [Thanks, Chris] |
| Fox restricts online streams of new TV shows to 'authenticated' pay TV subscribers Posted: 26 Jul 2011 04:32 PM PDT  FOX BROADCASTING ANNOUNCES NEW WINDOW FOR FREE STREAMING OF NETWORK PROGRAMMING New Initiative to Take Effect August 15, 2011 Participating Video Distributors to Have Exclusive 8-Day Window DISH Network Subscribers First to Benefit from Authentication Service LOS ANGELES – Fox Networks and Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) today announced that beginning August 15, video distributors that participate in the company's online authentication service will have an exclusive 8-day window for new episodes of FOX programs. To watch new episodes of FOX shows the next day, viewers can visit Fox.com, Hulu.com, Dishonline.com or the online TV portals of any future participating distributors and log in with their subscriber usernames and passwords. Viewers who do not subscribe to a participating distributor will be able to watch new episodes online eight days following their initial air dates. DISH Network will be the first to offer this service, allowing their verified subscribers to take advantage of the exclusive window and view new episodes of FOX shows the day after they air on broadcast television. "We are continually looking at opportunities to provide our pay television distributors with content and products that enhance the value of pay television to subscribers," said Michael Hopkins, President, Affiliate Sales and Marketing, Fox Networks. "Our new authentication service will continue to provide next-day access to FOX broadcast shows for our viewers who subscribe to participating pay television providers." "DISH Network is proud to be the first pay-TV provider in America to give customers the opportunity to take full advantage of the new FOX.com viewing experience-at no additional cost," said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network. "Early access to FOX.com is a terrific addition to our expansive TV Everywhere platform, which gives DISH Network customers the ability to watch whatever they want anytime, anywhere." FOX authentication only impacts online viewing. All other television viewing options remain unchanged. For more information about this service, or to make inquiries about future service, viewers should visit www.fox.com/watchnewepisodes. Fox Broadcasting finished as America's top-rated broadcast network in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo for a record 7th consecutive year, and some of the current shows available online include AMERICAN DAD, BONES, FAMILY GUY, GLEE, RAISING HOPE, and THE SIMPSONS. New series available online this Fall include NEW GIRL, TERRA NOVA, THE FINDER, and ALLEN GREGORY. Fox Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing is a unit of Fox Networks Group (FNG) and includes 43 domestic programming services in which FNG holds interests. Together these networks reach more than 550 million subscribing television homes and represent one of the media industry's largest and most diverse programming groups. Fox Networks Sales and Marketing distributes FX, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Fox Movie Channel, FUEL TV, FSN and 19 regional cable sports networks, SPEED, SPEED2, FOX Soccer Channel, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX College Sports, FOX Deportes, Utilisima, Baby TV, BTN (co-venture with the Big Ten Conference) and BTN2Go. FNG also includes Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Digital Media, and Fox Sports Enterprises, which manages interests in sports franchises and leading statistical information provider STATS, LLC. DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), through its subsidiary DISH Network L.L.C., provides more than 14.19 million satellite TV customers, as of March 31, 2011, with the highest quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value, including HD Free for Life. Subscribers enjoy the largest high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network's subsidiary, Blockbuster L.L.C., delivers family entertainment to millions of customers around the world. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com. |
| Microsoft renews alliance with SUSE, throws $100 million in pocket change at Linux Posted: 26 Jul 2011 04:02 PM PDT  Microsoft and SUSE Renew Successful Interoperability Agreement Strong customer response leads to four-year, $100 million extension. REDMOND, Wash., and NUREMBERG, Germany - July 25, 2011 - Microsoft Corp. and SUSE, an independent business unit of The Attachmate Group Inc., today announced a four-year extension of the groundbreaking agreement struck nearly five years ago between Microsoft and Novell Inc. for broad collaboration on Windows and Linux interoperability and support. This relationship will extend through Jan. 1, 2016, with Microsoft committed to invest $100 million in new SUSE Linux Enterprise certificates for customers receiving Linux support from SUSE. Customer Momentum As IT operating environments become increasingly consumerized, cloud-based and automated, there is an implicit expectation that the underlying technologies from multiple vendors should work together. For this reason, the collaborative relationship between Microsoft and SUSE has come to be viewed as a model for the industry. The joint Microsoft-SUSE collaboration has served more than 725 customers worldwide across a range of industries, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare, and financial services. Recent additions include Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea, ALSTOM IT Shared Service Centres, Celesio AG, Colt Technology Services Group Ltd., Coop Danmark A/S, FagorBrandt SAS, LIBRO Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Nationale Suisse, Swiss Re and Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH. In addition, through this alliance, SUSE enables customers to consolidate their Linux support by offering subscription support for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and community Linux distributions such as CentOS. "As one of the largest banking corporations in Spain, we offer our clients a broad portfolio of financial products and services," said Fernando Martinez, infrastructure manager at BBVA Bank. "In an operational environment this dynamic and stratified, the personnel, teamwork, ethical principles and technology define the backbone of our business. We rely on the SUSE Expanded Support Program to migrate part of our IT operations to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, as it supports our objectives for greater interoperability for our Windows and Linux systems." Partner Opportunity Microsoft and SUSE also have driven significant opportunities for partners that have leveraged the companies' collaboration as a means of meeting their own customers' demand for interoperability. Companies such as Dell Inc. have benefited as both a customer and reseller of Microsoft and SUSE solutions. In addition, SHI International Corp., a leading U.S.-based reseller of software, hardware and services, and Adaptive Computing Enterprises Inc., a premier workload management independent software vendor serving the high-performance computing sector, have helped their own customers realize benefit from the joint solutions resulting from the collaboration. Select international partners include ALSANET AG, Bechtle AG, Comparex AT, ErmesTel, Kelway Ltd., Liga Distribution ApS, NEXPERT AG, SCC, Securelinx Ltd., Softcat Ltd., Stover AS, Trustmarque Solutions Ltd. and 2e2. "The Microsoft-SUSE expanded support program has helped a number of our customers standardize on SUSE as an optimized guest on Hyper-V, as well as provide a highly cost-effective support program for non-SUSE distributions, including Red Hat," said James Largotta, global vice president of sales for BridgeWays, an independent software vendor that develops management packs to extend the cross-platform capabilities of Microsoft System Center. "Because of this, we find the interoperability partnership between Microsoft and SUSE to be highly complementary to the work we do, especially with the emergence of the private cloud." "The fact that we have interoperability in the industry today is a big step compared to the old days," said Professor Dr. Ulrich Trottenberg, director, Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (SCAI). "For Fraunhofer SCAI, this is critical because we have so many different technologies that we must work with to meet the needs of our customers and to support our own research. We are pleased to see that Microsoft and SUSE are proactively exploring ways to improve platform interoperability. This is so important since both vendors are also resolving intellectual property concerns, which drives greater choice and flexibility for their customers." Advancing Cross-Platform Interoperability Into the Cloud Microsoft and SUSE have built a bridge for customers between the two worlds of open source and proprietary software. As this collaboration moves forward, the two companies will continue to offer the highest levels of interoperability and assurance that both companies stand behind their solutions. "Our collaboration with SUSE not only helps customers to achieve success today, but also seeks to provide them with a solid foundation for tomorrow," said Sandy Gupta, general manager of the Open Solutions Group at Microsoft. "Through our continued engagement on the technical side, an outstanding support offering from SUSE and our ability to provide mutual IP assurance, we feel confident that we will be able to deliver core value to those running mixed-source IT environments well into the future - and into the cloud." "We're pleased to extend our long-term relationship with Microsoft," said Michael Miller, vice president, Global Alliances and Marketing, SUSE. "Our mutual commitment to help organizations make the most of mixed Linux and Windows Server environments is what has made this collaboration successful. We will continue to work with Microsoft to deliver solutions that enable our joint customers to manage critical workloads in mixed-source environments across a wide range of computing models, including private, hybrid and full-cloud implementations." Microsoft and SUSE also will continue their technical collaboration on solutions to help customers work more efficiently in the areas of cloud, virtualization and manageability. One such example is through the combination of a cross-platform solution with Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, giving IT managers a robust solution to migrate to a private cloud architecture. The companies also plan to extend Microsoft System Center through integration with SUSE Manager and select technologies to enhance Linux deployment, patching and updating. About SUSE SUSE is a leading provider of enterprise Linux solutions that increase agility, reduce cost and manage complexity in dynamic environments. With a portfolio centered around SUSE Linux Enterprise, the most interoperable platform for mission-critical computing, SUSE enables organizations to confidently deliver computing services across physical, virtual and cloud environments. With our award-winning products, open source communities and ecosystem of partnerships, SUSE solutions empower thousands of organizations around the world. For more information, visit www.suse.com. About Microsoft Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. SUSE is a registered trademark of Novell Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. |
| Bird's Eye iPad app lets you use Twitter while looking down on it Posted: 26 Jul 2011 03:24 PM PDT  |
| Garmin confirms its acquisition of Navigon is complete Posted: 26 Jul 2011 02:49 PM PDT  Garmin® Completes Acquisition of Navigon® SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland & HAMBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Navigon AG ("Navigon"), a privately-held navigation provider headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. "We are pleased to have the Navigon team join the Garmin family," said Cliff Pemble, chairman and COO of Garmin Ltd. "We are looking forward to expanding our ability to serve our collective customers going forward." "We are excited to be a part of Garmin and we look forward to turning our efforts toward integration and the opportunities ahead," said Egon Minar, Navigon's board member. "Navigon has an innovative new product lineup that we're excited to bring to market in time for the holiday 2011 season and beyond." Financial terms of the transaction were not released. Since its inception in 1989, Garmin has delivered 85 million GPS enabled devices – far more than any other navigation provider. Garmin's market breadth in the GPS industry is second to none, having developed innovative products and established a leadership position in each of the markets it serves, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking, and wireless applications. About Garmin Ltd. The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin's products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.Garmin.com/newsroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin and Navigon are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its Subsidiaries. Notice on Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company's future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2010, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.Garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. About NAVIGON AG: NAVIGON AG is a world-leading navigation company from Germany. With own portable navigation devices and thanks to successful partnerships in the consumer electronics, mobile phone service and automotive sectors NAVIGON stands for high-quality GPS navigation for PNDs, smartphones and other platforms. NAVIGON develops software for all relevant operating systems. NAVIGON was established in 1991, with subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and North America. For more information, visit Navigon's press portal at http://www.navigon-partner-portal.com/presse (Username: presse; password: navigonmedia) or contact the Public Relations department at +49 40 37088 0. |
| Mass Effect 3 N7 replica gets real world debut for your Spacer pleasure Posted: 26 Jul 2011 01:55 PM PDT  |
| Kingston Wi-Drive for iOS hits stores today, lets you create your own portable music server for $130 Posted: 26 Jul 2011 01:29 PM PDT  Services like Spotify, which had an anything but subtle launch last week, help solve the evergreen issue of limited local storage by streaming millions of tracks to your devices. But streaming services require cell reception to operate (unless you've elected to store music locally), and often carry monthly fees. We've spent a fair amount of time testing Kingston's Wi-Drive, which lets you access music, videos, and other files from a handful of devices simultaneously over WiFi -- assuming you've loaded that content to the portable media server's 16GB ($130) or 32GB ($175) of built-in storage. The device worked well during our review process earlier this month, and now you can pick up one of your own at sites like Amazon and Newegg, or at Fry's and J&R US retail outlets. The server is likely to be a better fit for families than individuals simply looking to boost their iOS device storage, due to both price and capacity limitations, but if you need to stream media to several devices at once during your next road trip, for example, then the Wi-Drive may be worth the investment. |
| Chinese government to track users of free WiFi, small businesses react with service cutoffs Posted: 26 Jul 2011 01:05 PM PDT  |
| Leaked memo slates Xoom 4G upgrade for September, early adopters weep (updated) Posted: 26 Jul 2011 12:42 PM PDT  Update: A tipster has kindly sent us a copy of Verizon's email. It's looking pretty official, folks.  |
| Microsoft signs off on Windows Phone 'Mango' RTM build Posted: 26 Jul 2011 12:20 PM PDT  We still don't have a launch date any more specific than "this fall," but Microsoft announced a fairly big milestone for Windows Phone 'Mango' today. It's just signed off on the Release to Manufacturing (or RTM) build of the operating system, which now leaves things in the hands of the handset makers and carriers, while Microsoft says that it will turn its focus to the update process. Still unsure what the update has in store? Our extensive preview is just as handy as ever. |
| 'This American Life' tackles patent trolls, lives to broadcast about it Posted: 26 Jul 2011 11:59 AM PDT  The financial crisis, DIY cryogenics, the love songs of Phil Collins -- This American Life has taken on a lot in its 15-plus years on public radio. This week the Ira Glass-helmed show tackles a matter close to our hearts: the patent wars. The show has devoted the entirety of episode 441 to the seedy world of patent trolling. The TAL team focuses in on the practices of Intellectual Ventures, a name that should ring some bells and rattle some bank accounts around these parts. Check out the link to episode below -- and why not subscribe to the podcast while you're there? You can thank us later. [Thanks, Brandon] |
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