Sponsoer by :

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Engadget News

Sponsored

Engadget News

Samsung W200 waterproof / rugged 1080p camcorder review

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Samsung slid its 'multi-proof' W200 pocket cam out a couple of months back, and we've spent the past few weeks testing it out in a place that's no stranger to water (read: the Big Island of Hawaii). Hailed as a waterproof and shockproof 1080p pocket camcorder, it most resembles a ruggedized version of Cisco's now-deceased Flip HD, and it's definitely a heck of a lot more petite than Canon's PowerShot D10 -- a waterproof P&S that we reviewed back in June of '09. Aside from putting high-def recording capabilities in the palm of your pruney hand, the W200's other key selling point is the trifecta of digits to the left of the decimal. At just $150 on the street, it's certainly classifiable as a bargain in the category, but does it deliver results worthy of laud? Read on for our take!
Samsung W200 1080p camcorder hands-on and unboxing

Design
With a 0.28 pounds chassis measuring 2.36- (W) x 4.45- (H) x 0.78-inches (D), the W200 is definitely diminutive for what it is. It's also a familiar form factor, one that slips easily into any pocket and one that doesn't look rugged despite being rugged. Strangely enough, the entire outer ring is constructed of a hard plastic rather than a rubberized bumper. Not only would the latter have played a vital role in making it easier to grip with wet hands, but it would've added a pinch of shock protection that's sorely missing (more on that later).


The front is graced with a shielded F2.2 lens, which -- much to our chagrin -- has no optical zoom to speak of. The right side is equipped with a microSDHC slot and HDMI port, and the bottom touts a standard tripod socket alongside a flip-out USB socket. That's convenient on a number of levels; for one, that's one less charger you'll need in your carry-on bag (read: it charges over USB), and secondly, it allows you to transfer your captures onto your computer without fiddling around to find a microSD-to-SD adapter.

Around back, you'll find a 2.3-inch LCD, a D-pad control dial, a smattering of buttons and a microphone port. The LCD is shockingly vibrant even in direct sunlight, and the two-stage shutter / "OK" button is quite the useful beast when you're looking to lock a focus point before firing a shot. Regretfully, the microphone port is placed right where the thumb falls for folks handling this with their left hand. We routinely had to think about where our hand was positioned, and most times, we were left holding it awkwardly in order to not muffle whatever audio was being projected its way. We're struggling to figure out why the mic port couldn't have been installed a little further north -- as it sits, it's right in the line of one's digit, and it's something users will undoubtedly have to remain conscious of.


Then, there's the carry strap. An altogether forgettable lanyard is tossed into the box, and compared to the locking carabiner setup on the aforementioned D10, this approach was just woeful. For a device that's destined to end up tethered to your wrist in underwater situations, we would've preferred a far more secure offering than what's here. One wrong twist of the wrist, and this thing's headed for whatever shore it pleases. Frankly, we've seen nicer straps on non-waterproof cameras.

Features and performance
Let's start with the user interface. Sammy's done an exemplary job here; it's dead simple to navigate through menus, and we'd guess that most users will have their settings in place and ready to roll within five minutes. Of course, the simplistic nature of the device aids in this. There's no optical zoom, no manual controls at all and just two movie mode options: 1080p and 720p. So, while it's a lesson in simplicity to peruse the menu tree, we can't help but lament the fact that there's no way to specify an ISO ceiling, an aperture setting or a minimum shutter speed. We know, those kinds of things are just now creeping into lower-end cameras, but still -- we would've loved even a buried section that allowed for some tweaking.


Startup and shutdown were stunningly quick; it took but two seconds to go from off to firing in our testing. Switching back and forth from still to video mode requires but a press of a dedicated button (kudos on that, Samsung), and the amount of remaining stills / minutes of video are clearly displayed along the top of the panel. Speaking of stills, there's a five megapixel image sensor that's capable of grabbing ho hum frames for moments when video just isn't ideal. You'll find practically no settings outside of "shoot," but snaps taken with plenty of daylight tended to turn out decently in our testing. Low-light shots were predictably unusable, generally littered with noise and blur.
Samsung W200 indoor sample shots

There's also something to be said for the unit's anti-fog lens coating -- that "something" is this: it works. And it works well. We took the device on a snorkel trip to Captain Cook's Monument in South Kona, Hawaii, and not once did fog become an issue. 'Course, the water's about as clear as it gets here, but it's still comforting to know that you won't have to worry over wiping the lens off every so often to ensure a cloud-free capture.

Image and video quality
We'll start with stills. By all accounts, the W200 is a camcorder first, and a still shooter third -- perhaps fourth, even. There's no optical zoom, no manual controls for ISO / aperture / shutter speed and no flash to speak of. To no one's surprise, the sensor performed dreadfully on indoor shots with low lighting, and even dimly lit outdoor scenes had a decent amount of blur introduced. When plenty of outdoor light was available, most of our test shots were clear and sharp, but the colors were on the muted side and results felt generally lifeless.
Samsung W200 outdoor sample shots

However, we couldn't have been more pleased with how the still functionality operated under the sea. Yesteryear's D10 was fairly poor whilst underwater, but the W200 managed to pull out quite a few sharp shots during our time with the fishes. It's worth pointing out that those were shot at high noon with a clear Hawaiian sky, but still, the results are downright impressive for a $150 device. Toss in a bit of Lightroom magic in order to inject a little vibrance into the yellows, and you'd have a gallery of results worth showing your mum.
Samsung W200 underwater sample shots [Captain Cook, Hawaii]

As for video? We stuck exclusively to the 1080p mode given that we had plenty of room on our 4GB microSDHC card. For those curious, around 35 minutes of Full HD footage can be socked away on a card of that size. Starting and stopping videos couldn't have been easier, but as we mentioned above, we recorded a number of clips that ended up with muffled audio due to the poor positioning of the microphone. By and large, video results in broad daylight were more than acceptable for a unit in this price range, but there's one major gripe that we simply can't gloss over: the jelly effect.


If you're unfamiliar with the term, just peek the video above. While outside of the water, the W200 exhibited this wretched phenomenon in practically every video we shot, regardless of how fast (or slow) we moved our hand during shooting. This warped, wobbly effect started cropping up in some of the early video-enabled DSLRs (we're looking at you, D90), and it's tragic to find it here. Weirdly enough, the effect seemed to vanish (or at least, diminish significantly) when shooting underwater. From what we can gather, the jelly creeps in as the camera jostles north and south (as with the movement of a human walking); when this is removed underwater, so is the jelly.

Our underwater captures couldn't have been more stunning given the price point. Colors were relatively vibrant, noise was kept to a minimum, and it generally did a terrific job of reproducing the magic we witnessed with our own eyes down in Kealakekua Bay. Don't take our word for it, though -- have a look at a few (unedited) samples below, but be sure to enable 'HD.'



Toughness and battery life
Here's the rub. Samsung never specifically says just how rugged the W200 is, and we're here to tell you the truth: not very. Our review unit suffered a single two-foot tumble onto linoleum, and it left a visible scuff and indentation in the top corner. Worse, however, is what said tumble evidently did to the LCD. After around 20 minutes underwater (at around one to two feet deep; far less than the three meters it can stand), we began to see air bubbles emerging from the top right corner of the panel. Within minutes, condensation had begun to build up around every edge of the display, and it got progressively worse as we continued to swim. Now, it's just a matter of time before future treks to the sea render the whole thing useless, or at least the monitor 'round back.


Sure, you could say that our unit is a one-off problem, but it's simply not as rugged as it needs to be. There's a strange and uncomfortable paradox in having a fragile camera that's suitable for underwater shooting. For what it's worth, all of the "doors" (locking water away from ports and slots) functioned as advertised during our testing, and salt water abuse seemed to have no negative consequences beyond the fading of a few logos on rear buttons.


As for battery life? Let's say this: we managed to fill up a 4GB microSDHC card with 1080p footage before the thing croaked, and we had snapped 40 to 50 shots prior to that. Obviously, camera battery life will vary wildly depending on how long you let the LCD remain on in standby, how many shutter presses you have, and how cold your environment is. We'd recommend recharging it after loading up a 4GB card (we had around 35 percent life left), but at least you can get through an average vacation day on a full tank.

Wrap-up
So, is Samsung's "multi-proof" W200 worth its weight in underwater memories? It's tough to say, but we're leaning "yes." $150 is dirt cheap in this category, particularly for a device this small. The 1080p underwater video mode is leaps and bounds better than the VGA mode we saw on the D10 just two years ago, and underwater stills also turned out remarkably well. We've kvetched enough about the lack of manual controls and the awful jelly effect seen in outdoor videos, but none of those nitpicks are apt to bother the target market here. For a buck-fifty, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything as versatile and compact in this segment, but you'll need to keep a couple of things in mind.


For one, it's most certainly not as tough as it looks, and one bad tumble could loosen its frame enough to ruin it once taken to the pool. And secondly, you'll have to be mindful of where your thumb ends up while recording. All in all, it's a respectable underwater offering for the price, but true argonauts are probably better off spending more for something that's constructed to handle real abuse.

Samsung Nexus Prime serving up Ice Cream Sandwich in October?

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 10:40 AM PDT


The hunt for the next Nexus phone (also known as the Nexus Prime) is on, and it looks like we could see it donning Ice Cream Sandwich in time for Halloween. According to a report in Korea's Electronic Times, those oh so familiar "insiders" are fingering an October launch for the Samsung handset. It will apparently rock a 4.5-inch HD AMOLED display and a 1.5GHz dual core processor, which squares mighty nicely with previous reports. Of course, we'll believe it when we see it -- or at least an official announcement -- but for now, we're keeping the Ice Cream Sandwich dream alive.

HP may spin off PC business, shift focus to software and services

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 10:22 AM PDT

HP LogoWord 'round the campfire is, HP may be prepping to spin off its PC business. Though Hewlett-Packard is the world's largest computer company, desktops and laptops are a relatively low profit margin business. Obviously, there's no confirmation yet that such a split will happen, but with the recent focus on tablets and smartphones, and CEO Leo Apotheker's own admission that he'd like to expand into software and services, the move would make sense. According to Bloomberg the announcement could come as soon as today, during the company's quarterly earnings call, where it's also expected to reveal a $10 billion purchase of software company Autonomy Corp. We'll be listening in live later, so check back this afternoon to see if HP sets its PC business free.

Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB tuner priced at $299, ships September 19th

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 10:13 AM PDT

Once its certification was official we knew a release date for the Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB was just around the corner, and today the company announced it expects to start shipping the external CableCARD TV tuners September 19th. Starting tomorrow, customers can preorder for $299 from Cannon PC and Fluid Digital, with other retailers like Amazon and Newegg getting stock later in September. Also, the price on the existing internal PCIe model has officially dropped to $299, no rebate necessary. The market is suddenly full of options for the HTPC enthusiast looking to get some premium cable TV channels on their Media Center PC, check the press release after the break and let us know if this one catches your eye.
Show full PR text
Ceton Announces External USB-Based Digital Cable Quad-Tuner Solution

InfiniTV 4 USB Turns Nearly Any Windows 7-based PC into a Platform for Viewing and Recording Premium Cable TV Throughout the Home

KIRKLAND, WA - August 18, 2011 - Ceton Corporation today announced InfiniTV 4 USB, the company's new, external CableCARD quad-tuner that turns virtually any style of Windows 7-based PC into an entertainment platform for television. InfiniTV 4 USB will be available for pre-order tomorrow, August 19, 2011, from Cannon PC and Fluid Digital at a suggested retail price of $299, with pre-orders expected to ship on September 19, 2011. InfiniTV 4 USB will be available from the company's other retailers - Amazon, Micro Center, the Microsoft Store, Newegg, Velocity Micro and Zones – later in September at the same price. Ceton also announced a reduction in suggested retail price for the company's InfiniTV 4 PCI Express (PCIe) model to $299.

InfiniTV 4 USB brings the company's award-winning multi-tuner CableCARD™ technology to an external, USB-connected design, making it an ideal solution for virtually any compatible Windows 7-based PC, including laptops, tablets, All-in-One PCs, desktops, towers, home theater PCs and slimline entertainment PCs. InfiniTV 4 USB joins the company's currently shipping InfiniTV 4 PCIe model, positioning Ceton as the only company offering both internal and external solutions for CableCARD-based premium digital cable TV services through the PC.

A Ceton InfiniTV-equipped PC makes exciting new entertainment scenarios possible in the home, including:

Watching and recording up to four live HD channels at once;
Streaming live HD channels or recordings to multiple TVs and making Digital Video Recording (DVR) available on virtually every TV using Windows Media Center Extenders;
Enjoying cable TV, Internet TV, music, photos, videos and more, all through one device, with the Media Center experience from Microsoft;
Eliminating cable set-top boxes and their expensive rental fees;
Sharing individual tuners with other Windows 7-based PCs to enable watching TV programming on PC displays as well as TV sets.

"The Ceton family of InfiniTV digital cable tuners is transforming the PC into the world's most advanced entertainment platform for television," said Gary Hammer, president and chief executive officer of Ceton Corp. "With the introduction of InfiniTV 4 USB, Ceton now offers solutions for the full range of PC platforms, bringing a new generation of television and entertainment services to almost any consumer."

"In Windows 7 we enabled support for premium cable TV services in the US to create a high-quality entertainment experience on your PC," said Todd Rutherford, Windows Entertainment Product Manager at Microsoft Corporation. "with the availability of the Ceton's InfiniTV 4 USB tuner, a wider range of PC platforms and consumers will now be able to enjoy this entertainment service."

About Ceton Corporation

Ceton Corporation is developing the next-generation of in-home digital entertainment and communication solutions. Combining stellar hardware and software engineering capabilities with market-making technology, Ceton aims to help unlock the potential of the digital home to unleash a new generation of in-home connected entertainment and communication services for PC and device makers, software developers and consumers. More information about Ceton and its solutions is available at http://www.cetoncorp.com.

Google Maps adds current weather conditions for those who hate being rained on (video)

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 09:54 AM PDT

Here's a nice little addition to Google Maps -- current weather conditions. The feature is live now on the site, accessible by clicking the weather layer on the upper right hand corner of a map. Selecting the feature will overlay conditions culled from Weather.com, anywhere in the world. The results include the temperature and icons for the sun, rain, clouds and the moon, when that part of the world goes dark. Also new is cloud coverage from the US Naval Research Lab. Video of new feature after the break for those who like piña coladas but can't stand getting caught in the rain.

Bionic leg anticipates wearer's movements for more natural motion

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 09:27 AM PDT

Vanderbilt University researchers have debuted a new prosthetic leg that promises a more natural walking experience. Built-in sensors monitor the wearer's movement, data which is sent to a microprocessor, in order anticipate motion. The knee and ankle joints, meanwhile, work in unison, considerably cutting down on the sort of lag this is customary with more traditional prosthetic devices, a fact confirmed by tester Craig Hutto. The bionic limb, which took some seven years to develop, can increase the walking speed of its wearer by up to 25 percent, thanks to its need for considerably less energy from the user than passive prosthetic limbs. Check out a video of the leg in action at the source link below.

Verizon Wireless promos $20 plan for the data reluctant

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 08:59 AM PDT

For those of you living close to our nation's circle of political puissance, Verizon's got a promotional offer that'll help you feel like one of the data-dependent elite. Available starting today and running through September 30th, existing voice subscribers in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia can begin their trek towards an always-connected lifestyle by tacking on 300MB of data for $20 per month. The deal's intended for cost-conscious customers who haven't yet learned "the many benefits of... a smartphone," and is open to any of the operator's 3G or 4G LTE handsets. Be sure to hit the break to find out more in the presser below, but we warn you -- internet addiction is a slippery, costly slope.
Show full PR text
Verizon Wireless Introduces New $20 Data Plan in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia

Promotion allows customers to dabble with data for only $20 monthly access

LAUREL, Md., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting Thursday, existing Verizon Wireless customers in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia will be able to add a 300 MB data plan to their smartphone or basic phone for just $20 monthly access when added to a voice plan. All new and existing customers are eligible for the promotional data plan that will be available from Aug. 18 through Sept. 30.

Customers in Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and North Carolina can choose from an array of 3G- and 4G LTE-enabled devices that include top sellers on all mobile operating systems including BlackBerry, Android, iOS, Palm and Windows Mobile. The plans are not restricted to specific phones but are geared to customers whose data use falls within the 300 MB allowance. Customers who go over their monthly allowance will automatically receive an additional 300 MB for an additional $20 per month.

"This is a great introductory plan for customers who have been contemplating moving from a basic phone to a smartphone but were hesitant because of cost," said Mike Maiorana, regional president in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia. "The $20 monthly access promotional plan is an opportunity for customers to learn the many benefits of having a smartphone with email and calendar functions, as well as Internet access and apps, at their fingertips."

Data Plans and Pricing

In addition to the new $20 monthly access data, customers can also choose from an array of existing data price plans that begin at $30 monthly access for 2GB.

Before purchasing any data plan, customers are encouraged to examine their data use by going to their My Verizon Account online or by estimating their monthly data use with the Data Usage Calculator, available at: www.verizonwireless.com/datacalculator.

All data plans must be purchased in conjunction with a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk or Talk and Text plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access.

Data Management

Verizon Wireless offers a variety of free tools to monitor and manage data usage, including:

#DATA – Customers can check data usage by dialing #DATA and pressing send from Verizon Wireless phones to receive a free text message with the information.
My Verizon and My Verizon Mobile – Customers can monitor data usage directly from their handsets via My Verizon Mobile or online through My Verizon.
Data Usage Widget – Customers with data plans also can download a Data Usage Widget to most Android™ smartphones and BlackBerry® devices. The widget tracks usage with a quick glance at the phone screen and with one click connects to the customer's My Verizon Mobile account.


For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Wacom Cintiq 24HD approved by FCC, makes us wish we went to art school

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 08:35 AM PDT

Few devices make you reassess your career choices, but the Wacom Cintiq is one of them. The interactive pen display device makes us wish we'd gone to art school and learned how to draw (instead of listening to our parents and study law). This newest model, the Cintiq 24HD has just been approved by the FCC and, while the documents don't reveal much, we presume it's a 24-inch (and HD-resolution) follow up to last year's device. If you're struggling to comprehend the love for these things, you can go beyond the break to see a schematic or check out our hands-on with last year's Cintiq 21UX.

Yahoo gets Android handset in Japan, renews hope for long-awaited AltaVista phone

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT

Mobile operating systems, it seems, make strange bedfellows, so perhaps it's not a major surprise that Yahoo, a top traffic presence in Japan, is getting its own Android handset in that country. The search engine is lending its name to a version of Sharp's AQUOS 009SH. The Gingerbread handset is preloaded with Yahoo Home, Auctions, and various other Y-branded goodies. The phone's SoftBank contract also comes with a free two-year premium membership to Yahoo Japan and some bonus points for Yahoo Shopping purchases. The Yahoo Phone will be hitting Japan next month.

Windows 8 App Store officially announced, we're all shocked

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:49 AM PDT

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/windows-8-app-store-officially-announced-were-all-shocked/Windows president Steven Sinofsky has confirmed that Windows 8 is getting an app store. He casually dropped the scoop whilst listing the software's dev teams as if he was listing the week's groceries. Such a tease, that man.

Logitech announces $130 fold-out keyboard for the iPad, we go hands-on

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:31 AM PDT

Since that whole Revue thing didn't go over so swimmingly, it looks like Logitech's going back to its accessory roots, with a manic hope that tablet add-ons are the future. The company just announced a fold-out keyboard for the iPad 2 that's pretty much what it sounds like: a keyboard split in two whose halves flip out and connect to form a full QWERTY. As you can see in those shots below, you can still use your magical, candy-colored Smart Cover when your iPad is docked. At $129.99, it's hardly a cheap doo-dad and frankly, we would have hoped for higher quality. In our brief hands-on, the keys felt unstable and stiff -- an ideal combination for anyone who thought their iPad needed more chintz. Pre-order it at the source link if you must, though you might do just as well gawking at our pics below.
Logitech Fold-Up Keyboard for iPad hands-on

IBM's cognitive computing chip functions like a human brain, heralds our demise (video)

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:06 AM PDT

After having created a supercomputer capable of hanging with Jeopardy's finest, IBM has now taken another step toward human-like artificial intelligence, with an experimental chip designed to function like a real brain. Developed as part of a DARPA project called SyNAPSE (Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics), IBM's so-called "neurosynaptic computing chip" features a silicon core capable of digitally replicating the brain's neurons, synapses and axons. To achieve this, researchers took a dramatic departure from the conventional von Neumann computer architecture, which links internal memory and a processor with a single data channel. This structure allows for data to be transmitted at high, but limited rates, and isn't especially power efficient -- especially for more sophisticated, scaled-up systems. Instead, IBM integrated memory directly within its processors, wedding hardware with software in a design that more closely resembles the brain's cognitive structure. This severely limits data transfer speeds, but allows the system to execute multiple processes in parallel (much like humans do), while minimizing power usage. IBM's two prototypes have already demonstrated the ability to navigate, recognize patterns and classify objects, though the long-term goal is to create a smaller, low-power chip that can analyze more complex data and, yes, learn. Scurry past the break for some videos from IBM's researchers, along with the full press release.


Show full PR text
IBM Unveils Cognitive Computing Chips

IBM introduces first computing core that combines digital "neurons" and on-chip "synapses" in working silicon.

Radical new compute core demonstrates synaptic plasticity, the foundation of learning and memory.

With no set programming, these cores mimic the event-driven, parallel processing abilities found in the brain.

San Jose, Calif. – August 18, 2011 – Today, IBM researchers unveiled a new generation of experimental computer chips designed to emulate the brain's abilities for perception, action and cognition. The technology could yield many orders of magnitude less power consumption and space than used in today's computers.

In a sharp departure from traditional concepts in designing and building computers, IBM's first neurosynaptic computing chips recreate the phenomena between spiking neurons and synapses in biological systems, such as the brain, through advanced algorithms and silicon circuitry. Its first two prototype chips have already been fabricated and are currently undergoing testing.

Called cognitive computers, systems built with these chips won't be programmed the same way traditional computers are today. Rather, cognitive computers are expected to learn through experiences, find correlations, create hypotheses, and remember – and learn from – the outcomes, mimicking the brains structural and synaptic plasticity.

To do this, IBM is combining principles from nanoscience, neuroscience and supercomputing as part of a multi-year cognitive computing initiative. The company and its university collaborators also announced they have been awarded approximately $21 million in new funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase 2 of the Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics (SyNAPSE) project.

The goal of SyNAPSE is to create a system that not only analyzes complex information from multiple sensory modalities at once, but also dynamically rewires itself as it interacts with its environment – all while rivaling the brain's compact size and low power usage. The IBM team has already successfully completed Phases 0 and 1.

"This is a major initiative to move beyond the von Neumann paradigm that has been ruling computer architecture for more than half a century," said Dharmendra Modha, project leader for IBM Research. "Future applications of computing will increasingly demand functionality that is not efficiently delivered by the traditional architecture. These chips are another significant step in the evolution of computers from calculators to learning systems, signaling the beginning of a new generation of computers and their applications in business, science and government."

Neurosynaptic Chips

While they contain no biological elements, IBM's first cognitive computing prototype chips use digital silicon circuits inspired by neurobiology to make up what is referred to as a "neurosynaptic core" with integrated memory (replicated synapses), computation (replicated neurons) and communication (replicated axons).

IBM has two working prototype designs. Both cores were fabricated in 45 nm SOI-CMOS and contain 256 neurons. One core contains 262,144 programmable synapses and the other contains 65,536 learning synapses. The IBM team has successfully demonstrated simple applications like navigation, machine vision, pattern recognition, associative memory and classification.

IBM's overarching cognitive computing architecture is an on-chip network of light-weight cores, creating a single integrated system of hardware and software. This architecture represents a critical shift away from traditional von Neumann computing to a potentially more power-efficient architecture that has no set programming, integrates memory with processor, and mimics the brain's event-driven, distributed and parallel processing.

IBM's long-term goal is to build a chip system with ten billion neurons and hundred trillion synapses, while consuming merely one kilowatt of power and occupying less than two liters of volume.

Why Cognitive Computing

Future chips will be able to ingest information from complex, real-world environments through multiple sensory modes and act through multiple motor modes in a coordinated, context-dependent manner.

For example, a cognitive computing system monitoring the world's water supply could contain a network of sensors and actuators that constantly record and report metrics such as temperature, pressure, wave height, acoustics and ocean tide, and issue tsunami warnings based on its decision making. Similarly, a grocer stocking shelves could use an instrumented glove that monitors sights, smells, texture and temperature to flag bad or contaminated produce. Making sense of real-time input flowing at an ever-dizzying rate would be a Herculean task for today's computers, but would be natural for a brain-inspired system.

"Imagine traffic lights that can integrate sights, sounds and smells and flag unsafe intersections before disaster happens or imagine cognitive co-processors that turn servers, laptops, tablets, and phones into machines that can interact better with their environments," said Dr. Modha.

For Phase 2 of SyNAPSE, IBM has assembled a world-class multi-dimensional team of researchers and collaborators to achieve these ambitious goals. The team includes Columbia University; Cornell University; University of California, Merced; and University of Wisconsin, Madison.

IBM has a rich history in the area of artificial intelligence research going all the way back to 1956 when IBM performed the world's first large-scale (512 neuron) cortical simulation. Most recently, IBM Research scientists created Watson, an analytical computing system that specializes in understanding natural human language and provides specific answers to complex questions at rapid speeds. Watson represents a tremendous breakthrough in computers understanding natural language, "real language" that is not specially designed or encoded just for computers, but language that humans use to naturally capture and communicate knowledge.

IBM's cognitive computing chips were built at its highly advanced chip-making facility in Fishkill, N.Y. and are currently being tested at its research labs in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and San Jose, Calif.

For more information about IBM Research, please visit ibm.com/research.

Razer's latest Tiamat headset delivers 7.1 sound straight to your ear canals

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 06:42 AM PDT

Tiamat 7.1
Is the new Razer Tiamat the first true 7.1 surround sound headset, as the company claims? Maybe, but more impressively, it's the world's first set of cans with 10 discrete drivers -- that's five in each ear. The left and right ears each have three drivers dedicated to that side, and both pack a "center" channel and a subwoofer to round out the required eight lanes of sound. Most surround sound sets call it a day with eight drivers but, surprisingly, the two extra speakers here don't add much to the cost. And, for the control freaks, there's an in-line volume remote that lets you adjust each channel individually. You'll find PR after the break and the Tiamat 7.1 on shelves in Q4 for $180.
Show full PR text
Razer Announces The World's First True 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

RAZER ANNOUNCES THE WORLD'S FIRST TRUE 7.1 SURROUND SOUND GAMING HEADSET

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 brings true-to-life pinpoint positional gaming audio with up to 10 discrete speaker drivers in each headset

Gamescom, Cologne – August 17th, 2011 –Razer, the world's leading high-end precision gaming brand, brings true pinpoint positional audio to hardcore gamers everywhere with the Razer Tiamat headset range – the world's first discrete 7.1 surround sound and 2.2 stereo gaming headsets. Get the tactical advantage in combat when you can hear and react to every gunfire, explosion and voice realistically all around you. And with bass so powerful, the Razer Tiamat will blow you away.

"The Razer Tiamat headset range is the pride of our audio engineering, the world's first 10 driver headset, built to deliver the most powerful, clear and accurately produced positional audio gamers will ever need for the competitive edge," said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, President, Razer USA. "Surprise the enemy trying to creep up for a stealth kill, when you can hear their footsteps loud and clear behind you."

The Razer Tiamat headset range includes the Razer Tiamat 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset and the Razer Tiamat 2.2 Stereo Gaming Headset.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 packs a total of 10 discrete drivers, 5 in each circumaural ear cup to give you true pinpoint positional surround sound – a one-up on your enemies when you can hear everything around you with three-dimensional clarity. The 10 drivers represent the 7 surround sound channels plus subwoofer; 2 for center, 1 each for the left and right, surround sound left and right, surround back left and right, and 2 for the subwoofer. All drivers work in unison to produce a true surround sound experience.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 also gives gamers maximum customizability of their audio experience adjustable on a sleek control unit. You can precisely fine-tune the volume of every audio channel, position, and bass depth, as well as conveniently toggle between the headset's 7.1 surround sound mode, 2.0 stereo mode or external speakers as long as they are also hooked up to the unit, so you'll have the right setup for your entertainment at all times.

The Razer Tiamat 2.2 is outfitted with a total of 4 discrete drivers, 2 dedicated especially to bass to give your head that rumbling sensation every time you calmly walk away from an in-game explosion.

Both versions of the Razer Tiamat come with leatherette ear cushions to keep you comfortable during long-haul gaming marathons, and a precise, unidirectional noise-cancelling microphone so your battle chatter stays as sharp as your audio.

The "Experience the Power of 7 – with the Razer Tiamat 7.1" Contest at Gamescom 2011

In line with Razer's announcement of their new Razer Tiamat headset range, the world's first 7 Razer Tiamat 7.1 gaming headsets are to be given away to 7 lucky winners.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1, the world's first true 7.1 surround sound gaming headset, awaits contestants at www.razerzone.com/Powerof7.

About the Razer Tiamat 7.1

True pinpoint positional audio for the tactical advantage is the only way to go for victorious gaming, and that's what the Razer Tiamat 7.1 was built for. 10 discrete drivers, 5 in each ear cup produce 360 degrees true surround sound so you can hear and react to everything around you with three-dimensional clarity.

The versatile control unit lets you tweak every audio channel's volume and positioning, as well as bass depth to your exact preference. With a single button press, toggle between the headset's 7.1 surround sound, 2.0 stereo and external speakers when both are connected to the unit to have the right audio setup for your specific entertainment needs at all times. Packed with so many features in one device, the Razer Tiamat 7.1 is the ultimate beast of gaming audio.

Price: US $179.99 / EU €179.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com – Q4 2011
Worldwide – Q4 2011

Product Features:

True-to-life pinpoint positional 7.1 surround sound from 10 discrete drivers
All-in-one volume control unit for multi-channel adjustment, personalization and toggling between headset and speakers
Comfortable, snug fit for extended play
Retractable, noise-filtering unidirectional mic
Interchangeable ear cup covers
Replaceable soft-touch leatherette ear cushions
Braided fibre cable

For more information about the Razer Tiamat 7.1 Gaming Headset, please visit www.razerzone.com/tiamat-7-1

About the Razer Tiamat 2.2

The Razer Tiamat 2.2 comes with 4 discrete drivers in the headset, 2 dedicated to bass to give gamers double the bass for double the impact. Chuck a grenade, launch a missile, detonate a nuke; everything from a simple explosion to an apocalyptic end-of-the-world type destruction is reproduced with amazing booming power. Throw in a sturdy build, exceptionally comfortable leatherette ear cups for wear over extended gameplay, and a precise unidirectional microphone for leading your team to victory - the Razer Tiamat 2.2 makes sure your epic gaming domination is aurally reproduced in all its glory.

Price: US $99.99 / EU €99.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com – Q4 2011
Worldwide – Q4 2011

Product Features:

Optimized positional audio for immersive gameplay
Dual bass drivers for deep, thumping bass
Comfortable, snug fit for extended play
Precise, noise-filtering unidirectional mic
Slim, easy-to-use in-line remote
Replaceable soft-touch leatherette ear cushions
Braided fibre cable

For more information about the Razer Tiamat 2.2 Gaming Headset, visit www.razerzone.com/tiamat-2-2

About the Razer Group:

Razer™ is the world leader in high performance gaming hardware. Founded in 1998, with its headquarters in Carlsbad, California, the company has offices in nine cities around the globe. Used by the most demanding professional gamers who compete in global tournaments, Razer provides gamers with the unfair advantage of cutting-edge technology and award-winning design. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.™

Learn more at www.razerzone.com

Google Street View heads to the Amazon, enables virtual river excursions

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 06:19 AM PDT

If being able to see the Colosseum of Rome or trek around Stonehenge from the comfort of your La-Z-boy is your cup of tea, Google has another living room adventure for you. Pretty soon, you'll be able to keep dry on the sofa while floating down Brazil's Amazon and Rio Negro Rivers via Street View. That's right, folks... an expedition to one of the most remote, yet biologically diverse locales on the globe will become a reality for many who feared it'd remain elusive forever -- if you don't mind exploring remotely using your favorite web-enabled device, of course. Teams are currently gathering images from the adjacent forests and local villages using the trike, floating cameras down the river by boat and even training locals to use the equipment. The project is a joint effort between Brazil and U.S. Street View teams alongside the Foundation for a Sustainable Amazon (FAS). Check out the full rundown by hitting the source link below and begin planning your trip -- to the couch, that is.

Kodak shopping its IP wares, looks to cash in on the patent buying craze

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 05:52 AM PDT

Pssssst... wanna buy some Kodak patents? The venerable photography firm has decided to unload a fair chunk of its IP -- 1,100 patents, give or take -- to boost its bottom line. You see, Kodak's got cash flow problems, and it thinks selling a portion of its portfolio is part of the solution. The company must've seen dollar signs after Nortel made a mint selling its patents, as Kodak's now marketing its IP merchandise using the same firm that helped Nortel do its record deal. Strong move Kodak, now if you can just settle up with Apple and RIM, you'll really be in the money.

Kanex ships dual-link DVI-to-Mini Displayport Adapter

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 05:26 AM PDT

Already living the high life with a swank Mini Displayport monitor as your daily? That's all fine and dandy, but what happens when your desolate friends come over with machines that only tote DVI? That's where an adapter like Kanex's C247DL comes in. But unlike other adapters we've spied before, the company's latest is dual-link, allowing you get your groove on with displays that boast resolutions greater than 1920 x 1200. It also sports a USB port, giving you full control of say, we dunno, the speakers and iSight camera of Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display? At $149 it isn't cheap, but can you really put a price on friendship?
Show full PR text
Kanex C247DL – Full Resolution Dual-link DVI to HD 27 inch Apple LED Cinema Display

Brea, CA – August 16, 2011 – Kanex, maker of audio-visual solutions for Apple computers, is excited to announce the C24DL, a full resolution dual-link digital video inverter (DVI) to 27 inch Apple LED Cinema Display (ACD). The C24DL is a simple dual-link DVI with USB to Mini DisplayPort converter designed for users with legacy Macs (2006-early 2008 MacBook Pro, 2005-mid 2007 Mac Mini) or PCs with high-end graphics cards to connect specifically to a 27 inch ACD.

The Kanex C247DL supports the native HD resolution (2560x1440) of the ACD not available with other standard DVI adapters. The innovative converter actively converts the video signal from the dual-link DVI delivering pixel perfect resolution. The included USB cable powers the C247DL, allows for audio transfer to the ACD speakers, and supports all USB 2.0 functions including use of the iSight camera.

The C247DL allows PC users to enjoy the best gaming experience possible. Users with PC's equipped with high-end graphic cards such as AMD Radeon™ and NVIDIA™ can now enjoy playing on the exceptionally rich and life-like ACD.

The C247DL is available now for $149 at KanexLive.com/C247DL.

For the latest on the C247DL and other Kanex products, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Kanex
Kanex offers an extensive selection of product solutions that specifically designed to provide new and exciting ways to connect devices and displays in a rapidly changing technological world. For more information about Kanex and its products, go to www.KanexLive.com.

ThinkFlood releases RedEye remote control app for Android, makes it even easier to sit around

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 05:00 AM PDT

Nearly two years after releasing their Red Eye app for iOS users, the convenience enthusiasts over at ThinkFlood have now brought the universal remote control to the Android community, as well. The app, which was released in beta a few months ago, allows users to remotely control their non-networked home theater, lighting and air conditioning systems from the comfort of their tablets, laptops or smartphones. Version 2.7.0 also brings plenty of customizable graphics and layouts, for those looking to add a more personal touch to their lives of leisure. Compatible with any device running Android 1.6 or later (including tablets running Honeycomb), the app features a built-in TV program guide that can be used with any display, but in order to take advantage of its other home theater controls, you'll have to purchase networked ThinkFlood hardware products like RedEye or RedEye Pro (it's not compatible with RedEye mini). If you're interested in downloading the tool for free, check out the source links below, or click past the break for more details, in the full PR.
Show full PR text
RedEye Networked Remote Controls Move Beyond iOS

ThinkFlood's RedEye networked remote controls now in full production release for Android and PC

Waltham, MA – August 18, 2011 – ThinkFlood today announced production availability of the Android version of their RedEye application. Together with award-winning RedEye hardware, the RedEye app allows consumers to control their home theater, lighting, HVAC, and other equipment using common networked devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs.

In 2009, ThinkFlood launched RedEye as the first universal remote control solution to leverage the power of iPhone and iPod touch devices to control non-networked electronics in the home via a Wi-Fi network.

Now RedEye customers can also use Android phones and tablets alongside iOS devices and even personal computers to control equipment in their homes.

The RedEye Android app is compatible with networked RedEye products (RedEye and RedEye Pro) and supports devices running Android 1.6 and later, including 3.0 (Honeycomb) for tablets. RedEye is currently the only remote control platform compatible with Android smartphones and tablets.

More than a Smartphone Accessory
ThinkFlood representatives say that their original intention with RedEye products was not to turn the iPhone into a remote control, but rather to enable the control of non-networked devices over the Internet.

"The iPhone was a great start for us because it is such an elegant and popular device. But it was never our goal to have an exclusively iOS platform," said Matt Eagar, founder and president of ThinkFlood. "Instead, we designed RedEye with the idea that you can pick up any networked device – iPhone, PC, Android device – and control your system from anywhere you have a network connection."

"When you take a multipurpose device like a smartphone or PC and attempt to use it as a replacement for a dedicated device like a traditional remote control, you can't simply copy the functionality of the dedicated device," remarked Craig Materick, ThinkFlood's lead software architect.

"With RedEye, the benefits outweigh the costs," Materick continued. "For example, phone calls never interrupt you when using a dedicated remote control, but when using a smartphone they do. Rather than let this be a problem, RedEye allows you to use any networked device as a controller – so when one phone is unavailable, you can switch to using RedEye on another device – whether it's a tablet, laptop or another phone. This flexibility has other benefits – namely, that each person in your house can have their own controller, and they can control the system from just about anywhere."

RedEye systems include the following optimizations for smartphones and PCs:

Multi-user support. Use any networked device (personal computer, smartphone, or tablet) to control the system.

Control from anywhere. As long as you have a network connection, you can control your system – from any room in the house, or even away from home.

Automatic synchronization. Each controller automatically detects the system configuration through the RedEye hardware, so adding a new controller is effortless. Also allows one person to pick up controlling right where another left off.

Complete customization. Organize not only common activities, but also unique button layouts appropriate for each activity, right down to the graphical look and feel.

Platform-appropriate shortcuts. On iOS, multi-touch and motion gestures and on Android and PC, keyboard shortcuts allow for easy operation without looking down at the screen when controlling.

RedEye hardware can be purchased online from ThinkFlood and is available from dealers and retailers worldwide, in more than 60 countries.

Download the latest version of the RedEye application from the Android marketplace or iTunes.

HP unveils 64GB TouchPad, spurns America (and freedom)

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 04:33 AM PDT

Guess it's official, yanks: HP loves the old continent more than you. A mere 24 hours after beginning sales of the Pre 3 -- still unavailable to US folk -- comes wind of another treat for residents of the EU. Making an appearance on HP's French website is a 64GB permutation of the WiFi TouchPad, which curiously makes do with the faster 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon we first saw in its 4G brother. The supercharged variant will set Europeans back €599 (or roughly $860 including tax) and will also be available in "lacquer white," when it ships in "one to two weeks." Will the company have the audacity to launch another Euro-first device tomorrow? It won't take long to find out, but in hindsight, July's leaked memo is looking pretty legitimate right about now.

Microsoft patent application points to fast-booting streaming OS

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 03:22 AM PDT

While Microsoft is busy readying the much talked about Windows 8 for release, a new patent application has popped up that could reveal even bigger -- or at least faster -- things to come. According to the filing for "Fast Machine Booting Through Streaming Storage," which was submitted in February of last year and released last week, Redmond is looking at creating a system that could stream an entire OS to just about anything with a screen. The proposed setup would enlist a series of storage devices, both remote and local, to act as a virtual hard disk, allowing anything from a set top box to a tablet to boot almost instantaneously. We don't know about you, but we've already started a list of ways to spend the extra seconds.

[Thanks, Bogen]

Symbian Anna now available for download on Nokia N8, E7, C7 and C6-01

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 02:48 AM PDT

Just a day after popping up on NaviFirm, Nokia's Symbian Anna has finally arrived for download, right on schedule. Available for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 users, the new OS brings a fresh new UI and a virtual portrait QWERTY keypad to Symbian smartphones, along with split-screen messaging, richer maps and speedier browsing. The update also brings NFC capabilities to the C7, in particular, allowing users to share contacts, photos and other goodies by simply tapping their handsets together. If you're interested in upgrading, you can download Anna using the latest version of Ovi Suite (3.1.1), or with an OTA update, though availability and method of delivery vary from market to market. Find more information in the full PR, after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Show full PR text
Symbian Anna now available for download

Published August 18, 2011

Espoo, Finland - Symbian Anna - the latest software update for Symbian smartphones - is available for download starting today*.

Symbian Anna significantly enhances the user experience on the Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 and Nokia E7. A new user interface, virtual QWERTY keypad in portrait mode, split-screen messaging, enhanced Nokia Maps, better web browsing and stronger security are just a few of the improvements that people will be able to enjoy. Symbian Anna can be downloaded using the latest version of Ovi Suite (version 3.1.1) on a PC, or over-the-air directly to your smartphone**.

"Nokia's Symbian smartphones are used by millions of people around the world every day, addressing specific consumer needs and providing choices at many price points," said Ilari Nurmi, Vice President at Nokia. "Symbian Anna represents a significant update to the experience those users have and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to Symbian, which will see up to 10 more phones introduced over the next 12 months, further updates to the user experience and support for the software until at least 2016."

Key features with Symbian Anna:

- User interface: Symbian Anna brings a fresh new look and feel to the Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 and Nokia E7 with crisp icons and multiple usability enhancements. Typing on the touchscreen is much easier with a split screen, so you can see message threads, webpages, contacts or email view while typing on the virtual QWERTY keypad - now also available in portrait mode.

- Maps and navigation: Symbian Anna enhances Nokia Maps with better search functionality, new public transportation routes and the ability to check-in to favorite geo-social network sites like Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter

- Browsing: A faster, easier-to-use browser, delivering quicker page loads and improved device navigation allowing people to connect more easily to their favorite sites on the go.

- Better for business: Symbian Anna brings true business-grade security with improved data encryption on Nokia smartphones. Business users with a Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 or Nokia E7 can now easily and securely access their company intranet with IPSEC and SSL VPN enablers.

- Near Field Communications (NFC): The Symbian Anna software update also activates the NFC hardware in the Nokia C7, so people can now simply tap their Nokia C7s together to share contacts, photos, videos and play games; easily pair with NFC-enabled accessories from Nokia and others; and read NFC tags to check-in and more

*The precise rollout schedule of the Symbian Anna software update varies from market to market.

**Method of delivery of the software update differs from market to market and operator to operator.

Lenovo nearly doubles net profits in Q1 earnings report, not so certain about 'mainstream' Ultrabooks by end of year

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 02:14 AM PDT

Lenovo's enjoying a bright and sunny Thursday in Hong Kong today, where the company has just unveiled a Q1 2011 / 2012 earnings report that's full of rosy news. According to the report, Lenovo's revenues jumped to $5.92 billion during the fiscal quarter, representing a 15 percent increase over last year's figures, while net profits nearly doubled to $108 million (compared to $54.9 million last year). Global PC sales, meanwhile, nudged upward 23 percent -- even at a time when most other manufacturers are seeing relatively sluggish growth. During an earnings conference call this morning, COO Rory Read provided a little insight into his company's approach to the growing Ultrabook sector, while hinting at future price reductions. Speaking to reporters, Reed assured that Lenovo would "invest in innovation to be a leader" in the Ultrabook market, adding that prices for its MacBook Air competitors may reach "mainstream" (sub-$1,000) levels by 2012: "I wouldn't say by the end of the year necessarily but...that's definitely going to happen." Head past the break for Lenovo's financial summary, along with the full PR.

[Original photo by Cory Grenier]

Show full PR text
Lenovo Reports First Quarter 2011/12 Results

BusinessWire · Aug. 18, 2011

Lenovo Group today reported results for its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011, and for the seventh consecutive quarter, Lenovo grew faster than any of the top five PC manufacturers, helping the Company to become the world's third largest PC vendor in total shipments.* During the first quarter, Lenovo's worldwide PC shipments grew 23.1 percent year-over-year. Comparatively, industry PC shipments increased just 2.7 percent worldwide for the same period, marking the ninth quarter in a row that Lenovo has grown faster than the industry.

Consolidated sales for the first fiscal quarter increased 15 percent year-over-year to a record of US$5.9 billion. The Company's gross profit for the quarter increased 41 percent year- over-year, with gross margin at 12.5 percent. Operating profit for the quarter grew 51 percent year-over year to US$123 million. Operating profit margin continued to expand, even after the Company's reinvestment in branding, R&D and mobile internet business to drive future growth.

For the fiscal quarter, Lenovo reported a pre-tax income of US$123 million, a 64 percent jump year-over-year. Profit attributable to equity holders for the quarter was US$108 million, increased 98% year-over-year. Basic earnings per share for the first fiscal quarter was 1.11 US cents, or 8.63 HK cents. Net cash reserves as of June 30, 2011, totaled US$3.6 billion.

In June 2011, Lenovo announced its acquisition of MEDION AG, a leader in PC, multimedia products, mobile communications service and consumer electronics in Germany. The acquisition will double Lenovo's market share in Germany and make it the second-largest PC company in Europe's largest PC market. The Medion deal will also help fuel Lenovo's expansion in consumer PCs and the high-growth mobile Internet market.

Lenovo also completed the formation of the joint venture company with NEC Corporation, forming the largest PC group in Japan. This joint venture makes Lenovo the number one PC vendor in two out-of-the three largest PC markets in the world.

"The Board is very satisfied with Lenovo's first quarter results. Since we adjusted our leadership team in early 2009, our business continues to climb and everything has been executed well according to our original plans," said Lenovo Chairman Liu Chuanzhi. "Lenovo has an outstanding leadership team, the right approach to developing strategies, and strong execution capabilities, demonstrated by our performance this quarter. Our results show that Lenovo's acquisition of the IBM PC business has become a success. In future quarters, you will see clearly that we will take what we've learned from this acquisition and apply that knowledge towards our joint venture with NEC in Japan and our acquisition of Medion in Germany."

"The solid execution of the successful "Protect and Attack" strategy fueled Lenovo's strong performance in the past fiscal quarter that we have achieved record high in global shipments, revenue as well as global market share. At the same time, we outperformed the industry in all geographies, customer segments and product segments," said Yang Yuanqing, Lenovo CEO. "Over the past two years, we have placed emphasis on and invested significantly in our business growth. Our global market share has now reached double-digits and we have attained a double-digit share in a greater number of our strategic markets. Starting this year, we are advancing to a more balanced strategy of continuing to grow, while shifting our focus more on profitability.

GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

Lenovo China recorded US$2.8 billion in consolidated sales in the first fiscal quarter, accounting for 47.9 percent of the Company's worldwide sales. During the quarter, Lenovo further strengthened its number-one position in China by 2.3 points, which resulted in an industry-leading market share in China of 31.7 percent, widening the gap between Lenovo and its major rivals. Lenovo's PC shipments in China increased 23.4 percent year-over-year in the quarter, exceeding the overall industry increase of PC shipments in China of 14.3 percent.

In Emerging Markets** Lenovo's consolidated sales totaled US$1 billion for the first fiscal quarter, or 17.5 percent of the Company's worldwide sales. Lenovo's PC shipments across the region increased dramatically by 46.5 percent in the quarter, more than three-times faster than the industry growth rate in this region of 14.7 percent year-over-year. Lenovo saw market share gains throughout the region for a total market share of 6.9 percent, highlighted by the Company's record-high double-digit market share in India at 10.8 percent after a 3.6 points gain in that country during the first quarter year-over-year.

Mature Markets*** posted US$2.1 billion in consolidated sales, or 34.6 percent of the Company's worldwide sales during the first fiscal quarter. Despite a year-over-year 9.4 percent decrease in the industry's PC shipments across the region, Lenovo grew its PC shipments in the quarter by 8.5 percent. Of particular note, Lenovo's PC shipments in North America grew 30.8 percent, compared to the market that fell four percent, allowing the Company to pick up 1.9 points of market share there. In Japan, Lenovo increased PC shipments by 14 percent year-over-year, in a market that overall grew at 2.9 percent for the quarter.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Lenovo's Laptop computers continued to be the largest contributor to the Company's sales worldwide, generating 59.8 percent of Lenovo's total sales revenue. Consolidated sales for Lenovo's laptop PC business worldwide in the first fiscal quarter totaled US$3.5 billion, an increase of 14 percent year-over-year. The Company's laptop shipments worldwide in the quarter were up 23 percent year- over-year. During the first quarter, Lenovo introduced its highly-anticipated ThinkPad X1 laptop PC, giving users the thinnest, lightest, and highest performance combination for its class. The ThinkPad X1 was designed for mobile professionals who demand the best in performance, mobility and entertainment, and offers a simple, modern style with backlit keyboard, fast-charging batteries and a host of performance and multimedia capabilities.

Consolidated sales of Lenovo Desktop PCs worldwide increased 18 percent year-over-year in the first fiscal quarter to US$2.0 billion, or 34.1 percent of Lenovo's total sales revenue. Desktop shipments for the same period increased 23 percent across the industry. During the first quarter, Lenovo announced the ThinkCentre 91z all-in-one (AIO) desktop PC, blending a sophisticated image, purposeful function and extreme productivity into a small, compact model. The ThinkCentre 91z is one of the industry's most powerful AIOs, yet one of the thinnest, measuring just 2.5 inches, ideal for small and medium businesses looking for style and high performance with the convenience of a small footprint.

In its first full quarter of operations,Lenovo's Mobile Internet Digital Home (MIDH) business group helped the Company achieve a 34 percent increase in total handset shipments of year-over-year,including smartphones and feature phones. New Lenovo smartphone and LePad tablet products are leading the way for Lenovo in China, and a new family of smartphones will launch in the coming months to drive future growth. Just last month, Lenovo introduced three new tablets, the IdeaPad Tablets K1 and P1, and the ThinkPad Tablet, available for sale in international markets.

*see IDC 2011Q2 press release (July 13, 2011)

** includes Africa, Asia Pacific, Central/Eastern Europe, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Latin America, Mexico, Middle East, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey

***includes Australia/New Zealand, Israel, Japan, North America, Western Europe and global accounts

Cadillac Converj hits production as ELR, escapes concept purgatory

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 01:16 AM PDT

Cadillac Converj hits production as ELR, escapes concept purgatory
If you're not already familiar with the story of the Cadillac Converj, take this quick primer: the Converj is the Chevy Volt's luxurious, canceled cousin. The up-and-coming concept suffered an early death shortly after its debut at the 2009 Detroit auto show. Now it's back, returning to development under the name Cadillac ELR. The new electric caddy is said to feature an updated version of the Voltec powertrain, complete with a Chevy Volt-like range-extending generator. Detroit promises that pricing and availability will be released "later," but you can cruise past the break right now for some extra classy PR.
Show full PR text
Electric Concept Car Comes to Life as Cadillac ELR
Luxury touring coupe gets extended-range electric vehicle technology

DETROIT – The innovative Cadillac Converj Concept, a dramatic luxury coupe with extended-range electric vehicle technology, is moving forward as a production car that will be called the Cadillac ELR.

Development of the ELR is just underway, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later.

The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the battery's energy is low, the ELR seamlessly switches to extended-range mode to enable driving for hundreds of additional miles.

"The concept generated instant enthusiasm," said Don Butler, vice president-Cadillac Marketing. "Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present – the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving."

Cadillac selected the name ELR to indicate the car's electric propulsion technology, in keeping with the brand's 3-letter international model naming convention.

The Converj Concept sparked the idea of combining the desirability of a grand touring coupe with electrification, said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design.

"There's no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac, an aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2," Welburn said.

Cadillac will reveal another new concept car on Thursday, Aug. 18, at a special event prior to the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Cadillac also recently announced it will add two new vehicles to its product lineup in 2012, the XTS large luxury sedan and an all-new luxury compact sedan codenamed ATS.

Nokia gifts Museum of London with NFC tags, makes you tap for more info (video)

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 12:09 AM PDT

Make sure to grab your C7 next time you visit the Museum of London. Nokia took the liberty of installing NFC tags at the museum's coolest attractions (like the Lord Mayor's coach and a sweet medieval brooch) -- showing us there's more to the technology than just mobile payments. So far, museum-bound Brits can use their NFC phones to get more exhibit information, buy things like prints and check-in, tweet or "like" what they see. Go on people, tap away, and in the meantime check out the video after the break.

Samsung Series 7 700G7A targets gamers with monstrous size and specs

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 11:03 PM PDT

Samsung Series 7 700G7A
Samsung has never really tried to court gamers with its laptops, but a glimpse its new Series 7 family indicates that may be changing. German sites, NewGadgets.de and netzwelt.de, scored the deets on this 17.3-inch behemoth and it's safe to say the 700G7A is a force to be reckoned with. Pushing pixels to the 1,920 x 1,080 screen is a Radeon HD 6970m with 2GB of RAM, while a 2GHz quad-core Core i7 takes care of any non-graphical tasks. Not impressed yet? Well, you can also trick it out with up to 16GB of RAM and a Blu-ray drive, to compliment its USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, HDMI jack, and Bluetooth 3.0 radio. The most convincing sign this rig is squarely aimed at dedicated gamers is the backlit keyboard -- the W, A, S and D keys are highlighted in red, while the rest of the spread glows a calming blue. The 700G7A will hit shelves in September for around €1,800 (about $2,600), though there's no word if said shelves include those here in the states. Check out NewGadgets' hands-on video after the break.

MSI X460 and X460DX make their slim and shiny debuts

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 09:52 PM PDT

MSI took the wraps off of two similarly named slim notebooks today. The X460 and X460DX both pack 14-inch displays, two USB 3.0 slots (and one 2.0), and shiny multitouch trackpads into 4.3 pound frames. The higher end X460 rocks an Intel Core i7 processor, WiDi 2.0 and 750GB of storage. The models are currently available, with a suggested starting price of $799.
MSI X460 and X460DX
Show full PR text
MSI Fuses Superior Performance with Slim and Sleek Desig

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA – August 16, 2010 – MSI Computer Corp., a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, announces the availability of the stylish X460 and X460DX notebooks, the 14-inch mobile powerhouse for professionals on the go. Part of the X Series ultra-slim notebooks, both units are powered by Intel® Core™ processors, Integrated Intel® GMA HD or nVidia GeForce GT540M video cards, Microsoft Windows ® 7, and THX TruStudio PRO™.

"The X460 and X460DX takes our current X Series to another level, shrinking the power and performance of a larger notebook into a mobile unit with exceptional battery life," said Andy Tung, Vice President of Sales for MSI US. "Crafted with the mobile professional in mind, these units feature a sleek design that reflects MSI's pursuit for innovation and style."

Featuring Intel® Wireless Display (WiDi) 2.0, the X460 model enables users to easily connect their laptops to any television unit using standard Wi-Fi. In addition, both models feature THX TruStudio PRO™, an audio technology designed to bring the experience found in live performances, films and recording studios into notebooks and desktop PCs.

"The MSI X460 model featuring the latest Intel® Core™ processors and Wireless Display technology effectively addresses the needs of the mobile professional, giving them superior performance and easy connectivity," said Joe Van de Water, Product Marketing Manager at Intel.

Available in three distinct configurations, all models come with two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI connectivity, and 1.3 MP integrated webcam for easy expansion and networking.
All models are protected by a 1 year Manufacturer's Limited Warranty and are currently available for order at Newegg and Amazon starting at $799.99 MSRP.

Interactive Robotic Painting Machine begs the question: Art for art's sake, or for its master's? (video)

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 08:39 PM PDT

If Warhol were still around, we're pretty sure the man would've snatched up this contraption as a Factory-approved objet d'art. Born from visual artist Benjamin Grosser's existential musings regarding the soul of AI-enhanced technology, the Interactive Robotic Painting Machine lets the sounds of its environment be its canvas maneuvering guide. For what it's worth, the artist claims that criticism fed into the apparatus' microphone often results in less than stellar compositions from the fine art automaton. We'll refrain from speculating as to the qualitative merits of the stationary bot's abstract flair, and leave you to the high art critique in the comments below. Be sure to jump past the break for a full video of this beaux arts concept.

AT&T streamlining individual messaging plans August 21st, leaving unlimited as the sole survivor

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 08:02 PM PDT

Do not adjust your computer screen, because the screenshot you're seeing above is real. Confirmed by multiple sources, we've exclusively learned that AT&T -- the protagonist of choice -- is trimming its individual messaging packages from two to one on August 21st. The remaining survivor? The Messaging Unlimited plan for $20, which means the $10 bundle that offers 1000 messages is riding into the sunset. If you aren't keen to do much communicating within 160 characters, you'll be left with no other choice besides the pay-per-message option at twenty cents each (thirty cents for MMS). Fortunately, the Family Unlimited Messaging is left unscathed, continuing to offer all-you-can-eat texts for $30. Tend to do only an average bit of texting and looking to move to Ma Bell? Our friend, you'd best be making that transition before the end of this week.

Update: And just like that, AT&T has confirmed this report. A spokesperson for the carrier provided the following statement, while also affirming that "current customers can keep their texting plans even if switching handsets."

"We regularly evaluate our offers and are making some adjustments to our messaging lineup.

Starting August 21, we're streamlining our text messaging plans for new customers and will offer an unlimited plan for individuals for $20 per month and an unlimited plan for families of up to five lines for $30 per month. The vast majority of our messaging customers prefer unlimited plans and with text messaging growth stronger than ever, that number continues to climb among new customers. Existing customers don't have to change any messaging plan they have today, even when changing handsets."

[Thanks, Anonymous]

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to dock with the ISS later this fall

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 07:42 PM PDT

With the Space Shuttle program now boldly going nowhere, it's up to NASA partners like SpaceX to deliver on the interstellar milestones. Scheduled for a launch on November 30th of this year, the Elon Musk-funded Dragon spacecraft is set to dock for the first time with the International Space Station. The planned cargo delivery is expected to be a watershed moment for the space program, as it will cement the agency's private-public commercial endeavors, heralding the "beginning of a new era in space travel." NASA has already given the company conditional approval to merge its two planned test flights -- COTS Demo 2 and COTS Demo 3 -- into this singular mission, with formal authorization contingent upon the "resolution of any potential risks." If all goes according to plan later this year, get set to embrace a brave new world of galactic travel -- one where Musk ushers us into the stars.

Google Reader Android app updated with new UI, Honeycomb support

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 06:36 PM PDT

Google Reader
Well, it's taken long enough, but Google has finally updated its Reader app for Android and added support for Honeycomb. That's right RSS addicts, you can now peruse your feeds in full two-pane glory on your Xoom, Galaxy Tab 10.1 or other comparable slate. The move to version 1.0.1 doesn't just benefit tablet owners either -- the small screen UI has received a fresh coat of paint that's a tad more polished. As far as new features, there doesn't seem to be anything Earth-shattering, but the ability to quickly share posts via social networks or add them to your Read It Later list on a tablet is greatly appreciated. Hit up the Android Market to download the latest edition -- seriously, right now.

Android gets a TiVo Premiere remote app with TiVo Commander

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 05:47 PM PDT

We're still waiting for a version of TiVo's official remote to come to Android, but now there's a homebrew option available in the meantime. TiVo Commander is a free open source app that just hit the Android Market based on the community's research of how TiVo's app talks to its DVRs. So far the feature list includes a full remote control with keyboard input, ability to browse recorded shows, search for shows/movies/actors, set recordings and see credits or suggestions for similar content to what's being watched. Of course you're giving up some of the slick look and convenient options that are still iOS-only but if you just want to get things working on your Motorola / Samsung / HTC / etc. device right now, that ability is just a click of the source link away.

[Thanks, @BrennokBob]

Yahoo experiment tests six degrees of separation on Facebook, cries out for Kevin Bacon endorsement

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 05:33 PM PDT

It may not be hard to trace, say, Rhea Perlman back to Kevin Bacon, but what about you? If the age-old theory holds water, we should all be no more than six degrees away from cuttin' Footloose with Hollywood's bygone golden boy -- or anyone else for that matter. Well, Yahoo's determined to put any six-degree doubts to rest with its Small World Experiment, and what better way to do so than on Facebook? Participating users are given a "target person," and asked to "get a message to this person in as few steps as possible." They are then prompted to select a single friend to pass the message on to, who will then be prompted to do the same, and so on. The idea is that if each subsequent recipient of the message continues to send it along, it will eventually reach its desired destination. No word yet on whether or not Mr. Bacon has given his blessing, but you can still sign up at the source link to get in on the action.

Apple snags MagSafe patent for iOS devices (update: it's a movable magnetic coupling)

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 04:44 PM PDT

We've all tripped on power cords, sending laptops or other precious items tumbling to the ground. With the introduction of the MagSafe connector, back in 2006, Apple fixed the problem for clumsy MacBook owners, but has since left plugged-in iPad users up a creek. Cupertino was awarded a patent yesterday to integrate the magnetic (trip-safe) cord into future iOS devices like the iPad, potentially solving the dilemma for good. The Haus of Jobs also snagged patents for magnetic assembly and a "securing system," whatever that means.

Update: Oops! While the patent does mention the possibility of integrating this technology into a "tablet computer" or "cell phone," what we're looking at isn't actually a MagSafe patent specifically for iOS devices -- it's a movable magnetic coupling.

Samsung Hercules gets its Telus on in leaked glamour shots

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 04:19 PM PDT

Looks like Sammy's Android 2.3 demi-god is just about ready to touch down on this side of planet Earth. Spotted out in the wilds of Canada once again, the much anticipated Hercules handset -- a confirmed Galaxy S II variant -- has been captured in not-quite-Mr. Blurrycam form over on MobileSyrup. The device, shown here running on Telus' network, is rumored to pack a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 42Mbps HSPA+ radio and a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor -- although that Quadrant score could very well indicate an Exynos chip. While we still lack any firm release dates for the phone's Northern American debut, we'd bet that leaked T-Mobile October launch is a good yardstick for soon.

Lenovo LePad A1-07 tablet makes Chinese debut in beach-ready attire

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 04:04 PM PDT

Lenovo's been playing coy with the A1-07, giving us little to go on since we first caught wind of it at the FCC last month. Well, it appears it's time to ditch those Blurrycam photos for some real-deal promo stills, because this mysterious slate quietly made its debut in China earlier this week -- and from the looks of things, it's already got its mind set on a vacation. Along with a smattering of photographs that picture the slab kicking it seaside, the official LePad A1-07 page shows off some familiar looking specs. As we'd previously heard, this LePad sports a 7-inch, 1024 x 600 display and a microSD slot. Unfortunately, our instincts were also right about the A1-07 lacking Honeycomb; this one's running Android 2.3. What's more, it packs a 1GHz TI OMAP3622 processor -- not the OMAP3621 previously reported -- 512MB of RAM, 16GB of storage, front and back-facing cameras, and a micro-USB port. The LePad A1-07 will set our friends in China back ¥2,500 (about $390), but Lenovo's not giving up US details just yet. Perhaps we'll see this 7-incher on the other side of its late summer vacay, but until then, check out its beach body in the gallery below.
Lenovo LePad A1-07


[Thanks, Peter]

The 100th Engadget Mobile Podcast Giveaway: win an HTC Flyer!

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 03:23 PM PDT

Hitting a full hundred podcasts is certainly no small feat, and we have you -- the listener -- to thank for your continued support. And what better way to show gratitude than by giving out free stuff? Courtesy of HTC, we now have a Flyer -- complete with Scribe pen -- with one of your lucky names written on it (figuratively), and we'll be drawing the winner live on the podcast. Want to be that fortunate dude or dudette that gets your name called? Besides the usual legaleze, there are a few rules you'll need to follow in order to qualify.

Here are the guidelines:
  • Leave a comment below. Any comment will do.
  • You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
  • If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
  • Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  • The winner will be chosen randomly. One winner will be chosen to receive the HTC Flyer with HTC Scribe pen. We can't honor requests -- sorry!
  • The winner will be chosen live on our podcast. While you don't have to be listening to the podcast to win, you must respond within three days of being chosen. If you do not respond, another winner will be picked.
  • Entries can be submitted until Friday, August 19, 2011, at 4:59PM ET. Good luck!]
  • Full rules can be found here.

Scosche BoomCan ups your mobile device's sound for $25, annoys anyone near you

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 03:10 PM PDT

Sure, you could use the built-in speaker on your tablet or cellphone to crank your tunes on the bus or at the office, but Scosche's BoomCan may be the ticket for those looking to pump out a bit more volume. It's not wireless like some other options, but twenty-five smackers gets you a 2 x 2.5-inch aluminum Can loaded with a 40mm driver, an audio / USB charging cable and a pouch for scratch-free traveling. You'll have seven hours to rock on its internal battery, and although any chance of stereo separation looks pretty slim, you'll be able to daisy chain a few of them together for a mini rig. The BoomCan is up for order now at Scosche's website in red, blue, black or silver if you haven't heard of the breakthrough in portable sound technology known as headphones. Full PR past the break.
Show full PR text
Scosche Announces Availability of boomCAN – Portable Media Speaker for Smartphones, Tablets, Netbooks and more

Oxnard, CA – August 16, 2011 – Scosche Industries, award-winning innovator of consumer technology, is excited to announce the availability of the boomCAN, portable speaker. Slightly larger than a film canister, the boomCAN, uses a 40mm driver to pump out big sound despite its small footprint.

Perfect for the office, dorm room, or on the go the boomCAN plugs into a 3.5mm headphone jack making it compatible with virtually any portable media player. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 7 hours of music playback. Users can daisy chain multiple boomCANs together to max out their portable sound system.

"At Scosche we design products that to fit our personal lives," said Kas Alves, Executive Vice President of Scosche Industries. "With the boomCAN we designed a portable, affordable, speaker perfect for dropping into a backpack before a camping trip or for a day at the beach."

The Scosche boomCAN is available now in Black, Silver, Blue and Red at Scosche.com for $24.99.

Follow Scosche at twitter.com/scosche or facebook.com/scosche for the latest news on the company's complete line of portable power solutions and all of Scosche's award-winning products.

About Scosche Industries:

Founded in 1980, Scosche Industries is an award-winning innovator of iPad, iPhone and iPod accessories. Scosche is founded on its commitment to quality, value and customer service. With over 55 patents and countless industry awards it is easy to see that Scosche is consistently at the forefront of technology and innovation. Scosche Industries is the parent company of several distinct brands including: Scosche, REALM, EFX, BlueFusion and Accumat. Founded in 1980, Scosche is still 100% family owned and operated with over 120 great people alongside them. For more information visit our website at www.scosche.com.

HTC Pico gets pictured, looks like a Wildfire S with a case of the blues

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 02:58 PM PDT

We're just getting accustomed to the HTC Wildfire S in the US, but the Taiwanese company appears to be prepping another device with similar specs for other parts of the world. The HTC Pico is a newcomer to the company's healthy lexicon of codenames, yet from the images leaked to XDA China it seems almost ready to hit the market. A full list of device specs happened to be included as well: the Pico will run on a 600MHz single-core CPU and 384MB of RAM, and will use a 3.2-inch HVGA display. It'll come with Android 2.3 underneath "HTC Sense Zero," which we believe may be a streamlined version of the Sense UI designed for lower-end devices -- perhaps in reaction to the Desire Gingerbread debacle. Curiously, the Pico may not be destined for North American shores, as it lacks 850 / 1900 WCDMA bands. There's no word on exactly where, when or even if this stranger will appear, though it may very well be heading to Europe and emerging markets. If the blue hue sends chills up your spine, continue below the break to see the spec list in its full (midrange) glory.

Skype WiFi is the new Skype Access, comes with iOS app in tow

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 02:44 PM PDT

We would never enter a foreign land without packing a rented MiFi from XCom Global, but what if you're not a data junkie and only require a sliver of internet access for your device? You're undoubtedly thinking internet café, but instead of wasting time filling out forms each time you're hankerin' to tweet, simplify the entire process with a Skype WiFi hotspot. Formerly known as Skype Access, the rebranded service allows you to bypass crusty web forms at any of the 1 million participating locations, by using your Skype account and credits to pay per minute. Already living the post-PC dream? The company's got you covered too, with an iOS app that'll allow Cupertino's finest to join in on the fun. You know the drill, the app and the announcement await you at the other end of the source links below.

T-Mobile announces deal to sell prepaid at Family Dollar, costs more than a dollar

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 02:34 PM PDT

A Radio Shack lost is a Family Dollar gained. Now that T-Mobile's ended its allegiance with The Shack, the carrier's looking for a few new companies willing to hoist its prepaid service up on a pedestal. Family Dollar, following in the footsteps of 7-Eleven, will be the next business to dole out the LG GS170 blister packs on T-Mo's behalf. The phones will be sold for $30 and come with a $50 / month plan that consists of unlimited calls, texts, and 100MB data. With such a large emphasis now being placed on its no-contract offerings, we can't help but wonder if this is the result of T-Mobile making an adjustment in its strategy. Any other companies want a piece of the prepaid pie? The press release can be found beneath the break.
Show full PR text
T-Mobile USA and Family Dollar Partner to Make Prepaid More Accessible and Affordable

T-Mobile introduces prepaid device to Family Dollar stores across America
Bellevue, Wash. and Mathews, N.C. - Aug. 16, 2011

Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Family Dollar Stores, Inc. announced the availability of a T-Mobile prepaid device - to complement T-Mobile's innovative prepaid plans and services - in nearly 6,000 Family Dollar locations, one of the fastest-growing discount retail chains in the United States.

Family Dollar customers now have convenient access to an affordable T-Mobile prepaid phone, the LG GS170. Available for $30 (plus taxes and fees), the LG GS170 offers an intuitive user interface with one-touch speakerphone, large visible keys and a high-resolution color display. In addition, the LG GS170 features a VGA camera, MP3 ringtone capability, Bluetooth® 2.1, text and picture messaging capability, and email support packaged in a sleek, pocket-size design.

"T-Mobile is excited to work with Family Dollar to offer an affordable prepaid device to its customers who seek value and convenience when shopping," said Amy McCune, vice president of national retail, T-Mobile USA. "T-Mobile is delivering great prices, simplicity and a nationwide 4G network with our prepaid products, which we know Family Dollar customers will find appealing."

Family Dollar customers can take advantage of T-Mobile's affordable No Annual Contract Monthly4G plans, including the $50 per month plan featuring unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited Web, with no overage charges and the first 100 MB of data at up to 4G speeds*, on America's Largest 4G Network™ for an unlimited and economical way to stay in touch.
Family Dollar stores will highlight T-Mobile's products, along with other wireless offerings, in colorful new endcap displays that are conveniently placed in front of each Family Dollar store. In-store promotions and marketing collateral will help customers easily locate and learn more about these new T-Mobile products.

"We have had a great relationship with T-Mobile since 2003 and believe that this partnership has been a key factor in Family Dollar becoming one of the nation's largest national retailers of mobile airtime," said Bob Giles, divisional vice president for Family Dollar. "T-Mobile's track record for providing quality service and customer support fits well with our culture and commitment to the customer, and we are very excited to take our partnership to the next level and begin selling the company's devices as well."

All invoicing, shipping and supply functions, as well as other operational and fulfillment needs, will be handled through a partnership with Brightstar Corp.

Editorial: Google, Microsoft and the incredible shifting mobile landscape

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 02:15 PM PDT

In two years, we'll mark the thirtieth anniversary of the first commercially available cellphone -- built by Motorola, incidentally. Given this week's big news from Google, and other big events that we can only presume are yet to come, those two years may also prove to be some of the most interesting yet for the mobile industry.

One of the more telling things about Google's acquisition announcement on Monday was the response from Motorola's competitors (and Google's partners). Immediately following the news, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, HTC and LG all came out to praise Google's commitment to "defending Android," which presumably also means that they remain committed to using Android. What's more, as Google itself has made explicitly clear recently, it's not just defending Android as any company would defend its own product, but defending it against what it's described as "hostile" and "organized" threat from Apple and Microsoft (and, to a lesser extent, Oracle).

That increasingly hostile footing and a further-bolstered Google (assuming the acquisition goes through) also now creates some clearer lines and an entirely new dynamic between the major players in the mobile industry. Google and Microsoft are now taking similar approaches by licensing out their operating system to others while also having a hand in hardware development (by proxy with Nokia in the case of Microsoft). Neither are about to go as completely independent as Apple has, of course, but they both seem to have decided that it's no longer enough to just focus on software and leave manufacturers entirely to their own devices.

That leaves RIM and HP who, like Apple, are each trying to go it alone with their own hardware and mobile operating system -- although HP is apparently open to the idea of licensing webOS if it has any takers (an option that seems to be getting less and less likely). The question now is will they succeed by staying out of the fray, or will they be forced to join it and choose sides?

Given its current lackluster market share with Windows Phone, one might be tempted to lump Microsoft in with HP and RIM as companies struggling to keep up with the seeming dominance of Google and Apple, but it's Microsoft. It has the resources required to compete (through acquisitions if necessary) and, though no one has really noticed much until recently, it has managed to position Windows Phone as the only real alternative to Android for phone manufacturers (at least those looking for a relatively safe bet).

That's backed up by projections from the likes of Gartner, whose most recent forecast suggests that Google will be holding steady with close 50 percent of the worldwide smartphone market by 2015, while Microsoft will be in second with nearly 20 percent, and Apple will be in third with about 17 percent. By then, Symbian is projected to have all but vanished, RIM will have continued its slow decline to rest at 11 percent, and HP is simply lumped in with "other operating systems," which totals just 3.3 percent. The current state of the US market is laid out in the Nielsen chart at the top of this article.

But, as Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility has made dramatically clear, unexpected events can happen to drastically alter such projections. In this case, there's no guaranteed change in market share considering Motorola was already committed to Android -- but what if it was Microsoft making the acquisition? It's now become apparent that Microsoft was interested in Motorola as well, and we can only presume that it's at least considering some other options now that it's off the table.

RIM is the company that's most talked about as a potential target and, in some ways, it would be a good fit with Microsoft. Like RIM, Microsoft has historically catered to both consumers and enterprise customers and, with its Nokia partnership, it also has the same global reach that RIM always points to as one of its key strengths. But it's difficult to see why Microsoft would buy RIM only to scrap its OS and rely on the company as another Windows Phone manufacturer -- having both BBM and Skype built into Windows Phone hardly seems worth the exorbitant cost, and Microsoft isn't exactly desperate for RIM's patents either.

Considering Nokia is already in its back pocket, a more sensible acquisition from Microsoft's perspective would seemingly be a company like HTC -- although it would be an even pricier proposition than RIM, or an outright purchase of Nokia for that matter. An HTC building only Windows Phones would give Microsoft an immediate boost (entirely at the expense of Android) and, combined with Nokia, it could be the incentive needed for other companies to give some more serious consideration to Windows Phone. It'd also probably come in handy by the time Microsoft finally enters the tablet market in earnest. Then again, those very advantages could also mean some considerably more difficult regulatory hurdles than Google faces with Motorola.

Even without an acquisition, however, HTC -- not to mention LG and Samsung -- may well have more reason to reconsider their current approach to Android and Windows Phone now that Google is a competitor in addition to a partner (despite the companies' recent statements to the contrary). And that's to say nothing of HP, which surely must be asking itself some tough questions these days, and even smaller players like Dell, who may decide it's better to pick a team than stay on the fence.

We've already seen the mobile landscape shrink considerably when Nokia sided with Microsoft, and with RIM and HP now increasingly being pushed to the sidelines, it seems likely that we'll soon be looking at a new big three -- Google, Microsoft, and Apple -- occupying almost the entire playing field. And if that plays out with smartphones, it's difficult to see how tablets don't follow.

Of course, two years is a long time in this business, and far too long to be making any definitive predictions. Just look back at 2009, when RIM was still dominating the smartphone market, Android was barely a blip, and tablets were by and large nothing more than Windows laptops with a stylus instead of a keyboard.
at 12:01 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

My Blog List