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- 'Invisible glass' could reduce display glare, fails as food-in-teeth mirror
- ASUS' Eee Pad plans: Transformer Prime landing November 9th, two Win 8 tablets coming in 2012
- Sony to divide TV division into three-headed monster, looks to bounce back
- China debuts homegrown supercomputer, hits one petaflop mark
- FARO Focus 3D scanner captures big 3D models from a tiny Lego trolly (video)
- AMD Bulldozer breaks own world record, overclocked to 8.46GHz
- HTC Rezound ad pays Verizon stores an early visit, soonish launch likely
- Ubuntu coming to tablets, phones, cars and smart TVs by 2014
- Kinect hack makes presentation slides work around you (video)
- AT&T to expand 4G coverage and launch first LTE smartphones November 6th: HTC Vivid, Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
- ASUS says Transformer Prime will arrive on Honeycomb, ICS coming later
- Cordon multi-target photo-radar system leaves no car untagged (video)
- Motorola Mobility to drop 800 jobs
- Windows 8 desktop interface kills Aero for Metro, gets with the times
- Researchers use inkjet acumen to create wireless explosive sensor from paper
- Artificial tongue distinguishes 18 different types of canned tomato
- Eric Fossum lectures Yale students on next-gen range sensors, 3D content shortages
- Cablevision reports Q3 earnings, sees profit fall by 65 percent, drop in video subscribers
- AT&T plans to sell exercise apparel that tracks your vitals, performance
- Hon Hai sees profit fall nine percent in Q3, pins hopes on new Chinese factories
- HTC releases Q3 earnings report: profit up 68 percent, shipments soar 93 percent
- Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera surfaces in leaked photos
- Dropbox for Teams offers businesses copious amounts of sharable storage
- Acer's first venture into Windows Phone arrives in France as the Allegro
- How would you change RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9930?
- Switched On: The clamshell mystique
- Inhabitat's Week in Green: CR-V hybrid, Facebook's server farm and robot costumes
- Roku adds more games, cleans up the PQ on its latest streamers
- Volta BCN electric motorcycle announced, set to go on sale in Q2 2012
| 'Invisible glass' could reduce display glare, fails as food-in-teeth mirror Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:02 AM PDT  |
| ASUS' Eee Pad plans: Transformer Prime landing November 9th, two Win 8 tablets coming in 2012 Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:36 AM PDT  |
| Sony to divide TV division into three-headed monster, looks to bounce back Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:08 AM PDT  |
| China debuts homegrown supercomputer, hits one petaflop mark Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:41 AM PDT  |
| FARO Focus 3D scanner captures big 3D models from a tiny Lego trolly (video) Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:18 AM PDT  |
| AMD Bulldozer breaks own world record, overclocked to 8.46GHz Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:51 AM PDT  |
| HTC Rezound ad pays Verizon stores an early visit, soonish launch likely Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:24 AM PDT  The above image isn't a leak -- it's a dye-in-the-wool, true-blue LTE poster that a few Verizon stores have preemptively hung up. We're pretty sure these adverts aren't supposed to be displayed for our eyes to see since they feature the HTC Rezound, a forthcoming 4G device that hasn't even been announced yet. Oops. Additionally, the handset -- featured front and center on the ad -- shows off a pair of Beats headphones dangling out of its 3.5mm jack. Are there any naysayers that still think the Rezound won't get its official outing at HTC's event this week? Count us amongst the believers. |
| Ubuntu coming to tablets, phones, cars and smart TVs by 2014 Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:56 AM PDT  |
| Kinect hack makes presentation slides work around you (video) Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT  What's the scariest thing about presentations? Getting the perfect angle. You know, the point on stage where you can wave at your slides without blocking the projector bulb or your audience's view. Thankfully, Haruki Maeda from Meiji University is gonna show your text and graphics who's the boss. He's knocked up presentation software that can sense where you stand and orders the text into the visible space around you. Transitions are handled with gestures and you can even pinch-to-zoom live on stage. If you'd guessed there was some Kinect magic at the heart of it, well, thanks for reading the title. The modest Mr. Maeda says all it took was some C#, the Kinect SDK and an Excel spreadsheet to get this beauty working. You don't even need to do that if you're curious yourself -- just go and watch the video we've got after the break. |
| Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:01 AM PDT  First LTE Smartphones for AT&T Customers Available Nationwide Nov. 6 HTC Vivid and Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Both Android Smartphones, Will Run on AT&T's 4G LTE Network Dallas, Texas, October 31, 2011 Starting next week, more AT&T customers will be able to enjoy fast 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) speeds on new devices – including the first AT&T 4G LTE smartphones – in even more markets. Key Facts AT&T* introduced two new Android™ smartphones, the first to be AT&T 4G LTE-capable. HTC Vivid™ and Samsung Galaxy S™ II Skyrocket™ will arrive in AT&T company-owned stores and online Nov. 6. AT&T 4G LTE service will launch Nov. 6 in Boston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Athens, Ga. AT&T offers the only smartphones able to utilize both LTE and HSPA+ 4G speeds, for a consistently fast connection in and out of LTE areas. The Nov. 6 launches expand AT&T's 4G LTE network to 9 markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, and it plans to reach 15 markets and 70 million Americans by year-end 2011. AT&T exceeds commitment to offer 20 4G devices in 2011, addition of LTE smartphones on Nov. 6 brings 4G total to 22. AT&T far exceeds commitment to deliver 12 Android devices in 2011; new LTE smartphones bring total to 21. HTC Vivid Realize the full power of LTE on the HTC Vivid with fast web browsing, powered by a dual core 1.2 GHz processor and a brilliant 4.5-inch qHD display. Music and Android Market apps download and are ready in a snap, or photos and video are a breeze to upload after using the exceptional camera for low-light photos and full widescreen HD video. HTC Vivid features the acclaimed HTC Sense user experience, which includes a customizable active lockscreen that transforms the display into a real-time window to your most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply waking up the display. Sharper graphics, vibrant animations and new widgets make HTC Sense better than ever and, by continuing to focus on the details, HTC provides a more cinematic and immersive multimedia experience with stunning imagery and audible weather effects. 4.5-inch qHD display (540x960 pixels) 1.2 GHz dual-core processor Enhanced 8-megapixel camera with f2.2 28mm wide angle lens for low light photos 1080p HD video recording at 60 frames per second, slow motion playback and on-device trimmer to optimize social media uploads and memory space 16 GB of on-board memory, microSD expandable to an additional 32 GB The HTC Vivid will arrive in AT&T company-owned retail stores and online Nov. 6 for $199.99 with a two-year commitment. Customers can learn more at www.att.com/speed. Samsung Galaxy S™ II Skyrocket™ Lightning fast reflexes powered by a 1.5 GHz dual core processor and AT&T 4G LTE speeds make the Galaxy S II Skyrocket faster for Web browsing and all your favorite apps. A SuperAMOLED Plus display spanning 4.5-inches is the brightest, most colorful screen on the market. 4.5-inch SuperAMOLED Plus display(800x480 pixels) Android Gingerbread (2.3.5) 1.5 GHz dual-core processor 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, with 2-megapixel front-facing camera 1080p HD video recording 16 GB of on-board memory, microSD expandable to an additional 32 GB The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket will arrive in AT&T company-owned retail stores and online Nov. 6 for $249.99 with a two-year commitment. Customers can learn more at www.att.com/speed. LTE Data Plans Customers can choose from tiered data plans starting as low as $15 per month. Existing smartphone customers do not have to make changes to their data plan. All plans include access to AT&T's national Wi-Fi network of more than 29,000 hotspots. DataPlus provides 200 megabytes (MB) of data for just $15 per month. An additional 200 MB of data usage is $15. DataPro provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of data for $25 per month. An additional 1 GB of data is $10. Customers who want to use their device as a mobile hotspot can sign up for DataPro 4GB for $45 a month, which lets you tether or share your data connection across multiple devices. Customers can view all smartphone data plans at www.att.com/dataplans. LTE Deployments AT&T continues to expand its 4G LTE footprint. The four markets launching Nov. 6 join Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, which were launched in September. AT&T is the only U.S. carrier providing 4G service using both HSPA+ and LTE. HSPA+, when combined with enhanced backhaul, provides customers with 4G speeds, meaning customers get a faster and more consistent 4G experience, even when outside of an AT&T LTE area. Customers of other carriers that have transitioned to 4G LTE without further speed upgrades to their existing networks are likely to see a jarring drop-off in speeds when they move out of LTE coverage. Quotes "The two LTE-powered superphones will be our 20th and 21st Android devices in 2011, adding to an outstanding year of Android success," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We've far exceeded our commitment to offer 12 new Android devices this year –now including our first 4G LTE smartphones. We're delivering an incredible amount of innovation to our customers, which is a huge reason why more than half our post-paid subscribers are using a smartphone." "We are thrilled to continue growing our relationship with AT&T and excited for the HTC Vivid to be one of the first LTE devices on AT&T for the holiday season," said Jason Mackenzie, president of global sales and marketing, HTC. "The HTC Vivid combines an exceptional display in a premium device that delivers a powerful smartphone to our customers through AT&T's fast LTE and HSPA+ 4G networks." "AT&T's LTE network allows for quicker access, smoother streaming and faster web experiences, especially when using the powerful Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket," said Todd Pendleton, chief marketing officer, Samsung Telecommunications America. "Pairing the Galaxy S II Skyrocket with AT&T's LTE speeds, creates the ultimate smartphone experience." 1 Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network. |
| ASUS says Transformer Prime will arrive on Honeycomb, ICS coming later Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:59 AM PDT Well, we already knew the original Transformer would be getting an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade sometime in the near future, and now ASUS Germany has confirmed that the quad-cored Prime and the Eee Pad Slider will also get a taste of Android's latest OS. No semblance of a datum for release just yet, but the triumvirate of Transformers will join the upgrade queue behind ASUS' other Android offering, the Padfone. |
| Cordon multi-target photo-radar system leaves no car untagged (video) Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:37 AM PDT  Go easy on the gas, Speed Racer, because Cordon is on its way. Developed by Simicon, this new speed sensor promises to take highway surveillance to new heights of precision. Unlike most photo radar systems, which track only one violator at a time, Simicon's device can simultaneously identify and follow up to 32 vehicles across four lanes. Whenever a car enters its range, the Cordon will automatically generate two images: one from wide-angle view and one closeup shot of the vehicle's license plate. It's also capable of instantly measuring a car's speed and mapping its position, and can easily be synced with other databases via WiFi, 3G or WiMAX. Plus, this device is compact and durable enough to be mounted upon a tripod or atop a road sign, making it even harder for drivers to spot. Fortunately, though, you still have time to change your dragster ways, as distributor Peak Gain Systems won't be bringing the Cordon to North America until the first quarter of 2012. Cruise past the break to see some footage of a field trial that's currently underway -- cars tagged with a green dot are traveling below the speed limit, those with a yellow marking are chugging along within an acceptable range above the limit, while vehicles with a red tab are just asking for trouble. |
| Motorola Mobility to drop 800 jobs Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:15 AM PDT  |
| Windows 8 desktop interface kills Aero for Metro, gets with the times Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:54 AM PDT  |
| Researchers use inkjet acumen to create wireless explosive sensor from paper Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:26 AM PDT  Meet Krishna Naishadham and Xiaojuan (Judy) Song. They're researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and those little devices they're holding may one day save you from an explosive device. This petite prototype is actually a paper-like wireless sensor that was printed using basic inkjet technology, developed by professor Manos Tentzeris. Its integrated lightweight antenna allows the sensor to link up with communication devices, while its functionalized carbon nanotubes enable it to pick up on even the slightest traces of ammonia -- an ingredient common to most IEDs. According to Tentzeris, the trick to such inkjet printing lies in the development of "inks" that can be deposited at relatively low temperatures. These inks, laced with silver nanoparticles, can then be uniformly distributed across paper-based components using a process called sonication. The result is a low-cost component that can adhere to just about any surface. The wireless sensor, meanwhile, requires comparatively low amounts of power, and could allow users to detect bombs from a safe distance. Naishadham says his team's device is geared toward military officials, humanitarian workers or any other bomb sniffers in hazardous situations, though there's no word yet on when it could enter the market. To find out more, careen past the break for the full PR. Low-cost paper-based wireless sensor could help detect explosive devices Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a prototype wireless sensor capable of detecting trace amounts of a key ingredient found in many explosives. The device, which employs carbon nanotubes and is printed on paper or paper-like material using standard inkjet technology, could be deployed in large numbers to alert authorities to the presence of explosives, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs). "This prototype represents a significant step toward producing an integrated wireless system for explosives detection," said Krishna Naishadham, a principal research scientist who is leading the work at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). "It incorporates a sensor and a communications device in a small, low-cost package that could operate almost anywhere." Other types of hazardous gas sensors are based on expensive semiconductor fabrication and gas chromatography, Naishadham said, and they consume more power, require human intervention, and typically do not operate at ambient temperatures. Furthermore, those sensors have not been integrated with communication devices such as antennas. The wireless component for communicating the sensor information -- a resonant lightweight antenna – was printed on photographic paper using inkjet techniques devised by Professor Manos Tentzeris of Georgia Tech's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Tentzeris is collaborating with Naishadham on development of the sensing device. The sensing component, based on functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs), has been fabricated and tested for detection sensitivity by Xiaojuan (Judy) Song, a GTRI research scientist. The device relies on carbon-nanotube materials optimized by Song. A presentation on this sensing technology was given in July at the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposium (IEEE APS) in Spokane, Wash., by Hoseon Lee, a Ph.D. student in ECE co-advised by Tentzeris and Naishadham. The paper received the Honorable Mention Award in the Best Student Paper competition at the symposium. This is not the first inkjet-printed ammonia sensor that has been integrated with an antenna on paper, said Tentzeris. His group produced a similar integrated sensor last year in collaboration with the research group of C.P. Wong, who is Regents professor and Smithgall Institute Endowed Chair in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech. "The fundamental difference is that this newest CNT sensor possesses dramatically improved sensitivity to miniscule ammonia concentrations," Tentzeris said. "That should enable the first practical applications to detect trace amounts of hazardous gases in challenging operational environments using inkjet-printed devices." Tentzeris explained that the key to printing components, circuits and antennas lies in novel "inks" that contain silver nanoparticles in an emulsion that can be deposited by the printer at low temperatures – around 100 degrees Celsius. A process called sonication helps to achieve optimal ink viscosity and homogeneity, enabling uniform material deposition and permitting maximum operating effectiveness for paper-based components. "Ink-jet printing is low-cost and convenient compared to other technologies such as wet etching," Tentzeris said. "Using the proper inks, a printer can be used almost anywhere to produce custom circuits and components, replacing traditional clean-room approaches." Low-cost materials – such as heavy photographic paper or plastics like polyethylene terephthalate -- can be made water resistant to ensure greater reliability, he added. Inkjet component printing can also use flexible organic materials, such as liquid crystal polymer (LCP), which are known for their robustness and weather resistance. The resulting components are similar in size to conventional components but can conform and adhere to almost any surface. Naishadham explained that the same inkjet techniques used to produce RF components, circuits and antennas can also be used to deposit the functionalized carbon nanotubes used for sensing. These nanoscale cylindrical structures -- about one-billionth of a meter in diameter, or 1/50,000th the width of a human hair -- are functionalized by coating them with a conductive polymer that attracts ammonia, a major ingredient found in many IEDs. Sonication of the functionalized carbon nanotubes produces a uniform water-based ink that can be printed side-by-side with RF components and antennas to produce a compact wireless sensor node. "The optimized carbon nanotubes are applied as a sensing film, with specific functionalization designed for a particular gas or analyte," Song said. "The GTRI sensor detects trace amounts of ammonia usually found near explosive devices, and it can also be designed to detect similar gases in household, healthcare and industrial environments at very low concentration levels." The sensor has been designed to detect ammonia in trace amounts – as low as five parts per million, Naishadham said. The resulting integrated sensing package can potentially detect the presence of trace explosive materials at a distance, without endangering human lives. This approach, called standoff detection, involves the use of RF technology to identify explosive materials at a relatively safe distance. The GTRI team has designed the device to send an alert to nearby personnel when it detects ammonia. The wireless sensor nodes require relatively low power, which could come from a number of technologies including thin-film batteries, solar cells or power-scavenging and energy-harvesting techniques. In collaboration with Tentzeris's and Wong's groups, GTRI is investigating ways to make the sensor operate passively, without any power consumption. "We are focusing on providing standoff detection for those engaged in military or humanitarian missions and other hazardous situations," Naishadham said. "We believe that it will be possible, and cost-effective, to deploy large numbers of these detectors on vehicles or robots throughout a military engagement zone." |
| Artificial tongue distinguishes 18 different types of canned tomato Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:58 AM PDT  |
| Eric Fossum lectures Yale students on next-gen range sensors, 3D content shortages Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:29 AM PDT  Update: Fossum dropped by to give us a statement. "The RGBZ sensor represents the state of the art in research and development," he says, "Technical information about this R&D advancement will be reported in February." [Thanks, Salem] |
| Cablevision reports Q3 earnings, sees profit fall by 65 percent, drop in video subscribers Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:01 AM PDT  It's safe to say that Q3 2011 probably won't be remembered as Cablevision's finest. According to the provider's latest earnings report, profits declined by a full 65 percent over the year, with net income plunging to $39.3 million this quarter, compared with the $112.1 million it raked in during the third quarter of 2010. The company also reported a loss of 19,000 video subscribers during Q3, though it added 17,000 broadband customers and 38,000 telephone subscribers. Total customers, however, declined by 15,000 over the past three months. Revenue, meanwhile, increased by eight percent to $1.7 billion, though the New York-area operator lost about $16 million to Hurricane Irene -- not to mention all those legal fees. Smell that? That's a big platter of PR, sitting right there after the break. Cablevision Systems Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results BETHPAGE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. Third quarter consolidated net revenues grew 8.0% to $1.666 billion, consolidated adjusted operating cash flow ("AOCF")1was essentially flat at $539.3 million and consolidated operating income decreased 11.7% to $272.4 million, all compared to the prior year period. Third quarter 2011 results reflect the Bresnan properties acquired on December 14, 2010 as well as costs of approximately $16 million related to the impact of Hurricane Irene on our NY Metro service area. If both of these items were excluded, consolidated net revenues would have increased 0.4% while AOCF and operating income would have decreased 4.1% and 4.0%, respectively, all compared to the prior year period. Operating highlights for the third quarter 2011 include: • Year to date Consolidated Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations1 of $440.2 million • Combined Average Monthly Revenue per Basic Video Customer ("RPS") of $151.71 in the third quarter of 2011 (including Bresnan) • High-Speed Data and Voice Line additions of 16,900 and 38,200, respectively, in the third quarter of 2011 • Lightpath AOCF growth of 16.9% in the third quarter of 2011, compared to the prior year period. Cablevision President and CEO James L. Dolan commented: "For the third quarter of 2011, Cablevision achieved revenue growth driven primarily by the addition of the Bresnan properties. Our cable operations reported improved subscriber metrics that included increases in both high-speed data customers and voice lines, while the company continued to generate healthy free cash flow. As we are operating in a challenging environment, we are continuing our efforts to capitalize on the strength of our network and products and on building our business for the long-term," concluded Mr. Dolan. 1. See definition of adjusted operating cash flow ("AOCF") and Consolidated Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations included in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures on page 4 of this earnings release. Telecommunications Services – Cable Television and Lightpath Telecommunications Services includes Cable Television – Cablevision's video, high-speed data, and voice residential and commercial services offered over its cable infrastructure -- and its "Optimum Lightpath" branded commercial data and voice services. Third quarter 2011 Telecommunications and Cable Television results below reflect the Bresnan properties acquired on December 14, 2010 as well as costs of approximately $16 million related to the impact of Hurricane Irene on our NY Metro service area. Telecommunications Services net revenues for the third quarter 2011 rose 9.0% to $1.562 billion, AOCF was essentially flat (down 0.2%) at $584.0 million and operating income decreased 10.2% to $333.5 million, all compared to the prior year period. Excluding Bresnan and the impact of Hurricane Irene, revenue growth would have increased 0.8%, while AOCF and operating income would have both decreased 3.9%, compared to the prior year period. The decrease in AOCF, compared to the prior period, was driven by cost increases, including both higher programming and sales and marketing costs, on essentially flat revenue growth. Cable Television Cable Television third quarter 2011 net revenues increased 9.1% to $1.490 billion, AOCF decreased 1.1% to $550.6 million and operating income decreased 12.0% to $322.0 million, all compared to the prior year period. The increase in revenue compared to the prior year period was due primarily to the addition of Bresnan in the results for the third quarter 2011. Excluding the items mentioned above, revenue would have increased 0.5%, while AOCF and operating income would have decreased 4.9% and 5.5%, respectively, all compared to the prior year period. The decrease in AOCF, compared to the prior period, was driven by cost increases, including both higher programming and sales and marketing costs, on essentially flat revenue growth. Optimum Lightpath For third quarter 2011, Lightpath net revenues increased 6.2% to $77.5 million, AOCF increased 16.9% to $33.4 million and operating income more than doubled to $11.5 million, each as compared to the prior year period. The improved results were driven primarily by a 17.9% increase in revenue from Ethernet services, offset in part by higher operating expenses to support the increase in Ethernet installations. Other Other primarily consists of Newsday, News 12 Networks, MSG Varsity, Clearview Cinemas, Cablevision Media Sales Corporation (formerly Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation ("RASCO")) and unallocated corporate general and administrative costs. Third quarter 2011 net revenues decreased 5.5% to $109.0 million, AOCF deficit was essentially flat (up 0.7%) at a deficit of $44.7 million and operating loss improved 3.0% to a loss of $61.1 million all compared to the prior year period. Revenue was mainly impacted by the continued decline of advertising revenues at Newsday. The slight improvement in the AOCF deficit was due primarily to lower corporate costs as well as lower costs at Newsday, and when combined, more than offset the revenue decline discussed above. Other Matters RETURN OF CAPITAL During the third quarter of 2011, Cablevision repurchased approximately 5.4 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $93.9 million. On October 27, 2011, the Board of Directors of Cablevision declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share on each outstanding share of both its Cablevision NY Group Class A Stock and its Cablevision NY Group Class B Stock. This quarterly dividend is payable on December 2, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 11, 2011. |
| AT&T plans to sell exercise apparel that tracks your vitals, performance Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:33 AM PDT  |
| Hon Hai sees profit fall nine percent in Q3, pins hopes on new Chinese factories Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:26 AM PDT  Hon Hai Precision Holdings has just released its Q3 earnings report, and it probably did so with a whimper. That's because net profits fell to NT$19.2 billion (about $614 million) this quarter, marking an 8.6 percent decline from Q3 2010, when Hon Hai (aka Foxconn) reported a net income of NT$21 billion (around $702 million). The company blamed the decline on a slow economic recovery and its ongoing expansion in China, where new factories are being constructed across inland areas like Chengdu, Wuhan and Zhengzhou. These costs are still taking a toll on Hon Hai's bottom line, though analysts say the expansion could pay off in the long-run, thanks to the lower wages that Hon Hai will have to pay to maintain operations in these less affluent regions. Some are also hopeful that the iPhone 4S will help spur production heading into Q4 of this year, though its ultimate effect, of course, remains to be seen. Hit up the links below for more details and analysis. |
| HTC releases Q3 earnings report: profit up 68 percent, shipments soar 93 percent Posted: 31 Oct 2011 01:39 AM PDT  It's been another stellar quarter for the folks over at HTC. According to the company's Q3 earnings report, released today, net income rose to NT$18.68 billion (about $624.6 million) this quarter -- a 68 percent increase over Q3 2010 and a seven percent bump over last quarter, when HTC reported record profits. Revenue, meanwhile, rose by 79 percent on the year to NT$135.8 billion (around $4.54 billion), which the manufacturer attributed to "strong brand recognition, leading product portfolio and expanded distribution channels." On a regional level, HTC saw the strongest growth in China, where sales increased by a factor of nine over the past year. This undoubtedly helped the company boost handset shipments, which increased by a whopping 93 percent over the year, to 13.2 million units. For more details and crunchy numbers, hit up the source links, below. |
| Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera surfaces in leaked photos Posted: 31 Oct 2011 01:13 AM PDT  Panasonic just launched a whole new series of Micro Four Thirds lenses a couple of months ago, and it looks like it might soon also have a new Micro Four Thirds camera to take advantage of them. That photo you see above recently turned up on the Mobile01 forums with a bundle of others, showing a hereto unannounced Panasonic Lumix GX1 MFT camera, which looks like it could be a true successor to the GF1 (as opposed to the GF2 and GF3 that moved in a less pro-minded direction). Rumored specs remain a bit light, but the camera apparently has a touchscreen display 'round back, which will likely see a fair bit of use unless you opt for an external EVF. It's also suggested that the camera will be launching soon -- on November 8th -- although that's obviously yet to be confirmed. [Thanks, Amin] |
| Dropbox for Teams offers businesses copious amounts of sharable storage Posted: 30 Oct 2011 11:27 PM PDT  Dropbox Now Open for Business Dropbox Launches "Dropbox for Teams" With Administrative Controls and Plenty of Space People Are Using Dropbox in Over One Million Businesses Globally SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – October 27, 2011 - Dropbox, a free service that lets people bring their documents, photos and videos everywhere and share them easily, today introduced Dropbox for Teams. More than 45 million people already depend on Dropbox, and with Dropbox for Teams, businesses can now experience the same ease-of-use along with new administrative controls, centralized billing, phone support, and plenty of space for everyone on the team. "People in over a million businesses around the world trust Dropbox for its simplicity and reliability," said Sujay Jaswa, vice president of business development and sales at Dropbox. "Now, Dropbox for Teams will give businesses the control and freedom to rethink how they work." How Dropbox for Teams Works Dropbox for Teams delivers the same user experience as the free Dropbox service. Adding and updating files is as easy as saving any document, photo or video to the Dropbox folder. Changes sync immediately across all devices which have Dropbox installed. Dropbox is compatible with nearly every computer and smartphone operating system, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and BlackBerry. With Dropbox for Teams, administrators get new features including centralized billing, phone support, and controls allowing them to add or delete users. Dropbox for Teams is priced at $795 annually for five users, with additional seats available for $125 each. The base plan includes 1,000 GB of storage, and each additional seat comes with 200 GB. Like Dropbox, Dropbox for Teams is a secure solution. Files are stored encrypted on Amazon S3 in secure data centers and also remain on users' Dropbox-synced computers for added backup. Visit www.dropbox.com/teams for more information. About Dropbox The mission of Dropbox is to simplify life for people around the world. Dropbox lets people bring their documents, photos and videos everywhere and share them easily. The service has more than 45 million users in 175 countries saving one billion files every three days. Dropbox was founded in San Francisco in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi and has received a total of $257.2 million in funding. |
| Acer's first venture into Windows Phone arrives in France as the Allegro Posted: 30 Oct 2011 09:31 PM PDT  Remember the Acer W4? After seeing it at IFA 2011, it seems that it's finally ready to make some first impressions, and its blind date is with France. Known officially as the Allegro, Acer's inaugural Windows Phone isn't going over the top in the spec department: it has a 3.6-inch WVGA (800 x 480) display, 1GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 CPU, 8GB internal storage, 5MP rear camera with LED flash and a 1,300mAh battery. However, a unique addition to this €299 ($425) device is a feature called Fast Charge, which allows the Allegro to get juiced up to 2.5 times faster than the rest of the company's lineup. Expect the device to land in France in mid-November with two color options -- white and dark blue iceberg. Just make sure, Acer, to walk your date all the way back home from dinner. |
| How would you change RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9930? Posted: 30 Oct 2011 08:22 PM PDT  |
| Switched On: The clamshell mystique Posted: 30 Oct 2011 07:16 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.  In 2009, Switched On discussed the potential of Android on netbooks, finding an uneasy match between what was then high-flying hardware and still nascent software. More than two years later, though, the tables have turned in terms of momentum. As netbooks have settled into a relatively small part of the overall PC market, Android is leaping beyond the smartphone. In doing so, though, it is focused on tablets, not clamshells, There are a few ways today to get Android on a diminutive notebook, but all have major flaws. On eBay, for example, you can buy cheaply made 7-inch Android netbooks for about $100. These are little more than novelties with poor ergonomics and battery life. Or one can download the Android x86 distribution and fire it up on an Asus Eee or other netbooks, but this is a hobbyist pursuit. New software from Bluestacks lets you run Android atop Windows, but this nullifies many of Android's advantages such as quick wake times and the long battery life the OS enjoys on ARM processors (this situation may well improve running Bluestacks on Windows 8). And there have been a few Japanese Android clamshell efforts such as the 5-inch Sharp Lynx and the 7-inch NEC LetsNote Touch. Both are pricey -- at least as imports -- and the LetsNote Touch has a resistive touchscreen. As for other ARM-friendly operating systems, HP -- which produced the Compaq Airlife Android netbook sold in Spain prior to buying Palm -- had held out hope for a native webOS netbook, but that concept was certainly axed with the rest of the company's webOS device roadmap.Then there's the MeeGo-based X101 from ASUS that shows what kind of sleek design one can achieve with a mobile OS. However, it has arrived just as the MeeGo lineage is being rolled up yet again, this time to a new OS dubbed Tizen. If you want keys clacking up characters to a Honeycomb home, iPad or Playbook, there's a whole mouthful of Bluetooth options such as standalone keyboards, integrated keyboard cases and things like the Clamcase that can produce a "shamshell." On the Android side, ASUS has won fans with the integrated keyboard of the Eee Pad Slider that is arguably functionally equivalent to a clamshell and the more cosmetically similar Eee Pad Transformer with its detachable battery-packing keyboard. But it seems no one dares take on the form factor so wildly popular when running Windows or Mac OS. In a recent conversation with an ascendant Android tablet maker, the company said that it has no plans to pursue an Android clamshell nor did it think such a device was on any competitors' roadmaps. Sure, the traditional Android experience has involved a touch screen and using one with a distant display can be awkward or tiring, but that hasn't stopped PC makers from putting touchscreens on Windows notebooks or even desktops. And then there is the Windows Netbook Curse. Microsoft likes to remind us that Windows netbooks quickly trounced those running mostly homegrown Linux variants. But, again, that was long before the iPad showed the viability of a mobile OS on a netbook-sized screen or Honeycomb sent a group of licensees scrambling for features to differentiate. It is a humorous paradox that consumers should increasingly embrace keyboards on an Android tablet but forever reject an Android notebook. The clamshell is a brilliant form factor that clearly has potential beyond today's duopoly. With Windows 8, Microsoft is asserting that an operating system can traverse notebooks and tablets. What is good for the goose, though, can't seem to entice major competitors to take a gander. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director and principal analyst of the NPD Connected Intelligence service at The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. |
| Inhabitat's Week in Green: CR-V hybrid, Facebook's server farm and robot costumes Posted: 30 Oct 2011 05:19 PM PDT  On the green transportation front, we took the Honda CR-V hybrid for a spin and came across news that Tesla will reintroduce its sexy roadster in 2014. We also saw that GM is working on cars that could drop drivers off at their destinations and even park themselves, and the auto giant impressed us even further by joining Ford and Chrysler, who are working closely with engineering students from the University of Michigan Solar Car Team to create viable solar-powered cars for the future. But if you can't wait that long, this Solarship is a blimp-like solar-powered airship that actually exists today. In tech news, Facebook announced that they'll be building a fancy new server farm in the Arctic. And speaking of cold weather, we also spotted where this clever Umbrella coat that has a handy umbrella instead of a hood - perfect for rainy fall days. A new study showing that TV is officially harmful to children under two confirmed some of our suspicions and we also saw news of a judge who ruled that cell phone warnings be blocked in San Francisco. If you're planning on dressing up for Halloween, don't forget to enter our Green Halloween costume contest (or your kids in our Inhabitots costume contest) for some frightfully fabulous prizes. If you need some inspiration, we've got a slew of techie costume ideas you could cobble together from things you already own like this delightful iPhone getup or this homemade robot outfit. |
| Roku adds more games, cleans up the PQ on its latest streamers Posted: 30 Oct 2011 03:15 PM PDT  |
| Volta BCN electric motorcycle announced, set to go on sale in Q2 2012 Posted: 30 Oct 2011 01:12 PM PDT  Your all-electric motorcycle options are getting more and more plentiful these days, and it looks like you'll soon have yet another option consider. Volta Motorbikes officially announced its new Volta BCN motorcycle this week, with a complete unveiling set for the EICMA Motorshow in Milan next month. It will be available in three different models -- the BCN Sport, BCN City, and BCN My Volta -- each of which pack the same 35 horsepower and 70 kilometer range, but have various other tweaks to suit different tastes (with the My Volta being customizable through an online ordering tool). Details remain a bit light otherwise, but pricing is expected to come in around the €7,000 mark (or just under $10,000), with the first units set to roll out in the second quarter of 2012 -- a reservation list will also be opened up at the start of the year for those interested. Head on past the break for a quick teaser video, and check out the gallery below for a closer look. Volta Motorbikes unveils his first electric motorbike, the Volta BCN, in the coming EICMA 2011 The pre-reservation list will be opening at the start of 2012, and the first units will be sold during the second quarter of the year Between 8th and 13th November, amid the backdrop of the Milan Fair (69th International Motorcycle Exhibition), Volta Motorbikes, an electric motorbike manufacturer created with the mission of providing new solutions for the pollution problems in big cities, will be presenting its star project: the Volta BCN. The first electric motorbike designed entirely in Barcelona has received the name of the Catalan capital thanks to an agreement with the City Council, which hopes to display the city's aspiration to become a European benchmark in sustainable mobility and environmental respect. The Volta BCN combines design, a sporty feel, innovation and sustainability all in one. This goes to show that a practical and sustainable vehicle can also be dynamic, while boasting an urban image and high performance. After months of work and perseverance, the Volta Motorbikes project has now come to fruition and is about to begin the production phase. Thus, during the first quarter of the forthcoming year, a pre-reservation list will be opened on the Internet; and in the second quarter, the first units will be released for sale, for an estimated price of €7,000. At the moment, Volta is putting the final touches on the shape of the Volta BCN distribution network and points of sale throughout Europe. The fact that Volta bears the name of Barcelona forms part of the intention to help forge the image of a city that is capable of converting urban thoroughfares into a pollution-free public space, yet with no sacrifices regarding the mobility-related needs of the people who live there. And so, Barcelona is pushing to become a benchmark for sustainability in Europe, while at the same time reasserting its ambition to be a hub for design and quality. The Volta BCN is different from other urban electric motorbikes, as it combines technology, design and a sporty feel, to afford users the opportunity to experience motor passion while also being respectful of the environment. Volta Motorbikes envisages launching its product in Spain first, and will subsequently make the leap over to the international market, with its first appearance at the Milan Fair, the quintessential showcase for any new product in the two-wheel sector. As Volta Motorbikes Manager Marc Barceló says, "the Milan Fair is the ultimate test to assess the entrance of a new brand, and we hope to firm up our first orders with the European market during the days of the show". BCN SPORT, BCN CITY AND BCN MY VOLTA The Volta BCN, with 35 hp, will be available in several different models, yet as Barceló cites, all are founded on the same philosophy: "Volta aims to transmit the DNA of a brand with a sporty nature while also being efficient and environmentally friendly". In Milan, the company plans to present three models with the same power yet different aesthetics and finishes. The BCN Sport is an urban motorbike that projects a dynamic image with a personality of its own, without skimping on performance, quality or practical features. The BCN City offers a cosmopolitan design and targets those who wish to combine an elegant look with the spirit of sustainable mobility and practical, comfortable driving. The BCN My Volta is the customisable model, meaning that the motorbike can be adapted to the needs and preferences of the user in terms of the design of its finishes and accessories. The My Volta will offer customised ordering through an online tool that will be implemented with the new Volta website, coinciding with the brand's presentation at the Milan Fair. All of these models require the same A2 driving license and are the ideal choice for those who need a means of daily transport to get about in the city, while serving as a road of entry into the two-wheel world for new users. €0.45 PER RECHARGE With a full battery recharge cost of €0.45, this bike can recharge completely in just two hours when plugged into a 220-V household socket or at any public charging point. The Volta BCN has a range of approximately 70 kilometres and a lithium-polymer battery. After 1500 charging cycles, which is the equivalent of five years of daily recharges, the battery still has 80 % of its initial capacity. One thing that we must point out about the Volta BCN is the quality of its components, as all of its parts are supplied by prestigious brands in the sector. The motorbike comes with a trunk with capacity for a full-face helmet, as well as a mobile phone charger.Particularly worthy of note is the relaxed and comfortable position of this bike, which makes for agility and free movement when driving. Moreover, it includes the added feature of connectivity with mobile telephone devices, as well as a wide range of applications such as programming recharges and power setting limits, among others; a package that will be available when the first Volta BCN bikes reach the market. |
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