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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

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HTC Rezound review

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 11:00 AM PST

HP Folio Ultrabook shows up early Down Under

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 10:42 AM PST

What's this? Looks like another Ultrabook is coming our way. An upcoming ultraportable from HP has apparently made its way into the hands of an Australian blogger, courtesy of the company's wing in that country. The 13.3-inch Folio crams in a 1.4GHz Core i3 or 1.6GHz Core i5 processor, 128GB of solid-state storage and 4GB of RAM (expandable to 8GB), according to the site. HP's also tossing in a backlit keyboard and some ruggedized construction. Those in-the-wild shots also show a 1366 x 768 display, USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, HDMI and Gigabit Ethernet. All in all, this thing is looking mighty solid -- after all, the ASUS Zenbook UX31 and Lenovo IdeaPad U300s don't have backlit keyboards, nor that robust a selection of ports. Look for it before the end of the year -- in Australia, at least. More information and some glamor shots in the source below.

Microsoft Xbox turns X years old today, celebrates decade of console prowess

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 10:28 AM PST

One decade ago today, on November 15, 2001, the Xbox gaming console was born, hitting stores across North America on the same day. That Pentium III-based black box found its way into tens of millions of living rooms around the world, and wasn't discontinued until after its successor was announced in 2005. Now, halfway through its lifecycle, the Xbox 360 is still selling strong -- perhaps spurred by the company's release of Kinect in 2010 -- with about four years left to go before Microsoft is expected to unleash its nex-gen console. An updated system may be inevitable, but regardless of what's inside, we wouldn't be surprised to see Microsoft's blockbuster game machine don its familiar Xbox handle for decennia to come.
Microsoft Xbox 10-year anniversary

MIT unveils computer chip that thinks like the human brain, Skynet just around the corner

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 10:13 AM PST

It may be a bit on the Uncanny Valley side of things to have a computer chip that can mimic the human brain's activity, but it's still undeniably cool. Over at MIT, researchers have unveiled a chip that mimics how the brain's neurons adapt to new information (a process known as plasticity) which could help in understanding assorted brain functions, including learning and memory. The silicon chip contains about 400 transistors and can simulate the activity of a single brain synapse -- the space between two neurons that allows information to flow from one to the other. Researchers anticipate this chip will help neuroscientists learn much more about how the brain works, and could also be used in neural prosthetic devices such as artificial retinas. Moving into the realm of "super cool things we could do with the chip," MIT's researchers have outlined plans to model specific neural functions, such as the visual processing system. Such systems could be much faster than digital computers and where it might take hours or days to simulate a simple brain circuit, the chip -- which functions on an analog method -- could be even faster than the biological system itself. In other news, the chip will gladly handle next week's grocery run, since it knows which foods are better for you than you ever could.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 hands-on (video)

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PST

Since its launch earlier today, the Bold 9790 has been a device of curious beginnings. For a start, RIM selected Indonesia for the smartphone's launch event and first availability -- it won't be reach stores here until early 2012, which is an interesting move by the manufacturer to reflect its globalized market. Then, of course, there was the strangely familiar nature of the BB OS 7 handset itself. At first glance, it looked like a lower-end Curve 9360 that had been confusingly dressed up to look more like its flagship brother, the Bold 9900/9930. However, now that we've had some hands-on time with it, it's clear that this first impression is unfair. The 9790 is a solid installment in the Baby Bold tradition, which takes some of the 9900's best attributes, like the touchscreen and 'fret style' angled keys, and whittles them down into a more pocket-friendly 2.44-inch form factor, which -- RIM hints -- "may be slightly cheaper" to the end user. It's also true that this shrinkage comes with some sacrifices, such as a slightly slower 1GHz processor, a lower 360 x 480 resolution and a plastic construction. You'll find a hands-on video and more initial impressions right after the break.
BlackBerry Bold 9790 hands-on



Our initial thought on holding the device was that, despite the absence of some of the 9900's premium materials, the build quality is still very good. There's no 'air' in this device, no flex or squeeze that could make it feel cheap. It has the same layered effect as the Curve 9360, but subtle differences make it looks and feel more distinguished here.


The touchscreen is obviously small, but many BB users will be used to that and, in any case, it seemed perfectly functional during our brief inspection. It registered scrolls and swipes without issue, and we guarantee you won't be able to go back to a non-touchscreen after you become used it to -- which is only healthy considering how far we are into the next millennium. There's not much to say about the LCD display -- it's just average, and at this size pixel density isn't an issue.


The keypad certainly wasn't as forgiving as the chunkier version on the 9900, but we're not complaining. The fact is, RIM knows how to make good, usable keypads, and the raised notches on this model make a big difference as your thumb learns to feel its way around. With time, you'd get used to this keypad, but it's worth noting that onscreen keyboards have come a long way and -- even if you're set on physical typing -- you owe it to yourself to give them a go. Nokia's Lumia 800, for example, puts the Windows Phone keyboard to good effect.


We're not too worried that the processor is only 1GHz, versus 1.2GHz on the 9900, because that bigger phone delivers snappy performance with an apparently comfortable margin. On the other hand, we still saw evidence of slow graphics rendering while surfing -- and it takes prolonged use and benchmarking to really put a phone through its paces.

Alas, there was no opportunity to test the camera or other features either, but the video above -- which includes plenty of comparisons with other BBs you might recognize -- as well as our in-depth Bold 9900/9930 review should hopefully be enough to keep you going for now. You'll also find details of storage and other specs in the press release below.

Show full PR text
Research In Motion Expands BlackBerry 7 Portfolio with the New BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 Smartphones

JAKARTA, INDONESIA AND WATERLOO, ONTARIO, Nov 15, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Editors Note: Six photos for this release will be available via Marketwire on the picture wire of The Canadian Press.

Research In Motion (RIM) RIMM +0.60% CA:RIM -0.43% today announced two new smartphones based on the BlackBerry(R) 7 operating system (OS) - the BlackBerry(R) Bold(TM) 9790 and BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) 9380.

The new smartphones offer impressively slim and stylish designs with enhanced communications, multimedia, productivity and social connectivity features. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is both powerful and compact, offering users a fully loaded, high performance smartphone with the dual benefits of a high resolution touch display and a highly tactile keyboard. The BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first-ever BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) smartphone with a touch display. It continues to deliver the powerful social experiences, ease-of-use and smaller handset size that distinguish the BlackBerry Curve family, while also offering Curve users the choice of a larger display and an all-touch design.

"We are very excited to expand the BlackBerry 7 portfolio with the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380," said Carlo Chiarello, Senior Vice President, Handheld Product Management at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry smartphones offer a uniquely refined mobile communications experience that people love and we think many customers will be thrilled by the faster performance, beautiful touch displays and compact designs available with these new BlackBerry 7 based models."

BlackBerry Bold 9790 Smartphone with Touch Display and Keyboard

True to the BlackBerry Bold brand, the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 smartphone is powerful, full-featured and built with premium materials and finishes. It combines a high-resolution and highly responsive touch display with a highly tactile keyboard and a precise optical trackpad, but comes in a narrow design that is easy to carry and exceptionally comfortable to hold. With the BlackBerry 7 OS and powerful 1 GHz processor, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 delivers fast, smooth performance for browsing the web, running apps, working with documents, and enjoying multimedia. It includes 8GB of onboard memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB of additional storage.

All-Touch BlackBerry Curve 9380 Smartphone

The finely crafted BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first all-touch smartphone in the BlackBerry Curve family. It features a highly responsive and brilliant 3.2" high resolution display and comes with preinstalled social networking apps, including BBM(TM) (BlackBerry(R) Messenger), Facebook(R), Twitter(TM) and Social Feeds apps, that offer a fun, easy and smoothly integrated mobile experience. This compact and stylish handset also features a 5MP camera with flash and video recording, allowing users to easily capture and share their favorite moments with family, friends and colleagues.

Powerful BlackBerry 7 OS

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 are both powered by the new BlackBerry 7 OS, which delivers a faster and richer user experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, and support for Augmented Reality and NFC (Near Field Communications). It also includes the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, and comes with a variety of personal and productivity apps out of the box.

BlackBerry 7 also introduces an enhanced browser that provides a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience. The browser includes a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages and it offers optimized HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences. The popular universal search capability has also been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can simply speak to begin searching their device and the web for information.

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphones include built-in support for Augmented Reality and NFC, allowing users to connect with the world around them in fresh new ways. With the Wikitude Augmented Reality application, users can find nearby BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) contacts in real-time, read reviews on restaurants close to them, or get the story behind an interesting landmark and points of interest. NFC also enables many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to make mobile payments, pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.

BlackBerry 7 includes a number of preinstalled applications and integrated functionality for increasing productivity and easy sharing and collaboration right out of the box. The Premium version of Documents To Go is included free of charge, offering users powerful document editing features as well as a native PDF document viewer. BlackBerry(R) Protect is pre-loaded(i), offering customers the peace of mind that personal data can be backed up and secured in the cloud. BlackBerry(R) Balance is integrated in BlackBerry 7, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT department's need for advanced security and IT controls. The Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to capture updates from media and favorites all in one consolidated view. The Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.

Availability

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphones will begin to be available from various carriers around the world over the coming weeks. Availability dates for specific devices from specific carriers will be announced in conjunction with RIM's partners.

Additional Information

For additional information please visit www.blackberry.com .

Samsung Galaxy Nexus nabs FCC approval complete with Verizon LTE

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 09:33 AM PST

We've been waiting with bated breath for Verizon to make an announcement concerning its planned launch of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The wait continues, but one more step in the regulatory process leading up to said launch is now complete -- the Samsung I515 just popped up in the hallowed pages of the FCC website. It offers the usual suspects of LTE band 13 (Verizon's particular flavor of 700MHz spectrum) and EVDO / CDMA, as well as the expected inclusion of NFC. Not included? US GSM frequencies, as far as we can tell. We'll continue to dig for more clues here, but at least we know it's one step closer to finally making it to your local store.

eBoy Engadget t-shirts are now shipping, get yours right here!

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 09:15 AM PST

Researchers give a robot the ability to control a person's arm (video)

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 08:55 AM PST

Human-machine interaction just got a bit more... interesting. Researchers from France's Montpellier Laboratory of Informatics, Robotics, and Microelectronics have demonstrated a new technique that allows a robot to control a person's arm in order to accomplish a task together -- yes, you read that right. As you might expect, that's still being described as a proof of concept, and the current setup simply consists of a set of electrodes that are attached to the arm and used to direct the person to drop a ball into a hoop the robot is holding -- to keep things on the up and up, the human participants were blindfolded during the tests, which were successful. According to the researchers, however, that is just the beginning. They eventually see similar techniques being used in rehabilitation, and in other robot assistants that could help people with disabilities accomplish basic tasks -- they further note that this technique has the added benefit of being simpler and less expensive than standalone robotic systems. Video is after the break.

Dinosaur Jr. reissuing first three albums on cassette, harnessing the latest jurassic technology

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 08:33 AM PST

Forget your Google Musics and Spotifys -- J Mascis, indie rock's favorite guitar-shredding gray haired curmudgeon and the rest of Dinosaur Jr. are stepping into the format time machine to reissue their first three LPs on cassette. Yep, Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me and Bug will once again be heard the way they were meant to be: on the terrible, tiny speakers of your dusty old RadioShack tape deck. The three tapes are being sold as the Cassette Trilogy, a $39 screen-printed box set, limited to 500 copies -- one for every working tape player in America. The box set follows the cassette release of 1988's Bug this summer. You can pick the box up online now, for the rock and roll luddite on your holiday shopping list.


Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: gaming

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 08:00 AM PST

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

Ah, the holiday season. That special time of year when we give our loved ones the new hotness of the video game world, and then promptly exploit their over-excited reactions to propel them into unwanted YouTube fame. Even if your familial relations don't have the stuff to become this generation's "N64 kid," you can still kick a few rad toys their way just for the love of it. And if you're having trouble finding the perfect gift for the gamer in your life, we're here to help. Head past the break to take a peek at Engadget's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide for video games. Not finding what you're looking for? Skip on back to our 2011 Back to School Guide for bonus gift ideas.

On the cheap


Nintendo Wii bundle


The upcoming fall release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is pushing the Nintendo Wii back to the front gamer consciousness, and the waggle-riffic wonder has never been cheaper. Watch your step though; despite a uniform $150 sticker price, not all bundles are equal -- some of Nintendo's newest sets cut out Gamecube support. Backwards compatibility might not matter to your little Hylian hero, but we can't think of a good reason not to have it. Make sure to read console packaging carefully -- if the pictured unit is lying on its side, you're probably looking at a Gamecube-free Wii. Consider your gameplay needs carefully before proceeding.

Price: $150+ on Amazon

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Nintendo DS Lite

We don't care if its two screens only peer through two dimensions, the DS Lite is still one of the best little handhelds money can buy. Of course, being the best-selling portable console in history carries quite a bit of clout, but being followed by an army of fully functional fakes? That's a badge of honor. Nintendo's twin-screen toy may have been discontinued at dedicated game shops, but it can still be found at big box stores -- and for cheap, too.

Price: From $99 at Target


Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack

Not many games come with a gadgety twist, but Spyro's latest venture into the breach simply wouldn't be possible without this RFID "Portal of Power." Skylanders combines the concept of collectable figurines with downloadable content, giving you more in-game content for each figure you buy. Give the completionist gamer on your list something new to obsess over.

Price: $70 on Amazon



Mid-range


Sony PlayStation 3


If you can only afford one home console this year, the PlayStation 3 isn't a bad choice. Sure, it lacks the edge of Xbox Live's multiplayer community, but it more than makes up for it with fantastic exclusives, native Blu-ray support and a welcome lack of mandatory fees. Want to play the odd online game or watch a film on Netflix? Go ahead, PlayStation Plus is optional -- basic services work just fine without it. The PS3 is a solid console, a solid Blu-ray player and a pretty solid gift... as long as your giftee isn't a die-hard soldier in the never-ending console wars.


Price: $250 and up on Amazon

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Nintendo 3DS

From high hopes, to low sales, to even lower prices -- it's been a rough year for Nintendo's latest handheld. The bright side? The stereoscopic star has never been more ripe for the picking. With games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Mario Kart 7, and Super Mario 3D Land on deck for the holidays, the Nintendo 3DS finally has a solid library to stand on.

Price: $170 on Amazon


Xbox 360 Console

If you're deadly serious about competitive console gaming, Microsoft's Xbox Live is the network you're looking for. With a killer online network, a stellar back-catalog of AAA titles and an ever-addicting achievement system, it's hard to go wrong when gifting a gamer an Xbox. The rig comes in an assortment of affordable flavors, from the 4GB base model, all the way up to 320GB limited edition Kinect bundles.

Price: $199 and up on Amazon



Money's no object


PS Vita First Edition Bundle


The PlayStation Vita's 2012 release makes it a little difficult to wrap up and stick under a tree, but like all good things in life, there's a loophole. Give the gift of early gaming late, with Sony's PlayStation Vita First Edition Bundle. This set ships a week ahead of the handheld's official release date, replete with a copy of Little Deviants, a limited edition case, a 4GB PS Vita Memory Card and a PlayStation Vita rocking both 3G and WiFi connectivity. Your giftee still won't be able to get their hands on it until February 15th, 2012, but think of it as giving them a bonus gift: patience.

Price: $350 on Amazon

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Android Gaming Tablet

Still on the fence about getting your gamer relative a tablet in lieu of an Xbox? If you're leaning slate-side but still want to tack on some gaming flair, check out GameStop's selection of gaming tablets. The outfit is offering an array of Honeycomb slabs pre-loaded with seven free games. An extra $40 snags you a dedicated gaming controller, just in case you wanted to hold on to that tactile feeling.

Price: $350-500 at GameStop


PlayStation 3D display

If you're going to get a TV for the game room, you may as well go all out. Sony's 24-inch PlayStation 3D display not only offers all the benefits of a regular 3D TV, but is also the exclusive bearer of Sony's SimulView technology. It even comes with a copy of MotoStorm: Apocalypse, so you can try out its fancy dual-full screen magic as soon as you open the box.

Price: $500 from Amazon

Windows 8 gets automatic updates, enforced restarts after 72 hours of polite harassment

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 07:33 AM PST

Windows 8 is renaming the second week of every month. After "Patch Tuesday" comes "Gentle reminder Wednesday," "Polite yet firm suggestion Thursday" and "Automatic restart Friday". In order to keep everyone's system secure, Windows Update will download patches in the background before adding a notification on your lock screen that you're due a restart. If you haven't managed it within 72 hours, you'll be given a 15 minute warning to save your work and close up before it forces the shutdown -- unless you're watching a movie or conducting a presentation, it'll lie in wait for your next idle period to do it. With this system, you'll only have to complete the procedure once a month and can plan your schedule accordingly. The only time the system will deviate is when a security threat like a blaster worm appears, at which point Microsoft will ensure you're restarting as soon as a fix is available. What, you didn't know that "keeping end-users on their toes" was a feature?

Intel 4004, world's first commercial microprocessor, celebrates 40th birthday, ages gracefully

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 07:08 AM PST

Pull out the candles and champagne, because the Intel 4004 is celebrating a major birthday today -- the big four-oh. That's right, it's been exactly four decades since Intel unveiled the world's first commercially available CPU, with an Electronic News ad that ran on November 15th, 1971. It all began in 1969, when Japan's Nippon Calculating Machine Corporation asked Intel to create 12 chips for its Busicom 141-PF calculator. With that assignment, engineers Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff and Stanley Mazor set about designing what would prove to be a groundbreaking innovation -- a 4-bit, 16-pin microprocessor with a full 2,300 MOS transistors, and about 740kHZ of horsepower. The 4004's ten micron feature size may seem gargantuan by contemporary standards, but at the time, it was rather remarkable -- especially considering that the processor was constructed from a single piece of silicon. In fact, Faggin was so proud of his creation that he decided to initial its design with "FF," in appropriate recognition of a true work of art. Hit up the coverage links below for more background on the Intel 4004, including a graphic history of the microprocessor, from the Inquirer.

Appcelerator developers warm to Windows Phone, give BlackBerry the cold shoulder

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 06:47 AM PST

As the year winds to a close, it seems that developer sentiments have shifted since we last checked in with Appcelerator and its opinionated community of coders. In a survey performed in conjunction with IDC, the results suggest a steady interest to develop for smartphones and tablets of the iOS and Android variety, but also reveal a punctuated surge in enthusiasm for Windows Phone. The platform experienced an eight percent uptick since last quarter, with developers citing Nokia's involvement as a primary motivating factor. While Microsoft's OS still lags significantly behind the front-runners, it has significantly separated itself from other competitors. For instance, interest in BlackBerry smartphones fell by seven percent, to roughly half that of Windows Phone. It should be noted that this survey doesn't reflect the development community as a whole, but merely of Appcelerator Titanium users -- if you're curious, the product is a cross-platform development environment for mobile apps. While the 2,160 respondents may not perfectly represent reality, we wouldn't be surprised if they were darn close.

HP's WiFi Touch Mouse X7000 has a Facebook button, doesn't like lefties

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 06:22 AM PST

Six months ago, HP got us to look twice at its WiFi Mobile Mouse, which taps into your home network so that you don't have to waste a USB port on a dongle or receiver. Now the outfit's at it again: it's quietly started selling the WiFi Touch Mouse X7000, which, as you might have guessed, sports a gesture-friendly touch strip. Before you get too excited, though, it only supports one-fingered scrolling, whereas Microsoft's Touch Mouse does panning, minimizing / maximizing, docking and revealing the desktop. Like its little brother, the X7000 promises a 30-foot range and nine months of battery life, though for whatever reason this one's only meant for the right-handed among us. Other differences: this guy has six programmable buttons, not five, including a dedicated Facebook key. Just a heads up: you'll need not just a PC, but one running Windows 7, so those of you still rocking an XP machine for work are sadly out of luck. It's on sale for $60 -- that's twenty bucks less than Microsoft's Touch Mouse but then again, it's far less touch-friendly. But is that worth the savings? And the Facebook button?! We'll let you chew on that for awhile.
HP Wi-Fi Touch Mouse X7000

How an AT&T smartphone comes to life: behind the scenes (part one)

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PST

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes to get a smartphone pushed to market? If you have, congratulations on advancing to the next echelon of mobile geekhood. We've often pondered the same thing ourselves, but the industry has been historically tight-lipped about the ins and outs of designing, testing and launching a smartphone. Fortunately, our thirst for knowledge was quenched by none other than AT&T, which happily loaned us the time of two senior product managers, the folks that make the magic happen.

Dante and Chris (last names withheld, per request) have the ultimate geek dream job: they don't just play with the latest prototypes, they're the ones who make sure they get made. Pretty plush gig, right? They're the ringleaders -- the decision makers responsible for making AT&T's smartphone lineup come to life, and their duty is to do it in a way that keeps the carrier at the front lines of innovation. So what drives these two men? What goes into their thought process, and what exactly happens behind locked doors in order to produce a groundbreaking smartphone? Join us in this two-part series as we learn some of their secrets.

The life of a product manager

We met up with the duo at the AT&T campus in downtown Redmond, WA. This three-building facility is where much of the smartphone magic takes place; a large part of the product team and most of the testing labs are based here. Even though Western Washington was rainy and gloomy -- anyone who's paid Seattle a visit will know that this isn't anything out of the ordinary -- the weather didn't seem to affect anyone we met. There was no mistaking that these two gentlemen love what they do.


We'd like to think that being a product manager simply means that you get to play with cool gadgets that nobody else gets to see, but there's a lot more to developing the latest and greatest innovations than just playing around with prototypes: those in this position have a colossal influence on which devices make it into AT&T's lineup, and how well they're received once they get to market. Needless to say, it's a huge responsibility. Dante, the man calling the shots on the development of the Motorola Atrix 4G (which we'll cover more in-depth), lives or dies by how his products fare. He accepts the blame if the phone's a failure, but he's quick to dish credit out to everybody on the team when it's a success.

AT&T is a polarizing company, to say the least. Poll two different people on their opinion of its wireless network, and more often than not you'll get completely opposite answers. But whether you love or hate the company, the gentlemen we sat down with seemed genuinely concerned in how their products are received. "We have a service contract with customers," Chris said. "We have to honor that -- it's sacred to us." What exactly does this mean, though?

In short, it's the product manager's job to produce a phone capable of lasting the entire length of a customer's contract, typically a full two years. "There's a misconception that we want you to buy a new phone every six months," Chris told us. "On the contrary, we're trying to create a lifetime relationship with our customers." The terms "sacred" and "service contract" were brought up several times throughout our discussion, indicating that user experience is one of their primary focus points. Whether or not they actually succeed at this is a burden that rests squarely on their shoulders -- as hard as they may work to make it an enjoyable phone, all of the fingers of blame point back to them if you loathe your handset.

But producing a phone doesn't just happen overnight. The development cycle of a typical smartphone -- going from conception to a full-out launch -- usually ranges from ten to eighteen months, and each handset faces a long and arduous journey along the way. AT&T considers itself one of the toughest cookies in the biz, and won't slap its logo on just any 'ol device. OEMs that want access to 100 million potential customers are required to meet stringent criteria and submit their hardware to intense testing.


One of the most intriguing smartphones of 2011 was Dante's project, the Motorola Atrix 4G. It was going to be AT&T's crown jewel, a flagship product with groundbreaking features. It was the first dual-core mobile device in the US, it offered a fingerprint sensor that doubles as a power button, and the most unique part of the project was Motorola's new game-changing Webtop environment and laptop dock. But a phone like the Atrix doesn't appear out of nowhere, so we were eager to talk to Dante and Chris about the process.

RFP - Request for Proposal

The RFP cycle encompasses the full genesis of the device. It begins with the creation of a formal document that lists the various traits and features AT&T desires. Since it takes so long to crank out a phone, the company needs to predict what the market's going to look like over a year in advance. This means our friends Dante and Chris have to ask themselves a few questions to hone their forecasting skills. What will be considered state of the art by then? How can we offer a truly groundbreaking product at that time? What will be on the low-end? What are customers going to want their phones to do? Answering these questions isn't easy, which is why AT&T has an advanced planning group that looks into all of the chipsets, displays and other components on the horizon.

The length of time a phone takes from conception to launch depends on a few factors: if the project was initiated by AT&T and the OEM needs extra time to work all of the crucial conceptual stuff, there are loads of extra vetting, testing and refining that needs to take place before the final product is ready. However, if the vendor brings a phone to the table that's already in development -- like the Samsung Galaxy S II, for instance -- the testing phase can be considerably shorter. The same rules often apply for second and third-gen models, as they usually use the same platform and UI and have less wrinkles to iron out.

As for the Atrix 4G, it was conceived to be a truly game-changing and innovative product, something AT&T arguably hadn't had since it signed the iPhone exclusivity agreement. Its RFP began in the final quarter of 2009. To offer perspective, this was right when the HTC Tilt 2 -- a Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone -- was released. AT&T didn't have a single Android device in its smartphone lineup at the time; the very first phone sporting Google's mobile OS was the Motorola Backflip, which didn't launch until March 2010. Yet Ma Bell desperately wanted a game-changing Android device that would revolutionize the industry. It wanted the best idea from each vendor.

AT&T didn't have a single Android device in its lineup at the time, yet it desperately wanted a game-changer that would revolutionize the industry.


Each request includes a list of the various attributes, features and characteristics AT&T is looking for. The carrier doesn't have a specific OEM in mind when the RFP is sent out; instead, it goes to every OEM that's expressed interest in participating. Each one has the opportunity to respond to the document with questions of their own, those queries get formally answered, and the process goes back and forth until the vendor's ready to submit its proposal.

In the case of the Atrix, Motorola met with senior AT&T officials (Chris and Dante's bosses) at CES 2010 to show off its concept, codenamed "Evora." It was far from a polished Atrix, of course -- at this stage in the game, it was just an image of the phone's screen with some electrical circuitry. But every phone has to start somewhere, and the cost to manufacture just a few fully-functional prototypes for each proposal is simply too high; cost naturally decreases with mass production, so most OEMs won't put a live model out until "marriage" (the magical time when carrier and vendor get fully committed to a product and it becomes an official project).


OEM proposals come in droves, and the phones submitted to AT&T will vary from crude drawings on a piece of foam all the way to a realistic dummy unit similar to what you'd see shown off in a retail store. During our meeting, we were given a rare look into a box full of proposed devices (shown above, phones blurred to maintain confidentiality). The one we peered into covered a three-month period and contained at least 60 different units, averaging out to one per business day -- and that doesn't even include proposals that don't come with a tangible portrayal. The team sifts through a lot of candidates before finally settling on a short list of devices that it really likes, and only a select few of those get to taste the sweet privilege of being displayed in front of 100 million customers.

After sharing the Evora concept, AT&T came back to Motorola with feedback: in short, it told the OEM, "here's what we like and what we don't, but we're interested enough to continue moving the concept forward." The two companies volleyed the idea back and forth -- the vendor refining it based on the carrier's preferences and receiving more commentary in response -- until by the time CTIA 2010 rolls around in March, Motorola's crafted Evora to a point where AT&T loves it and is ready to get married. All in all, the time between the original request and the happy couple exchanging vows is around three or four months.

While most products follow this kind of courtship, there are a few exceptions. The BlackBerry Torch 9800, for instance, was a product AT&T got the ball rolling on. Instead of making a mass request to every vendor, it instead approached the OEM with a specific idea: can you make a touchscreen BlackBerry with a full QWERTY slider? Not only did RIM take on the project, it liked the finished product so much that it floated the model to other carriers -- causing the lackluster Torch to spread around the world like a disease.


AT&T takes risks from time to time by throwing handsets against the proverbial wall -- not literally, of course -- in hopes that one or two will stick. These guys know it may not crank out stellar sales, but the only way to hit a home run is to swing for the fences, right? This strategy brings to mind the Motorola Backflip and Flipout, but the Pantech Pocket (seen above), with its 4-inch 800 x 600 SVGA display, is the most recent example of such an oddball device. We briefly spoke with Michael Woodward, Vice President, Mobile Device Portfolio (and Dante and Chris's boss), who explained:

We first saw [the Pocket] a year and a half ago and we thought, man, we've never seen something an aspect ratio like that before; we could see a youth-oriented person liking it, but we really had no idea. It's kinda cool, kinda different... we could be surprised.

There doesn't appear to be any set rules or parameters for the selection process, but that's unsurprising due to the dynamic nature of the mobile industry. After all, it's difficult to come up with a standard selection process when dozens of vendors are cranking out hundreds of phones every year, and hardware evolves at a breakneck pace. Thus, AT&T weighs all of the proposals and chooses the phone that it deems the best fit for the desired feature set or customer segment. The project managers convene to narrow the field of potential candidates down to a few of the team's favorites, and takes the finalists to senior management as their recommendation. It's then up to executives such as Jeff Bradley -- SVP of Devices at AT&T -- to give the green light. From there, carrier and OEM are bonded together in an oh-so-beautiful marriage.

Product Definition

Marriage license (award letter) in hand, it's now pedal to the metal for the remainder of the phone's development, all the way up until its launch. The goal for the Evora at this point was to get the handset on shelves in time for the holiday season, which made the project the company's top priority. Normally this kind of flagship phone project would take 18 months, but Dante's team was trying to shave over half a year off that timetable. So, the challenges facing the team were absolutely massive.

This is where the intense collaboration and negotiations began. For AT&T to tackle the Evora project, it wanted to exert considerable influence on all aspects of the phone -- its look, feel, and the component hardware as well. With every phone, the final product never turns out quite the same as the manufacturers envisioned, though. Dante explains:

We don't know of a single instance in which [the OEM] has shown us something and we say 'yes, we'll take that exact phone.' There's always compromises and iterations that we go through.

Evora's product definition took place between April and June of 2010. This is when the device went from a crude drawing on a piece of foam to a real-life prototype that's ready for testing. Teams on both sides sat down to hash out the nitty gritty details: form factor, colors, materials, display size, OS and basic pricing. It was rigorous and complex, and the negotiation was incredibly intense in this stage.


Normally this kind of project would take 18 months, but Dante's team was trying to shave over half a year off.


Once the concepts and specs were set, the project turned its focus to apps and services. In a nutshell, it's where the user experience gets fine-tuned. The two parties work together to determine the UI -- MotoBlur, in this case -- and every element of the full user experience, down to little things like the available options in the firmware's menu structure. Every aspect of the user experience is examined and no stone's left unturned. An entire team on AT&T's side is dedicated to developing for the UX and working directly with Motorola. Chris sums up the complexities of this seemingly simple process thusly:

We want to give our customers latitude to learn new things about their phone, but we also don't want to be so loud and in the customer's face that it distracts from the basic utility of the device... we make judgement calls and weigh them, see if [each aspect of the UX] is too much or too little, and what can we do to make sure that we're putting out services compelling to the customer without being too obnoxious.


There's a fine line, it seems, between coming across as over-the-top and being too conservative -- in this case, an Evora with too much UI saturation versus a plain vanilla Android. 'Course, we believe the Atrix's entire MotoBlur experience should've qualified as too invasive, but admittedly Motorola's recently tweaked its UI to be less in-your-face.

AT&T also encouraged Moto to push the limits a bit further this time -- what's the bleeding edge in our industry, and how far can we push that? As it turned out, that approach resulted in a few significant improvements in the Atrix down the road, as we'll cover shortly. Early evaluation samples of the Evora were looked over, and the two product teams continued to flesh out the finer details and early bugs.

The team was ready to begin the official kickoff within the company, which basically means that the major details about the device were fleshed out and AT&T's internal testing teams could then be alerted to the project. Virgil -- the codename for Motorola's Webtop and LapDock -- remained highly confidential and wouldn't be brought up for yet another few months.

Bloatware


Speaking of overall user experience, August 2010 witnessed the final decision on what apps would come preinstalled on the Evora. Have you purchased a smartphone only to find a litany of preloaded games and programs that are of no interest to you, but you can't delete them? These apps, no-so-affectionately known as "bloatware" and "crapware," have become an ubiquitous part of the smartphone experience. Ironic, given the universal ire they draw from the general public. Yet carriers continue to include the stuff in nearly every single handset. Worse still, very few of them are removable, which means these apps forever remain on your phone, taking up precious storage space. So, what's the big idea?


Most customers want to do whatever they'd like with their own phones, and don't take kindly to apps that you can't get rid of.


Many of the apps, according to the gentlemen at AT&T, haven't been deletable in the past because they weren't available on the Android Market -- in other words, once they were gone there was no way to get them back (aside from wiping your phone and losing all of your other data and apps in the process). No matter the reason for their existence, however, eliminating choice doesn't help the user experience. Most customers want the option to do whatever they'd like with their own phones, and don't take kindly to apps that you can't get rid of -- regardless of what findings come up in UX research.


Fortunately, the problem isn't as rampant as it used to be: the carrier now has its own hub within the Market where it can offer re-downloadable bloatware. That's why (at least in part) the Atrix 4G was the first device offered by the carrier to feature deletable preloads. This wasn't a fluke, either -- many of the smartphones in the lineup, including the Atrix 2, now allow branded apps to be uninstalled. Much like its CDMA competitor Sprint, AT&T received a flood of negative feedback associated with preinstalled apps and is working to streamline their numbers (compare the Atrix with the amount of bloatware Verizon releases on its typical Android phone and you'll see the difference).

Believe it or not, there's method to the madness: AT&T put the Evora through a vetting process to determine the breadth and scope of the apps and services to be featured. First, the carrier came to an agreement on a cap. After all, there's such a thing as too much, so they figured out where to draw the line. If there were too many apps, it'd be time to re-evaluate what got placed on the device and pull something out. Dante told us:

We'll go to the app team and say there's one slot for games, two spots for entertainment apps. Normally, I'll take in what they recommend unless it conflicts with the positioning of the device, and that rarely happens.

Dante goes on to explain that phones with large screens, for example, should feature games and apps that showcase its display size in order to enhance the user experience. Let's Golf 2 and Asphalt 6 were featured on the LG Thrill to accentuate the phone's 3D capabilities. As long as the customer has the option to get rid of these types of apps, that idea holds a lot of traction.

We were curious as to why certain apps were featured more often than others, but there doesn't appear to be any hidden revenue-generating partnerships between carrier and dev -- if any exist, the company's doing a good job keeping them hush-hush. AT&T's app team works directly with both high-caliber development companies like EA and Gameloft, but it also sponsors hack-a-thons and device giveaways to stimulate and encourage smaller developers. The carrier seems to gravitate toward a few preferred apps for the majority of its lineup, but Dante and Chris insist that no special partnerships or agreements are negotiated between them and the developer.

This is the first half of a two-part segment. Join us in the second half as we go into detail on device testing, launch preparation and more!

Klipsch launches Lou Reed X10i Signature Edition headphones, vivaciousness follows

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:49 AM PST

We knew good and well Klipsch was dabbling in all sorts of various paint schemes when we toured its Indiana-based headquarters in the winter of 2009, and now it seems that one of those prototypes has found a place in the market. The company has just launched the Lou Reed X10i Signature Edition headphones ("coming soon"), a glittered-up version of the X10i that we already feel head over heels in love with. Outside of aesthetics, there's nothing significant changing here, but the extra $50 will net you a purple inline remote (compatible with Apple's iOS devices), a screened Lou Reed autograph, a 360-degree mic and a sense of gratification that could only be matched by being elected president of the free world. Or, something like that. Hit the source for a full helping of specifications, but it's on you to find a safe and legal method for acquiring $399.95.
Klipsch Lou Reed X10i Signature Edition headphones

Visualized: International Year of Chemistry, in posters

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:33 AM PST

Whatever Simon C Page sees in chemistry, we wish our high school teachers did as well. The aforesaid graphic artist has whipped up a smattering of eye-pleasing, mind-bending posters to commemorate the International Year of Chemistry 2011, and even if you can't tell your Hs from your 2s and Os, you owe it to yourself to give that source link a look. Enjoy.

Nokia Music joins the auto-playlist club, brings Pandora-like song-finding to Lumia 800

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST

Smartphone owners have a lot of options for streaming music these days, and if a new challenger doesn't get off to a good start, it could easily get left in the dust. How is Nokia planning to keep up with the likes of Spotify and Pandora on its upcoming Windows Phone? By conscripting Echo Nest, the folks behind iHeartRadio and Spotify's own song-finding features, to pull the playlist picking strings behind Nokia Music's Mix Radio. Using a lightweight browser app, Mix Radio assesses your appetite for beats with a "taste profile" derived from your music library, and uses the data to generate personalized radio stations. The outfit is calling it the "most personalized global music service the world has ever seen." Nokia Music also offers 100 professionally programmed streaming stations and roughly 15 hours of downloadable programming. Echo Nest told us we'd hear more from Nokia itself soon, but if you just can't wait, hit the break for the song-picking puppet master's own press release.
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The Echo Nest Makes Music Personal on Every Nokia Lumia Smartphone

SOMERVILLE, MA, November 15, 2011 - The Echo Nest, a music intelligence platform powering smarter music apps across the web and devices, announced a landmark deal with Nokia today to pre-install a cutting-edge personalized streaming radio service on Nokia handsets. Nokia MixRadio, powered by The Echo Nest, streams fully-personalized radio that immediately understands a user's musical taste.

The Nokia Lumia 800 phone, running the Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, will be first to include the groundbreaking Nokia Music app. The free app includes personalized MixRadio, an MP3 store, live concert recommendations, and more.

After a customer unboxes a Nokia Lumia smartphone, MixRadio analyzes the customer's digital music collection with a lightweight browser app to generate custom streaming radio stations on the phone. MixRadio builds an ever-evolving user taste profile to sculpt programming from Nokia's catalog of over 15 million songs. Based on the Taste Profile, MixRadio offers personalized stations in a variety of genres and allows users to make customized stations based on any artist or song. Under the hood, all of these features are powered by The Echo Nest's music intelligence platform.

"We're obsessed with understanding the entire world of music so we can enrich consumers' lives with a more meaningful listening experience," said Jim Lucchese, CEO of The Echo Nest. "Nokia's MixRadio unites our music intelligence platform with a beautiful device, delivering the most personalized global music service the world has ever seen. We are thrilled to be helping Nokia give millions of music fans this intelligent, personalized digital music experience."

In addition to MixRadio, the free, pre-installed Nokia Music app includes approximately 100 stations programmed by music experts and influencers. Users can stream any station on-demand, or download about 15 hours of programming onto their phones for offline playback.

Running on the well-reviewed Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, The Echo Nest-powered MixRadio feature, and Nokia's consummate hardware designs, Nokia Music gives the world's growing number ofsmartphone users an attractive new option.

Altec Lansing announces a trio of 'Custom Series' in-ear monitors -- no, seriously

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST

Sure, we've covered in-ear monitors from the likes of Westone and Shure, but Altec Lansing? Believe it. Taking a sidestep from its usual consumer-focused audio wares, the company today announced a partnership with ACS Custom to bring a trio of custom-molded IEMs, packing balanced-armature drivers to market. Each ear-mold is "handcrafted from advanced, medical-grade silicone" and you can expect noise isolation in upwards of 27dB, although, you'll somewhat disappointingly be stuck with Altec's signature smoked-grey and gold color scheme. The IEMs feature kevlar-wrapped cabling -- which notably, isn't removable like similar offerings at this price -- and a right-angle 3.5mm plug for hook-up.

The trophy piece of the bunch, dubbed A3 (pictured), is aimed at music professionals and will retail for $1000, featuring a duo of treble and mid-range drivers along with a single woofer. For those leaning toward something less spendy, the $750 A2 variant drops one of the high / mid drivers in favor of a dual-driver setup, while the $500 A1 gets even smaller with a single full-range driver. Better yet, after ordering a set from Altec or an authorized retailer, you'll have a choice of about 300 audiologists -- hopefully within reasonable distance your abode -- to get you ear's impressions taken and sent over for creation. If you're willing to give 'em a shot, the Altec Lansing Custom Series IEMs will be available starting this month, and you'll find the full press release after the break.
Altec Lansing Custom Series in-ear monitors
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ALTEC LANSING AND ACS CUSTOM DELIVER PROFESSIONAL-CALIBER AUDIO WITH TRILOGY OF CUSTOM MADE, IN-EAR MONITORS

New "Custom Series" of Single, Double and Triple Balanced Armature Earphones Provide Amazing Clarity and Comfort

SAN DIEGO, CA – November 15, 2011 – Today, Altec Lansing announced availability of hand-crafted, armature-based in-ear monitors for professionals and audio enthusiasts who demand only the best in audio accuracy, noise isolation, and comfort. Through a partnership with global audio specialist ACS Custom, custom fitted in-ear monitors will be available for retail consumers as well as audio professionals. Engineered for DJs, professional producers, recording / mixing engineers and performing musicians, these new monitors bring to consumers Altec Lansing's legendary sound quality coupled with ACS Custom's reputation for innovative custom in-ear products.

"For nearly 75 years, Altec Lansing has focused on authentic sound quality, and the new Custom Series balanced armature monitors are designed to provide phenomenal sound to professionals and consumers alike who demand high fidelity music, exceptional fit and long-wearing comfort," said Raleigh Wilson, VP Sales & Marketing.

Offering premium audio products is part of Altec Lansing's renewed emphasis on returning to its roots in high-end sound solutions designed for those who want to hear music like the artist intended. These new headphones will promise an unparalleled user experience, as they are custom-built through every phase of production. Once a user purchases an Altec Lansing by ACS Custom monitor set, they will be referred to one of more than 300 local pre-qualified audiologists, who will create individual custom ear molds from which to craft the monitors. Altec Lansing and ACS Custom have a trained network of over 300 professional audiologists who are skilled at making great ear impressions. The custom ear molds are then sent to ACS Custom to create a product to exacting specifications, promising a perfect fit to maximize the listening experience.

"We hand craft every individual Custom Series product in our private labs in the US and the UK for the best possible customer experience. Premium materials, innovative designs and a relentless focus on the details means that the new Altec Lansing by ACS Custom in-ear monitors will provide nearly flawless sound reproduction and an enthralling musical experience for audiophiles and professionals alike," said Craig Kasper, Audiologist and Managing Director, ACS Custom USA.

The new Custom Series In-Ear Monitors are handcrafted from advanced, medical-grade silicone that is extremely soft. The 40 Shore silicone quickly adapts to a user's body temperature, forming a flexible yet complete seal that ensures comfort for extended wear and isolates noise up to -27db. Furthermore, SteriTouch provides an antimicrobial benefit to the silicone.

The three new models have a frequency response range of 16Hz ~ 20KHz, so users will experience music that is most closely matched to the true sound of the original recording. All three models are fitted with finely tuned balanced armature drivers and provide a complete seal of the ear canal that requires less volume while isolating outside noise. Unlike conventional drivers, no air is required for the sound to be conducted. Because of this, the Custom Series In-Ear Monitors can be much more accurately tuned for specific frequency ranges. The result is precise, sharp audio clarity from deep bass tones to crystal clear mid and high range notes. The cables are reinforced with Kevlar for strength and feature an innovative sheath to prevent noise transference to the earpiece. The plug is right-angled and custom-molded for resilience, and the 3.5mm connector is gold plated.

Three custom models are available; each has been carefully constructed for maximum sound clarity, comfort and longevity. The choice of professional musicians and serious audiophiles, the triple driver A3 offers unmatched range, depth and clarity of sound. Three independent drivers work in harmony to sharpen every detail across the entire frequency range. Treble and mid-range drivers deliver clear and nimble notes while the large bass driver produces deep and smooth tones. Each channel is further enhanced with specially selected acoustic filters.

The dual-driver A2 In-Ear Monitor is a favorite of audio enthusiasts, providing the dynamic range, power and clarity of sound that has been the hallmark of Altec Lansing for nearly 75 years. Each hand-made A2 features a large bass driver for deep, mellow tones and a mid to high range driver for a crystal clear top end. The lightweight A1 features one of the most dynamically powerful and accurate drivers ever developed. Delivering an incredible range with stunning clarity, this single driver in-ear monitor is perfect for anyone wishing a discreet and comfortable way to enjoy live-concert quality with a custom canal-molded monitor.

Price and Availability
The Altec Lansing by ACS Custom Series In-Ear Monitors will be available beginning in November. Pricing for the triple armature A3 is $999.95, while the A2 and A1 models will have a suggested retail price of $749.95 and $499.95, respectively. Additionally, J&R Music and Computer World in Manhattan will have a planned launch event offering on-site ear impressions by a professional audiologist. Audiologists will also take custom ear impressions at the Altec Lansing CES booth (South Hall 1, Booth #20621). Consumers are urged to visit HYPERLINK "http://www.alteclansing.com/custom" www.alteclansing.com/custom for more information.

Universal reportedly close to Google music deal, just in time for tomorrow's events

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 04:41 AM PST

We've got a couple of music-related Google events coming up tomorrow. There's the one with Busta Rhymes and Drake and, of course, the one with the miniature Stonehenge. Aside from the aforementioned entertainment, what can we expect? Rumors are pointing to a proper Google Music launch, including the opening up of a music store -- one apparently backed by the labels this time around. EMI is reportedly on board, and according to sources at Bloomberg, Universal isn't too far behind either. Google, naturally, isn't talking.

Netflix reveals new user interface experience for Android tablets, iPad counterpart coming soon

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 04:25 AM PST

You've already had a peek at it in the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, but it seems that redesigned user interface is going to be hitting more than just the holiday's most-talked about duo. Netflix has made official a newly redesigned user interface experience for Android tablets -- one that "makes browsing and instantly watching unlimited TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix better than ever." The new look provides multiple rows of titles with larger artwork to scroll through, with Neil Hunt, chief product officer at Netflix, noting that the company has seen a "threefold increase in how long Netflix members are watching on their tablets." As of today, interested consumers can simply update their Netflix app in the Android Market, while iPad users are being asked to wait "a few weeks," after which the new tablet experience will be dubbed Tabster and led on Twitter by a 17-year old methamphetamine addict.
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Netflix Unveils New Experience on Android Tablets

New Tablet Interface Improves Discovery of TV Shows and Movies

LOS GATOS, Calif., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinciding with the first shipments of the Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet™, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) today unveiled a new interface for Android-powered tablets that makes browsing and instantly watching unlimited TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix better than ever.

The redesigned Netflix experience is much more immersive and provides more focus on the growing Netflix catalog by displaying twice as many titles than the previous interface. In addition, through optimization for touch-enabled tablets, Netflix members can swipe through multiple rows of titles with larger artwork. As a result, it is now much easier to discover and instantly watch movies and TV shows on Android tablets.

"In the last 12 months we have seen a threefold increase in how long Netflix members are watching on their tablets," said Neil Hunt, chief product officer at Netflix. "We're happy to debut a new user experience coinciding with the release of the next generation of devices from industry leaders. The new Netflix interface offers a significant improvement in browsing and searching for TV shows and movies to instantly watch."

Netflix members can enjoy Netflix on their tablets by installing the latest version of the Netflix app, available as a free download in the Android Market™ and respective application download stores for other Android-powered tablets such as the Kindle Fire and NOOK Tablet. The new tablet experience should be available for members with iPads in a few weeks.

Netflix offers convenience and value with a broad selection of Hollywood, international and local movies and TV series. Netflix has revolutionized entertainment by giving people a choice to enjoy what they want to watch, when they want to watch it, and for a low monthly price over a wide-range of Internet-connected devices.

More details on the devices that support Netflix are available at: http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyDevices

Gartner's Q3 2011 smartphone figures: Samsung on top globally, Android tops 50 percent share

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 04:10 AM PST

Yahtzee! Now that Canalys, IDC and Strategy Analytics have had their turn, it's Gartner's go to serve up its summary of the smartphone world as seen in Q3 2011. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the headlines aren't changing much, with Samsung becoming the number one smartphone manufacturer worldwide with sales reaching 24 million, and Android's quarterly market share inching over 50 percent to best iOS, BlackBerry OS, etc. We also (re)learned that Apple shipped 17 million iPhones in the quarter, which represents an annual uptick of 21 percent, but a 3 percent drop from Q2 2011 due to the looming iPhone 4S release; predictably, Gartner's predicting that Apple's Q4 2011 will be its strongest yet with the 4S on the market. Breaking the operating system share a bit, we found that Symbian is (strangely) still being included, and that Android managed to soar from 25.3 percent in Q3 2010 to 52.5 percent today. iOS actually lost a bit of ground (16.6 percent a year ago compared to 15 percent today), but in fairness, so did BlackBerry OS and Bada. Curious about Microsoft? It's claiming just 1.5 percent of the worldwide pie, a fairly precipitous drop from the 2.7 percent it had a year ago. Far more fun facts and figures await you after the break.
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Gartner Says Sales of Mobile Devices Grew 5.6 Percent in Third Quarter of 2011; Smartphone Sales Increased 42 Percent

- Android OS Rose to Account for More Than 50 Percent of Smartphone Sales
Egham, UK, November 15, 2011-  

Worldwide sales of mobile devices totaled 440.5 million units in the third quarter of 2011, up 5.6 percent from the same period last year, according to Gartner, Inc. Non-smartphone devices performed well, driven by demand in emerging markets for low-cost devices from white-box manufacturers, and for dual-subscriber identity module (SIM) devices.

Sales into the channel reached 460 million units. Gartner analysts said this increase was because of inventory build-up in the channel partly because of the shipping of new devices late in the quarter but mostly to prepare the channel for the holiday season. Gartner expects most of the build-up to be sold by the first quarter of 2012.

"Our forecast for the end of the year remains broadly in line at a worldwide level as regions such as Asia/Pacific and the Middle East and Africa make up for weaker performance in the Western European market," said Annette Zimmermann, principal analyst at Gartner based in Munich.

Smartphone sales to end users reached 115 million units in the third quarter of 2011, up 42 percent from the third quarter of 2010. Sequentially, smartphone sales slowed to 7 percent growth from the second quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2011. Smartphone sales accounted for 26 percent of all mobile phone sales, growing only marginally from 25 percent in the previous quarter.

"Strong smartphone growth in China and Russia helped increase overall volumes in the quarter, but demand for smartphones stalled in advanced markets such as Western Europe and the U.S. as many users waited for new flagship devices featuring new versions of the key operating systems," said Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst at Gartner. "Slowdowns also occurred in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa."

"Some consumers held off upgrading in the third quarter because they were waiting for promotions on other new high-end models that were launched in the run-up to the fourth quarter holiday season," Ms. Cozza said. "Other consumers were waiting for a rumored new iPhone and associated price cuts on older iPhone models; this affected U.S. sales particularly."

Despite a drop in market share, Nokia continued to be the worldwide leader in mobile device sales as it accounted for 23.9 percent of global sales (see Table 1). The second quarter of 2011 was the low point for Nokia, and the third quarter brought signs of improvement. Dual-SIM phones in particular, and feature phones generally, maintained Nokia's momentum in emerging markets. Heavy marketing from both Nokia and Microsoft to push the new Lumia devices should bring more improvement in the fourth quarter of 2011. However, a true turnaround won't take place until the second half of 2012.

Samsung became the No. 1 smartphone manufacturer worldwide as sales to end users tripled year over year to reach 24 million; sell in was high as the channel built inventory. Samsung was the No. 1 smartphone manufacturer for the first time, ahead of Nokia in Western Europe and Asia. Gartner attributes this to the strong performance of Samsung's Galaxy smartphones, which now cover a broad range of prices, and a weaker competitive market. Analysts expect more competition in the fourth quarter of 2011, not least because sales of the iPhone 4S, 4 and 3GS will capture share from Android manufacturers.

Apple shipped 17 million iPhones, an annual increase of 21 percent, but down nearly 3 million units from the second quarter of 2011 because of Apple's new device announcement in October. Gartner believes Apple will bounce back in the fourth quarter because of its strongest ever preorders for the iPhone 4S in the first weekend after its announcement. Markets such as Brazil, Mexico, Russia and China are becoming more important to Apple, representing 16 percent of overall sales and showing that the iPhone has a place in emerging markets, especially now that the 3GS and 4 have received price cuts.

The Android OS accounted for 52.5 percent of smartphone sales to end users in the third quarter of 2011 (see Table 2), more than doubling its market share from the third quarter of 2010.

"Android benefited from more mass-market offerings, a weaker competitive environment and the lack of exciting new products on alternative operating systems such as Windows Phone 7 and RIM," Ms. Cozza said. "Apple's iOS market share suffered from delayed purchases as consumers waited for the new iPhone. Continued pressure is impacting RIM's performance, and its smartphone share reached its lowest point so far in the U.S. market, where it dropped to 10 percent."

Source: Gartner (November 2011)

More information is available in the Gartner report "Market Share: Mobile Communication Devices by Region and Country, 3Q11," which is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=1847315.

Spar's Zephyr portable Bluetooth speaker lineup streams your music, charges your phone

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 04:00 AM PST

Say hello to Spar -- a newcomer to the land of wireless audio. Today, the company is officially accepting pre-orders for its Zephyr lineup of rechargeable Bluetooth speakers. The portable units are similar to others such as Jawone's Jambox, offering wireless music streaming, speakerphone functionality and portability, but also feature the ability to juice up your smartphone over USB. In total, you'll have a your pick of three Zephyrs, priced from $99 to a moderate $160 (including cables, a case and a charger). First up is the "pocketable" 300 model, which has a 12-hour battery and a black paint scheme (along with red and blue for a limited time). If that won't cut it, the slightly larger 500 variant packs 18-hours of battery life and comes in choice of white or black. Rounding out the bunch is the aluminum-housed 550; it features a massive 28-hour battery and comes in a either silver or black. If you're willing to give this new kid on the Bluetooth-block a try, the Zephyrs are set to ship by year's end and you'll find more info at the source link below. Full press release after the break.
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New Consumer Electronics Company SPAR Launches ZEPHYR Wireless Speaker Line

Portable high-definition speaker from SPAR doubles as speakerphone and mobile phone charger

(Provo, UT – November 15, 2011) – SPAR (www.SPAR.com) launches today as a breakout consumer technology company focusing on innovation and quality portable audio with the launch of its ZEPHYR speaker line. A truly versatile solution in wireless audio, the ZEPHYR line of Bluetooth, high-definition speakers double as mobile phone chargers–making them the first ever portable speaker/speakerphone/recharger combination.

SPAR comes from CEO Warren Osborn, founder of multiple successful consumer products companies.

"The inaugural SPAR product line is designed to complement the myriad of portable mobile devices on the market," Osborn says. "From tablets to smartphones, these devices have remarkable visual functionality, but generally come with poor sound quality and often run out of battery power mid-day. The ZEPHYR line solves these issues, consolidating the portable speaker/speakerphone and cell phone charger into one unit. The ZEPHYR really is the perfect companion product for a mobile phone or tablet."

"Our brand has a distinct style that resonates with consumers regardless of time, gender and location, but above all we're focused on delivering cutting edge technology and innovative functionality," Shane Bills, Chief Marketing Officer, says. "The ZEPHYR is like a Swiss Army knife for your portable mobile device-it plays your music, charges your mobile phone and facilitates your phone calls, creating the ultimate tool for the mobile consumer."

SPAR's first offering, a line of Bluetooth wireless audio speakers called ZEPHYR, earn high marks in form, function and quality. Boasting stunning acoustics and class-leading battery life, speakers in the ZEPHYR line not only deliver clear, beautiful sound, but also provide high fidelity speakerphone audio for hands-free calling. The most innovative quality of the ZEPHYR is its patent-pending technology that allows you to recharge your mobile devices while on the go-a truly differentiating factor for the ZEPHYR among a host of portable audio solutions.

The ZEPHYR line is composed of three models: ZEPHYR 300, 500 and 550. The ultra-portable ZEPHYR 300 is small enough to fit in your pocket, offers approximately 12 hours of playtime, and comes in black as well as limited editions of red and blue. The sleek ZEPHYR 500 model fits easily in a bag or purse, is available in both black and white and boasts an amazing 18 hours of wire-free operation. The high-end 550 model is encased in aircraft grade anodized aluminum, is available in silver and black and gives a class-leading 28 hours of battery life. All versions of the speakers come with a soft carry bag, an assortment of cables, and an AC charging adapter.

The ZEPHYR line is available now for pre-order with prices ranging from $99.99 to $159.99 at www.SPAR.com, with delivery in mid-December, and roll-out to retail channels in early 2012.

Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi make joint venture official, form Japan Display Inc.

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 03:36 AM PST

Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi officially joined forces today, cementing a government-backed joint venture that's been in the works for a few months, now. Together with the government-funded firm Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), the three manufacturers will now form an entity known as Japan Display Inc., slated to launch during the Spring of 2012. INCJ is providing the lion's share of the funding (approximately $2.6 billion), giving it a 70 percent stake in the newly formed venture. The other three, meanwhile, will each control ten percent of the company, which will encompass their respective small-display subsidiaries. The stakeholders are hoping that today's announcement will help revive their sagging display sales, with some extra help from Panasonic, which also announced that it's selling one of its biggest domestic factories to the freshly minted Japan Display, for an unnamed sum. Find more details in the full PR after the break.
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INCJ, Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba Sign Definitive Agreements Regarding Integration of Small- and Medium-Sized Display Businesses
15 Nov, 2011

TOKYO, November 15, 2011 – Innovation Network Corporation of Japan ("INCJ"), Hitachi, Ltd. ("Hitachi"), Sony Corporation ("Sony") and Toshiba Corporation ("Toshiba") announced today that they have signed definitive agreements to integrate their small- and medium-sized display businesses in a new company to be established and operated by INCJ, which is planned to be named Japan Display Inc. ("Japan Display").

Pursuant to the definitive agreements, all of the issued shares of certain subsidiaries of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba engaged in the small- and medium-sized display business (i.e., Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Sony Mobile Display Corporation and one other Sony subsidiary*, and Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd., collectively referred to as the "Subject Subsidiaries") and other assets are planned to be transferred to Japan Display, in which each of the four companies INCJ, Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi will invest. INCJ, as a public-private partnership that provides financial, technological and management support for next-generation businesses, will invest a total of 200 billion yen in Japan Display in exchange for shares to be newly issued to INCJ by Japan Display as a third-party allotment.

Japan Display is expected to utilize the world's best high value-added technologies of the Subject Subsidiaries and establish new production lines by utilizing funds provided by INCJ, in order to meet the market demand for high value-added products. In addition, through efficient use of the existing production capabilities of the Subject Subsidiaries, Japan Display aims to improve its cost competitiveness to solidify its position as a global leading company in the small- and medium-sized display market. The business is scheduled to begin operations in Spring of 2012, subject to the receipt of any necessary government approvals.

Xperia arc S up for order on Sony's site, could ship this week

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 03:28 AM PST

Our friends across the pond have had a month's head start getting to know Sony Ericsson's Xperia arc S inside and out. Now, it appears that refreshed flagship's gearing up to hit stateside as early as this week in unlocked fashion. Shown as having an estimated November 15th ship date on Sony's site, the 4.2-inch Gingerbread handset brings its Mobile Bravia Engine display, 1.4GHz Qualcomm processor and 8 megapixel shooter to North American mitts for $499 in four distinct shades. If carrier subsidization is your preferred method of purchase, you'll have to hold off for a bit as official US plans have yet to be announced. But why wait? Your early access mobile bragging rights await you at the source.

[Thanks, Michael]
Show full PR text
XPERIA arc S AND XPERIA neo V FROM SONY ERICSSON ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.

The Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V from Sony Ericsson are now available for purchase in the U.S. at the Sony Store. The Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V showcase an enhanced entertainment experience with the latest Sony technology and Android™ operating system, version 2.3.4 (Gingerbread).

The Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V feature Sony's groundbreaking 3D sweep panorama technology, which enables image capture and viewing in 3D by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output, so you can show off those amazing pictures from your last vacation or that video of the flash mob you saw today to your friends and family.

This version of Android™ Gingerbread includes new functionality and features that allow you to benefit from improvements to Sony Ericsson's unique Facebook inside Xperia™. Share, see, like and comment on all your favorite stuff – from tracks on your music player to photos from your gallery and even apps and games downloaded on your phone.

Xperia™ arc S Key Features and Pricing:

· Android™ 2.3.4 operating system

· 1.4 GHz processor

· 8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor

· 4.2" Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine® Engine

· 3D and 2D sweep panorama photography

· Available in Pure White, Gloss Black, Midnight Blue, and Misty Silver

· MSRP $549.99, unlocked

Xperia™ neo V Key Features and Pricing:

· Android™ 2.3.4 operating system

· 3.7" capacitive, multi-touch screen

· 5 megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom

· Front-facing camera

· Available in Pearl White, Silver, and Blue Gradient

· MSRP $349.99, unlocked


Android™ 2.3.4 – At a Glance*

· Xperia™ smartphones introducing world's first 3D sweep panorama functionality powered by Sony

· Updated Facebook inside Xperia™ functionality for enhanced like, share and discover abilities

· Gesture input - text input by swiping the finger from one letter to the next

· New features including Google™ Talk with Video Chat for smartphones with front-facing cameras



Availability:

The Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V are available unlocked, at Sony Store. Additional availability can be found at other retailers such as Newegg.com starting early December. Check for pricing and availability.

Ice Cream Sandwich coming to full Xperia lineup, Sony Ericsson confirms

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 02:30 AM PST

Last month, Sony Ericsson hinted, via Facebook, that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich would soon be making its way to its entire lineup of Xperia handsets. Today, this forthcoming upgrade has become officially official, though details remain equally fuzzy. "We can today confirm that we plan to upgrade the entire 2011 Xperia portfolio to the next version of Android known as Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich," the company wrote in a blog post this morning. "We are working on merging our current Xperia experience with the new features in Android 4.0." The update will encompass all Xperia Arc, Play and Pro handsets, as well as the company's Live with Walkman device, though we'll have to wait a little longer for details on release and availability. As always, we'll be sure to keep you up to date.

Biscotti TV Phone goes on sale today for $199, assumes everyone you know uses Google Talk

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 02:00 AM PST

Feel the need to video chat in higher resolution? Or maybe just take a break from the PC while you talk to your long-distance girlfriend you met at Comic Con? Well, we just got word that Biscotti, that TV phone we demoed last week, is on sale in the US and Canada for a princely $199. To recap, it's a camera that sits discreetly atop your TV and is, indeed, about as small and lightweight as that crunchy Italian cookie. The idea is pretty simple: it plugs into both your TV and set-top box, and makes free calls to other Biscotti owners, along with anyone using Google Talk. After our brief demo we were impressed enough with the easy setup and simple menus that layer on top of whatever you're watching, but then again, we were unaware of the price. So, is two hundred bucks worth a lifetime of seeing grandma in 1080p? That, friends, is a decision you'll have to make for yourself.
Biscotti TV Phone
Show full PR text
BISCOTTI INTRODUCES WORLD'S FIRST HIGH-­‐DEFINITION TV PHONE

Sleek, small device brings big screen video calling to any HDTV, with ease-­‐of-­‐use and free calls to anyone, anywhere. Buy at www.biscotti.com.

MCKINNEY, Texas - November 15, 2011 - Today Biscotti Inc. unveiled Biscotti TV Phone, the
next generation of home video calling. With high-­‐definition picture and sound, Biscotti TV Phone brings family and friends together on the biggest screen in the home, your HDTV. Real-­‐life picture and sound creates an experience so vivid, it's like being in the same room. Sleek and small, the biscotti-­‐shaped device is easy to use for all ages, featuring a friendly remote and on-­‐screen menus that work while you're watching TV. Best of all, you can make unlimited free calls to other Biscotti and to computers, tablets and smartphones supporting Google voice and video. Biscotti TV Phone is now available at www.biscotti.com.

"Biscotti TV Phone was created to let family and friends of all ages enjoy video calling on the biggest screen you own. It has been designed to be elegant and tiny, and to blend into your living room," said Dr. Matthew B. Shoemake, CEO and Founder of Biscotti Inc. "Biscotti is easy for everyone to use and provides whole-­‐room views. To top it off, calls are free!"

Biscotti is ideal for staying close to long distance family and friends, for traveling parents who don't want to miss life's little moments with their families, for seniors who want to stay caught up with their busy relatives and consumers who appreciate technology that's intuitive and easy to use. No need to wait for the computer to start, launch applications or crowd around a small screen. The high-­‐definition camera and microphone capture the entire room, allowing everyone to fit onscreen and move about freely. So you can relax, be comfortable and talk for hours like you are in the same room. It's the next best thing to being there!

Biscotti TV Phone is easy for the whole family to use. No computer or technical knowledge is required - only a TV, Wi-­Fi and comfy place to sit! Simply plug in Biscotti and start making free calls to anyone anywhere, worldwide. You can call other Biscotti and computers, tablets and smartphones supporting Google voice and video.

A simple six-­‐button remote controls Biscotti while you are watching TV, without having to switch inputs. You can set Biscotti to automatically answer calls from select contacts and even turn on the TV when you receive a call – a great way to ensure your most important contacts are always within reach.

"Video calling is growing at an enormous rate – nearly 50% per year. Still, only 1 in 5 people have ever made a video call citing technical complexity, expense or lack of spontaneity" said Dr. Shoemake. "Biscotti solves this as the first single-­‐purpose, dedicated TV phone. Simple to setup and as easy to use as a home phone."

Biscotti works with Wi-­‐Fi uplink speeds as low as 256 Kbps and delivers true high-­‐definition at speeds of 1 Mbps or greater. It is compatible with HDMI-­‐enabled TVs and popular cable and satellite boxes.

Pricing and Availability

Biscotti TV Phone is now available for sale in the United States and Canada for just $199. For more information or to purchase, please visit www.biscotti.com.

Google announces 'opt-out' feature for wireless network owners, aims to allay privacy concerns

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 01:56 AM PST

Google, as promised, responded to concerns over its data collection policy this morning, by announcing a new "opt-out" feature for its location based services. Under the new policy, WiFi operators can remove their home networks from Google's geolocation database by simply adding "_nomap" to the end of their access point's SSID. A network named "Engadget," for example, would be renamed "Engadget_nomap," and dutifully removed from the Google Location Server. In a blog post announcing the change, the company explained that this solution offers "the right balance of simplicity as well as protection against abuse," since it "helps protect against others opting out your access point without your permission." For more details, hit up the source link below, or check out Google's Help Center for more detailed instructions on how to opt out.

Zinio now available on Amazon Appstore, brings 5,000 magazines to Kindle Fire

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 01:21 AM PST

After having already arrived on a host of Android slates, iPads and even TouchPads, Zinio's reader app has now made its way to the newest tablet platform -- the Kindle Fire. The magazine marketplace made its debut on the Amazon Appstore today, just in time for today's grand launch. Available as a free download, Zinio brings more than 5,000 magazine titles to Amazon's new slab, including The Economist, Rolling Stone and US Weekly, among others. New subscribers, meanwhile, will benefit from an extra $25 in credit, redeemable through March of 2012. Find more specifics in the full PR, after the break.
Show full PR text
ZINIO'S GLOBAL MAGAZINE SERVICE AVAILABLE ON KINDLE FIRE

World's Largest Newsstand Gives $25 Shopping Perk To All New Registrants Across the Globe, and On Any Device, Through March 2012 Across Selection of 5,000+ Magazines

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2011 – Zinio, the world's largest and most popular magazine marketplace, is now available on Amazon's Kindle Fire. Debuting #1 in free magazines in the Amazon Appstore, Zinio is now available on more tablet devices than any other newsstand or magazine reader, which includes iPad, ASUS Transformer, Acer Iconia, Lenovo IdeaPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Sony Tablet S. Customers can enjoy their magazines across tablets, smartphones and PC devices running all flavors of iOS, Android, WebOS, Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems.

Global adoption of digital reading continues to grow with the proliferation of tablet devices, which will be in the hands of 35 million consumers this year, and more than 208 million by 2015, according to Gartner.

"There are more mobile phones and tablet devices in the USA than there are people, and we believe that the world will indeed have twice as many connected devices as people by 2015," said Zinio President and CEO Rich Maggiotto. "This should be and is a huge incentive for publishers to migrate swiftly to digital distribution. Our reach across all operating systems positions Zinio, and our publisher partners, to uniquely grow alongside the exploding device market."

Zinio is already available on almost all tablets and over 50 different smartphones worldwide, and this month alone has added distribution to Kindle Fire, HP TouchPad, Kobo Vox and Lenovo ThinkPad tablet, to name a few. Zinio is one of the top apps for news on Android and WebOS and is the #1 top grossing apps in news in over 50 countries on Apple's iPad.

Zinio is now available for free download in the Amazon Appstore in time for the launch of the Kindle Fire on November 15. As an added incentive for new Zinio buyers on any device, Zinio will be offering new registrants a $25 credit that they can redeem for magazines across the entire global newsstand through March 2012.

"Having all of our titles available through Zinio gives us an opportunity to reach readers both across the world and on all digital mediums – PC, Mac, tablets and smartphones," said Chris Wilkes, vice president, App Lab, Hearst Magazines. "Digital distribution is now responsible for more than 300,000 subscriptions per month, and we look forward to continuing to focus on reaching our customers with innovative new features, on every device they are reading on."

Zinio offers Kindle Fire and other tablet readers access to more than 5,000 magazine titles from around the world, includingRolling Stone, The Economist, Hello!, US Weekly, T3, Travel + Leisure and many more. Zinio is focused on delivering global access and the best user experience, giving its readers the ability to discover, read and shop for their favorite magazines from around the world, on all their devices.

Users can download Zinio for free for the Android Fire from the Amazon Appstore , for other Android devices from the Android Market, for iPad in the iTunes Store, and for PC/Mac at Zinio.com.

RIM unveils BlackBerry Bold 9790, Curve 9380, hitting the market within weeks

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 12:31 AM PST

Now that we've seen all the leaks and heard all the rumors, RIM has finally announced the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and Curve 9380, welcoming two new members to the OS 7 family. Picking up where the Bold 9780 left off, the comparatively higher-end 9790 boasts a 2.44-inch touchscreen display with 360 x 480 resolution, and is powered by a 1GHz CPU. The QWERTY-equipped handset also ships with 8GB of onboard memory and features a microSD slot that offers up to 32GB of additional space. The Curve 9380, meanwhile, is an all touchscreen affair, with a 3.2-inch, 480 x 360 display and a five megapixel camera. RIM hasn't offered any other details on the 9380's specs, though the company did specify that both devices will offer NFC and augmented reality support, and will come pre-loaded with BlackBerry Messenger, Documents To Go Premium, and BlackBerry Protect. No word yet on pricing or availability, though RIM says to expect a launch "over the coming weeks." Find more details in the full PR, after the break.
Show full PR text
Research In Motion Expands BlackBerry 7 Portfolio with the New BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 Smartphones

JAKARTA, INDONESIA AND WATERLOO, ONTARIO, Nov 15, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Editors Note: Six photos for this release will be available via Marketwire on the picture wire of The Canadian Press.

Research In Motion (RIM) RIMM +0.60% CA:RIM -0.43% today announced two new smartphones based on the BlackBerry(R) 7 operating system (OS) - the BlackBerry(R) Bold(TM) 9790 and BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) 9380.

The new smartphones offer impressively slim and stylish designs with enhanced communications, multimedia, productivity and social connectivity features. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is both powerful and compact, offering users a fully loaded, high performance smartphone with the dual benefits of a high resolution touch display and a highly tactile keyboard. The BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first-ever BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) smartphone with a touch display. It continues to deliver the powerful social experiences, ease-of-use and smaller handset size that distinguish the BlackBerry Curve family, while also offering Curve users the choice of a larger display and an all-touch design.

"We are very excited to expand the BlackBerry 7 portfolio with the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380," said Carlo Chiarello, Senior Vice President, Handheld Product Management at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry smartphones offer a uniquely refined mobile communications experience that people love and we think many customers will be thrilled by the faster performance, beautiful touch displays and compact designs available with these new BlackBerry 7 based models."

BlackBerry Bold 9790 Smartphone with Touch Display and Keyboard

True to the BlackBerry Bold brand, the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 smartphone is powerful, full-featured and built with premium materials and finishes. It combines a high-resolution and highly responsive touch display with a highly tactile keyboard and a precise optical trackpad, but comes in a narrow design that is easy to carry and exceptionally comfortable to hold. With the BlackBerry 7 OS and powerful 1 GHz processor, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 delivers fast, smooth performance for browsing the web, running apps, working with documents, and enjoying multimedia. It includes 8GB of onboard memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB of additional storage.

All-Touch BlackBerry Curve 9380 Smartphone

The finely crafted BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first all-touch smartphone in the BlackBerry Curve family. It features a highly responsive and brilliant 3.2" high resolution display and comes with preinstalled social networking apps, including BBM(TM) (BlackBerry(R) Messenger), Facebook(R), Twitter(TM) and Social Feeds apps, that offer a fun, easy and smoothly integrated mobile experience. This compact and stylish handset also features a 5MP camera with flash and video recording, allowing users to easily capture and share their favorite moments with family, friends and colleagues.

Powerful BlackBerry 7 OS

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 are both powered by the new BlackBerry 7 OS, which delivers a faster and richer user experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, and support for Augmented Reality and NFC (Near Field Communications). It also includes the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, and comes with a variety of personal and productivity apps out of the box.

BlackBerry 7 also introduces an enhanced browser that provides a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience. The browser includes a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages and it offers optimized HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences. The popular universal search capability has also been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can simply speak to begin searching their device and the web for information.

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphones include built-in support for Augmented Reality and NFC, allowing users to connect with the world around them in fresh new ways. With the Wikitude Augmented Reality application, users can find nearby BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) contacts in real-time, read reviews on restaurants close to them, or get the story behind an interesting landmark and points of interest. NFC also enables many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to make mobile payments, pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.

BlackBerry 7 includes a number of preinstalled applications and integrated functionality for increasing productivity and easy sharing and collaboration right out of the box. The Premium version of Documents To Go is included free of charge, offering users powerful document editing features as well as a native PDF document viewer. BlackBerry(R) Protect is pre-loaded(i), offering customers the peace of mind that personal data can be backed up and secured in the cloud. BlackBerry(R) Balance is integrated in BlackBerry 7, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT department's need for advanced security and IT controls. The Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to capture updates from media and favorites all in one consolidated view. The Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.

Availability

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphones will begin to be available from various carriers around the world over the coming weeks. Availability dates for specific devices from specific carriers will be announced in conjunction with RIM's partners.

Additional Information

For additional information please visit www.blackberry.com .

Lomography LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker hands-on (video)

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 11:35 PM PST

"Unique and precious pieces of movie art." That's what Lomography is promising to deliver with the LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker -- the company's very first movie camera. Announced earlier this month, the LomoKino is hardly a technological game changer. In fact, it's anything but. Much like every other camera to come off of Lomography's assembly line, the Movie Maker is entirely analog. Users must spool their own 35mm film and manually operate the device's crank to capture images at a frame rate of three to five frames per second, with a shutter speed of 1/100 second. From there, you can either send the film off to get developed and digitally formatted, or cut it yourself and scan it into your movie editing software of choice.

You won't find any sound, many frills, or, for that matter, a ton of convenience, but that's also the idea -- to return filmmakers to the roots of early silent cinema, with a pared down device that reignites some of the photographic mystery lost with the dawn of the digital age. For those too young to remember the analog era, just think of it as a physical manifestation of Instagram, minus the "insta" part. And the results can be pretty stunning, as many in the Lomography community have already demonstrated with collections of hauntingly silent, washed out shorts. With our curiosity piqued, we decided to stop by Lomography's boutique in Paris to learn more about the LomoKino. Check out our hands-on gallery below, and click past the break for our initial impressions.

Lomography LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker


The LomoKino's design, as you may expect, is rather spartan, yet deceptively lightweight and easy to cradle in the palm of your hand. There's a film crank on the right side of the camera, a nestled rewind crank on the left, and a really small viewfinder that pops up at the top. Sitting front and center is a 25mm lens with a closeup button perched on its left. Below that is an aperture dial that allows users to freely glide from f/5.6 to f/11. There's also a flash hotshoe adapter and a tripod mount, though neither accessory is offered in a bundle package. What you could opt for, however, is the accompanying LomoKinoScope -- a smaller viewer into which you can spool imaged film for pre-development preview. Said film, of course, would be 35mm, of any variety. To load it into the camera, you'll have to pull apart the back of the LomoKino and carefully spool and hook the film across two scrolls. We tried it ourselves, and it definitely requires some delicacy.


Once you've got your 36 exposures locked in, you're ready to start shooting. To capture a single image, just roll the crank forward until you hear a click. The faster you turn it, of course, the more fluid your film. It's an entirely free focus device, but if you're shooting an object that's less than a meter in front of you, you'll want to hold down the closeup button as you film. All told, you should be able to squeeze about 40 to 50 seconds worth of footage from every roll, using the metric on the left side of the box to gauge your progress. Aside from that, the only thing you'll need is a dash of inspiration, and a lazy weekend. Lomography's LomoKino Movie Maker is now available for $80 as a stand alone purchase, or for $100, if bundled with the LomoKinoScope.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

PBS Kids launches augmented reality game for iOS, says all the cool kids are counting sushi

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 10:30 PM PST

It's official: Kids today have way cooler toys than you did when you were growing up. PBS Kids has just outed its first augmented reality mobile app for iOS -- a game called Fetch! Launch Rush that aims to take the sting out of learning to do addition and subtraction in your head. If you're up on PBS' children's programming (and why wouldn't you be?), you'll recognize that pooch Ruff Ruffman as the game show host in the animated show Fetch! Here, he's a legendary movie director trying to make sure there's enough sushi for his movie crew (grown-up problems, right?). That's where the augmented reality comes in: bits of raw fish floating around screen. Though it's worth noting that this isn't augmented reality in the strictest sense of the term, in that you have to print out game cards to use with your iPhone or iPod touch's camera. The free app requires an iPhone or iPod touch (fourth-gen or later) or an iPad / iPad 2 running iOS 4.0. While we can't say we're a bit envious of those six- to eight-year-olds with their very own iPod touches, but then again, will they ever know the sheer joy of hunting in Oregon Trail over and over again?
PBS Kids Launch Rush app
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PBS KIDS today announced its first augmented reality app for iPhone and iPod touch, FETCH! Lunch Rush, which is now available on the App Store. Available for free, the app uses the camera on iPhone or iPod touch to overlay computer-generated graphics on top of the physical, real-world environment. Extending PBS's leadership in using augmented reality as an educational tool, FETCH! Lunch Rush opens a new world of learning by teaching kids ages six to eight math skills, like addition and subtraction, while blending the virtual and real world into a truly engaging experience.

"Augmented reality is becoming a popular marketing tool and a compelling feature for gamers, but no one has fully explored what this could mean for educating children"

"Augmented reality is becoming a popular marketing tool and a compelling feature for gamers, but no one has fully explored what this could mean for educating children," said Jason Seiken, Senior Vice President, Interactive, Product Development and Innovation, PBS. "We were among the first to offer educational augmented reality kids content when we launched the DINOSAUR TRAIN Hatching Party online game last year, in which a player's real world intersects with a virtual environment online to help hatch a dinosaur egg. We're excited to expand our exploration of this space by launching our first augmented reality mobile app and continue PBS KIDS's leadership in using new technologies to further learning."

"The FETCH! Lunch Rush App is designed as a 3-D game, which helps kids visualize the math problems they are trying to solve," added Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children's Media, PBS. "At PBS KIDS our goal is to use media to nurture kids' natural curiosity and inspire them to explore the world around them; we can't wait to see what this new app will mean for furthering that exploration."

The FETCH! Lunch Rush App was produced by PBS member station WGBH and is based on the PBS KIDS GO! series FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman, also produced by WGBH. In this multiplayer app, Ruff Ruffman has to collect the lunch order for his studio crew. The challenge is keeping track of how many pieces of sushi everyone wants using augmented reality "markers" (printable hand-outs) that prompt activity within the app. The app uses 3-D imagery to reinforce the early algebraic concepts, helping kids to make the connection between real objects and corresponding numeric symbols.

The FETCH! Lunch Rush App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

Developed in partnership with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and powered by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, FETCH! Lunch Rush is part of a new suite of games available on the newly launched PBS KIDS Lab website (PBSKIDS.org/lab). Combined with online and interactive whiteboard games, this new app helps build a learning experience for kids that takes place across platforms, all with the goal of accelerating learning. In addition to FETCH!, six suites based on hit PBS KIDS series are available on the PBS KIDS Lab: THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!, CURIOUS GEORGE, SID THE SCIENCE KID, FIZZY'S LUNCH LAB, SUPER WHY!. and DINOSAUR TRAIN.

To date, PBS KIDS mobile apps have been downloaded more than 1.4 million times. With a transmedia approach, PBS KIDS is increasingly serving children wherever they live, learn, and play – through mobile devices, as well as on TV, online, in the classroom, and through a new line of educational toys.

For images of the FETCH! Lunch Rush App, please visit PBS PressRoom.

About PBS KIDS:
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for children, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS programs supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About CPB:
CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operation of more than 1,300 locally-owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

About The Ready To Learn Initiative:
The Ready To Learn Initiative is a grant program managed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement. It supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families. Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach, and research on educational effectiveness.

About WGBH Boston

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcasting producer and the single largest source of prime-time and children's programming for PBS and pbs.org. Among the WGBH-produced children's titles: Arthur, Curious George, Postcards from Buster, Between the Lions, Design Squad, Martha Speaks, FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman, and Peep and the Big Wide World. For more information, visit www.wgbh.org.

The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50067698&lang=en

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Adobe brings Touch Apps family to Android tablets, Creative Cloud looms on the horizon

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 09:16 PM PST

Back in October, as you may recall, Adobe unveiled its Touch Apps family -- a collection of six tools designed to make life easier and more tactile for tablet-using creative types. Today, those apps are finally available on the Android Market, for tablets running Android 3.1 or higher. The sextet includes Photoshop Touch, Collage and Proto, among other Adobe products, each of which is priced at $9.99. These applications will also play a central role in Adobe's forthcoming Creative Cloud initiative, which will allow users to share, view and transfer files across multiple devices. That isn't expected to launch until the first half of next year, while the full suite of Touch Apps for iOS users should be released by "early 2012" (Adobe Ideas is the only member currently available on iTunes). Android slate wielders can get their hands on all the Touch Apps now, though Adobe says they'll need at least an 8.9-inch, 1280 x 800 display. Check out the source link below for more details, or head past the break for the full PR treatment.
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Adobe Touch Apps Available in Android Market

Six New Tablet Apps Enable Creativity Anywhere, Anytime

November 15, 2011 12:46 AM Eastern Time

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the availability of the Adobe® Touch Apps in the Android Market. Adobe Touch Apps are a family of six intuitive touch screen applications, inspired by Adobe Creative Suite® software, to bring professional-level creativity to millions of tablet users. Designed to work with both finger and stylus input, the apps address multiple areas of the creative process: Adobe Photoshop® Touch for image editing; Adobe Collage for moodboards; Adobe Debut for presenting and reviewing creative work; Adobe Ideas for sketching; Adobe Kuler® for exploring color themes; and Adobe Proto for website and mobile app prototyping. Announced at MAX 2011 in October, the apps are available today for Android 3.1 or higher. Adobe Ideas is already on iOS and Adobe expects iOS versions of the other five apps to be available in early 2012.

"Our touch apps will be a key component in Adobe's full Creative Cloud offering, coming in 2012."

In addition to availability as individual apps, Adobe Touch Apps will be essential components of Adobe Creative Cloud™, a new initiative expected in the first half of 2012. Adobe Creative Cloud will be a worldwide hub for creativity, with membership options that will enable users to access desktop and tablet applications, find essential creative services and share their best work. With the creative file capabilities of Adobe Creative Cloud launched today, files created via Adobe Touch Apps will be able to be shared, viewed across devices or transferred into Adobe Creative Suite software for further refinement – all key features of Adobe's vision for the Creative Cloud*.

"Adobe Touch Apps will transform how people use tablets – from mere consumption devices to vehicles for expression and creativity," said David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media Business Unit, Adobe. "Our touch apps will be a key component in Adobe's full Creative Cloud offering, coming in 2012."

Headlined by Adobe Photoshop Touch, a groundbreaking app that brings the legendary creative and image-editing power of Photoshop to tablet devices for the first time, the new Adobe Touch Apps include:

Adobe Photoshop Touch lets users transform images with core Photoshop features, in an app custom-built for tablets. With simple finger gestures, users can combine multiple photos into layered images, make essential edits, and apply professional effects. The tablet-exclusive Scribble Selection Tool allows users to easily extract objects in an image by simply scribbling on what to keep and, then, what to remove. With Refine Edge technology from Adobe Photoshop, even hard-to-select areas with soft edges are easily captured when making selections. Additionally, the app helps users quickly find images, share creations and view comments through integration with Facebook and Google search. Using Adobe Creative Cloud, files can be accessed and opened in Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe Collage helps creatives capture and refine ideas and concepts by allowing them to combine inspirational images, drawings, text and Creative Suite files into modern, conceptual moodboards. Features include importing of images, four customizable pen types for drawing, adding text and applying color themes. A virtually unconstrained canvas grows as needed to accommodate more assets. Files can be shared or transferred for access in Adobe Photoshop using Adobe Creative Cloud.

Adobe Debut allows users to present designs to clients and stakeholders virtually anywhere. Adobe Debut quickly opens tablet-compatible versions of Creative Suite files for convenient and beautiful viewing on the tablet, including Photoshop layers and Illustrator® art boards. Feedback is gathered using a markup pen tool to add notes and drawings on top of the work.

Adobe Ideas is an easy-to-master, vector-based tool for drawing. By using a stylus or finger, strokes appear smooth at any zoom level. Starting with a blank canvas, users can choose color themes and pull in tablet-compatible image files that can be controlled as separate layers. Finished results are easily accessed in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Adobe Ideas is also currently available for iOS.

Adobe Kuler makes it easy to generate color themes that can inspire any design project. Color can be explored and discovered, with hundreds of thousands of Kuler themes already available via the creative community. Social engagement in the community is enhanced by rating and commenting on themes, which can be exported as color swatches for Adobe Creative Suite projects.

Adobe Proto enables the development of interactive wireframes and prototypes for websites and mobile apps on a tablet. Ideas are communicated and shared with teams and clients using a touch-based interface. Gestures quickly express a design concept, explain website structure or demonstrate interactivity. The wireframe or prototype then can be exported as industry standard HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and shared in popular browsers for immediate review and approval.

To learn more about the Adobe Touch apps, please visit Adobe.com, Adobe TV, Facebook or Twitter. News about the Adobe Creative Cloud can also be found on the Creative Layer blog or Facebook. The new Adobe Touch Apps follow the launch of the Adobe Carousel™ application for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Mac OS – an all-new way to browse, enhance and share photos across devices.

Pricing and Availability

The six Adobe Touch Apps for creative professionals are immediately available on the Android Market, at an introductory price of $USD9.99 each. The Touch Apps are available in most geographies in English. The Adobe Touch Apps will run on tablets running Android 3.1 or higher with a minimum 8.9" screen size and resolution of 1280 x 800. Adobe Ideas is currently available in the iTunes App Store for $USD5.99. Adobe expects iOS versions for all Touch Apps to be available in early 2012. The Adobe Touch Apps integrate with the creative file viewing, sharing and transfer features of the Adobe Creative Cloud also made available today. More information regarding the additional capabilities of Adobe Creative Cloud, including applications, services and community and full Adobe Creative Cloud paid membership options will be available in the first half of 2012.

MIT student creates tesla coil musical hat for Halloween, survives

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 08:27 PM PST

Some of us express our über-geeky tendencies by building Tron lightcycle case mods, or playing with Arduino. While others tend to err on the side of... insanity. MIT student Tyler Christensen would probably fall into that latter category, most recently strapping a tesla coil (and associated capacitors) to his head. The result is seriously impressive, and no animals (or humans) were harmed in the making of his costume -- though the DRSSTC (Dual Resonant Solid State Tesla Coil) didn't fare so well, considering that it "blew up" the day before the holiday weekend. Christensen still had a chance to test the contraption on camera before the incident, however, walking around town while zapping the sky to the tune of the Harry Potter theme song -- a seemingly appropriate selection. Check it out in the video after the break.

Inside Secure announces NFC chips to help distinguish knockoffs from the real thing

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 06:48 PM PST

If you can't tell if a Rolex or a knockoff Prada bag is fake, your NFC-enabled smartphone will be able to. Toking on a long-standing problem with counterfeiting, French company Inside Secure has released the Vault150 security module, a NFC-based chip that can be embedded into any product a retailer might wish to have authenticated by prospective buyers. This could become as easy as literally embedding the chip, as NFC chips require no power source, can collect RF energy from an NFC reader such as a smartphone and complete an authentication request for a potential buyer.

For more intricate products where the chip might have to be buried deeper, Inside Secure has also offered several antenna options that allow the chip to be placed well within an item and still communicate with an NFC reader. In cases where a module needs to be embedded in items like a bottle of wine or pair of shoes, the chip can use a slew of voltage, frequency or temperature change sensors to sense if someone has tried to alter the chip's information and return a warning from there. Along with authentication purposes, the devices could also ping a shopper's handset (in addition to doing cool things like opening doors) when they came within a certain range of a product, informing them as to the savings they might be about to pass by. Final pricing and availability has yet to be announced and there's no guarantee that this will spot every fake, but it'll probably be better at the task than the current champ (yes, Chumlee).
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INSIDE SECURE'S NEW NFC-BASED SECURITY CHIP PROTECTS HIGH-END CONSUMER PRODUCTS
10/11/2011

VaultIC150 Security Module with NFC Interface Embeds in Products to Ensure Brands Are Protected from Counterfeiters and Cloners

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE, November 10, 2011 – INSIDE Secure, a leader in semiconductor solutions for secure transactions and digital identity, today introduced the VaultIC™150, a low-cost and compact turnkey NFC-based security solution designed for embedding into high-end consumer or luxury products that are often targeted by counterfeiters and cloners.

By incorporating the VaultIC150 in their products, manufacturers of high-end consumer products (handbags, wine, watches, etc.) and consumables can track their products through distribution and retail channels, and allow consumers with NFC-enabled mobile phones to verify that the product is an original and not a counterfeit.

"Counterfeiting and cloning are taking a tremendous toll on makers of popular high-end brands, not only in lost revenues, but also in jobs lost and company reputation," said Christian Fleutelot, general manager, VaultIC, secure microcontroller solutions business unit, at INSIDE Secure. "The VaultIC150 provides these manufacturers with a simple, single-chip solution that provides banking-level security to protect their brands at an attractive price point."

The INSIDE VaultIC150 solution's wireless NFC interface has a range of several centimetres and is available in several antenna form factors. This means that the chip can be deeply embedded into the product without leaving any visible trace, thus making the protection totally invisible. The chip requires no battery since the NFC interface and embedded antenna collect the RF energy emitted by the reader device to power the security circuitry and communications interface.

The secure portion of the VaultIC150 leverages the same circuitry used in the previously-released VaultIC100. The security engine employs elliptic-curve mutual authentication, a highly-secure and efficient method of protecting the products with banking-level security. The security engine was designed to meet the stringent constraints of the EAL4+ and FIPS 140-2 L3 certification.

The crypto engine supports the use of various FIPS-recommended elliptic curves up to 303 bits. The VaultIC150 also includes its own security to prevent tampering. On the chip are voltage, frequency, and temperature detectors, illegal code execution prevention, tampering monitors and protection against side-channel attacks and probing. The chips can detect tampering attempts and destroy sensitive data on such events, thus avoiding data confidentiality being compromised.

Complementing the NFC interface is a simple software application on the user's mobile phone that INSIDE Secure provides to the product manufacturers. Those manufacturers can then customize the software to their products, branding message, and other requirements. The vendor can also create a downloadable version of the application that potential customers can download onto their NFC–enabled cell phones. When consumers then go to a store, they can use their cell phone to authenticate the product, or even to find out which retail outlet might have the desired product in stock if the vendor has a product-locator database available.

Authentication
In the simplest case, the NFC-enabled cell phone sends a random challenge message to the product (purse, dress, fine wine, etc.), which contains the embedded VaultIC150, to check if it is a genuine device. The VaultIC150 uses its securely stored private key to compute the elliptic-curve digital signature of the challenge message and send it back to the phone or NFC reader. Using the corresponding public key, the host performs the necessary signature verification. Based on the result, the host decides whether to authenticate the accessory or not.

For even greater security, the VaultIC150 can be employed as part of a public-key infrastructure (PKI). Although more complex to implement, the PKI approach is a more secure way of distributing keys, and completely eliminates the need to store a copy of the secret key in the NFC reader. The public key and its digital certificate either can be embedded in the host or stored in the VaultIC150 contained in the consumer product and retrieved by the phone or reader when needed for authentication. The private key is protected in the VaultIC150.

The included advanced security firmware makes it easy to implement fully user-defined, non-volatile storage of sensitive or secret data; set up identity-based authentication with user, administrator and manufacturer roles; perform authentication, digital signature, and other advanced cryptographic operations using keys and data from the file system. INSIDE's VaultIC Starter Kit provides an easy path to mastering the cryptographic and secure data storage features of the VaultIC security modules.

Availability and Pricing
Samples of the VaultIC150 are now available. Please contact INSIDE Secure for pricing information.

About INSIDE Secure
INSIDE Secure is a leading designer, developer and supplier of semiconductors, embedded software and platforms for secure transactions and digital security. INSIDE mobile NFC, secure payment and digital security products provide security for a wide range of information processing, storage and transmission applications. The company's customers are found in a wide range of markets including mobile payment, identification documents, access control, transit, electronic device manufacturing, pay television and mobile service operators. For more information visit www.insidesecure.com.

German museum recreates 130-year-old EV, looks like a steampunk Segway

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 06:14 PM PST

If you think that EVs are new-fangled rubbish, it'll serve you well to listen up. Five years before Karl Benz patented his original horseless carriage, messers. William Ayrton and John Perry engineered the electrically-powered Starley Tricycle. Germany's Autovision Museum spent around a year building a fully working replica of this transportation sensation of the 1880s. Considering the 130-year-old nature of the technology, the vehicle turned out to be very comfortable, super-quiet and fast: it'll top out at a respectable eight miles per hour, with a range of around 25 miles. After the break you'll be able to see the machine in action. No word on if the museum will produce any more in time for Christmas, but it would certainly be a hit with the steampunk commuter crowd.

Microsoft outlines Code Space, looks to include Kinect in conference rooms, PTA meetings (video)

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 05:38 PM PST

If there's one thing that's certain about the Kinect, it's this; Microsoft wants it to be versatile. Case in point, Code Space -- the next extracurricular activity for the gaming controller which sees it teaming up with smartphones and laptops to present information on a shared screen. The project is aimed at presenting and exchanging code in developer meetings using a large display and simple hand gestures, though we could easily see this being adopted in both the classroom and the boardroom as well. In other news, the Kinect will be able to paint your house this spring, even if you may not be crazy about the final color...

Update: We realize it's a bit slow at times, but if you'd like to see Code Space in action, just hop the break. You'll discover the magic. [Thanks, Andrew]
Code Space Gallery

DoubleTwist releases new version for Android faithful, shows off premium EQ

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 05:12 PM PST

If you've been getting bored with that stale version of DoubleTwist you're sporting, get ready for a breath of fresh air. The company has announced the next major version of its music player now awaits Android faithul in the Marketplace -- and will hit the Amazon Appstore later in the week. New features include a new grid view for album art, premium EQ (if you're running Android 2.3 or higher), an AirSync storage location option and a new playback screen which enables sliding to see previous / upcoming tracks. If you're still not impressed, DoubleTwist promises another update in December that will be similar in stature. Take a look after the break for a few more screen shots, should you need more convincing and get ready to show off all of those Ben Folds album covers.

nano-SIM's flimsy form factor poised to frustrate fleshy-fingered phone users forever

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 04:43 PM PST

Most of us feel the average Subscriber Identity Module card is too small for our sausage-like digits, device makers loathe giving up that amount of space to an oversized plastic rectangle. Efforts to slim it down have been underway for ages, which is why some smartphones come with a micro-SIM, the easy-to-hold outer rim chopped off to make space for bigger batteries inside your device and to ensure your greasy fingers get all over the metal contacts. Sadly, it's time to wave goodbye to the idea of operating a smartphone without electron-tweezers, thanks to Giesecke & Devrient's new nano-SIM. The German fathers of the technology have shrunk the whole operation down to a 12mm x 9mm rectangle that's a third smaller than the micro-SIM and 60 percent smaller than the classic model: and as if to show off, it's also 15 percent thinner, too. The company will be exhibiting the chips tomorrow in Paris and has already sent initial samples to smartphone makers, expecting ETSI to sign off on the standard by the end of 2011 -- assuming they've been able to pick theirs off the table.
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G&D Presents World's First Nano-SIM Card

Munich, November 11, 2011 – Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) presents the world's smallest SIM card: the nano-SIM. A third smaller than the micro-SIM, the nano-SIM enables manufacturers to produce devices that are even thinner and perform even better. This new development from G&D could be finding its way into the first mobile devices as early as next year.

Some 20 years on from producing the first ever SIM cards, G&D is leading the current trend towards smaller cards. At the CARTES & IDentification 2011 trade show in Paris, the Munich-based technology group is displaying the world's smallest SIM card to date.

Measuring approximately 12mm x 9mm, the nano-SIM is about 30 percent smaller than the micro-SIM. The thickness of the cards has been reduced by about 15 percent – a tremendous technical challenge. Compared to the SIM cards most widely used today, the nano-SIM is almost 60 percent smaller. It offers device manufacturers the crucial advantage of freeing up extra space for other mobile phone components, such as additional memory or larger batteries. And because nano-SIM cards are significantly smaller and thinner, they will also make it easier to create thinner devices.

Initial samples were made available by G&D to various mobile network operators for testing. The standardization of the nano-SIM is expected to be implemented through the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) by the end of the year.

Backward compatibility with older device models is ensured by an adapter solution that allows the nano-SIM to be integrated into all established mobile devices for universal use.

"The invention of the SIM card remains a milestone in the history of G&D. With the nano-SIM, we have shown how this development can move closer to perfection," claims Axel Deininger, Head of G&D's Secure Devices division.

G&D will be showcasing the nano-SIM at the CARTES & IDentification 2011 trade show from November 15 to 17 at stand 4 J 001.

Rock-steady Gigabyte G1.Sniper2 Z68 motherboard gets a nod of approval

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 04:19 PM PST

Not enticed by all that Sandy Bridge E havoc that hit the PC market today? Good for you, because there's still plenty of life left in the first-gen LGA1155 Sandy Bridge processors and Gigabyte has put out another high-end Z68-based motherboard to prove it. The G1.Sniper2 just won itself a HotHardware recommendation, and if you look past the violent branding and color scheme you'll see why: the $360 premium card has the full gamut of ports and connections and delivers rock solid stability even when overclocked right up the limits of an i7-2600K CPU. Rack up that Wiz Khalifa tune and then click the source link for more.
at 12:15 PM

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