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Engadget News |
- MSI launches GT783 gaming laptop, burns through Battlefield 3 with GTX 580M GPU
- Grand Theft Auto III review (iOS)
- Toshiba NB510 makes pre-CES appearance, stands up for the netbook cause
- Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips
- Sensics Natalia head-tracking 3D goggles work alone or with PCs, consoles and phones
- Motorola's Connected Home Gateway makes your house smarter, turns it into a 4Home
- Unnecto TAPs into dual-SIM market, lets you do double GSM duty with a touch
- Samsung's attempted iPhone 4S block in Italy denied, already missed its French connection
- RIM reportedly scraps the Colt and Milan, leaving London as sole BlackBerry 10 device?
- Pioneer unveils world's smallest and lightest external Blu-ray burner
- GM to add 'enhancements' to Chevy Volt's battery coolant system, will call back 8,000 cars
- iHome intros three new iOS docks, plans to blast you out of those Zzz's in return for your G's
- Box for Android updated to 1.5: adds widgets, uploading from any app, magic
- Canon PowerShot G1X leaks: 14.3 MP sensor, 28-112mm lens and still a compact
- AT&T expands LTE coverage to eleven new markets, including NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles
- Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1PM ET!
- Vertu rings in the Year of the Dragon by welcoming a trio of Signature luxury phones
- Windows 8's new 'Refresh' and 'Reset' options get detailed
- Samsung Replenish stocks up Boost Mobile's collection
- Harman Kardon SB 30 has two listening modes, costs eight Benjamins
- Skype and Tely Labs deliver Tegra 2-powered Android videochat to your HDTV
- Tobii Gazes into the future, sees you navigating Windows 8 with your eyes (video)
- Western Digital's My Book Live Duo marries RAID and cloud storage, bytes everywhere celebrate
- MSI Wind U180 up for pre-order in Germany, 1.86GHz Atom N2800 included
- Phobos-Grunt Mars probe to die a fiery death in the next two weeks
- Epic Touch 4G comes out of the dark and into the white, hits Sprint January 8th
- Lexar launches its first 1000x CF memory cards
- Fujifilm prepping X100 successor, the X-Pro1 for CES?
- Pantech Element 'Waterproof' tablet rumored to launch on AT&T next week
- Onyx develops 330-watt 'plug-n-play' solar panel with built-in AC outlet
- Magellan's new RoadMate 5190T helps truckers find their way, like the do-dah man
- eFun Nextbook Elite 10 offers Android 4.0, dual-core 1.1GHz CPU
- CloudOn offers Microsoft Office functionality for iPad, your parents will love it
- Pvilion's solar charging station brings the battery-powered cars to the yard
- Google TV officially switching to ARM, Marvell Armada 1500 CPU to lead the charge
- Broadcom introduces first gigabit-speed 802.11ac chipset, wishes 802.11n well
- Acer Iconia Tab A200 arriving January 15 for $330, Ice Cream Sandwich coming mid-February
- Qualcomm's Snapdragon GameCommand app ready to take on TegraZone
- Elan: 'Apple's paying us $5 million for multitouch patents'
- Panasonic unveils new line of Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids
| MSI launches GT783 gaming laptop, burns through Battlefield 3 with GTX 580M GPU Posted: 05 Jan 2012 10:29 AM PST  MSI Announces the New GT783 Gaming Notebook Featuring the Highly Anticipated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M Graphics Card Providing gamers with an unprecedented gaming experience like no other, the GT783 comes standard with NVIDIA's top-of-the-line graphics and the Intel Core i7-2670QM quad core processor. City of Industry, CA – January 4, 2012 – MSI Computer Corp., a worldwide leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, is pleased to unleash the GT783 and GT783R, two mobile gaming powerhouse laptops featuring the NVIDIA© GeForce© GTX 580M graphics processing unit (GPU) and Blu-ray burner. The new notebooks are designed with cutting edge technology for gamers that have been thirsting for gaming ecstasy. Engineered to provide serious gamers with the ultimate power, the new GT783 series combines vibrant graphics from one of the most high-end NVIDIA© GeForce© graphics processors, along with the second-generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processor, creating battle-ready notebooks that are poised to dominate the gaming market. "Gamers will revel in the GT783's arsenal of advanced gaming technology combined with a sleek, innovative exterior. Packing the NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 580M, both GT783 models offer unrivaled visuals and FPS performance providing gamers with an ultra realistic gaming experience unlike anything else available on the market." said Andy Tung, Vice President of Sales, MSI USA. The GT783 Limited Edition and GT783R comes jam-packed with impressive specs, including 4 DDR3 memory slots allowing the hardcore user to upgrade the memory to an incredible total of 32GB. Each model comes with its own unique storage configuration to meet the needs of any gamer. The GT783R comes packed with a dual HDD set up in RAID 0 for accelerated and enhanced performance. Offering a hybrid storage configuration, the GT783 Limited Edition combines an SSD hard drive with an HDD to instantly increase hard drive read speeds by 70%, more than enough to meet the needs of battle scenes and other complex graphics. Similar to the G Series family, both GT783 and GT783R models also come loaded with impressive MSI gaming technology, including the following: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M: Latest generation GPU improves overall performance for an intense gaming experience MSI's Exclusive Turbo Drive Engine (TDE) Technology: Easily overclock GPU with TDE, providing a 3-5% boost in graphics performance to accelerate video decoding and add extra excitement to your gaming. SteelSeries Full Color Backlit Keyboard: Designed for immediate response and supporting simultaneous keystrokes, dominate with precision and control MSI Cooler Boost Technology: Powerful cool down system instantly increases airflow to rapidly reduce system temp to enhance stability Dynaudio Speakers with THX Surround Sound: Professional quality speakers with built-in sub-woofer to accurately reproduce THX's surround sound experience. The new gaming notebook will be available starting the week of January 3, 2012. The GT783 Limited Edition comes bundled with a Battlefield 3 and SteelSeries gaming set, including the popular Battlefield 3 game, an MSI gaming backpack, SteelSeries Siberia V2 gaming headset, the MSI SteelSeries Kinzu optical gaming mouse, and the MSI SteelSeries mouse pad. The GT783 and GT783R, which start at MSRP $2,499 and $2,299.99 respectively, are available in e-tail stores including Newegg.com and Amazon.com. For more information including a complete list of specs, please visit http://www.msimobile.com About MSI Founded in 1986, MSI designs, manufactures and markets superior technology solutions and products, including Tablets, Notebook PCs, All-in-One PCs, and PC components including IPCs, Servers, Motherboards and Graphic Cards. Committed to innovation and style, MSI products are available in more than 120 countries and employ more than 14,000 people worldwide. To learn more about MSI's complete line of products, visit: us.msi.com; or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. |
| Grand Theft Auto III review (iOS) Posted: 05 Jan 2012 10:00 AM PST  Be honest: who doesn't get nostalgic for games from the early 2000s? With that in mind, Rockstar Games has released a 10-year anniversary edition of Grand Theft Auto III for iOS and Android ($4.99), meaning all the crime, violence and betrayal you so loved in 2001 has made its way to an iDevice near you. The guns have been collected, pedestrians have been run over, crime bosses have been obeyed and betrayed and prostitutes have been visited to help restore health points. So is the game as good as you remember? Head past the break to find out. Gameplay We'll admit, cruising the streets of Liberty City felt a bit strange, sans PS2 controller, but it works -- just mind the learning curve. Mobile gamers familiar with onscreen touchsticks will feel at home with the game's touchscreen setup -- running, jumping and basic movements feel natural, and the touch toggles for throwing punches and busting caps are easily accessible via the onscreen buttons. Still, the loss of the controllers' tactile reassurance is noticeable -- we (accidentally, of course) riddled a few poor pedestrians with bullets when all we really wanted to do was steal a car. Newcomers to mobile gaming might find the interface odd at first. It took us about 20 minutes to commit the controller's touchscreen substitutes to memory, but over time it felt natural enough. If the default controls don't work for you, there are a few alternative options, allowing you to invert the view controls, mirror the setup for lefties, use the accelerometer for pretty precise tilt-based steering while driving, or even rig up a one-handed control scheme. Graphics and Sound |
| Toshiba NB510 makes pre-CES appearance, stands up for the netbook cause Posted: 05 Jan 2012 09:47 AM PST  [Thanks, Marco] |
| Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips Posted: 05 Jan 2012 09:39 AM PST  Broadcom's high performance set-top box solutions now support Myriad's Alien Vue solution, simplifying the delivery of the Android ecosystem to TVs Opens door to thousands of new apps and entertainment services Demonstrated for the first time at 2012 International CES Las Vegas – International CES 2012 – January 4, 2012 - Myriad Group AG (SIX: MYRN), the company powering billions of rich mobile social and web experiences on any connected device, and Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications today announced a joint effort to drive the Android ecosystem to televisions. Myriad's Alien Vue is now supported on a range of Broadcom set-top box platforms, simplifying the delivery of a new suite of Android-based interactive apps to the TV. "Broadcom is pleased to support Myriad Alien Vue, driving popular Android apps to the TV," said Aidan O'Rourke, Senior Director, Set-Top Box, Broadcom. "This enables a quick solution for set-top boxes using legacy operating systems to seamlessly deliver an exciting Android-based entertainment experience." The Myriad and Broadcom solution provides TV viewers an Android-like environment with access to thousands of new apps and entertainment services. Broadcom-enabled STBs with Myriad Alien Vue also support plug-ins like Myriad Connect & Share, which offer multi-screen functionality for personal and premium content. This DLNA solution gives TV consumers access to the Android marketplace while offering operators increased revenue opportunities. "Alien Vue provides a great alternative to those who want to harness the Android ecosystem, while leveraging existing investments and retaining control of their customer's TV experience," said Simon Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Myriad Group. Delivers 2x Home Network Performance for Industry's Top Operators; Showcases Innovation for 2012 CES Show LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 2012 International CES – News Highlights: • MoCA 2.0 more than doubles available home network bandwidth and enhances video quality and distribution in the home. • Enables more energy efficient systems with advanced power management technology for low power sleep and Wake-on-Lan (WOL) modes. • Supports higher levels of security for enhanced content protection. • MoCA 2.0 is supported by top operators including Charter, Cogeco, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Rogers Communications Inc., Time Warner Cable and Verizon's FiOS services. Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced one of its showcase innovations at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - the industry's first MoCA 2.0-Integrated Portfolio including six new set-top box (STB) and Hybrid IP Gateway system on a chip (SoC) platforms. See how Broadcom enables the next wave of whole-home networking at Experience Broadcom@CES. By integrating MoCA 2.0 directly in the STB SoC Broadcom's new comprehensive portfolio of HD STB and Hybrid IP Gateway solutions realize the benefits of MoCA 2.0 including double the video bandwidth, increased security and lower power. Broadcom's BCM7425 Dual HD Transcoding Gateway STB SoC features dual HD decoding and dual transcoding support for streaming simultaneous video broadcast content wirelessly to multiple devices, paving the way for advanced services like video conferencing and faster channel change with Broadcom's FastRTV® technology. Highlights: • Top operator support for MoCA 2.0 includes Charter, Cogeco, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Rogers Communications Inc., Time Warner Cable and Verizon's FiOS services. • Broadcom's 40nm MoCA 2.0-integrated STB and Gateway platforms are powered by its high performance dual-thread Zephyr (MIPS®-based) CPU that delivers 3000 DMIPS with industry-leading processor capability. Designs include the following: ◦ BCM7429 Multi-Room HD-DVR STB SoC ◦ BCM7428 IP HD STB Client SoC ◦ BCM7425 Dual HD/Dual Transcoding Hybrid Gateway STB SoC ◦ BCM7422 Dual HD Hybrid Gateway STB SoC ◦ BCM3325 Hybrid IP Transcoding Gateway SoC ◦ BCM3322 Hybrid IP Gateway SoC • MoCA 2.0 redefines the standard for video distribution in the home by providing more than double the throughput performance and capacity compared to MoCA 1.1; critical power management capabilities for new low power requirements; and enhanced security for additional content protection. • MoCA 2.0 supports an improved packet error rate, enabling higher quality of service levels for operators. • MoCA 2.0 enables the effective use of higher numbers of tuner/demods being integrated into next generation STB and gateway devices. • MoCA 2.0 provides complete interoperability with MoCA 1.0 and 1.1 while also providing full performance with MoCA 2.0 nodes. |
| Sensics Natalia head-tracking 3D goggles work alone or with PCs, consoles and phones Posted: 05 Jan 2012 09:38 AM PST  Sensics Introduces the Natalia 3D Goggles, Incorporating SmartGoggles™ Technology Firm Unveils First Intelligent, Interactive 3D Goggles at CES COLUMBIA, MD (Jan 5th, 2012) –Sensics introduces Natalia™, the first intelligent, immersive, and interactive 3D goggles based on its new SmartGoggles™ technology. Sensics' Natalia is a fully-immersive 3D goggle that combines the resolution and field of view found in professional head-mounted displays, the unique ability to run powerful applications on board, and real-time, 360-degree tracking of the hands from the user's perspective. "The ability to use interactive goggles without wires and without the need for an external computer opens up new opportunities for applications that benefit from limitless tracking area, greater portability, and on-board intelligence," says Yuval Boger, Sensics Chief Executive Officer. "Imagine being able to use hand movements and gestures to wield a light saber in a game, to select a movie from a media library, or to interact with augmented reality content," explains Boger. "The possibilities are endless." Natalia features a 1.2 GHz, dual-core processor running Android 4.0 on board, strengthened by a powerful graphics and 3D accelerator and 1 GB of memory. Its performance is comparable to top-shelf tablets or smart phones. It includes real-time, limitless-area hand tracking, as well as head tracking providing both angular position and linear acceleration data. Natalia includes two high-brightness OLED displays supporting both 1280×1024 as well as 720p resolution. It can be operated with either hot-swappable batteries or external DC power. WiFi and Bluetooth allow Natalia to communicate with outside peripherals or other Natalia systems, download content and applications from the Internet, and more. An on-board SD card provides additional expansion options. Through the libSensics™ applications programmers interface, developers can take advantage of the Natalia capabilities to enhance existing applications or create new ones. Natalia can be used completely standalone or paired with a PC, game console, tablet, or phone. Natalia will be offered to consumer electronics and phone manufacturers as a reference design using SmartGoggles "system on a module" technology. It also immediately will be available as a development platform to game developers, and be offered as a commercial product to the professional, academic, and defense markets. SmartGoggles-based products will be available to consumers in late 2012. Sensics will provide private demonstrations of Natalia at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, being held in Las Vegas January 10-13 For additional information about Sensics and SmartGoggles™ or to schedule a meeting at CES, please visit www.smart-goggles.com and www.sensics.com |
| Motorola's Connected Home Gateway makes your house smarter, turns it into a 4Home Posted: 05 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST  Motorola Mobility Simplifies Convergence with Connected Home Innovations at CES 2012 The new connected consumer lifestyle is on display at Motorola (LVCC Central Hall, Booth No. 8644) Jan. 05, 2012 HORSHAM, Pa. – Jan. 5, 2012 –At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI) is making the Smart Home simple-with the introduction of the Connected Home Gateway. Key innovations from Motorola's Home division – including Televation™, DCX3600 video gateway, DreamGallery, SocialTV, and SecureMedia – are also driving the evolution of television, making it easier for consumers to enjoy and discover new programming, tap into social features, and access content on multiple devices, both at home and on the go. The new Motorola Connected Home Gateway – the latest embodiment of Motorola's 4Home platform –is a CES 2012 Innovations Honoree for outstanding design and engineering. This honor continues Motorola's unbroken streak of product awards for 4Home innovations at CES. "People want anywhere, anytime access to their digital lives. Our suite of award-winning products addresses the new ways that people are embracing their connected lifestyle in the home," said Dan Moloney, president, Motorola Mobility. "We're seeing more consumption of more media and lifestyle services across more devices. This is an unprecedented opportunity for service providers to differentiate by streamlining these converged experiences. At CES, Motorola is showcasing a range of new products that are paving the way for the next stage of the connected home." Introducing the Connected Home Gateway It's not enough for people to control their TV and other aspects of their digital lives in the home. They also want control of the home as well, from anywhere they may be. More connected devices being added to the home network means more complexity, both for the consumer and the service provider. Enter Motorola's new Connected Home Gateway: the connected home, in a box. Powerful processing and 4Home technology come together to deliver the connected home the way it was meant to be: smart and simple. Adding connected home services – such as home control, home security and energy management – has never been easier for consumers and service providers, thanks to the Motorola Connected Home Gateway, which handles the complexity of today's home networks as well as the traditional obstacles of service installation and maintenance. All consumers have to do is plug in the gateway, and the unit automatically connects their home control devices to the home network. Now, with just the push of a button, the devices in the home can be paired wirelessly and connected to the cloud for remote management on a host of devices. And connected home services can be added, managed and troubleshot on the fly. This is achieved with a powerful 1.2 GHz processor running Motorola's open 4Home software platform, which supports and abstracts a host of standards and protocols, hiding the complexity of multiple disparate devices on the home network. It also allows consumers to access their homes remotely, from a smartphone, tablet or PC. And a robust back-end architecture combined with Motorola's on-board EDGE™ Service Assurance software lets service providers deliver support, proactive quality assurance and service activation in real-time, meaning faster, and more efficient customer service. All this in a single box. The Motorola Connected Home Gateway is the closest thing to plug and play for the connected home. The Evolution of Television The Internet is changing the way we watch television. Television is no longer a one-way activity. It's an interactive, community-driven experience. And this experience has expanded far beyond the television set. A recent Motorola study found that more than 69 percent of people, globally, watch TV on a device other than their television. At CES 2012, Motorola is showcasing new solutions that bring TV up to Internet speed: giving you a smart, streamlined way to enjoy a personalized TV experience and relevant social features from your smartphone, PC or tablet. Televation: TV Beyond the TV Live TV streaming on tablets, anywhere in and around the home. Motorola's Televation – winner of Light Reading's Leading Light Award, Communications Technology's Platinum Award, and a Broadband Technology Report Diamond Award – addresses consumer demand for high-quality TV experiences beyond the tube. Televation, by Motorola, lets consumers watch live TV on their tablets, anywhere in the home. It's the only solution that delivers a full cable subscription onto the tablet, wirelessly. And it's the only one that lets you watch whatever show you want – vs. simply streaming what's playing in the living room. No more competing for what channel to play on your tablet. You get all your regular channels, whenever you want. Small to mid-sized operators can also use the hosted client Televation app to streamline set-up costs and time-to-market. Televation and its hosted client app work with Motorola XOOM and DROID XYBOARD by Motorola tablets, as well as tablets from other manufacturers. Advanced Video Gateway: Making the Shift to IP Motorola's DCX3600 IP Video Gateway marks the set-top's evolution into the entertainment hub of the home. This advanced video gateway enables a truly connected home environment by merging traditional broadcast TV with new IP-based content and capabilities for whole-home media distribution across multiple screens. Consumers can view, record or play video on any networked device, in any room, seamlessly. At CES 2012, Motorola will be demonstrating the IP Connected Home experience of tomorrow – with the DCX3600 distributing video to a variety of connected devices, including an IP set-top, DROID RAZR by Motorola smartphone, DROID XYBOARD by Motorola tablet and PS3™ gaming console. The more content that comes into our homes, the more likely it will be across multiple screens. While today's networks are designed to deliver content separately on PCs, smartphones, tablets and television, the IP future of tomorrow will demand greater seamless convergence. With future consumers and networks in mind, the DCX3600 maximizes today's network infrastructure while providing flexibility for an IP tomorrow – which is why it was recently honored with a Broadband Technology Report Diamond Award. DreamGallery: Innovation at Internet Speeds Consumers have expressed a desire for a richer experience when it comes to finding their favorite programming and discovering new TV content. With the end user in mind, Motorola's DreamGallery is an on-screen experience that revolutionizes the user experience for next-generation TV. DreamGallery makes the experience of finding shows, movies and sports on TV as easy as on the Internet. DreamGallery is cloud-based and designed in HTML5, so service providers can deliver new, customized and branded experiences nearly instantaneously-like updating a Web page-dramatically reducing time-to-scale and development cycles. DreamGallery also will enable TV providers to deliver the first consistent on-screen experience across multiple devices. Soon, you'll be able to enjoy the same video experience on your TV, tablet and smartphone! Shaw Communications, Canada's largest cable operator, will be the first in North America to offer consumers the DreamGallery experience, which has already gained wide acclaim in Europe. SecureMedia: Advanced Content Protection Securing content and ensuring that it is sent only to the devices for which it is intended becomes much more complex in the multi-screen world. Service providers face a matrix of different adaptive streaming formats, security technologies, and video playback applications to reach a range of consumer devices. Motorola's SecureMedia Encryptonite ONE™ HLS+ streamlines the entire content processing and delivery process for multi-screen applications – while ensuring the protection of digital rights and the security of the content streams. This robust system complies with the latest Hollywood studio secure-delivery specifications for multi-screen applications. SecureMedia's advanced content protection works across platforms, including IPTV, to secure content in all its forms, now and in the future. Social and Interactive TV In a recent Motorola poll, half of Americans surveyed said they'd like a service that merges their social media habits with TV viewing. Motorola's SocialTV Companion Service puts a dashboard of social applications at subscribers' fingertips, on their smartphone or tablet, with content that's customized to the programs they're watching. TV viewing is augmented through interactive games, applications, live chat, and social networking feeds presented on these companion screens – making TV more engaging. VISIT MOTOROLA To see how Motorola is redefining every element of the Home Ecosystem – and empowering operators to deliver more – visit Motorola at CES (Booth No. 8644 located in LVCC Central Hall). Or check out our blog, MediaExperiences2Go and MediaCenter. About Motorola Mobility Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility. |
| Unnecto TAPs into dual-SIM market, lets you do double GSM duty with a touch Posted: 05 Jan 2012 09:18 AM PST Heard of Unnecto? Neither have we. But if you're oh-so-important enough to be toting around more than one phone on more than one carrier, you might want to stop, drop (some dough) and TAP -- as the company's latest smartphone is known. This sixth in a line of dual-SIM offerings is the outfit's first to offer touchscreen functionality and packs a quadband GSM radio that should make your globe- and frequency-hopping a little more efficient. No pricing or release details have yet been announced, but if you're really keen to wield this handset, you can just leave all of that tedious busywork to your office-locked assistant. Check the official presser after the break. GSM Mobile Phones Company Unnecto Announces Upcoming Debut of TAP, Its First Touchscreen Smartphone FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRLog (Press Release) - Jan 05, 2012 - Unnecto, a dual SIM GSM phones producer known for its sleek designs as well as its budget-friendly prices, is announcing the launch of its sixth and newest phone, the TAP. In addition to valuable smartphone features like a resistive touchscreen, Quad Band GSM compatibility, Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, the TAP also supports two SIM cards simultaneously. The TAP joins Unnecto's current line of five dual SIM GSM cell phones, available online at http://www.Unnecto.com. "We're tremendously excited to present the TAP. Like all of our phones, the TAP is dual SIM card-enabled, which lets users use two different carriers for a single device. Alongside the benefits that consumers can reap from dual SIM GSM phones are a host of other great features. This is our first touchscreen phone, but it's still available at a low cost. It's an ideal phone if you're traveling, and also a good low-cost option for kids" said Unnecto's Daniel Moy. Unnecto's line of dual SIM GSM phones is an asset to consumers for a number of reasons. Unnecto customers can use SIM cards from different carriers to access multiple plans, as well as internationally-compatible SIM cards facilitating phone use domestically as well as abroad. Additionally, Unnecto devices enable both SIM cards to be active simultaneously, which allows for seamless transitions in receiving calls and engaging with contacts from both cards. As an unlocked GSM mobile phone, the TAP offers a range of smartphone technological benefits without limiting customers to a particular carrier or contract. The TAP is Bluetooth-equipped and easily accesses WiFi networks, which allows users to check email, browse the web, send photos and communicate with clients or contacts while also supporting MP3 and MP4 music files, FM radio, and a camera. Providing mobile web access over a sleek touchscreen interface, the TAP is an asset for consumers in search of an affordable unlocked smartphone. Unnecto recently redesigned its website to better introduce consumers to its range of six dual SIM GSM phones. With a clean and stylish aesthetic that matches that of its products, the website details the features particular to each phone model. Among other demographics, Unnecto's phones are well-suited for businesspeople and those who travel frequently, as well as parents who are eager to provide their children with an inexpensive phone with web-browsing capabilities. |
| Samsung's attempted iPhone 4S block in Italy denied, already missed its French connection Posted: 05 Jan 2012 08:52 AM PST  |
| RIM reportedly scraps the Colt and Milan, leaving London as sole BlackBerry 10 device? Posted: 05 Jan 2012 08:51 AM PST  |
| Pioneer unveils world's smallest and lightest external Blu-ray burner Posted: 05 Jan 2012 08:26 AM PST  PIONEER OFFERS SMALLEST AND LIGHTEST PORTABLE BDXL BD/DVD/CD BURNER BDR-XD04 Reads and Writes Discs, PC Bundle Allows Users to Watch Blu-ray 3D Discs LONG BEACH, Calif. – (January 5, 2012) – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today unveiled the BDR-XD04, the world's smallest and lightest BD/DVD/CD portable burner supporting BDXL™1 currently available. The ultra-compact clamshell type drive can read and write to all BDXL disc formats including BD-R triple-layer 100GB media, BD-R quad-layer 128GB media, and BD-RE triple-layer 100GB media, as well as conventional Blu-ray™ discs (single-layer 25GB media and dual-layer 50GB media). The portable device, measuring only 5.2" (W) X .55" (H) X 5.2" (D) and weighing a mere 8.46 ounces, also features PowerRead, PureRead2+, Auto Quiet mode and the ability to be powered directly via USB. The BDR-XD04 also includes CyberLink® software, enabling users to watch standard Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D titles, and author high-definition Blu-ray Disc content or standard-definition DVD content. "As the popularity of drive-less ultrabooks continues to rise, the BDR-XD04 becomes the ideal accessory because of its compact size and portability," said Steven Cohn, director of Optical Sales for the Home Electronics Industrial Department at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "There's a growing need for a drive that's highly transportable for playing CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, as well as for storing valuable personal files on a secure, removable medium." BDR-XD04 Advantages PowerRead – The BDR-XD04 can provide smoother movie playback when a disc has fingerprints or minor surface scratches through the use of its PowerRead feature. When the drive is not able to read through these obstructed areas of a disc, it will quickly move forward to the next available data point, resulting in smoother Blu-ray and DVD movie playback. · PureRead2+ –Click or pop sounds that might normally occur due to minor scratches and fingerprints on CDs can be prevented on some discs with the drive's PureRead2+ technology, which allows the drive to dynamically adjust its optical playback settings through the use of a unique algorithm.² · Auto Quiet Mode – The drive also features an Auto Quiet mode that minimizes its operating noise based on how it is being used. The rotation speed changes to a quieter (slower) speed when watching Blu-ray and DVD titles or listening to conventional audio CDs. · Direct USB Power – Designed for simple and easy integration, the BDR-XD04 can be powered directly through most USB PC connections without AC power. For additional convenience, when a host computer's USB port does not supply enough current, the BDR-XD04 provides an AC adapter terminal (optional DCA-001 AC power supply required). In addition, the device supports USB boot startup for reading bootable recovery CDs3. Manual Eject Lever – The BDR-XD04 incorporates a manual eject lever which lets the user eject a loaded disc when power to the device is not available. Bundled Software – The BDR-XD04 is bundled with the following CyberLink software: PowerDVD™ 10 BD3D, PowerDirector® 9 and Power2Go® 7. The Pioneer BDR-XD04 will be available mid January with a suggested retail price of $149.99 More details can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com/drives. 1 As a portable BD writer （As of 12/14/2011 surveyed by Pioneer） 2 Not guaranteed to read all disc conditions. Not guaranteed to read under all PC environments. 3 Only when the PC supports start up by USB and DVD/CD. |
| GM to add 'enhancements' to Chevy Volt's battery coolant system, will call back 8,000 cars Posted: 05 Jan 2012 08:25 AM PST  In the wake of an NHSTA "formal safety investigation," GM today announced plans to add enhancements to the Chevy Volt's battery coolant system, in the hopes of preventing any post-crash electrical fires. As a result, some 8,000 Volt drivers will have to bring their cars back to their dealerships, as part of a move that's one notch below a formal recall. GM made the decision following federal investigation that saw three batteries erupt in flames after side-impact crash tests. Regulators blamed the irregularity on a coolant leak though thus far, no similar incidents have been reported among any Volt owners. The manufacturer plans to remedy the situation by adding extra support to protect the battery during side collisions, adding an extra sensor to keep an eye on coolant levels, and by incorporating an extra bracket atop the coolant reservoir to guard against potential overflows. Vehicles with these enhancements, GM said, passed the tests without any leakage or battery pack damage. Head past the break for the full PR. Update: Chevrolet has just reached out to us to clarify that adding these enhancements is voluntary, and not mandatory for Volt owners: "These modifications are part of a voluntary customer satisfaction effort. While we will encourage customers to return to a dealership to have their Volt's modified, it is voluntary for them as well." GM Announces Enhancements to Chevrolet Volt Changes follow NHTSA investigation into post-severe crash battery performance 2012-01-05 WARREN, Mich. – General Motors today announced enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevrolet Volt that would further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash. The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Preliminary Evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance. NHTSA opened its Preliminary Evaluation on Nov. 25 following a severe-impact lab test on a battery pack that resulted in an electrical fire six days later. The test was conducted to reproduce a coolant leak that occurred in a full-scale vehicle crash test last May that resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later. The Volt is a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and has earned other safety awards from key third-party organizations. Through the first 11 months of 2011, Volt owners accumulated nearly 20 million miles without an incident similar to the results in the NHTSA tests. "The Volt has always been safe to drive. Now, we will go the extra mile to ensure our customers' peace of mind in the days and weeks following a severe crash," said Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Global Product Development. GM will conduct a Customer Satisfaction Program to further protect the Volt battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe side crash. Modifications will: Strengthen an existing portion of the Volt's vehicle safety structure to further protect the battery pack in a severe side collision. Add a sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system to monitor coolant levels. Add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to help prevent potential coolant overfill. GM conducted four successful crash tests between Dec. 9 and 21 of Volts with the structural enhancement. The enhancement performed as intended. There was no intrusion into the battery pack and no coolant leakage in any of the tests. "These enhancements and modifications will address the concerns raised by the severe crash tests," Barra said. "There are no changes to the Volt battery pack or cell chemistry as a result of these actions. We have tested the Volt's battery system for more than 285,000 hours, or 25 years, of operation. We're as confident as ever that the cell design is among the safest on the market." Volt customers will be individually notified when the modifications are available for their vehicles. The enhancements are being incorporated into the Volt manufacturing process as production resumes this month. "We're focused on one thing right now: doing what's right by our customers," said GM North America President Mark Reuss. "We'll live up to our commitment to make sure our customers are delighted with their purchase." Vehicle electrification technologies are important to future of the automotive industry, which is why GM will continue its leadership role in helping the Society of Automotive Engineers develop standards that will help tow truck operators, salvage yards and vehicle recyclers in the proper handling of electric vehicle components. GM will help develop educational materials that can be used by these stakeholders in the future. |
| iHome intros three new iOS docks, plans to blast you out of those Zzz's in return for your G's Posted: 05 Jan 2012 08:15 AM PST iHome Gives Clock Dock Category a Wake Up Call at CES 2012 Category Leader Continues to Innovate with Style in 2012 RAHWAY, N.J., Jan 05, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- iHome, the company that changed the way we wake up in the morning, is at it again with an entirely new line of docking alarm clock speaker solutions debuting next week at CES 2012. From the debut of AirPlay within the clock-dock category, to the widespread incorporation of app-enhanced features and expanded charging options, the iHome bedside experience continues to deliver great value and diversity. iHome is showcasing the following new alarm clock speaker systems at CES 2012 in the North Hall, booth #N245: -- iW4 AirPlay Wireless 20 Watts Bedside Speaker System for iPad/iPhone/iPod: making its alarm clock speaker system debut, AirPlay utilizes the home WiFi network to deliver more flexibility than ever before. Easily stream your entire iTunes library over the network to listen, sleep or wake to your favorite tunes. The iW4 is expected to retail for $269.99. -- iP18 LED Color Changing Dual Alarm Clock Speaker System for iPhone and iPod: a little bit of color goes a long way with this ultra-modern and stylish alarm clock speaker solution. Now with a smaller footprint and new cube design, this app-friendly Glowtunes offering has big features including four color-changing modes, Reson8 speaker chamber technology, one-touch clock sync and more. The iP18 is expected to retail for $69.99. -- iD50 App-Enhanced Bluetooth Alarm Clock Radio Speakerphone for iPad/iPhone/iPod with AM/FM Presets: the alarm clock you'd expect to see on James Bond's nightstand, but with a price tag that makes it realistic for non secret agents to own. The iD50 is strong in the features department and has a smooth finish that will stir you to wake rather than shake you. The iD50 is expected to retail for $169.99. "Since 2005 we've been providing the best wake up call in the business for iOS device owners," said Evan Stein, Director of Marketing, iHome. "We're very happy to be continuing that tradition and look forward to showing off our latest creations in Las Vegas." The new App-enhanced docking alarm clock speaker solutions above, as well as the iD38 and iD95, will be available later this year. For further information, please visit www.ihomeaudio.com. |
| Box for Android updated to 1.5: adds widgets, uploading from any app, magic Posted: 05 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST  Box.net, an online cloud storage service, has made a few facelifts to the latest version of its Android app to help you get the most out of that 50GB storage limit it offered last month. The newest update offers a front page widget that shows you the progress of any files currently undergoing modifications or uploads; it also includes the ability to upload email attachments or other downloaded files directly from whatever app you're in. Lastly, version 1.5 also gives you the option of creating documents in the office app of your choice and saving it in Box, rather than the doc editor. The service now boasts 1.9 million mobile users, so it's nice to see the company get serious about making some crucial improvements to its user experience. Stay in the Know with Box for Android In version 1.5 of Box for Android, we've added 3 main features that will help those actively sharing and editing files on Box with others. You can now keep an eye on updates to your files right from a home screen widget, send files to Box from anywhere you can open files (like email attachments), and create new Office® documents with compatible apps like QuickOffice Pro. Update me! When you're working with a lot of people on a number of files simultaneously, it's hard to keep track of what version of which file is updated, and when. When accessing Box in your browser or on your iPhone or iPad, you see these details in an Updates feed. Now Box for Android goes one step further and puts updates right on your home screen with the Box widget! To add the widget, just long-press on an empty space on a home screen, choose to add a Widget, then choose "Box". Position the widget wherever you'd like by long-pressing on it and dragging it around. In addition to showing updates, the widget also provides useful shortcuts to create or upload new files without needing to open the Box app. Upload files from any app Wherever you have the option to view a file, you now also have the option to upload it to Box - which is really useful when you get email attachments or download files via the browser. Put them on Box and start sending links instead of attaching files in emails! Create Office documents If you have an app capable of editing these file types, you will see new options to add documents, spreadsheets, presentations and plain text files on the Create menu. Choosing these file types will open the editor of your choice and save the file you create back to Box when you're done. You'll need an app capable of editing these files (not just viewing them) in order to see this feature – we recommend QuickOffice Pro, DocumentsToGo or Kingsoft Office. |
| Canon PowerShot G1X leaks: 14.3 MP sensor, 28-112mm lens and still a compact Posted: 05 Jan 2012 07:53 AM PST  Another camera has snuck out to delight us ahead of CES and it's another tempting chunk of camera. Canon's new flagship compact, the Powershot G1X packs a 14.3 megapixel sensor alongside a 28-112mm lens capable of f/2.5. The compact will apparently be capable of RAW photo output, 1080p video capture. It will also manage more advanced features like we've seen on the PowerShot series' S100, like multi-area white balance, while you can also expect high-speed burst shooting at full resolution. What we don't know is what the G1X will look like. Will follow the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing looks of the S95 and S100 or go for something a little more... dynamic? Expect to see more on this in just a few days.
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| AT&T expands LTE coverage to eleven new markets, including NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles Posted: 05 Jan 2012 07:52 AM PST  In one announcement, AT&T has nearly doubled its LTE coverage by officially flipping the switch on eleven new markets. The list of cities includes New York City metro, San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Raleigh and Austin. We've seen the service flicker on and off in most of these cities as real-life tests were conducted, and the high-speed connection's also been available in certain parts of New York, but it's great to see these become official. AT&T also declared that LTE expansion should be complete by the end of 2013, though we expect most major cities to be hit far earlier. Check out the full press release for more details. AT&T ROLLS OUT 4G LTE TO CUSTOMERS IN 11 MORE MARKETS AT&T 4G LTE Now Available in 26 Markets Including NYC Metro, San Francisco, Los Angeles AT&T's Blazing Fast 4G Speeds, Device Lineup, Apps Will Make for Best Customer Mobile Broadband Experience SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5, 2012 - AT&T* customers are now enjoying blazing fast 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) speeds in 11 more markets, including New York City metro area, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This addition makes AT&T 4G LTE available in a total of 26 markets to 74 million consumers. John Stankey, President and Chief Executive Officer-AT&T Business Solutions, provided an update at Citi's 22nd Annual Global Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference in San Francisco. New markets where AT&T 4G LTE is now available are: New York City metro area, Austin, Chapel Hill, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. The expansion adds to 15 AT&T 4G LTE markets launched in 2011: Athens, Ga.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Charlotte; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Oklahoma City; San Antonio; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Washington, D.C. "We're building a 4G LTE network that's blazing fast, and we offer dual layers of 4G technologies to provide customers with a more consistent speed experience," said Stankey. "Our network, together with our unsurpassed 4G device portfolio and innovative applications, will give our customers an industry-leading mobile broadband experience." AT&T is the only U.S. carrier providing 4G using both HSPA+ and LTE technologies. HSPA+, when combined with enhanced backhaul, provides customers with access to 4G speeds - meaning AT&T customers get a faster and more consistent 4G experience on their compatible devices, even when outside of a 4G LTE area. Customers of other carriers that have transitioned to 4G LTE without further speed upgrades to their existing networks are likely to see a jarring drop-off in speeds when they move out of LTE coverage. Another benefit of AT&T's network strategy is that only AT&T's network lets your iPhone 4S download three times faster. AT&T's mobile broadband service currently covers 284 million people and more than 90 percent of the population, including the top 100 U.S. markets. AT&T expects its 4G LTE deployment to be largely complete by the end of 2013. |
| Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1PM ET! Posted: 05 Jan 2012 07:35 AM PST  We're squeezing in a podcast before we hop in planes and fly to Las Vegas for CES 2012, so we hope you can join Myriam Joire, Brad Molen and Joseph Volpe as they get amped up for next week's show. You ready for the madness that's about to ensue? Listen live at 1PM ET. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Vertu rings in the Year of the Dragon by welcoming a trio of Signature luxury phones Posted: 05 Jan 2012 07:09 AM PST  |
| Windows 8's new 'Refresh' and 'Reset' options get detailed Posted: 05 Jan 2012 07:07 AM PST  |
| Samsung Replenish stocks up Boost Mobile's collection Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:55 AM PST We saw the environmentally conscious Samsung Replenish on Sprint just over six months ago, but Boost's liking those green credentials so much, it's decided to get the Samsung Gingerbread handset on board. 82 percent recyclable materials, there's still both a 2.8-inch touchscreen and keyboard in tow. A two megapixel camera and the usual medley of GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi round out the wallet (and Mother Earth) friendly handset. The Replenish is priced at $100 and will hit Boost Mobile's stores on January 16th. Eco warriors; the press release offers itself below. The New Year means Time to "Replenish" Your Wireless Service and Get a New Android at an Affordable Price from Boost Mobile and Samsung Boost Mobile gives consumers the opportunity to save even more money with the launch of new Buyback Program IRVINE, Calif. – Boost Mobile, ranked Highest in Customer Service Performance and Purchase Experience among Non-Contract Wireless Providers by J.D. Power and Associates1, starts off the New Year with a new eco-friendly Android™ smartphone, Samsung Replenish™. An Android touch/QWERTY smartphone enabled with Mobile ID, Samsung Replenish will be available Jan. 16 and is Boost Mobile's first Android priced less than $100. Samsung Replenish, Boost Mobile's first eco-friendly2 Android smartphone, is partially built with recycled plastics3 and is the ideal choice for the environmentally conscious consumer who wants the latest technology with a no-contract offer on a dependable nationwide network. Boost Customers can get additional "green benefit" by simply trading in their old device as part of Boost Mobile's new Buyback program or by simply making on-time payments with Boost Mobile's $55 Android Monthly Unlimited plan with Shrinkage. For every six on-time payments, a Boost Mobile customer's monthly cost will shrink by $5, eventually getting down to as low as $40 a month for unlimited nationwide talk, text, Web, email, and calls to 411. Payments do not need to be consecutive to qualify for these savings milestones. "Consumers are smarter about where and how their money is being spent, and Boost Mobile offers a considerable value," said Andre Smith, vice president-Boost Mobile. "We offer first-class affordable Android smartphones, like the Samsung Replenish, on a reliable network with a no-contract offer that has payments that shrink over time." The full-featured Samsung Replenish includes: • Android 2.3 with access to Android Market™ • 2.8-inch touchscreen and QWERTY keypad • 2MP camera with video • GPS-enabled • Stereo Bluetooth® technology • Easy Access to Gmail™ and Google Talk™ • Wireless Web Enabled Samsung Replenish will be available Jan. 16 for $99.99 (excluding taxes) at Boost Mobile's exclusive retail stores, select independent wireless dealer locations across the country, and at www.boostmobile.com with free shipping. Samsung Replenish will be available in additional national retailers by the end of the February. |
| Harman Kardon SB 30 has two listening modes, costs eight Benjamins Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:54 AM PST  Looking for a fancy new soundbar for your fancy new home theater system? Don't mind dropping, oh, say, $800 or so on the thing? Why not have a look at Harman Kardon's latest offering, the SB 30? The relatively compact system offers up two listening modes -- virtual and wave, the latter of which promises to "maximize the listening area" in bigger rooms. The SB 30 also packs in Dolby Volume technology for a consistent volume levels and a dual-position equalizer. Harman will be showing the thing off next week at CES. Press info can be found after the break.
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| Skype and Tely Labs deliver Tegra 2-powered Android videochat to your HDTV Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:52 AM PST  Skype and Tely Labs Partner to Bring Affordable, Stunningly Simple HD Video Calling to the Living Room TV Advanced, All-in-One, Android-Based System Lets Consumers Connect Instantly to Those Who Matter Most -- Right From Their TV, in Amazing HD Video Quality LUXEMBOURG and MENLO PARK, CA--(Marketwire - Jan 5, 2012) - Skype and Tely Labs today announce a partnership in which Tely Labs will offer Skype's globally popular communications software in their powerful, yet compact, video calling device -- telyHD, allowing everyday consumers to experience free Skype video calling with big-screen impact and high-definition clarity. Now, the entire household can use their TV to instantly and easily connect face-to-face with family and friends worldwide through Skype -- whether on a computer, tablet, smartphone or TV. telyHD -- which doesn't require a computer and is compatible with most HD TVs -- is well-priced, sets up in minutes, uses industry-leading Skype and Android technologies, and allows for video calls to take place in a comfortable, naturally social setting -- your living room. "telyHD fundamentally redefines the video calling experience and, in a larger sense, how we connect and communicate with people across the globe. We acknowledge the potential of video calling and the power of Skype as we evolve it beyond the computer screen and onto an HD TV that closely resembles immersive, real-world interaction. What's truly exciting is that we make this next-gen video interaction possible with telyHD, an extremely simple-to-use device designed and priced for everyday consumers," said Sreekanth Ravi, CEO of Tely Labs. "We are proud of our work with Tely Labs, because it demonstrates how pioneering companies can integrate the Skype platform into our users' daily lives in compelling new ways providing our community with the widest possible range of video calling options. We are excited that, with telyHD, our users will have an entirely new way to enjoy HD big-screen interaction with their friends and family," said Manrique Brenes, Skype's senior director of platform business. Skype in HD Moves into the Living Room telyHD gives consumers the freedom to share moments big and small with friends and family around the world. Unlike traditional computer-based web cameras, telyHD is designed for the living room with a wide-angle camera that zooms, pans and tilts to capture an entire room and all the participants in stunning HD video.1 By opening up the living room to Skype, consumers can interact in a more natural, social way. Anyone on Skype can receive a telyHD video call, whether using Skype on a computer, tablet or smartphone, and can enjoy the improved telyHD video regardless of whether or not they have their own telyHD system. When both parties have telyHD systems, they can take advantage of even more capabilities including video mail -- a messaging system feature that allows users to record a video message such as a birthday greeting for friends or family that are not available to chat. Additionally, participants can share photos together while interacting on a telyHD video call. Users can even download a favorite photo right to a USB memory stick or SD card that plugs into the telyHD system as they video chat.* Simple, Affordable, and Complete System An all-in-one system, telyHD includes everything necessary to initiate a video call in minutes. The single-box solution features a wide-angle HD camera, four microphones with noise cancellation, built-in Wi-Fi or wired Internet connectivity, an easy to use remote control, and all necessary cables. telyHD does not require a computer or any additional hardware; users simply link it to their home network and plug it into their HD TV via HDMI. The telyHD unit sits discreetly on top of the TV or can be placed on a nearby shelf or tripod. It has a fully adjustable clamp so that it will fit perfectly on any size TV. Extensible Android-Based Entertainment Platform for the Future When a consumer purchases telyHD today, they benefit from the immediate Skype video calling capabilities and also buy into a system that is designed for the future. The telyHD system is built on the powerful, extensible Android OS and uses the high-performance Tegra 2 Dual-Core ARM A9 processor from NVIDIA. With this solid foundation, telyHD users will be able to use the system for an array of compelling home entertainment activities in the future -- from social networking and gaming to video streaming and more. Tely Labs is already working with the Android developer community to identify new apps that extend the ways consumers can use and enjoy telyHD in the home. Pricing and Availability telyHD will be available beginning January 5, 2012 through online retailers Amazon, Tely.com and Skype.com. The telyHD system is priced at $249 with no monthly fees and no PC required**. About Tely Labs: Founded in 2010 by the successful entrepreneurial team Sreekanth Ravi (president and CEO) and Sudhakar Ravi (CTO), Tely Labs is a pioneer in developing simple, affordable next-generation entertainment and communications systems that fundamentally change the way consumers communicate across the globe. The company's flagship product, telyHD, will be publicly unveiled at CES 2012 in Las Vegas. Built on the fast-growing Android OS and Skype software, telyHD delivers full HD Skype video calling to the living room on an HD TV allowing everyday consumers to experience free Skype video calling with big-screen impact and high-definition clarity. Tely Labs is based in Menlo Park, California. Visit us on the web at www.tely.com/. About Skype Skype is a communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart. Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg. Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com. 1 HD quality is achieved with HDMI enabled TVs *telyHD to telyHD only **broadband/Wi-Fi connection is required |
| Tobii Gazes into the future, sees you navigating Windows 8 with your eyes (video) Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:50 AM PST You may be waiting with bated breath for Microsoft to hurry up and release Windows 8 PCs and tablets to the masses, but before they get here, there might a twist to the way you tweak'em. Tobii Technology intends to demo its new mouse-free interface at CES this month -- dubbed Tobii Gaze -- that it hopes'll revolutionize the way we interact with devices. The gesture-based system incorporates eye-tracking to direct an on-screen pointer and works in conjunction with touch pad input for "fine-tuning." The company's hoping this new interface'll help you toss out that antiquated clicker and embrace the world of Minority Report. Hey, it's inevitable and you know it. Tobii Introduces Gaze Interface for Windows 8 to Revolutionize Laptop Interaction Tobii Technology will introduce and demonstrate its Tobii Gaze™ interface for Windows 8 for the first time at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 10-13. Tobii Gaze is a technology that makes it possible to point and interact in ways that are superior to both touch and mouse. It has the potential to change the user interface for regular computers as fundamentally as touch has for handheld devices. With its large tiles, Windows 8 Metro has been praised as a great interface for handheld touch devices. However, using your hands on a touch screen-enabled laptop or desktop computer is not an ideal ergonomic solution, and your hands would also interfere with the objects you would like to click on, drag, rotate or zoom. The Tobii Gaze interface uses a combination of eye gaze and touch pad to enable all seven primary touch commands of Windows 8 (e.g., activate, select, zoom, scroll, etc.) in a way that is more natural, efficient and precise than any other control when used on laptops and desktops. "Pointing at something by looking at it is intuitive, natural and immediate. Using a mouse to do the same thing is less so, as it involves an intermediate step of moving a mouse-pointer around," says Henrik Eskilsson, CEO and co-founder, Tobii Technology. "Gaze is as natural and intuitive as touch, as precise as the mouse and more ergonomic and effortless than both. Once you have experienced Gaze, a laptop without it feels just as ancient as a laptop without a touch pad." The Tobii Gaze interface utilizes eye tracking technology for pointing and the touch pad for giving commands and fine-tuning when necessary. This makes Gaze the ideal way to point on the Windows 8 start screen as well as in environments that require high precision. "Laptops and tablets today are designed to feel natural either for touch or for the mouse pointer, never both. Gaze technology enables you to point in a consistent way that feels natural on all devices," said Anders Olsson, Business Development Manager, Tobii Technology. Demo of the Tobii Gaze Interface The Tobii Gaze interface for Windows 8 Metro will be shown at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, January 10-13, with a Media preview at the CES Unveiled on January 8. |
| Western Digital's My Book Live Duo marries RAID and cloud storage, bytes everywhere celebrate Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:48 AM PST  WD'S MY BOOK® LIVE™ DUO PERSONAL CLOUD STORAGE WITH DUAL DRIVES OFFERS HIGH CAPACITY OR DOUBLE-SAFE FILE PROTECTION Provides Anytime, Anywhere Access to Stored Media and Files from Computers, Tablets or Smartphones IRVINE, Calif. - Jan. 5, 2012 - Western Digital (NYSE: WDC), the world's leader in digital storage solutions, today introduced My Book Live Duo, a personal cloud storage system that combines the benefits of shared storage and remote access with double-safe backup or increased capacity of a dual-drive system with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology. Double-Safe Backup Compatible with Mac® and PC operating systems, My Book Live Duo continuously maintains a second copy of all your files for real-time data backup in mirrored mode (RAID 1). Half the capacity is used to store users' data and half is used for a second copy. In the unlikely event that one drive fails, data is protected because it's duplicated on the other drive. For automatic backup Windows® users can use the included WD SmartWare® software and Mac users can utilize all the features of Apple® Time Machine® backup software to protect their data. Maximum Performance and Storage Capacity In spanning mode the two-drive system combines both drives into one large volume acting as one drive for maximum storage capacity, while its built-in 800 MHz CPU delivers the power and performance needed for today's most demanding applications. Designed around the most recent advances in Ethernet chip technology, My Book Live Duo personal cloud delivers best-in-class read speeds faster than traditional USB 2.0 drives. My Book Live Duo is currently available in 4 TB and 6 TB capacities. WD's Personal Cloud As with WD's My Book Live™ personal cloud storage solution, My Book Live Duo connects to the home network to create shared storage that users can access within the home or anywhere in the world through secure remote access. Remote access to My Book Live and My Book Live Duo is available on any computer through www.WD2go.com and with WD mobile apps for iPad®, iPhone®, iPod touch® or Android™ smartphones and tablets. Home Entertainment Hub Additionally, the My Book Live Duo system's built-in media server streams movies, photos and music to any DLNA™-certified multimedia device such as a WD TV® Live™ streaming media player, Blu-ray Disc™ player, PlayStation® 3, as well as Xbox® 360s and smart TVs. Users can also stream movies, photos and music to their tablet or smartphone directly from My Book Live Duo through the WD 2go™ mobile application. "My Book Live Duo is really the ideal, all-in-one storage and entertainment solution for today's ultra-connected consumer," explains Chris Bull, director of marketing for WD's Connected Home Solutions group. "The ability for consumers to safely backup all their digital content, as well as access and share content from anywhere in the world on their tablet, smartphone or any computer, truly provides a unique and rewarding experience for anyone who wants to enjoy, and needs to protect, valuable digital content." Compatibility My Book Live Duo is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista®, Windows 7, Mac OS® X Leopard®, Snow Leopard®, or Lion™, as well as DLNA/UPnP® enabled devices. Price and Availability My Book Live Duo personal cloud storage is available at select U.S. retailers and online at wdstore.com. MSRP is $399.99 USD for 4 TB and $499.99 USD for 6 TB. |
| MSI Wind U180 up for pre-order in Germany, 1.86GHz Atom N2800 included Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:47 AM PST  |
| Phobos-Grunt Mars probe to die a fiery death in the next two weeks Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:33 AM PST  |
| Epic Touch 4G comes out of the dark and into the white, hits Sprint January 8th Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:27 AM PST  Accessorize Your Winter Style With a snowy winter sky in the forecast, Sprint and Samsung are getting ready to offer two new devices to keep tech-savvy enthusiasts warm: Samsung Galaxy S™ II, Epic™ 4G Touch in Frost White and M370 by Samsung in Pewter Gray. Both devices will make their debut in all Sprint retail channels, including Web Sales ( www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) on Sunday, Jan. 8. Samsung Epic 4G Touch in Frost White will be available for $199.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade. Decked out from head-to-toe, Samsung Epic 4G Touch will complement your style while providing all the must-have wireless features including: • Dual-mode 3G/4G device – dependable 3G nationwide coverage and turbo-charged Sprint 4G speeds where available • Dual Camera: 8MP rear-facing camera/camcorder with auto-focus and flash that records HD video 1080p HD high profile and 2MP front-facing camera ideal for self-portraits or video chat • Samsung Exynos™ 1.2 GHz dual-core processor • Super AMOLED Plus 4.52-inch touchscreen (800x480 WVGA) • Android™ 2.3 • 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capable, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi® enabled devices on the Sprint 3G or 4G networks • Visual Voicemail M370 by Samsung features a fashionable clamshell design and offers an affordable way to keep in touch with friends and family. It will be available for just $19.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade. The simple and practical M370 by Samsung is a staple wardrobe item, like that faithful little black dress or favorite pair of sweats. Key features include: • 2.4-inch LCD- Clam shell design • 1.3MP camera • Web browsing • Bluetooth® wireless technology • Speakerphone Samsung Epic 4G Touch requires activation on one of the Sprint Everything Data plans, plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint's Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $40 per month versus Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB web, or $10 per month versus Verizon's 450-minute plan with unlimited text and 2GB web. The Mobile Hotspot option is also available for an additional $29.99 per month supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously (pricing excludes taxes and surcharges). M370 by Samsung is compatible with any current Sprint plan, including the affordable Talk plan with 450 anytime minutes for just $39.99 or an Everything Messaging plan starting at just $49.99 for 450 anytime minutes and unlimited text, picture and video messaging. M370 does not require the $10 per month Premium Data add-on. |
| Lexar launches its first 1000x CF memory cards Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:20 AM PST Lexar Introduces Industry's First 1000x Memory Card Blazing-Fast 1000x Memory Card Offers the Ultimate Performance for Professionals Shooting High-Resolution Images and Full-HD and 3D Video Fremont, CA, 5 January, 2012 – Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory products, today announced the industry's first 1000x memory card, the Lexar® Professional 1000x CompactFlash® (CF) card. The new card provides professional photographers and advanced photo and video enthusiasts with blazing-fast 150MB per second minimum guaranteed sustained read speed.* The Lexar Professional 1000x CF card will be available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities, and supports the VPG-20 specification, meaning the card has been tested and guaranteed for professional video capture streams at up to 20MB per second, ensuring professional-quality video at high frame rates with no dropped frames. In addition, the Lexar Professional 1000x CF memory card helps accelerate the digital photography workflow, helping clear the camera's buffer for uninterrupted shooting and quickly transferring images and video from the memory card to the computer, when paired with a UDMA 7-enabled reader such as the Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual Slot Reader. For additional information about the Lexar Professional 1000x CF card, visit www.lexar.com. "Lexar Professional CF cards are the only media I trust to capture my video images. With a significant performance upgrade and VPG-20 support, I can spend more time behind the camera and less time waiting for footage to transfer," said Lexar Elite Videographer Alex Buono, who is acclaimed for his video production work on Saturday Night Live. "Lexar has always understood how professionals shoot, manage, and edit their captured content, offering the tools and technologies to make the job faster and more efficient. The Professional 1000x CF card will help ensure that a memory card is never the bottleneck in the creative process." The Lexar Professional 1000x CF memory card is compatible with all UDMA CF and CF devices. The card includes the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue® software to help recover lost or deleted photo and video files, even if they've been erased or the card has been corrupted.** "Professional photographers who shoot both photos and video look to Lexar for storage solutions that will enhance their digital workflow and remove the obstacles that stand in the way of the creative process," said Manisha Sharma, director of product marketing for cards, Lexar. "The Lexar Professional 1000x CF card offers some of the best performance available, not only for use in-camera, but also when moving images and video from the card to a computer for editing and processing. Our goal is to allow shooters to focus on capturing great shots, including high-resolution images and HD or 3D video, instead of using up precious time processing in the studio." The Lexar Professional 1000x CF card provides consumers with the quality and reliability they have come to expect from Lexar. All product designs are tested in the Lexar Quality Labs to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability with more than 800 intended digital devices. All Lexar Professional cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free, dedicated professional technical support. The new Lexar Professional 1000x CF card will be available in February, with MSRPs of $169.99 (16GB), $299.99 (32GB), $529.99 (64GB), and $899.99 (128GB). |
| Fujifilm prepping X100 successor, the X-Pro1 for CES? Posted: 05 Jan 2012 06:15 AM PST  |
| Pantech Element 'Waterproof' tablet rumored to launch on AT&T next week Posted: 05 Jan 2012 05:52 AM PST  It looks like Ma Bell's keeping something under her sleeve for CES, if the BGR rumors are to be believed. Apparently we'll see the company releasing Pantech's Element LTE-capable tablet (that we saw at the FCC last month) for $300 on contract ($500 without). The 8-inch tablet is packing a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB storage, five and two megapixel rear and front facing cameras and will run Honeycomb. There's also a claim that the tablet is waterproof, but we can't imagine that being shouted from the rooftops: it transpires that it's only splash-resistant as long as the ports are closed, so Bob Ballard will have to take something else on his next dive. |
| Onyx develops 330-watt 'plug-n-play' solar panel with built-in AC outlet Posted: 05 Jan 2012 05:25 AM PST  Pioneering New ONYX 330-Watt "Plug-N-Play" Solar Panels on Schedule to Debut This Week GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Onyx Service and Solutions Inc (OTCQB: ONYX) reports that its first two fully-functional 330-Watt "Plug-N-Play" all-in-one panels are scheduled to arrive at their demonstration site in Orlando, Florida tomorrow. The demonstration site will allow for the press and potential customers to see two versions of the revolutionary panels in operation. Site assembly of rack stands and ancillary display items for these panels are expected to be completed today. Company Management expects the demonstration site to be ready for members of the press by the end of the week. The panel versions are model number OSPP330-1 and number OSPP330-2. The OSPP330-1 consists of a 330-watt panel, an incorporated micro inverter and standard US AC power outlet plug. The OSPP330-2 is identical, with the exception of having a high-capacity lithium battery incorporated into the unit. What makes the new "Plug-N-Play" panels such a game changer in the solar industry is that they are designed for the large "Do-it-Yourself" market. You can literally point the panel at the sun and plug an extension cord directly into the panel for immediate power – alleviating complicated wiring and typical installation requirements. The new panels are designed to be bought right off of the shelf in a hardware store, attached to any surface with 4 screws and immediately be put into service, powering a computer, fan, light or even a medical device. This new configuration will also help allow remote residences worldwide to have easier access to the power of the sun. Onyx Service & Solutions, Inc. acquires, develops and markets the most promising and potentially profitable energy projects and technologies possible. The ONYX mission is to manifest cutting edge energy technology, products, manufacturing advances and construction projects to successfully compete in a global energy marketplace, which includes GE (NYSE: GE), JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS), Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) and First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR). For more information on the Company see: http://www.OnyxService.com |
| Magellan's new RoadMate 5190T helps truckers find their way, like the do-dah man Posted: 05 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST  Truckin'? Got your chips cashed in? Well then you might wanna put them toward the latest RoadMate GPS navigator from Magellan. Designed for commercial truck, bus and taxi operators, the company's new RoadMate 5190T boasts a five-inch color display that drivers can use to find the most pain-free routes from point A to point B. With the 5190T strapped to their dashboards, truckers will be able to set up customized routing based on their vehicles' precise specifications, while using Magellan's Highway Lane Assist feature to help negotiate more baroque highway interchanges or exits. The onboard information dashboard, meanwhile, provides constant updates on trucking speed limits, alerting drivers whenever they drift above a given threshold. There's also a tracking log that allows operators to store information on mileage, hours and other parameters, as well as a built-in speaker system that projects sound at up to 93 decibels. The device is priced at $380, though Magellan has yet to announce a launch date. |
| eFun Nextbook Elite 10 offers Android 4.0, dual-core 1.1GHz CPU Posted: 05 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST  |
| CloudOn offers Microsoft Office functionality for iPad, your parents will love it Posted: 05 Jan 2012 04:42 AM PST  |
| Pvilion's solar charging station brings the battery-powered cars to the yard Posted: 05 Jan 2012 04:24 AM PST  |
| Google TV officially switching to ARM, Marvell Armada 1500 CPU to lead the charge Posted: 05 Jan 2012 04:00 AM PST  Of course, there are some early signs that this hardware switch could be just what the doctor ordered, like the fact that similar hardware powers the OnLive Microconsole, and likely lurked in the heart of the Vizio Google TVs we observed with inbuilt OnLive capabilities last year. Beyond the lower heat and power requirements this chip may be able to do it all for less money -- something we're sure $99 Revue buyers can appreciate. Check out the press release after the break for a few more details, we'll wait to find out more about the new partners and hardware before jumping on the Google TV 2.0 hype train along with Eric Schmidt.  Marvell and Google Team Up to Transform TV into the Command Center for the 'Connected Lifestyle' Marvell's new revolutionary ARMADA-based "Foresight Platform" powers new Google TV, offers best of television and multimedia experience for the new generation of Smart TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and beyond SANTA CLARA, Calif. – January 5, 2012 – Representing a major breakthrough in the convergence of TV, gaming, streaming video, popular web apps and social media, Marvell (Nasdaq: MRVL), a worldwide leader in integrated silicon solutions, today announced that the new Foresight Platform, powered by the Marvell® ARMADA™ 1500 HD Media System-on-a-Chip (SoC), has been designed into the next generation of Google TVs debuting at CES 2012. Google chose the ARMADA 1500 Foresight Platform for its one-of-a-kind ability to deliver the full continuum of rich multimedia entertainment on single-chip architecture. Using Marvell's award-winning Qdeo™ video processing technology, the ARMADA-based Foresight Platform is designed to deliver superior 3D video, impressively rich audio, striking 3D graphics and TV-friendly Web content. "Marvell and Google have teamed up to change home entertainment forever – transforming the TV into the command center for our connected lifestyle. Marvell and Google are fundamentally changing the relationship between the producers and consumers of content – from Hollywood to Madison Avenue to publishing and major news networks – creating a dynamic, two-way experience featuring real-time global news, social network, entertainment and information," said Weili Dai, Co-founder of Marvell. "I believe this is a major breakthrough movement and it's just the beginning of our bigger vision. The same forces that are revolutionizing today's television experience will transform numerous vertical applications for small businesses and large enterprises, enhancing the way we all work, connect with each other and collaborate globally." "The Google and Marvell teams have been working closely together to bring our combined software and chipset technologies to market to grow the Google TV ecosystem of manufacturers and devices. Marvell-powered Google TV solutions will enable powerful products to be brought to market at attractive prices," said Mario Queiroz, VP, Product Management Google TV. For consumers, today's digital home offers an endless choice of devices and content. For OEMs and service providers, it's an all-out sprint to create offerings that perform noticeably better than competitors and at mass-market prices. The Connected TV Marketing Association (CTVMA) estimates 123 million connected TVs will be sold worldwide in 2014. Those consumers will expect access to the services they love – Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, Skype, Picasa and many more – in a lightning-fast, crystal-clear and resource-friendly package. Powerful, energy-efficient, ultra-scalable and immensely affordable, the ARMADA 1500 contains Marvell's highest-performing ARM v6/7-compatible PJ4B SMP super-scalar dual-core CPU. The chip is designed to enable PC-like processing power to support Web browsing with support for Flash™ and other key technologies – with the aid of more than 6000 Dhrystone MIPS of computing horsepower, FPU v3.0, 512KB of L2 cache and WMMX2. The Foresight Platform is energy efficient and has advanced cell-phone like power management. The ARMADA 1500 also contains Marvell's award-winning Qdeo video processing for state-of-the-art HD and 3D video, including scaling, noise reduction, de-interlacing, low bit-rate internet video enhancement and FRC and color/contrast enhancement. The chip offers VMeta™, a multi-format video decoder/encoder/transcoder that can decode up to two simultaneous 1080p streams as well as a host of other video formats and containers. These features make the Foresight Platform ideal for Google TV, which requires tremendous processing power for its numerous applications at a cost effective price point. Related Links: • Product information: [insert link] • Marvell media materials: http://www.marvell.com/company/press_kit/ About Marvell Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is a world leader in the development of storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions. Marvell's diverse product portfolio includes switching, transceiver, communications controller, wireless and storage solutions that power the entire communications infrastructure, including enterprise, metro, home and storage networking. As used in this release, the term "Marvell" refers to Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit Marvell.com. |
| Broadcom introduces first gigabit-speed 802.11ac chipset, wishes 802.11n well Posted: 05 Jan 2012 04:00 AM PST  Broadcom Launches First Gigabit Speed 802.11ac Chips - Opens 2012 CES with 5th Generation (5G) Wi-Fi Breakthrough 5G Wi-Fi Offers Consumers the World's Fastest, Most Reliable Coverage for Today's Growing Video Demands Innovation Attracts Support from Consumer Electronics Leaders - Comcast, Huawei, Lenovo, NETGEAR, ZTE and others LAS VEGAS – January 5, 2012 – CES – News Highlights: Broadcom introduces first family of IEEE 802.11ac chips based on the 5th generation of Wi-Fi (5G WiFi) 5G WiFi improves wireless range in the home, allowing consumers to watch HD-quality video from more devices, in more places The increased speed of 5G WiFi allows consumers to load web content on a mobile device faster, synch large video or music files quickly, all while extending battery life 5G WiFi addresses the growing need for a more robust and efficient wireless network to support explosion of media consumption Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today introduced its first family of 802.11ac (5G WiFi) chips designed for a broad range of product segments. The new IEEE 802.11ac chips are three times faster and up to six times more power efficient than equivalent 802.11n solutions. Visit Experience Broadcom @ CES for more news, blogs and multi-media from CES and www.5GWiFi.org for more information on consumer advantages of 802.11ac. 5G WiFi is the next generation Wi-Fi standard required for today's mobile and video era. Based on 802.11ac, 5G WiFi is a major evolutionary step from the existing 802.11a/b/g/n networks. Broadcom's 5G WiFi dramatically improves the wireless range in the home, allowing consumers to watch HD-quality video from more devices, in more places, simultaneously. The increased speed enables consumers to download web content from a mobile device faster and quickly synch large files, such as videos, in a fraction of the time it would take on a similar 802.11n device. Since 5G WiFi transfers the same volume of data at a much faster rate, devices enter low-power mode faster, which results in significant power consumption advantages.  Digital-content consumption is on a steep incline, with video content expected to reach approximately 90 percent of global consumer traffic, according to Cisco's 2011 Visual Networking Index Forecast. At the same time, Internet traffic is shifting rapidly from wired to wireless networks. The increased reliance on wireless networks, the explosion of video consumption and the growing number of wireless devices being used are all putting tremendous stress on legacy 802.11a/b/g/n networks. As a result, consumers are prone to experience deteriorated performance, choppy videos and slower load times. By creating more reliable whole-home coverage, Broadcom's 5G WiFi technology overcomes the digital content and wireless device challenge. Broadcom's family of 5G WiFi solutions includes the BCM4360, BCM4352, BCM43526 and BCM43516. Product Highlights: All 5G WiFi solutions from Broadcom support the following features: o 80 MHz channel bandwidth that is 2 times wider than current 802.11n solutions o 256-QAM, a higher modulation scheme that increases data transfer efficiency o Transmit and receive beamforming o Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) Codes o Space-Time Block Codes (STBC) BCM4360 supports the PCIe interface and implements 3-stream 802.11ac specifications, and reaches speeds up to 1.3 Gbps. BCM4352 and BCM43526 implement 2-stream 802.11ac specification to reach up to 867 Mbps. BCM4352 supports PCIe interface; BCM43526 supports the USB interface. BCM43516 supports USB and reaches speeds of up to 433 Mbps with its single stream 802.11ac implementation. Chips with the PCIe interface are ideal for access points, routers, DSL/cable gateways and PC products; chips that use USB are ideal for consumer electronics devices including televisions, set-top boxes and Blu-Ray players. Broadcom's new 5G WiFi chips deliver better coverage and longer battery life in a small form factor that is interoperable and compatible with existing technologies. o Beamforming helps steer content in the direction of the intended receiver, increasing reliability and extending range; this is well complemented by STBC and LDPC code support. o By transferring the same volume of data at a much faster rate, devices go into a low- power mode faster than existing 802.11n solutions. o Designed on 40nm manufacturing process, the new chips are smaller and more power efficient, giving customers more design freedom. o Broadcom's 5G WiFi solutions work with all legacy 802.11 standards and complement other wireless technologies – like Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth and NFC. Broadcom is sampling 5G WiFi solutions to its early access partners including retail and PC OEMs, service providers and carriers, and will be demonstrating 5G WiFi capabilities at CES. 802.11ac has generated broad support across the consumer-electronics industry. Companies and partners across the ecosystem recognize that 802.11ac is the future of Wi-Fi and are committed to its development, integration and distribution. |
| Acer Iconia Tab A200 arriving January 15 for $330, Ice Cream Sandwich coming mid-February Posted: 05 Jan 2012 04:00 AM PST  Acer Expands Popular Tablet Lineup with Iconia Tab A200, A Full-Featured HD Tablet at an Attractive $329 Price |
| Qualcomm's Snapdragon GameCommand app ready to take on TegraZone Posted: 05 Jan 2012 03:30 AM PST  Didn't think Qualcomm was going to just sit around and let NVIDIA have all the fun, did you? The latter company's launch of TegraZone -- an app portal designed to show off mobile games that work best when using the Tegra 2 dual-core SoC -- appears to have inspired the competition, as Qualcomm announced the debut of its dedicated Snapdragon GameCommand app today. The idea is pretty much the same: the app, accessible on phones and tablets, will essentially be a marketplace that offers Snapdragon-optimized games (such as Qualcomm's GamePack selection) as well as some exclusive content. The app will make its official entrance on the Android Market on January 10th, but will only be available in North America until "a later date." Texas Instruments, you're up next. Head to the press release for more details. Snapdragon GameCommand to Launch on Android Market at CES 2012 - UFC Fighter Alistair "The Reem" Overreem to be Onsite at Qualcomm's Booth Showcasing One of the Latest Games Optimized for Snapdragon Devices SAN DIEGO - January 5, 2012 - Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc. (QuIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is expected to launch the Snapdragon GameCommand™ application to the Android Market on January 10, 2012, the opening day of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). At its heart, Snapdragon GameCommand will give mobile users a way to quickly discover, organize and access the latest Snapdragon optimized, featured and exclusive games. It will also provide feeds from top gaming news sites to help consumers stay up to date with the latest gaming news. Snapdragon GameCommand will enable users to easily access and play many of the over 100 Snapdragon™ GamePack featured games on a wide range of mobile phones and tablets. The Snapdragon GamePack includes several titles exclusively available on Snapdragon devices running on Android for a limited time, including "Fight Game Heroes" from Khaeon Gamestudio. "Fight Game Heroes" features head-to-head battles with real MMA fighters, including multiple combat champion and UFC fighter Alistair "The Reem" Overeem. Visitors to CES will have the chance to meet the 6'-5", 265-pound Overeem in-person and watch as he takes on Qualcomm executives in live rounds of "Fight Game Heroes" at the Qualcomm Booth in the LVCC South Hall, Upper Level, Booth #30313. Other exclusive games that are accessible to consumers with Snapdragon GameCommand include titles such as "Bunny Maze 3D" from Eyelead Software and "Desert Winds™" from Southend Interactive. In "Bunny Maze 3D", players help the adventurous Bunny get back his stolen carrots, in a cheerful journey through a magical world. In the "Desert Winds" mini-game players take on the persona of princess Amira as she battles gruesome creatures of the desert to save her people. "With mobile gaming proliferating at a blistering pace, apps like Snapdragon GameCommand make it easy for consumers to discover and access the most advanced Snapdragon optimized games," says Dave Durnil, director of advanced gaming at Qualcomm. "With exclusive and highly-anticipated games like 'Fight Game Heroes' and 'The Reem' Snapdragon mobile gaming is really starting to heat up." Snapdragon GameCommand is expected to be available in North America at launch and will be available in other markets at a later date. |
| Elan: 'Apple's paying us $5 million for multitouch patents' Posted: 05 Jan 2012 02:59 AM PST  Remember the longstanding patent punch-up 'twixt Cupertino and Elan Microelectronics? No? Well, Taiwan's Elan said that Apple infringed two of its multitouch patents, which the ITC disagreed with -- the judge stating he found no infringement and therefore no cause for an outright ban on sales of iDevices. Now, in a rather strange twist, and perhaps just to extricate itself from the case completely, The Haus of Tim is paying $5 million to Elan in an out-of-court settlement. Aside from the relatively paltry sum of cash, the settlement also allows the companies to cross-license each other's relevant patents -- a deal which might arguably serve Elan better than it serves Apple. |
| Panasonic unveils new line of Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids Posted: 05 Jan 2012 02:03 AM PST  Panasonic Offers New Series of Receiver-in-Canal Digital Hearing Instruments New Technologically Advanced Models are Designed with Bluetooth® Functionality SECAUCUS, N.J., Jan. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Healthcare Group today announced the introduction of the R1-W digital hearing instrument, which expands on the company's line of products for people with hearing loss. The new open fit, R1-W Series, Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) digital hearing instruments are designed for people with mild to severe hearing loss in three models, WH-R17C, WH-R15C and WH-R13C, allowing for diverse functionality for a variety of users. Offering a compact size and sleek, curved shape, the R1-W Series is designed to fit comfortably and discreetly behind a user's ear. The Hearing Hub allows users to wirelessly connect the hearing instrument to Bluetooth®-compatible* mobile phones, landlines and Audio Transmitter, enabling sound to automatically transmit into the digital hearing device. The Hearing Hub also provides a user with the ability to record voice memos such as personal reminders and phone numbers, allowing for up to five 2-minute and 40-second recorded files. An innovative battery management tool protects the digital hearing instrument's battery by preventing drainage when placed in a dehumidifier, which helps power last for approximately 300 hours**. For individuals with dexterity challenges, batteries are now easy to replace– a user simply rotates the dial to dislodge old batteries and replace with new ones. Additional features of the R1-W Series include a noise reduction function which makes sound more comfortable for a user, Memory Switch for storage of and easy access to set hearing programs for use in various listening settings, and Low Battery Alarm. Supported R1-W Series accessories include an Audio Transmitter which plugs directly into a television's audio-output port to transmit sound wirelessly into the R1-W Series through the Hearing Hub, for crystal clear sound quality. The remote control allows users to easily and discreetly adjust the volume level and programs of their hearing instruments. "With the new R1-W series, Panasonic has introduced a line of hearing instruments with sound quality design that equals or exceeds anything we have seen in the industry. With Panasonic's depth of research and design prowess in the audio field, our sights are set on new innovative solutions that are game changers for the end user and the Hearing Care Professional alike. We are building on a well planned strategy that includes the right products and business models that are attractive to forward thinking professionals. As a new player in the US hearing market and with our brand strength, we are finding that professionals are embracing our vision to deliver meaningful solutions to a broad segment of people who want to hear better," said Delain D. Wright, Director of Sales, Panasonic Healthcare Group. "The R1-W series will propel us into the next phase of Panasonic's plan for the hearing care business and allow us to better promote our products and Panasonic brand which have been well received by people seeking hearing help." "The new R1-W Series of digital hearing instruments reflects impeccable product design to ensure comfortable fit, coupled with outstanding sound quality to create a hearing experience that is true to life," said Yoshi Yuasa, Senior Vice President of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The Panasonic R1-W Series is currently available in eight elegant colors including dark gray, rose gray, silver, pink, purple, blue, green and champagne gold. For more information on the entire Panasonic line-up of hearing instruments, visit www.panasonic.com/hearing. To become a distributor or provider of Panasonic Hearing Instruments, please call 1-888-422-6309 to learn more. *The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Panasonic Corporation is under license. **Measured based on the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) C5513 2000 using a standard receiver. The life of the battery differs depending on the type of battery, conditions and hearing aid set-up. About Panasonic Corporation of North America Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and services for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics brand to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking (http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2011-Report/BestGlobalGreenBrandsTable-2011.aspx). As part of its continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Panasonic Corporation of North America will relocate its operations to a new eco-efficient office tower adjacent to a mass transit hub in Newark, NJ in 2013. Information about Panasonic Eco Ideas initiatives is available at http://panasonic.net/eco/ecoideas/. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom. About Panasonic's Healthcare Group Based in Secaucus, NJ Panasonic Healthcare Group is a business group of Panasonic Corporation of North America. Bringing together Panasonic's expertise in a wide range of health and medical device technologies the business unit develops products for the healthcare industry relating to hearing care and diagnostic machines. For more information visit www.panasonic.com/cardiohealthstation or http://www.panasonic.com/business/medicalvideo/hearing-aids/index.asp |
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