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- ASUS 'TF300T' slate makes an appearance, could be the next Transformer?
- Nintendo Slide Pad for 3DS review
- Passware claims FireVault 2 can be cracked in under an hour, sells you the software to prove it
- HTC Sensation puts on a white coat to match its Ice Cream Sandwich innards
- Kenko Tokina 400mm lens for Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX hits Japan tomorrow
- ADzero Bamboo cellphone's aiming for the giant Panda market (video)
- Vote for the 2011 Engadget Awards!
- NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video)
- ZTE Optik tablet hits Sprint for $100 on February 5th, hopes EVDO is good enough
- Squid is a shirt that keeps an exercise journal so you don't have to
- Is this the Samsung Galaxy S II Plus? Leaked benchmarks suggest new 1.5GHz dual-core Exynos processor
- Qualcomm chips complete first successful VoIP-over-LTE to WCDMA handoff
- Latest Kaleidescape tentative judgement could mean the end of untethered disc servers
- Seagate expects flood-related hard drive shortages to continue
- IDC: Nokia, Samsung, Apple are the new top 3 handset makers
- Pentax confirms the rumors, mirrorless K-01 coming March 2012 (video)
- Peek killing off US email and Twitter devices after 'lifelong service' (update: handsets available for hackers)
- NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook
- Fujifilm X-Pro1 shows up on Amazon, confirms $1700 price (update)
- RIM launches BlackBerry 'Be Bold' ad campaign, superheroes nowhere to be seen (video)
- PSA: PlayStation Network goes down (again) from 9AM ET, but it's for maintenance (again)
- 3DS adds to its European WiFi arsenal, gains over 5,000 free hotspots
- Sony's Q3 earnings are in: wider than expected full year loss, lowered sales projections
- French court fines Google France 500,000 euros for gratis Maps
- EasySignMobile enters the Facebook fray for iPhone and iPad
- The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn't look enough like a gun
- Pentax K-01 leaks, wants to be your retro-looking mirrorless friend
- JVC's NX-BX3 is an iPod dock that you can put things on top of
- Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV
- Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter now shipping, snag one for $100
- Kyocera DuraPlus: a Sprint phone so masculine it'll kick your face in for misdialing
- Comcast's Internet Essentials program expanding as digital literacy project soars
- Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow
- Zuckerberg outlines idealistic Facebook mission in IPO filing
- Shocker: PS Vita downloads cheaper than boxed games
- Facebook files $5 billion IPO, values the company at nearly $100 billion
- Qualcomm announces Q1 earnings: revenues up 40%, $1.4 billion in profit
- Mac OS X 10.7.3 hits Software Update, ready to plug bugs on your Wednesday
- Google Docs for Android updates: adds offline support, better tablet experience
- LG Spectrum review
| ASUS 'TF300T' slate makes an appearance, could be the next Transformer? Posted: 02 Feb 2012 10:32 AM PST | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nintendo Slide Pad for 3DS review Posted: 02 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST  Hardware In addition to the Slide Pad, the package includes a single AAA battery and a hand strap. The peripheral itself looks like a large slab of plastic and man, is this sucker huge. Let's just say we like your chances of giving some unlucky mugger a concussion with this thing. The weight itself actually isn't bad at 132 grams, or roughly 4.7 ounces. But it's nearly seven inches (173.2mm) wide, 3.7 inches (93.2mm) tall and about 1.7 inches (42.3mm) thick, so it's going to make your compact 3DS look uncharacteristically chunky. The surface feels smooth and isn't super glossy so you don't have to worry as much about unsightly fingerprints, though they're still a possibility. Oh yeah, it also comes in every color as long as it's black, black or black. When viewing the Slide Pad from the front, you'll see its analog stick on the right side. The stick (or "circle pad") actually looks and feels just like the left analog stick of the 3DS. In the middle recess is a screw that you can loosen with a thin coin. That actually serves as a slot for the AAA battery. You'll also see several rubberized nubs that help hold your 3DS in place plus an infrared sensor that aligns with the 3DS' own IR sensor in the inner top left of the peripheral. The Slide Pad comes with three shoulder buttons: "ZL" on the left and the "ZR" and "R" buttons on the right. They essentially replace the shoulders on your 3DS, although the extra "R" button either duplicates "ZR" or serves a totally different function depending on the game. On the back of the peripheral there's a recessed surface designed to accommodate your middle, ring and pinkie fingers. Setup Plugging in the 3DS into the Slide Pad is a snap. If you know how to breathe, then you should have no problem docking this baby. Just insert your 3DS at an angle from the bottom and push the top part of the console down. You can also do the opposite and insert it from the top first if you want to make sure that the IR sensors align. Although it's a cinch to slip your 3DS in and out of the peripheral, the Slide Pad actually holds the 3DS quite firmly. We vigorously shook the thing face down with the 3DS attached and the console stayed in place even after the top screen flipped open. All bets are off, though, if you drop it from up high onto the pavement. No, we didn't attempt that but you're more than welcome to try it with your system if you just really, really, really have to know. When it comes to syncing the device, the Slide Pad works by using the 3DS' IR sensor. We tested that by channeling Motörhead and putting an ace of spades card in between both sensors and it blocked the peripheral from syncing with the 3DS. That means you'll want to make sure that the IR sensors for the Slide Pad and the 3DS are aligned properly, or else the 3DS won't be able to detect the peripheral accurately. We tested the pad on a Japanese game, Monster Hunter 3G, and the US version of Resident Evil: Revelations. Both games employed a similar syncing system, which makes sense since they're developed by the same company, Capcom. The first time you boot either game, you'll get a message asking if you'll be using a Slide Pad. You'll see this message, by the way, even if you don't have a Slide Pad connected. You only get the message once for Monster Hunter 3G but you can always change your Slide Pad settings under "Options." Resident Evil: Revelations, meanwhile, always asked us if we wanted to use a "Circle Pad Pro" at start-up. Besides letting you turn the Slide Pad on or off, both games also let you calibrate the peripheral under the options menu. Once you turn on Slide Pad functionality, the games will automatically detect the peripheral every time you start them up. Gameplay Control-wise, the analog stick works really well. Since the controller on the Slide Pad looks and feels just like the one on the 3DS, using it feels natural. It's also a marked improvement over the methods typically used for full manual control of the Monster Hunter 3G game camera without the Slide Pad. One method involves using the virtual D-pad on the lower touchscreen, which frankly just isn't accurate enough when things get hectic. The second method is the modified "claw" technique with your left forefinger on the left analog stick to control character movement and your left thumb on the physical D-pad to move the camera. But this doesn't work as well as it does on the Sony PSP due to the 3DS analog stick being on top of the regular D-pad. You can use the game's new semi-lock on feature on big bosses, too, but that's technically not full camera control. The extra analog is especially useful for Monster Hunter 3G's underwater sections, where having full control of the camera is essential. The placement and feel of the top shoulder buttons is good as well. The Slide Pad works even better for Resident Evil: Revelations. We played the opening three levels all the way to the first big boss fight without the Slide Pad and after trying out the peripheral, we actually wished we used it earlier. With the Slide Pad, the trigger button gets mapped to the ZR shoulder button, melee on the R shoulder button and scope/aim on the shoulder ZL button. Besides making the game play more like a console shooter by changing the trigger button, the Slide Pad makes movement and camera control much easier. Walking backward while aiming is as easy as just pulling down on the left analog stick while the right stick handled camera movement, which is a lot more accurate compared to swiping the touchscreen. The improved control is especially helpful when you're surrounded by enemies and need to dodge or position yourself for better shots. And interestingly, if you've got ginormous man hands (like some of us), the extra size of the Slide Pad actually makes gameplay easier since the 3DS' smaller form factor can make holding it feel a bit cramped. Unfortunately, the Slide Pad also has its fair share of drawbacks. For starters, the device covers up some key parts of the 3DS. Openings in the peripheral allow you to access the charging adapter slot, headphone jack and the volume controls. But the Slide Pad covers up the game cartridge slot, WiFi switch and stylus. That means you have to un-dock your 3DS if you want to change games, take out the stylus or toggle the WiFi switch. Granted, it isn't hard to do so, but it still gets annoying after a while. Syncing also sometimes gets a bit persnickety when you put your 3DS to sleep mid-game or turn the console off for some time. Occasionally, for example, the Slide Pad un-syncs because the 3DS can't detect it even though the console is docked on the peripheral. This seems to happen because the IR sensors aren't perfectly aligned, which means you'll have to take out the 3DS and dock it back into the Slide Pad again. Besides adding quite a bit of pudge to the DS, the Slide Pad doesn't exactly match the portable console's design. It kind of looks like some sort of Franken-peripheral, especially if your 3DS isn't black. If you're planning on using it a lot on the road, you may want to consider getting a larger carrying case to accommodate it unless you're okay with un-docking your 3DS every time you store it. Otherwise, there ain't no way this will fit in your jeans pocket, that's for sure. The extra size can also pose a challenge for kids, women or other gamers with smaller hands. It's still fairly easy to comfortably reach the A, B, X and Y buttons with your thumb despite the extra width on the right side of the Slide Pad. If you like to tap the lower touchscreen by quickly reaching over with your thumb while playing, though, the extra distance makes doing that a bit more difficult even if you've got normal-size hands. It also would have been nice if the peripheral didn't require its own battery and could just draw power from the 3DS itself. It's understandable that you probably don't want to reduce the 3DS' piddly battery life even further, but it's not like the Slide Pad requires a lot juice. (The Japanese manual confirms that you indeed can get up to 480 hours of play time with one AAA battery, a threshold we've yet to approach.) The Slide Pad's enormous size means Nintendo could have even tried slapping a battery extender in there that works like the Nyko Power Grip, especially since you can't use battery accessories when the peripheral is attached. The screw also makes replacing the battery a tad cumbersome but given the Slide Pad's impressive runtime, it's not as big an issue. Another drawback is that the Slide Pad is pretty much a situational device, since it's only compatible with a limited number of games. It doesn't work on the 3DS' main menu and there's no option to, say, use it as an alternate stick for lefties in other games. If you look back at the history of video game peripherals -- Super NES Super Scope, anyone? -- game support, or the lack thereof, is ultimately what causes supplementary add-ons to fail. It remains to be seen if support for the Slide Pad will be strong throughout the life of the 3DS. 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| Passware claims FireVault 2 can be cracked in under an hour, sells you the software to prove it Posted: 02 Feb 2012 09:39 AM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HTC Sensation puts on a white coat to match its Ice Cream Sandwich innards Posted: 02 Feb 2012 09:16 AM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kenko Tokina 400mm lens for Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX hits Japan tomorrow Posted: 02 Feb 2012 08:54 AM PST  [Thanks, Tibor] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ADzero Bamboo cellphone's aiming for the giant Panda market (video) Posted: 02 Feb 2012 08:31 AM PST  This is the ADzero, a smartphone with a four-year old, organically grown bamboo unibody shell. It was designed by British student Kieron-Scott Woodhouse, a final-year product design student at Middlesex University. After his concept designs were spotted online, the 23 year old was approached to help design a real device. The Android-powered phone is built with an eye on sustainability, but isn't scrimping on the technical: its packing a camera with a reportedly unique ring-flash that encircles the lens. It'll be released in China and the UK shortly, with a focus on getting it into the hands of design-focused consumers. After the break we've got a clip of Mr. Woodhouse as he looks to carry on the tradition of world-class British designers. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vote for the 2011 Engadget Awards! Posted: 02 Feb 2012 08:00 AM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video) Posted: 02 Feb 2012 07:38 AM PST  Take a moment to Breathe, because this one's kind of heady. NASA has just published a new video of the Dark Side of the Moon and, contrary to popular belief, it's not really all that dark. (We'd probably describe it as a subdued gray, if we had to, but feel free to go with Any Colour You Like.) Compiled into a 30-second video clip, this footage provides a cursory glimpse of the moon's hind parts (its "B-Side," if you will), panning over the rock from north to south, in all its crater-y glory. It's all part of an initiative from NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), which presumably spent a lot of Time and Money to build its twin spacecraft, nicknamed Ebb and Flow. On January 19th, the lab sent the pair up to that Great Gig in the Sky, as part of the GRAIL MoonKAM mission -- a "progressive" educational outreach program geared toward middle school students. Ebb was charged with filmic duties, and did a remarkable job of shooting On the Run with its MoonKAM camera, returning high res footage to NASA's engineers, and giving both Us and Them something to think about during the next lunar Eclipse. See the video (along with its eerily sync-able counterpart) after the break, and if you've got any questions about it, please don't hesitate to Speak to Me. NASA Mission Returns First Video from Moons' Far Side 1 Feb 2012 (Source: NASA/JPL) PASADENA, Calif. -- A camera aboard one of NASA's twin Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) lunar spacecraft has returned its first unique view of the far side of the moon. MoonKAM, or Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students, will be used by students nationwide to select lunar images for study. GRAIL consists of two identical spacecraft, recently named Ebb and Flow, each of which is equipped with a MoonKAM. The images were taken as part of a test of Ebb's MoonKAM on Jan. 19. The GRAIL project plans to test the MoonKAM aboard Flow at a later date. In the video, the north pole of the moon is visible at the top of the screen as the spacecraft flies toward the lunar south pole. One of the first prominent geological features seen on the lower third of the moon is the Mare Orientale, a 560-mile-wide (900 kilometer) impact basin that straddles both the moon's near and far side. The clip ends with rugged terrain just short of the lunar south pole. To the left of center, near the bottom of the screen, is the 93-mile-wide (149 kilometer) Drygalski crater with a distinctive star-shaped formation in the middle. The formation is a central peak, created many billions of years ago by a comet or asteroid impact. "The quality of the video is excellent and should energize our MoonKAM students as they prepare to explore the moon," said Maria Zuber, GRAIL principal investigator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. The twin spacecraft successfully achieved lunar orbit this past New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Previously named GRAIL-A and GRAIL-B, the washing machine-sized spacecraft received their new names from fourth graders at the Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Mont., following a nationwide student naming contest. Thousands of fourth- to eighth-grade students will select target areas on the lunar surface and send requests to the GRAIL MoonKAM Mission Operations Center in San Diego. Photos of the target areas will be sent back by the satellites for students to study. The MoonKAM program is led by Sally Ride, America's first woman in space. Her team at Sally Ride Science and undergraduate students at the University of California in San Diego will engage middle schools across the country in the GRAIL mission and lunar exploration. GRAIL is NASA's first planetary mission carrying instruments fully dedicated to education and public outreach. "We have had great response from schools around the country; more than 2,500 signed up to participate so far," Ride said. "In mid-March, the first pictures of the moon will be taken by students using MoonKAM. I expect this will excite many students about possible careers in science and engineering." Launched in September 2011, Ebb and Flow periodically perform trajectory correction maneuvers that, over time, will lower their orbits to near-circular ones with an altitude of about 34 miles (55 kilometers). During their science mission, the duo will answer longstanding questions about the moon and give scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., manages the GRAIL mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The GRAIL mission is part of the Discovery Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver built the spacecraft. For more information about GRAIL, visit: http://grail.nasa.gov/ and http://www.nasa.gov/grail. Information about MoonKAM is available at: https://moonkam.ucsd.edu/ . | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZTE Optik tablet hits Sprint for $100 on February 5th, hopes EVDO is good enough Posted: 02 Feb 2012 07:15 AM PST  ZTE Optik is an Android Tablet Offering Sprint Customers a Combination E-reader, Media Player and Portable Computing Device at an Affordable Price Available beginning Feb. 5, ZTE Optik boasts a 7-inch touchscreen display, Android 3.2, Honeycomb, and dual cameras for under $100 OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & RICHARDSON, Texas – Feb. 2, 2012 – Beginning on Sunday, Feb. 5, Sprint (NYSE:S) will introduce its first tablet for under $100, ZTE Optik™, a Sprint 3G tablet featuring a 7-inch touchscreen display with WXGA 1280x800 resolution and pinch-to-zoom, Android™ 3.2, Honeycomb, and dual cameras. ZTE Optik will be available through Sprint direct ship sales channels, including Sprint Stores, Sprint Business Sales, Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and online (www.sprint.com) for just $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement. It will also be available without a service agreement for $349.99, and business customers may qualify for special pricing. (All pricing excludes tax.) "Sprint is committed to delivering exceptional value and feature-rich devices to our customers," said David Owens, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. "ZTE Optik packs great features for under $100. When this device is combined with our Tablet Connection plans, customers can easily keep their personal and professional lives organized, stay connected with their social networks and get things done while on the go." Powered by Android 3.2, Honeycomb, the version of Android designed specifically for tablets, ZTE Optik is a dynamic e-reader, media player and portable computing device. It features a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and 7-inch capacitive touchscreen that allows the user to get work done or stay entertained surfing the web, playing games and watching videos with Adobe® Flash® enabled websites. It has two cameras – a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and front-facing 2-megapixel camera that enables video chat. "ZTE Optik is ZTE's first tablet in North America and makes the tablet experience available to a new segment of consumers," said Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA and president, North America Region, ZTE. "Paired with Sprint's cutting-edge network, ZTE Optik provides an exceptional user experience to consumers who demand affordability, flexibility and mobility in one package." For those that want to get more out of their tablet, ZTE Optik provides access to Android Market™, which features more than 400,000 useful apps, games and widgets. Additional key features of ZTE Optik include: Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Books™ and YouTube™ Sprint Zone, Sprint TV, Sprint Music Plus, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Football Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileSM Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g) Swype™ Integrated GPS 4000 mAh Lithium-ion battery Expandable memory slot, supporting up to a 32GB microSD card (not included) Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR Stereo speakers 3.5mm headset ZTE Optik can be activated on one of Sprint's Tablet Connection plans. Sprint offers four plans designed specifically for tablets, starting at $19.99 for 1GB of data, $34.99 for 3GB of data, $49.99 for 6GB of data and $79.99 for 12GB of data.1 (All pricing excludes taxes and surcharges.) Customers are able to view their data usage by logging into My Sprint at www.sprint.com. ZTE Optik can also be used as a Mobile Hotspot allowing up to five users to simultaneously surf the web using Wi-Fi®. The Mobile Hotspot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month and utilizes data in the customer's tablet plan. (All pricing excludes taxes and surcharges). About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 53 million customers at the end of 3Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index showed Sprint is the #1 most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the last three years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint. About ZTE USA ZTE USA is a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. ZTE USA is dedicated to making quality communications technology accessible to all. The company draws on more than 25 years of experience and research investment to deliver smart, affordable, quality choices for infrastructure and mobile data device customers nationwide. For more information, visit www.zteusa.com. About ZTE ZTE is a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with the most comprehensive product range covering virtually every sector of the wireline, wireless, service and terminals markets. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to over 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while achieving continued revenue growth. ZTE's 2010 revenue led the industry with a 21% increase to USD10.609 billion. ZTE commits 10 percent of its revenue to research and development and takes a leading role in a wide range of international bodies developing emerging telecoms standards. A company with sound corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, ZTE is a member of the UN Global Compact. ZTE is China's only listed telecom manufacturer, publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Squid is a shirt that keeps an exercise journal so you don't have to Posted: 02 Feb 2012 06:53 AM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 02 Feb 2012 06:27 AM PST
Pinch of salt time. As mobile manufacturers polish up those final test models ready for us to pore over in just a few weeks, someone's possibly jumped the gun. What you're looking at here are apparently benchmarks from the Galaxy S II Plus -- yep, another incremental step-up for an existing Samsung device. According to the results, the phone will carry the same resolution screen of the original (800 x 480), but will purportedly be the first device to carry a dual-core 1.5GHz Exynos processor -- placing it just ahead of even the Galaxy Note. Unfortunately, the benchmark read-out also lists Android 2.3.4 for the phone -- a little old (and unlikely) when we're seeing version 2.3.7 if not a leap to Ice Cream Sandwich. Benchmark results featuring a Galaxy Nexus with a 2GHz processor (possibly overclocked) has also got us all kinds of suspicious. We'll be keeping our eyes on this one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qualcomm chips complete first successful VoIP-over-LTE to WCDMA handoff Posted: 02 Feb 2012 06:01 AM PST  Qualcomm Chipset Powers First Successful VoIP-over-LTE Call with Single Radio Voice Call Continuity Successful Completion of a Voice Call Handover from LTE to WCDMA Network Marks Key Milestone in Development of VoLTE SAN DIEGO – February 02, 2012 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that the Company, working with Ericsson, has successfully completed the first voice call handover from an LTE mobile network to a WCDMA network using Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC). An important technology required for voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) support, SRVCC is a 3GPP specified feature that enables continuity of service by seamlessly switching to a WCDMA network when a consumer on a VoLTE call leaves the LTE network's coverage area. This milestone occurred on December 23, 2011 with an Ericsson network using a handset which incorporated Qualcomm's Snapdragon™ S4 MSM8960 3G/LTE multimode processor. A demonstration will be available at Qualcomm's booth at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 27 – March 1, 2012. "As LTE networks are deployed alongside 3G networks, the ability for multimode 3G/LTE mobile devices to connect to different network technologies will be an important part of providing the best possible mobile voice and data experience to consumers," said Cristiano Amon, senior vice president of product management, Qualcomm. "Qualcomm is committed to the successful deployment of LTE networks worldwide in conjunction with 3G networks, and the milestone we've achieved with Ericsson is another step towards making VoLTE technology a commercial reality." SRVCC is the next logical step in the 4G LTE voice roadmap following the commercial launch of circuit-switched fallback technology (CSFB) on smartphones in 2011. CSFB allows a single radio in the handset to dynamically switch from an LTE data connection to a 3G connection when the user needs to make or receive a call. Similarly, SRVCC support enables a single radio in the handset to execute a seamless handover of a voice call from an LTE network to a 3G network. Furthermore, SRVCC and CSFB allow both LTE and 3G network connections to be supported on a single chip, eliminating the need for smartphones to use separate LTE and 3G radios and modems. This allows OEMs to design handsets with lower power consumption and component costs and a smaller size. Given that 3G networks will continue to be deployed in conjunction with LTE networks for quite some time, SRVCC and CSFB are essential to provide a seamless voice experience to customers using LTE multimode handsets once VoLTE is commercially deployed. Qualcomm is committed to ensuring the best voice performance to users in LTE networks through industry-leading CSFB and SRVCC technologies. About Qualcomm Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm's website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages. Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of 3G/LTE components on a timely and profitable basis, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2011 and most recent Form 10-Q. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Latest Kaleidescape tentative judgement could mean the end of untethered disc servers Posted: 02 Feb 2012 05:39 AM PST  The thing about the American civil court system is you can almost never stop looking over your shoulder, even when you thought you won. Things get appealed and what was a favorable ruling can become your worst nightmare five years later. That's what the folks at Kaleidescape are facing if the latest tentative judgement in its case vs the DVD Copy Control Association, which licenses DVD's defunct copy protection, CSS. Last time around Kaleidescape was on the other side of the ruling with the Judge agreeing that there was no violation of any terms of service. This time around? Not so much. It would mean a shift in legal DVD servers, but we'd imagine Blu-ray takes up most of the market by now anyway. Currently Kaleidescape's Blu-ray products authenticate the disc is in the vault before playing, and its CEO has testified modifications could be made to the DVD products within a few months. So with Managed Copy being DOA and UltraViolet being anything but disappointing to anyone, days without keeping track of discs to watch the movies you own seems like a fairy tale -- legally anyways. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seagate expects flood-related hard drive shortages to continue Posted: 02 Feb 2012 05:11 AM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IDC: Nokia, Samsung, Apple are the new top 3 handset makers Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:46 AM PST  Top five mobile phone vendors, shipments and market share: Q4 2011 (Units in millions)
Top five mobile phone vendors, shipments and market share: Calendar Year 2011 (Units in Millions)
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| Pentax confirms the rumors, mirrorless K-01 coming March 2012 (video) Posted: 02 Feb 2012 04:17 AM PST
We heard it was coming, and confirmation arrives today of Pentax's latest model. the K-01. The manufacturer is cheer-leading the fact that it uses the world's thinnest interchangeable lens for lens-interchangeable cameras, which really rolls off the tongue. The body is compatible with the rest of your K-series lens, although they're presumably going to look awkwardly thick in comparison. The 40mm lens can cope with aperture settings down to f/1.8, while the camera packs a new 16.28 megapixel CMOS sensor, with an ISO range of 100 to 25,600. Video chops have also been improved; a new recording button for instant start and a stereo mic differentiate it from the K-5. Video capture can be done at 1080p with 30, 25 or 24fps settings available. The aluminum-bodied camera will arrive in yellow, black and white next month, priced at $750 for the high-design body or $900 with the DA 40mm lens included. The lens will also be available, priced at $250. You can see designer Marc Newson emote about his latest creation in the video right after the break. PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION Introduces PENTAX K-01 Designed by Marc Newson DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When is a camera more than a photographer's tool? The answer is when it's an object designed by Marc Newson, one of the most acclaimed and influential contemporary designers. PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION introduces the Marc Newson designed PENTAX K-01* interchangeable lens camera (ILC). The new PENTAX K-01 is another bold effort from the manufacturer that is known for pushing camera size, color, durability, and now, design, to the limit. Widely known for designing a wide range of objects from furniture and household products to bicycles, cars, aircraft and yachts, Marc Newson has had collected works displayed in The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and many other major museums. *pronounced 'kay- zero-one' The contemporary, timeless K-01 houses a full array of advanced functions and user-friendly features in a camera body with remarkable form and function. The elimination of an optical viewfinder and quick-return mirror gave Newson more freedom in designing the camera body, and the K-01 showcases Newson originality in every detail. Available in black, white and Newson's signature yellow colors, the K-01 features the designer's autograph logo stamp on the bottom of each camera. The famed designer's touch also is evident in a new smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS interchangeable lens. As the world's thinnest interchangeable lens,* the new 40mm combines with the PENTAX K-01 camera body to deliver a unique ILC system that is perfect for photographers who are as keen on design as they are on performance. Together, the K-01 and 40mm lens system mark the intersection where high technology and high design meet. Key features of the PENTAX K-01 include: Durable machined aluminum frame under a stylish black, white, or yellow exterior. PENTAX mirrorless body design is compatible with 25+ million PENTAX K-mount lenses spanning decades. Large 16 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS image sensor with low noise image capture and multiple aspect ratios. Bright, high-resolution 3-inch LCD with 920,000 dots. Full HD 1080p video capture at 30 FPS with h.264 compression (60 FPS at 720p) features outstanding video capture flexibility. Sensor-shift PENTAX Shake and Dust Reduction system is compatible with every mounted PENTAX lens. Fast 6 FPS burst mode is ideal for fast-action photography. Flexible ISO range of 100-25600 ensures gorgeous noise-free imaging in any lighting condition. Focus peaking mode provides fast and accurate manual focusing for critical focus applications. * The world's thinnest interchangeable lens for lens-interchangeable cameras, as of February 1, 2012 (based on PENTAX's research). The K-01 will be available in yellow, black and white in March 2012 for $749.95USD (body only) and $899.95USD (lens kit including new DA 40mm XS) in Marc Newson designed packaging and with the Marc Newson designed strap. The smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS unifocal interchangeable standard lens will ship at the same time for $249.95 USD. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 02 Feb 2012 03:59 AM PST 
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Turns out there's a few thousand handsets up for grabs, and the Verge reports that the CEO wants to dole them out to willing hackers. Want in? Just shoot Sarva an email at amol at peek.ly and he'll hook you up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook Posted: 02 Feb 2012 03:05 AM PST  [Thanks, Mo] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fujifilm X-Pro1 shows up on Amazon, confirms $1700 price (update) Posted: 02 Feb 2012 01:54 AM PST  Oh Amazon, why must you tease us so? Not content on leaking the Fujifilm X-Pro1's lenses before the mirrorless ILC was even announced at CES, the retailer just confirmed the camera's price. It appears you'll have to plunk down a hefty $1700 to get your dirty little mitts on this high-end rangefinder-ish 16 megapixel APS-C shooter -- and that's just for the body. As a reminder, you'll also be able to purchase the 18mm (27mm equivalent) f/2.0 and 35mm (53mm equivalent) f/1.4 lenses for $500 each, and the larger 60mm (91mm equivalent) f/2.4 macro lens for $600. This camera may not be quite a sexy looking as its fixed-lens cousin the X100, but it sure looks more than up to the task of taking beautiful pictures. Guess we'll have to wait until late February to find out for sure. Update: Looks like Fujifilm has confirmed the info we reported on above. You'll find all the details in the press release after the break. [Thanks, Amad] FUJIFILM Announces pricing for REVOLUTIONARY X-PRO1 INTERCHANGEABLE LENS DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEM INTRODUCED AT CES 2012 Valhalla, N.Y., February 2, 2012 – Following the introduction of its newest and most advanced addition to its X-Series line-up during the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas last month – the revolutionary FUJIFILM X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera system – FUJIFILM North America Corporation today confirmed its pricing. The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 has a brand new, custom developed 16MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensorTM that incorporates a newly developed filter array and Fujifilm's proprietary EXR Processor technology that delivers extraordinary image resolution, clarity and beauty that will rival currently available mid and high-end DSLR models. The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 also features a New 2nd Generation Hybrid Multi Viewfinder and three prime interchangeable FUJINON lenses. Pricing for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera system is as follows: Product MSRP Price FUJIFILM X-Pro1 (body only) $1,699.95 FUJIFILM XF 18mm (27mm equivalent) F2.0 lens $599.95 FUJIFILM XF 35mm (53mm equivalent) F1.4 lens $599.95 FUJIFILM XF 60mm (90mm equivalent) F2.4 lens $649.95 The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 body and lenses will be available at the end of February. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RIM launches BlackBerry 'Be Bold' ad campaign, superheroes nowhere to be seen (video) Posted: 02 Feb 2012 12:56 AM PST  To many's disappointment, superheroes weren't exactly on RIM's list to be the face of its latest advertising crusade. Simply dubbed "Be Bold," the ad campaign focuses boldly on the famed BlackBerry Messenger, as well as the productivity aspects found in the 9900. Research in Motion is also taking a swing at its competitors with expressions like "I'm about action, not distraction" and "we need tools, not toys." At this point, the Canadian manufacturer will take what it can get, thus it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's showing off what some consider its best traits. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Head on past the break to take a quick 30-second glimpse and see if it's enough to get you over to the Bold side. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSA: PlayStation Network goes down (again) from 9AM ET, but it's for maintenance (again) Posted: 01 Feb 2012 11:54 PM PST
There's presumably still some kinks left to be resolved, as Sony's PSN is once more scheduled to snooze from 9AM EST through 3AM. Longer than last month's efforts, it'll affect the PlayStation Store, Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited services on PlayStation Home. However, you will be able to continue online gaming if you sign in ahead of the downtime. Frustrated gamers can seek the full explanation at the source below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3DS adds to its European WiFi arsenal, gains over 5,000 free hotspots Posted: 01 Feb 2012 10:49 PM PST  01/02/2012 Get your Nintendo 3DS system online today with free-hotspot.com 1st February 2012 - Nintendo of Europe today announces a new deal with free-hotspot.com, the world's largest multinational network of exclusively free Wi-Fi hotspots. The partnership will allow Nintendo 3DS owners free access to over 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across 21 European countries. Your Nintendo 3DS system will automatically* connect to free-hotspot.com's network in many of the biggest fast food restaurants and leading hotel chains across Europe including McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Subway, Ibis Hotels and Etap Hotels. It's never been simpler to connect your Nintendo 3DS system to the Internet! Your Nintendo 3DS will automatically search for and connect to the Internet via free-hotspot.com's access points across Europe. Once connected to the Internet, special and exciting content can be received automatically to your Nintendo 3DS system via SpotPass, even whilst your handheld console is in Sleep Mode. Some of the exclusive content you could receive includes unique 3D videos from the Nintendo Video service, notifications, extra content for your software and system updates, which can all be received without lifting a finger. When you next have time while waiting to be served or while being checked-in at a hotel, why not also browse the Internet for free and check out your favourite websites or even access Nintendo eShop? Enjoy looking through, downloading and playing the latest Nintendo 3DS download software and classic titles from the Nintendo Virtual Console – all available from Nintendo eShop. Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of European Marketing & PR at Nintendo of Europe says: "With such an extensive European-wide Wi-Fi access network, partnering with free-hotspot.com made absolute sense. The access points are largely located in popular restaurants and hotels – places where Nintendo 3DS owners are likely to want, and to unwind in. We also urge all Nintendo 3DS owners to also take advantage of the latest system update which has brought an array of new features and enhancements, including 3D video capture." Joseph Brunoli, Managing Director of Anacapa Holdings, Ltd., operators of the free-hotspot.com network, added: "Our extensive network of Wi-Fi hotspots across Europe will provide Nintendo 3DS users with a high speed, reliable service to help them make the most of their time while away from home. We are delighted to work with Nintendo and to announce this important partnership." For more information on Nintendo 3DS and SpotPass, visit the official Nintendo 3DS website. For information on updating your system software, visit our Support section on performing system updates. *Requires Nintendo 3DS Internet Browser to be installed. If you haven't downloaded the Nintendo 3DS Internet Browser yet, you need to perform a system update on your Nintendo 3DS system. To perform the recommended system update, Nintendo 3DS users can simply start the "System Settings" from the Home Menu, select "Other Settings" and scroll the page right to select "System Update". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony's Q3 earnings are in: wider than expected full year loss, lowered sales projections Posted: 01 Feb 2012 09:04 PM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| French court fines Google France 500,000 euros for gratis Maps Posted: 01 Feb 2012 08:22 PM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EasySignMobile enters the Facebook fray for iPhone and iPad Posted: 01 Feb 2012 07:34 PM PST  EasySignMobile Brings Facebook Connect and Cloud Integration to eSignature App on iPhone and iPad EasySignMobile.com, a pioneer in mobile e-signature experience for consumers and businesses, has introduced login via Facebook Connect, integration with popular cloud file sharing services like Dropbox & Box.net, and localization in 6 languages with international character support. San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 25, 2012 Striving to offer efficiency and simplicity, EasySignMobile is the first eSignature app on iOS to introduce user authentication via Facebook. "Facebook has become the primary identity of users on the web, making it their go-to choice for logging into popular websites and apps," said Sunil Patro, Co-Founder of EasySignMobile. "Logging in through Facebook allows our users to import contact information automatically from the social network, making it convenient for filling future documents faster." Other major updates to the app have enabled EasySignMobile users with better accessibility to remote files. EasySignMobile is proud to introduce Dropbox and Box.net integration, allowing users to seamlessly import and save documents that are stored in the cloud. EasySignMobile has a presence in more than 110 countries and is being used by consumers and businesses to sign and fill documents in their local languages. "Global adoption has been overwhelming and hence going a step further with international character support was a must in our roadmap." said Sunil Patro. The most recent version v3.4.6 of EasySignMobile's iOS App is currently available in 6 international languages including Spanish, French, Italian, German and Russian and supports international characters such as, and not limited to Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Hebrew and Arabic. "We're proud to be at the forefront of the mobile eSignature solution and look forward to reaching out to new users on other platforms." concluded Patro. EasySignMobile released their Android v1.0 app in October 2011 and has plans to further expand into Windows Phone and Blackberry while further developing functionality for Android. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Xappr, because your smartphone doesn't look enough like a gun Posted: 01 Feb 2012 06:46 PM PST 
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| Pentax K-01 leaks, wants to be your retro-looking mirrorless friend Posted: 01 Feb 2012 06:05 PM PST  [Thanks, Ben] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JVC's NX-BX3 is an iPod dock that you can put things on top of Posted: 01 Feb 2012 05:44 PM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:59 PM PST  [Thanks, chilipalm]  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter now shipping, snag one for $100 Posted: 01 Feb 2012 04:22 PM PST  Keeping its Q1 delivery promise, Seagate is now shipping its GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter for portable drives of the same moniker. We got our mits on this bad boy back at CES, witnessing first-hand the much improved transfer speeds of Intel's tech over the standard USB 2.0 for the smaller external drives. You can snag yours now, via the source link for a whole Benjamin. If you're in need of a refresher before making the investment, hit the gallery below for another peek at our hands-on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kyocera DuraPlus: a Sprint phone so masculine it'll kick your face in for misdialing Posted: 01 Feb 2012 03:22 PM PST  Sprint's announced that it'll carry the Kyocera DuraPlus -- a rugged cellphone that recalls a lifetime of tedious internet memes. It's certified to "Military Standard 810G," for its resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity and it's able to withstand water depths of one meter for, erm, up to half an hour. You'll also find an embedded LED flashlight capable of lighting the darkest of very dark rooms. Using Direct Connect, you can push-to-talk to other subscribers or use Group Connect to chat with 20 at a time. It'll ship with a 1650 mAh battery (9.5 hours of talk time) with an additional 2300 mAh battery for those long trips round the secure compound. You'll also be able to buy an external charging port to juice multiple units at once -- if you're running your own private militia and need to swap out devices on the go, for example. It'll be available in the first half of the year for an undisclosed price, but we'd wager it'll be something really manly, like the teeth of a wild animal you've vanquished or in exchange for capturing Denis Leary. Kyocera DuraPlus, Exclusively from Sprint, Offers Industry-Leading Push-to-Talk Capabilities in Extreme Conditions on Sprint Direct Connect Kyocera DuraPlus boasts military-grade durability and an embedded LED flashlight in a rugged candy-bar form factor OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & SAN DIEGO (BUSINESS WIRE), January 31, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE: S) and Kyocera Communications Inc. today announced the upcoming availability of Kyocera DuraPlus, an ultra-rugged device with military-grade durability, a long-lasting battery and a powerful built-in flashlight. As the newest Sprint® Direct Connect® device, Kyocera DuraPlus offers a candy-bar form factor with a flat, stable bottom, ideal for convenient accessibility in vehicle mounts and freestanding operation. Kyocera DuraPlus will be available in the first half of the year. Pricing and exact availability will be announced closer to launch. "Kyocera DuraPlus is the ideal device for use in the construction, public safety and utility industries that demand devices that stand up to the toughest work conditions while delivering industry-leading push-to-talk capabilities," said David Owens, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. "This device is a dynamite addition to our Sprint Direct Connect portfolio, and we know our customers will appreciate the benefits of instant communication on a device that can withstand tough environments." Joining Kyocera DuraMax and Kyocera DuraCore in Kyocera's Dura Series that specialize in handling the abuse of harsh working conditions, Kyocera DuraPlus is the ultimate communication tool for a variety of industries, including construction and transportation. It is certified to Military Standard 810G for resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity, blowing rain and water immersion (up to 30 minutes in up to 1 meter of water). The handset also features an embedded LED flashlight with a dedicated power button to help navigate power outages, read blueprints in unlit areas or for emergency response personnel working in dark conditions. A robust, front-ported speakerphone also provides excellent sound quality in noisy environments and remote speaker microphone jack allowing customers to use their phones with a heavy-duty remote speaker/microphone (sold separately; available exclusively from Sprint in the coming months). Kyocera DuraPlus comes with a powerful 1650 mAh battery offering up to 9.5 hours of talk time; an optional 2300 mAh extended battery (sold separately) will also be available from Sprint for users who need even more battery life. An external charging port enables the device to be used with a single or multi-bay charging station (sold separately). This is especially helpful for businesses that issue devices to shift workers, such as shuttle drivers or security personnel. "Kyocera designed DuraPlus from the ground up with demanding industrial and enterprise customers in mind," said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of Sales and Marketing at Kyocera Communications. "Simple things like an LED flashlight, multi-bay charging, freestanding operation and the ability to use application-specific accessories go a long way toward better productivity on the jobsite and out in the field." Sprint Direct Connect is a portfolio of push-to-talk services that allow individuals and groups to get more done – quickly and easily with just the push of a button. Among the initial Sprint Direct Connect services: Sprint Direct Connect – Instant, one-to-one push-to-talk calling nationwide on the Sprint network, with any other Direct Connect subscriber. Direct Connect is the core push-to-talk feature and is designed for interoperability across Sprint and Nextel network platforms. Guaranteed Talk Permit – The assurance that when you hear the push-to-talk "chirp," your call was successfully transmitted. Call Alert with Text – Send an audio alert with an optional text message to let another Direct Connect subscriber know you are trying to reach them and why. Group Connect® – Communicate with up to 20 other Sprint Direct Connect subscribers all at once – nationwide, at the push of one button. TeamDCSM – Communicate with up to 200 other Sprint Direct Connect subscribers at the same time nationwide. NextMail® – Send a recorded message to any email worldwide or mobile handset via text message by using the Direct Connect button. Availability Notification – Request the availability status of another push-to-talk member and, if they are busy, request a notification when they are free. One-Touch Direct Connect – Allows quick access to multiple direct connect options. With more than 18 years of expertise, Sprint is the industry leader in push-to-talk, serving the world's largest push-to-talk community of customers. Last year, Sprint launched Sprint Direct Connect, the industry's next generation of push-to-talk service on its broadband CDMA network. The new service will expand customers' push-to-talk coverage, broadband data capabilities, and enable new push-to-talk features. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comcast's Internet Essentials program expanding as digital literacy project soars Posted: 01 Feb 2012 02:46 PM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow Posted: 01 Feb 2012 02:08 PM PST  If you'll recall, it was April of last year when we reported on pictures from Apple.pro, which claimed to show a seventh-generation iPod Nano chassis with room for a camera. Not long after, the site posted a second leak of the device, hinting at the omission of the Nano's famous clip in favor of optics. Fast forward to the present, and we're now looking another supposed shot of the unit, however, this time the clip is back and it's made room for the shooter. Like prior Nano-camera efforts, this prototype's loaded with a less-than-whopping 1.3-megapixels of resolution, which M.I.C Gadget claims in its non-final form, took overexposed photos. Apple's apparently also been toying with 2-megapixel prototypes, but those too were apparently deemed unsatisfactory. M.I.C. Gadget also muses the two month old prototype is nearing release, and that it could be released before the traditional fall schedule. Seeing as the Nano's long overdue for a hardware refresh, we'd file that under definitively maybe, but before believing, take copious amounts of salt as you hit the source link below for a bevy of pics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zuckerberg outlines idealistic Facebook mission in IPO filing Posted: 01 Feb 2012 01:43 PM PST  LETTER FROM MARK ZUCKERBERG Facebook was not originally created to be a company. It was built to accomplish a social mission - to make the world more open and connected. We think it's important that everyone who invests in Facebook understands what this mission means to us, how we make decisions and why we do the things we do. I will try to outline our approach in this letter. At Facebook, we're inspired by technologies that have revolutionized how people spread and consume information. We often talk about inventions like the printing press and the television - by simply making communication more efficient, they led to a complete transformation of many important parts of society. They gave more people a voice. They encouraged progress. They changed the way society was organized. They brought us closer together. Today, our society has reached another tipping point. We live at a moment when the majority of people in the world have access to the internet or mobile phones - the raw tools necessary to start sharing what they're thinking, feeling and doing with whomever they want. Facebook aspires to build the services that give people the power to share and help them once again transform many of our core institutions and industries. There is a huge need and a huge opportunity to get everyone in the world connected, to give everyone a voice and to help transform society for the future. The scale of the technology and infrastructure that must be built is unprecedented, and we believe this is the most important problem we can focus on. We hope to strengthen how people relate to each other. Even if our mission sounds big, it starts small - with the relationship between two people. Personal relationships are the fundamental unit of our society. Relationships are how we discover new ideas, understand our world and ultimately derive long-term happiness. At Facebook, we build tools to help people connect with the people they want and share what they want, and by doing this we are extending people's capacity to build and maintain relationships. People sharing more - even if just with their close friends or families - creates a more open culture and leads to a better understanding of the lives and perspectives of others. We believe that this creates a greater number of stronger relationships between people, and that it helps people get exposed to a greater number of diverse perspectives. By helping people form these connections, we hope to rewire the way people spread and consume information. We think the world's information infrastructure should resemble the social graph - a network built from the bottom up or peer-to-peer, rather than the monolithic, top-down structure that has existed to date. We also believe that giving people control over what they share is a fundamental principle of this rewiring. We have already helped more than 800 million people map out more than 100 billion connections so far, and our goal is to help this rewiring accelerate. We hope to improve how people connect to businesses and the economy. We think a more open and connected world will help create a stronger economy with more authentic businesses that build better products and services. As people share more, they have access to more opinions from the people they trust about the products and services they use. This makes it easier to discover the best products and improve the quality and efficiency of their lives. One result of making it easier to find better products is that businesses will be rewarded for building better products - ones that are personalized and designed around people. We have found that products that are "social by design" tend to be more engaging than their traditional counterparts, and we look forward to seeing more of the world's products move in this direction. Our developer platform has already enabled hundreds of thousands of businesses to build higher-quality and more social products. We have seen disruptive new approaches in industries like games, music and news, and we expect to see similar disruption in more industries by new approaches that are social by design. In addition to building better products, a more open world will also encourage businesses to engage with their customers directly and authentically. More than four million businesses have Pages on Facebook that they use to have a dialogue with their customers. We expect this trend to grow as well. We hope to change how people relate to their governments and social institutions. We believe building tools to help people share can bring a more honest and transparent dialogue around government that could lead to more direct empowerment of people, more accountability for officials and better solutions to some of the biggest problems of our time. By giving people the power to share, we are starting to see people make their voices heard on a different scale from what has historically been possible. These voices will increase in number and volume. They cannot be ignored. Over time, we expect governments will become more responsive to issues and concerns raised directly by all their people rather than through intermediaries controlled by a select few. Through this process, we believe that leaders will emerge across all countries who are pro-internet and fight for the rights of their people, including the right to share what they want and the right to access all information that people want to share with them. Finally, as more of the economy moves towards higher-quality products that are personalized, we also expect to see the emergence of new services that are social by design to address the large worldwide problems we face in job creation, education and health care. We look forward to doing what we can to help this progress. Our Mission and Our Business As I said above, Facebook was not originally founded to be a company. We've always cared primarily about our social mission, the services we're building and the people who use them. This is a different approach for a public company to take, so I want to explain why I think it works. I started off by writing the first version of Facebook myself because it was something I wanted to exist. Since then, most of the ideas and code that have gone into Facebook have come from the great people we've attracted to our team. Most great people care primarily about building and being a part of great things, but they also want to make money. Through the process of building a team - and also building a developer community, advertising market and investor base - I've developed a deep appreciation for how building a strong company with a strong economic engine and strong growth can be the best way to align many people to solve important problems. Simply put: we don't build services to make money; we make money to build better services. And we think this is a good way to build something. These days I think more and more people want to use services from companies that believe in something beyond simply maximizing profits. By focusing on our mission and building great services, we believe we will create the most value for our shareholders and partners over the long term - and this in turn will enable us to keep attracting the best people and building more great services. We don't wake up in the morning with the primary goal of making money, but we understand that the best way to achieve our mission is to build a strong and valuable company. This is how we think about our IPO as well. We're going public for our employees and our investors. We made a commitment to them when we gave them equity that we'd work hard to make it worth a lot and make it liquid, and this IPO is fulfilling our commitment. As we become a public company, we're making a similar commitment to our new investors and we will work just as hard to fulfill it. The Hacker Way As part of building a strong company, we work hard at making Facebook the best place for great people to have a big impact on the world and learn from other great people. We have cultivated a unique culture and management approach that we call the Hacker Way. The word "hacker" has an unfairly negative connotation from being portrayed in the media as people who break into computers. In reality, hacking just means building something quickly or testing the boundaries of what can be done. Like most things, it can be used for good or bad, but the vast majority of hackers I've met tend to be idealistic people who want to have a positive impact on the world. The Hacker Way is an approach to building that involves continuous improvement and iteration. Hackers believe that something can always be better, and that nothing is ever complete. They just have to go fix it - often in the face of people who say it's impossible or are content with the status quo. Hackers try to build the best services over the long term by quickly releasing and learning from smaller iterations rather than trying to get everything right all at once. To support this, we have built a testing framework that at any given time can try out thousands of versions of Facebook. We have the words "Done is better than perfect" painted on our walls to remind ourselves to always keep shipping. Hacking is also an inherently hands-on and active discipline. Instead of debating for days whether a new idea is possible or what the best way to build something is, hackers would rather just prototype something and see what works. There's a hacker mantra that you'll hear a lot around Facebook offices: "Code wins arguments." Hacker culture is also extremely open and meritocratic. Hackers believe that the best idea and implementation should always win - not the person who is best at lobbying for an idea or the person who manages the most people. To encourage this approach, every few months we have a hackathon, where everyone builds prototypes for new ideas they have. At the end, the whole team gets together and looks at everything that has been built. Many of our most successful products came out of hackathons, including Timeline, chat, video, our mobile development framework and some of our most important infrastructure like the HipHop compiler. To make sure all our engineers share this approach, we require all new engineers - even managers whose primary job will not be to write code - to go through a program called Bootcamp where they learn our codebase, our tools and our approach. There are a lot of folks in the industry who manage engineers and don't want to code themselves, but the type of hands-on people we're looking for are willing and able to go through Bootcamp. The examples above all relate to engineering, but we have distilled these principles into five core values for how we run Facebook: Focus on Impact If we want to have the biggest impact, the best way to do this is to make sure we always focus on solving the most important problems. It sounds simple, but we think most companies do this poorly and waste a lot of time. We expect everyone at Facebook to be good at finding the biggest problems to work on. Move Fast Moving fast enables us to build more things and learn faster. However, as most companies grow, they slow down too much because they're more afraid of making mistakes than they are of losing opportunities by moving too slowly. We have a saying: "Move fast and break things." The idea is that if you never break anything, you're probably not moving fast enough. Be Bold Building great things means taking risks. This can be scary and prevents most companies from doing the bold things they should. However, in a world that's changing so quickly, you're guaranteed to fail if you don't take any risks. We have another saying: "The riskiest thing is to take no risks." We encourage everyone to make bold decisions, even if that means being wrong some of the time. Be Open We believe that a more open world is a better world because people with more information can make better decisions and have a greater impact. That goes for running our company as well. We work hard to make sure everyone at Facebook has access to as much information as possible about every part of the company so they can make the best decisions and have the greatest impact. Build Social Value Once again, Facebook exists to make the world more open and connected, and not just to build a company. We expect everyone at Facebook to focus every day on how to build real value for the world in everything they do. Thanks for taking the time to read this letter. We believe that we have an opportunity to have an important impact on the world and build a lasting company in the process. I look forward to building something great together. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shocker: PS Vita downloads cheaper than boxed games Posted: 01 Feb 2012 01:33 PM PST  Digital copies of games that you download bypass the time-and-money-consuming manufacturing, logistics and retail processes. It's only natural that we as consumers expect some of that saving to be passed along to our own wallets. There's a fair chunk of evidence to suggest that downloading PS Vita games over PSN will result in a ten percent saving on the boxed edition (that you'd have to drive to a store for, and everything). Of course, it would be unseemly to point out that those few dollars will spell the death-knell for thousands of jobs, so we won't. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Facebook files $5 billion IPO, values the company at nearly $100 billion Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:52 PM PST  The rumor, speculation and awkward Winklevii jokes can end (at least for now) as Facebook has officially filed for its public offering. Underwritten by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs amongst others, the internet's most popular site seeks to trade under the stock symbol "FB" when it goes public later this year. The company is seeking to raise $5 billion, according to this early filing, amounting to a lofty (and still tentative) valuation north of $50 billion. If that turns out to be accurate, though, Zuck will be one (especially) rich man: with a nearly thirty percent share in the company, his net worth would balloon to almost $30 billion. The process of going public also provides a rare glimpse into internal stats previously kept private, with documents revealing the service has 845 million active users each month -- nearly half of which log in and actuate 2.7 billion likes and comments each day. The filing also sheds light on the company's balance sheet, with revenues of $777 million, $1.97 billion and $3.71 billion in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. All told, it logged profits of $229 million and $606 million in those years -- earnings that were bested by the $1 billion it netted in 2011. The majority of its revenue comes from advertising, yet a sizable chunk (12 percent) of last year's figure comes courtesy of Zynga. All in all, that's enabled the company to stash away nearly $4 billion in cash -- a sizable nest egg for a company only eight years old. As for Zuck, his 2011 salary of $500,000 will be cut to $1 as of January 2013, but he'll be more than comfortable, thanks to that 28.4 percent stake in the company. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qualcomm announces Q1 earnings: revenues up 40%, $1.4 billion in profit Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:50 PM PST  Qualcomm Announces Record First Quarter Fiscal 2012 Results Revenues $4.7 Billion GAAP EPS $0.81, Non-GAAP EPS $0.97 -- Record First Quarter Results, Raising Fiscal 2012 Guidance -- SAN DIEGO, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, today announced record results for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 ended December 25, 2011. "I am pleased to report another record quarter with revenues, earnings and MSM shipments reaching all-time highs, driven by our industry-leading chipset portfolio and the continued strong demand for smartphones around the world," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. "We are raising our revenue and earnings guidance as our broad licensing partnerships and extensive chipset roadmap, led by our integrated Snapdragon processors, position us well for strong growth in fiscal 2012. We continue to invest in innovative wireless technologies, products and services, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead as 3G and 4G continue to expand across new device types and geographies." First Quarter Results (GAAP) Revenues: (1) $4.68 billion, up 40 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) and 14 percent sequentially. Operating income: (1) $1.55 billion, up 24 percent y-o-y and 25 percent sequentially. Net income: (2) $1.40 billion, up 20 percent y-o-y and 33 percent sequentially. Diluted earnings per share: (2) $0.81, up 14 percent y-o-y and 31 percent sequentially. Effective tax rate: (1) 19 percent for the quarter. Operating cash flow: $1.78 billion, 38 percent of revenues. Return of capital to stockholders: $461 million, including $362 million, or $0.215 per share, of cash dividends paid, and $99 million to repurchase 2.0 million shares of our common stock. (1) The results of FLO TV are presented as discontinued operations, and prior period amounts have been adjusted accordingly. Revenues, operating expenses, operating income, earnings before tax (EBT) and effective tax rates throughout this news release are from continuing operations (i.e., before discontinued operations and the adjustment for noncontrolling interests), unless otherwise stated. (2) Net income and diluted earnings per share throughout this news release are attributable to Qualcomm (i.e., after discontinued operations and adjustment for noncontrolling interests), unless otherwise stated. Non-GAAP First Quarter Results Non-GAAP results exclude the Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI) segment, certain share-based compensation, certain acquisition-related items starting with acquisitions completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and certain tax items. Revenues: $4.68 billion, up 40 percent y-o-y and 14 percent sequentially. Operating income: $1.87 billion, up 32 percent y-o-y and 15 percent sequentially. Net income: $1.67 billion, up 24 percent y-o-y and 22 percent sequentially. Diluted earnings per share: $0.97, up 18 percent y-o-y and 21 percent sequentially. Excludes $0.01 loss per share attributable to the QSI segment, $0.11 loss per share attributable to certain share-based compensation and $0.03 loss per share attributable to certain acquisition-related items (the sum of Non-GAAP earnings per share and items excluded do not equal GAAP earnings per share due to rounding). Effective tax rate: 19 percent for the quarter. Free cash flow (defined as net cash from operating activities less capital expenditures): $1.49 billion, 32 percent of revenues. Detailed reconciliations between results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and Non-GAAP results are included at the end of this news release. The following should be noted with regards to the above results and year-over-year comparisons: first quarter fiscal 2012 results included the results of Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., which was acquired on May 24, 2011. Additionally, on December 27, 2011, after the close of our first fiscal quarter, we completed the sale of substantially all of our 700 MHz spectrum for $1.9 billion. As a result, we will recognize a gain in discontinued operations of $1.2 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 related to the close of this transaction. First Quarter Key Business Metrics MSM™ shipments: 156 million units, up 32 percent y-o-y and 23 percent sequentially. September quarter total reported device sales: approximately $41.4 billion, up 22 percent y-o-y and 6 percent sequentially. September quarter estimated 3G/4G device shipments: approximately 191 to 195 million units, at an estimated average selling price of approximately $212 to $218 per unit. Cash and Marketable Securities Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $22.0 billion at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $20.9 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and $19.1 billion a year ago. As of December 25, 2011, $948 million remained authorized for repurchases under our stock repurchase program, net of put options outstanding. On January 10, 2012, we announced a cash dividend of $0.215 per share payable on March 23, 2012 to stockholders of record as of March 2, 2012. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mac OS X 10.7.3 hits Software Update, ready to plug bugs on your Wednesday Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:40 PM PST  How about a 700+ megabyte download to spice up your Wednesday? Apple's just unleashed an update to Lion, bumping its feline all the way up 10.7.3. Those braving the rather portly update can look forward to a bevy of new languages, a new version of Safari (5.1.3) and a fix for a nasty WiFi reconnection bug upon waking from sleep. Also buried in the release notes are RAW support for "more cameras" and a bevy of tweaks for those sharing files with Windows machines. Don't believe us? Hit Cupertino's source link for the full rundown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google Docs for Android updates: adds offline support, better tablet experience Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:33 PM PST  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:00 PM PST  |
| LG Spectrum | LG Nitro HD | HTC Rezound | |
| Quadrant | 2,524 | 2,616 | 2,347 |
| Linpack single / multi (MFLOPS) | 49.1 / 76.2 | 51.1 / 81.8 | 52.0 / 60.3 |
| Vellamo | 1,144 | 1,156 | N/A |
| Nenamark 1 (fps) | 55.3 | 56.1 | 53.5 |
| Nenamark 2 (fps) | 35.8 | 37.2 | 35.8 |
| Neocore (fps) | 59.6 | 59.8 | 59.8 |
| SunSpider 9.1 | 2,850 | 2,687 | 2,961 |
These numbers also compare reasonably well against what we observed from the HTC Rezound, another $199 offering on Verizon (it cost $100 more when it first launched, a few months ago). LG's phone ekes out the Beats-packing handset in most departments, including Nenamark 1, Linpack multi, Quadrant and SunSpider. The Rezound does best the Spectrum in the Linpack single and Neocore departments, while Nenamark 2 is a wash.
The phone performed decently with standard use, too, though the Qualcomm MSM8660 1.5GHz dual-core processor-powered phone did experience some hiccups, including a lag coming out of the camera program, for example. On the whole, though, the phone performs most standards tasks, such as web browsing and finding addresses via Google Maps about as well as you could hope.
Things are a bit less rosy on the on the endurance front. In our standard battery life test, the handset eked out around four and a half hours. In the real world, we managed to get around seven and a half hours of use -- enough to get you through the better part of a day. If you need more stamina, you'll want to scroll through the settings and disable the LTE -- unless, of course, you're near an outlet. It's either battery life or speed here. You can't have it both ways.
Network Speeds
The Spectrum gets some respectable -- though not extraordinary -- data speeds, courtesy of Verizon's LTE network, the one whose logo is so proudly emblazoned across the device's back. Unsurprisingly, data rates around New York City varied a good deal, based on location and time of day, with max download speeds of 30.32 Mbps and uploads of 18.68 Mbps. Mid-day in midtown Manhattan, things slowed to a crawl, however. All told, our average results came to 14 Mbps down and 11.2 Mbps up -- not bad, but far from exemplary.
Camera
The Spectrum's flash-packing eight megapixel camera performed admirably, even in the relatively dim, overcast days we've been experiencing here on the east coast, capturing fine detail and handling contrast well. Naturally, the quality degraded in darker settings, and when the handset's zooming capabilities were pushed to their limits.
The camera software is the same as on the Nitro HD, which is to say, it allows you to shuffle between portrait, landscape, sports, sunset and night modes. If you're feeling fancy, you can fiddle with the white balance, ISO and color settings, or snap a panorama shot. You can also enable location-tagging if you're so inclined.
The phone's 1080p video capture performed fairly well, recording the chaos of a busy city scene with a fair amount of detai. It also did an admirable job pulling in the cacophonous sounds from all angles. Unlike in still mode, though, autofocus is conspicuously absent during the recording process.
Software
The Spectrum swaps AT&T's carrier-centric page for one that features quick links to the phone's multimedia offerings. The handset ships with 16 apps that full under the Verizon heading, including VZ Navigator, V Cast Media Manager, Verizon Video and some third-party ones like Rhapsody and Blockbuster. Unlike the Nitro, there's no active CarrierIQ to tangle with here. Tapping and holding a finger down on the desktop launches a grid that lets you adjust widgets, shortcuts, folders and wallpaper. Zoom in from there, and you can swap the order of home screens, or just delete them altogether, if you're sick of all of those social networking widgets.
Wrap-Up
When the Optimus LTE made the jump to Verizon, it shed a lot of aesthetic charm in the process. What it lacks in looks, however, the phone makes up for somewhat with its stunning 4.5-inch display. The handset also sports a capable shooter and good transfer speeds, in part thanks to Verizon's 4G network. LTE is no longer a huge novelty, though -- and if you've resigned yourself to spending $199 on a phone with a two-year contract, you could arguably do better with the Droid RAZR or HTC Rezound. Battery life continues to be a concern for LTE handsets of all stripes, and the Spectrum certainly doesn't do anything to change that. All of this adds up to a fairly uninspiring choice for Verizon customers, who currently have no shortage of quality handsets to choose from.
Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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