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- Deutsche Telekom chief says T-Mobile USA merger still an option, sweeps full sale off the table
- Visualized: SpaceX's Dragon is a desolate vision in beige and white
- LG's LS860 Cayenne gets a visit from the unsteady hand of Mr. Blurrycam
- Facebook releases new filter-equipped Camera app for iPhone and iPod touch
- Google brings in-app subscriptions to Android
- T-Mobile myTouch Q makes its mark on the FCC
- Samsung submits patent application for speech-recognizing robot
- Lenovo IdeaPad Y480 review
- RIM's global sales head departs after 14-year stretch
- AT&T validates NVIDIA Icera 410 LTE modem for use on its network
- Huawei Ascend P1 slips through FCC with pentaband goodness for all
- Microsoft beats Motorola in German SMS patent suit, litigation world cup continues
- Google+ on Android gets its turn at a UI remake, extra Hangout and photo features in the bargain
- Intel research hopes to give computers human smarts, appreciate our idiosyncrasies
- IDC: Android has a heady 59 percent of world smartphone share, iPhone still on the way up
- Nokia 808 PureView impressions, camera showdown with the iPhone 4S and HTC One S
- Syria gets previously blocked Google software, at least for now
- PlayStation Network scheduled for maintenance starting at 8AM (PST)
- ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters
- Insert Coin: cookoo is the watch for geeks who want to keep it subtle (video)
- Quad-channel DDR3 memory corralled in round-up, Corsair, G.Skill and Patriot take home the trophies
- Apple applies for optical stylus patent, Hell reports coldest day on record
- Adafruit unveils Lego Ladyada's Workshop, vote for it to become a reality
- Microsoft announces Robotics @Home contest winner: a SmartTripod that can follow you
- Gigabit Squared strikes deal to bring ultra high-speed broadband to six communities
- Google pumps cash into UK classrooms, will buy Arduino, Raspberry Pi sets for kids
- Julius Genachowski voices support for capped, tiered broadband
- Samsung Omnia M stops off at the FCC, Europeans pine for the Focus 2
- Obama tells government agencies to embrace mobile apps within a year
- TiVo shows off Pace-built XG1 six-tuner gateway DVR it plans to ship later this year
- Sony formally quits Sharp LCD joint venture, takes back every yen it invested
- The future for Nokia PureView: Possible slimmer models and 'not necessarily a 41MP sensor'
- France's Toulouse-Blagnac airport to conduct NFC field trials for BlackBerry smartphones
- Navy plans ship-based LTE for close-quarters communication
- Olympus adds 75mm f/1.8 portrait lens to Micro Four Thirds lineup
- Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter brings Leica lenses to the X-Pro1
- Samsung spills Galaxy Note's ICS guts, releases kernel source code to devs
- Microsoft takes Bing Streetside offline in Germany, privacy complaints to blame
- In-store Xperia GX and SX video footage pops up online
- Samsung Galaxy S III tops UK pre-order records, shows that British love their quad-core
| Deutsche Telekom chief says T-Mobile USA merger still an option, sweeps full sale off the table Posted: 24 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT T-Mobile's USA proposed union with AT&T might have gone down in flames, but that isn't precluding the boss of parent company Deutsche Telekom, René Obermann, from exploring tie-ups in the future. He's now telling investors that the company won't "exclude any option" for its US carrier, up to and including mergers with others. Before you worry that your One S might lose its luster through an outside takeover, though, the CEO has said it's "unlikely" that DT will sell T-Mobile outright. There aren't any coded messages about possible merger targets, either, even if rumors of a MetroPCS deal have percolated elsewhere. Most of the present focus is simply on reworking and trimming the company to get it running at full efficiency in the face of some very stiff competition; Carly can keep wearing that T-Mobile magenta for awhile yet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visualized: SpaceX's Dragon is a desolate vision in beige and white Posted: 24 May 2012 11:02 AM PDT Even if you squint real hard, you won't find Andie, Max or that rogue robot Jinx stowed away in that inner sanctum above. In fact, there are no humans on board Dragon whatsoever, given that this mission -- the first successful private / federal partnership with NASA -- is strictly cargo-only and a test flight to boot. After suffering several launch delays, Elon Musk's pet project finally achieved lift off this past Tuesday, giving space heads reason to exhale, all the while proving to the world that a new era in intergalactic exploration has just begun. En route now to dock with the ISS and deliver its payload, SpaceX's capsule, the interior of which measures 14.4ft (4.4m) by 12ft (3.7m) and is filled with dehydrated astronaut food, clothes, supplies and student science experiments, will spend about one week tethered to that international outpost before crashing into the Pacific on its return trip home. Hit up the source below to gawk at additional shots of this spacecraft's maiden voyage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG's LS860 Cayenne gets a visit from the unsteady hand of Mr. Blurrycam Posted: 24 May 2012 10:39 AM PDT Just when you think Mr. Blurrycam bought a tripod, he produces this opaque gem purportedly showing LG's latest handset for Sprint. The LG LS960 Cayenne will apparently pack a 4-inch WVGA IPS display with a dual-core, 1.2GHz S3 processor like the Viper 4G -- plus that sliding keyboard, of course. There's no more details about pricing or availability, but if it's real we can probably expect to hear more later in the summer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Facebook releases new filter-equipped Camera app for iPhone and iPod touch Posted: 24 May 2012 10:35 AM PDT Looking for yet another way to share photos on Facebook? Then you now have a new option to consider courtesy of the company itself, which has today rolled out its new Facebook Camera app for the iPhone and iPod touch. It promises to let you share and view photos faster than within the main Facebook app (not to mention give you higher-res photos), and you'll also get a variety of Instagram-style filters (15 in all) as well as some basic editing tools -- features that were apparently developed independently by Facebook itself and not borrowed from Instagram, which it hasn't yet completed its acquisition of. As with Facebook's other apps, it's completely free, and you can grab it right now at the App Store link below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google brings in-app subscriptions to Android Posted: 24 May 2012 10:02 AM PDT Developers can never have too many options when it comes to ways to take your money. Google has opened the doors to In-app purchases, carrier billing and now, in-app subscriptions. Perhaps it wasn't enough that game creators be able to lure you in with perks and content you could purchase for a one-time fee, now devs can choose to hit you with a monthly charge for the privilege of using their wares. Of course, it's not all that bad. Subscription-based games aren't the only potential uses here. Customers can now buy monthly or annual subscriptions to services or publications as well. There's even a publisher API for extending the subscription beyond the walls of Google Play and your Android device. Glu Mobile will be first out the gate, turning on subscriptions in properties like Frontline Commando, but we're sure plenty of others will follow. Soon enough you might be able to get your New York Times subscription or Spotify Premium account without ever leaving the comfort of the Android app. Any handset with Google Play 3.5 or higher installed should have access to subscriptions starting today. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-Mobile myTouch Q makes its mark on the FCC Posted: 24 May 2012 09:59 AM PDT Talk about being tardy to the party: a month after its keyboard-less twin, the Huawei Ascend G312 QWERTY has finally received approval from the FCC. While this particular name may not sound very appealing to the average US customer, perhaps its other designation -- the T-Mobile myTouch Q -- will. Indeed, this is the 2012 iteration (the slide-out keyboard version, at least) of the carrier's annual series, and it sports quadband GSM / EDGE and 850 / AWS / 1900 / 2100 HSPA+. Most of the specs are already known: you can expect to find a 4-inch WVGA display, 1.4GHz MSM8255T chip with 1GB RAM and 4GB of onboard storage and room for microSD expansion. If you're a fan of the myTouch series -- or even hardware keyboards in general -- you likely won't have to wait too much longer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung submits patent application for speech-recognizing robot Posted: 24 May 2012 09:38 AM PDT Samsung will soon launch its Siri-style S Voice software on the Galaxy S III, but in the more distant future it could bring speech recognition technology to standalone robots. A patent application from the company details an automaton that can adjust its voice detection capabilities to account for ambient noise, letting it recognize when people are talking even in loud locations. It remains unclear just what the robot will do for you once it hears your commands -- maybe it will be on call for cooking you dinner and the like. Judging by that pic, at least, the concept looks like a good time for all involved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 24 May 2012 09:10 AM PDT More InfoWhen it comes to business-friendly features and comfortable keyboards, Lenovo is king. And while the PC maker is no stranger to powerful systems (here's looking at you, ThinkPad X220), it's not necessarily the first brand that comes to mind when you're in the market for HD video streaming and a little gaming. But those are just the sorts of things Lenovo hopes you'll do with the IdeaPad Y480, which ups the multimedia ante with a new GPU from NVIDIA, along with a quad-core Ivy Bridge processor. The notebook complements that power under the hood with an elegant, understated design and flourishes such as JBL speakers -- all for a reasonable starting price of $849. At 5.1 pounds, it may not be the lightest 14-incher around, but it packs some of the most robust internals in its class. Less forgivable, though, is the notebook's middling 1366 x 768 display; when you have that graphics oomph, you want the high-res visuals to match. Can its amped-up insides and bang for the buck make up for that less-than-premium screen? Join us after the break as we make that determination. Look and feel If the IdeaPad Y480 were just any old 14-inch notebook, its 5.1-pound, 13.6 x 9.4 x 0.9-inch body would seem a little clunky -- it outweighs other 14-inchers such as the Lenovo IdeaPad U400 and the Dell XPS 14z (both 4.4 pounds), though it's still not as bulky as 14-inch gaming powerhouses like the Alienware M14x (6.45 pounds). Lenovo took pains to give it a high-end look, using aluminum done up in a brushed-metal treatment on the lid and palm rests. The design isn't a huge departure from the earlier Y470 -- one main difference is that the newer model lacks a thin strip of red around the lid -- an omission that gives the Y480 a slightly classier look. Along with a DVD drive, Lenovo's offering two USB 3.0 ports, a pair of USB 2.0 sockets, HDMI out, VGA and a 6-in-1 card reader. You'll find most of the ports on the left side of the machine; the right side houses the headphone and mic jacks, the USB 2.0 connections, and the DVD drive. There's also a single-megapixel, 720p webcam front and center on the bezel. Keyboard and trackpad Lenovo and solid keyboards are almost synonymous, so it's no surprise that the Y480 provides a good typing experience. Lenovo kept up the laptop's premium design cues by adding in backlighting, a feature that even the more expensive IdeaPad U300s lacks. You won't find any shallow keys here; the recessed, chiclet-style spread is well spaced, and the slightly rounded keys registered our presses seamlessly. We noticed a disturbing amount of flex, however, especially at the top of the keyboard. One other gripe is that the keys' responsiveness is accompanied by plenty of clicking and clacking: we're already loud typists, and the IdeaPad Y480 didn't do anything to endear us to our neighbors in the office. The Y480's Synaptics trackpad wasn't as impressive as its keyboard, however. We like the integrated-button design, and in general we had little trouble registering taps. Though the trackpad offers a tad too much resistance for our taste (even after we tweaked the settings), it is plenty responsive for executing gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scroll. Display and sound
Given the brand-new GPU under the hood, you'd think the Y480 would sport a brilliant screen to match that graphics power. We were disappointed, then, that Lenovo opted for a 1366 x 768 resolution on the laptop's 14-inch glossy panel. That's not to say that the screen is a surprise for a budget-priced system of the size -- it's just a reminder that this isn't a high-end media machine like the Alienware M11x or the MSI GT70. When we fired up World of Warcraft and Mafia II, we saw accurate colors, if not the crispest details; for enjoying graphics-intensive titles, 1600 x 900 or higher would have been ideal. The glossy screen means you'll have glare to contend with, especially in office environments with ample overhead lighting. When we watched a trailer for The Dictator, images began to wash out as soon as we tipped the screen more than a few inches forward. Without any harsh light to play off the screen, the panel provides decent viewing angles, though we wouldn't recommend it for more than three people watching at a time. Like the U300 and U400, the Y480 includes Intel Wireless Display for mirroring your laptop's screen on an HDTV or monitor. The technology requires an HDMI adapter for your TV, but once you have that, the setup is quite simple – and considering the laptop's modest display, you may want to take advantage of WiDi to enjoy a higher resolution. The IdeaPad's Y480 JBL speakers provided crisp, loud audio when we watched trailers and played games. With the sound at max volume, you should have enough oomph to fill a medium-sized room. When we played tracks from our Spotify account, vocals and instruments sounded accurate, though bass-heavy tunes came through a bit tinnier than we would like. Performance and graphics
Our $999 test unit came configured with a Core i7-3610QM processor clocked at 2.3GHz, NVIDIA GT640M-LE graphics with 1GB of dedicated memory, 8GB of RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) and a 5,400RPM, 750GB hard drive. Those specs helped the Y480 notch an impressive PCMark Vantage score of 9,601 -- a clear triumph over systems that run on last-gen CPUs and Core i7 processors, such as the XPS 14z. When it came time to put those NVIDIA graphics to the test, the IdeaPad Y480 didn't disappoint. In 3DMark06, it scored a phenomenal 10,826, which trumps nearly all other recently reviewed machines save for the MSI GT70 (14,073). When we fired up World of Warcraft with settings on default and the resolution at 1366 x 768, we averaged 59 frames per seconds, and graphics were smooth. Maxing out the graphics lowered our frame rate to 31 fps. In our everyday usage, the IdeaPad Y480 carried on like a champ, accommodating web surfing across two browsers, music streaming through Spotify and writing this review in Notepad. Adding gaming to the mix quickly heated things up – less than 30 minutes into a round of Mafia II, the laptop's fan began to whir, and the bottom felt significantly warmer. The Y480 didn't get scalding hot, mind you, and its form factor doesn't lend itself to resting on your lap for long, but the heat is definitely noticeable. It took a reasonable 48 seconds for the Y480 to boot into Windows; once it was up and running, it offered zippy performance and rarely tested our patience with that blue loading circle of death. Update: As some of you have pointed out, the Y480 runs off a new NVIDIA GPU, but it is not a part of the Kepler family. We've corrected the review accordingly.
Battery life
Lenovo rates the IdeaPad Y480 for up to five hours of runtime, but in our video rundown test, the notebook lasted a more modest three hours and 20 minutes. That time isn't the best we've seen among 14-inch laptops, but then again this laptop has more taxing quad-core Ivy Bridge innards. Also, it's very likely that users would keep this machine plugged in most of the time, anyway. In more anecdotal terms, the Y480 saw us through about three hours of web surfing, word processing and light gaming. Software
The Y480 comes with a relatively light pre-load: CyberLink Power2Go, Google Chrome, McAfee Internet Security, Microsoft Office 2010, ooVoo, Windows Life Essentials and YouCam webcam software. Nothing here is a huge surprise, but it's better than having too much bloatware. There's also OneKey Recovery 7.0, a tool for backing up and recovering your data. In addition, Lenovo bundled some of its own branded software, including VeriFace for logging into the laptop with the webcam and EE Boot Optimizer for improving the system's startup time. Configuration options
The base Y480 configuration starts at $849, with a 2.3GHz Core i7-3610Qm processor, 8GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive spinning at 7,200 RPM. The laptop comes standard with that Core i7 CPU and 8GB of memory; however, there are several hard drive options. A model with a 5,400RPM, 750GB hard drive goes for $869, while stepping up to 1TB of storage will cost you $999. For $1,449, you get a 1TB hard drive plus a Blu-Ray drive (the bottom three configurations have only a DVD drive). Lenovo's top-of-the-line configuration includes a 1TB hard drive and a 32GB, along with the Blu-Ray drive. As of this writing, a model with both a 1TB hard drive and 32GB SSD was going for $949, though we weren't able to confirm how long this promotion will last. The competition
If you're looking for a 14-inch multimedia laptop with strong performance and a lighter design than the Y480, the $1,000 Dell XPS 14z is a solid option. It does cost about $150 more than Lenovo's new IdeaPad, but it crams its 14-inch display (also 1366 x 768) into a 13-inch body and weighs just 4.36 pounds. You also get a Sandy Bridge Core i5 or Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of RAM and discrete graphics (Intel's HD Graphics 3000 coupled with NVIDIA's GeForce GT520M). Most notably, the XPS 14z offers a more powerful 8-cell battery which lasts for about five hours -- significantly better longevity than you'll get from the Y480.
Maybe you're looking to step up to Ivy Bridge, in which case the upcoming $800 Toshiba Satellite P845 might be more your cup of tea. Along with an optional NVIDIA GeForce 630M GPU, you get Harman Kardon speakers and a Blu-ray player (depending on the configuration option). This notebook doesn't ship till June 24th, so its battery life and performance haven't been benchmarked like the previous system. The recently upgraded HP Pavilion dv4, which will also ship in June, starts at $550 and runs the same Ivy Bridge processor as the Y480 as well as an optional NVIDIA GeForce GT360M GPU. For storage, you get a 1TB hard drive spinning at 5,400RPM, and there's 4GB of RAM on board (compared to 8GB for the Y480). There's Beats Audio too, which is a boon for any multimedia notebook. At 4.8 pounds, it's also lighter than the Y480. Wrap-up
A wave of new Ivy Bridge laptops is about to descend upon the world, and as one of the first to cross our desk, the Lenovo IdeaPad Y480 impresses. It does its best to straddle the high-performance and all-purpose categories, and ultimately does a fine job juggling those two identities. While it's not the thinnest and lightest 14-inch option, it's quite a looker with its grey brushed-metal finish -- and it's thick enough to include a DVD burner, which should come as a relief to anyone who can't quite let go of optical media. Let's also not forget the fresh NVIDIA GPU, which enables high frame rates and fluid gameplay. All that said, it's a shame to see laptop makers like Lenovo and others couple that graphics power with 1366 x 768 displays. The lack of a 1080p or even 1600 x 900 upgrade option may be reason enough for gamers, photo enthusiasts and streaming addicts to look elsewhere. For those who just want something a little more substantial than an Ultrabook, though, this is a solid, affordable, all-purpose option.
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| RIM's global sales head departs after 14-year stretch Posted: 24 May 2012 08:53 AM PDT Research in Motion's head of global sales is leaving the company after serving the BlackBerry maker for 14 years. Patrick Spence joined the company before it had even produced its first smartphone before rising to his current position, based in London. Reuters hints that he was dissatisfied about being passed over for the vacant CEO's position, due to be filled by former Sony Ericsson man Kristian Tear later this year. A spokesperson for the Canadian company said that Mr. Spence would be moving to a leadership role in another industry. [Image Credit: Globe and Mail] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AT&T validates NVIDIA Icera 410 LTE modem for use on its network Posted: 24 May 2012 08:32 AM PDT NVIDIA, likely feeling the sting of not having an LTE presence on some of the biggest carriers in the US, announced this morning that the Icera 410 modem has been validated for use on AT&T's network. This particular chipset utilizes the carrier's particular brand of Long-Term Evolution -- in addition to HSPA+, UMTS and 2G -- which means that we should see Icera-powered 4G devices on AT&T's lineup sometime this year. NVIDIA has promised we'll see Tegra 3 LTE utilizing "partners' baseband processors" before we ring in 2013, so we're hoping this bit of news can help the company live up to its word. The press release is all yours to read after the break. NVIDIA Icera Modem Chipset Validated on AT&T LTE Network SANTA CLARA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/24/2012 -- NVIDIA today announced that the NVIDIA® Icera® 410 LTE multimode data modem chipset for tablets and clamshell devices has been tested and validated for operation on the AT&T 4G LTE network. AT&T qualification tests help ensure that product manufacturers can confidently select chipsets that integrate with connected devices and can quickly achieve final product qualification. "Validation with AT&T is an achievement that paves the way for NVIDIA Icera-powered LTE devices on the AT&T network through this year and next," said Stan Boland, senior vice president of Mobile Communications at NVIDIA. The NVIDIA Icera 410 LTE modem delivers lightning-fast web browsing, video streaming and multiplayer gaming to tablets and clamshell devices. It is the first Icera modem to implement 4G LTE in NVIDIA's software defined radio baseband processor. Together with its multimode radio transceiver, the chipset offers 4G LTE at category 2 data rates (up to 50 Mbps) as well as 4G HSPA+, 3G and 2G compatibility. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Huawei Ascend P1 slips through FCC with pentaband goodness for all Posted: 24 May 2012 08:24 AM PDT Huawei's putting a whole bunch of oomph behind its 2012 lineup, and it's finally beginning to get noticed here in the US. Not too long after getting the Ascend D1 approved by the FCC, the Chinese manufacturer has returned to Washington to push the Ascend P1 through the government agency. Regarded as a close sibling to the slimmer P1 S, this particular Platinum-class device comes offering gifts of pentaband HSPA+ / UMTS, which means there's a chance we could see it show up on AT&T or T-Mobile (neither carrier has made their intentions known as of yet). The OMAP 4460-powered Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone will, however, be available in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia by the end of the month, with Europe and Latin America following soon after. If you enjoy poring through federal documents, you'll love peeking at the source link below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft beats Motorola in German SMS patent suit, litigation world cup continues Posted: 24 May 2012 08:10 AM PDT Munich's regional court has ruled that Motorola is infringing one of Microsoft's patents relating to displaying multiple SMS messages. It's one of the sub-cases that's separate to the larger FRAND matters that are raging along in the background, but still has enormous ramifications. Redmond's deputy general counsel, David Howard said that he hoped Motorola would (join over 70 percent of all Android OEMs) license Microsoft's patent portfolio. If Google's latest plaything doesn't start writing cheques, then it's likely to have its handsets banned from Germany, at least in the short term. Here's David Howard's statement in full:
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| Google+ on Android gets its turn at a UI remake, extra Hangout and photo features in the bargain Posted: 24 May 2012 07:59 AM PDT Did you see the Google+ 2.0 update for iPhone and wonder if Google's attention had drifted away from its own baby? Don't fret, as the Android app has just been given similarly loving treatment. The interface shares the reworked stream look that we saw on iOS while keeping the swipe-to-switch category filters that Google+ has used from the start. There's even small rewards for having to watch your iPhone friends go first: you can now start a Hangout video chat from the main menu, get ringing Hangout notifications, download photos directly from conversations and edit your posts after the fact. The new look has already proved polarizing, but if you're the sort who revels in the purity of a Google social network running on a Google platform, you can now try the overhaul for yourself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intel research hopes to give computers human smarts, appreciate our idiosyncrasies Posted: 24 May 2012 07:46 AM PDT Intel's chief technology officer, Justin Rattner, doesn't own a smartphone. Well, not by his definition anyway. Talking in Tel Aviv, Rattner was evangelizing about the opportunities in machine learning, and outlining the goals of the firm's Collaborative Research Institute for Computational Intelligence. Working with Technion and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Intel plans to develop small, wearable computers that learn our behavioral patterns -- like where we left our keys -- and other things today's "smart" phones could never do. Intel's Israeli president, Moody Eden, went on to claim that within five years, all five senses will be computerized, and in a decade, transistors per chip will outnumber neurons in the human brain. All that tech to stop you locking yourself out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IDC: Android has a heady 59 percent of world smartphone share, iPhone still on the way up Posted: 24 May 2012 07:25 AM PDT We've been jonesing for a more international look at smartphone market share for the start of 2012, and IDC is now more than willing to oblige. In case you'd thought Android's relentless march upwards was just an American fling, Google's OS has jumped from 36.1 percent of the world's share a year ago to exactly 59 percent in the first quarter of this year. That's nearly two thirds of all smartphones, folks. As we've seen in the past, Android is siphoning off legacy users looking for something fresher: Symbian and the BlackBerry have both lost more than half of their share in one year's time, while Linux (led mostly by Bada) and Windows Mobile / Phone together lost small pieces of the pie despite raw shipment numbers going up. As for Apple? Even with all the heat in the kitchen, the iPhone's share grew to 23 percent, leading to a staggering 82 percent of smartphone buyers siding with either the Cupertino or Mountain View camps. Android- and iOS-Powered Smartphones Expand Their Share of the Market in the First Quarter, According to IDC 24 May 2012 FRAMINGHAM, Mass. May 24, 2012 – Smartphones powered by the Android and iOS mobile operating systems accounted for more than eight out of ten smartphones shipped in the first quarter of 2012 (1Q12). According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, the mobile operating systems held shares of 59.0% and 23.0% respectively of the 152.3 million smartphones shipped in 1Q12. During the first quarter of 2011, the two operating systems held a combined share of 54.4%. The share gains mean that Android and iOS have successfully distanced themselves from previous market leaders Symbian and BlackBerry, as well as Linux and Windows Phone 7/Windows Mobile. "The popularity of Android and iOS stems from a combination of factors that the competition has struggled to keep up with," said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Phone Technology and Trends program. "Neither Android nor iOS were the first to market with some of these features, but the way they made the smartphone experience intuitive and seamless has quickly earned a massive following." "In order for operating system challengers to gain share, their creators and hardware partners need to secure developer loyalty," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker program. "This is true because developer intentions or enthusiasm for a particular operating system is typically a leading indicator of hardware sales success." Operating System Highlights Android finished the quarter as the overall leader among the mobile operating systems, accounting for more than half of all smartphone shipments. In addition, Android boasted the longest list of smartphone vendor partners. Samsung was the largest contributor to Android's success, accounting for 45.4% of all Android-based smartphone shipments. But beyond Samsung was a mix of companies retrenching themselves or slowly growing their volumes. iOS recorded strong year-over-year growth with sustained demand for the iPhone 4S following the holiday quarter and the addition of numerous mobile operators offering the iPhone for the first time. Although end-user demand remains high, the iPhone's popularity brings additional operational pressures for mobile operators through subsidy and data revenue sharing policies. Symbian posted the largest year-over-year decline, a result driven by Nokia's transition to Windows Phone. But even as Symbian volumes have decreased, there continues to be demand for the OS from the most ardent of users. In addition, Nokia continues to support Symbian, as evidenced by the PureView initiative on the Nokia 808. Still, as Nokia emphasizes Windows Phone, IDC expects further declines for Symbian for the rest of this year. BlackBerry continued on its downward trajectory as demand for older BlackBerry devices decreased and the market awaits the official release of BB 10 smartphones later this year. In addition, many companies now permit users to bring their own smartphones, allowing competitor operating systems to take away from BlackBerry's market share. Although RIM has not officially released BB 10, initial glimpses of the platform have shown improvement. Linux maintained its small presence in the worldwide smartphone market, thanks in large part to Samsung's continued emphasis on bada. By the end of the quarter, Samsung accounted for 81.6% of all Linux-powered smartphones, a 3.6% share gain versus the prior-year period. Other vendors, meanwhile, have been experimenting with Android to drive volume. Still, Linux's fortunes are closely tied to Samsung's strategy, which already encompasses Android, Windows Phone, and later this year, Tizen. Windows Mobile/Windows Phone has yet to make significant inroads in the worldwide smartphone market, but 2012 should be considered a ramp-up year for Nokia and Microsoft to boost volumes. Until Nokia speeds the cadence of its smartphone releases or more vendors launch their own Windows Phone-powered smartphones, IDC anticipates slow growth for the operating system. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia 808 PureView impressions, camera showdown with the iPhone 4S and HTC One S Posted: 24 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT Nokia invited us to take a tour of the Carl Zeiss HQ in Germany, all in the name of getting some time to shoot with the pair's latest project, the 808 PureView. Sure, you've heard the specs: a 41-megapixel sensor, f/2.4 Carl Zeiss lens and a focal length of 8.02mm. That hulking sensor dominates the body, but how do those photographic results turn out? We spent a few hours shooting with Symbian's (possibly) last hurrah and found that -- unsurprisingly -- this looks to be the new benchmark for mobile imaging. The top-heavy body fits in with the focus on mobile photography epitomized in this phone and there's a tangible quality to the photos even on the 808 PureView's 640 x 360 display, alongside a noticeable decrease in noise. Check out our gallery and grab more impressions and comparison images with the iPhone 4S and One S after the break. Hopefully, the gallery will give you a good idea at that philosophy we've heard an awful lot about. The 41-megapixel sensor can capture pictures at both 34 and 38 megapixels - depending on whether you plump for either 16:9 or 4:3 screen ratios. Those extra pixels are to ensure the 808 PureView's oversampling magic can work. While images can be captured at these high-end sizes, it comes into its own when the images are transferred to a 5-megapixel form (eight megapixel images are also possible, but Nokia says its five megapixel images should ensure some very impressive results and from our brief time sampling those results, we'd tend to agree. It's this oversampling that reduces artifacts and noise in images and while Nokia's got some secret algorithms at work, there's enough data left within these image files to unlock those darkened corners. While the cameraphone doesn't have a HDR mode, the 808 PureView has a bracketing option that allows you to take up to five photos at differing exposures. You can then create your own HDR images with some requisite PC software. The Nokia 808 PureView is also capable of capturing a mind-boggling amount of small detail -- this is what allows it to offer up to three times lossless zoom on its 5-megapixel images, with enough pixels from a cropped selection to make up an image. See how we can make out the parking space number from the 11th floor of the Zeiss building -- not to mention road cracks. Comparing alongside the iPhone and HTC One S, we largely kept to automatic settings, although we used macro focus settings on both the 808 PureView and the One S when the situation demanded it. Nokia's smartphone gave a far more realistic composition of the landscape picture we've cropped here from eight megapixels. Although the One S seemed to focus better, its colors are a little oversaturated and that also adds some noise into the mix. The iPhone 4S gave a fuzzier interpretation of the clocktower seen on the PureView version. The lack of noise and superb sharpness truly stood out here. Note the artifacts on the feather's edge on the One S sample. Also, during our time shooting with the three phones, we found that Nokia's PureView 808 seemed to focus in on the detail better than its rivals. If anything, we wish we had more time getting to grips with the 808 PureView. There's plenty of settings to tinker with, aside from the choice between full resolution 38 (or 34) megapixel images and oversampled five-megapixel shots. We were told that our ISO settings were misbehaving on our sample device, although these settled slightly after a factory reset -- these aren't the finished articles just yet. We were most impressed with how the device handled on automatic settings, creating some excellent images without need to concern ourselves with settings. While this phone is certainly geared at cameraphone fans that lapped up the N8, we found the interface on the 808 PureView was far more accessible and quick -- especially compared to its iOS and Android rivals. One-touch zoom on 5-megapixel images, by simply swiping across the display, is an addictive and welcome addition, allowing you to still use the physical button to capture high-speed images. The ability to hold your finger on the screen and change focus modes was also a boon, while browsing gallery previews and transitioning to the full images were swift. Now, we're just waiting for a review unit to truly put the phone through its paces and try all those options in plenty more situations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syria gets previously blocked Google software, at least for now Posted: 24 May 2012 06:33 AM PDT Mountain View's just dished out some good news for Syrians, Picasa, Chrome, and Google Earth were officially made available for download in the complex nation as of yesterday. US export controls and sanctions had hitherto blocked that possibility, and there's sill no guarantee that smartphones won't be prohibited. That's of course assuming the whole internet won't just be turned off if the Syrian government doesn't like what's going down, but as of right now the software is live. Google put the same trio on tap this February in Iran after more than a year and a half of similar restrictions in that country. And we thought our internet-related issues were annoying. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PlayStation Network scheduled for maintenance starting at 8AM (PST) Posted: 24 May 2012 06:01 AM PDT Today's public service announcement is brought to you by the letter "M." That would be "M" as in maintenance, which is what the PlayStation Network will be going through from 8AM (PST) to 11PM. The outage means that both the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home might not be accessible while Sony does its maintenance magic. "B-b-but, I'm supposed to be credit farming Firebase White with my Mass Effect 3 buddies during that exact, same time," you say? Chill, buddy -- the maintenance won't affect online play so you can continue to abuse those hapless, chirping Geth. Folks who signed in to PSN within the last five days will still be able to access apps like Amazon Instant Video and Netflix as well. Hey, it could always be worse, you know. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters Posted: 24 May 2012 05:26 AM PDT This month NHK has been previewing a slew of Super Hi-Vision equipment, but there's still much work to be done to make high res broadcasts a reality worldwide. There's where the ITU steps in, and as it did for HDTV back in the 90s it's been meeting to decide just what 4K and 8K Ultra High Definition TV (UHDTV) broadcasts are and how they will work. There's no word on minimum pixel counts for the standards -- we expect that quad-HD vs. 4K battle to rage on, remember these are the people who "defined" 4G -- but they're establishing color range, frame rate, and whether the broadcasts will go over unused satellite bandwidth or regular antenna frequencies. If you're somehow confused by the 33MP video streams that are coming our way... some day, check out a video featuring European Broadcast Union Deputy Director of Technology and Development David Wood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insert Coin: cookoo is the watch for geeks who want to keep it subtle (video) Posted: 24 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. This is the cookoo, a smart timepiece created by former Microsoft product developer Peter Hauser. Connecting to your smartphone over Bluetooth, its analog face stands in front of a digital display that lights up when you've got a phone alert. Its USP is that it's a more cultured way to check if you've been tweeted than simply whipping out your phone every few minutes. It promises to last up to a year on a standard watch battery and the buttons around the bezel even allow you to check in to Foursquare. It's been designed to be so rugged, durable and waterproof that you can wear one all day -- even at the pool. You can pledge $50 to pre-order one (it'll retail for $99), but only if the company raises all of the $150,000 its set for a goal. Previous project update: Knut managed to reach half-way to its $25,000 funding goal since yesterday, if you're in need of a WiFi connected sensor, then you've got 42 days (and counting) to get your pledge in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quad-channel DDR3 memory corralled in round-up, Corsair, G.Skill and Patriot take home the trophies Posted: 24 May 2012 04:46 AM PDT If you've wanted to build an X79-based gaming PC but were fretting over getting the most out of the quad-channel DDR3 memory you'll want to pair with that Ivy Bridge processor, don't fret: HotHardware has gathered together some of the most common high-speed RAM options and put them to the test. The results aren't clear cut and depend heavily on what you're looking for. Corsair's 1,866MHz Vengeance kit and a similarly clocked G.Skill RipJaws Z set are recommended for striking good balances between low lag and raw speed, while Patriot's Viper X Division 4 is lauded for having the best value and the best stock cooling. That's not to say that Kingston's HyperX line isn't worth it for some speed demons, but the testers suggest hitting the middle of the road to get a good trade-off between speed and the cash outlay you'll need to get there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple applies for optical stylus patent, Hell reports coldest day on record Posted: 24 May 2012 04:32 AM PDT Apple has famously shunned the humble stylus, so it's fair to say we're more than a little curious about why it's filed a patent application for one. The "optical stylus" mentioned seems simple enough. The claims outline the brains to interpret your doodlings, as well pressure and orientation. Beyond that, well, it's more or less just a stylus. While we suspected the team at Cupertino were fans of Draw Something, we didn't think they'd take it this seriously! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adafruit unveils Lego Ladyada's Workshop, vote for it to become a reality Posted: 24 May 2012 04:14 AM PDT If 10,000 of you go and vote at Lego Cuusoo, we could soon have a Ladyada Lego Workshop. The concept, whipped up by Limor Fried and Phillip Torrone, was a direct response to the borderline offensive Lego Friends set that was marketed to young girls last year. The seemingly unnecessary line of pastel-hued bricks inspired Fried to hire renowned Lego artist Bruce Lowell to help create a set of blocks that told girls it was ok to aspire to more than good hair and gossipy friends. Ladyada's Workshop is an ABS celebration of hacking, tinkering, strong women and all things DIY. Now all that needs to happen is that enough of you head on over to the Cuusoo site when the set goes up for vote. Hit up the source link for more images of what could wind up being the very first Lego product based on a company that sells DIY electronics kits. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft announces Robotics @Home contest winner: a SmartTripod that can follow you Posted: 24 May 2012 03:49 AM PDT It's had quite a run, but Microsoft's months-long Robotics @Home Competition finally came to close this past weekend at the Bay Area Maker Faire. Taking home the title (and a $10,000 prize) was Arthur Wait for his SmartTripod, a robotic assistant that relies on Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 4, the Eddie development platform and, of course, a Kinect to follow a person around and handle camera duties in a natural manner -- or "almost as though a human was holding the camera," as Wait puts it. Just how well does it work? You can get a look at the robot itself and the results it's able to provide in the videos after the break.
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| Gigabit Squared strikes deal to bring ultra high-speed broadband to six communities Posted: 24 May 2012 03:13 AM PDT Gigabit Squared and Gig.U to Make Available $200 Million in Broadband Development Funding Through the Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program Digital Economic Development Initiatives is Nation's First Multi-Community Gigabit Deployment (May 23, 2012) Washington, DC – In a joint announcement today, The University Community Next Generation Innovation Project (Gig.U) and Gigabit Squared announced the nation's first multi-community broadband gigabit deployment with the availability of $200 million in funding. Under the Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program, capital is available to support up to six select Gig.U member-sponsored projects. At the center of the Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program is the idea that communities and their local stakeholders can drive economic opportunities through private investments that leverage public capital that will accelerate the deployment and utilization of gigabit speed networks. Gigabit Squared created the Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program to help select Gig.U communities build and test gigabit speed broadband networks with speeds from 100 to 1000 times faster than what Americans have today. The Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program will offer communities services at a competitive price for innovative projects that range from small neighborhoods of 5,000 to 10,000 and up to 100,000 people. Selections will be announced between November 2012 and March 2013. We have brought together a team that has had a hand in transforming broadband in dozens of communities, Including Cleveland-Ohio, Chattanooga-Tennessee, Lafayette-Louisiana, Jackson-Mississippi, Topeka-Kansas, and the Virgin Islands. Including companies such as Corning, G4S, Juniper Networks, Alcatel Lucent, Calix, Ericson, Level 3, Genexis, OnDemand, Baller Herbst and others. Aaron Gadouas, Senior Vice President of the investment firm Stern Brothers & Co., commented on the unique model Gigabit Squared has created, "Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program is a compelling public/private model because both sides are able to leverage the contributions of the other, enabling projects that would not have been completed otherwise. It is a well-conceived and innovative initiative." "What makes the Gigabit Squared approach so exciting is that it goes far beyond normal industry business models in how to successfully and creatively improve broadband access speeds for university communities, which is exactly the premise upon which Gig.U was founded," said Blair Levin, Executive Director of Gig.U. "We intuitively knew this, but to see Gigabit Squared emerge so strongly today proves that yes, America needs an upgrade; and that yes, there are innovators and investors willing to step up to get it done." The Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program will create demonstration projects in Gig.U communities that will serve as a model for maximizing the impacts of regional broadband networks. Each will feature "open" architecture networks to create long-term value and growth for the Gig.U University and community partners. Each Gigabit Neighborhood Gateway Program project will feature: The use of underutilized network assets and capacity and local investment to drive services and unlock long-term value and sustainability, "The Stimulus Funding was a great jumpstart to get broadband initiatives on track in the U.S. But it is just a starting point," explains Mark Ansboury, president of Gigabit Squared. "In order to realize true economic revitalization, we're urging our national and community leaders to think and act in more creative ways. And we're backing those efforts with significant investment of our own." "As a founding member of Gig.U, Case Western Reserve University is proud to be piloting the next generation of broadband networks to neighborhoods around universities, and providing high bandwidth service to support the national priorities of health and wellness, home energy management, public safety, and STEM education at the high school level," said Dr. Lev Gonick, Case Western Reserve's Vice President, Information Technology Services & Chief Information Officer. "Working with Gigabit Squared, Cleveland's Judson Manor and leading technology companies, we'll be creating a second gigabit fiber to the premise research project that will serve as a model for other Gig.U communities." About Gigabit Squared Gigabit Squared is a digital economic development corporation specializing in the planning, implementation and roll-out of IT-enabled infrastructure. We help communities and network providers across the globe develop, capitalize, implement and leverage sustainable infrastructure investments for civic and economic transformation. Public-private partnerships (P3), collaboration and co-investment in large-scale infrastructure programs drive remarkable results and financial returns. The Gigabit Squared team has been responsible for developing and acquiring billions of dollars in infrastructure funding through government, quasi-government, private, and non-profit sources. Visit us online to learn more at www.gigabitsquared.com. About Gig.U The University Community Next Generation Innovation Project, or Gig.U, is a broad-based group of over 30 leading research universities from across the United States. Drawing on America's rich history of community-led innovation in research and entrepreneurship, Gig.U seeks to accelerate the deployment of gigabit speed networks to leading U.S. universities and their surrounding communities. Improvements to these networks drive economic growth and stimulate a new generation of innovations addressing critical needs, such as health care and education. Visit Gig.U online at www.gig-u.org. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google pumps cash into UK classrooms, will buy Arduino, Raspberry Pi sets for kids Posted: 24 May 2012 02:46 AM PDT Eric Schmidt has said that Google will make cash available through its investment into Teach First to buy Raspberry Pi and Arduino units for British schoolchildren. He was at the UK's Science Museum to talk about Mountain View's partnership with the charity, which puts top university graduates into schools to teach disadvantaged kids. The Android-maker wrote a cheque to fund over 100 places on the scheme, aiming to get bright computer scientists to reintroduce engineering principles to pupils. Mr. Schmidt hoped that with the right support, kits like the Raspberry Pi would do for this generation what the BBC Micro did three decades ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Julius Genachowski voices support for capped, tiered broadband Posted: 24 May 2012 02:21 AM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Omnia M stops off at the FCC, Europeans pine for the Focus 2 Posted: 24 May 2012 01:55 AM PDT Samsung's Euro-centric Omnia M has finished its mandated saunter through the FCC. The Windows Phone for the old country will sport a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz processor -- while the test documents reveal that it'll only carry a GSM and 3G radio, leaving the lucky few with LTE out in the cold. Now that it's passed the regulatory hurdle of being allowed into the US, we can hope that the company will soon start talking about when we can get our hands on one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Obama tells government agencies to embrace mobile apps within a year Posted: 24 May 2012 01:31 AM PDT We already know the President has gone mobile -- and now he wants to take the rest of the government with him. President Obama has gone on the record ordering major federal agencies to jump on the mobile bandwagon, developing apps to increase public access to tax payer funded departments like education and healthcare. Said the President in a statement, "Americans deserve a government that works for them anytime, anywhere, and on any device." Obama has ordered the agencies to join the app revolution within the next 12 months. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TiVo shows off Pace-built XG1 six-tuner gateway DVR it plans to ship later this year Posted: 24 May 2012 12:52 AM PDT New add-on boxes that extend and supplement the functionality of existing Premiere DVRs aren't all TiVo had to show off this week at the Cable Show in Boston, as it also demonstrated the fruits of its new partnership with Pace. The result is this XG1 gateway, a six-tuner DVR that's intended to be sold by TV providers and then hidden away in a closet, quietly distributing video to smart TVs or extenders located throughout the house. It runs TiVo's software with support for multi-room video, MoCA, mobile and tablet remote apps and at least 500GB of hard drive space inside. Since it hasn't announced any plans to bring this unit to retail we'll have to wait and see which providers decide to offer it when it becomes available in the Americas "later this year". TiVo and Pace Announce First Pace Product With TiVo Software Integration Pace XG1 Multi-Tuner Video Gateway to Offer 6 Video Tuners, Integrated DOCSIS 3.0 and Support for TiVo Whole Home Solution BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/21/2012 -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in advanced television services, including digital video recorders (DVRs), for consumers, content distributors and consumer electronics manufacturers, and Pace (LSE: PIC), a leading developer of technologies, products and services for global broadband and broadcast markets, today announced details of the first product, the Pace XG1, resulting from a global partnership TiVo and Pace announced in February 2012 to develop flexible, advanced television solutions for operators. This new Multi-tuner Video Gateway from Pace will provide cable operators in the Americas an advanced television solution for their customers by bringing to market the full award-winning TiVo experience on powerful, new platforms designed to be easily integrated with today's cable networks. The Pace XG1 includes 6 video tuners, an integrated DOCSIS 3.0 modem, and at least 500GB of on board hard drive storage. It will utilize TiVo's whole-home capabilities, such as multi-room streaming and support for both traditional set-top boxes and IP devices as clients over MoCA, and support for TiVo's mobile and tablet applications. David Sandford, Vice President and General Manager of TiVo's Service Provider Business, said, "This partnership will make the TiVo experience easily accessible to more cable operators than ever before. It will provide operators a best-in-class advanced television solution that they can quickly and cost-effectively deploy and will serve as the gateway to a rapidly expanding choice of content across multiple screens through TiVo's whole-home solutions." Tim O'Loughlin, President of Pace Americas, stated, "There is no denying that the current climate for operators is immensely competitive, and we have been hearing more and more frequently from this community that TiVo is a user experience that they want to offer. We are excited this partnership has yielded a product that will harness the very best of traditional television and broadband delivered content into a seamless, enjoyable package across multiple Pace platforms and customer owned devices." As previously announced, this initial offering will first be made available by Pace to cable operators in the Americas later this year. TiVo and Pace also expect to follow the XG1 with additional solutions for domestic and international operators soon after. U.S. operators currently deploying TiVo offerings to their customers include Charter, DIRECTV, RCN, Suddenlink and Grande Communications, and European operators include Virgin Media, the largest cable operator in the UK, and ONO, the largest cable operator in Spain. TiVo and Pace unveiled details about the Pace XG1 at the 2012 NCTA Cable Show in Boston. For more information visit the TiVo booth #1859 and Pace booth #1653 located in the main exhibit hall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony formally quits Sharp LCD joint venture, takes back every yen it invested Posted: 24 May 2012 12:04 AM PDT After Sony cut off its supply of capital to the ill-fated Sakai production plant that it jointly owns with Sharp, it became clear that the final goodbye may be little more than a formality. And here it is, in the form of a cold, resolute press release stating that Sony is selling its seven percent stake back to Sharp and taking back the 10 billion yen ($126 million) it originally invested. The only reason given is the "rapidly changing market for LCD panels and LCD televisions," which is a polite reference to the fact that profits from big TVs are well below what these companies predicted back in the heady days of 2008 and early 2009, when the impact of the global economic crisis loomed without yet being fully apparent. Fortunately for Sony, which is in the delicate stages of reform, the solid pre-nuptial agreement it had in place with Sharp should protect the company from having to revise its financial forecasts for the coming year -- not that those were particularly great in the first place. Sharp and Sony to terminate joint venture to produce and sell large-sized LCD panels and modules Sharp Corporation ("Sharp") and Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced that their joint venture relationship to produce and sell large-sized LCD panels and modules will terminate, and that Sony will sell its shares (representing 7.04% of the issued shares) in Sharp Display Products Corporation ("SDP") to SDP*. In consideration for the sale of shares, Sony will receive cash consideration equal to its original investment of 10 billion yen to be paid by SDP*. Both the sale of shares and the payment of cash consideration will be completed by the end of June 2012. On July 1, 2009, Sharp transferred its LCD panel plant in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, to SDP, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sharp. On December 29, 2009, Sony invested 10 billion yen into SDP in exchange for new shares issued by SDP to Sony (representing 7.04% of the issued shares of SDP) and, as a result, SDP became a joint venture company of Sharp and Sony as of the same date. In light of the rapidly changing market for LCD panels and LCD televisions, in March 2012 Sharp and Sony agreed to amend the original joint venture agreement to provide that Sony would not make additional capital injections in SDP. Based on this amendment, the companies agreed to study studied the future direction of the joint venture and other potential business relationships between the parties, including with respect to Sony's interest in SDP. * In the event SDP is not able to purchase or pay for those shares due to applicable legal restrictions on acquiring its own shares or for any other reason, Sharp will purchase those shares from Sony. No material impact is anticipated on Sony's consolidated financial forecasts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. Sharp Display Products Corporation Representative:
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| The future for Nokia PureView: Possible slimmer models and 'not necessarily a 41MP sensor' Posted: 23 May 2012 11:42 PM PDT Nokia's 808 PureView may not even be blasting retinas in stores just yet, but that doesn't mean those Finnish cameraphone obsessives aren't already cooking up a buffet of high-megapixel ideas for the future. Vesa Jutila, Head of Product Marketing for the incoming 808 PureView, said that there was plenty more high-spec digital imaging products in the pipeline. While he wasn't about to be drawn on specifics for any future Lumia-Pureview unions just yet, there were "multiple ways" that Nokia could run with its new imaging jewel. Slimmer models are a possibility, still containing high-end Zeiss optics and Nokia's oversampling techniques avoiding the need for optical zoom. He added that the next generation of Nokia camera sensors are already being worked on -- the 808 PureView was borne from an idea back in 2007. Jutila included one more soupçon of information: future PureView products "would not necessarily have the same 41-megapixel sensor" that we've been playing with recently. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| France's Toulouse-Blagnac airport to conduct NFC field trials for BlackBerry smartphones Posted: 23 May 2012 11:04 PM PDT Navigating through airport security is hardly the most fanciful way of kicking off a vacation, but this summer, a handful of frequent fliers in France will take part in a field trial that aims to streamline the process and make it a bit more enjoyable. Fifty lucky travelers armed with BlackBerry smartphones will take part in a pilot study that tests the authentication technology recently developed by Orange and SITA. Upon their arrival at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport, the handset's NFC-capable SIM card will serve as an access pass to the car park, the premium access zone for departures and even the private lounge area. Smartphone integration will provide travelers with real-time flight information, and it's said that the handset will even remember the location of one's vehicle in the car park. As the system is hardware-based, the identity verification technology will even work when the smartphone is turned off. The Toulouse-Blagnac airport aims to have a broader NFC implementation available by 2013-2014, which may allow users to board flights and pay for goods with their mobile device. To learn more about the vision, you'll find the PR after the break. CONTACTLESS MOBILE SERVICES: WORLDWIDE FIRST IN TOULOUSE-BLAGNAC AIRPORT France - Toulouse-Blagnac airport has worked in collaboration with Research In Motion, Orange and SITA to reach new heights in innovative customer service. The airport is launching a Near Field Communication (NFC) trial that enables passengers to pass seamlessly through the airport using just their mobile phones. In a worldwide first for an airport, using a SIM card-based safety protocol, 50 frequent flyers will take part in a trial at Toulouse airport this summer, to test the new service on their BlackBerry® smartphones. NFC technology allows easy access to a wide range of useful services. Using a wireless short-range connection a simple tap of the mobile device can validate a flight ticket, pay for goods or receive information about, for example, departure gates, flight changes and other relevant information. Arriving at T-B airport, the passenger's mobile phone will now act as their security pass for a dedicated, priority path through the airport. Passengers on the trial will be able to access the P1 car park using their smartphone, which will hold details on the parking lot in the memory. Then, without delay, they will be granted access to Departures via the Premium Access Zone. Thereafter, they'll be able to enjoy the comforts of the "La Croix du Sud" private lounge without needing to present additional credentials. En route through the airport, passengers on the trial will receive real-time information related to their flight (schedule, departure hall, boarding gate, etc.). Using NFC technology offers many advantages: it is extremely secure; it works even when the mobile is powered off; it does not require any specific application to be loaded on to it; it is not affected by reading problems due to a scratched or dirty screen surface. Passengers using NFC can now be handled more promptly and efficiently than with any of the current boarding processes available. "With NFC technology, the mobile phone simplifies the passenger's journey through the airport, says Jean-Michel Vernhes, CEO of Toulouse-Blagnac airport. It now becomes a personalized tool displaying the right information at the right time. It also enables passengers to better manage their journey, so they can choose how they spend their time at the airport. For T-B airport, the approach is to give to flyers access to leading-edge technologies that enhance and facilitate their experience at the airport in providing new Premium services." Through this partnership with Research In Motion, Orange and SITA, Toulouse-Blagnac airport looks towards the future, implementing functionalities that will be displayed in the new smartphone application planned for 2013-2014. David Derrida, Director of Carrier Product Management Research In Motion: « NFC technology opens up numerous exciting possibilities for BlackBerry smartphone users. We are actively working with partners around the world to advance the development of value-added, NFC-based services and we are very excited to be involved in this trial. This new technology is already available on several BlackBerry smartphones and we expect it to revolutionize the experience of passengers at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport. » Didier Durand, Director of Contactless Mobile Services: "We are happy that our collaboration with Toulouse-Blagnac airport enables us to deploy a pragmatic and secure offer, which will soon be available for Orange customers travelling through the airport. In collaboration with Toulouse airport and an airline, our aim is to offer a complete service that includes the ticket. These contactless mobile services, which are based on the AFSCM and GSMA standards, will simplify peoples' lives in a number of ways. Orange is working with partners in sectors such as transport, entertainment, banks, shopkeepers and service operators to create an ecosystem that will allow these services to take-off on a large scale." Renaud Irminger, Director of SITA Lab, SITA: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navy plans ship-based LTE for close-quarters communication Posted: 23 May 2012 10:33 PM PDT Bandwidth is a precious commodity on military vessels. Ships in the US Navy fleet are generating more data, but the pipe it's getting pumped through isn't getting any larger. What's more, with limited connectivity options on the table, the sea-faring military wing is missing out on all the smartphone and app store fun. Rather than turn green with envy, or turning their dress whites is for camouflage cargo pants, the Navy is beefing up its mobile tech arsenal, beginning with the U.S.S. Kearsarge, U.S.S. San Antonio and U.S.S. Whidbey Island. The ships will serve as test beds for a nautical LTE system, with a range of about 25 miles. The 4G network will serve as a localized platform for wirelessly feeding data to sailors, as well as a way for the enlisted to connect to the outside world. On the backend, the Marines are working on a new satellite broadband service that should be able to provide ships with 300 megabits of shared bandwidth. Satellite internet and off-grid LTE might induce yawns in some, but they're certainly a major part of modernizing our fighting forces. For more info, check out the source link. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympus adds 75mm f/1.8 portrait lens to Micro Four Thirds lineup Posted: 23 May 2012 10:00 PM PDT During our first encounter with the OM-D E-M5 in February, Olympus told us to expect several more lenses to launch throughout the year, including a 75mm f/1.8 variant suitable for portraits and a splash- and dust-proof 60mm f/2.8 macro. Well, that first optic will be coming sooner than you may have thought -- it's expected to hit stores this summer with an estimated price tag of $900. The lens offers a 150mm 35mm-equivalent focal length when paired with a Micro Four Thirds camera, and consists of 10 elements in nine groups, including three ED elements that assist with correcting aberrations. Everything else you need to know can be found in the PR after the break. OLYMPUS INTRODUCES A NEW BRIGHT F1.8 MICRO FOUR THIRDS® LENS PERFECT FOR PORTRAITS AND CHALLENGING LIGHTING CONDITIONS New M.ZUIKO DIGITAL™ ED 75mm f1.8 High-Grade Portrait Lens Enhances the Power, Performance and Versatility of Olympus OM-D and PEN® Compact System Cameras CENTER VALLEY, Pa., May 24, 2012 – Today, Olympus adds to the Micro Four Thirds family of lenses with the release of the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8 High-Grade Portrait Lens (150mm equivalent), a high-speed, single-focal-length telephoto lens that is optimized for studio, stage, indoor sports and portrait photography, encased in a high-quality, compact, stunning metal body. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8's nine-blade circular aperture unit delivers beautiful defocused backgrounds, while the high-quality optical design keeps the subject in sharp focus. This is due to an advanced optical design that incorporates 10 lens elements in nine groups that make extensive use of special glass materials, including three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements to optimally correct aberrations. Each lens element is polished to an ultra-high level of working precision, only possible with the progressive techniques developed by Olympus master craftsmen, and carefully assembled to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability. Olympus's exclusive ZERO (ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical Coating) lens coatings are applied to the elements to reduce reflectance to a level that is half that of conventional coatings. With a total length of just 2.7 inches, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8 is surprisingly small and maximizes the performance and portability of the Olympus PEN and OM-D compact system cameras. A textured metallic outer finish exudes quality and sophistication, while the large 50mm diameter glass front lens conveys a sense of power and performance. Ideal for capturing brilliant still images and high-definition (HD) videos, the lens employs Olympus's proven MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) autofocusing mechanism featuring an inner focus system to drive this single-focal-length lens for fast and quiet focusing. A precision-touch metallic focus ring provides easy manual focusing. The optional LH-61F Lens Hood and the LC-61 Lens Cap metallic lens accessories are designed exclusively for the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8. The LH-61F Lens Hood attaches with an outer friction knob system that allows attachment or removal even when the lens cap is attached. U.S. Pricing and Availability Estimated Street Price: $899.99. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter brings Leica lenses to the X-Pro1 Posted: 23 May 2012 09:01 PM PDT It's not the cheapest, and it's not the first, but if you've been holding out on picking up an M-Mount adapter for your X-Pro1 with the hope that Fujifilm with launch a Leica-friendly accessory of its own, your patience does appear to have paid off. The camera maker just announced its very own M-Mount Adapter, featuring a 27.8mm distance between the lens mount and the sensor, an aluminum and stainless steel construction, and three levels of distortion correction. After you upgrade your camera firmware to version 1.10 (or later), you'll have access to an advanced M-Mount Adapter Settings menu, which utilizes pre-registered lens profiles and corrections. The software includes presets for 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm Leica lenses, leaving two additional slots for adding your own settings. You'll need to hang in there for a few more weeks -- the M-Mount Adapter is expected to ship for $200 in June. There's full specs in the PR after the break. FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES M-MOUNT ADAPTER FOR X-PRO1 INTERCHANGEABLE LENS DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEM Valhalla, N.Y., May 24, 2012 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced that it will release an M-Mount Adapter for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera system, specially made to enhance the experience of taking photos with the professional X-Pro1 digital camera. The all new M-Mount Adapter is designed to expand the lens selection of the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera system, and give photographers a wide range of shooting capabilities. "Since the introduction of the FUJIFILM X100, Fujifilm has made a commitment to expanding the functionality of the X-Series, and today we are very pleased to offer customers a premium accessory that they can truly be excited about – an M-Mount Adapter for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1," said Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging and Electronic Imaging Divisions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. "We listened very carefully to our customers about their desire for an M- Mount for the FUJIFILM X-Pro1, and we are proud to announce that this accessory will be available soon for everyone." The M-Mount Adapter is comprised of three parts: an aluminum mount for the body, a stainless steel mount for the lens, and an aluminum central tube. This construction enables an accurately-maintained distance of 27.8mm from the lens mount to sensor, which is crucial for delivering high quality and high resolution images. The camera side of the M-Mount Adapter features an array of electronic connections that automatically pass information to the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 body based on pre-registered lens profiles. With firmware version 1.10 or later, this information is transmitted by pressing the Function button on the side of the adapter, which allows users to access the M-Mount Adapter Settings menu on the rear LCD. While attached, the M-Mount Adapter still allows users to enjoy the benefits of the FUJIFILM X-Pro1's extraordinary Hybrid Multi Viewfinder. The Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) and LCD monitor both offer a 100% field of view, and the Optical Viewfinder (OVF) displays a bright frame corresponding to the focal length in use. M-Mount Adapter Provides Ultimate Control With the Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter attached, profiles can be user-defined, based on distortion, peripheral illumination and color shading corrections. Three levels of distortion correction are also available to combat barrel distortion on wide-angle lenses, and pincushion distortion on telephoto lenses. Users can select from Strong, Medium or Weak correction, or simply turn any correction off. Peripheral illumination controls the amount of darkening at the four corners of an image. Eleven levels of correction can be applied from +5 to -5 (including "0") with users given the choice of darkening the corners of the image to emphasise a central subject or lightening edges for more even illumination across the frame. FUJIFILM M-Mount Adapter key features The M-Mount Adapter will be available in June 2012 for $199.99. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung spills Galaxy Note's ICS guts, releases kernel source code to devs Posted: 23 May 2012 08:30 PM PDT Back when it was unveiled at IFA 2011, Sammy's famed phablet was more of an attractive oddity than sure hit. Skip to now, and that 5.3-incher's not only taken the European continent by storm, it's also made inroads onto these American shores via AT&T. In keeping with the open source embrace begun last October, the OEM's once again offering up the device's kernel code, this time for the skinned ICS OS unlocked versions currently run. Devs and the amateur hackers that love them should make haste and hit up the source below to get cracking on this latest software nut. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft takes Bing Streetside offline in Germany, privacy complaints to blame Posted: 23 May 2012 07:49 PM PDT Germany is notoriously privacy-minded, and services like Facebook's Friend Finder and Google's Street View have come under scrutiny in the country's courts. The latest offender to raise Germany's ire is Bing Streetside, a Street View-style photo service. Microsoft took the feature offline in the country following complaints about how Streetside displays private homes. By default, houses are visible, though Microsoft conceals the images if users submit a complaint. Still, citizens were apparently unhappy with this process, which prompted the company to axe the service while it addresses those privacy concerns. There's always Street View if you need your fix of blurred-out Berlin buildings in the meantime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-store Xperia GX and SX video footage pops up online Posted: 23 May 2012 07:03 PM PDT While Japanese Xperia fans might have to wait a little while longer to get their hands on the Xperia GX and Xperia SX, how about some sample videos to make said extremities clammy in the meantime? So, they're not going to win any Oscars (unless there's a new category for "Best shaky in-store footage") any time soon, but the videos over the break give a taste of what we can expect from those 13- and 8-megapixel sensors. In time-honored Hollywood tradition, we're still wondering if the US remake will be just as good.
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| Samsung Galaxy S III tops UK pre-order records, shows that British love their quad-core Posted: 23 May 2012 06:21 PM PDT The British clearly didn't waste any time once pre-orders opened up for the Galaxy S III, which just broke through pre-order records for at least one carrier and one retailer in the country. Carphone Warehouse's chief commercial officer Graham Stapleton says that the quad-core, 4.8-inch flagship is the quickest-moving pre-order of the year "so far," while Vodafone UK adds that the new Galaxy is its most pre-ordered Android device to date. Without hard numbers, though, it's difficult not to couch the successes in relative terms: both are using conditional language that makes clear neither record is absolute and that they might be eclipsed by companies with a knack for building early demand. Even so, that pride in early results suggests the third time is indeed the charm and that Samsung won't have much trouble filling its own pop-up stores with customers at the end of the month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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