What's new on SlashGear.com |
- Best iOS Apps for Students
- Man Busts Through Wall to Steal GameStop Merchandise, Gets Arrested
- Yacht Concept Shows That Huge Boats Can Fly [Video]
- OnLive’s Playback Beta Open to All Users Free of Charge Until January 31st
- Dreamcast Collection Coming to Xbox 360
- T-Mobile and Samsung Facing Class Action Lawsuit for Lack of Froyo Update to Vibrant
- THQ’s Homefront DLC Debuting on Xbox LIVE, One Map Exclusive at Launch
- NASA Showcases Airplane Designs for 2025
- TagCandy Uses Augmented Reality to Change the Way we Eat Candy [Video]
- InteraXon Demonstrates Controlling an iPad with Your Thoughts [Video]
- Sony NEX-5 Gold Edition Digital Camera Announced for Japan, Lands February 10th
- EA Announces Bulletstorm Demo Landing on Xbox LIVE and PSN January 25th
- ScentSciences ScentScape Lets You Smell the Movies You Watch, the Videogames You Play
- Apple Counts Up to 10 Billion App Downloads, Offers $10,000 Gift Card as Thanks
- AT&T Nokia X7 could launch this month?
- SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: January 14 2011
- Macintosh Plus + iPad = Daft Punk alternative helmet [Video]
- BlackBerry Storm 3 leaks with specs; to launch Q3 in Torch line?
- LG underwhelmed by Windows Phone 7 launch
- Alesis StudioDock for iPad turns tablet into pro-audio system
- Spotify US plans perk with talk of Sony Music deal
- Android Froyo update progress rated: AT&T and Sony Ericsson slated
- HannStar Display president charged with LCD conspiracy
- Laser popcorn cooking is awesome (but time consuming) [Video]
- Apple “A8″ processor & Qualcomm baseband for iPhone 5?
- New iRiver U100 DAP unveiled
- White BlackBerry Torch headed to UK as Vodafone exclusive
- TeleNav GPS Navigator 6.2 Live Today on Android for ATT
- Liquid Image unveils new Impact Series HD camera goggles
- Medical server hacked to host Call of Duty Game
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 02:05 PM PST With the start of a new semester and a new year, we all have high hopes as students for how this semester is going to turn out; what better way to improve our grades and overall performance in school than with the help of a few great apps. These are five applications that are great for students of all ages, but especially for students in high school and college. With more than 300,000 apps readily available in Apple's App Store, it can be a daunting process to find the ones that are really worth the memory space on your device and, more importantly, worth the money. Here are five apps that range in price from $0 to $4.99 and are, without a doubt, worth your money. These apps give you what you pay for and so much more.
First is myHomework (free) which is a great way to keep all your assignments organized, accessible and easily searchable. You can enter tests, labs, papers, presentations, readings and more for any class, and set reminders before the due date, leaving no room for "forgetting" an assignment. There have been studies that have proven students who study with flashcards are often more prepared for tests, and with Flashcard Touch ($4.99), you can now be one of those students. With this application you can create unlimited flashcards from your own definition or numerous online definitions. Keeping a list of things to do is an effective way of staying organized, and being organized is one of the many keys to success. With PTO, Put Things Off, ($1.99) you can add tasks, organize them by importance, and even "put them off" until a later time. As someone who loves making check lists, this app has become a must-have for me and has helped me keep track of what I need to do in a simple fashion. As a student who commutes to school, I know how expensive it can be to fill up your gas tank so frequently. With Cheap Gas! (free) in the blink of an eye, I have been able to find conveniently located gas stations with remarkably low gas prices, whether I am at school or at home. Last semester a professor of mine told me listening to music increases productivity while studying. Although I'm sure he wasn't referring to the type of music I listen to, I took that advice and ran with it. The Pandora (free) application has also become a must-have app. I'm not a huge fan of listening to the radio because they overplay songs, play tracks I don't like, and have too many commercials, but with Pandora I can customize my own radio station for free with far fewer commercials. You can't go wrong with these five applications, and if you use them properly you will almost certainly feel more successful in no time. What could be better than using your phone to improve your performance in school? Click here for more apps for students.
|
| Man Busts Through Wall to Steal GameStop Merchandise, Gets Arrested Posted: 14 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST When you really, really want something, it can be hard not to find a way to get it. Of course, if you’re thinking about stealing something, then you shouldn’t do it. Obviously for Steven Paul Archer, he didn’t get that memo. Archer has been recently charged with felony burglary, after he had managed to get into an empty storefront next to a GameStop, and then dig his way through the connecting wall and into the videogame retail store where he subsequently stole quite a bit of merchandise.
According to the report, Archer got into the empty storefront located next to the GameStop in Tennessee. Once inside, he got to work on digging his way through the wall that connected the empty store to the GameStop. There’s no word on how long it took him to accomplish his goal, but Archer did manage to dig through, and gain access to the store. Once inside, Archer removed $5,340 in merchandise, and an additional $288.55 in cash. Archer was captured and arrested for the aforementioned charges. [via TG Daily]
|
| Yacht Concept Shows That Huge Boats Can Fly [Video] Posted: 14 Jan 2011 01:48 PM PST Yachts are generally a good way for a concept to become reality. There’s generally enough money being tossed around at any given moment on a yacht that, say, including an iPad-controlled thermostat (and many other functions) just seems logical, and not superfluous. But, there’s a line where you have to look at a design, especially for something like a yacht, and just shake your head. Perhaps even roll up the plans, and start working on something else. For designer Phil Pauley, having a dream is one thing — but making it a reality is something entirely different.
Pauley calls it the Fly Cruiser, and as you can see from the image above, it’s supposed to be a yacht that has a pretty cool “extra feature.” The point of this yacht isn’t the technology inside, but instead on the outside. Designed to feature a pair of wings that extend from the side of the ship, with just the touch of a button, that have jet engines on them, your trip will suddenly be transformed from a scenic trip on the water, to a speedy hydroplaning adventure. Turning on the engines will set the ship on its way, all the way up to 100 knots, where the yacht will be slicing across the water on a stability board. Once the nominal speed has been reached, the board will rise up back into the yacht, and you’ll be flying along to your next destination. You can watch the concept in action in the video below. [via GizMag]
|
| OnLive’s Playback Beta Open to All Users Free of Charge Until January 31st Posted: 14 Jan 2011 01:36 PM PST OnLive’s flat $10-per-month gaming package, Playback, was launched at the end of December, and was supposed to herald the official launch on January 15th. Unfortunately for the company, it doesn’t look like that date is going to be met. However, due to the set-back, the company has rewarded its users the usage of Playback through the rest of January, completely free-of-charge.
The service, which offers unlimited access to OnLive’s back-catalog of videogames, was supposed to see a full launch starting tomorrow (as of the time of this writing), but for unknown reasons it’s been set back to an unknown date. The result is that OnLive is ready to set the beta onto all of OnLive’s users, allowing them to access the catalog free-of-charge. Playback was only originally available for OnLive users on the MicroConsole, but now the beta will be open to everyone that uses the service. On any platform that OnLive is accessible. As of right now, the catalog has only about 12 titles available to play, but OnLive says that the content will expand to about 40 titles once it leaves the beta status. [via BigDownload]
|
| Dreamcast Collection Coming to Xbox 360 Posted: 14 Jan 2011 01:34 PM PST Also coming to your PC, but noone cares about PCs. Never fear, Don Reisinger, your lost love of video games will be revenged (unless I read that article wrong.) On the 22nd of February, 2011, a Dreamcast Collection package will be being released for Xbox 360. Joy unto the mountains, the greatest console gaming system is back in the form of a pack.
Of course the first thing everybody says is “Where is Shenmu?” and of course “What about Jet Set Radio?” But chill! You know why? Because like all great holders back of amazingness, the people who are putting this out more than likely have those games up their sleeves and are waiting to see how well this collection does before sending out a second version. What do you get in this pack? Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Sega Bass Fishing and Space Channel 5: Part 2. These games are ENHANCED GRAPHIC versions of their original counterparts, and there will be leaderboards online just like all the rest of your Xbox LIVE games so you can love and kiss and hug your buddies. Gary Knight, VP of Marketing at Sega of America and Sega Europe, noted that “The Dreamcast console is still remembered as a pioneering console for online gaming. We are delighted to be able to offer to our large community of dedicated fans a collection such as Dreamcast Collection for them to enjoy old favourites on this generation of consoles.” We emailed him to ask if he really meant to spell favorites like that, but he had no response.     [Via Pocket Lint]
|
| T-Mobile and Samsung Facing Class Action Lawsuit for Lack of Froyo Update to Vibrant Posted: 14 Jan 2011 12:01 PM PST When you get enough people upset, there’s always going to be ramifications. Unfortunately for Samsung and T-Mobile USA, it looks like they’ve managed to anger quite a few people. And, one in particular, has taken the steps necessary to start a class action lawsuit against the two aforementioned companies, all because the Samsung Vibrant –the Galaxy S variant that launched on T-Mobile’s network in 2010– hasn’t received its update to Android 2.2.
It goes deeper than that, though. The reasoning behind it actually stems from a rumor, which originated from an unnamed tipster, that stated Samsung (not T-Mobile) was purposefully holding back updates to Android 2.2, because the manufacturer wanted to make sure that people bought upcoming devices. A rumor like this, even unsubstantiated, is obviously going to cause some figurative riots, and it looks like they’ve already begun, especially on Twitter. XDA-Developers forum member MicBeast has gone through the initial steps to begin the class action lawsuit. He has found a lawyer that will take up the cause, filed the lawsuit, and has explained all of the issues. According to MicBeast’s lawyer, the two companies have violated the law, citing Unfair and Deceptive Consumer Business practices. “They have continuously lied to us about the hardware, and software reliability of this phone, they promised us updates (to 2.2! Not the functionally dead JI6 2.1!) over and over, NOW they plan to release NEW galaxies without updating the old ones they currently have The GPS is clearly a hardware defect. There are just too many issues with this phone and the Customer service reps have been combative even bullying and threatening customers!” [via Android Community]
|
| THQ’s Homefront DLC Debuting on Xbox LIVE, One Map Exclusive at Launch Posted: 14 Jan 2011 11:27 AM PST It looks like the exclusive practices for developers and publishers is still going strong. Not that anyone should expect it to die out. Publisher THQ has announced that the first DLC map pack for their upcoming title Homefront, developed by Kaos Studios, will be debuting on Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE. Following in the footsteps of Call of Duty, in a path that many gamers may not be a fan of.
THQ has partnered up with Microsoft to bring the upcoming title’s first DLC to the Xbox 360 first. But, that’s not all. Major Nelson, or Larry Hryb, at the THQ presse event for the game itself announced that the deal extended to all future DLC made available for the game. That means if Kaos Studios adds anything to the game after launch, it will be made available on the 360 first. To sweeten the deal for 360 owners, a single map, called “Suburbs” will be an exclusive to the Xbox 360 version. This map will be available at the launch of the game, but won’t be available for anyone who purchases the game for the PlayStation 3. Homefront will be released on March 8, 2011, and will retail for $59.99. [via Joystiq]
|
| NASA Showcases Airplane Designs for 2025 Posted: 14 Jan 2011 11:09 AM PST With technology becoming more advanced every day, and even the way we build our vehicles getting better at a rapid rate, it’s no surprise to see some of the designs for what the future of airplanes may look like. NASA issued a request to Boeing, Northrop Gurmman, and Lockheed Martin to design what the airplanes of 2025 may look like, and all of the manufacturers came back with their own take on what the future of flight may look like.
The one you see above is the design that was issued by Lockheed Martin. The second one is from Boeing, with the final design from Northrop Gurmman. All of these new concept pieces utilize the stringent guidelines that NASA issued in the development process. NASA has requested that these planes of the future be able to travel up to 85 percent of the speed of sound, along with being able to cover a range of about 7,000 miles in a single flight.
These aircraft should also be able to carry anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 pounds of payload, whether that be passengers or cargo. Great ideas on paper, but we’ll have to wait and see if these designs can become a reality by the intended year.
[via DVICE]   
|
| TagCandy Uses Augmented Reality to Change the Way we Eat Candy [Video] Posted: 14 Jan 2011 10:52 AM PST Engineering students at Keio University’s Yasuaki Kakehi Laboratory in Japan have set their sights on candy. Using a sort of augmented reality, based on sound and sensors, the students have created a new way for people to eat, and enjoy, candy. With a demonstration on video, the students have high hopes for their device, which can give you the sensation of biting into an apple the next time you put a sucker in your mouth.
The device isn’t the smallest. The students are calling it the TagCandy system, and it works by sticking an actual sucker into the device. Once it is there, the sensors work together with the speakers to bring a whole new experience. As soon as the candy touches your tongue, the system will then kick in, and a vibration speaker will start the sensation of your choice. For example, other than the apple mentioned above, the system can give you the sensation of drinking a carbonated drink, or even fireworks going off in your mouth. When you bite into the sucker, bone conduction technology will give you other, unique sounds as well. The students aren’t finished aiming high, though. Their next trick is to make a sucker that doesn’t normally taste like anything, taste like whatever you want it to, based on the same technology. They envision people sharing their flavors online, too. Check out the video below to see the system in action. [via OhGizmo!]
|
| InteraXon Demonstrates Controlling an iPad with Your Thoughts [Video] Posted: 14 Jan 2011 10:38 AM PST There’s been gadgets in the past, that have allowed for an object to be controlled with our “thoughts,” thanks to a certain type of headband that we put on. And this new idea from InteraXon isn’t the first we’ve seen in the “mind-control” department for iOS-based devices. But, this isn’t the Canadian-based company’s first foray into the idea of thought-based actions making our every day usage of devices all that better, either. They first showed off their in-flight entertainment system, controlled merely by thought, last year. And now they’re setting their sites on the iPad.
InteraXon took some time at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to show off their latest concept design. The idea is that, by connecting a simple headband/headset to a person’s cranium, they’ll be able to control applications, and games, on their iPhone and iPad. The headset is a customized EEG headband, and the game that’s being shown off is a customized version of Zen Bound 2. The underlying “thought-controlling framework” makes it possible for someone to use their brainwaves to control the game. Like 3D in its current state, to really use the technology we’ll need to be wearing an accessory that, over time or in the process of doing something else, may not be the best bet. However, if you’re someone who’s been waiting to control things with their mind, this is the way to do it. Unfortunately, InteraXon’s idea is just a concept right now, but the company hopes to have it out to the masses before too long. [via MacStories]
|
| Sony NEX-5 Gold Edition Digital Camera Announced for Japan, Lands February 10th Posted: 14 Jan 2011 10:14 AM PST While February 10th may be a big date for a lot of people in the United States for another reason, those who find themselves in Japan on that date have something else to look forward to. Especially if they’re looking for a new camera that has a gold tint to it. Sony has recently announced the upcoming availability of a new, themed NEX-5 digital camera, showing off the brand new gold edition.
The NEX-5 series of digital cameras, featuring interchangeable lenses, is a popular camera around the world. Sony hasn’t changed anything other than the case, though. So the camera will still come with either a 16mm lens, or 18-55mm lens. As for the price, it looks like it will sell for around $1,150 when it launches on February 10th in Japan. There’s no word on whether or not the device will launch in other regions in the future. [via CrunchGear]  
|
| EA Announces Bulletstorm Demo Landing on Xbox LIVE and PSN January 25th Posted: 14 Jan 2011 09:50 AM PST Bulletstorm is one of those rare titles that, even if you see all the videos and read all the reviews on it, you still need to actually play it to get a sense of what the game is about, and why it’s so unique in its place amongst all of the other First Person Shooter (FPS) titles out there. From developer People Can Fly and published by EA Games, Bulletstorm is a shooter that mixes in over-the-top action, along with plenty of creative combinations that players can use to score points.
EA has officially announced that gamers will get their shot at trying out the game before it hits retail shelves in late February. The title will hit both Xbox LIVE Worldwide and Sony’s PlayStation Network in the United States on the same date: January 25th, which is a Tuesday. The demo will feature a single “snippet” of Echo Mode, which is a competitive addition to the title that will pit gamers against their friends, as they try to rack up the highest score. They’ll be able to do that with the “skillshot” system, which is a classy title for stringing together kills with over-the-top actions, and combinations. The demo will be made available for PlayStation Network users in Europe on January 26th. There’s no mention of a PC demo coming any time soon, unfortunately. The game will officially ship on February 22nd, 2011, and have a price tag of $49.99 for the standard edition. But, if you opt-in for the Epic Edition, you’ll have a chance to play Gears of War 3 online Beta. Full press release below. Press Release
|
| ScentSciences ScentScape Lets You Smell the Movies You Watch, the Videogames You Play Posted: 14 Jan 2011 09:13 AM PST Immersion is part of what makes movies, and some of the best videogames, so enjoyable. For however long, the audience is taken away from the normal, every day world, and transported somewhere else where, perhaps, anything is possible. That’s why some enjoy 3D so much, because it adds another level of that immersive element. But, 3D can only get you so far. If you really want to get yourself into a movie or videogame, then you’ve got to be able to smell the world around you. That’s where the Scentscape comes in.
The ScentScape is a simple unit that features a Plug-N-Play design from ScentSciences. The machine, coupled with the ScentEditor, will let you synchronize smells to your favorite movies, or your favorite videogames. You just store the scents in cartridges of 20, and you’ll be able to really enjoy your next movie or game. The cartridges are said to be able to last up to 200 hours. ScentSciences will even customize smells for you, as the company does personalized smells as well. There’s a rocker on the device that will let you increase, or decrease, the level of scent, too. ScentSciences has given the ScentScape device a $70 price tag, and the ScentEditor editing software is tagged at $20. The device is only compatible with Windows-based PCs: Windows 98, XP or 7, to be exact. If you head over to ScentSciences’ website, you’ll be able to get more detailed information about the device, and even put yourself on a “priority list,” where you’ll be considered more quickly than other folks to get your hands on the newest way to enjoy your movies and videogames. [via RedFerret]  
|
| Apple Counts Up to 10 Billion App Downloads, Offers $10,000 Gift Card as Thanks Posted: 14 Jan 2011 08:53 AM PST On April 10th, 2009, Apple started a contest for those who love the App Store, and downloading applications from it. They announced that they were catching up to the 1 billion downloads mark, and to celebrate the company wanted to hand out a $10,000 iTunes gift card, along with a few other prizes. On April 24th, they closed down the contest, as they officially passed the 1 billion downloads mark. Now, Apple is ready to celebrate again, as they’ve put up the app download counter again, this time tracking their arrival at 10 billion downloads. And once again, you could win if you’re lucky enough.
Just as the last contest outlined, the winner of the $10,000 iTunes gift card will have to be the person who downloads the application that marks 10 billion downloads from Apple’s App Store. To be eligible for the contest, you’ll need to be at least 13 years or older, and live in a country where the App Store operates. The iTunes gift card won’t be just for iTunes, either. If you do win, you’ll be able to spread that money around in the App Store as well. Head through the source link below to find the official rules of the contest, and more info. [via Apple]
|
| AT&T Nokia X7 could launch this month? Posted: 14 Jan 2011 08:08 AM PST Nokia’s leaky X7 smartphone has made another appearance, this time showing up in what looks like official render form. Still bearing AT&T branding, the shots passed to Pocketnow also came with word that the smartphone could arrive on the US carrier as early as this month.
We already know from the first leak that the Nokia X7 runs Symbian^3 on a 360 x 640 display, and has an 8-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash. A second leak revealed Nokia’s AT&T ambitions; the manufacturer had expressed a desire to make more of a splash in the US market with high-end devices back at Nokia World 2010, though it remains to be seen whether Symbian can woo buyers already endeared to iOS and Android.
|
| SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: January 14 2011 Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:57 AM PST Watch out for the law, it’s gonna git ya! A fellow who believes he and his brothers and sisters united in Android have been wronged by T-Mobile and Samsung – and what to Americans do when we’re wronged? File a class action lawsuit of course! On a different side of the world, the Android community is getting along a little better – see Japan build a human-sized android with an Android brain – and light-up eyes! Over on SlashGear we’re popping popcorn with lasers, feelin pretty healthy hosting a game of Call of Duty on a medical server, and rocking relatively hard with the amount of music-related posts we’ve got up – see if you can spot em! All this and MORE on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up! OH- and Wikipedia’s Jimmy Wales says App Stores are the worst!
R3 Media Network Editor’s Choice Android Community SlashGear To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]
|
| Macintosh Plus + iPad = Daft Punk alternative helmet [Video] Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:55 AM PST Daft Punk is well known for the eye-catching helmets that have become synonymous with the group itself, but that’s not to say a keen DIYer with an iPad and a hot-glue gun can’t compete. DJ Kid Chameleon has given up face recognition in favor of a home-made helmet that mixes a classic Macintosh Plus with an iPad faceplate and sound-activated LEDs.
Video after the cut
A custom video on the iPad, designed to be played in time with other A/V content at the set, was triggered by a Bluetooth keyboard, and the rest you can see in the video below. It’s the handiwork of Terrence Scoville, initially started as a sculpture class project, and now co-opted into musical duties. Click here to view the embedded video. [via Hack a Day]
|
| BlackBerry Storm 3 leaks with specs; to launch Q3 in Torch line? Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:49 AM PST Specs and details of the BlackBerry Storm 3 have leaked, suggesting that the full-touch RIM smartphone will pack a 1.2GHz processor and the highest resolution display on a BlackBerry to-date. According to BGR‘s source, the Storm 3 – which SlashGear has heard will actually launch as part of the Torch line – has a 3.7-inch 800 x 480 WVGA capacitive touchscreen, triband UMTS/HSPA and a 5-megapixel camera capable of 720p HD video recording.
There’s also WiFi b/g/n 2.5GHz and 5GHz support on the WiFi a/n bands, together with mobile hotspot functionality in BlackBerry OS 6.1. No word on where the processor is sourced from, but it will be paired with 8GB of storage for apps and data, and 512MB of RAM. Full specs are in the list below, but this is shaping up to be the handset BlackBerry users were hoping the first two Storm devices would be. Release is expected in September 2011, with 2-3 versions suggested for different markets.
|
| LG underwhelmed by Windows Phone 7 launch Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:29 AM PST LG has expressed disappointment in the market performance of Windows Phone 7, with exec James Choi revealing that while “from an industry perspective we had a high expectation, but from a consumer point of view the visibility is less than we expected.” Speaking to Pocket-lint, Choi – who is marketing strategy and planning director at LG – suggested that Windows Phone 7′s apparent simplicity might have led users to think it boring in comparison to iPhone or Android devices.
That simplicity, Choi insists, is what should make Microsoft’s platform a success. “What we feel is that it is absolutely perfect for a huge segment out there” he claims, “What we feel is that some people believe that some operating systems, mainly Google, are extremely complicated for them. But Windows Phone 7 is very intuitive and easy to use.” Choi predicts that WP7 performance will improve once manufacturers have mid- and entry-level devices on the market, though he wouldn’t be drawn on when exactly that might happen. Microsoft has declined to comment on customer sales figures, though did announce that it had sold 1.5m devices to vendors and operators.
|
| Alesis StudioDock for iPad turns tablet into pro-audio system Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:00 AM PST Alesis has unveiled its latest iPad peripheral, and if you’re a digital musician who likes using your fingers then the StudioDock might make a lot of sense. A universal docking station, the Alesis StudioDock offers twin 1/4-inch XLR inputs and twin XLR outputs, along with a headphone socket, video output and MIDI in/out. It’s designed to allow iPad music apps to connect with studio instruments as well as control external audio sources.
Each input has individual gain control and phantom power, and there’s a guitar-direct control allowing direct input to amp and effects apps. A footswitch control lets you trigger a feature without needing to take your hands off the instrument, and there’s USB MIDI support for hooking up a computer. The video output can hook up to a TV or projector, opening the door to A/V installation use, and Alesis reckon the StudioDock is built for stage use too. It reminds us a little of Freescale’s pro-audio Tablet Dock concept from last year, though this is something you’ll actually be able to buy come May 2011, priced at around $199.     [via UberGizmo]
|
| Spotify US plans perk with talk of Sony Music deal Posted: 14 Jan 2011 06:42 AM PST
Earlier this month, reports suggested that labels were demanding sizeable upfront payments, concerned that Spotify would fail to secure sufficient premium subscribers – who pay a monthly fee so as to avoid listening to adverts and to have access to higher-bitrate tracks – and thus not make as much money as paid-download alternatives like iTunes. Sources claimed that Spotify was considering axing US expansion plans, rather than risk their imminent profitability in the European market. The company has declined to comment on any specific deals that may be underway, though says that “negotiations are progressing well.” Spotify had originally intended to launch in the US in 2009, then missed their next self-imposed 2010 deadline.
|
| Android Froyo update progress rated: AT&T and Sony Ericsson slated Posted: 14 Jan 2011 06:31 AM PST Android 2.2 Froyo has been in the wild for months now, but there are still plenty of people out there waiting (im)patiently for their device to be updated. ComputerWorld decided to figure out the best and worse US carriers and manufacturers in 2010 based on their Froyo upgrades, and somewhat unsurprisingly it’s HTC and Verizon at the top of the pile.
At the bottom sit AT&T and Sony Ericsson, neither of which updated a single device in their range to Froyo. The ranking coincides with word that AT&T’s Dell Streak 2.2 update has again been delayed, while Sony Ericsson has admitted that it’s abandoned hopes to bring Froyo to the XPERIA X10, X10 mini and X10 mini pro. [via Android Community]
|
| HannStar Display president charged with LCD conspiracy Posted: 14 Jan 2011 06:04 AM PST
Apple, Dell and HP have all been impacted by the conspiracy, which kept artificially high the prices on laptop, desktop and mobile device displays. Ding Hui Joe faces fines of up to $1m and a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years if he is convicted; he is the 22nd executive charged. HannStar has separately agreed to pay $30m in fines for its part in the affair.
|
| Laser popcorn cooking is awesome (but time consuming) [Video] Posted: 14 Jan 2011 05:44 AM PST You’re desperate for popcorn, but you’ve only got a pair of Arctic Spyder III lasers to play with; can you still enjoy a movie theater style treat? According to WorldScott, the answer is yes, as long as you also have plenty of time on your hands or very little appetite. His video shows that with some patience – we’re talking kernel by kernel here – you can create popcorn using just the strength of the two high-powered lasers.
Video after the cut
It takes a couple of minutes, and involves balancing the kernel on a swivelling platter and keeping a steady hand, but it’s undoubtedly another important step in combining cooking and lasers. At $299.95 a piece, however, lasers probably aren’t the cheapest way to make a movie time snack. [via Twitter]
|
| Apple “A8″ processor & Qualcomm baseband for iPhone 5? Posted: 14 Jan 2011 05:30 AM PST With the Verizon iPhone 4 launch under our belt, talk turns to the iPhone 5, Apple’s fifth-gen smartphone expected to make its debut midway through 2011. According to Apple Daily, Apple has picked Qualcomm for its baseband chips, while Kinsus will supposedly supply not only the high-pass substrate, but a “new” A8 application processor.
At this stage it’s hard to tell exactly what that processor will mean. Although ARM produce the Cortex A8 platform of cores, it could also be an internal Apple name for a dual-core version of the existing Apple A4 chipset that powers the current iPhone 4 and the iPad, potentially pairing two of the A4 cores. Kinsus is tipped to be shipping the components to Apple later this quarter, ahead of a retail launch of the fifth-gen iPhone in late Q2 or early Q3 2011. Kinsus declined to comment on the report. [via DigiTimes]
|
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 05:09 AM PST A new digital audio player from iRiver has surfaced called the U100 and it looks pretty cool. The player is set to land in Korea later in 2011 and more players from the company will be coming. The U100 has a 3.1-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 480.
The internal storage of the DAP is up to 16GB with 8GB and 4GB versions offered as well. The device has WiFi and a microSDHC card slot for expansion storage. Other features include a FM tuner and support for most common file formats for audio, video, and photos. The U100 weighs 82g and measures 106 x 56 x 8.9mm thick and will have a battery good for up to 11 hours of playback. Pricing on the device and availability in other countries is unknown. Via Akihabara News
|
| White BlackBerry Torch headed to UK as Vodafone exclusive Posted: 14 Jan 2011 05:08 AM PST Vodafone UK has announced that it will be exclusively offering the white BlackBerry Torch 9800 in the UK. Listed as “coming soon” on Vodafone’s site, the handset will have the same functionality as the original black version – a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen and slide-out QWERTY keyboard – but come in a new, white casing.
There’s also a 5-megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth, along with GPS. RIM has also used the latest version of their homegrown OS, BlackBerry 6, which cleans up the UI nicely; you also get access to the BlackBerry App World download store. No word on pricing or availability at this stage, though the white Torch will only be released on Vodafone contracts, not PAYG. For more on the BlackBerry Torch, check out our full review.
|
| TeleNav GPS Navigator 6.2 Live Today on Android for ATT Posted: 14 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST Before we go too far into this, I must warn you, antsy fellows and ladies, that this only releases on AT&T Android phones today, but will expand to other carriers. This update of TeleNav for your handheld devices has several key upgrades: Multiple Route Suggestions, now with up to three different possible routes overlaid on the map with details included (distance, time.) Quick Search, a feature with which users can touch the Quick Search box on the home screen to type a landmark, category, business name, or address, this search including predictive search technology.
Next is Speech Recognition, an expanded feature that works at a button click from the home page and includes many commands including phrases such as "How's the weather?" or "How's traffic?" Map Overlays, present in the Multiple Route Suggestions feature in addition to other places, gives you one-click options to layers of information on the map screen like locations of traffic cameras (my Grandma would love this) and traffic flow. Expanded POIs, or Points of Interest have been added to the database, having now more that 22 million US business locations, historical landmarks, airports, and just about any other sort of place. Take a peek at a demo here: And have another peek at an overview of 6.2 here: Finally have at the gallery of screenshots from the new version of the app then read over the full press release below. Do it!           
|
| Liquid Image unveils new Impact Series HD camera goggles Posted: 14 Jan 2011 04:58 AM PST Liquid Image has been making goggles for scuba drivers for a long time now that have an integrated video camera in them to film the underwater wonders divers see for us land locked folks to enjoy. The company has announced a new line of goggles aimed at the off roader that wants to record their riding or skiing prowess.
The goggles are in the Impact series and come in black or red offerings. A small 1080p resolution video camera sits in the middle of the goggles right above the bridge of the nose. The camera has a 136-degree field of view and the thing can take still shots at 12MP resolution as well. The video recording in 1080p resolution is at 30 fps and if you cut back to 720p resolution, the camera can record at 60 fps for slow motion playback. Video is stored to a microSD card up to 32GB and it includes a microSD card with 4GB of storage.
|
| Medical server hacked to host Call of Duty Game Posted: 14 Jan 2011 04:47 AM PST A radiology physicians group in New Hampshire has some explaining to do today after one of its servers was hacked by a group to play a nice online game of Call of Duty Black Ops. The problem for the medical company comes in that the server hosted private health information on 230,000 patients.
With the strict rules that govern the storage and data security around health care information, this doctors group may soon be sued into oblivion. The hackers that used the server are the target of a very intense investigation to catch the person or persons that gained access to the server. According to reports, investigators believe that the hackers were located in Scandinavia and they used the bandwidth of the server to play the game. It's not clear how the link to Scandinavia was made. The breach was made public on November 12 when a server admin noticed a reduction in bandwidth and the company has no idea how long the hackers had been inside the server before they were discovered. The security flaw that allowed the hackers access has been fixed. I would really hate to be that server admin. Via The Register
|
HannStar Display president Ding Hui Joe 
| You are subscribed to email updates from SlashGear To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar