- Speck Debuts new Covers and Sleeves for the MacBook Air 11” and 13”
- Official IRS App for iOS and Android
- “Touch the Magic” as Disney launches its own Android phone
- State of the Internet 2010
- iPhone 4 Class Action Lawsuit after “Glass Gate”
- George Lucas Mines Star Wars Movies for Last Scrap of Un-merchandised Content in “Frames”
- Coconut fiber concept iPad case straight out of Gilligan’s Island
- AT&T grabs #1 spot from Verizon as nation’s largest carrier
- Verizon iPhone – New pre-order details available
- Lenovo and NEC team up for PCs and smartphones
- More Action And Fewer Cutscenes In Video Games, Please
- Double USB – It goes both ways
- Netbook shipments expected 18% decline
- Sony NGP to come in 3G and WiFi-only versions
- Verizon HTC Thunderbolt to do simultaneous voice & 3G data?
- SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: January 27 2011
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play caught in wild
- Pandora open-source console goes on general sale
- Qualcomm First Quarter Results Report $1.17 Billion in Net Income, Up 39% Compared to Last Year
- OWC Media Center bundle turns Mac mini into a home entertainment system
- Facebook denies HTC phone rumors
- Skype for Mac drops beta, charges for group video calls [Video]
- Nokia “must build, catalyse or join a competitive ecosystem” says CEO
- Verizon HTC Android phone latest to leak
- RIM insists “no possibility” of BlackBerry backdoor for India
- Assero Defender will make you look like an asshat
- Apple will support TD-LTE standard says China Mobile
- AT&T finances: 4.1m iPhones & 442k tablets activated
- Trimble Ranger 3 rugged outdoor computer debuts
- Yahoo Mail gets YouSendIt integration
Posted: 27 Jan 2011 03:36 PM PST Speck launched three new products for the just released MacBook Air for those who want to protect it while keeping it looking light and sleek. All three products will be available for the MacBook Air 11" and 13".  The PixelSleeve Air is a tight fitting sleeve that wraps your MacBook Air in a textured neoprene exterior with a soft micro-fleece interior. Featuring Speck's trademark pixel-pattern design on the outside giving it grip and style, the PixelSleeve Air has also been made zipper-free so that it's airport security friendly. The PixelSleeve Air will be available in February in Black, Aubergine, and Peacock for $34.95 MSRP The SeeThru and SeeThru Satin Cases are two piece cases that snap onto your MacBook Air giving you a tight fitting hard shell protection. The minimal design offers access to all the port areas and access to the back/hinge area. The four rubberized feet on the bottom help keep your laptop in place as you open and close the screen. The ultra thin plastic doesn’t add bulk to your MacBook Air while providing protection. The sleek and shiny SeeThru is available in Clear right now, with additional colors Cobalt and Rasberry available in March. The SeeThru Satin has a frosted look with a soft-touch rubber coating that still allows the Apple logo to shine through. The SeeThru Satin is available in Black right now, with additional colors Aubergine, Mango, and Peacock available in March. Both are $49.95 MSRP   [Via BusinessWire] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:16 PM PST  If you’re wondering where your tax dollars are going, you can now rest assured that some of it has gone to a mobile app developer. The Internal Revenue Service is now offering an app named IRS2Go that will track your federal tax refund.To access your information you will have to enter your social security number. Here’s how it works from the IRS: First, taxpayers enter a Social Security number, which is masked and encrypted for security purposes. Next, taxpayers pick the filing status they used on their tax return. Finally, taxpayers enter the amount of the refund they expect from their 2010 tax return.After the above, you’ll be able to access the status of your refund and check it at leisure while on the go. The app should work within 72 hours of receiving confirmation that the IRS received your return. The app is available for download for both Android and iPhone users. [Via The OC Register] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 01:16 PM PST Details have come out for Disney's new phone it plans to debut next month in Japan. The phone looks like a Sharp Galapagos 003SH powered by a Disney themed version of Froyo version 2.2 of Google's Android.  The Disney phone packs a 3.8 inch screen with some sort of 3D capability, a 9.6-megapixel camera, possibly TV tuner, and an app that puts the popular sticker booth in your hand as it lets you add bows and cat whiskers onto your own original photos. The phone has plenty of Disney exclusive features such as live wallpapers that change depending on your time zone, Disney emoticons to impress your friends, and seven different Disney designs: Disney castle, Minnie Mouse plant print, Minnie Mouse polka dot, Star white, and mouse-patterns in pink, white, and gold. The phone is only available in Japan and is not planned for a US release. [Via Android Community] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 12:54 PM PST The chart is self-explanatory. Social networking and online media dominate. See the whole chart after the break.  - 20 million Facebooks apps installed every day. Getting a lot of work done? - 2 billion videos watched on YouTube per day - 89% of all e-mails sent were spam - 25 billion Tweets sent in 2010  [Via Focus] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 12:37 PM PST  There have been many complaints about the fragility of iPhone 4′s glass casing. So much so that the phenomenon is now termed “Glassgate.” Earlier this week Donald LeBuhn, of Los Angeles, filed a class action lawsuit against Apple. He claims that the iPhone 4 is not as durable as Apple claims and that Apple continues to sell the product without warning customers of its defective glass housing.LeBuhn had spent $252 in September for his new iPhone 4, but within three weeks, the glass broke after his daughter accidentally dropped it from about three feet off the ground while sending a text message. A similar accident happened when he used to own an iPhone 3GS, but the glass on that phone did not break after the drop. Apple is marketing the strength of the iPhone 4 as being "20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic" and is “ultradurable” and crafted from the same type of “glass used in helicopters and high-speed trains.” LeBuhn feels that these claims are false and is asking the court for Apple to refund the price paid for the iPhone 4 to everyone in the class action lawsuit and to reimburse repair fees. [Via TheNextWeb] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 12:37 PM PST Just kidding, there’s infinite content inside a universe that parallels our own, of course, and George Lucas will keep mining Star Wars until the end of time (even beyond his God-given human life.) Today there’s a collection of Star Wars memorabilia unlike (to our knowledge) anything those people at the Star Wars camp have ever offered before. This is “Star Wars: Frames,” a high-end celebration of exactly 1,416 frames from the 6 live-action Star Wars films. Every single one of these frames has supposedly been hand-picked by George Lucas himself, and each set comes hand-signed by big L as well.  This set is limited edition – can you guess the number of sets that have been made? That’s right, 1,138 numbered and signed wood boxes filled with the 6 books in the edition have been created and can be yours for the low low price of $3,000. The box has a Darth Vader seal on one side and a Yoda seal on the other, the wood case is art deco inspired, and each set comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by George Lucas himself. This project began all the way back on September 9, 2005, when George and his pals Mike Blanchard and J. W. Rinzler (an interesting fellow in his own right) all sat down in an editorial suite at Skywalker Ranch and began selecting images. Two of three times a month, every month, until July 11th, 2008, these three dudes were selecting frames from the films. After that, more than 2 years were required to “solve all of the production challenged presented by the project’s exacting requirements.” Take a peek at this official info on the case and the medallions surrounding the books: Constructed from premium hardwoods, this limited edition case measures approximately 25″ X 14″ X 13″ with an extended base. The case features intricate wood inlays from a combination of Padouk, Meranti, and Bubinga, against a hardwood frame of Rubberwood. The finish is an environmentally sensitive water-based product, which provides exquisite luster and enduring protection. This case has outer pocketing to accept the full-relief sculptures of Darth Vader and Yoda, which were created exclusively for Star Wars: Frames. The books inside the case are accessed by means of an innovative spring-loaded storage and retrieval system.Sound pretty good? I think so. Time to bust out the ol’ pocketbook and sell a few automobiles and laptops – this set will run you a cool 3 g’s: Star Wars: Frames [$3,000] Run out and buy it now! Or actually just go to the official site and buy em all up. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 12:01 PM PST This concept from Econut takes the cake as being the most green gadget accessory. The concept case is made from coconut fibers and allows you to slip your iPad in, prop it up and use the built in keyboard with the device.  After using the case, you can simply give the case back to nature as it seems to be biodegradable. The design is stylish and clean and would make the Professor from Gilligan's Island quite proud.The video indicates the case will come in five stylish colors; white, yellow, green, red, and black. So if the designers ever do get the case into production, expect plenty of Prius drivers to be carrying them around. [Via Yanko Designs] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:28 AM PST AT&T added 2.8 million new customers in the past quarter and became the largest carrier in the U.S. with 95.5 million subscribers, squeaking past Verizon's 94.1 million. The question is how long can AT&T sustain its lead as Verizon's much hyped iPhone is debuting in two weeks?  Verizon became the largest carrier two years ago and leapfrogged AT&T with its acquisition of Alltel. Since then Verizon has had no close competitors, even with AT&T's iPhone monopoly the company could not catch up until now. AT&T activated 4.1 million new iPhones this past quarter, but I expect Verizon's iPhone numbers to be strong as well and will probably re-take its former pole position. [Via Slashgear] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:19 AM PST There is word over at MacRumors forums that Verizon has begun sending out information to their corporate customers containing some exclusive details about the upcoming iPhone launch. It seems that they will be offering the Verizon iPhones at a first come first serve basis to their existing customers on February 3rd, a week before the general public launch. Details from the email shown after the break.  From the email: - Make sure you have your My Verizon self-serve account set-up online. Orders can only be placed through your my Verizon account. You can register/setup your account at… https://myaccount.verizonwireless.com/accessmanager/public/controller?action=displayRegistrationInventory is limited and once gone, customers will have to wait till the February 10th public launch date. They also offered AT&T iPhone customers a trade-in-for-credit opportunity. Their rates listed below: iPhone 2G – 16GB: $60[Via MacRumors Forum] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 10:58 AM PST During a news conference earlier today, Lenovo CEO announced that they are forming a joint venture with NEC to focus on increasing sales of personal computers in Japan. With the market focused on mobile products, the joint venture has expressed interest in pursuing developments in that arena as well.  The joint venture will be in the form of a new company called NEC Lenovo Japan Group, with Lenovo owning 51 percent of the company and NEC the rest. The deal is considered a win-win. Lenovo is the world’s no. 4 computer maker and NEC is Japan’s most popular PC brand. Together, they can outpace global market growth, breakthrough the Japanese market that is usually resistant to foreign brands, keep pace with Taiwanese rival Acer, and also scale up or diversify into other services. Beyond PCs, it is likely that the new team effort will venture into developing, producing, and selling other devices especially in the mobile arena such as tablets and smartphones. Lenovo CEO was quoted by Reuters to suggest that smartphone development was definitely in their near future. [Via ZDNet] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 10:30 AM PST Video games are more like movies than ever before. Studios are spending boatloads of cash to get epic games on store shelves, and along the way, they're making stories more engaging and dramatic. A key component in a developer's ability to create a more cinematic experience is the use of cutscenes. Just about every game nowadays starts out with a cutscene to break gamers into the title and ends with a cutscene to close out the story. Most titles also have scenes sprinkled throughout to add a bit more color.  I've always been fond of cutscenes. I enjoy the opportunity to learn more about characters than I otherwise would without cutscenes, and I typically find them useful for relaxing my hands or running to the kitchen to get a drink between the action. But there is a limit to what I'm comfortable sitting through. As anyone who has played Metal Gear Solid titles knows, cutscenes can be a nightmare. Games in that franchise make you sit for an inordinate chunk of time listening to characters interact on topics you just don't care about in most cases. I'm fine with the few seconds, and can even live with a cutscene that lasts a few minutes. But once a game hits the 10-minute threshold, I've checked out. And I'm left wondering why I didn't just watch the shows I had DVR'd rather than sit through the typically boring cutscene. Realizing that, I wasn't too happy to hear that Dragon Age 2 might be overrun with cutscenes. In fact, the BBFC in the UK revealed this week that the title will have 103 minutes of cutscenes when it launches. Maybe it's just me, but having 103 minutes of cutscenes in a video game sounds excessive. When I play a game, I've made the conscious decision to not watch a movie or television show. I've decided I want to do something active while I sit on the couch rather than shovel popcorn into my mouth. I don't want to think that I'll have the opportunity to actually play Dragon Age 2 and then get stuck sitting through several cutscenes as the finite amount of time I have each night to play a video game ticks and tocks away. If Dragon Age 2 had about 30 to 40 minutes of scenes, I'd be happy. But once a title hits over an hour and goes to nearly two hours, I'm annoyed. Believe it or not, I'm not impatient. I simply feel that nearly two hours of cinematic content over the course of the several hours the game lasts will take me out of the experience of playing the title. Worst of all, so much cutscene content could make the game feel choppy. So, let's hope Dragon Age 2 offers the ability to skip scenes. If not, I doubt I'll complete it. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 10:10 AM PST Inserting a USB connector is generally a fairly simple task. But there’s always that little pesky split second you spend checking which side is on top. Now considering how many devices these days rely on us plugging and unplugging their USB connectors, we are possibly wasting loads of time each day. This problem may now be solved should the Double USB design from Yanko be adopted as a standard.  Yanko Designs has offered up another beautifully simple solution. The Double USB features two contact layers that expand and contract freely and hence would fit in either direction. When inserted, regardless which orientation, one of the contact layers will be pushed in allowing the right one to make contact.  [Via Yanko Designs] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 09:41 AM PST Tablet PCs are elbowing out netbooks according to a report put forth by DRAMeXchange in Taiwan. The forecast predicts that netbook shipments in 2011 will decline 18% to about 27 to 28 million units with primary growth only to remain in emerging markets.  While the netbook still has a cost/performance advantage, the shift in media exposure since telecommunication carriers are now redirecting their attention from netbooks to tablet PCs keeps the spotlight on the latter. However, it is believed sales in emerging markets should see growth since the $550 to $650 price point for tablet PCs is less affordable. Although many Chinese white brand netbook vendors are now shifting towards manufacturing tablet PCs, some still believe that Netbooks will retain their own niche market. Asus just launched the Eee PC 1015PW and expects to introduce 3 to 4 more new netbook models. [Via ConceivablyTech] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 09:11 AM PST The Sony NGP may have a significantly more impressive spec sheet than its PSP predecessor, but there’s still confusion as to whether all versions of the console will have integrated 3G connectivity. While it’s on the spec sheet alongside WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, SCEE president Andrew House told Eurogamer that there will be 3G and non-3G versions of the NGP.  “The first thing to clarify, which I’m not sure the presentation did a perfect job of doing today, is that all of the devices will have Wi-Fi capability” he explained, while “a separate SKU will have 3G.” That would certainly help keep the cost of what – given the high-res OLED display and quad-core CPU – is likely to be a reasonably expensive handheld down, as well as give buyers wary of a 3G contract a way to avoid that. However, confusing matters is an ITMedia tweet suggesting that all of the Japanese NGP versions will indeed have 3G. Now, it could be that Sony plans to only offer 3G SKUs there – perhaps with some sort of bundled data package – or it could be a mistake. We’ll hopefully find out more before the NGP launches later in 2011. [via Joystiq] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:51 AM PST The Verizon iPhone 4‘s inability to do simultaneous voice and 3G data is still one of the key differentiators between it and AT&T’s GSM version, but it seems not all Verizon smartphones are created equal. According to a purported leak from inside the carrier and passed to Phandroid, the upcoming HTC Thunderbolt will actually support simultaneous voice and 3G data; however, it’s not something we should expect to hear Verizon making much noise about.  According to the leak, Verizon “cannot promise the experience will be one that is consistent with [the] brand” and so are advising sales people to “not reference this functionality as a benefit during your conversations with customers.” As sales strategies go this seems somewhat bizarre, but we can understand Verizon not wanting to overshadow its other devices – including the new CDMA iPhone – with a single HTC handset. [via Android Community] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:40 AM PST Let’s take a look at a few statistics before we begin a day of releases and leaks, shall we? First, AT&T finances reveals that thus far, 4.1m iPhones & 442k tablets have been activated. Then, Qualcomm First Quarter Results Report reveals $1.17 Billion in Net Income, that being up a whopping 39% since last year. Next, there’s some big reveals coming your way from Sony: Sony PlayStation Suite & PS Store for Android gaming and Sony NGP is "next generation portable" PSP2. Looks like a day for gaming if you ask me. How about one from the makers of Final Fantasy – Square Enix announces Crystal Defenders for Android. That font treatment remind you of anything? It’s squaring up to be a colorful day here on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up!  R3 Media Network Editor’s Choice NOOKcolor firmware v1.1.0 adds pinch-zoom, more Sony PlayStation Suite brings gaming to Android Official Android 3.0 Honeycomb Logo Revealed Square Enix announces Crystal Defenders for Android [FINAL FANTASY FOREVER] HTC smartphone caught in wild ahead of MWC 2011 debut SlashPhone Sony Confirmed Bringing PlayStation Suite for Android Smartphone Google US Accepts Mobile Number Porting to Google Voice Service Samsung Galaxy S 2 Unveiled on MWC Android Community HTC Verizon smartphone latest to leak Awesome Super Mario Android wallpaper NOOKcolor firmware v1.1.0 adds pinch-zoom, more Android app for ATM repair techs launches Square Enix announces Crystal Defenders for Android HTC smartphone caught in wild ahead of MWC 2011 debut Sony PlayStation Suite brings gaming to Android Official Android 3.0 Honeycomb Logo Revealed SlashGear Pandora open-source console goes on general sale Qualcomm First Quarter Results Report $1.17 Billion in Net Income, Up 39% Compared to Last Year OWC Media Center bundle turns Mac mini into a home entertainment system Facebook denies HTC phone rumors Skype for Mac drops beta, charges for group video calls [Video] Nokia "must build, catalyse or join a competitive ecosystem" says CEO Verizon HTC Android phone latest to leak RIM insists "no possibility" of BlackBerry backdoor for India Assero Defender will make you look like an asshat Apple will support TD-LTE standard says China Mobile AT&T finances: 4.1m iPhones & 442k tablets activated Trimble Ranger 3 rugged outdoor computer debuts Yahoo Mail gets YouSendIt integration Parrot names Horizon Hobby as distributor for AR.Drone in the US and Canada Tesla launches battery recycling program in Europe iKit AutoCharge + USB keeps USB gear powered on the go MSI GT680R-008US Gaming Notebook uses Sandy Bridge Nokia market share drops; needs to "change faster" says new CEO SAVANT unveils new 16-channel multi-room amp called AMP-1640 Scosche flipSYNC II keychain charge cable ships New HTC Android phone caught in wild: HTC Desire replacement? PS3 update v3.56 released; blocks unofficial firmware Renesas 16MP smartphone SoC does Full HD, 15fps stills Ballistic trots out new cases for Droid X, HTC Evo, and Samsung Fascinate Sony's first bizarre NGP PSP2 trailer revealed [Video] Everything Everywhere contactless phone payments due Q2 2011 in UK Hulu facing free show cull as "virtual cable operator" plans considered Motorola sales dip under Verizon iPhone 4 pressure MacBook Pro stock shortage could point to imminent Sandy Bridge refresh Sony unveils 82-strong NGP studio support list Sony PlayStation Suite & PS Store for Android gaming Sony NGP is "next generation portable" PSP2 To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:36 AM PST It’s obviously the day for unannounced smartphones to get caught in the wild. After a duo of HTC devices were spotted, it’s the turn of Sony Ericsson’s well-leaked XPERIA Play – aka the PlayStation Phone – which is currently considered a lock-in for MWC 2011 next month. A SlashGear tipster sent in this shot of Sony Ericsson’s gaming handheld being thumbed on the Tube.  According to the tipster, the XPERIA Play was being publicly manhandled in London; they were too coy to interrupt and ask for some playtime of their own, but they did snap a sneaky photo of the sliding smartphone. The handset has a 4-inch 854 x 480 resolution touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread; we’ve also heard separately that it will launch on Orange UK, though we don’t know if it will be a carrier exclusive or not. After today’s Sony NGP launch, meanwhile, we also know that the XPERIA Play – while seemingly not getting PlayStation branding – will get access to the PlayStation Suite, Sony’s new gaming platform and PS Store for titles that run on Android phones. That’s expected to be populated with PSOne classics initially, though Sony is also inviting Android game developers to have their titles certified and included in the on-device download store. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 07:46 AM PST Like the idea of Sony’s NGP but not the closed ecosystem? Pandora is now offering its open-source Pandora console for general sale, promising a seven day turnaround on the $499.99 clamshell. Your money gets you a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen display, QWERTY keyboard, dual analog sticks, an ARM Cortex A8 CPU and PowerVR SGX graphics.  The NGP may have a quad-core, Cortex A9 heart and a larger, higher resolution display, but the difference is that you can buy the Pandora now whereas Sony’s machine isn’t expected until the end of the year. There’s a lot more flexibility in the Pandora too, assuming you’re the sort of person who likes tinkering with open-source software. Therein, of course, lies the main difference between Pandora and more mainstream consoles from Nintendo and Sony: the target audience. The NGP is more powerful and the 3DS supports 3D, but neither offer the out-of-the-box flexibility of their compact rival. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 07:36 AM PST Miraculous. Qualcomm, the folks that bring you Snapdragon chips, the ones going in basically every big-name superphone coming out in the near future. In addition to their First Quarter Results showing a 39% increase in Net Income when compared to exactly one year ago, their Non-GAAP Revenues have gone up 25% as well over the past year, from $2.67 billion to $3.35 billion. Massive amounts of cash flying around here. Why have profits increased so much at this time when smartphones are taking over the mobile market? Why, that’s both the question and the answer, of course!  In the conference call surrounding this report, Qualcomm EVP Steve Mollenkopf told investors who were invited to listen in that they’ve currently got “more than 150 Snapdragon devices in development, including more than 20 tablets.” And what of the reported deal Qualcomm recently signed off on with Apple for both iPhone 5s and iPads? Paul Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm only had one comment having anything to do with Apple: “We’re happy to see the Verizon iPhone announcement since it’s been the subject of intense speculation, but we have no other comments on that topic.” Does this mean they’ll be waiting to reveal the truth or falseness of the situation until Verizon and ATT work with Apple to release the 5th generation phone? Who knows? Take a look at the full press release below: Qualcomm Announces Record First Quarter Fiscal 2011 Results Revenues $3.3 Billion, EPS $0.71 Non-GAAP EPS $0.82The above report is truncated somewhat due to the immense size of its entirety – see the full PDF of the report [here] – Qualcomm Official, where you can also access the investor call. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 07:36 AM PST Want a new, OS X based media center experience but can’t be bothered putting it all together yourself? OWC is pleased to exchange your money for convenience with the OWC Media Center Solution for the 2010 Mac mini, comprising a pre-upgraded Mac mini, up to 12TB of storage in an external RAID 5 enclosure, various digital TV tuner options and Plex preinstalled.  Plex is a free media player app that allows you to use either an Apple remote or an iOS device running the free controller software to record live TV and manage a library of downloaded and ripped content. In fact, with OWC’s setup you can apparently easily rip DVDs to the Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 RAID enclosure. Availability is pegged for the end of January, with OWC planning to announce pricing at the same time. Options will range from 4TB – up to 2,045hrs of DVD-quality footage – to 12TB – 6,145hrs – and OWC will also offer Blu-ray too. Press Release: OWC Unveils Industry's First Plug And Play Three Screen Home Theater Media Center Solution For 2010 Mac mini At Macworld Expo 2011 Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 07:03 AM PST  Facebook has denied reports that HTC is making a Facebook-branded smartphone, with a spokesperson suggesting “the rumors around there being something more to this HTC device are overblown.” According to Dan Rose, Facebook’s head of business development, the speculation is simply over-assumption based on “just another example of a manufacturer who has taken our public APIs and integrated them into their device in an interesting way.”As for whether the HTC device – which is expected to be announced among a range of handsets at MWC 2011 next month – would be Facebook branded, Rose was even more blunt. “No” he told reporters at an event in London this week. Although Facebook phone rumors have persisted for some time now, this latest batch suggested that HTC would produce two devices for the social network, offering support for Facebook Voice calls and putting the news page on the homescreen. The devices were expected to be Android-based, and SlashGear has heard separately that at least one would include a physical QWERTY keyboard. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 06:53 AM PST Skype has stripped the beta label from its Skype for Mac app, and in the process made group video calling a premium – i.e. paid – feature. $4.99 gets you a day’s use of group video, or there’s a monthly subscription for $8.99. Meanwhile, Skype has also slimmed down the UI and stuffed more of IM conversations into the screen at any one time.  There’s also the return of full-screen video calls, and an easily revealed chat pane for when you’re in the midst of them. The new UI changes are welcome, certainly, but group video calls going premium will be a disappointment to many. You can download Skype for Mac here. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 06:41 AM PST Nokia needs to “change faster” to keep up with the cellphone market, CEO Stephen Elop has admitted, but it’s his ecosystem comments during the company’s financial results call that have tongues wagging. The Nokia/Android/Windows Phone 7 speculation has proven sturdily resilient to common sense and the Finns’ own denials, and Elop’s suggestion that Nokia “must build, catalyse or join a competitive ecosystem” is unlikely to do much bar fueling the rumors.  “Nokia must compete on ecosystem to ecosystem basis. In addition to great device experiences we must build, catalyse or join a competitive ecosystem. And the ecosystem approach we select must be comprehensive and cover a wide range of utilities and services that customers expect today and anticipate in the future” Stephen Elop, CEO, NokiaAt face value, that could certainly be interpreted as a sign that Nokia might consider lending its much-appreciated hardware skills to producing a device running something other than Symbian or MeeGo. The CEO’s specific focus on the US market, meanwhile, could also lend weight to that. ”Whatever the strategy is we outline on February 11,” Elop continued, “we very clearly [must ensure] that it will give us the opportunity to reopen markets such as the U.S. and some others, where we have not recently been present.” For a company that strives to be so self-contained, though, persisting with Symbian while readying MeeGo devices still looks the most likely route. Nokia’s “competitive ecosystem” could well refer to Intel’s low-power Atom platform, or a more general indication that it intends to compete in the smartphone chipset arms-race which currently dictates the US handset market. We’ve already seen suggestions that the company is working on a high-powered MeeGo tablet based on dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processors; that would give the company an admirable spec-sheet that could take on any rival. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 06:25 AM PST Short of only making a single prototype and sewing it into Peter Chou’s trouser pocket, we’re not sure what HTC could do to stop its smartphones leaking and spoiling the surprise come launch day; still, if they didn’t we wouldn’t get premature glimpses of models like this Verizon slab from the mobile01 forums. Hot on the heels of the potential Desire replacement from earlier today, this Verizon-branded model is also expected to run Android.  On the back is a protruding camera and dual-LED flash, together with some angular molding that looks a lot like that of the Verizon DROID Incredible. Meanwhile the front reminds us of the HTC 7 Trophy. Full details are likely to come through at MWC 2011 in Barcelona next month, assuming HTC doesn’t spring another leak before then. Reach for the needle & thread, Peter, we say.  [via Android Community and via Engadget] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 06:07 AM PST RIM has told the Indian government that there is no way that it can supply covert access to encrypted emails sent using BlackBerry smartphones, in the process risking finding its service in the country cut off over security concerns. The denial is the latest in a back & forth battle between the Canadian company and the Indian security forces, over concerns that BlackBerry phones will be used by terrorists and dissidents to communicate, and RIM’s persistent claims that a monitoring system would be technologically infeasible.  “There is no possibility of us providing any kind of a solution,” RIM vice president Robert Crow insists, “there is no solution, there are no keys to be handed.” Instead, Crow suggests, individual Indian companies would have to hand over their own encryption keys to the government. Still, there are hopes that India’s security forces will be content with the BlackBerry messenger access RIM has already granted. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:52 AM PST I really like my iPad. I do worry that I will drop it and crush the screen sometime, but that worry isn’t strong enough for me to wear something like this new iPad holder called the Assero Defender. It looks like one of those baby carriers that some people carry infants around in.  This contraption is sort of like a backpack that you can wear on your chest. It has a flip down flap that the iPad is mounted on that you can unzip for access to your iPad while standing without having to hold the iPad. The downside is that this is one of the geekiest (and not in a good way) things I have ever seen. It will also cost you $130 despite the fact that it makes you look like a real ass-ero. Via CrunchGear Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:44 AM PST With the iPhone, now hitting Verizon with CDMA support and the device being on 3G networks around the world there are other carriers using different standards that want the iPhone too. In China, the iPhone has been offered for a while now on China Unicom.  Unicom runs on the 3G global standard and is not the largest carrier in the country. The largest carrier is China Mobile, which uses a different standard called TD-SCDMA and will use TD-LTE for its next gen standard. According to China Mobile chairman Wang Jianzhou Apple has committed to supporting TD-LTE. China Mobile has been working with Apple for years trying to get Cupertino to build an iPhone supporting TD-SCDMA. The pledge for support of the next generation TD-LTE format brings new expectations of Apple perhaps offering an iPhone for the Chinese carrier that will support the current 3G network. Via Reuters Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:38 AM PST AT&T has announced its financial figures for Q4 2010, and the carrier has been buoyed by strong iPhone and tablet activations. Wireless revenues as a whole are up 9.9-percent, aided by 4.1m iPhone activations in the three month period, along with 442,000 tablet activations. We can’t credit the iPad for the entireity of that figure, however, since it also includes Android slates like the Galaxy Tab.  In total, 2.8m wireless customers joined the network, for a total of 95.5m altogether, and data revenue climbed by more than a quarter versus the same period a year ago: up 27.4-percent to $4.9bn. Based on that, says CEO Randall Stephenson, AT&T has “accelerated our LTE deployment plans, and we expect to add 20 4G devices to our lineup this year.” Of the tablets – which the carrier describes as “a new growth area” – nearly 90-percent were bought with prepaid tariffs. AT&T makes no mention of the fact that it is losing exclusivity of the iPhone come February, when Verizon will begin to offer the Apple smartphone. Press Release: AT&T Reports Record 2.8 Million Wireless Net Adds, Strong U-verse Sales, Continued Revenue Gains in the Fourth Quarter Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:22 AM PST  Trimble has announced a new rugged outdoor computer called the Ranger 3. The computer is made for people that work outside in harsh environments like surveying, construction, forestry, and a lot more. The Ranger 3 has a sunlight readable VGA resolution display.It runs Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro and meets military specs for ruggedness. It has an IP67 rating and is sealed against water with the ability to survive in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. The Ranger 3 has integrated GPS, a 5MP camera, and a 1D laser barcode scanner. The device also features 3G access, WiFi, Bluetooth, and more. Internal storage is 8GB of flash memory and it has a Cortex-A8 processor. The device will ship in February at an undisclosed price. The Ranger 3 has integrated GPS, a 5MP camera, and a 1D laser barcode scanner. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:07 AM PST  If you have ever needed to send a large file to someone and your email account is too slow you may have gone searching for an alternative to email for big attachments. This is how I came across YouSendIt a long time ago. The service lets you upload a file to their servers and send a link to the person that needs the file so they can download it.Typically, this involves you heading over to the YouSendIt site to send the files. YouSendIt and Yahoo have teamed up to offer direct access to YouSendIt file uploading from within Yahoo Mail. The integration allows Yahoo mail users to upload files up to 100MB in size. The YouSendIt app uses the APIs from Yahoo Mail and the Yahoo Applications Platform. It integrates seamlessly with the Yahoo Mail inbox making it easy to upload files without having to go anywhere else. Users can also get tracking and more security using the paid premium version from within their mailbox as well. Relevant Entries on SlashGear |
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