Senin, 28 Maret 2011

What's new on SlashGear.com

What's new on SlashGear.com

WebSockets, Faster, Cheaper Protocol

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:18 PM PDT

WebSockets is a new protocol that allows for real-time communication. It piggybacks along a regular HTTP request and opens up a bidirectional data link. Every time we open up a broswer we innundate our networks with HTTP requests. Most of us don’t even notice we’re opening these kind of requests. Even if it’s a transparent window through to the internet, most of us don’t even realize that we’re spending most of our time on the browser, transmitting every little piece of date through port 80.

This technology allows for faster, up-to-the-second communication. Kaazing, the company who has taken up the WebSockets flag, has deployed the technology to help keep certian types of time-critical financial data flowing. Here is an application, developed in WebSockets, that continually updates stock market quotes. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to check it out. Chrome, Firefox 4, and Opera all have WebSockets support built in, IE needs an add-on.

Here’s a quick demo video showing another application that this technology can be used for. This is 8 separate computers displaying Google’s WebGL aquarium demo. The displays are staying synchronized through WebSockets.

Reducing kilobytes of data to 2 bytes is more than “a little more byte
efficient”, and reducing latency from 150ms (TCP round trip to set up the
connection plus a packet for the message) to 50ms (just the packet for the
message) is far more than marginal. In fact, these two factors alone are
enough to make WebSocket seriously interesting to Google.

It’ll be interesting to watch the further development and deployment of this protocol. They seem to have something going here with efficient data transport. Though it seems like they need to work on some security issues.

[via Technology Review]

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T-Mobile Talks to it’s Customers About Merger

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:55 PM PDT

In a press release Friday, Jim Alling, T-Mobile Chief Operations Operator, answered some of the questions we’d seen posed by the community in the wake of the biggest news this week. In a press release sent to “Dear Valued T-Mobile Customers”, Alling assuaged the fears and lauded the benefits of the merger. From a purely technical standpoint it’s going to be a great move for the US wireless network, if everything goes well during the regulatory and review process over the next year, there’s going to be a double-thick wireless network from the overlapping mesh of LTE towers all under AT&T’s hand.

There have been dark rumblings from those use T-Mobile about only having a year for their G2x’s. This isn’t going to be a technical issue. With both companies using SIM cards and with the merger going down over the course of a year. AT&T and T-Mobile will both be working together to ensure that customers will have no trouble migrating their devices over to AT&T’s network. Anything else just doesn’t make much sense. You might not even have to change your SIM card. I kept my Cingular SIM card for multiple years after their merger with AT&T. It worked the whole time, it just drew a lot of jibes from the salespeople whenever I got a new phone. Really, LTE devices are LTE devices, and most of the integration of the network is going to happen on the back-end.

Q: Will I have to upgrade my T-Mobile 3G/4G device after the acquisition closes?

A: T-Mobile has no plans to alter our 3G / 4G network in any way that would make your device obsolete. The deal is expected to close in approximately 12 months. After that, decisions about the network will be AT&T's to make. That said, the president and CEO of AT&T Mobility was quoted in the Associated Press saying "there's nothing for [customers] to worry about… [network changes affecting devices] will be done over time… "

[via T-Mobile]

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iPad 2 Arrives at Radio Shack TOMORROW

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:25 PM PDT

That’s right all you crazy iPad 2 seekers who still haven’t been able to purchase the wildly popular tablet computer, you’ll get your chance tomorrow when Radio Shack has the slate available at 500 locations across the USA. You’ll only know if your store will be carrying the tablet if you call, but for those that do, you can rest assure that they’ll have at least ONE tablet in stock. Beyond that, not much else is known! What we DO know is that some of these locations will sell out instantly while others (like the ones up here in Minnesota) will have their whole stock in stock forever.

This comes after Apple “struggled” to keep their stock up during the first days of the iPad 2 launching across the nation. Yours truly stood in line at the Mall of America for just about an hour to get the tablet, during that time the AT&T and Verizon versions selling out completely while the Wifi-only editions remained in high stacks. During this time, every single model was pushed back several weeks for shipping if you purchased the tablet online.

On the other hand again, Radio Shack will be glad to take your order bright and early tomorrow morning, having completely hidden this release until now, the day before launch. On top of that, they’ve done absolutely no pre-orders and no public holds on the tablets. Limits! Man! Limits!

Here’s a question for all of you: do you own an iPad 2? Will you be getting one? Did you want one but were unable to pick one up yet, and plan on flying your feet out to Radio Shack tomorrow to swipe one up? Or maybe you just want to go to Radio Shack and hang out for fun?

[via MacRumors]

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Nokia Culls Symbian, Gently

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:16 PM PDT

Every big player threw their towel in behind one of the operating systems being developed for handheld devices. It just hasn’t been until now that the big guys have really gone down for the count, or has he? Nokia confirms that their smartphone OS, Symbian, will be going the way of OS/2 Warp, BeOs and Meego. But never fear, they are legally obligated to provide support for at least the next couple of years, which means by the time anyone notices, you’ll already have a new Windows Phone in your hands.

Though Symbian’s run on the US market was less than successful, Nokia is planning on taking the graceful way out. They don’t have much of a choice as they have the OS version of child support to pay out. They write in their letter, “As a very minimum, we have a legal obligation, varying in length between countries, to support users for a period of time after the last product has been sold.” So if you’re reading this clutching your Symbian device in rage, don’t worry. They have to help you out while you have your phone. But if you’re a company that spent a significant amount of money training your software engineers to design for Symbian, pivot and start releasing a lot of apps targeted for China, India, Russia and Turkey, where Symbian is still king of the market.

But, this round of devices is the last that will be using Nokia’s Symbian. Their partnership with Microsoft upset Intel’s apple cart, turning MeeGo into naught but an ill-fated linux distro with a really weird GUI. Nokia will be slowly migrating over to the Windows Phone. I just hope it doesn’t have a start menu.

[via i-programmer]

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Artificial Leaf to Cheaply Provide Power For Developing World

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 11:57 AM PDT

Yesterday we came to another major breakthrough in technology that’s going to bring us a future without dependence on petroleum fuels. Last week we talked about a breakthrough in nanotech-batteries that charge in a fraction of the time needed for conventional batteries. Yesterday, scientists at the 241st Meeting of the American Chemican Society released details on a new design, an advanced solar cell married with fuel cells. Instead of transforming sunlight into stored sugars for a plant’s metabolism, the artificial leaf uses the energy to transform water into hydrogen and oxygen for later combustion.

Daniel Nocera is the MIT chemist responsible for this amazing piece of technology. He says of this.

Nature is powered by photosynthesis, and I think that the future world will be powered by photosynthesis as well in the form of this artificial leaf.

Researchers claim that this device could power a home in the developing world. Wired UK reports that the scientist has negotiated with Tata Group of India to produce a power plant smaller than a car. Should we think of that like an artificial tree? Nocera said, “One can envision villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology.” This deal is slated to wrap up late 2012.

[via Wired UK]

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Intel 320 Series SSDs debut: up to 600GB

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:44 AM PDT

Intel has announced its latest SSD range, the 25nm-based 320 Series, replacing the existing X25-M and slashing prices by up to $100. Available in 40-, 80-, 120-, 160, 300- and 600GB capacities, the third-gen SSDs more than double sequential write speeds as well, up to 220 MB/s sequential writes, together with up to 270 MB/s sequential reads.

Unlike the SSD 510 Series, the 320 Series uses a 3Gbps SATA II interface rather than 6Gbps. The 320 Series is priced at 40GB at $89; 80GB at $159; 120GB at $209; 160GB at $289; 300GB at $529 and 600GB at $1,069 (in 1,000-unit quantities).

Press Release:

Intel Announces Third-Generation SSD: Intel® Solid-State Drive 320 Series

Features Enhanced Performance/Reliability, Larger Capacities
and 25nm Intel® NAND Flash Memory

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
• Third-generation Intel® SSD 320 Series on 25-nm NAND flash memory offers 40-, 80-, 120-, 160-GB plus higher capacity 300- and 600GB options.
• Advanced architecture enables robust, reliable SSDs with enhanced security features for desktop/notebook PCs or server data center storage.
• Performance, reliability upgrades enhance solid line of high-performing SSDs with up to $100 price drop over current Intel® X25-M SSD model.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 28, 2011 – Intel Corporation announced today its highly anticipated third-generation solid-state drive (SSD) the Intel® Solid-State Drive 320 Series (Intel® SSD 320 Series). Based on its industry-leading 25-nanometer (nm) NAND flash memory, the Intel SSD 320 replaces and builds on its high-performing Intel® X25-M SATA SSD. Delivering more performance and uniquely architected reliability features, the new Intel SSD 320 offers new higher capacity models, while taking advantage of cost benefits from its 25nm process with an up to 30 percent price reduction over its current generation.
"Intel designed new quality and reliability features into our SSDs to take advantage of the latest 25nm silicon, so we could deliver cost advantages to our customers," said Pete Hazen, director of marketing for the Intel Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Solutions Group. "Intel's third generation of SSDs adds enhanced data security features, power-loss management and innovative data redundancy features to once again advance SSD technology. Whether it's a consumer or corporate IT looking to upgrade from a hard disk drive, or an enterprise seeking to deploy SSDs in their data centers, the new Intel SSD 320 Series will continue to build on our reputation of high quality and dependability over the life of the SSD."
The Intel SSD 320 is the next generation of Intel's client product line for use on desktop and notebook PCs. It is targeted for mainstream consumers, corporate IT or PC enthusiasts who would like a substantial performance boost over conventional mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs). An SSD is more rugged, uses less power and reduces the HDD bottleneck to speed PC processes such as boot up and the opening of files and favorite applications. In fact, an upgrade from an HDD to an Intel SSD can give users one of the single-best performance boosts, providing an up to 66 percent gain in overall system responsiveness.1
The Intel SSD 320 Series comes in 40 gigabyte (GB), 80GB, 120GB, 160GB and new higher capacity 300GB and 600GB versions. It uses the 3 gigabit-per-second (3gbps) SATA II interface to support an SSD upgrade for the more than 1 billion SATA II PCs installed throughout the world. Continuing to offer high-performing random read and write speeds, which most affect a user's daily computing experience, the Intel SSD 320 produces up to 39,500 input/output operations per second (IOPS) random reads and 23,000 IOPS random writes on its highest-capacity drives. In addition, the company has more than doubled sequential write speeds from its second generation to 220 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) sequential writes and still maintains one of the highest read throughputs at up to 270 MB/s sequential reads. This greatly improves a user's multitasking capabilities. For example, a user can easily play background music or download a video, while working on a document with no perceivable slow down.
Already one of the most solid-performing SSDs over time, Intel continues to raise the bar on SSD reliability in the way it has architected its third generation, using proprietary firmware and controller, to further demonstrate that not all solid-state drives are created equal. In this rendition, Intel creatively uses spare area to deploy added redundancies that will help keep user data protected, even in the event of a power loss. It also includes 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard capabilities on every drive, to help protect personal data in the event of theft or loss.
"Solid-state drives continue to be one of the hottest trends in computing," said Bernard Luthi, vice president of marketing, Web management and customer service at leading e-retailer Newegg.com. "Intel remains a top brand because of its consistent performance and extremely low return rate. We are sure customers will welcome the new higher capacity drives, and now is a great time for consumers to upgrade their PC to a fast new SSD."
Intel SSD 320 prices, based on 1,000-unit quantities, are as follows: 40GB at $89; 80GB at $159; 120GB at $209; 160GB at $289; 300GB at $529 and 600GB at $1,069. Check retailers/e-tailers for consumer pricing. All models include a limited 3-year warranty from Intel.
"With recent announcements, we have expanded our SSD product line and now offer both consumers and computer OEMs more SSD choices," said Tom Rampone, vice president and general manager, Intel NVM Solutions Group. "We see the Intel SSD 320 as a solid advancement to our SSD roadmap, and will continue to upgrade and refresh our SSD product line as we add more enterprise options for our business customers throughout the year."
Another benefit for Intel SSD purchasers is the Intel® SSD Toolbox with Intel® SSD Optimizer, a free utility which provides Microsoft Windows* users with a powerful set of management, information and diagnostic tools to help maintain the health and out-of-box performance of the drive. To help ease the installation process, all Intel SSD users can download the free Intel® Data Migration Software to help clone the entire content of a previous storage drive (SSD or HDD) to any Intel SSD.
Intel SSDs can be purchased in the United States from such retailers as Best Buy or Fry's Electronics, plus a variety of resellers, retailers or Internet e-tailers such as Newegg.com or Amazon.com worldwide. To download the multimedia press kit go to www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/ssd. A special enterprise addendum for data center customers and more information on Intel SSDs can be found at www.intel.com/go/ssd. Follow Intel SSDs on Twitter: @intelssd, Facebook: Intel Solid State Drive (Official) or communities.intel.com.

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WWDC 2011: All Software focus and Hardware no-show?

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:26 AM PDT

Apple officially announced WWDC 2011 earlier this morning, and now the dates are confirmed the attention has turned to what surprises the company may have up its collective Cupertino sleeve. The WWDC 2011 invite promises “a preview of the future of iOS and Mac OS X” which certainly implies iOS 5.0 and OS X Lion will make more than an appearance, but what about the iPhone 5?

Last year, Apple used WWDC 2010 to officially announce the iPhone 4, prompting speculation that the company will unveil the fifth-generation smartphone at this year’s developer event. Meanwhile, we’re also expecting to see a third-generation iPad later in the year, complete with a higher-resolution display amid other changes. Finally, mid-2011 might be around the time that high-end users are calling out for a Mac Pro refresh; the last significant update was back in September 2010.

However, various sources are suggesting that the software-themed event won’t be the time for shiny new hardware. The Loop has heard from sources that it’s definitely software-only, which might mean the iPhone 5 has to wait a little longer; after all, it’s not been long since the Verizon iPhone 4 went on sale.

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Amazon “digital locker” cloud aiming to overshadow Apple and Google?

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:45 AM PDT

Apple, Google, and now Amazon – all tipped to be racing to offer their own “digital locker” services for users to store their digital media online and then stream it to mobile devices. According to CNET‘s sources, Amazon could announce a cloud-based storage system for music, video and ebook content as early as this week, despite not apparently having all the necessary licenses in place.

Amazon already keeps online backups of Kindle users’ ebooks, and its S3 server business would make it an obvious choice for cloud services. Meanwhile there’s the Amazon Video on Demand service for streaming TV and movies.

According to the sources, Amazon would allow users to store content not bought from its own store, believed to be the strategy that has delayed Google’s launch of a similar service. Apple, meanwhile, is expected to announce a heavily cloud-based update to iOS and OS X in the coming months.

[via Gizmodo]

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HTC Desire S Review

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:10 AM PDT

The original HTC Desire became one of the most popular Android smartphones of 2010, a compelling balance of screen-size, functionality and pricing that convinced us in our review and continued to convince buyers throughout the year. Now, HTC is back with the follow-up, the HTC Desire S. Question is, with dual-core Android phones already on the market, does the “S” stand for “sequel” or just “surpassed”? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

The original Desire was HTC’s own-brand version of the Nexus One, the first Google Phone; since then, Google has partnered with Samsung on the Nexus S, leaving HTC to follow its own path with the Desire S. Smaller than the Desire, at 115 x 59.8 x 11.63 mm, and 5g lighter at 130g, the Desire S borrows the unibody stylings of the HTC Legend, with a wraparound fascia/backplate inset with soft-touch matte plastic camera and battery sections.

Up front is a 3.7-inch Super LCD display running at WVGA resolution, the same number of pixels as the Desire but not AMOLED like the original. Underneath are the usual home, menu, back and search keys, now touch-sensitive rather than physical buttons, but thankfully still in the same order as on the Desire. No optical trackpad, however, with precise cursor control taken care of with the on-screen magnifier. Above the screen there’s an LED indicator light, along with a front-facing VGA-resolution camera for video calls.

On the left edge there’s an easily pressed volume bar, together with a microUSB port for charging, while the top edge has the power/lock button and a 3.5mm headphone jack. As well as the camera, there’s a speaker on the upper back panel; the lower panel pulls off to reveal the SIM slot and microSD card slot, along with the easily-accessed 1,450 mAh battery.

It’s a very successful design, hitting the aesthetic points with the matte finish and discrete splashes of chrome, along with satisfying usability. The slight “HTC chin” makes it easier to pull the Desire S from a pocket, while the lens for the 5-megapixel autofocus camera (paired with a single LED flash) is ever so slightly recessed so as to avoid scratching when placed on a table. In the hand it feels solid and creak-free, more premium than the plastic-backed Desire. It’s hard not to imagine that this could have been the design for the second Nexus, had Google stuck with HTC as a hardware partner.

Inside, there’s Qualcomm’s single-core 1GHz MSM8255 processor, the same “Scorpion” chipset as powers the Desire HD and Incredible S. As with both those phones, the Desire S gets 768MB of RAM (along with 1.1GB of internal storage), 50-percent more than you’d find in the Desire. Connectivity includes dualband HSPA/WCDMA along with quadband GSM/EDGE, together with WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1. There’s also GPS, a g-sensor, digital compass, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor.

Software

Unlike the Incredible S, the HTC Desire S will hit the market running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread, the first of HTC’s phones to launch with the latest iteration of the platform. On top is HTC Sense, the company’s combination UI, widget suite, app platform and online cloud system, and a newer version to what you’ll find on the Incredible S.

Without looking at the system info page it’s hard to spot the transition to Gingerbread, so thorough is HTC’s reskin. As for Sense, you still get seven homescreens and various eye-catching widgets to fill them with, but now the menu draw is paginated into grids rather than free-scrolling. The Car Panel (a finger-stab scaled UI for using the Desire S while driving), Connected Media controller, Flashlight, FriendStream (for pulling in Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates), HTC Hub, Locations, Peep (HTC’s own Twitter client), the Teeter game, Weather app and WiFi Hotspot app are all preloaded as normal, but now you also get a Mirror app which basically turns on the front-facing camera and turns your smartphone into a replacement for a pocket mirror. Still, we know plenty of people who check their hair and makeup using the shiny, reflective surfaces on their phones, so perhaps HTC is onto something.

HTC Desire S demo:

The pull-down Android status bar keeps the useful list of recently-used apps running along the top, but adds a new tab at the bottom of the notifications section for Quick Settings. That has checkboxes for WiFi, Bluetooth WiFi Hotspot, GPS and Mobile Network power, along with a shortcut to the full settings menu. It’s a great use of the space, and saves the homescreen from being cluttered with power widgets. In the call options you can have the Desire S automatically reduce the ringtone volume when you pick up the handset, automatically set it louder when the phone is in a pocket or bag, and automatically switch on the speakerphone when the phone is flipped over.

Flash Player 10.2 is supported, which means in-browser video streaming, animations and games. As with the Incredible S, the Desire S struggled with 720p HD video playback, warning that the video had not been optimized for mobile viewing and dropping frames (over a fast WiFi connection, not 3G) throughout the clip. However, the end result was still watchable, with no audio glitches.

There’s no TV or film streaming, nor OnLive gaming service, as will debut on the Flyer tablet. While HTC has said other devices will get those services in time, it’s yet to confirm which models exactly. No telling, either, whether the Desire S’ processor will be capable enough to run them (HTC has used a single-core 1.5GHz chip for the Flyer). Therein lies the flipside of the processor argument: a single-core 1GHz is sufficient today, but it’s harder to judge whether it might be up to scratch twelve months into the average two-year agreement, when the next OS update and batch of chipset-intensive apps are out.

Also missing is the HTC video call app shown alongside the Desire S’ launch at MWC 2011 last month. In fact, out of the box there’s no video calling functionality; instead you’ll have to look to Skype or another third-party app in order to take advantage of the front-facing camera. Still, thanks to HTC’s Hub – which includes a download store for the company’s own apps – we imagine video calling can be added in later when it gets its official release.

Camera

Having been impressed with the 8-megapixel camera on the Incredible S, we had similarly high hopes for the Desire S’ camera. Unfortunately it’s not quite the same all-rounder. Stills are noticeably grainier, though still fair for a 5-megapixel unit, but macro shots are poor. While the Desire S shares the same touch-to-focus as the Incredible S, it simply couldn’t lock onto close-up subjects in the same way. Images generally can be blotchy and fuzzy, lacking detail in wider scenes, though mid-range subjects look good. The VGA front camera produces, unsurprisingly, rubbish stills.

Video fares better, with 720p HD on the Desire S coming through reasonably jerk-free, and as long as your pans are slow’n'smooth there’s only minimal tearing. The same touch-to-focus system can be used during video recording, automatically adjusting exposure and contrast as well, though there’s the same slight lens jump as the Incredible S displayed.

HTC Desire S 720p HD video sample:

Incidentally, while there’s no shortage of sharing options, HTC’s gallery shows one odd frustration by lacking a share button when you’re actually viewing a photo. The menu key pulls up slideshow, media streaming, “show on map”, photo details and options to set the image as wallpaper or something else, but if you want to send it as an email attachment or some other route, you need to back out and long-press on the thumbnail to get the “Share” command.

HTC would do well to consider adding a dedicated camera button, and there’ll be those who wish the Desire S had an HDMI output. Instead you get DLNA streaming support. In short, it’s the same passable camera that the original Desire had, good enough for casual, everyday use but not – unlike the better smartphone optics we’re seeing – something you’d want to replace your dedicated camera with.

Phone and Performance

As a phone, the Desire S proved capable; callers had no issues with audio performance, and we were able to hear them loud and clear through the earpiece. The speaker could do with being a little louder, mind. Reception was a step up from the last-gen hardware; compared to a Nexus One on the same network, the Desire S managed to cling more tenaciously to a signal in a known poor coverage area.

While having two cores in your smartphone is likely to be the fashionable push in 2011, the Desire S is ample evidence that a good balance of hardware and software can deliver a polished user-experience without demanding the fastest (and most energy-guzzling) chip around. Interestingly, despite having the same chipset/RAM as the Incredible S, the Desire S only scored 1147 in Quadrant benchmarking; the Incredible S managed 1559. Nonetheless, the 1GHz Snapdragon proved enough to keep the smartphone moving on at a fair lick, with apps loading with little in the way of delay.

Battery

HTC quotes up to 435 minutes of WCDMA talktime (up to 590 minutes GSM) or up to 455 hours of WCDMA standby (430 hours GSM) from a full charge of the 1,450 mAh battery. In practice, with push Gmail turned on, and a mixture of browsing, messaging, some photography and a couple of short calls, the Desire S ran for a full day. Less intensive use and you could probably extend that into a second day, though if you’re a fan of streaming media then you’ll likely discover that has a particularly large impact on battery life. Still, the smaller display than the Incredible S and Desire HD pays dividends.

Wrap-Up

Back when we reviewed the HTC Desire, almost twelve months to the day, the smartphone was at the cutting edge of Android devices. Tagging on the coat-tails of the Nexus One, it closely followed Google’s example of a sizable screen, fast processor and up-to-date software, shaping up as a solid all-rounder.

The Desire S launches into a very different market, one where 4-inch screens and larger are common, where dual-core processors are appearing among the high-end devices, and where expectations of Android are greater than ever. In that line-up, the Desire S is no longer the HTC flagship but its solid, mid-range phone: the handset for the everyman (or indeed everywoman) rather than an aspirational phone for bleeding-edge early adopters.

To meet that brief it has to be even more consistent, even more complete, something that all users can get to grips with. On that front HTC’s mixture of preloaded apps hits most of the key areas, video calling aside. The Sense UI is easy to navigate and, with these latest tweaks, not lacking in functionality, while the online suite of location-tracking, sync and remote access services flesh out the Android experience in a way neither Google nor any other OEM producing Android phones delivers.

The lingering question is “what’s next?” and with dual-core devices already on the market (though not, yet, from HTC itself) the Desire S goes up against faster, more future-proofed smartphones. Those cautious early adopters may do better waiting for the HTC Pyramid, expected to not only double the cores but throw a higher-resolution, qHD display into the mixture as well.

Still, the Pyramid will be expensive, and the good thing about the Desire S is that its midrange focus should mean a reasonably affordable price tag. At the beginning we asked if the “S” in HTC Desire S stood for “sequel” or “surpassed”, but in fact it’s more likely for “solid” – reliable hardware, well-crafted software, and on track to be another HTC best-seller.

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T-Mobile and AT&T 4G for Dell Streak 7 after unlock

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:04 AM PDT

Good news if you’ve got a T-Mobile USA Dell Streak 7 and would rather use it with AT&T. According to StreakSmart, when unlocked the T-Mobile version of the Android tablet actually packs support for not only T-Mo’s 4G HSPA+ network, but AT&T’s as well. That means high-speed data on both GSM carriers, thanks to the Streak 7 quietly including a radio that works with both 1700/2100MHz (AWS) and 850/1900MHz.

You’ll need to pay for an unlock code at this stage – UnlockStreak gets recommended, for $49 with a 1-3 day turnaround – since there’s apparently no free unlock system yet, but if you’ve been eying AT&T’s HSPA+ enviously then you might not be too upset about that. More on the Dell Streak 7 in our full review.

[via Android Community]

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American Express Serve digital payments service launches with Android/iOS apps

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:45 AM PDT

American Express wasn’t planning to sit around watching rivals like MasterCard ink deals for new electronic payment systems; instead, it has come out with its own system. American Express Serve uses Android and iOS apps to manage a digital account, rather than tying it to a single debit card, allowing for online purchases, bill payments and person-to-person transfers.

Interestingly, multiple sub-accounts can be set up from the one main Serve account, and access to these given to partners, children, colleagues or friends. As you’d hope, you can set up various levels of “spending profile” to limit exactly how much can be taken from your account. There’ll also be a physical card on offer, using American Express prepaid plastic linked to the Serve account and valid anywhere that already accepts AE.

Ticketmaster, Concur and Flipswap have all signed on as launch partners, and Serve will hit the US from today and then other international markets through 2011. As for user fees, there’ll be a 2.9% + 30c/per load charge (discounted to 0% for cash, debit and ACH) for adding money into a Serve account, which American Express is waiving for the first six months, and a $2 ATM cash withdrawal fee (with one free withdrawal per month).

Press Release:

American Express Announces Serve(SM), the Next Generation Digital Payment Platform

Serve Offers Person-to-Person, Online, Mobile, and Traditional Card Capabilities in a Single Account

NEW YORK, March 28, 2011 –
American Express today unveiled Serve(SM), a digital payment and commerce platform that gives consumers a new way to spend, send and receive money with services that go beyond the existing global payment networks.

With Serve, consumers can make purchases and person-to-person (P2P) payments online (serve.com), via mobile phones, and at millions of merchants who accept American Express cards. Serve unifies multiple payment options into a single account that can be funded from a bank account, debit, credit or charge card, or by receiving money from another Serve account.

Serve is an easy-to-use, digital alternative aimed at consumers who currently rely on cash, check and debit card. Serve accounts can be accessed via Serve Apple iOS and Android applications, at Serve.com and through Facebook. Through Serve, American Express aims to expand into new segments of the market that do not rely on traditional charge and credit cards to manage their day-to-day finances.

"Serve is a new type of payment platform that isn't tied to a single card or mobile operating system. It's a flexible, easy to use platform, which from day one brings tremendous assets to the alternative payments space and gives consumers an option to shop on-line and off-line at millions of merchants who accept American Express," said Dan Schulman, Group President, Enterprise Growth, American Express.

"We intend to quickly evolve the Serve platform by adding new features and functionality as we learn from consumer and merchant experiences. To encourage a broad cross-section of people to experience the benefits and convenience of Serve, we are working with a range of partners to integrate Serve as a payment method and deliver customized offers, and we will waive most consumer fees for the next six months," said Mr. Schulman.

How it works
Consumers set up an online account at Serve.com or through a smartphone app. Funds can be added from bank accounts, debit cards, credit and charge cards, or other Serve accounts. Customers can use those accounts to send and receive money to friends, pay bills and make purchases online. Serve bridges online and offline commerce – each customer will be issued a Serve reloadable prepaid card linked to their Serve account that can be used at any merchant or ATM that accepts American Express cards.

Unlike traditional debit card accounts, Serve offers users the ability to easily create, manage, and specify sub-accounts for their friends, family members or colleagues. Sub-accounts are linked to the master account and allow users to set spending profiles for everything from children's allowances to dog walker fees.

The Serve platform evolved from technology obtained through the acquisition of Revolution Money in early 2010.

Serve is available immediately to anyone in the U.S. and is expected to launch into other international markets over the coming year. American Express will continue to evolve the features and functionality of Serve based on market feedback. To gain consumer and merchant insights about Serve and to help shape upcoming releases, a marketing pilot will also be conducted in Eugene, Oregon.

Partnerships
While payments are the foundation of the Serve platform, American Express is also announcing a number of partners who will use the platform to deliver relevant offers that drive spend and build loyalty. Three of the first partners are Ticketmaster®, Concur® and Flipswap.

"A cornerstone of the long-term vision for Serve is developing partnerships with commerce, gaming, entertainment, and social networking organizations," said Mr. Schulman. Partnerships, with players such as Ticketmaster, Concur and Flipswap will introduce Serve to new customers and help build scale. These companies have loyal communities of customers, and we are thrilled to partner with them as we grow and expand Serve’s reach."

Ticketmaster will offer Serve as a platform for customers to make and collect payments toward ticket purchases from other customers. Concur will utilize Serve as an expense management and reimbursement method for transactions processed via Concur's small business expense reporting service, Concur Breeze. Flipswap will utilize Serve to issue refunds more quickly to consumers who sell or trade in their old mobile and cell phones for reuse or recycling.

Details around these and a number of additional partnerships will be announced over the coming months.

Giving Back Widget
Serve is also partnering with five major charities – Autism Speaks, Best Friends Animal Society, Malaria No More, Save The Children and Stand Up For Kids – to enable each organization to raise funds via a donations widget. Widgets can be downloaded on Serve.com and at facebook.com/paywithserve, and shared on other Web sites, including Facebook, to encourage donations. Serve will match all contributions via the widget up to $100,000 for each charity.

In the coming months, Serve will offer selling widgets that give customers the ability to sell items through their own social networks.

Highly Competitive Fees Waived for Launch
Serve consumer fees will be highly competitive. There are only two fees for consumers and we are waiving the fee to put money into the Serve account for the next six (6) months. The two fees are:

Putting money into a Serve account: 2.9% + 30c/per load, discounted to 0% for cash, debit and ACH.
ATM cash withdrawal (after first one each month free): $2.00
Unlike some other products in the market, Serve has no fees to open an account, no monthly fees, no fees for P2P transactions, no fees to set up sub-accounts (up to four accounts) and no fees to use the widgets.

Merchants who accept American Express cards will pay a prepaid discount rate for transactions made both in stores and online with a Serve prepaid card.

Investor Conference Call – Live Audio Webcast
A conference call with members of the investment community will be held today March 28, 2011, at 11:00 am EDT. The call will be hosted by Dan Schulman, Group President, Enterprise Growth, American Express.

Live audio of the conference call will be accessible to the general public at http://ir.americanexpress.com. A replay of the conference call will also be available at the same Web site address.

About Serve
Serve, by American Express, is a next generation payment platform designed to deliver emerging payments and services to address the changing ways consumers interact and exchange money — with one another — as well as merchants. Learn more at serve.com and connect with us on facebook.com/paywithserve and twitter.com/serve.

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Apple WWDC 2011 dates confirmed: Promises preview of iOS 5.0 and OS X Lion

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:08 AM PDT

Apple has confirmed the dates for WWDC 2011, the company’s annual developer conference. As expected, WWDC this year will kick off on June 6 2011 at Moscone West in San Francisco, bringing together iOS and Mac engineers and developers.

Among the focus this year will be coding for Mac OS X Lion, the next significant update for Mac on the desktop, which itself is expected sometime over the summer. There’ll also be the usual attention paid to iOS, as on the iPad 2 and iPhone; Apple is expected to preview iOS 5.0 complete with new cloud-services and streaming media.

Tickets for WWDC 2011 are available now, with the show running from June 6 to June 10. They’re priced at $1,599.

Press Release:

Apple Worldwide Developers Conference to Kick Off June 6 at Moscone West in San Francisco

CUPERTINO, California—March 28, 2011—Apple® today announced that it will hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June 6 through June 10 at San Francisco's Moscone West. At this year's five-day conference Apple will unveil the future of iOS and Mac OS®, including exciting demonstrations of the new kinds of apps that developers can build using Apple's advanced frameworks and more than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers.

"At this year's conference we are going to unveil the future of iOS and Mac OS," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "If you are an iOS or Mac OS X software developer, this is the event that you do not want to miss."

Mobile developers will be able to explore the latest innovations and capabilities of iOS and learn how to greatly enhance the functionality, performance and design of their apps. Mac® developers will see and learn how to develop world-class Mac OS X Lion applications using its latest technologies and capabilities. Developers can even bring their code to the labs and work with Apple engineers, applying development techniques and best-practices to enhance their apps.

Activities at Apple's WWDC 2011 include:

more than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers on a wide range of technology-specific topics for developing, deploying and integrating the latest iOS and Mac OS technologies;
over 1,000 Apple engineers providing developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques, and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS and Mac OS technologies in their apps;
the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iPad®, iPhone® and Mac developers from around the world; and
Apple Design Awards which recognize iPad, iPhone and Mac apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.
Go to the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2011 website (developer.apple.com/wwdc) to purchase tickets, as well as for updates and more information.

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Pioneer unveils new SE-NC31C-K noise cancelling headphones

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:54 AM PDT

Pioneer has unveiled a new set of earphones that are noise cancelling. Generally active noise cancellation earphones are the large over the ear style, but the SE-NC31C-k headphones are in-ear style. The earbuds have 14.2mm drivers and various adapters to allow you to use them with all sorts of devices.

The earphones get power for the active noise cancellation features with a single AAA battery. That one battery can power the headphones for 120 hours of music. The noise cancellation feature can also be turned off or bypassed when the battery is dead.

Pioneer ships the headphones with an in-flight plug adapter, interchangeable ear tips in four sizes, and a carry pouch. The cord is 4.6-feet long and the earphones sell for $99. You can order them right now and Pioneer promises that they cancel up to 90% of external sounds.

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DIY 3D disposable camera hack proves duct tape really can do just about anything

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:43 AM PDT

Never doubt what a geek with some time on his hands can pull off. Apparently, there are still some uses for film cameras today like the disposables you see below grafted together with duct tape. According to the project page if you tape them together just right you can get a really cool effect.

The superimposed images will be 3D apparently. I can only assume this has something to do with pulling the negatives out of the cameras and overlaying them. It sounds really complex to me, but it’s cool nonetheless.

I wonder why you couldn't take a pair of cheap digitals and tape them in this same manner. The digital images would be a lot easier to overlap in Photoshop to get 3D style. That still sounds complicated though.

[via Neatorama]

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Hyper Touch Guitar has no strings attached

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:31 AM PDT

The guitar is one of the coolest musical instruments around. You can get all sorts of guitars from toys to game controllers up to the real thing for musicians to use. This new concept product is called the Hyper Touch Guitar and it looks like a mash up between a video game controller and a real guitar.

It has no strings on it and uses a multitouch screen that allows the player to change how many strings or frets the guitar would have. The number of customization options for the guitar is vast and the player can use one guitar for a bass, a 6-string, or a 12-string I guess.

That concept looks really cool too with a carbon fiber design on the body. The designer is Max Battaglia. I wonder if this will ever become a real product.

[via YankoDesign]

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iPad and iPad 2 card reader does CF and SD cards

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:19 AM PDT

If you are a photographer that has an iPad, you probably have one of the card readers that allows you to plug your SD card into your iPad. If you use a DSLR that is more aimed at the pro shooter, your camera might use CF cards instead of SD cards. There are several SD card readers for the iPad, but not CF users have been pretty much out of luck.

A new card reader that will work with the iPad and the iPad 2 has surfaced called the 3-in-1 Camera Connection Kit. You can use the adapter to transfer the images from your digital camera to the iPad as well. The adapter is a bit larger than the official Apple Camera Connection Kit, but it does have a USB port.

The adapter will support all UDMA and non-UDMA CF cards and offers write speeds of up to 133MB/s. You can buy the adapter at MIC Gadget for $29.90 right now. You can see it in action in the video below.

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Time Warner Charges $16.4M to man for Sweet 16 coverage

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:59 AM PDT

I bet that most basketball fans out there gladly pay a bit extra to be able to get coverage of all their favorite teams during the NCAA Sweet 16 finals. One man paid Time Warner cable for the privilege of watching the games and Time Warner tried to charge him $16.4 million.

Apparently, Daniel DeVirgilio got a notice from Time Warner that his credit card has been declined for a charge of $16,409,107. Time Warner says the number was human error. A spokesperson for Time Warner cable said, “We apologize for the inconvenience that it caused. We are going to work with the customer to get this resolved.”

DeVirgilio said that by his numbers he would have needed to watch about 1.6 million PPV movies to rack up that bill. He expects that the issue will be fixed without affecting his credit or his service.

[via Dayton Daily News]

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Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s now shipping

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:49 AM PDT

Back during CES, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge series of notebooks surfaced including the E420s. We haven’t heard much about those machines since then. If you liked what you saw, the E420s notebooks are now available to purchase from Lenovo. The machines start at $699 with a Core i3-2310M processor at 2.1GHz, 4GB of RAM, and 250GB of storage.

For $749, you can get the same machine with a Core i5-2410M processor. If you want the little machine with integrated 3G and 2GB of RAM, the machine sells for $799. All of the versions have the same 14-inch 1366 x 768 LED backlit screen and Intel HD Graphics.

Other features of the notebooks include a multi recorder optical drive is integrated along with a 48.8Wh battery. None of the machines have Bluetooth, but they all have 802.11b/g/n WiFi. You can customize the machine a bit as well.

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Microsoft launches campaign of epic douchebaggery

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:15 AM PDT

This is just plain crazy and any legislator that votes for Microsoft in this quest deserves to be ousted in the next elections. Microsoft is on a campaign to make it illegal for companies inside the US to buy from overseas firms that use unauthorized software. That might not sound that bad at first glance.

Once you get into the details of what Microsoft wants to do the audacity of the plan comes into plain view. Microsoft wants to be able to sue American firms for buying from these companies. So this is how it would work. If Ford buys a washer from a firm in China that Microsoft establishes is using unauthorized software, Microsoft wants to be able to sue Ford.

The real rub is that the law might actually pass and is in fact already in place in Louisiana and may even be passed in Washington. At the core, this will put the burden of policing pirated software on all companies that buy from overseas or they could face fines. Exactly how a company in the US is supposed to know that a supplier in China uses pirated software isn’t made clear.

[via TEchDirt]

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Test drive Android apps on Amazon Appstore

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:57 AM PDT

I am an iPhone user, but I have a bunch of Android devices laying around here that I use for games and surfing the web on occasion. I can appreciate a good Android app as much as the next geek. The problem is that generally I have to download and hope the game is worth the space on my Galaxy Tab and delete if not.

The new Amazon Appstore has a method for letting you know if the game is worth it before you download or buy. Amazon has about 20 apps up on its site in a new Test Drive program. You can hit the site, click the game or app you want to try out, and then use it for about 30 minutes.

The apps play in a pop up window on a virtual Android device. The mechanics of the games are different since you are using a mouse rather than the touch interface, but you can definitely see if the game is worth the download before you hit the go button.

[via Android Community]

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NTT DoCoMo sets launch date for Optimus Pad for March 31

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:26 AM PDT

The LG Optimus Pad is a very cool tablet and will eventually be making it to the US on the T-Mobile network. T-Mobile hasn’t offered any details as yet, on when the tablet will hit stores in the US. Geeks in Japan now know exactly when they will be able to get their hands on the Optimus Pad, and it’s soon.

NTT DoCoMo has announced that the official launch date for the tablet is March 31. That is this coming Thursday. The tablet will be in most DoCoMo stores with the exception of those that are still not in service from the earthquake and tsunami. We already know the specs of the tablet with the screen measuring 8.9-inches and having a resolution of 1280 x 768.

The tablet also has a dual-core processor and runs Android 3.0. Other features include a 5MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front camera. The tablet measures 150mm x 242mm x 12.8mm and weighs about 620g. The tablet also has an integrated 3G modem for mobile connectivity.

[via Android Community]

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Hanwha offers up third party HDMI adapter for iPad/iPhone 4

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:52 AM PDT

A Japanese company called Hanwah has pulled out a new adapter for the iPhone 4 and the iPad that you can attach to the charge and sync port on your gadget. The adapter is the UMA-iOSHDMI and it adds a HDMI output and USB port to your iOS gadget.

This adapter will let you shoot video and other content out to your big screen TV or any other device with a HDMI input. The HDMI port allows you to shoot content out to the TV in up to 1024 x 768 resolution. That is the resolution of the iPad screen. You can also use the adapter to view content from your digital camera on the iPad screen as well.

That might make sharing your digital photos a bit easier when you don't have a larger screen device around. The adapter measures 63mm x 38mm x 14mm. It also has a miniUSB port on the bottom and a switch that you flip to control if the USB or HDMI port is active. That mini USB port allows you to charge your device while it plays content. The adapter sells for 5,980 yen in Japan.

[via Akihabara News]

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Montana Radio Shack offers free gun with Dish Network purchase

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:38 AM PDT

If you live in a rural area where the local cable company has a junky cable line up odds are you have moved on to satellite service so you can get all the channels that your local company lacks. Even some folks that live in urban areas with lots of channels still opt for satellite service. Satellite is one of the most common alternatives to cable today.

A Radio Shack store in Hamilton, Montana is offering a different kind of promotion. Anyone who buys a Dish Network satellite system from them will be eligible to get a free gun. No, it's not a video game gun for Wii or the PS3, this is a real gun. The promotion offers the buyers either a 20-gauge shotgun or a Hi Point 380 pistol.

The store offering the promotion doesn’t just hand out the firearms. The person has to undergo a background check and they get a gift certificate good for the purchase price of the gun at a local gun shop called Frontier Guns & Ammo. If a gun isn't their thing, they can alternatively get a $50 Pizza Hut gift certificate. Store manager Fabian Levy said, “We’re not just giving guns to felons.”

[via CNET and Ravalli Republic]

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Microsoft 234-inch touchscreen not really suitable for Windows Phone [Video]

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:37 AM PDT

Ah, Minority Report; whether or not you love the film itself, it’s been incredibly useful as shorthand to instantly encapsulate an eye-catching multitouch environment. Microsoft’s display at CeBIT 2011 earlier this month certainly delivered on that: interactive presentation specialist Stereolize put together a whopping 234-inch touch-sensitive display for the company to use.

Video demo after the cut

According to Stereolize, the “Microsoft Cinema” display is the largest touchscreen in the world. It’s not entirely clear what resolution it’s running at – this is certainly more than the WVGA you’d get on a Windows Phone – nor how many points of multitouch it supports, but for grabbing attention at a busy trade show (and then encouraging people to sit and watch) it’s perfect.

[youtube CCHYddm70lY]

[via istartedsomething]

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Nokia Pure revamps typography for a more modern Symbian [Video]

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:22 AM PDT

Nokia has unveiled its new typeface and branding strategy, dumping the old Nokia Sans font and adopting the new Nokia Pure both in their publicity material and on handsets. Designed to be “unfussy and modern, without being cold and machine-like,” Nokia Pure also has the benefit of being usable at smaller point-sizes while still being legible.

Video overview after the cut

It’s the handiwork of Bruno Maag, a Swiss typographic designer, who designed the letters so that they almost seem “to flow into each other.” No word on when we might see it show up on the first handsets, but Pure will make an appearance on promotional material later in 2011. It remains to be seen whether Nokia will also use the font on its Windows Phone handsets.

Now, we’ve not been short on Nokia reviews here on SlashGear – we’ve covered the E7, C7 and N8 in recent months – and one of the common criticisms we hear from potential smartphone buyers is that the core Symbian UI is a turn-off. While you can change and reskin that UI, Nokia tweaking it out-of-the-box seems a mighty sensible idea; in one fell stroke the whole interface feels a lot more modern and friendly.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/21436365[/vimeo]

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Google readying Android NFC payment system with MasterCard and Citigroup?

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:00 AM PDT

Google is reportedly partnering with MasterCard and Citigroup on NFC payment technology, using VeriFone NFC-enabled payment terminals to turn Android handsets into electronic wallets. According to the WSJ‘s sources, those with Citigroup-issued debit and credit cards would be able to use a new Android app – initially for the Nexus S, but then for subsequent NFC-equipped phones – rather than their physical cards when the service launches later in 2011.

According to the sources, Google would not get a cut of any transaction fees, but instead gain access to an increasing amount of purchaser data. That would allow for more focused advertising, along with Google-powered coupons and services, together with retailers having better insight into the shopping habits of their customers.

Walmart has apparently confirmed ongoing talks with Google, where the NFC payment system was discussed, but claims they were “very preliminary discussions” with no invitation to trial the service. Google has previously been tipped as readying NFC experiments in New York City and San Francisco.

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Google preparing LG-made Nexus Tablet, blocking 3.0 slate updates, tips insider

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:29 AM PDT

Google is reportedly working with LG on a “Google Nexus Tablet”, a Honeycomb reference design which – like the Nexus line of smartphones – would be first to receive OS and interface updates. According to Mobile-Review, the slate (the official name of which is currently unknown) is already being readied for a mid-summer or early-fall release.

No specifications have been shared, nor potential carrier partners, and it’s not clear whether Google will be attempting to sell the Nexus Tablet direct to consumers or via subsidized deals. The search giant’s motivation is presumably to have a slate device with which it can shape the evolution of the tablet segment, much as it did with the original Nexus One for phones.

Meanwhile, there’s also talk that Google’s licensing agreement with OEMs for Android 2.x and 3.x specifically prevents them from upgrading 2.x devices – such as the original Samsung Galaxy Tab – to Honeycomb. That could have a significant impact on the HTC Flyer, which was said to be using Gingerbread so as to reach the market quicker, and then receive a Honeycomb update later in 2011. According to Mobile-Review, the Flyer will now launch in most markets come May with Honeycomb preloaded. We’re checking with HTC to see if they can clarify the situation.

[via Android Community]

Update: HTC’s PR team tells us that, while HTC has no official statement on this, it has no impact on the company’s plans for Flyer.

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T-Mobile HTC Flyer promos leak with focus on Scribe Pen

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:01 AM PDT

Having showed up for Sprint as the HTC EVO View 4G – complete with WiMAX onboard – and in WiFi-only form as a Best Buy exclusive, it seems the HTC Flyer isn’t done spreading itself around the US. According to a leaked T-Mobile USA advert, passed to Pocketnow, the Flyer is also headed to the GSM carrier.

Since it wouldn’t really make sense for T-Mobile to have a WiFi-only Flyer, we’re guessing the carrier will be offering a GSM version of some sort: either regular 3G, as with the model shown at MWC 2011 originally, or an HSPA+ version for T-Mobile’s own 4G network. Otherwise it seems the specifications will be the same, so a white chassis, 7-inch 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen display, and an active stylus for handwriting and sketching.

When exactly it will launch is unclear, as is pricing, but judging by the promotional material it seems T-Mobile will be heavily pushing the “scribe pen” functionality. Considering that’s the Flyer’s key differentiator – and that the value of a stylus has been much misunderstood in previous tablets with active digitizers – that seems a sensible route.

[via Android Community]

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SlashGear Weekly Roundup Video – March 27, 2011

Posted: 27 Mar 2011 03:30 PM PDT

We had several new smartphone and tablet announcements from CTIA Wireless that took place this week in Orlando Florida. There has also been some interesting developments having to do with Android with the launch of Amazon’s Appstore and RIM’s big announcement that their BlackBerry Playbook tablets will support Android apps. Read on for the full top ten list.

10. iPad 2 international launch on March 25th. Check out our iPad 2 review. (iPad 2 lines images from Huffington Post).
iPad 2 international sales open with long shipping estimates
UK iPad 2 online delays mean queues the only hope for early-adopters
iPad 2 Review

9. ASUS makes official announcement for their ASUS Eee Pad Transformer.
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer official: 16hr battery in Honeycomb iPad 2 rival

8. Color Real-Time Image Sharing app.
Color image sharing app sorts by location (& gets privacy zealots worried)
The Color App May Serve a Purpose After All

7. Amazon launches Appstore for Android.
Amazon Appstore launches today
The Disruptive Potential of the Amazon App Store

6. Google delays Honeycomb for open-source.
Google Keeping Android 3.0 Honeycomb Closed For Now

5. RIM announces support for Android Apps on their BlackBerry Playbook tablets, and confirms pricing and date.
RIM To Support Android Apps For BlackBerry PlayBook

4. T-Mobile announces LG G2X smartphone, featuring glasses-free 3D display and 3D camera.
T-Mobile G2x by LG gets official: 3D Tegra 2 smartphone

3. Sprint announces HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G.
HTC EVO 3D Revealed at Sprint Event [CTIA 2011]
EVO View 4G Revealed at Sprint Event [CTIA 2011]
HTC EVO 3D Hands-On
EVO View 4G Hands-On

2. Samsung unveils Galaxy Tab 8.9 and new version of Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 official
GALAXY Tab 10.1 & 8.9 Hands-on [CTIA 2011]

1. AT&T to buy T-Mobile.
AT&T Acquires T-Mobile for $39 Billion
AT&T and T-Mobile Acquisition Makes Sense
AT&T: We'd use T-Mo AWS spectrum for LTE plus double some 3G coverage

Product Reviews:

1. HTC Incredible S

2. Nintendo 3DS

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