Jumat, 22 April 2011

What's new on SlashGear.com

What's new on SlashGear.com

iPhone Unlocking Services Get Shut Down

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:05 PM PDT

Several new websites sprung up about two weeks ago offering a new unlocking service for the iPhone. Today they have all mysteriously been shut down. Their unlocking method was unique because it didn't require any hacks or jailbreaks to unlock the iPhone, but instead manipulated your iPhone's IMEI number within Apple's database. One of the main sites was CutYourSim, which offered the service and unlocked over 400 iPhones before the service mysteriously disappeared, with no one knowing why and how it happened.

While the service was active, it cost you $169.99 to unlock your iPhone and all you needed to provide was the IMEI# to CutYourSim. After one or two weeks, your iPhone would be unlocked and open to work on any GSM network. Unfortunately, the time lag in between paying for the service and having your phone unlocked has left many customers in limbo after the service's abrupt shutdown. CutYourSim is in the process of issuing refunds, but the company itself doesn't know the reasoning behind the shutdown because they weren't sure themselves as to how the unlocking happened. They seemed to be one of many middlemen, meaning there may have been only one individual or small group that actually had access to Apple’s databases.

"To tell you the truth, first our supplier told us there were server issues, then after that they just told us that they will not be offering the services anymore. We are not sure where the service comes from, or whether it's a contact through AT&T or Apple. We do know that the service is performed in the UK, but that's about it", said CutYourSim to Cult of Mac. Whenever an iPhone is activated its personal IMEI number is entered and registered into Apple's database. So if there was an abnormal surge of IMEI numbers being entered coupled with the publicity CutYourSim was receiving for the service, it probably drew the notice of Apple.

[via Cult of Mac]

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iPhones, iPads Beat Out Android In Enterprise Activation In Good Survey

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 02:27 PM PDT

Good Technology, an enterprise mobility device management vendor, put out a quarterly data report today showing what devices have been most popular at the enterprise level over the past four months. The survey results were gathered from thousands of customers including 40 of the Fortune 100.

Topping the popularity scale at the enterprise level are Apple’s iOS products. Thanks to the recent launch of the iPad 2 and the Verizon iPhone 4 along with the price drop of AT&T’s iPhone 3GS, Apple products performed extremely well, representing just under 70 percent of all new activations from January 1 to March 31, 2011.

Android devices saw an overall decline of 30 percent among new activations, but represented 40 percent of all smartphone activations. Good predicts that Android will overtake iOS devices in the long haul, but notes that this quarter was a definite win for Apple.

Press Release:

Verizon iPhone 4 Launch Boosts iPhone Enterprise Adoption, Tablet Momentum Continues: Detailed in Good Technology’s Q1 2011 Data Report

* Leader in Enterprise Mobility Leverages Data from Thousands of Customers to Shed Light on the iPad’s Explosive Growth and the New Multiplatform Mobile Enterprise

REDWOOD SHORES, CA — APRIL 22, 2011 — Good Technology, the leading provider of secure and managed enterprise mobility for iPhone®, iPad®, Android and other leading smartphone platforms, today released its quarterly data report detailing the changing landscape of IT and mobile enterprise technology. The trend of personal smartphones infiltrating the workplace is being led by both Apple’s iOS™ and Google’s Android™ smartphone platforms. In Q1 of 2011, both platforms were widely deployed by Good’ enterprise customers, but with the launch of the Verizon iPhone 4 and the iPad 2, Apple’s iOS devices had an especially strong quarter.

“The one-two punch of Verizon’s long-awaited iPhone 4 launch and Apple’s iPad 2 release made it an especially strong quarter for Apple,” said John Herrema, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Good Technology. “AT&T’s price drop on the iPhone 3GS to $49 also had a strong impact on overall iPhone activations. We still predict that Android activations will overtake iOS in the long run, but in the first quarter of 2011, Apple’s iOS devices were the clear winner among Good’s enterprise customers and their end users.”

Key Data Points:

* iOS devices represented just under 70 percent of net new activations from January 1 through March 31, 2011
* iOS tablet (iPad + iPad2) share of overall net activations slipped slightly from 22 percent to 20.4 percent over the quarter
* Among the top 10 industry verticals, financial services saw the highest level of iPad activation with 43 percent, more than doubling the amount of activation in any other industry
* Android devices declined just over 30 percent of all net new activations over the quarter, but represented over 40 percent of all smartphone (non tablet) activations

Findings
In Good Technology’s Q1 2011 metrics report, we take a look at the mobile devices activated by Good Technology’s enterprise customers over the first quarter of 2011. Android’s overall smartphone market share growth is booming, and we still expect Android smartphone activations by Good’s customers to overtake iPhone activations over the course of 2011; however, it’s clear that Verizon’s launch of the iPhone 4 and AT&T’s subsequent iPhone 3GS price reduction significantly boosted overall iPhone activations by Good’s customers in Q1. Apple’s deal with Verizon to carry its iPhone 4 resulted in the highest rate of activation (16.9 percent) for any new device since Good has been publicly tracking and publishing reports (since Q3 2010).

To download the full report, which includes the methodology for the findings, please visit www.good.com/resources/Good_Data_Q1_2011.pdf.

About Good Technology
Good Technology combines enterprise-grade mobile security and control with an exceptional user experience for messaging and collaboration that allows users to connect and collaborate on their devices of choice. Good opens new possibilities for enterprises, government agencies, and end users to maximize business and personal productivity by providing secure, easy-to-use, and instant mobile access to data, applications and services on hundreds of mobile devices. For more information, visit the Good website at www.good.com.

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White iPhone 4 In Retail Packaging Picked Up Early At Vodafone UK Store

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 01:59 PM PDT

Just on the tail of news that supports an April 27th launch of the white iPhone 4, we now get photos of the actual device in its retail packaging thanks to a source from Engadget. The pictures were taken by a customer who claims to have purchased the unit from a Vodafone retail store in the UK.

The story goes that the unit was rang up at the cash register as a black iPhone 4. But, shortly after that transaction went down, Vodafone sent out a notice to halt the sale of the white smartphone. The pictures show a 16GB version with the model number MC604B/A which would suggest a 32GB version to have model number MC606B/A. This all falls in line with Apple’s numbering system making this tip more legit.

The white iPhone was supposed to launch alongside the black version but has been delayed time and time again. With all the evidence cropping up lately with the Vodafone inventory list earlier today and now the white iPhone 4 in its actual retail packaging, we feel pretty certain the time is upon us, and possibly just 5 days away.

[via Engadget]

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Sony NEX C3 Camera, First Images Leaked

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 01:35 PM PDT

A few images have been uncovered today of the Sony NEX-C3, the likely successor to the discontinued Sony NEX-3. The NEX-C3 will have Sony's E-mount lens system so that you can use DSLR lenses and is reported to have the same 16.2-megapixel sensor that is used in the Sony A55 DSLR. The NEX-C3 comes with a new external flash, HD video recording capability, and unique tilt LCD screen on the back.

There looks to be a few external tweaks to the physical design and the camera will come in both black and silver color options. Both the NEX-C3 and the new Sony A35 were originally scheduled to be released on April 4th, but were delayed due to the recent earthquake in Japan.

No firm release dates were given with the leaked images, but Sony is planning a press release in May so the announcements for both cameras may be coming soon. We will keep you updated on the NEX-C3 news as it develops.

[via Sony Alpha Rumors]

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Playbook EULA, A Conversation Between Friends

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 01:25 PM PDT

This morning my friend Robert Evans over at i4u got his grubby hands on one of BlackBerry’s Playbooks. It showed up today and for some strange reason he decided to actually read the EULA instead of ignoring those walls of legalese like everyone normally does. I don’t know why he decided to take road less traveled and eschew the phrase, “too long, didn’t read” today. But because of his strange life choices he found a few interesting and amusing points.

Honestly, there wasn’t all that much surprising going on in the EULA. I found this point was a little strange. For some reason RIM’s lawyers thought they specifically needed to condemn obscene and profane uses of their tablet. I wonder what qualifies as profane?

I wonder what RIM holds as sacred…

We chatted a little bit about his first impressions as well. I threatened to quote him and he threw a couple of sentences my direction. They’re the bold headers.

“RIM is actually pretty good at tablets”

Our own Vincent Ngyuen reviewed the tablet earlier this week. And, RIM has seen some criticism for firmware issues during the release. But, those are being addressed.

“Why can’t they make a decent smartphone?”

He went on to say that if the Playbook was a 4″ device, he would switch to a RIM smartphone in an instant. That’s a pretty glowing recommendation from someone who has been using Android since the G1. The Playbook sold 50,000 units on it’s first day, outclassing the launch of both Samsung’s Galaxy Tab and Motorola’s Xoom. RIM might be able to turn things around if they’re able to solve the firmware issues and possibly work around the somewhat annoying Blackberry Bridge issues that looks like a good idea for existing enterprise customers’ security concerns, but will be a hassle for regular consumers.

[via i4u News]

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AT&T Admits To FCC Its Network Unprepared For iPhone And iPad

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

AT&T officially filed with the FCC yesterday seeking approval for their acquisition of T-Mobile. Among the many reasons they gave, one that stood out was an admission that the current state of their network cannot handle the onslaught of iPhones, iPads, and other new smartphones and tablets. Thus, the T-Mobile acquisition is necessary to ensure an improved and stable network for customers. This may explain the controversy starting in February when new devices on the network seemed to have HSUPA intentionally disabled.

“A smartphone generates 24 times the mobile data traffic of a conventional wireless phone, and the explosively popular iPad and similar tablet devices can generate traffic comparable to or even greater than a smartphone. AT&T's mobile data volumes surged by a staggering 8,000% from 2007 to 2010, and as a result, AT&T faces network capacity constraints more severe than those of any other wireless provider,” reads the filing statement.

AT&T then goes on to say that the T-Mobile deal “will thus benefit consumers by reducing the number of dropped and blocked calls, increasing data speeds, improving in-building coverage, and dramatically expanding deployment of next-generation mobile technology.”

This surely explains why a bunch of new HSPA+ devices including the HTC Inspire 4G, Atrix 4G, and the Samsung Focus experience data speed throttling. The first device we reported experiencing capped data speeds was the HTC Inspire 4G. AT&T must have been trying to cover up their network deficiencies by claiming that the device was not enabled for HSUPA upload speeds, when the HSPA+ chipset of the device supports HSUPA. And most recently it happened again with the Samsung Focus.

[via Business Insider]

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White iPhone 4 in Europe from April 27 says source

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 12:38 PM PDT

At this stage, it’s the final countdown for the white iPhone 4 – a case of “when” not “if” – and SlashGear has just been tipped with further evidence that the white smartphone will arrive midway through next week. A trusted tipster passed us a screenshot from a retail system in the Netherlands, which confirms that T-Mobile there will be offering the white iPhone 4 from Wednesday, April 27.

However, the document also warns that there are very limited supplies of the white variant, and as such only limited stock of the 16GB model is on offer. If stores sell out, they’re being instructed to inform would-be buyers that it will be a wait of 4-5 weeks.

It’s unclear whether that precarious stock level is unique to this one, particular carrier, or if Apple’s stocks overall are low. Demand for the white iPhone 4 is expected to be strong, even this far through the handset’s life-cycle, and so we’re expecting quite the rush next week. Meanwhile, we’re also expecting to see more than T-Mobile offer the phone, at least generally across Europe.

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BlackBerry PlayBook Firmware May Be Lacking, But Getting Updates Fast

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 12:10 PM PDT

Enterprise users and BlackBerry aficionados must be tired of coming across reviews ripping on the new PlayBook’s half-baked firmware. But you can set down your defenses as we hear today that they at least have been promptly sending out updates. Having just been released about three days ago—April 19th—the device has already received two large updates to the OS of over 200MB each. And it sounds like RIM is also listening intently to user response and feedback.

The latest update brings the BlackBerry Tablet OS platform up to version 1.0.1.1710. It doesn’t specify exactly what changes and improvements are made, but seem to fix several minor bugs. Perhaps what stands out most from the update is the addition of a new icon in the Apps screen called Power Off.

The PlayBook hardware received nary a complaint from most reviews except for the too tiny power button that was difficult to press for adult-sized fingers. RIM must have been listening, because the added Power Off icon lets you turn off or restart the PlayBook via the touchscreen instead.

As if to battle the firmware complaints, RIM seems to be updating on the fly to promptly resolve any issues and bring on new and improved features quickly. It’s the power button this time but maybe email, calendar, and contacts next.

[via BusinessInsider]

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Slow Photography

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 11:47 AM PDT

David McCourt is a photographer from the UK. He noticed that current mobile phones are getting better and better. The tiniest cameras in the latest smartphones have the resolution of the most expensive D-SLR’s from just a few years ago. The problem here is that people are getting interested in photography without understanding the basic principles of composition, framing, and lens selection. The Slow Photography camera is a middleground between an expensive D-SLR and the point-and-shoot smartphone cameras.

To operate the Slow Photography camera, simply slip your phone into the slot for it and then select your lens by rotating the selection wheel. David included three lenses, a fixed focal length, macro, and fisheye. Then you look through the viewfinder on top to frame your shot and release the shutter.

Here’s a collection of images showcasing the action of David’s prototype. Can you tell which pictures come from which lens? I’m not entirely sure, but I’m not really a photographer.

[via Yanko Design]

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Amazon Cloud Failure Going On Day Two

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 11:37 AM PDT

Amazon Web Services crashed yesterday morning causing an outage in a good chunk of websites across the board including the major social platforms like Foursquare, Quora, and Reddit. And although these big guys have been restored, there are still many other websites that remain shut down. More and more businesses are coming to rely on cloud computing, with Amazon’s Elastic Cloud Computing service (EC2) being a popular and supposedly reliable choice.

This is going on day two that several sites remain closed due to the outage, although many larger sites have come back on late this morning. Everyblock was offline this morning but has come back after its team worked to restore its shared databases. For a more complete list of which sites were affected you can go here.

At the time of this writing, it seems that most sites have recovered except for some of the smaller guys. It is still not certain what caused the outage although Amazon continues to send out status updates. The last message on their status feed reads:

“Just a short note to let you know that the team continues to be all-hands on deck trying to add capacity to the affected Availability Zone to re-mirror stuck volumes. It’s taking us longer than we anticipated to add capacity to this fleet. When we have an updated ETA or meaningful new update, we will make sure to post it here. But, we can assure you that the team is working this hard and will do so as long as it takes to get this resolved.”

[via AllThingsDigital]

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Solar Magnetic Energy, Better than Photovoltaic Cells?

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 11:05 AM PDT

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a new property of light that allows them to harness the magnetic attributes of light. Electromagnetism being a classically unified force, the relationship between light and magnetism is well known, but the magnetic component was thought to be weak enough that it could be safely ignored. Stephen Rand, a professor at UMich, said of this, “You could stare at the equations of motion all day and you will not see this possibility. We’ve all been taught that this doesn’t happen. It’s a very odd interaction. That’s why it’s been overlooked for more than 100 years.” Scientists are so awesome.

“This could lead to a new kind of solar cell without semiconductors and without absorption to produce charge separation,” Rand said. “In solar cells, the light goes into a material, gets absorbed and creates heat. Here, we expect to have a very low heat load. Instead of the light being absorbed, energy is stored in the magnetic moment. Intense magnetization can be induced by intense light and then it is ultimately capable of providing a capacitive power source.”

Right now solar power cells are expensive and somewhat dirty to produce as they are made from semiconducting wafers. This will allow solar collection apparatus to be constructed from much more common materials. This could be the breakthrough that makes solar power cheap enough for widespread adoption.

“To manufacture modern solar cells, you have to do extensive semiconductor processing,” Fisher, a PhD student involved in the research, said. “All we would need are lenses to focus the light and a fiber to guide it. Glass works for both. It’s already made in bulk, and it doesn’t require as much processing. Transparent ceramics might be even better.”

This could be a major breakthrough, focusing the light into a usable beam and creating voltage potential with cheaper materials is going to be the ticket to ending the world’s dependence on fossil fuels once and for all. There isn’t going to be a magic bullet that’ll solve all of these problems, solar power is a major component. Efficient energy storage solutions like flywheel energy storage systems are also going to be an important part in leveling out the grid.

[via Earth Techling]

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Google In Talks With Spotify To Power Android Music Service

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 10:56 AM PDT

According to CNET, a source familiar with the situation says that Google is in talks with the popular European music streaming service, Spotify, to help power their Android music service. This comes just after news that Apple is already finishing up its own music streaming digital locker ahead of Google’s. Both companies have been stalled by license negotiations with record labels.

Additionally, Google has not been able to make up its mind on what direction to take with its music strategy. They initially wanted an iTunes-like store with an online music locker to store and share the music you’ve already purchased, but then they began considering a subscription model. This has made it difficult to reach any agreements with the record companies. Apple, on the other hand, has already signed licensing deals with two labels.

Amazon has actually beat both companies with the launch of its Amazon Cloud Player last month. However, their service launched fast partly because of their decision to forgo the licensing process claiming that their service was simply online storage for music but did not actually sell any music.

Google’s music service seems ready to go on the technical side, but they’re indecisiveness may lie in wanting to push out a true game changer of a service. Considering that Spotify is facing its own licensing hurdles in trying to break into the U.S. Market, it’s not certain how partnering up will help boost Google’s own attempt. But Spotify is more experienced in the music arena and has a unique model that enables it to offer limited free music that may help Google differentiate and compete against Apple’s iTunes and soon to come music locker.

[via CNET]

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How Green is Your iPhone?

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 10:17 AM PDT

It’s Earth Day, right? And I’m a dirty hippie. I think about environmental issues a lot. Like many people I like the sound of birdsong more than car horns. I actually spent half of last year canvassing with Texas Campaign for the Environment. We were fighting to improve electronics recycling throughout my home state. Being the gigantic geek that I am, I spent a lot of time learning as much as possible about these issues. Looking forward over the next twenty years our production/consumption/waste cycles are the place where we can do the most good. Dealing with our waste products, whether in the form of gaseous carbon emissions, land-filled garbage, or industrial waste is our generation’s great challenge moving forward into the future. Our friends over at geekaphone released this informative infographic giving you some idea of the scale of this issue as it relates to your iPhone.

In a global economy, the phone you have in your hand was sourced from all over the world. From the mining of the raw materials in the Congo that has coined the term “blood phones”, to the production of silicon chips throughout South East Asia, to the final assembly by factory workers in China, finally through your hands for an average of 18 months, and then most likely to a landfill somewhere in the States.

A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except faults, so he loses touch with reality and lives in a world of illusions.

By thought I mean the chattering inside the skull; perpetual and compulsive repetition of words, of calculations, and symbols going on inside the head.

For as a result of confusing the real world of nature with mere signs, such as money, stocks and bonds, title deeds, and so forth. This is a disaster. Time to wake up. – Alan Watts

Now here’s the part that makes me sick and angry. Apple will recycle all of their products for free. Yes, for free. Actually, it’s even better, if you bring some devices in to Apple retail stores, you can get a discount on a new one. And still only 10% of us are even bothering to do anything but chuck it in the trash. That’s ridiculous, wasteful, and just plain stupid, especially in these hard economic times. Many computer companies are offering free recycling programs. There are national coalitions like the Electronics TakeBack Coalition that are pushing for extended producer responsibility to be made law. It already has been made law in a lot of places.

Alright, surf on over to geekaphone to check out the rest of these facts and figures. I would have grabbed more shots to highlight for you, but it’s really worth taking a look at the image in it’s entirely. Really, it’s awesome.

[via Cult of Mac]

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$5m Google fine over Linux patent suit as clouds gather around Android momentum

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 09:08 AM PDT

Google has become the first victim of a Linux patent infringement case, fined $5m by a Texas court and facing potential legal repercussions that could significantly impact Android development. The suit, filed by Bedrock Computer Technologies, alleged Google – as well as various other big-name companies, including Amazon, Softlayer, PayPal, AOL and Yahoo! – had infringed a patent covering “methods and apparatus for information storage and retrieval using a hashing technique with external chaining and on-the-fly removal of expired data.”

Bedrock claimed the Linux kernel at the heart of Google’s server farms infringed on their IP, and that the search giant should pay up accordingly. The courts agreed with Bedrock, and imposed the $5m fine. While the amount itself is small change for Google, the longer-term implications could be a significantly greater headache.

Patent activist Florian Mueller suggests that Google may have to exert considerable effort picking through the Android OS to make sure the same kernel issue isn’t present there. Without that reassurance, OEMs using Android – such as HTC, Motorola and Sony Ericsson – could find themselves facing demands for licensing fees as patent holders come out of the woodwork.

“Google might have to modify the Linux kernel it distributes with Android in order to remove the infringing code” Florian claims, “because otherwise there’s always the risk of contributory infringement should any app make use of that portion of the Linux kernel.”

[via Android Community]

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DIY Android SNES gamepad ideal for retro ROMs [Video]

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 08:47 AM PDT

It’s not quite a Nintendo Wii 2 with a touchscreen controller, but Bruno Soares hack to control retro Super Nintendo games on his Android smartphone with a classic SNES controller is pretty impressive all the same. The hack uses everybody’s favorite microcontroller, the Arduino, to hook up to an HTC Desire HD.

The pins on the controller are fed into the Arduino, and then there’s a key-mapping app on the phone itself which translates the button-presses into inputs the retro games can recognize. That way, you can reprogram the mappings to suit other games.

Best of all, Bruno has released his source code so that you can replicate the mode yourself. All it needs is a tidy external enclosure and it would be reasonably portable, too, though if you’re lacking in Arduino skills then you may be better off looking to something like the iControlPad.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/22722692[/vimeo]

[via MAKE]

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iPad 2 sales estimates slashed as Apple struggles with production pain

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 08:26 AM PDT

Apple is now expected to sell fewer iPad 2 tablets in 2011, though not because of any waning of demand. According to analysts IHS iSuppli, Apple’s production issues will be the main cap on sales; the company is now expected to sell a total of 39.7m iPad 2 units, as it works through what COO Tim Cook described as “the mother of all backlogs” in the recent financial results call.

Analysts had predicted sales of around 6.2m iPad units from Q1 2011, but Apple surprised the market by announcing 4.69m sales. Cook admitted that Apple had struggled to keep up with demand, though failed to specify any particular issues preventing production from ramping up.

Supply chain checks by iSuppli, however, indicate that rather than any one single problem, it’s several factors delaying assembly. Apple is reportedly concerned over the quality of the LCD panels used in the iPad 2, while one of its touch panel suppliers is supposedly experiencing issues with the lamination process. Meanwhile the new iPad 2 speaker is also encountering production shortages. iSuppli says that Apple is nonetheless on-track to “significantly increase its production volume” this current quarter, but is “still falling substantially short of its target production goal for April.”

[via AppleInsider]

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Sprint Google Voice invites arriving early

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 08:00 AM PDT

Sprint has begun sending out invites for its Google Voice integration, which allows subscribers to use their existing Sprint number as a Google Voice number. Although not expected to go broadly live until April 26, an Android Central writer was among the pre-registered users invited to try the service out early.

The whole process sounds relatively well thought-through. Existing Google Voice users get three months access to their previous number, so that they won’t miss any calls in the changeover, while MMS messages – which Google Voice doesn’t yet support – bypass the service altogether, dropping into the phone’s inbox as normal.

Google’s voicemail system is also used, rather than the standard Sprint voicemail. Although Android devices will probably get the most use out of the new functionality – given the Google Voice app available in the Android Market – the integration will be offered to all Sprint subscribers.

[via PreCentral]

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Refreshed Mac Pro prototype is rack-friendly Xserve alternative?

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 07:19 AM PDT

Apple is reportedly considering a rack-mountable redesign for the Mac Pro, with one potential prototype already in circulation at the company’s labs. According to 9 to 5 Mac‘s sources, the rackable, stackable Mac Pro is believed to be narrower and shallower than the current model – at just over 5-inches wide and 19-inches deep – with the thinking being that enterprise users could replace the discontinued Xserve with this new model.

According to the sources, the Mac Pro prototype has a new “stacked” drive system with two discs per sled, adding up to greater hard-drive density than before. The exact nature of the sleds is unknown, but Apple is believed to have designed them with both traditional HDDs and new, high-speed SSD storage in mind.

Beyond that it’s all speculation, but Thunderbolt seems an obvious inclusion. 9 to 5 Mac suggests a Blu-ray drive, though whether Apple would reconsider its “bag of hurt” stance remains to be seen. As for whether this particular design will be the model to make it to production, that also is undecided; it’s expected to be only one of several prototypes under consideration.

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Windows 8 facial-recognition login API spotted [Updated]

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 06:55 AM PDT

Microsoft’s next-gen OS, Windows 8, will be user-aware according to the latest APIs discovered, suggesting the platform could well be able to track and identify users when they sit at their PCs. Windows8Italia spotted the “Detect human presence” API in among their M1 copy of Windows 8; Microsoft has used a similar system on the Xbox 360 with Kinect, to log users into Xbox LIVE services using face recognition.

A similar method of face-recognition could be used in Windows 8 to bypass the traditional login screen. Lenovo has offered face-recognition login on some of its laptops, using the integrated webcam in the screen bezel, but by adding it as a core OS-level service Microsoft could roll out the functionality to all OEMs.

Previously leaked slides suggested that Microsoft was counting on the ubiquity of webcam integration by 2012 – when Windows 8 is expected to reach the market.

Update: Turns out this isn’t the only interesting tidbit from out of the Windows 8 leak. WinRumors has been keeping track, and there’s all manner of goodies: a Time Machine rival called History Vault, the ability to run Windows from a USB drive and push notifications. Microsoft’s new OS is shaping up to be pretty darn impressive.

[via Microsoft News]

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Shuttle X50V2 Plus touchscreen barebones gets Atom update

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 06:39 AM PDT

Shuttle’s X50V2 barebones all-in-one PC has had another refresh, with a new Atom processor to replace the previous model’s D510. The updated Shuttle X50V2 Plus now packs Intel’s 1.8GHz dual-core Atom D525, paired with GMA 3150 graphics and support for up to 4GB of DDR3 memory. Up front there’s still the same 15.6-inch touchscreen running at 1366 x 768.

There’s also a 2-megapixel webcam, stereo 2W speakers and a useful carry-handle (though with no battery you’ll have to buy a long extension lead if you want to transport the X50V2 while it’s powered on). Since it’s provided as a barebones machine, as well as supplying RAM you’ll need to slot in your choice of 2.5-inch SATA drive, too.

Ports include four USB 2.0, ethernet, a 4-in-1 memory card reader and audio in/out, while there’s also integrated WiFi b/g/n and a spare miniPCIe card slot. No word on an official MRSP, but street pricing seems to have settled at around £280 ($462) for the black version.

[via PCLaunches]

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Verizon turns on six more LTE cities

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 06:20 AM PDT

Verizon Wireless has been operating its LTE network in a new cities for a while now and I bet that there are a lot of geeks out there waiting in anticipation to get their devices on the blazing fast network. Verizon rolled the service out in several major cities a while back and has announced that the network in Charlotte, N.C. is being expanded and will cover more area than when it first launched. The new coverage means a lot more folks can get in on the LTE action.

The new cities that the LTE network will now cover include Clarksville, Tenn.-Hopkinsville, Ky.; Cleveland, Tenn.; Columbia and Hilton Head, S.C.; Wilmington, N.C.; and the Greater Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, noted, “As of today, we will offer consumers and businesses in 45 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast. We plan to aggressively light up 4G in new cities and bring our blazingly fast 4G LTE network to more than 100 additional cities in the next nine months.” The additional nine cities in the next nine months is a nice goal as well.

The LTE network that Verizon operates is capable of some very impressive speeds. The upload speed is 2 to 5 Mbps and the download speed is up to 5 to 12 Mbps. All of the devices that Verizon offers for LTE networks will run on the Verizon 3G network outside of LTE coverage zones. Many of the major cities around the country already have access to 4G LTE and the network covers about 110 million people. Verizon also notes that it is working with rural carriers to get LTE into smaller cities too.

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Fujitsu Lifebook E741/C has contactless palm vein scanner

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 06:02 AM PDT

I mentioned earlier this morning that Fujitsu had whipped out a pair of cool notebook computers that both have an integrated pico projector option. Those machines are pretty coo, but they aren't the only new offerings for Fujitsu for its Lifebook line up. The new Lifebook E741/C has also been unveiled and it has a really cool bit of tech as well for user authentication. It has a little square on the right side of the chassis under the keyboard that looks like a small track pad.

That little square is actual a palm vein reader that can see the unique vein structure in your palm and verify you are the correct user without you actually having to touch the palm to the vein reader. Other than the cool palm reader, the computer is your average business focused rig. It has a 15.6-inch screen and uses the Core i7-2620M CPU. The screen has a 1366 x 768 resolution and it has an Intel QM67 Express Chipset.

Other features include a 160GB HDD, and 1GB of RAM. It would be safe to assume that this machine also has WiFi onboard. The OS is Windows 7 Pro 32-bit and it will sell for 240,135 yen in Japan when it lands in the middle of May. The computer also has a cool power adapter that will stop drawing power when the battery is fully charged. That means that it consumes no power when if plugged in when the battery is fully charged.

[via PCWatch.impress]

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Razer Hydra motion controllers for PC gamers debut

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT

We can thank the Nintendo Wii for bringing motion controllers to the masses. I still think that motion control was a bit gimmicky, even if it is fun. I think that the gaming masses have spoken though with sales of the Wii slipping significantly and the Xbox 360 selling in larger numbers. Still, some people want motion controls and if you are one of the gamers that do you can soon get your hands on a new motion controlled gaming setup from Razer called the Hydra.

Razer is one of the biggest names in gaming peripherals and has been making some really cool gear like the special DeathAdder mouse that I talked about back in early March. The new system is called the Razer Hydra and it is the first gaming grade motion sensing system powered by Sixense designed for PC gamers. Razer says that it worked with Valve and Sixense to create some cool Portal 2 content to show off how powerful the Hydra really is.

"The Razer Hydra is a significant step forward for the PC gaming industry because it not only affords an almost-physical experience for gamers, but also presents developers an opportunity to innovate and significantly push the boundaries on new forms of game play and entertainment," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. The Hydra and Portal 2 bundle sells for $139.99 and pre-orders will kick off next month. The Hydra will ship in June. It has an it uses magnetic motion tracking to give six degree-of-freedom, has a thumb analog stick for fluid control, and lots more.

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PSN down for unknown reasons, Sony investigating

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 05:00 AM PDT

If you tried to fire up your PS3 and go onto the PSN last night and today, you have undoubtedly noticed that the network is down. This is an irritation to all PS3 users even if you don't play games that require the network since many of them will constantly ask you if you want to connect to the network. I know Gran Turismo 5 nearly drove me crazy asking last night when I realized the network was down. The interesting part about this outage is that Sony apparently has no idea what caused it.

Sony spokesman Patrick Seybold wrote on the official Playstation Blog, “While we are investigating the cause of the Network outage, we wanted to alert you that it may be a full day or two before we’re able to get the service completely back up and running.” This means that over the long Easter weekend you are likely to be without any trophy gathering capability. In GT5, that alone means no online racing or online car dealership.

Apparently, in Europe Sony has noted that it is investigating the possibility that the network was taken down by an outside party. The PSN outage could very well be the result of an attack from a hacker group like anonymous. The timing is even worse in that this is the launch weekend for SOCOM 4 and the game is heavily focused on the online play aspects. There will be a lot of unhappy gamers the next few days.

[via PC World]

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DS Lite discontinued according to GameStop memo

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 04:45 AM PDT

The Nintendo 3DS is doing pretty good on the market right now with impressive sales and the DSi systems are too. That means that Nintendo would be thinking about its older hardware and possibly discontinuing it since it would want to funnel users to the new 3DS. A memo has surfaced from GameStop that claims that the DS Lite game consoles have now been discontinued. That means that once the DS Lite consoles are gone from stock around the country they will not come back.

Presumably, it would also mean that all other retailers of the DS Lite will also be discontinuing the console as well. The memo tells store workers to remove all marketing material and displays from the store after it sells the last DS Lite game console. It is interesting to note that the memo says nothing about the DSi and DSi XL. That would mean only the first generation DS is going away.

This isn’t really a surprise; the DS Lite had to be discontinued at some point. The leaked memo also offers up a few other store tidbits. Should you get the hankering for a new game this weekend, GameStop stores will be open normal hours. You can also now reserve a couple new games that will ship before too long. Farewell DS Lite, we knew ye well.

[via Gonintendo]

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Apple P2P sharing technology for mobile devices surfaces in patent app

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 04:32 AM PDT

Apple is one of the more innovative tech firms around. Love the company or hate it I don't think anyone will argue with the fact that the gang in Cupertino is an innovative lot. We see more than a few patents surface with tech that sounds out there at times. I never doubt that Steve and co won’t cram that tech into some future smartphone or other device though. A new patent app has turned up that outlines an interesting new peer-to-peer sharing technology that may one day find its way into our iPhones and iPads.

Thanks to the RIAA, peer-to-peer has a bit of a negative connotation to it. This isn't tech to allow two iPhone users to share much without having to pay. Exactly what it would be used for or when we will see it is unknown. I can see this being a great way to share photos and video files between users. The patent gives up some details on how the service would work. It will use a unique magnetic compass and encoded supersonic tone method to transfer files.

The tech will also allow the user to quickly and wirelessly transfer their files and data to their computer or other device too. I have to think this could very well be the tech that brings wireless sync to iTunes. The feature will use NFC tech making for fast setups that need no configuration. Am I the only one that finds it curious that the line art drawing Apple choose in the patent filing looks sort of like an iPhone, but has that keypad?

[via Patently Apple]

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Sony PSP Go not dead after all

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 04:02 AM PDT

The Sony PSP Go was something that many people were excited about when it was first announced. The portable was the first new offering from Sony in a long time and early on the reports had the machine able to download existing games that PSP owners had to play on the Go that lacked any media drive or any sort. The reality when the PSP Go landed was that you could not play any games you already had and people stayed away in droves. Even the retailers were mad at Sony because there were no secondary software sales they could cash in on.

A couple days ago, we reported that the PSP Go had been killed off. We weren’t surprised; we had already asked the question if anyone was surprised the Go failed. Sony has now come back and said that while it may not be carried in Japan and Europe any more the PSP Go will still be offered in America. SCEA told Joystiq “We are continuing production of PSP Go for North America.” I have to wonder if what SCEA really means is that it is continuing production in America until it runs out of components.

Joystiq also notes that Sony told it a few weeks back that it would continue the PSP Go shipments only to have the Go product page on Amazon turn up later with the note that the manufacturer discontinued the Go. I still don't see this thing selling well ,and in all the time since it has been available I have never once seen anyone using them in the wild in all my travels while I see lots of iPhone, iPod touch, DS and normal PSPs around and being used.

[via Joystiq]

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Awesome Fujitsu Lifebook S761/C and P711/C notebooks get a pico projector inside

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:46 AM PDT

I have long thought that the smartphones we were seeing crop up as future models and concepts that had a pico projector inside were very cool, but would have limited appeal. I think that cramming a projector inside a notebook is a much better idea. There are hoards of users out there that travel for business today and give lots of presentations with a projector to groups of people. Having to schlep a notebook and a projector through an airport and on and off a plane can't be fun.

Fujitsu has a couple new notebook that mobile workers that have to carry a projector may wet themselves over. The new machines are the Lifebook S761/C and P711/C notebook computers and both of them give up an optical drive to get a pico projector inside the optical bay. The loss of the optical drive won't be a big deal for many people considering that many ultraportable on the market today have no optical drive either.

The difference in the two machines is the screen size, the S761/C is a 13.3-inch notebook and the P711/C is a 12.1-inch notebook. The pico projector inside the machines is an option and it has a resolution of 800 x 600. The 761 can be fitted with a Core i3-2310M, Celeron B810, or a Core i5-2520M processor. The screen resolution is 1366 x 768 and it has 160GB of storage and 1GB of RAM. The smaller machine has the same processor options minus the Celeron. Pricing and availability are both unknown.

[via AkihabaraNews]

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Google Chrome notebooks confirmed for release by the end of the year as a subscription

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:28 AM PDT

You might recall back in December 2010 we got to spend some time with the Google CR-48 notebook computer that runs the Chrome OS. We weren't overly enamored with the notebook when we got hands on the thing and noted at the time that the hardware of the notebook wasn't the story, but the Chrome OS. The machine catered to basic computing needs making it appropriate for only the most basic of users. Still the OS had us curious and we would like to see more.

Apparently, Google is set to toss notebooks running Chrome onto the market this summer. The tip comes by way of Google product manager Sundar Pichair. Pichair said that Google was currently working on fixing some bugs in the OS and that the product were expected in the summer of 2011. Neowin reports that it has works from a reliable source that the Chrome notebook will land by late June or early July. That certainly fits with the summer 2011 time frame offered by Pichai.

The weird part about all this is that when the Chrome OS notebooks land you won’t be able to just fork over a few hundred dollars and walk out with your notebook under your arm. The machines will apparently be sold by subscription along with Gmail to subscribers. The notebook would be made available at $10 to $20 per month per user according to reports. That may find some buyers that are the sort that have a very tight budget and need as low of a cash outlay upfront as possible. I don't see the masses or hardcore geeks being too thrilled with a subscription notebook.

[Neowin]

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Blink Bike Helmet gives cyclists blinkers on their head

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:01 AM PDT

I happen to live off a larger highway that has wide shoulders on each side and is a straight shot for miles and miles. That means that during the warm summer months on any given night you will find huge packs of bicyclists shooting up and down the highway on the shoulders having fun. The problem is that early in their biking season it gets dark pretty early and since the road has no lights anywhere those folks can be hard to see.

I would imagine that in a large city bicyclist ridging at night would have the same issue with drivers not really being able to see them. This is where this interesting helmet comes in that also happens to be more than a little bit geeky. The device is a concept called the Blink Bike Helmet. The goal of the helmet is to protect your noodle as any helmet would in the event of an accident and to help reduce the chances of those accidents by putting a red LED light on the back and turn signals on each side of the helmet that a rider can tap to activate.

On the right and left side are LED lights that look like an on/off switch to me. The rider trust taps the signals with their fingers and it will flash to show the drivers around you which way you are turning. The helmet also has a front LED light to make the rider more visible to oncoming traffic too. The concept was designed by Italian Giovanni Doci. This seems like an idea that would work well for people that ride bicycles a lot in traffic.

[via Gajitz]

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ThinkGeek unveils new Midnight Shot NV-1 Night Vision Camera

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 02:35 AM PDT

Just like any tool, this camera can be used for good or evil. ThinkGeek has all sorts of cameras and other gadgets that can be used for spying on your fellow geeks and doing things that could get you arrested or beaten up if you get caught. The latest camera product from the geeky purveyor of goodies is the new Midnight Shot NV-1 Night Vision Camera. It’s cool and has an infrared photography mode that allows you to take photos in total darkens.

The camera is able to shoot still photos and video. ThinkGeek says that the camera will let you see through some types of fabric and other materials. Exactly what kinds of fabric and materials the camera lets you see through isn’t noted, ThinkGeek says you have to experiment. The NV-1 has a 5MP resolution image sensor. The night shot mode retracts an infrared blocking filter that is normally over the lens allowing all that light to the image sensor.

The description does say that during daytime mode if you use the IR setting you will be able to see through clothing because the IR light penetrates surfaces while the light we see with our eyes bounces off. Their viewing effect can be increased by getting your own IR filter and attaching it to the lens as well. The internal memory of the camera is 16MB, it can store photos, and video to SD cards of up to 8GB in size. The video is recorded in AVI format with a resolution of 640 x 480. The camera is estimated to be in stock soon and sells for $139.99.

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Android and iPhone location reports prompt privacy concerns

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 02:28 AM PDT

The privacy concerns fueled by the rediscovery of an Apple location tracking database for iOS devices continue to swell, with Google the latest to be caught up in the morass. According to research quoted by the WSJ, both the iPhone and Android-based smartphones are regularly sending back location data to Apple and Google.

Researcher Samy Kamkar discovered that Android devices are keeping a track of location data every few seconds, in a log that is pinged to Google “at least several times an hour.” In a system reminiscent of the Google Street View data collection scandal, the phones also send the name, location and signal strength of any nearby WiFi networks, as well as a unique phone identifier. However, none of the data transmitted that Kamkar observed contained personal information.

Apple concedes it collects location data “intermittently” from both GPS and WiFi triangulation, with that data being reported back from the iPhone every twelve hours. Although the collection is usually covered by the devices’ EULA, the fact that many users don’t realize exactly what they are agreeing to, and the mystery surrounding exactly what is being done with those data reports, has prompted concerns from privacy advocates.

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Kindle for Android gets Honeycomb refresh

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 02:12 AM PDT

Amazon has released a new version of its Kindle app for Android-based devices, and the updated ereader has now been reworked to suit the bigger displays on Honeycomb tablets. Gone is the list view of ebooks on your device – or stored remotely in the cloud – and instead there’s a bookshelf-style interface with all the titles laid out with cover art.

You still get Whispersync support, pulling your notes, highlights, annotations and progress through each ebook over to every device you’re reading on. That means you can start reading on a Kindle and then pick up exactly where you left off on a Honeycomb slate.

The Kindle for Android app is still a free download from the Android Market. Later this year, US readers will be able to borrow ebooks for their Kindle from 10,000 libraries across the country.

Press Release:

Kindle for Android Now Tailored for Tablet Computers

Over 900,000 "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle Books available on the most popular platforms and devices, now including tablets running Android Honeycomb

SEATTLE, April 21, 2011 – (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Today Amazon announced an update to Kindle for Android that brings new features and adds support for tablet computers running Android's Honeycomb, including the Motorola Xoom. The latest version of Kindle for Android includes an integrated immersive shopping experience tailored for tablets, a new layout for newspapers and magazines designed for the unique interface of Honeycomb, and dozens of other new enhancements that take advantage of the larger screens. Like all Kindle apps, Kindle for Android includes Amazon’s Whispersync technology, which saves and synchronizes a customer’s books and bookmarks across their Kindle, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Android-based phones and tablets. Customers can learn more about Kindle for Android at www.amazon.com/kindleforandroid and download the app from the Amazon Appstore for Android or Android Market.

"We've taken all the features customers love about Kindle for Android, and created a beautiful new user interface and a seamless shopping experience tailored to the look and feel of Honeycomb tablets," said Dorothy Nicholls, Director, Amazon Kindle. "As always, Kindle customers 'Buy Once, Read Everywhere,' so Kindle for Android is the perfect companion for the millions of customers who own a Kindle and a way for customers around the world to download and enjoy books on their Android phone or tablet even if they don't yet own a Kindle."

New features of Kindle for Android include:
· Seamless integrated shopping experience tailored for tablets gives you quick access to personalized recommendations, customer reviews, and more
· Refined newspaper and magazine layout including full color images
· Ability to pause, resume download at any time
· Enhanced word look-up capability (for Android-based phones and tablets) with built-in dictionary with over 250,000 entries and definitions.

The Kindle Store offers the largest selection of books people want to read, including 110 of 111 New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases from $9.99. Millions of older, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are also available to read. Kindle for Android offers customers many features that are unique to the Kindle and Kindle App experience, including:
"Buy Once, Read Everywhere" – sync and read your books, last page read, bookmarks, notes and highlights across Kindle devices and the most popular devices and platforms
Worry-Free Archive – Amazon automatically backs up your books and highlights online in your Kindle library where they can be re-downloaded wirelessly anytime on any Kindle device or app
Unparalleled shopping experience – Get all of the features you love about shopping on Amazon.com, including customer reviews, personalized recommendations, and instant 1-click buying using your Amazon account information

For over two years, Amazon has been building and introducing a wide selection of free "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle apps for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Android-based devices that let customers read and sync their reading library, bookmarks, notes, and highlights with the device or platform of their choice. Learn more about Kindle apps at www.amazon.com/kindleapps. Customers can download Kindle for Android from the Amazon Appstore for Android or Android Market.

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Logitech Squeezebox Controller for iOS turns iPad into remote

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 01:40 AM PDT

Logitech has followed the introduction of its Android Squeezebox controller app with a version for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. A free download, Squeezebox Controller for iOS [iTunes link] allows you to control single or multi-room playback from your Apple device, as well as control streaming radio and search.

As you’d expect there are different layouts for iPad and iPhone, and all the usual Squeezebox functionality is supported. That means Pandora and custom radio stations, music-on-demand with Napster, Amazon MP3 downloads, podcasts and even images from Flickr and other photo services.

It’s another sign of Logitech attempting to chip away at Sonos, with the two companies competing to bring the cost of entry for each platform down as much as possible. You’ll still need a Squeezebox playback device, but they start from $149.99 for the Squeezebox Radio in white.

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Samsung counter-sues Apple with 10 patent infringement cases

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 01:11 AM PDT

Samsung had promised a counter-suit against Apple, and the company has delivered, filing a total of ten cases each alleging patent infringement. According to the company’s Samsung Tomorrow blog, five were submitted in Korea, two in Japan, and a final three in Germany. The exact details of the suits are yet to be confirmed.

“Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property” the company claimed, “and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business.” Apple had alleged that Samsung was intentionally copying the look and feel of its iOS devices, such as the iPhone, in the design of its Galaxy range of handsets and tablets.

As ever with these patent cases, it seems likely that the only winners involved will be the lawyers working for both firms. For more on the case, check out our previous feature.

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Nintendo Wii 2 “Stream” leaks: HD and Touchscreen controllers in late 2011?

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 12:58 AM PDT

Leaked details aplenty around Nintendo’s next-gen console to replace the Wii, believed to be codenamed Project Cafe, with IGN reporting on rumors that the Wii 2 will use innovative controllers with integrated “Screen Stream” technology that can stream games direct to an integrated color touchscreen. Mock-up images of the potential hardware – which may reach the marked as the Nintendo Stream, it’s suggested – have been discovered by NeoGAF, meanwhile, showing a somewhat retro, SNES-style console that’s said to be around the size of an Xbox 360.

Screen Stream will, it’s said, take the 1080p display the new high-definition Stream is capable of, and split the four individual views of multiplayer games, squirting one to each player’s controller. The TV can then show different camera angles or even be turned off completely. There’s also the possibility of “Virtual Console Games” similar to the tiny titles playable on SEGA’s DreamCast controllers.

As for the main hardware, Nintendo is said to be using a custom triple-core processor based on IBM’s PowerPC chipset, similar to the Xbox 360, though with higher clock speeds than the Microsoft console. It will be paired with a revamped version of AMD’s R700 GPU, expected to be faster than the PS3′s NVIDIA 7800GTX-based graphics chip. Foxconn is handling production.

The Wii 2, or Stream, could reach the market as early as mid-October 2011, though it’s possible that Nintendo could hold off from releasing the HD-capable console until early 2012. That would allow developers to build up a catalog of titles to take advantage of the Screen Stream technology. Pricing is believed to be in the region of $350 to $400.

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SARCOS The Humanoid Robot That Dances And Can Take Some Bullying Around

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:43 PM PDT

So we’ve seen plenty of robots in our time, from the recent ones working in Fukushima to the ones helping cure autism in children and others that just look eerily human for the sake of looking eerily human. But none so far have had quite the life-like fluidity of movement as the Sarcos robot developed by the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon. Not only can it dance, but it can take a good shove from behind without falling over thanks to its unique ability to constantly adjust its balance much like the way humans do. Continue after the jump for videos of it dancing and getting bullied.

The Sarcos is a full body humanoid robot that stands and balances on its own two feet with movements that are fluid thanks to the use of hydraulic actuators. Ben Stephens, a Ph.D. research student at Carnegie Mellon, works with Sarcos to develop its balancing abilities. In the first video below you will see him demonstrating Sarcos by having it perform a dance that was programmed from recording human movement via motion capture.

The second video actually shows Sarcos getting pushed with a stick and being able to step forward to adjust its balance without falling over. That’s a good skill to have considering Sarcos is probably not cheap nor lightweight and could cause both monetary and physical damage. What’s interesting in both videos is that Sarcos is not just playing back programmed joint movements, but is actively adjusting balance throughout each movement. Now imagine if they wrap Sarcos with the freakishly human-looking skins of the Geminoids.

[via Geek]

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AT&T Officially Pitches To FCC Its Acquisition Of T-Mobile

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:29 PM PDT

It’s been a month since AT&T first announced plans to acquire T-Mobile, a move that made sense to analysts but got consumers concerned about future pricing options. Today, AT&T filed its official application to the FCC detailing why their acquisition should be approved.

AT&T emphasized that the acquisition would help speed up the expansion of their 4G network, which would benefit consumers with improved voice and data service as well as coverage.

“In just the first five-to-seven weeks of 2015, AT&T expects to carry all of the mobile traffic volume it carried during 2010,” the carrier said in its filing. “This merger provides by far the surest, fastest and most efficient solution to that challenge. The network synergies of this transaction will free up new capacity – the functional equivalent of new spectrum – in the many urban, suburban and rural wireless markets where escalating broadband usage is fast consuming existing capacity.”

They also reassured that T-Mobile customers could continue to enjoy their current rate plans and that the acquisition would actually give them an even greater array of plan options. Customers would also benefit from free mobile-to-mobile calling with the expanded customer base.

“With this acquisition, T-Mobile USA consumers will be able to keep their current rate plans,” said AT&T. “AT&T will map T-Mobile USA's rate plans into AT&T's billing systems as we have done in the case of prior acquisitions, so that if a T-Mobile USA consumer wishes to change her existing smartphone to a comparable smartphone from AT&T's device portfolio, she will be able to keep her existing data plan.”

“The bottom line is that our merger with T-Mobile USA will offer significant benefits to American consumers. It will address capacity constraints that both of our companies face, which will enable the combined company to provide improved services in the many urban, suburban, and rural markets where the enormous surge in broadband usage is fast consuming available capacity,” said AT&T.

[via PC Mag]

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Apple Seeding iPhone ’4S’ Prototype With A5 Chip To Game Developers?

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 03:50 PM PDT

It is widely believed now that the iPhone 5 will be touching down this September, with recent evidence suggesting the device to be a GSM/CDMA world phone, and to run on the speedy A5 chip currently found in the iPad 2. But now, an additional source from 9to5 Mac further supports the A5 claim and also suggests some awesome gaming power to come with the iPhone 5.

The source claims that an iPhone prototype dubbed ’4S’ sporting an A5 chip has been seeded to certain high level game developers. It is common for companies to hand out prototypes to developers early on to ensure that apps or games are optimized, take full advantage of the hardware capabilities, and ready by the launch of the device. The prototype appears to be a modified iPhone 4 with an A5 chip and still runs the same iOS 4, but slightly tweaked to work with the new processor.

The A5 chip has twice the CPU speed of the previous generation processor and has up to 9 times faster graphics. This is definitely a lot of extra processing power that game developers can harness to create some high-performance games on the next-gen iPhone. If most of the speculation is true, and you can go here for a good roundup, the iPhone 5 will be quite the beast come this September.

[via 9to5 Mac]

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