News Archive for 08/02/28

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First Look: MozyHome remote backup

02/28, 10:00pm

First Look at MozyHome

Backups are an essential part of modern computer ownership, to ensure that irreplaceable data is recoverable in the event of a hard drive failure or corruption. This could range from important business data or university coursework, to personal photos or financial data. Some users do not feel they'd properly make use of all the .Mac services, so the yearly fee may be slightly cost prohibitive, while others feel that 10GB of storage is too much for them.

Aperture 2.0 appeals to amateurs, pros

02/28, 8:50pm

Aperture 2.0 appeals

Apple's post-production photography software, Aperture, is more usable to both amateurs and pros since the company released version 2.0, according to one report. The New York Times writes that Aperture 2.0 provides a more accessible, streamlined interface and eases the process of handling photos in full-screen mode. The update also increases speed considerably when dealing with large numbers of photos, but maintains original versions of those photos more efficiently than iPhoto -- Apple's consumer-oriented photo software.

Redesigned BudCase earbud keychain ships

02/28, 8:25pm

Redesigned BudCase ships

Extended Access today released an updated design of BudCase, its earbud keychain case made for Apple's iPhone. The BudCase is designed to provide quick access to earbuds any time on-the-go, with the latest revision boasting a lighter and more compact form factor with a slightly increased width to accommodate a greater variety of earbuds. BudCase works with most earbuds -- including those shipped with Apple's iPhone -- and is available in black, red, or blue for $15.

Mousepose 3 adds Window Highlighting

02/28, 6:20pm

Boinx releases Mousepose 3

Boinx Software today released Mousepose 3, a utility designed for presentations that dims the screen and places a spotlight on the mouse pointer. The latest release introduces Window Highlighting, expanding the focus for highlighting purposes when users hover the mouse over a window. MousePose 3 also adds Mouse Click Visualization with a more elegant animation as well as audible click feedback. The software is available for $17 as a single user license, while new Family licenses are priced at $30 and support up to five Macs in a household. The software requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

iPhoto 7.1.3 fixes wire-bound books, cards

02/28, 6:15pm

iPhoto 7.1.3 fixes books

Apple today unveiled iPhoto 7.1.3, an update to its photo organization, editing, and printing application, introducing several fixes. Unfortunately, details on the update are very scarce, saying little more than "this update addresses issues with wire-bound books and cards." The update for iPhoto 7.1.3 is available both through the Apple support downloads website and through the Software Update application, located underneath the Apple Menu.

Apple influential to 'No Country for Old Men'

02/28, 5:40pm

Apple's movie influence

The Coen brothers -- the creators of 'No Country for Old Men' which won five Oscars at this year's Academy Awards -- have discussed how Apple hardware and software were influential during the editing process of the film's creation. "They [Apple] made it really easy for us — we cut now much the same way we cut on film [using Final Cut Pro]. It's hugely faster," said Ethan Coen. 'No Country for Old Men' won 'Best Picture' this year and is the first movie edited with an entirely digital workflow on a Mac to win the Oscar, according to Macworld.

Gigabyte unveils 3.5G/GPS modem

02/28, 4:40pm

Gigabyte 3.5G/GPS modem

Umbrella technology company Gigabyte has offered a brief peak at a new cellular modem, the MD800. Buyers will have the option of three different interfaces -- ExpressCard, mini-USB or PCMCIA -- and gain access to 3.5G-level broadband, likely some form of HSPA. The card should also be the first to combine this with both GPS and assisted GPS abilities, expanding the functions of phones and/or computers.

iPhone second to BlackBerry in business

02/28, 4:40pm

ChangeWave on corp phones

Although Research in Motion's BlackBerry smartphones continue to top the list of the most purchased and desirable handhelds in the corporate world, Apple is making unusually strong gains in the field, according to a new study by ChangeWave. The research group notes that while a large split exists between the marketshare of the BlackBerry line and the iPhone -- each used by 73 percent and just 5 percent of responding business users in February, respectively -- the situation is likely to continue to change in favor of the smaller player in the future based on planned purchases. RIM is expected to remain comfortable with 77 percent of these sales but faces roughly 11 percent of workplaces buying iPhones.

ITC rules in favor of Nokia over Qualcomm

02/28, 4:05pm

ITC hands victory to Nokia

One final victory has been granted before the temporary ceasefire begins between Nokia and Qualcomm. The US International Trade Commission has affirmed a ruling it issued in December, which said that Nokia had not violated three patents relating to GSM, GPRS and EDGE technology. The case in fact backfired for Qualcomm, as the ITC determined that one of the patents was invalid.

Yahoo report: Microsoft bid a distraction

02/28, 4:00pm

Yahoo report: MS offer

Yahoo has said in a report filed with U.S. regulators that Microsoft's recent bid to purchase the company is a distraction, and warned investors of such. Microsoft offered to purchase Yahoo for $44.6 billion on February 1st, but Yahoo officially rejected the bid just 10 days later. Yahoo's annual report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission states that Microsoft's proposed deal could continue to distract the company as well as its management, according to Reuters.

Google offers phone numbers, voicemail to homeless

02/28, 3:45pm

Google Phone Svc Homeless

Google today said it would make donation of phone service to Project Homeless Connect, an effort dedicated to providing ordinary services to the very poor. The search engine giant says it will supply any homeless person with both a phone number as well as a voicemail inbox, giving them an opportunity to communicate both with possible employers as well as with family that might otherwise never hear back. While the voicemail is accessible from any phone, the phone number is local and is treated like any number; the homeless do not have to feel pushed into a special service, Google explains.

KF750, other LG phones headed to CeBIT?

02/28, 3:30pm

LG KF750, KF240 and KF300

A trio of new LG phones will be announced at next week's CeBIT expo, leaks suggest. All three devices are said to be a part of a new fashion series; the high end is represented by the KF750, a slider which is extraordinarily thin and uses a glossy touchscreen display. Unlike most such phones the touch technology extends to the navigation pad, where glowing rings highlight buttons. Other specifications are said to include a five-megapixel still camera, a VGA camera for video calls, and 160MB of internal memory supplemented by microSD cards. A pre-release version of the 750 is already said to be on a Romanian auction site.

Sony gives Europe PS3 bundles with 3 movies, GT5

02/28, 2:55pm

Sony Euro PS3 Bundles

Following the return of the 80GB PS3 to the US through a Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle, Sony is set to supply Europe with its own custom editions, according to a French site's leak. Since confirmed by Sony's European gaming branch, a special version of the 40GB system will ship with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue when the racing game ships later in the spring; pricing should be unchanged at €399 ($604) on the mainland and will likely keep its existing UK price.

First Look: Drive Genius 2, disk utility

02/28, 2:45pm

First Look: Drive Genius 2

Your data is only as safe as your hard drive. Backing up can protect your data, but for complete protection, you need to maintain your hard disk. Not only can hard disk maintenance keep your hard disk from failing and losing valuable data, but hard disk maintenance can speed up your computer by making it run more efficiently. Although Apple provides every Macintosh with its Disk Utility program, you may want a more powerful disk maintenance and repair program, such as Drive Genius 2 from ProSoft Engineering.

MS lowered Vista specs to sell Intel tech

02/28, 2:20pm

MS Lowered Vista Specs

Microsoft knowingly lowered the requirements for Windows Vista to help Intel sell more low-cost chipsets, disclosed company e-mail has revealed. Further searches as part of an investigation into misleading Vista Capable stickers has revealed a message by executive John Kalkman which complains of bending the minimum specifications to allow certain budget mainboards to earn the criteria despite missing out on key features. Despite a lack of support for Vista's Aero Glass appearance and other features considered selling points for the OS, the Intel 915 mainboard chipset was allowed to qualify for the Vista Capable logo solely to satisfy the close hardware partner, even though it effectively allowed companies to ship sub-par hardware and delay efforts for more capable equipment.

Safari not secure against phishing, says PayPal

02/28, 1:50pm

Safari vulnerable to phish

PayPal warns its members to avoid using Safari when making transactions, since it has a distinct lack of protection against phishing – the act of coaxing a user to click on a false link on a false web page for malicious purposes. PayPal users are typical targets for phishing attempts, where the page asks users for their personal login information. Once this information is collected, malicious users have free reign over a compromised PayPal account.

Precision M2300, M4300 join Dell Penryn updates

02/28, 1:45pm

Dell M2300, M4300 updates

Along with the M6300, Dell has updated two other Precision notebooks, the 14.1-inch M2300 and 15.4-inch M4300. The systems now have the option of Intel's new 45nm Penryn processors, with specific chips rated anywhere between 2.1 and 2.6GHZ. These cost the same as earlier equivalent Merom chips. Both the 2300 and 4300 have the option of 32 or 64GB SSD drives, but RAM can only scale up to 4GB, unlike the 6300. Video in each case is limited to a Quadro FX 360M. Prices for the M2300 and M4300 start at $1,379.

MacBook Air patent hints future expansion

02/28, 1:25pm

MBA expansion

Apple has filed for several patents related to the MacBook Air that cover currently implement technology and hint at future expansion potential for the sub-notebook. Included is a patent for the collapsible port, which apparently was originally earmarked for the rear of the notebook and was to present additional options. The patent reveals that the collapsible port may show up on other Apple devices, with patent writers stating "the present invention may apply to other types of devices, and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention."

Intel profiles upcoming Diamondville processors

02/28, 1:10pm

Intel Diamondville specs

Presenting at Mobility Summit 2008, Intel has revealed fresh details on its upcoming Diamondville CPUs, intended for low-cost notebooks and compact desktops. The design is only single-core, but supports technologies such as hyperthreading, and is being built with a 45nm process like Intel's more powerful Penryn chips. This helps the processor achieve an incredibly low thermal design power rating, at a mere 4W. Heat is dissipated passively.

ASUS announces Xonar DX PCIe soundcard

02/28, 12:35pm

ASUS Xonar DX soundcard

Typically associated more with notebooks, motherboards and videocards, ASUS has announced a new soundcard, the Xonar DX PCI Express 7.1. The company claims the card produces audio 35 times cleaner than that of motherboard chips, with a 116dB signal-to-noise ratio in front output. As it name implies, the card is also capable of 7.1 surround sound, though only through Dolby codecs such as Digital Live and Pro Logic 8x.

Apple makes top ten list of wireless suppliers

02/28, 12:25pm

Apple makes top ten list

Apple has squeezed its way onto the top ten list of worldwide wireless phone suppliers, according to a recent report published by Gartner Consulting. The Inquirer didn't mention at which spot Apple sits, but noted that accompanying Apple into the top ten were China's ZTE, and Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM. The author for The Enquirer questions whether Apple can maintain its position as the first quarter of the year is underway.

Sony-Ericsson K850i hands-on, first impressions

02/28, 12:25pm

Sony-Ericsson K850

Sony-Ericsson's K850i phone has just landed at the Electronista offices, and it promises to be one of the most powerful phones tested here to date -- and likely one of the most powerful phones of its type in North America. For those unfamiliar with the device, the K850i is one of Sony-Ericsson's few phones that supports North American 3G. This translates to very fast downloads, and in our initial experiences the performance is genuinely quick enough to be usable; it feels tangibly faster for downloads than EVDO on rival CDMA networks. The 5-megapixel camera is welcome, especially with the addition of a sizeable flash.

3G iPhone due mid-year with Infineon chip?

02/28, 11:45am

3G iPhone in mid-year?

The 3G iPhone is coming in the middle of 2008 with technology supplied by Infineon, says an analyst with the investment bank UBS. Nicolas Gaudois claims his statement is based on various checks, and particularly an HSDPA design win by Infineon set to ramp up during the second quarter of the year. This might not be of concern except that Infineon is said to also be ramping down EDGE chip production for the current 2.5G iPhone, with the intention of clearing out inventory.

Prototype Android touch phone in BBC video

02/28, 11:15am

Mystery Android Phone

A new, previously unspecified phone running Google's Android mobile OS has been spotted, courtesy of a new BBC video. The British news organization was told that the early, prototype device was manufactured by one of Google's partners in the project and veers away from the button-driven form seen in the initial example. The mystery device is almost entirely driven by a touchscreen and includes just a minimal set of physical controls for taking calls and jumping to familiar hotspots in the interface, such as the home screen.

iPhone mod adds haptic feedback when typing

02/28, 11:10am

iPhone haptic keyboard mod

In an effort to make typing on the iPhone more familiar, the University of Glasgow has unveiled a hack that provides vibration feedback when a virtual key is pressed, simulating the effect of typing on a real keyboard. The patch enables what the University calls haptic feedback, which researchers say can help improve typing speeds, while simultaneously reducing errors. The hack is available from the University's Google Code page, requiring a jailbroken 1.1.3 iPhone.

Sprint preps $100 unlimited plan as subs tumble

02/28, 10:15am

Sprint Simply Everything

Sprint saw one of its worst quarters in recent history late last year, the company reported this morning. The phone provider drew a nearly $29.5 billion loss for the calendar quarter ended in December and noted that it had lost 683,000 customers over the same period versus gains from nearly all its rivals. This is only set to worsen as another 1.2 million are expected to drop subscriptions by the end of the current quarter, according to the carrier's guidance. The news is said to have surprised even new CEO Dan Hesse, who noted that Sprint had borrowed $2.5 billion and that it would take a long time to recover from its recent history.

O2: iPhone fastest selling, highest satisfaction

02/28, 10:10am

iPhone best seller for O2

O2 today revealed that the iPhone is its fasting selling device for the UK, noting that the device has helped it achieve 9.5-percent revenue growth during the final quarter for 2007. While O2 did not provide specific sales numbers for the device alone, it said that the iPhone led its strongest quarter on record, adding 483,000 customers and 276,000 contracts to its roster. These latest results are the first to show the effects of the iPhone on the company's UK sales, according to Pocket-lint.co.uk.

AmTech: March 6th to bring corporate e-mail

02/28, 10:10am

AmTech on Mar. 6th plans

The special event Apple has planned for March 6th will likely introduce better corporate e-mail support, argues Shaw Wu of American Technology Research. The analyst cites "industry and developer sources," who say that Apple has been conducting months of beta testing in order to make the iPhone function properly with Microsoft ubiquitous Exchange Server technology. The same sources suggest that support is imminent for Lotus Notes, for which IBM has confirmed that a web client is in development.

O2 confirms Irish iPhone launch

02/28, 9:15am

O2 confirms Irish iPhone

Coming only a day after exploration of Apple's iPhone 1.1.4 firmware revealed references to unsupported carriers, O2 Ireland has confirmed that it will soon be releasing the iPhone for its network. The debut is in fact scheduled to coincide with the beginning of the company's fourth financial quarter, with an official launch set for March 14th. This also marks the beginning of the St. Patrick's Day weekend.

Corsair intros fast 16GB Flash Voyager GT

02/28, 9:05am

Corsair Voyager GT 16GB

Corsair this morning released a small but important update to its Flash Voyager rugged flash drive line. A new, GT version of the Voyager offers 16GB of storage without the usual speed sacrifice associated with the extra capacity; through an advanced memory controller and hand-picked flash chips, Corsair claims an approximate four-fold speed boost over similar drives. The gain is enough to transfer just over 1MB in less than two seconds (versus five on other designs) and to transfer a full 1.6GB movie in 98 seconds compared to nearly six full minutes on older designs.

Creative's next ZEN packs touchscreen, X-Fi?

02/28, 8:40am

Creative ZEN Touch Rumor

Creative may finally be launching into touchscreen media players with its rumored ZEN Share player, say tips from alleged insiders. While the name is no longer certain, the device is claimed to be the first to rely on touch navigation. The new player would also break ground as the first Creative player to sport the company's X-Fi sound processing hardware, which helps restore missing detail from the compressed music files most likely to be used on a portable device.

Apple airs new iPod touch TV ad

02/28, 12:30am

New iPod touch TV ad

Although not yet available on Apple's website, Apple on Wednesday night released a new iPod touch commercial, touting its recently updated WiFi mobile device. Premiering on American Idol during US primetime, the ad features nearly a dozen iPod touch devices laying on a wooden tabletop, with one user showcasing various Touch features (internet, mail, maps, and video playback) using Apple's patented gestures to the lyrics "I don't want know what I want I'm looking for, but I know I want to look some more." The commercial ends showing several hands grabbing each iPod touch and a blank table showing with the "Everybody touch" caption.