News Archive for 09/10/26

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Sony Ericsson launches teaser site for XPERIA X3

10/26, 11:20pm

Company's first Android-based smartphone

Sony Ericcson has launched a teaser site for its upcoming Rachael smartphone. Although the site does not directly name Rachael, se-blog.com blogger Michell Bak noticed that several references to the project's codename are contained in the page's source code. Sony Ericsson South Africa later confirmed the association between the teaser page and the upcoming device.

iSkin intros three new iPod nano 5G accessories

10/26, 10:45pm

iSkin Vibes, iSkin Duoband, iSkin nano Duo

iSkin has launched several new products for its line of iPod nano 5G accessories, the iSkin nano Duo, iSkin Vibes, and iSkin DuoBand. iSkin nano Duo is a hard plastic case, available in clear and black colors, that protects the iPod nano from bumps, scrapes and scratches. The case integrates a shock-absorbing silicone BodyGuard, a removable revoClip that can rotate 90-degrees in either direction, and a small port plug for protecting the iPod's charging port.

Macessity intros TrayStation laptop riser

10/26, 10:15pm

TrayStation raises laptop, improves ventalation

Macessity has introduced TrayStation, a new laptop riser that has been added to the company's line of computer accessories. TrayStation consists of both a heavy steel base-station coated in aluminum, and a 5mm clear acrylic tray which raises the laptop approximately 6 inches and is designed to help reduce strain on the eyes and back. The stand provides four non-skid feet which prevent it from sliding on furniture, along with four latches at the top which secure the tray in place.

Citrin 2 adds new graphing and charting tools, dBase support

10/26, 9:40pm

Graphing app updated with slew of new functions

Gigawiz has released an update to its graphic application, Citrin. Version 2 adds a range of new features including an "X-zooming" tool that allows users to walk through hierarchies of data in both directions. The feature prevents the exclusion of data from being a visual effect, as the content is not sent through the visualization pipeline.

Nintendo readying Japanese DSi with larger display?

10/26, 8:45pm

4" screen expected with updated model

A report originating from the Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei claims that Nintendo is readying an updated DSi featuring a 4-inch display. If true, the revamped device would exceed the current model's screen by ¾ of an inch. The company is reportedly making the adjustment in response to user feedback, while accommodating older users who have complained of problems using the smaller size.

Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8530 surfaces ahead of launch

10/26, 7:45pm

RIM's CDMA counterpart to the 8520

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 has surfaced in a hands-on look ahead of its launch on Verizon. The smartphone represents RIM's CDMA counterpart to the Curve 8520, although the latest model offers a few extras. The pre-release device, obtained by CrackBerry, was contained in a box labeled Curve 2, although it remains unknown if the company will use the moniker with official marketing.

Microsoft abandons Family Guy Windows 7 promo

10/26, 7:30pm

MS backs out of sponsoring Family Guy

Microsoft in a sudden reversal today exited its sponsorship of a Family Guy episode due to air in just under two weeks. The company had originally signed on to tie Windows 7 to an uninterrupted half-hour episode of the show known as Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show that airs November 8th but now says the material it saw in an early cut is "not a fit with the Windows brand" and will leave any Windows 7 advertising to a 12-week Family Guy-related tour. It's believed the humor was considered too controversial for the software developer.

Telestream ScreenFlow 2.0 adds new editing capabilities

10/26, 6:15pm

Screencasting app now allows direct YouTube upload

Telestream has released an update to its ScreenFlow screencasting software for Mac. Version 2 allows users to upload content directly to YouTube, with support for both SD and HD resolutions. The company has also added a variety of new 2D and 3D transitions, along with expanded control over editing, video speed, audio levels, keyboard shortcuts and document packages.

FCC head warns of "spectrum gap" made by iPhone

10/26, 6:05pm

Genachowski says mobile data in crisis

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski in a talk published today warned that mobile data is facing a "spectrum gap" that could significantly damage Internet access on cellphones. He considers the iPhone a leader in a wave of devices that are straining 3G networks enough to create severe accessibility problems and that the FCC is considering "more creative" steps to solve the problem. Among these steps may include exploiting unlicensed spectrum or even allowing second licenses that have two companies share the same frequency.

Tilera 100-core CPU said 4X faster than new Xeons

10/26, 5:10pm

Tilera TILE-Gx100 may beat Intel

Tilera on Monday unveiled a new processor it hopes will unseat Intel from its overall lead in performance. The TILE-Gx100 counts on a massively parallel, 100-core architecture to handle many tasks at once and reportedly overcomes some of the problems of scaling inherent to many-core designs. Instead of using a data bus, the grid is treated as a mesh network with switches on each core to route data smoothly. The approach lets Tilera reach the core count without it stalling or without the added space dictated by the bus architecture.

China Unicom to offer amnesty for gray-market iPhones

10/26, 5:00pm

May legitimize many Chinese devices

Some users of gray-market iPhones will soon be eligible for an amnesty in China, writes the China Business Times. Official products for the region are set to go on sale later this week, after an unusually long negotiation period with Apple. Prices will be considerably higher than many Chinese are able to afford however, which could lead a number to choose unlocked import phones, which are also frequently less expensive.

Regen intros ReNu solar charger for iPods, iPhones

10/26, 4:30pm

Regen intros ReNu modular solar charger

Regen recently introduced its ReNu modular solar panel. The device will charge its built-in battery using the sun and in turn power a number of optional bases. ReNu's panel plugs into a speaker dock for docking iPods and iPhones, or iPod charging base and an LED desk lamp add-on. If sunlight is at a premium, users can also plug it into a conventional wall socket for power.

Intel 34nm SSD gets potential 40% write speed boost

10/26, 4:15pm

Intel updates 34nm firmware with TRIM

Intel today posted a crucial firmware update for its current-generation 34 nanometer solid-state drives that promises a major lift to their performance. The X25-M series now supports the Trim, or ATA Data Set Management Command, to more efficiently write to the drive. By better recognizing and shuffling which data blocks aren't used, Trim avoids unnecessarily rewriting to the disk and speeds up its overall transfer speed.

MPIO intros V7 touchscreen multimedia player

10/26, 4:10pm

MPIO shows V7 player with color touchscreen

Korea-based MPIO is once again returning to multimedia players with the V7. The device sports a 3-inch color touchscreen with 400x240 pixel resolution and will be available in 4, 8 and 16GB capacities. The MPIO V7 has a built-in text reader, voice recorder, and FM tuner and transmitter.

Sony optical drive arm target of antitrust hunt

10/26, 3:50pm

Sony being investigated by antitrust agencies

Sony is being subpoenaed by the US Justice Department regarding its US optical drive division, says a Monday WSJ report (subscription required). The company's Optiarc America division, which sells optical discs and drives for computers, is now under investigation for antitrust concerns. While not many specifics were revealed, Sony did say both the Justice Department and other, unidentified agencies outside of the US are "investigating competition in optical disk drives."

Apple to spend $4 million on Chicago subway station

10/26, 3:25pm

Renovation meant to aid new Apple Store

Apple has agreed to spend over $4 million on renovating a Chicago subway station, according to Chicago Business. The station is situated near the intersection of North and Clybourn, where Apple is set to build another retail store for the city, measuring some 15,000 square feet with design by long-time partner Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The lease on the real estate is expected to cost Apple at least $700,000 annually.

Verizon talks profit fall, hopes for iPhone

10/26, 3:25pm

Verizon adds just 1.2m new users

Verizon today reported mixed results for its summer quarter and reiterated its invitation to Apple. The carrier said its operating revenue grew year-over-year by more than 10 percent to $27.3 billion but that its actual earnings per shared dropped a sharp 30.5 percent from 59 cents per share a year ago to 41 cents today, or $2.88 billion. Most of the growth came about from added cellphone and FiOS customers.

NEC set to release pro-minded tablet PC

10/26, 2:35pm

NEC business tablet PC spotted

A prototype tablet PC from NEC has been spotted recently, though little information is known about the device, according to a Nikkei report (subscription required). The device will be close to a mobile Internet device (MID) in shape as it's is expected to sport a touchscreen sized at between 7 and 8 inches, but it should have functionality that is said to more closely mimic that of a full-fledged PC. No technical specs are available, however.

Lenovo intros B500 all-in-one, Core i7 IdeaPad, more

10/26, 2:25pm

Lenovo upgrades Idea PCs for Windows 7

Lenovo today sparked life in its IdeaCentre desktops and IdeaPad notebooks by refreshing them for Windows 7 and adding a few completely new models. The IdeaCentre B500 is one of the few all-in-one PCs built for gamers and high-end media use with both a Core 2 Quad, unnamed but dedicated graphics and a built-in JBL speaker system. It also brings a 23-inch 1080p display, 1TB of disk space and a motion remote for an unspecified price.

LG unveils its first Core i7 notebook

10/26, 1:35pm

LG outs XNOTE R590 quad-core portable

Korea's LG has recently shown off its first netbook with Intel's Core i7 quad-core processor, the 15.6-inch XNOTE R590. Two models will be available, one with a 1.73GHz i7 and the other sporting a 1.6GHz version. Either version will ship with Windows 7 Home Premium and NVIDIA's GeForce GT 230M graphics chipset with 1GB of dedicated RAM.

Nokia lawsuit could cost Apple up to $1 billion

10/26, 1:25pm

Analysts dispute possible payments

A Nokia patent lawsuit could cost Apple as much as $1 billion in back payments, argues Strategy Analytics' Neil Mawston. The analyst tells Reuters that because of the over 34 million iPhones Apple has shipped to date, the company could owe anywhere between $200 million and $1 billion, depending on the terms of a settlement. Pund-IT analyst Charles King suggests that a $400 million figure more likely, assuming a 2 percent royalty scheme.

MiFi 2200 update brings always-on mode, more

10/26, 1:20pm

MiFi 2200 now supports BB Curve, Nintendo DS

Novatel's MiFi 2200 has recently benefitted from a firmware update that has upgraded much of its functions. The device connects to either Sprint's or Verizon's EVDO Revision A Internet connection and shares with up to five compatible devices across an 802.11g Wi-Fi network. Most notably, the new software allows the modem to never enter hibernation mode when it is plugged into a wall outlet instead of running off its built-in battery, and is now compatible with the Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve.

Apple tablet should cost $600 to reach Windows users

10/26, 12:40pm

Study: Windows users want cheap Apple tablet

Apple's often-rumored tablet may need to come in well below the rumored $800 price if it hopes to attract Windows users, a study shows today. While Retrevo believes 68 percent of Mac users are willing to opt for the large multi-touch device if it costs over $600, only 36 percent of Windows users asked would agree to the same terms. The difference is similarly wide at $800 where 41 percent of Mac users would pay $800 or more while just 20 percent of Windows users would agree to the same terms.

Sony Ericsson Equinox officially dated for T-Mobile

10/26, 12:00pm

Equinox gets a date for T-Mobile, full specs

As reported earlier, Sony Ericsson will begin shipping its Equinox flip phone to wireless provider T-Mobile on October 28th, the company announced on Monday. Full specs of the device have also been revealed, and include 3G network support, a built-in GPS sensor and a unique lightning effect that pulsates when a call or message comes in, the color of which can be customized for each specific caller.

Kingston preps 40GB SSD for system booting

10/26, 11:55am

Kingston SSD Now V 40GB meant for OS

Kingston today catered to a specific segment of the storage crowd with the SSDNow V 40GB Boot Drive. The 2.5-inch SATA drive isn't intended as primary storage but rather as a system drive that speeds up the operating system as well as key apps. It's billed as inexpensive enough that it can be mated with a second, much larger rotating hard drive that would handle less critical apps and storage.

ZFS dropped from Snow Leopard over licensing?

10/26, 11:35am

Sour negotiations may be to blame

Support for ZFS was ultimately dropped from Snow Leopard as a result of licensing issues, claims Jeff Bonwick, a project team leader at Sun. The technology was initially expected to be a highlight of Snow Leopard, for instance providing image-based backups, and eliminating the need for drive partitions. Hints that ZFS had been removed came in June however, and the technology is nowhere to be found in shipping copies of the OS.

inPulse BlackBerry watch now official

10/26, 11:15am

inPulse watch gives BBerry mail, calls

Quickly following up on recent leaks, Allerta today unveiled the inPulse BlackBerry smartwatch. Made as a companion for BlackBerry smartphones, the watch pairs over Bluetooth and provides caller ID and e-mail headers in real-time on an OLED display to save users the trouble of checking the phone. It can also recognize SMS notices, RSS news feeds and even Twitter updates.

Samsung shows 3mm-thick Needle Slim HDTV

10/26, 10:50am

Samsung Needle Slim HDTV is just 3mm thick

Samsung has recently shown off its Needle Slim LED-backlit HDTV, which manages to be just over a tenth of an inch (3mm) thick thin while offering a 40-inch screen size. The set otherwise has 1080p resolution and a 120Hz panel. Its contrast ratio is its only sacrifice and reaches a 5,000:1 static ratio.

Palm Pixi to reach Sprint for $100 on Nov. 15

10/26, 10:40am

Palm Pixi due in three weeks for Sprint

Sprint today set final launch details for the Palm Pixi on its network. The smartphone will ship to the carrier's stores on November 15th and cost $100 on contract after both a $50 immediate discount and a $100 mail-in rebate. It's also now known to work with the Touchstone inductive charging dock but needs both the $80 add-on as well as a $20 back shell to charge without using wires.

Aberdeen Apple Store to arrive on October 29th

10/26, 10:20am

Will help open new shopping complex

Apple is set to open a second Scottish Apple Store on October 29th, in the northern city of Aberdeen. As with a recent Welsh store opening, the Aberdeen launch is unusual in that it is occurring mid-week, and at a time other than 10AM. Hours are expected to run from 12PM to 8PM on opening day, before switching to a regular start time of 9AM.

HTC starts major advertising push

10/26, 10:20am

HTC You campaign inverts iPhone tactic

HTC today began its first ever large-scale marketing campaign aimed at boosting its market share. The "You" promos will include TV ads (viewable below), billboards and other spots and is ultimately expected to reach 95 percent of US cellphone users as many as 36 times before the end of the year. The 10 largest markets, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City and Seattle, will receive particularly heavy advertising.

Second Nokia Booklet 3G due in 2010?

10/26, 9:30am

Strong Booklet 3G demand nets 2nd model

Demand has been high enough for Nokia's Booklet 3G netbook that the company is moving ahead with a second model next year, a leak to Taiwan's Economic Daily News newspaper claims. Nokia's contractor in the area, Compal, is reportedly working "overtime" to meet demand for the Atom-based portable and that it's likely to receive orders for a 2010 model as well. Details of the system are unknown, including whether or not it's an upgrade to the existing system or an entirely new configuration.

Orange UK to sell iPhones on November 10th

10/26, 9:30am

May try to circumvent offering lower prices

The UK division of Orange will begin iPhone sales on November 10th, according to regional newspaper The Guardian. Although Orange originally announced its intentions to carry the iPhone in late September, it has been hesitant to provide many more details. The date of the 10th is said to be significant though, as it is allegedly the day after O2's iPhone exclusivity ends.

Telus to launch HSPA, iPhone 3GS Nov. 5

10/26, 9:05am

Telus HSPA and iPhone due same day

Telus on Monday revealed that both its HSPA+ network and its iPhone launch will kick off on November 5th and has provided device pricing for its version of the Apple handset. Its pricing will match the Rogers version and see 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS units cost $200 and $300 respectively on three-year contracts. Contract-free versions will sell for $700 and $800. The 8GB iPhone 3G will sell for $100 on contract or $600 contract-free.

NYT remarks, SIM tray leak point to Apple tablet?

10/26, 8:25am

Apple slate seen as impending

Apple's plans to launch a tablet in coming months may have gained credence today through a pair of possible leaks. New York Times executive editor Bill Keller in a speech at Harvard's Nieman Journalism Lab last week included the "impending Apple slate" as one of the platforms he hopes to have carry the newspaper's content, alongside desktop, mobile web and iPhone apps. It's unclear if Keller has advance knowledge or is just acting on rumors, although it's been claimed that Apple is negotiating with publishers for content delivery through iTunes in advance of a tablet.

Verizon ships Storm2 Oct. 28, OS 5.0 today

10/26, 7:50am

BBerry Storm 2 and BB OS 5.0 for Verizon

After waiting nearly two weeks past the original launch, Verizon today unveiled its own version of the BlackBerry Storm2. Its version adds CDMA and EVDO Revision A for its own phone and 3G networks; quad-band GSM/EDGE and single-band 2,100MHz HSPA 3G give it roaming in most other areas. The US carrier also includes a 16GB microSDHC card in the box to put it more on par with the 16GB iPhone 3GS.

PS3 to get Netflix streaming

10/26, 7:05am

PS3 Netflix deal breaks Xbox exclusive

Netflix this morning broke its once-exclusive Xbox 360 deal with Microsoft by offering Netflix for PlayStation 3. The link will let any US-based PS3 owner with a Netflix subscription stream movies and TV shows online; they can also add movies to the queue and rate titles. Early on, the service will depend on customers owning a free Blu-ray disc that draws on BD-Live for Internet access, but the service should eventually be integrated into the PS3's firmware.