News Archive for 09/11/04

Choose an article from the archive listing on this page or refine your selection using the controls in the gray box below.

Reference Tracker 1.5 adds improvements, bug fixes

11/04, 11:05pm

New APA and MLA reference styles now supported

Malkinware has launched v1.5 of its reference manager and research utility, Reference Tracker. The software enables users to track all citations and references within essays or books, while creating a reference list that can be accessed whenever necessary. The latest version features improved accuracy for the formatted reference list importer. Bug fixes also deal with changes to the “Page Numbers” fields not immediately being recorded, along with newspaper articles not formatting correctly within the APA style.

Toshiba intros 1.8-inch HDDs with capacities up to 320GB

11/04, 10:55pm

Drives geared for thin notebooks, ultraportables

Toshiba has expanded its line of small hard drives with several 1.8-inch offerings featuring capacities up to 320GB. The MKxx33GSG series is available in 160GB, 250GB, and 320GB sizes, each based on dual-platter configuration. The drives feature a 16MB cache buffer, 5,400RPM spindle speed and transfer rates of up to 830Mb/s.

Recent OS X 10.6.2 beta adds fixes for iMacs, VMWare

11/04, 9:20pm

Build 10C540 seeded to developers

Apple's latest Mac OS X 10.6.2 beta, build 10C540, reportedly includes a wide variety of new bug fixes for software and hardware issues, according to AppleInsider. The software addresses problems with graphics drivers, AirPort performance on the new iMacs, and the latest VMWare Fusion virtualization software.

Waveburner 1.6.1 update fixes bugs, improves display

11/04, 8:35pm

Download for Logic Studio users

Apple on Wednesday released an update to its audio burning app, Waveburner, for Logic Studio. Version 1.6.1 improves overall stability and provides a number of bug fixes. Mastering notes are now properly saved to disk, while the waveform display in the Mix Line renders more consistently.

Notescasts bring digital books to iPod classic

11/04, 7:35pm

Books include text and images

TimeStream on Wednesday announced a new series of digital books, Notescasts, designed to be read from an iPod classic and iPod nano. The e-books are installed using the "Notes" feature available on a variety of iPods. Many of the books contain several hundred pages of text, along with color pictures.

Companies establish standards for voice, SMS on LTE networks

11/04, 6:55pm

One Voice initiative aims for interoperability

A long list of cellular providers and manufacturers, including players such as AT&T, Verizon, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia Siemens, Ericsson and Samsung, have all agreed on standards for voice calls and SMS messages distributed across LTE networks. The companies have collaborated on a technical profile, the One Voice initiative, that aims to ensure widespread compatibility between different products.

LG sees Apple, not Nokia, as chief rival

11/04, 6:35pm

LG targeting iPhone, BlackBerry, Pre

LG now considers the iPhone one of its largest competitors in the smartphone space, CEO Yong Nam said in a Washington presentation today. He dismisses both market leader Nokia and Sony Ericsson as rivals and instead says most of LG's energy is now focused on beating Apple, Palm and Research in Motion. The Korean company is now "investing heavily" in smartphones and is putting most of its focus on touchscreen devices like the Android-based Eve and multiple Windows Mobile phones.

Sony updates VAIO P for Windows 7, faster Atom

11/04, 6:05pm

Sony VAIO P gets US upgrade

Sony tonight upgraded its extra-small VAIO P netbook in the US to keep in sync with Windows 7. The new models now all run Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional and with this change alone should run much faster than the older models bogged down by Vista's steep requirements. They likewise have been brought into step with Japanese updates and have the option of up to a 2GHz Atom, a 256GB solid-state drive and a champagne-colored shell.

Audio-Technica intros ANC7b noise-cancelling headphones

11/04, 5:55pm

Tech reduces background noise by 85%

Audio-Technica has released its latest noise-canceling headphones, the ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint. The active noise-canceling technology is claimed to reduce background noise by up to 85 percent. A closed-back design houses large-aperture 40mm drivers with neodymium magnets, which reproduce sound from 10Hz to 25.5KHz with a sensitivity of 109dB and a 300 ohm impedance.

Olympus E-P2 confirmed prematurely

11/04, 5:30pm

Olympus E-P2 to have AF motion tracking

Olympus' E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera has been revealed early thanks to a preview posted in advance. The rangefinder-like design is now known by BJP to be getting only a handful of new features but will importantly bring AF motion tracking and consequently fix a common complaint of slow autofocusing with the E-P1. Alongside this, it brings in a new electronic viewfinder option that is both very high-resolution (1.44 megapixels) and which pivots up to 90 degrees off-axis.

TypeStyler upgrades for Mac OS X

11/04, 5:10pm

App seven years in development

Following a seven-year development delay, Strider Software has released a Mac OS X version of TypeStyler. The software generates text using a variety of different shapes and layouts. It newly supports both PowerPC and Intel Macs, along with Mac OS X Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard. Similarly, modern technologies such as Quartz, Core Image, OpenGL, Unicode and QuickTime have been integrated.

Nokia preps five ultra low-cost phones

11/04, 5:10pm

Nokia intros Life Tools service, five new phones

Nokia on Wednesday announced it has developed and will soon release five new entry-level handsets meant for those in the developing world. These handsets will support Nokia Life Tools, a set of livelihood improvement aids for users in small towns or the countryside. The Nokia 1280, 1616 and 1800 are the most basic of the set and are designed explicitly for areas with harsh climates and poor electricity. All have similar features, including FM radio support, a prepaid tracker, built-in flashlight and an anti-scratch cover and dust-resistant keypad. Battery life is rated at up to 22 days of standby time.

Planon intros DocuPen Xtreme X-Series

11/04, 4:40pm

New Planon DocuPen scanners add features, speed

Planon on Wednesday introduced its new series of DocuPen Xtreme scanning pens, which includes the X05, X10 and X50. The X05 and X10 can support 600DPI resolutions, while the X50 doubles it to 1,200DPI. Each of the pens has a 200MHz processor and 64MB of memory, both the highest in Planon's lineup.

New Mac OS X 10.6.2 build restores Atom support

11/04, 4:25pm

Crippled Atom in Snow Leopard was temporary

Word that Apple had disabled Atom support in a Mac OS X 10.6.2 beta seed may have been premature, an update from the same discoverer says. A newer build, 10C535, now appears to have brought the feature back and hints that the lack of Atom support may have been a bug or an otherwise temporary action. Apple's code doesn't have any immediate clues as to whether or not the move was intentional.

AMD readying new desktop platforms for May

11/04, 4:20pm

AMD to out two new desktop platforms next year

By May of 2010, chipmaker AMD will officially introduce two new desktop platforms, with the high-end Leo and more mainstream Dorado, says Digitimes. The information comes from motherboard makers, who revealed the Leo will be made up of current 45nm Phenom II or future six-core Thuban CPUs paired with either 890FX or 890GX northbridge and SB850 southbridge chipsets.

Automatic Duck ships ProDate DV, updates Pro Import/Export

11/04, 4:15pm

Software supports Final Cut

Automatic Duck has published a trio of new software releases supporting Apple's Final Cut editing tool. The first is ProDate DV, a plug-in supporting both Final Cut Pro and Express. The software scans DV media for timestamps, allowing date and time information to be imposed on-screen. It costs $39.

T-Mobile details resolved outage

11/04, 4:05pm

T-Mobile seeks reason for temp network failure

T-Mobile USA has said on Wednesday that it has resolved Tuesday's nationwide network outage but is still investigating the source of the problem. In a statement, the wireless provider said about five percent of its subscribers throughout the US faced service disruptions for several hours, including the inability to access the data network or make 3G phone calls.

NVIDIA: Intel delaying USB 3.0 chips until 2011

11/04, 3:50pm

NVIDIA blames Intel for delaying USB 3

Intel may have stalled adoption of the USB 3.0 standard for as long as two years, NVIDIA spokesman Brian Burke says. Following an apparent PC vendor leak which claims Intel won't have any USB 3.0-capable chipsets of its own until 2011, Burke tells TGDaily that NVIDIA has learned the same news. He contends that Intel has held the industry back by creating a near monopoly in demand for its chipsets but refusing to provide significant updates.

iSkin Solo FX SE ships with clear, mirror screen protectors

11/04, 3:30pm

Supports iPhone 3G and 3GS

iSkin has released a new iPhone 3G/3GS case, the iSkin Solo FX Special Edition. The case uses an open-faced design, with a matte finish and an embossed pattern of circles. Power and volume controls are covered, while still permitting access; full openings are present for the dock connector and other ports. Color options include ice (white), onyx (black) and cosmo (pink).

Envy 14 tips up in HP's system

11/04, 3:15pm

HP working on Envy 14 notebook?

A support page on HP's website indicates that a third Envy notebook, the Envy 14, may be on the horizon. If so, the notebook would slot in between the Intel Core 2 Duo-powered Envy 13 and the Core i7-packing Envy 15 as it would, presumably, be equipped with a 14-inch screen size. It would also most likely be powered by Intel's new mobile Core i5 chips, which are due for an early 2010 release.

Data Abstract for OS X helps build database apps

11/04, 3:10pm

Supports Macs, iPhones

RemObjects has launched a new development tool for the Mac and iPhone, Data Abstract for OS X. The framework focuses on databases, allowing developers to focus on front-end presentation. It contains an Objective-C library supporting Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6, as well as the iPhone OS. It is said to work well alongside Cocoa and Xcode.

Microsoft cuts 800 extra jobs

11/04, 3:05pm

Microsoft cuts go beyond planned 5K

Microsoft today confirmed late rumors and said it has cut 800 additional jobs. The positions are spread across many of the company's divisions and are above and beyond the 5,000 cuts planned at the start of the year. No direct explanation is given other than that the company says it still has to "manage [its] businesses closely" and watch for where it can trim costs.

Marware, IvySkin intro new iPhone, iPod touch cases

11/04, 2:50pm

SportShell for iPod touch, SmartCase for iPhone

Marware and IvySkin have each announced updated iPhone and iPod touch cases, the SportShell and the SmartCase. The SportShell is now available in a version for the second-generation iPod touch. It uses a three-piece hard shell, made of polycarbonate plastic with a rubberized finish. The case can operate as a flat-back or open-back case, or else clip to a belt where it can rotate 360 degrees.

Walmart confirms Xbox with $100 gift card, more

11/04, 2:35pm

Walmart confirms day of deals

Yesterday's leak of Walmart offering several sales on consumer electronics products has been confirmed today by the big-box electronics retailer. The one-day deals are slated to start on Saturday, November 7th at 8AM. The leaked image matches Walmart's official products down to the prices and includes an Xbox 360 Arcade gaming console coming with a $100 gift card for $199. The headline offering, according to Walmart, is a 46-inch plasma HDTV with 1080p resolution and three HDMI ports for $788.

Klipsch rolls out wireless ProMedia 2.1 speakers

11/04, 2:15pm

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Wireless official

Klipsch has made a rare update to its veteran ProMedia 2.1 speakers by unveiling the ProMedia 2.1 Wireless. It uses the same core 70W stereo satellites and 130W subwoofer as the original but receives its audio from a 2.4GHz RF-based USB transmitter that works with any computer that supports USB sound. Range is limited to 30 feet but is considered ideal for notebook users who want audio independent of their computer's exact location.

Super Talent launches first USB 3.0 flash drive with RAID

11/04, 1:55pm

Super Talent USB 3.0 flash drives offer 320MBps

Super Talent on Wednesday revealed its new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 RAIDDrive lineup, which is up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 drives when transferring data. A system with both USB 3.0 ports and a special USB Attached SCSI driver can transfer at up to 320MB per second, or faster than most solid-state drives; it can still run at up to 200MB per second without the optimization. Super Talent claims to be using a special technology that involves multiple RAID pairs of differential serial data lines.

New MS Courier leak details multi-touch interface

11/04, 1:35pm

Courier gestures, UI explained

A new leak of internal documentation has provided a deeper explanation of the Microsoft Courier. The dual-screen tablet prototype has a fundamentally simple interface with two-finger multi-touch gestures: besides usual navigation, it would let users tap-and-hold to clip a photo or other object and a two-finger swipe left or right to move that object to the opposite page. The pen also has two buttons and an "eraser" to both switch between drawing styles as well as to remove recent changes.

Apple leads tech in October Piqqem sentiment ratings

11/04, 1:15pm

Microsoft finishes last despite Windows 7

Apple stock is said to have led the pack in Piqqem's October sentiment ratings, again excelling over Microsoft, which came in last amongst a group of six major technology companies. Apple achieved a score of 3.11, considered high in a scale of 0 to 4. Google was second with 2.88, while Intel ranked third at 2.70. Below the top three were Cisco (2.69), Amazon (2.53) and HP (2.53), followed by Microsoft at 2.27.

Verizon upping cancel fees for smartphone owners

11/04, 12:45pm

Verizon to double ETFs for smartphones

Wireless provider Verizon is poised to double its Early Termination Fee (ETF) for contracts associated with smartphone devices. Leaked documents show that it will now cost $350 instead of $175 starting on November 15th if subscribers end their contracts immediately, although each month of the contract served will decrease that fee by $10. While it is not known which devices this new higher fee will apply to, it is likely to be all smartphones offered by Verizon, including BlackBerries and the upcoming Android-powered Droid from Motorola.

New York state sues Intel for antitrust violations

11/04, 12:25pm

NY claims Intel threatened PC builders

New York state's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today filed a lawsuit against Intel that accuses the company of antitrust abuse. The Delaware-based complaint maintains that Intel violated both state and federal laws by allegedly threatening companies with retaliation if they used AMD processors and in some cases paying out billions of dollars in financial incentives disguised as rebates. Intel engaged in "bribery and coercion" to keep its control of the market, Cuomo says.

Orange UK responds to iPhone data plan criticisms

11/04, 12:25pm

Calls 750MB more than enough

Orange UK has begun publicly responding to criticisms of its upcoming iPhone plans. At the center of complaints is the company's unlimited data provision, attached to each iPhone subscription. In reality data use is restricted by a 750MB "fair usage" policy, in sharp contrast to other iPhone carriers, such as O2 UK and AT&T.

Sony Ericsson Kurara handset spotted in photos

11/04, 11:45am

SE Kurara pictured, gets 3.5-inch AMOLED

Photos of the upcoming Sony Ericsson Kurara handset have been revealed recently, thanks to PhonesDB. Newly revealed specifications reveal the handset will have a 3.5-inch color AMOLED display in what appears to be an ultra-thin, organic design. Hardware controls should remain intact but will be limited to call and media controls.

ACTA terms may force ISP anti-piracy, 3 strikes rules

11/04, 11:35am

ACTA may force tight global restrictions

A leaked set of proposals for the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) suggests the international deal will require harsh online anti-piracy measures. The draft will reportedly force Internet providers in all member states to actively police copyright on their networks. To qualify for safe harbor and reduce their liability, the ISPs would also have to implement "gradual response" rules like France's three-strike law that initially warn and eventually punish those said pirating content, likely forcing them offline.

Sony launches 1,000 Ringtones DVD for iPhone

11/04, 11:35am

Shows attention to chief rival

Sony's Creative Software division has released 1,000 Ringtones, a collection primarily intended for iPhone owners. The $20 DVD contains both M4R and MP3 files, the former of which can simply be added to iTunes for later device sync. The MP3s are meant for a broader selection of phones, such as those made by Sony Ericsson.

iTunes Store gains Music Movies section

11/04, 10:45am

Apple aims for exclusives, broader selection

Apple has introduced a new Music Movies section to the iTunes Store, further segregating its video. The page highlights all movies with a music-related theme, running from documentaries like Imagine and Woodstock through to straight concert films, and fiction titles like The Blues Brothers. iTunes now also has a larger amount of such content, with material including The Song Remains the Same and U2: Rattle and Hum.

35 million netbooks to ship in 2009

11/04, 10:45am

ABI says netbooks still on track

Netbooks are still set to top nearly 35 million units by the end of the year, ABI said today. The prediction is similar to that from the start of the year and asserts that the mini portables will form a significant portion of the entire PC business. ABI doesn't predict market share but says that Acer, ASUS and Samsung produced 74 percent of all netbooks last year.

iTunes App Store reaches 100,000 titles

11/04, 10:05am

Apple marks psychological milestone

Following some anticipation, Apple has announced that there are now over 100,000 titles available at the iTunes App Store. Over two billion downloads have been made, and the store is currently accessible in 77 countries. The total number of apps which have passed through the store is higher; Apple does not count deleted titles.

HTC HD2 ships, confirms US in early 2010

11/04, 9:55am

HTC HD2 likely for T-Mobile USA

HTC today began shipping the HD2 to Europe and Taiwan but also confirmed plans to bring the phone to the US. The Windows Mobile 6.5 handset is due to ship to America through a "major carrier" in early 2010. While unnamed by HTC, it's expected the phone will be available through T-Mobile USA and will support the provider's 1,700MHz 3G network.

Litl Webbook official: packs 720p, easel mode

11/04, 9:25am

Litl Webbook launches with custom OS

Litl has quickly acted on rumors by launching its first computer, the Webbook. The PC breaks away from the usual netbook market through a unique 12-inch LCD that bends almost completely backwards and turns the system into an easel-like display; the mode is considered ideal for video watching or for sharing content with someone else. To match, the screen uses a high-quality LCD with a 178-degree viewing angle and better colors, and unlike most netbooks carries a dedicated (but unnamed) GPU that can decode H.264 video at up to 720p.

The Beatles offer catalog on USB drive without DRM

11/04, 8:40am

Beatles edge closer to pure digital sales

The Beatles on Wednesday surprised the music industry by offering their collection outside of a disc for the first time. The Limited Edition USB Stick carries the entire LP collection of the British band in a stereo mix along with the mini-documentaries, album art and liner notes from the remastered CDs. Significantly, all of the songs come both in unprotected 320Kbps MP3 as well as in a similarly unguarded, lossless FLAC and should work on most any computer or portable player.

Bell HSPA, iPhone and iPhone plans go live

11/04, 7:55am

Bell iPhone plans cost just $45 a month

Bell today launched its HSPA+ network and its first devices, including the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G. The network supports up to 21Mbps downstream on the Novatel Wireless U998 ($75) and future modems that support HSPA+ and should also supply as much as 7.2Mbps for the iPhone 3GS and other current smartphones.

Sonos ships ZonePlayer S5 wireless music system

11/04, 7:05am

Sonos S5 enables wireless control via iPhone

Sonos has begun shipping its all-in-one wireless music system controlled by iPhone or iPod touch, Sonos ZonePlayer S5. The device is designed for those who only need the player and provides two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a subwoofer. Users can wirelessly stream music from either iTunes or the Internet and control what music is playing using the company’s free iPhone app (App Store).

Parallels 5: Faster, more Mac-like

11/04, 3:00am

Crystal mode makes Windows disappear, 300 percent

The Parallels 5 launch marks the latest salvo in the ongoing battle for those who run Windows on their Macs. The virtualization software has been updated with significant interface and speed improvements aimed at keeping the company's market share lead over the recently updated VMware Fusion. The new software adds substantial interface improvements, allowing users to choose how much, or how little, they want to see of the Windows interface. Parallels 5 is faster, while graphics performance has been substantially increased.