What's new on SlashGear.com |
- Fifty Percent of Xbox LIVE Users Are Gold Subscribers, So Says Microsoft
- Wii Speak Phased Out by Nintendo …Maybe
- Netflix May Be Willing to Pay $100,000 per Episode for Current TV Episodes to be Streamed Instantly
- New Right-Click Menu item for YouTube Allows Instant Time Link
- Samsung NF210 Netbook & SF510 Notebook Land in India
- NASA: The Definition of Life Has Just Expanded
- Concept Design Shows Smartphone Floating in Mid-Air to Charge Battery
- Sony Aims for Life-Size 3D Holographics by 2022
- Just admit it: We all want bigger HDTVs
- Logitech Revue Promoted by Kevin Bacon’s Biggest Fan
- Apple Patent Application Suggests Pop-Up Radial Menus Could be Included in iOS 5
- Epson PictureMate Show Digital Photo Frame and Printer Available Now
- Angry Birds Seasons Expansion Now Available in Apple App Store
- Advent Vega unboxing & hands-on [Video]
- 4G Motorola devices in early 2011; tablets imminent & Verizon iPhone tipped for Q1
- SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: December 2 2010
- Apple fiber-optic MagSafe cable patent tips potential Light Peak support
- Malcolm Fontier outs iMojito hybrid iPhone case and wallet
- Verizon 4G LTE contract-free options confirmed
- NASA find new lifeform: arsenic microbe widens likelihood of extraterrestrial life
- OnLive PlayPack $9.99 flat-rate gaming plan debuts as MicroConsoles ship
- iPad bests Galaxy Tab in perceived value; neither live up to RRP
- RIM adds The Astonishing Tribe to its team
- Apple TV HD movie streaming delays frustrating owners
- Samsung develops highest density LPDDR2 DRAM in industry for mobile devices
- Zoom Q3HD video recorder now shipping
- Sennheiser and Adidas team up on HD 25 DJ headphones
- HTC watching tablet market and will focus on Android rather than Windows Phone 7 for now
- ThinkGeek ships uber geeky Electronic Music Synthesizer shirt
- XIM3 gadget breaks cover to let you bring other controller types to your Xbox 360
| Fifty Percent of Xbox LIVE Users Are Gold Subscribers, So Says Microsoft Posted: 02 Dec 2010 01:33 PM PST Hanging out over at the Credit Suisse technology conference just yesterday was Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Division CEO, mister Dennis Durkin. He had a rather interesting statistic to share with the audience: 50% of all Xbox Live users pay for a Gold Subscription. What that means is that, since there are around 25 million Xbox Live subscribers in the world, 12.5 million people pay $60 a year to be able to access its additional features.
Recently Microsoft increased the price of Xbox LIVE by a few bucks, amping US price up $10 from the previous $50 a year. Some of the features this additional yearly subscription affords you are online multi-player functionality, access to ESPN, and access to Netflix (in addition to whatever you pay Netflix.) Shouldn’t that stuff be… free? [Via CrunchGear]
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| Wii Speak Phased Out by Nintendo …Maybe Posted: 02 Dec 2010 01:11 PM PST Just about a half a month ago, we reported the fact that Nintendo was asking developers of the game Conduit 2 to not utilize Wii Speak in their game. Looks like it was because now, just a couple weeks later, they’ve announced they’re going to completely phase out the Wii Speak peripheral – perhaps to replace it with something neater?
Furthermore, Nintendo told GameSpot that they’d not be completely stopping the object cold: “additional shipments can be made if consumer demand increases.” What that basically means is that they’re leaving it up to hardcore fans of Wii Speak specifically to keep the peripheral alive. If you’re the sort of person who innitially got a whole heck of a lot of use out of WiiSpeak when you bought Animal Crossing: City Folk, now’d be the time to get up on your podium to demand it stay around for a bit longer. Or just wear a headset. [Via Joystiq]
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| Netflix May Be Willing to Pay $100,000 per Episode for Current TV Episodes to be Streamed Instantly Posted: 02 Dec 2010 12:34 PM PST Netflix is busy changing things up. The company, after making it possible for people to pay for streaming-only service, is now working on getting their Watch Instantly service a bit more stocked, especially when it comes to current TV episodes. They apparently want it so bad, that rumors are now suggesting that the online movie-and-television show-rental service is looking to pay a hefty sum to make it possible for new episodes of TV shows to be played via Watch Instantly.
There’s no doubt that some people think that, while Netflix is great, their Instant Queue could be better. Especially when it comes to TV shows. The higher-ups at Netflix have been listening, and want to make a change. According to new rumors, Netflix could be willing to pay anywhere between &70,000 and $100,00 per episode, to get the option to stream it instantly on Watch Instantly. The hope is that Netflix would be able to run the season of any particular show, even while it’s still running on air. Of course, TV networks aren’t going easily with this, even if there is a lot of money being bandied about. According to the New York Post these networks are arguing that they have rights over current-run TV series, and therefore it would be hard for Netflix to attain them for its own service. As of the time of this writing, Netflix hasn’t commented on the rumors, and none of the TV networks that are included have been named specifically. [via NY Post]
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| New Right-Click Menu item for YouTube Allows Instant Time Link Posted: 02 Dec 2010 12:32 PM PST Did you know that you can link directly to a certain point inside a YouTube video instead of just playing from the beginning? All it’s taken at this point is a simple manual addition to the end of the address like so: “#t=31m08s” and bam! Whenever someone clicks your YouTube link, they’ll be sent not only to the video, but to that exact point in its timeline. NOW what YouTube has going on is the ability to access this functionality simply by pausing a video where you’d like, right clicking, and selecting “Copy Video URL at Current Time.” Simple, right?
You’ll get a list of options when you right-click that include “Copy video URL,” “Copy video URL at current time,” “Copy embed html,” “Report playback issue,” “Take speed test,” “Stop download,” “Show video info,” “Copy debug info,” “Settings…,” “Global settings…,” and “About Adobe Flash Player 10…”. Check it out. Well played, YouTube. The above video of Lady GAGA promoting Android AU can be found over at Android Community.
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| Samsung NF210 Netbook & SF510 Notebook Land in India Posted: 02 Dec 2010 12:12 PM PST Samsung has just launched a brand new netbook and notebook over in India, after their official unveiling back in September. Samsung says that these new notebooks show their commitment to providing the best portability, performance, and an enhanced battery life, all the while putting it together in a nice package.
The NF210 netbook features a 10.1-inch LED backlit, anti-glare display, integrated WiFi, and 2GB of RAM under the hood. Samsung would also like to point out that this is the first Samsung-branded netbook to be powered by an Intel Atom dual-core processor. The netbook also features SRS surround sound, and Bluetooth 3.0. You’ll find 3 USB 2.0 ports, and Samsung says the NF210 features “Fast Start,” which means users will be able to start up the netbook faster than usual. There’s also a 6-cell battery for good measure. Expected retail in India is Rs. 22,900.
Lastly, the SF510 notebook features a 15.6-inch LED backlit HD dispay, with integrated WiFi, 1GB NVIDIA GPU, and 4GB of RAM. Potential owners will be able to use either an Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor. There’s an integrated webcam, an HDMI port, and a spill-proof keyboard. Samsung should be pricing the SF510, which also features Fast Boot and Samsung’s AllShare media-sharing software, for around Rs. 55,490. [via Samsung Hub]
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| NASA: The Definition of Life Has Just Expanded Posted: 02 Dec 2010 11:37 AM PST Earlier today, we reported that, ahead of NASA’s official press conference, that what the Space Organization had actually found was a new step in the order of life itself, and not extraterrestrial life. At least, not in the way that many were thinking (or hoping). What they did find, though, will forever alter the way we look at life. The NASA-funded research endeavor, which was taking place in the Mono Lake, in California, has found the first ever microorganism to not only thrive, but also reproduce utilizing the toxic chemical known as arsenic.
“The definition of life has just expanded,” said Ed Weiler, NASA’s associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington. “As we pursue our efforts to seek signs of life in the solar system, we have to think more broadly, more diversely and consider life as we do not know it.” The finding doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ve found extraterrestrial life, but it does mean that we can now expand our definition of life, and that means that finding life in space is now a great possibility. Unlike other organisms that can breathe arsenic, this new microorganism is actually building parts of life from the poisonous chemical. A first of its kind. You can check out the live streaming event through this link, as it is happening right now. [via NASA]          
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| Concept Design Shows Smartphone Floating in Mid-Air to Charge Battery Posted: 02 Dec 2010 10:56 AM PST This brand new smartphone and charging cradle concept from designers In-Oh Yoo and Sun-woong Oh, reaches the limits of awesomeness, and at the same time make us wonder why on Earth someone out there hasn’t made this a reality yet. Of course, there’s a few design elements, like with many concept designs out there, that may make someone scratch their head in confusion. But, the overall picture here is one that blends the lines between science-fiction and reality, even if the whole thing is a dream right now.
The smartphone and cradle design work together to make something magical happen. While the smartphone’s design may seem eerily familiar to other devices you’ve seen in the past, those similarities end there. At the top and bottom of the smartphone, you’ll find hollow points, which the designers say ensure that the device is being charged wirelessly. Thanks to magnets within the cradle, and the device itself, once you put the handset in the right spot, the magnets take hold, and the phone will start to hover there, between the cradle’s extended arms. As it hovers, a pre-set image will display on the phone’s screen, and the smartphone will begin charging. But, there’s a unique twist here. The designers didn’t want the phone to be boring in any way, it seems. So, when you get a phone call, or your alarm starts to go off, the device will actually start spinning in place. As it does, thanks to an after-image that gets displayed on the phone itself, you’ll see who’s calling, that you’ve received a text message, or that you had to wake up a half hour ago to get to your meeting on time. The image is displayed in a 3D-like image, thanks to the after-image. Some might say that it’s not really practical to pick up a spinning phone, especially one that looks like it may be moving at a pretty good rate of speed, to answer a phone call or answer a text message, but it certainly looks cool. [via Yanko Design]     
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| Sony Aims for Life-Size 3D Holographics by 2022 Posted: 02 Dec 2010 10:37 AM PST While the World Cup 2022 bidding may be officially over as of the time of this writing (FIFA has announced that the 2022 tournament will be held in Qatar), that doesn’t make Japan’s bid for the tournament any less noteworthy. The country, with some major help from Sony, wasn’t just aiming to make Japan the host country for the tournament in 2022, but to actually have countries all over the world host it together, thanks to life-sized holographics, and giant screens that would be placed in stadiums all over the globe.
Japan proposed this to FIFA: to pave 400 stadiums around the world with 3D flatscreen 3D TV displays. Then, as games take place, Sony’s technology would allow for the 3D TVs to display the games in real-time, all over the world. So, if you actually couldn’t make it to any of the games of your choice, you could simply go to a stadium near you, and enjoy the action in real time, in in-depth 3D. Bid Committee Chief Executive for Japan’s 2022 bid, Kohzo Tashima had this to say about the project: “Three hundred and sixty million people could have a full stadium experience of matches; that’s over 100 times the number of spectators at the 1994 World Cup in the United States,” Of course, this seems like science fiction, more than anything else. However, Sony’s boss Howard Stringer said that this is anything but, and that the idea from Sony and Japan is as realistic as the company’s plans to launch the Walkman portable music player, or any one of their gadgets they’ve released over the years. Unfortunately, we now know that Japan didn’t win the bid for 2022, so now we just have to hope that Sony keeps this idea moving forward, and we still get to see the results in 2022. [via TechRadar]
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| Just admit it: We all want bigger HDTVs Posted: 02 Dec 2010 10:30 AM PST As mentioned in a previous column here on SlashGear, I'm currently in the market to buy a new HDTV. I've found that my current 50-inch plasma isn't performing as well as I would like, and it's probably about time to replace the aging set with something new. But whenever I go to the store to compare pricing on TVs, I lose all sense of reality. Instead of sticking with my belief that I can probably be quite happy with a 42- or 46-inch television, my eyes start to wander towards the larger, 52- and 55-inch sets.
As I stand there in the store, analyzing what's available, I reason that I can't possibly get a smaller television than what I have already. And although some might say I can get the same size television, I keep asking myself what the point is of replacing a 50-inch set for another. I'm upgrading. And I want the full upgrade. Over the years, I've heard from many people that you need to measure the viewing distance between you and the screen to adequately determine how big of a display you really need. I get that. And I did it. The only problem is, that measurement revealed that a 42- to a 46-inch display would be best for that room. And as I mentioned, the rational part of my mind says I should follow that, but the tech addict in me — and the part of my mind that's winning — says I should ignore that result and go with my heart. In preparation for writing this column, I decided to ask others if they feel the same way. I asked them if when they search for a new set, they justify buying the bigger option simply because, well, it's bigger. And in every single case, they said that they forgo rational decision-making for the sole purpose of getting a bigger television. Upon learning that, I started to feel better. After all, if I'm not the only person trying to tell myself that a bigger set is better, I'm not really wrong in thinking that way, right? For once, my irrational desire for a larger television seemed, well, normal. So, with that new-found knowledge, I went back to the stores. Only this time, I didn't feel guilty about my desire for a bigger HDTV. Sure, it might not be the most practical option, but you know what? I don't care. Like everyone else, I love a big HDTV, and I'm not afraid to admit it. That's precisely why if you see me at your local Best Buy, you'll notice that I won't be paying much attention to the 46-inch HDTVs. I'll be firmly planted in the 50- to 60-inch range. And I'm willing to bet that I won't be alone.
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| Logitech Revue Promoted by Kevin Bacon’s Biggest Fan Posted: 02 Dec 2010 10:09 AM PST Google TV may not be getting a lot of love from the TV networks, but that’s not stopping Logitech from moving right along with their unique, and often times head-scratching commercials. This time around, we’ve got Kevin Bacon spoofing himself, acting as Kevin Bacon’s biggest fan. A “devoted fan,” if you will.
The commercial is pretty straight-forward, focusing on Bacon’s biggest fan for the most part. And then, near the end, we get to the real deal: the Logitech Revue with Google TV. Bacon shows us how easy it is to find himself on the Internet, thanks to Google TV, as well as tune into a quick YouTube video, before finding Footloose being aired on one station or another. If you’re looking for a quick laugh, check out the video below. And let’s just be happy that it’s not creepy televisions with little legs freaking little kids out in bed, okay? And be sure to check out our review of the Revue with Google TV, if Kevin Bacon isn’t enough to sell you on the set-top box. [via Logitech's YouTube]
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| Apple Patent Application Suggests Pop-Up Radial Menus Could be Included in iOS 5 Posted: 02 Dec 2010 09:48 AM PST We’ve already seen a couple of different patents from Apple this week, and it doesn’t look like the Cupertino-based company is slowing down any time soon. This time around, Apple is focusing on creative aspects and tweaks for their iOS mobile Operating System, which is used every day on devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad tablet device. While the overall look and feel of iOS hasn’t changed much since its inception in 2007, it looks like Apple is looking at adding some interesting changes to the software. Namely, pop-up radial menus for use in the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone.
In this new patent application, Apple is looking at adding radial menus that pop-up when activated. For example, by long-pressing on, say, a picture, would activate a pop-up radial menu that would bring relevant options to the fore, so that the user can activate them quickly and easily. There’s obviously nothing final about this, as it’s just a patent application on the technology that Apple wants to use, as well as the implementation of the technology on a touchscreen display. Here’s a slice from the patent application itself: "…The novel radial menu techniques of some embodiments include (i) non-uniform spacing of menu items, (ii) the use of shading or highlighting within a region associated with an item to indicate the present selectability of the item, and (iii) the use of radial gestures for opening sub-menus and the subsequent display of the sub-menu." The possibilities for Apple to incorporate this into iOS 5 are pretty endless, and if they take as much care into making it just work like the rest of the mobile OS, then it could indeed breath a new breath of life into the platform. Will Apple unveil this when they show off the next iPhone? We can certainly hope so. [via Unwiredview]
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| Epson PictureMate Show Digital Photo Frame and Printer Available Now Posted: 02 Dec 2010 09:30 AM PST For some people, a digital photo frame is exactly what they’re looking for this holiday season. For others, it’s a gadget that just do enough to warrant a purchase. Epson decided to make not only a digital photo frame, but also attach a photo printer on their for good measure, which the company hopes will catch the eye of anyone who wants a quick and easy way to not only show off their pictures, but also print them off.
The PictureMate Show is similar to the company’s previous PictureMate Charm photo printer, but this one brings several updates and improvements to the previous Charm. You get a larger LCD display this time around. At 7-inches, the Show’s digital photo frame should be big enough to show off your photos to family and friends. However, if you’re looking for a range of sizes to print from, the Show won’t be your printer of choice. Prints can only be 4 x 6. An interesting design choice, was to include a remote control for usage controls, and not providing a touchscreen interface on the 7-inch LCD display. You can load images into the photo frame via an SD card slot, or from the integrated USB port. There’s also an optional Bluetooth adapter, which should let you send images from a Bluetooth-enabled picture taking device, right to the PictureMate Show. If you’re thinking this would be the perfect gift for someone you know, or yourself, you can head on through here, and pick one up for $299.99. [via Coolest Gadgets]
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| Angry Birds Seasons Expansion Now Available in Apple App Store Posted: 02 Dec 2010 09:19 AM PST Up until today, you’d have had to own an Android-based device in order to access you some sweet winter holiday Angry Birds fun, but now, iDevice users can join in on the fun as well. This lovely addition to the Angry Birds family of games will run you 99 cents if you’re buying it for your iPhone or iPod Touch, or $1.99 if you’d like the HD version for your iPad. Users who’ve already purchased the Halloween version are reporting they’re able to upgrade to Seasons for free.
This new version of Angry Birds has not only a total of 25 new levels for your snowbound enjoyment, but the entirety of the Halloween expansion as well. After those, you’ve also got a (handy?) link to the Angry Birds official online store, a link to getting yourself signed up for Angry Birds newsletters, and a link to the “Original Angry Birds” in the app store. The “Trick or Treat” levels are exactly what you’d expect if you’ve played the Halloween expansion before (because they haven’t changed), but the “Season’s Greedings” levels are unique. Unique in that not only do they have a few new blocks for your to be breaking in the levels like snow and presents, but each level is only accessible on the corresponding day of the month. Two days are available now, 23 to go. You know what that counts down to? Christmas. What are you waiting for? Go get pumped up and download instantly!                
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| Advent Vega unboxing & hands-on [Video] Posted: 02 Dec 2010 09:06 AM PST Advent’s Vega tablet seems to have surprised everybody with its popularity, not least retailer DSG who can’t seem to keep them in stock for more than a few hours at a time. Our Vega review unit braved the UK snow to arrive on the SlashGear test bench, and we wasted no time checking out what Tegra 2 brings to the Android table. First impressions and some unboxing-style fun after the cut.
Video after the cut
Advent’s retail bundle isn’t exactly overflowing with accessories, but then again it’s just £249 ($389). Aside from the wall-wart AC adapter you get a USB cable and a quick-start guide, together with an SD card adapter for use with the included 4GB microSD, but if you want a case you’ll have to wait for Advent to offer one separately (which we’re told is imminent).
The Vega itself is a hefty slate, with a considerable bezel around its 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen. It’s longer and thicker than the iPad, though a little narrower, and the wide-aspect screen is noticeably thinner. Compared to the Galaxy Tab it’s obviously larger, and though both slates use a 1024 x 600 panel the higher pixel density on the Samsung makes it look crisper. More worrying are the poor viewing angles on the Vega, with odd colors and inversions visible when you’re not far off-center; they’re even more noticeable in portrait orientation. We’ll be keeping an eye on how much that affects usability overall. Advent Vega unboxing & hands-on: Performance, meanwhile, is slick and we have no complaints on that front. Apps boot quickly and pinch-zooming in the browser is swift and scrolling lag-free. It’s worth noting that, in its pure form, the Vega lacks Android Market access and, indeed, any of Google’s own custom apps, such as Gmail, Google Maps or the like. There are custom ROMs out there which will address that, however, and you can download and install .apk files as normal. We’ll be putting the Advent Vega through its paces to see if you’re getting a bargain or a whole lot of cut-corners ahead of the full SlashGear review, so let us know if you have any specific questions in the comments!                  
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| 4G Motorola devices in early 2011; tablets imminent & Verizon iPhone tipped for Q1 Posted: 02 Dec 2010 08:40 AM PST Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha has confirmed that the company “will have 4G devices in the marketplace early next year,” while both 7-inch and 10-inch tablets are also close in the pipeline. Speaking at the Credit Suisse 2010 Technology Conference this week, Jha said that Motorola would look to custom software to differentiate its tablets from the rest of the market, with particular emphasis on the enterprise and retail segments. Meanwhile, he also dropped a heavy hint regarding what could be Verizon’s iPhone launch early in 2011.
The co-CEO didn’t mention the iPhone or Apple by name, but did say that he expected a new “competitive dynamic” to enter into Motorola and Verizon Wireless’ relationship in Q1 2011. That dynamic, Jha suggested, would have a significant negative impact on the company; it’s likely that he’s referring to a Verizon iPhone 4 or similar. Motorola will look to countering that impact with a new line of smartphones, focusing on the mid- and high-tier markets which Jha says have been best received internationally and in the US. Nonetheless, he warned investors that Motorola’s Q1 2011 would be down. [via BGR]
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| SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: December 2 2010 Posted: 02 Dec 2010 08:31 AM PST Welcome to a morning of great discovery! First, NASA discovers a new form of life that opens the door toward a whole new way of thinking about… well… life! Then RIM discovers the fact that a company by the name of The Astonishing Tribe would be a great addition to their team. ThinkGeek discovers the technology to integrate a music synth into a t-shirt. Amazon discovers its weak side as it stops hosting WikiLeaks. Apple discovers inexpensive auto-stereoscopic 3D technology (and patents it.) Advent Vega discover a few more tablets in their warehouse (and sell them all out basically instantly.) And Google discovers that its Android 2.2 Froyo has finally overtaken 2.1 Éclair. Bring on the cookies!
R3 Media Network SlashPhone Android Community SlashGear To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]
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| Apple fiber-optic MagSafe cable patent tips potential Light Peak support Posted: 02 Dec 2010 08:21 AM PST Apple has patented [pdf link] a combination MagSafe power connector and fiber optic docking system, that could allow future MacBook notebooks – as well as other devices using the same next-gen port – to access an external dock or port array and minimize the number of on-device connections. The concept is reminiscent of rumors earlier in the week suggesting Apple was looking to Intel’s Light Peak technology for a future MacBook Pro refresh, taking advantage of the connection technology’s ability to replace USB, ethernet, display and other cable types simultaneously.
Apple doesn’t suggest that the fiber optic technology it has in mind is actually Light Peak, but the company is known to be working with Intel on the new system. The idea to combine a fiber optic link with power would allow for a broader range of ports on a multi-function AC adapter, as in Apple’s illustration above, as well as taking advantage of the easily-detached magnetic port. Interestingly, the new MagSafe would also apparently be backward compatible with previous, power-only versions of the connection. An alternative system included in the patent suggests a dual-headed cable, with a split AC adapter section and docking array that could, for instance, be placed on top of a table. As with all patents, it’s worth taking this with a pinch of salt – trying to protect the concept doesn’t necessarily mean a company has any intention of actually using it – but given Apple’s historically ruthless attitude to cutting out older ports, switching to fiber optics would certainly make some degree of sense. [via 9 to 5 Mac and via Patently Apple]
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| Malcolm Fontier outs iMojito hybrid iPhone case and wallet Posted: 02 Dec 2010 07:48 AM PST Apple, if you believe the rumors, are looking for a way to turn your iPhone into a digital wallet; until then, we’ll have to struggle through with traditional money, so you might at least treat yourself to a decent way to carry it. Malcolm Fontier’s iMojito sounds like it should be a cocktail app, but it’s actually a combination wallet and iPhone case.
While it looks a little like a soft pouch – and has similarly compact dimensions – there’s actually a screen protector built in. The iMojito also has an opening for your iPhone’s charger, so you can rejuice the smartphone without needing to take it out. As for money, it’ll hold up to four credit cards and some cash. All four generations of iPhone will fit, and you could always slot your iPod touch in there instead; it’s lined with microfiber so will give the screen a wipe on the way out, too. A decent holiday gift for the iPhone lover in your life, perhaps, and not bad at $35.   
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| Verizon 4G LTE contract-free options confirmed Posted: 02 Dec 2010 07:27 AM PST Verizon has confirmed contract-free availability for its new LTE 4G service, when the high-speed modems launch on December 5. According to Sascha Segan, Verizon will be offering the same two data tariffs for no-contract customers – $50 for 5GB of data per month, or $80 for 10GB – but the modems themselves will be priced at $249.99 each.
With a two-year agreement, the modems are only $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate; that means if you stick with the no-contract plan for more than a few months, you’ll be better off paying up-front. We’d like to have seen cheaper data tariffs, but it seems Verizon isn’t willing to negotiate on that front. For more on the new Verizon LTE service, and our impressive speed test results, check out our hands-on.
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| NASA find new lifeform: arsenic microbe widens likelihood of extraterrestrial life Posted: 02 Dec 2010 06:55 AM PST NASA’s curiously worded press release earlier this week about an event later today prompted speculation that the space agency had discovered extraterrestrial life; going by a leak ahead of conference, it’s actually something about as alien as you can get from physiology as we know it, only on this very planet. According to NOS, NASA has found a new type of bacteria in Mono Lake, California, which lives with levels of arsenic in its biology that were hitherto believed impossible.
That alone is enough to make it significantly different from all life we’ve encountered to date – human, animal, plant or microbial – which regularly consists of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur but to which arsenic is deadly. It’s unclear whether NASA will announce that this new bacteria swaps out the phosphorus in its DNA for arsenic, or merely utilizes the poison in some way. The announcement is the culmination of many months work by geobiologist Felisa Wolfe-Simon, who theorized earlier this year that the unusual ecosystem at Mono Lake could have led some life to follow a different “evolutionary pathway.” While the announcement doesn’t include little green men on another world, it does significantly broaden the possibility of what life may be possible on other planets with different environments:
[via Gizmodo]
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| OnLive PlayPack $9.99 flat-rate gaming plan debuts as MicroConsoles ship Posted: 02 Dec 2010 06:34 AM PST OnLive has announced that pre-orders of its on-demand gaming system have begun shipping, together with the debut of its flat-rate PlayPack video game plan beta to OnLive Game System owners. Put up for pre-order in mid-November, the $99 OnLive MicroConsole will give early adopters free access to PlayPack until the service’s formal launch on January 15 2011, after which point it will be a $9.99 per month subscription.
PlayPack will offer a choice of recent, indie and classic games, though not the full OnLive catalog; for that, you’ll need PlayPass since the company will be selling new, flagship titles individually from $3.99 to $49.99. Alternatively, OnLive will continue to offer free trials, along with 3- and 5-day rentals for those not wanting permanent access. PlayPack includes such titles as Prince of Persia, Tomb Raider: Underworld and Ninja Blade. The full list is in the press release below, and OnLive says it will be adding more titles before the official launch next month. [via Engadget] Press Release:
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| iPad bests Galaxy Tab in perceived value; neither live up to RRP Posted: 02 Dec 2010 06:10 AM PST Samsung’s plastic chassis for the Galaxy Tab may make the 7-inch Android slate more pocket-friendly than the iPad, as well as easier to hold for longer periods of ebook reading, but it doesn’t appear to be helping them in the perceived-quality stakes. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster gathered a 65-person strong group of tablet novices together and asked them how much the iPad and the Galaxy Tab were each worth: the group put the Apple slate on average $134 more than the Samsung rival.
It’s not quite the good news for Apple that you might think, however. The actual suggested figures worked out to $417 for the iPad and $283 for the Galaxy Tab, well short of their actual sticker price and suggesting that, at least from first-impressions, consumers might have a hard time justifying them at first glance. Asked on their general preference, 85-percent opted for the iPad and 15-percent for the Galaxy Tab. The sample size is small, mind, and with a relatively new segment like consumer-centric tablets it probably takes a while longer for the value proposition to trickle into common acceptance. What will be interesting is seeing how those opinions change over time: if, in twelve months, the iPad 2 and next-gen Galaxy Tab are deemed worthy of higher prices because their functionality is greater prized by a better educated audience.
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| RIM adds The Astonishing Tribe to its team Posted: 02 Dec 2010 05:12 AM PST RIM has announced that it has added a new company to its team called The Astonishing Tribe or TAT. The TAT team has been confirmed as joining RIM on the Inside BlackBerry blog at RIM. RIM says that the TAT expertise in UI design will be added to the Blackberry Playbook and smartphone platforms.
RIM hasn’t disclosed the terms of the deal and stops short of saying in the official post that it has purchased the firm, but with the entire team coming to RIM that seems to be the obvious case. RIM notes that TAT has a long history of working in the mobile and embedded tech market. RIM CTO David Yach made the official announcement for RIM. TAT has designed UIs for all sorts of uses including consumer electronics and automotive uses. The official TAT post about the move says, “Today we're very excited as we are announcing that we're taking a huge leap towards our vision to help create a full user experience for a great line of devices and products.” The team will continue to honor its existing customers and agreements.
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| Apple TV HD movie streaming delays frustrating owners Posted: 02 Dec 2010 05:07 AM PST Apple’s teething pains with the Apple TV look to be persisting; as well as color issues with certain Sony and Philips TVs, users are now complaining of inexplicably long HD video streaming delays. According to one lengthy support forum thread, when asked to begin playing an HD movie bought or rented from iTunes, the Apple TV suggests it will take hundreds or even thousands of minutes before the content is ready to watch.
While the obvious issue would be one of insufficient bandwidth, it appears that’s not the case in the majority of situations. Owners report being able to watch movie trailers, Netflix movies in HD and YouTube clips with little to no delay, only experiencing problems – the Apple TV told one owner his clip would be “ready to play in 3,000 minutes” – when it comes to iTunes movie rentals. The recent iOS 4.2 update failed to address the problem, and many are suggesting the cause of the issue might be on Apple’s end rather than a problem with their Apple TV units themselves. The company is preparing to begin service from a new, considerably larger data center before the end of the year, with one of the goals believed to be more support for high-demand video content. [via AppleInsider]
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| Samsung develops highest density LPDDR2 DRAM in industry for mobile devices Posted: 02 Dec 2010 04:58 AM PST When it comes to mobile phones and other devices as much as we all want more performance in new products, we also want the battery to last a long time. Loads of performance is worth nothing to most of us if the battery is dead in an hour. Samsung has announced that it has developed a new type of LPDDR2 DRAM that uses less power specifically for mobile devices and offers more performance.
The new DRAM uses 30nm-class technology and is going to be used in smartphone and tablet market. The new DRAM is offered in 4Gb LPDDR2 DRAM with data transfer speed up to 1,066 Mbps, which is close to the performance of many memory solutions in PCs. The new RAM more than doubles the 400Mbps speed that most mobile MDDR operates at.
Samsung will be sampling 8Gb LPDDR2 DRAM stacking a pair of the 4Gb chips in a single package and the setting is expected to be in mainstream densities next year. The 8Gb solution promises a 20% package height reduction, which is important for very thin devices. Samsung will also offer 16Gb 2GB capacity LPDDR2 DRAM using the tech.
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| Zoom Q3HD video recorder now shipping Posted: 02 Dec 2010 04:38 AM PST Back in early October Zoom unveiled the cool Q3HD video recorder and we really liked the features and looks of the thing. What we didn’t know at the time was when you would be able to buy the video recorder and how much the thing would cost. The maker of the recorder has now come out and given up the goods on pricing and availability.
Zoom is now shipping the Q3HD and the thing will set you back $299.99. If you missed the device back in October, it’s a small handheld camcorder with seriously high quality audio and video. It records in 1080p resolution and has HD audio with 24-bit/96kHz quality. The video is recorded at 30fps in 1080p resolution and it can record 720p resolution video at 30 or 60 fps. It has three settings for the aperture to give ideal lighting in different situations. It even has a “Concert Lighting” setting for recording concerts. It has a color LCD and an integrated USB 2.0 cable. The thing ships with a 2GB SD card and works with SD cards up to 32GB. Power comes from a pair of AA batteries.
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| Sennheiser and Adidas team up on HD 25 DJ headphones Posted: 02 Dec 2010 04:24 AM PST Sennheiser Audio and Adidas have teamed up for a new set of headphones that are perfect for music fans and ninja DJs too. The headphones are called the HD 25 Originals and have a black and blue design with the three Adidas stripes that we are all familiar with. The headphones are designed for comfort on the street.
Sennheiser says that the headphones have a high maximum sound pressure level and a detachable one-sided cable. They ship with a carry bag and an adapter that allow use with 6.3mm audio ports. The headphones have a frequency response of 16-22000 Hz and a sound pressure level of 120 dB. The cable is 1.5m long and the normal adapter is 3.5mm and will fit into most music devices like the iPod and iPhone. The headphones weigh 162g. If you want to pick up a set, you can get them online and in Apple stores for £224.99.   
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| HTC watching tablet market and will focus on Android rather than Windows Phone 7 for now Posted: 02 Dec 2010 04:10 AM PST The tablet market is certainly a hot one right now with the iPad selling in droves and cool Android tablets like the Galaxy Tab doing well. HTC is one of the more popular smartphone makers out there and its VP Jack Tong has talked a bit about the future of the company will look like for smartphones and tablets.
Tong says that HTC is watching the tablet market closely and considering entering the market. He says that the iPad so far has affected PCs more than smartphones. Tong also states that until localized versions of Windows Phone 7 launch in 2011 and until then HTC will stock closely to Android for its smartphones. HTC will target English-speaking markets with WinPo 7 handsets now. Tong also talked about the short supply of many of the company’s high-end smartphones. Tong expects the supply of these devices to be better in December. HTC expects to ship about 9 million units in Q4 with revenue of about $3.29 billion.
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| ThinkGeek ships uber geeky Electronic Music Synthesizer shirt Posted: 02 Dec 2010 03:47 AM PST Those wacky cats over at ThinkGeek are constantly throwing out new and increasingly geeky gadgets and clothing for us to check out. The latest of these geeky shirts has now started shopping and goes right along with the previous shirts from ThinkGeek that have a guitar on front and a drum kit. The newest shirt is the Electronic Music Synthesizer Shirt.
The thing is an 80′s hair band synthesizer on the front of a shirt that actually plays music. You can see the dude in the YouTube video below playing that 80′s one hit wonder track “Take On Me” on the shirt. The synth on the shirt has five different sampled instruments that you can choose from. The player can rock out with up to eight keys that can be pressed at one time. The sound for the synth comes out of a belt worn speaker that has a volume knob and a tone adjustment knob. Power for the amp comes from a quartet of AAA batteries. The shirt is shipping right now for $29.99 in S-XXL sizes.   
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| XIM3 gadget breaks cover to let you bring other controller types to your Xbox 360 Posted: 02 Dec 2010 03:31 AM PST The first video games I played as a kid were on a computer. I had an Atari like any other child of the 80′s, but I always had a soft spot for the Commodore 64 and my old Tandy computer. As I got older, I migrated away from console gaming and went all in on the PC front, especially for shooters where I want a mouse and a keyboard not a gamepad for playing.
A device called the XIM2 landed a long time ago that let the Xbox 360 gamer plug in a mouse and keyboard for gaming on the game console and a new version of the device is showing up now that is much cooler and seems more advanced than the older device. The new offering is the XIM3 and it has a cool LCD to make programming the box easier. It still allows you to hook that mouse and keyboard up to the Xbox 360 and then turns the inputs you have for the mouse and keyboard into input that you would get from a gamepad that the Xbox 360 can understand. The new device also has “Smart Translators” that are designed to handle various settings in different game titles and remove the dead zones that some shooters use. We don’t know how much the thing will cost just yet, but it won't be cheap. The original was $149.99 so expect the XIM3 to be more than that. Via Engadget
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