What's new on SlashGear.com

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• ONA Union Street Camera and Messenger Bag hands-on
• MS. ‘Splosion Man Set for Fall 2011
• Chrome Event Announced by Google Team for Publishers [UPDATE]
• 500GB External HD for $50 via WD on Amazon
• simplehuman sensor can review
• KISS Coffin Re-Introduced via Eternal Image Inc
• XM-25 Airburst Smart Gun Fielded on US Troops in Afghanistan
• Rearview Cameras Required in All Cars by 2014, So Says USA Transportation Department
• Rock Band Reloaded Announced by EA Games for iPhone and iPad
• Pocket God App Available Now on Android, Soon for Windows Phone 7
• NOOKcolor SDK for Developers Now Available
• Twitter Power and the Hobby Lobby
• iFan Charges your iPhone Thanks to the Wind
• DARPA’s Transformer Project Should be Finished by 2015
• Apple Confirms no Trial Software or Demos in Mac App Store
• Congress Passes the CALM Act, TV Advertisement Sound Soon to be Regulated
• RedEye universal remote update adds universal browser support, new iPad app
• SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: December 3 2010
• HTC HD7 death grip response blames “inevitable” antenna shortcomings
• Pentax K-r limited edition gets bizarre robot theme makeover
• Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 integrates PS2 and 720p HDTV
• Samsung tops Android sales chart in US last quarter
• UFOs mentioned in WikiLeaks cables confirms Julian Assange
• Txtr ereader reportedly erased
• CLEAR Modem with WiFi wants to replace your DSL
• 1m Samsung Galaxy Tab sold; 10-inch Tab in 1H 2011
• Sony Ericsson LiveView Review
• Uranium soap glows radioactively
• Japanese battery makes power from vibrations
• GSLO applies to Apple MFi program for Peel 520

ONA Union Street Camera and Messenger Bag hands-on Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:20 PM PST Laptops, DSLRs, iPads, even Moleskines – we ask a lot of the bags we carry, and in return it takes a lot to impress us. ONA’s Union Street messenger bag is certainly ticking the right boxes from first impressions, billed as a camera bag – indeed, it fits a DSLR complete with a lens attached – it’s well padded, very well made and still has room for a MacBook Pro. More first impressions after the cut. Currently up for pre-order at $279, the Union Street comes in black, smoke or the ranger tan of our review sample. Rather than leather or nylon, ONA has opted for hand-crafted waxed cotton canvas, punctuated with leather straps, detailing and a tough base section. It works well with the antiqued brass hardware. There’s room in well-bolstered, adjustable sections for up to three lenses or flash units, together with a full-size DSLR, and then a laptop in the removable side pouch. A 13-15-inch MacBook Pro slotted in easily with a leather strap to hold it in place. It’s not cheap, but it’s comfortable and very well constructed; there’s obviously been plenty of attention paid to putting the bag together. Certainly one of the best hybrid camera/laptop messenger bags we’ve come across, and with the toughness to leave us confident toting it across a show floor. Unboxing and hands on Note/Correction: 15-inch MacBook Pro fits perfect

MS. ‘Splosion Man Set for Fall 2011 Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:11 PM PST If you’re the sort of person who found yourself playing a game by yourself in the dark by the name of “‘Splosion Man” somewhere around the time of July 22, 2009, you already know of the intense joy you’ll be able to find in this game more than likely releasing through the same channel the original released (Xbox 360′s Xbox Live Arcade) sometime during the Fall of 2011. This is Ms. Splosion Man, a game where, like its predecessor, you’re basically ‘sploding things left and right. Check out the full hilariously comic press release! Well played, Twisted Pixel Games. The plotline for this game is thus: scientists at “Big Science” have captured Mr. ‘Splosion Man, stopping him once and for all from destroying all their equipment with his ‘splosions. These scientists, celebrating in their ultimate victory, spill a bit of bubbly on a device that ultimately accidentally creates none other than a female version of ‘Splosion Man! So basically it’s ‘Splosion Man with lipstick and a bow on it’s head. Sound like any classic game expansion you’ve ever heard of? Look at this amazing teaser video, then read the excellent press release below. Click here to view the embedded video. [Gameplay Image from Original 'Splosion Man] BIG SCIENCE CAPTURES SPLOSION MAN, WORLD NOW SAFE FOREVER Twisted Pixel Games Proud to Announce the World Won't End in the Fall of 2011 AUSTIN, TX – December 2, 2010 – Twisted Pixel Games was pleased to announce today that their subsidiary, Big Science, has captured the Splosion Man and guaranteed the safety of all humankind. Many remember the terrifying events of July 2009: Splosion Man's horrifying rampage through Big Science laboratories that meated hundreds of scientists and caused untold damage to their underground laboratories. Eye witnesses reported widespread destruction and a staggering number of t-bones and fillets left in his wake. Today that ends, with Twisted Pixel releasing footage of the successful capture of the renegade experiment. The scientists speak with new-found confidence about their success. Says Dr. Wilson, "Even if some sort of newer, stronger, better threat were created, our newest security measures and fiendish traps would be more than enough to contain it. We've made incredible advances in our technology over this past year…. Not that there would ever be a use for any of it." Dr. Henry was quick to add, "Our lab, our equipment – everything has had functionality improvements and visual overhauls, and our company has expanded to some incredible new locations. It's all pristine and beautiful – decadent environments that we are very happy no experiment gone wrong will ever rampage through." Dr. Henry paused briefly before continuing, "I don't even know why I'm mentioning that, because it's 100% guaranteed that Splosion Man will never be a threat to us again." When asked if there was any risk of overconfidence amongst the scientists, Dr. Riley was quick to interject. "Why? What's going to happen, some sort of freak accident in the after party that creates a "Ms. Splosion Man" mere seconds after Splosion Man's capture? And then the Ms. Splosion Man goes on some monster tear in the fall of 2011? Yeah right. Not very likely." Twisted Pixel Games reiterates that despite the fact that nothing could possibly go wrong during today's events, should any newsworthy event occur, they will release as much information as possible in the coming months. About Twisted Pixel Games, LLC Founded in 2006 by industry veterans, Twisted Pixel is the independent game development studio behind the 2009 IGF finalist and 2008 PAX 10 Audience Choice Award winning game The Maw for Xbox LIVE® Arcade, Steam, Greenhouse, and Direct2Drive. Their accomplishments continue with the successes of Splosion Man and Comic Jumper. Twisted Pixel specializes in character-driven, original IP titles that shake up what games are all about. Memorable characters, creative gameplay, and impressive presentation is our focus. Learn more at www.TwistedPixelGames.com.

Chrome Event Announced by Google Team for Publishers [UPDATE] Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:51 PM PST Joy of all joys! An invite! This invite was sent out today to publishers asking them to attend a special event held by and about Google Chrome. This event invite lets us in on some super secrets already, such as it’s location at Dogpatch Studios in San Francisco, the fact that there’ll be breakfast there, yum! And that there’ll be a DEMO portion of the event. Could this mean what I think it means? We’ll certainly be there and you can follow along with us live on the day of here on SlashGear. Get your eyeballs peeled and your clickers clicking because it’s going to be something spectacular, I can feel it! UPDATE! A new message has been sent out adding info surrounding the event, including the address where everyone can see the event live: On December 7, we will host an event in San Francisco where we plan to share some exciting news about Chrome. The event will be webcast live on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/googlechrome. Mark your calendars for 10:30 a.m. PST and tune in. Thanks!

500GB External HD for $50 via WD on Amazon Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:37 PM PST Don’t mind a cute little robot sitting on your harddrive? Good. Because right this moment Amazon.com has a Western Digital My Passport Essential 500GB Portable USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for sale for $49.99 with free shipping. Heck with Black Friday, this is a great freaking deal! In fact, it’s $10 under what WD had for similar products, and incase you’re one of those folks who enjoy by-the-bit reductions, that’s 10 cents per gigabyte. Imagine that sort of price 10 years ago. Impossible! Think about all the stuff you could put on there. Every photo you’ve ever taken. At least a small piece of your music collection. Every text file you’ve ever laid digits on! But again, remember there’s a weird DJ robot illustration on it. If that doesn’t bother you, we suggest pulling the trigger. [Via 9to5Mac]

simplehuman sensor can review Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:17 PM PST Trashcans aren’t what we normally expect to find gracing the SlashGear test bench, but simplehuman’s sensor can reckons it’s a bit more special than the average garbage pail. The company claims the sensor can “reacts and adapts to your behavior” making for an easier clean-up. Still, at $225 the initial reaction it got to respond to was shock at such an expensive can. Did we learn to love the sensor can as it learned to live with us? Check out the full review after the cut. Hardware Big, squared off and eye-catching; at 40 liters the brushed steel sensor can stands over 25-inches high, extending to over 35-inches when the lid is open. As you’d hope, given the price, quality is strong with sturdy build and no sharp edges. simplehuman has used a die-cast steel hinge which is integrated into the body of the can: that means you can push it right up against the wall, and still have no problems opening it fully. sensor can demo As for opening it, there’s no foot pedal or spring to mess with. Instead, the lid is motorized, running on six C-size batteries (good for up to a year, simplehuman reckons; alternatively there’s an optional AC adapter) and triggered by a proximity sensor at the front edge. That sensor is pretty clever, too, starting off relatively picky in its responsiveness (so as to avoid accidental openings) but, as soon as the lid is open, extending its trigger zone so that it stays open as long as you’re putting stuff into it. Keep moving for more than three seconds, and the lid opens wider again and stays that way for 30 seconds, on the assumption that you’re likely to be doing more time-consuming chores. When you’re done, you can either wait for the sensor can to close by itself, or push the lid down – the motor is automatically disengaged so you won’t damage it in the process. Like other high-end trash cans there’s a tough plastic inner-bucket and a bag tuck section around the rim of the pail to tidy away excess plastic from the liner. simplehuman has also used its odorsorb filter, a natural charcoal odor absorber integrated into the lid. Replacement filters are $5.99 for a twin-pack. Performance For a $225 trash can to be worth the money, it has to be able to do more than just holding garbage. Happily the sensor can’s multi-sense system does exactly what the company promises, flipping the lid open quickly and reliably, and never coming down on our hands as we were using it. Although it may seem ridiculously unnecessary, if you’ve got dirty hands from cleaning then you don’t want them leaving smeared fingerprints all over your shiny can. The odorsorb filter was perhaps even more impressive, though. With a new baby still in the diaper phase also sharing space in the testing room, there was plenty of mess – and a lot of it less than sweet-smelling – for the sensor can to deal with. Happily the charcoal filters dealt swiftly with any lingering odors, making easy work of smelly food and soiled diapers. It’s too early to say how long that effectiveness will last, however, though the $5.99 price isn’t too extreme. Wrap-Up The simplehuman sensor can is undoubtedly expensive, though flick through the pages of glossy home magazines and you’ll likely find other – non-motorized – trashcans with similarly high prices. It does what it promises, too, though not everybody will be able to justify the motor-driven lid. More usefully, the charcoal filters are sold separately, complete with a holder that attaches with double-sided tape to the underside of your trashcan – whether that’s the sensor can, another model from simplehuman’s range, or indeed any can you might already have. As a geeky addition to an office or kitchen it fits the bill, and considering it doubles as a successful diaper can (which would normally be $30-$100 alone) new parents might feel more inclined to treat themselves. [simplehuman sensor can page]

KISS Coffin Re-Introduced via Eternal Image Inc Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:51 PM PST Those of you who follow the eternally epic saga that is KISStory, you might remember the most evil and excellent product they ever offered was almost certainly the Kiss Kasket. During the years 2001 through 2008, this product was sold as a real coffin (though the fact that it was waterproof often led to it being used as a Kiss Kooler for their Cold Gin.) One of the more famous people to be buried in one of these coffins was the tragically murdered Dimebag Darrell of Pantera [RIP.] Now, after a terrible two years of the world not being able to purchase this piece of devilry, Eternal Image Inc is teaming up with the band to offer a brand new one (plus some more deadly items as well.) This casket doesn’t appear to have an official KISS name yet, but will be available through Eternal Image’s “normal funeral home and distributor channels” and will be available directly from KISSonline.com where the band sells all their official merchandise. AND not only will there be a coffin, there’ll be a full line of products for death: caskets (aka more than one style I’d imagine,) cremation urns, bronze memorials, memorial prayer cards, registry books, memorial candles, and pet cremation urns. Check out the full press release below: ETERNAL IMAGE SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH LEGENDARY ROCK BAND KISS Agreement Covers a Wide Range of Limited Edition Memorial Product Eternal Image, Inc.(OTCBB:ETNL), a public company engaged in the design, manufacturing and marketing of officially licensed memorial products such as caskets, urns, monuments and vaults, today announced it has executed an agreement to design, manufacture and market a limited edition line of official KISS branded memorial products. The line will include caskets, cremation urns, bronze memorials, memorial prayer cards, registry books, memorial candles, and pet cremation urns – all designed after the famous rock band’s iconic images. This license is worldwide in scope and has an initial term of two years. “While our contract with KISS is basically a private label arrangement, it also allows Eternal Image to sell some of these products through our normal funeral home and distributor channels,” said Nick Popravsky, VP Sales and Distribution for the Company. “These unique products are geared specifically for KISS fans worldwide to purchase directly from the band via their mega website KISSonline.com which receives over a million hits each month.”

XM-25 Airburst Smart Gun Fielded on US Troops in Afghanistan Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:28 PM PST I can imagine my friend Josiah wouldn’t have minded having one of these terrifyingly amazing death-launchers around when he was on his first tour of that gorgeous country. This is the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System, aka XM-25 Airburst weapon, otherwise known as a smart gun or smart grenade launcher, designed by Heckler and Koch, is what the US army expects to be a “game-changer” in Afghanistan. Program manager for the XM25 Lieutenant Colonel Chris Lehner had the following to say about this weapons epic abilities: “You get behind something when someone is shooting at you, and that sort of cover has protected people for thousands of years, … Now we’re taking that away from the enemy forever.” The Pentagon plans on purchasing a total of at least 12,500 of these guns at around $25,000 to $30,000 a piece, enough for one per Infrantry squad and Special Forces team in Afghanistan. According to GearDiary, each round fired from the gun costs around $25. Is it worth it? Very possibly. What this weapon is capable of is firing a 25mm High Explosive round at a target, knowing how far it has to be away from the target before it should explode. This ability to explode before or after a target (such as a covered position) allows much more accuracy for the troop and much less collateral damage for the area surrounding the target. At the moment, troops are only able to basically blast through targets should their enemy high behind them. This weapon has a laser range finder that automatically finds “distance to target” and tells the warhead it launches when to blow. This weapon will be carried in addition to a soldier’s assault rifle, weighing in at around 14lbs in addition to ammunition. GearDiary reports additional features to be a 2X optical sight as well as a 4X thermal sight that’ll allow troops to view heat signatures. God help us if these become mainstream enough to find their way to both sides of these forever wars. Death shall rain down upon us all. [Via GearDiary]

Rearview Cameras Required in All Cars by 2014, So Says USA Transportation Department Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:01 PM PST For reals! Did you even know that some cars had these? It’s essentially a camera whose image is displayed within the vehicle, allowing drivers to see everywhere their car would normally impair, namely, right behind, where kids most often are right before their parent backs over them. The USA Transportation Department has now proposed requirements of cars that they improve rear visibility to such a degree that these accidents would no longer occur, most cars being able to meet these requirements by adding a rear-mounted video camera with in-vehicle displays. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides data which suggests that nearly 300 people are killed and 18,000 injured each year (I presume in the USA alone), nearly half of the deaths involving children 5 and under. Cameras such as the ones I’m sure many cars will begin installing soon have already been installed in around 20% of newly released 2010 cars (so says AP), while this new proposal, expected to be complete by next year (after a public comment period) will roll out requirements throughout the next few years. The vehicle fleet produced by the USA will have to be 10 percent at standard by their 2012 model year, 40% by 2013, and by 2014, all new cars will need to reach new visibility standards. These new rules are going to apply to all passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and every other vehicle weighing up to 10,000 pounds. No more dead puppies! The image you see above is of a rear-mounted camera from Sanyo as posted by UberGizmo. This is one you buy and install, in the future we’re looking at similar situations coming in standard. [Via The Associated Press]

Rock Band Reloaded Announced by EA Games for iPhone and iPad Posted: 03 Dec 2010 11:40 AM PST More than 30 songs are available in this new expansion from artists such as Nirvana, No Doubt, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Vampire Weekend (which one doesn’t belong? lols) and a brand new “5th Way to Play” is introduced where you’re able to sing directly into your device using brand spanking new voice recognition features. No more singing to your television looking like a jerk! Now you can sing to your iPad! Hooray! This expansion is called Rock Band Reloaded (and Rock Band Reloaded HD) and is only available for iPhone (and iPad) – it’s got “flexible controls providing ultimate customization for all play styles”! Multiplayer mode where you can play head to head on split screen (an epic feat on an iPhone to be sure) and a new “Big Drums” layout. Another artist on the lineup is Billy Idol. You think all these bands that came out before even computers were widespread had any idea people would be interacting with their music in such a way? What a wild though. Both of these games are sitting in the Apple App store just dying to get out on your iPhone or iPad, all the while your sad iPod Touch cries in a corner. Better get it a new copy of Death Worm or iSamJackson instead. Read the full press release below: EA AND HARMONIX ROCK THE MOBILE GAMING WORLD WITH ROCK BAND™ RELOADED   Songs from Top Artists and Vocal Recognition Headline First Ever iPad-Exclusive Version; New iPhone and iPod Touch Versions Also Launch on the App Store Today   REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – December 2, 2010 – EA Mobile™ – a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), Harmonix Music Systems Inc. – the world's premier music video game developer, and MTV Games – a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), today announced that ROCK BAND™ Reloaded is now available on the App StoreSM. The iPad™-exclusive HD version and the version for iPhone® and iPod touch® offers players an initial powerhouse setlist of songs from artists including Nirvana, Billy Idol, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails and Vampire Weekend. More than 20 songs will be available today with new tracks launching throughout the holidays. Plus, for the first time, ROCK BAND Reloaded players now have a "5th Way to Play" by singing directly into their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad utilizing new vocal recognition features.   "ROCK BAND Reloaded is the experience fans have been waiting for, innovating on the popular franchise and bringing the entire band onto the iPad and iPhone for the first time," said Travis Boatman, Vice President of Worldwide Studios for EA Mobile. "These games bring a deep ROCK BAND experience to mobile players in very cool and creative new ways. Innovative vocal recognition features, social integration connecting players to their friends and challenging gameplay modes will drive forward the mobile music genre and provide the best music experience to players."   New vocal recognition features introduce players to a unique way to play by singing directly into their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to earn points. Players can showcase their inner rock star by picking from a setlist of songs that include "Hella Good" by No Doubt, "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, "Your Decision" by Alice in Chains, "White Wedding" by Billy Idol, "In Bloom" by Nirvana, "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend and many more. In addition to the songs included with the initial purchase, free* tracks are available in the Music Store along with Premium Packs by The All American Rejects, Third Eye Blind, Blink-182 and other top-selling artists available through In App Purchase.   For the first time on iPad, ROCK BAND Reloaded packs delivers device-exclusive features including a Multiplayer mode where players can challenge friends live in a head-to-head split-screen environment. Flexible controls provide for ultimate customization of all play styles. The iPad game's new "Big Drums" layout increases the interactivity of this fan-favorite instrument. Songs are now more accessible to players with custom playlists in Quick Play and quick replay using an "Encore" feature.   Other game features include a new Expert mode for experienced players along with a World Tour mode that enables players to rock six cities and 36 events earning up to 50 awards and achievements all while living the Rock N' Roll dream. By logging into Facebook, players have access to the News Center where they can find out when new songs launch, follow friends' exploits and directly challenge their friends' accomplishments with a simple touch of the screen. And for those just looking to jam, get "the band" together via local WiFi and Bluetooth and play live on guitar, bass, drums, or vocals with up to three bandmates using their own iPad, iPhone or iPod touch**.   ROCK BAND Reloaded and ROCK BAND Reloaded HD are available today from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.  Assets and additional press information on ROCK BAND Reloaded can be found at http://info.ea.com. For the most up to date ROCK BAND Reloaded set list, visit http://www.ea.com.   EA Mobile has a solid reputation for its pioneering and market leadership in mobile gaming, and has been a definitive player with the rise of Apple devices as gaming platforms. Popular games include SCRABBLE, Tetris, MONOPOLY and BATTLESHIP, which have consistently ranked among top sellers and, in 2009, The Sims® 3 was the #1 best-selling game on the App Store.  For more information about EA Mobile, please visit www.EAMobile.com, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EAMobile or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EAMobile.   * Internet connection required. Data rates may apply. **Vocals/voice feature not available on the 1st generation iPod touch. Microphone required to play vocals/voice on the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch. Headset required to play vocals/voice on 1st generation iPhone.   ###   About EA Mobile EA Mobile™ is the world's leading wireless entertainment publisher with award-winning games such as Tetris®, Bejeweled®, The Sims™, and Need For Speed™. The EA Mobile portfolio also includes casual games based on the company's alliance with Hasbro, Inc. including MONOPOLY, YAHTZEE and SCRABBLE (in the U.S. and Canada) as well as sports blockbusters from the EA SPORTS™ brand, including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer and NASCAR®. EA Mobile develops games for multiple mobile platforms including mobile phones, smartphones, the iPhone®, iPad™ and iPod® touch. For more information about EA Mobile, please visit www.eamobile.com.   About Electronic Arts Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.   About MTV Networks MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.   About MTV Games MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.   About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com. EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, Pogo, The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Tetris is a registered trademark of Tetris Holding.  Bejeweled is a registered trademark of PopCap Games, Inc.  BATTLESHIP, MONOPOLY, YAHTZEE and SCRABBLE (in the U.S. and Canada) are trademarks of Hasbro.  John Madden, NFL, FIFA and NASCAR are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.  iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. and iPhone and iPod touch are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.  Harmonix, Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3, Rock Band Network and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., a MTV Networks company.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Pocket God App Available Now on Android, Soon for Windows Phone 7 Posted: 03 Dec 2010 11:10 AM PST Hooray for adventures. This is the first time Bolt Creative or Ngmoco have created a non-iOS application, and they’re teamed up to bring that ever-so-popular game about crushing to both Android and Windows Phone 7 smartphones. It’s like Sim City for the futuristic world of now, played with pygmies! They’ve even got a blog where they let you know about all their ventures into things like action figures and double rainbows, and now YOU TOO, you Android peoples, can be a part of this fun world, hooray! Beware though, as some folks, as reported by Android Community, are having trouble with crashing – specifically on Galaxy S, CLIQ, and Desire HD. Other phones seem to work fine, which is good news because this game is super-de-duper fun! Check out the full press release below: Bolt Creative Teams Up with ngmoco to Bring Pocket God to Android and Windows Phone 7 Pygmies Discover New Islands, Ready to Please More Gods SAN FRANCISCO – December 2, 2010 – Bolt Creative, the development studio behind best-selling iPhone app Pocket God, today announced that everyone’s favorite Pygmies will be available on both Android and Windows Phone 7 devices this holiday season. Partnering with ngmoco, a leading publisher in the mobile games space, Pocket God is the first venture into a platform other than iOS for both companies. Pocket God is available now on Android and will arrive for Windows Phone 7 soon. “Pocket God has been expanding rapidly since its inception almost two years ago and we’ve always had our eyes on new platforms, to be selected as a launch title for Windows Phone 7 as well as hopping over to Android is something we’re truly happy about,” said Dave Castelnuovo, CEO of Bolt Creative. “Collaborating with ngmoco on these monumental launches is just icing on the cake, their expertise in mobile gaming is unparalleled and their outstanding reputation ensures that these new versions of Pocket God will be the same high quality fans have come to appreciate.” “We were delighted to work with the Bolt Creative team on bringing their Pocket God IP to Android and Windows 7 Mobile using the gamemaking resources at ngmoco and we’re certain Pocket God will continue its success on these new devices” – Simon Jeffery, CPO at ngmoco What was intended to be a small side project for Dave Castelnuovo and Allan Dye one winter week has turned into one of the biggest franchises on the App Store, with Pocket God becoming a smash hit just months after its release. With over thirty free updates, which have introduced mini-games, new islands to discover, and creative ways to smite Pygmies, Pocket God continues to impress day one fans and new players alike with its irreverent humor and originality. Pocket God has also spawned its own comic book, a first for any franchise born in the mobile app space, expanding the Pocket God universe by providing a background story for the island and its seemingly immortal inhabitants. Carrying over the same diabolical themes that popularized the original title, Pocket God Comics has found a following of its own and consistently tops the charts with each new issue released. For more information about Pocket God, please visit www.boltcreative.com About Bolt Creative Bolt Creative is a San Francisco-based developer creating original iPhone applications and games, including 2009′s blockbuster iPhone game Pocket God. Bolt Creative’s goal is to create games that are not only fun to play, but fun to develop and make them laugh. For more information, please visit www.boltcreative.com About ngmoco Ngmoco is a wholly owned subsidiary of DeNA Co., Ltd, the world’s leading social mobile gaming company. Headquartered in San Francisco and with studios in New York and Portland, ngmoco creates and publishes games for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Android in collaboration with the best and brightest game makers in the world. To witness the lives and minds of the ngmoco team at work on the future of social mobile gaming, visit http://www.ngmoco.com [Via Android Community]

NOOKcolor SDK for Developers Now Available Posted: 03 Dec 2010 10:32 AM PST So you were hangin around when they said “The next NOOK will be NOOKcolor!” and you were on the edge of your seat when they announced “Developer Support!” you’re really gonna jump for joy now – NOOK SDK v1 is available for download RIGHT THIS INSTANT. All your developer doors are about to be opened. Get those idea bags open and make some reader-centric apps for Barnes and Noble to make their NOOKcolor the explosively reader-centric reading device they mean it to be! Inside this SDK you’ll find a Android Virtual Device (AVD) Emulator, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) configuration settings, Sample Code, and Documentation for NOOKcolor files and components. This SDK 1.0 Android add-on uses the Android SDK and AVD Manager to install. You can also take advantage of PDFs including Developing for NOOKcolor, Usability Basics for NOOKcolor, and Specifications for NOOKcolor. Find all of this at Barnes and Nobles Developer Hub. If you’d like to get an extended look at what NOOKcolor is all about, feel free to look at our massively large “A Week With” review of the device in the following posts: A Week with NOOKcolor: Hardware A Week with NOOKcolor: Reading (aka Core Apps) NOOKcolor Unboxing and Hands-on NOOKcolor Demo A Bit of Extra Clarity for Would-be Developers of NOOKcolor Apps A Week with NOOKcolor: 3rd Party Apps and Final Wrap-Up and A Week with NOOKcolor: The Missing Link – Viewing Manually Loaded Books and What a Root Means for the Future [Via AndroidCommunity]

Twitter Power and the Hobby Lobby Posted: 03 Dec 2010 10:30 AM PST Yesterday an old friend posted on Facebook: “XXX dislikes craft stores (and all stores for that matter) that say, “no nothing Hannukah in here – we are a Christian store. We only celebrate Christmas.” Nice.” How old is this friend? I used to babysit her and her brother when they were kids. She still lives in our hometown, Columbia, Md. Columbia is a fantastic place to grow up. It is often rated one of the best cities in which one could live, along with neighboring Ellicott City. Columbia is a planned city, and a progressive city. It is zoned to be integrated, in terms of socio-economics, and most schools have a racial and religious mix that is far more diverse than the rest of the country. It is the sort of place I’d like to raise my own children, and the open-minded upbringing I had in Columbia certainly shaped my worldview for the rest of my life. So, I was shocked when I read that statement. I commented on her status update, telling her I was dumbfounded, and asking which store it was. She replied in a personal message, not on the more public Facebook wall. The store was a Hobby Lobby. It was new to the area. I’ve seen them down here in Dallas, but I’ve never been inside one of them. Not that I was avoiding them, I just never had any reason. Now, before I continue, let me clarify why I think this statement is a problem. I have no issue with stores that don't carry Hanukkah-themed items. I almost prefer it, even though I celebrate the festival. Hanukkah is a very minor holiday in the Jewish religion. It’s more an excuse to give presents and eat potato pancakes than an actual religious ceremony. It is not, as my doctor down here in Dallas recently suggested, the most important holiday on the Jewish calendar. It’s not even in the top five. The reason I have a problem with that statement is precisely because I don’t care if a store sells Hanukkah gear or not. I have no problem with stores that are focused on a single holiday. If you celebrate Christmas, I’m sure Christmas Tree Shops is a wonderful store to fit your needs. If there’s a customer looking to conveniently fill a need, there can be a store built for that customer. That’s capitalism, not religion. If you want to open a store that focuses on Christmas; or Eid al-Fitr, the feast at the end of Ramadan; or Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights; or any other holiday, more power to you. I might not shop there, unless you’re selling something that interests me. I certainly wouldn’t have any problem with such stores. Why would a store need to clarify its “No Hanukkah” policy? First, to attract a clientele who are not only interested in a shop with Christian values, but who are also interested in a shop that excludes Hanukkah. After all, does Christmas Tree Shops broadcast their lack of Fourth of July paraphernalia? Of course not. Does Best Buy have to tell you it doesn’t sell flags for Bastille Day? No, because Best Buy does not care about attracting customers who shop based on their distaste for the French. But Hobby Lobby apparently wanted to make sure that customers knew they would not find Hanukkah iconography inside. Second, Hobby Lobby wanted to make sure that anyone looking for Hanukkah supplies would shop for them elsewhere. There are no such supplies at the store. No boxes containing the exact number of candles needed for the eight nights of lighting progressively more candles. No dreidels or menorahs. No decorations with Hebrew lettering. I wouldn’t claim that Hobby Lobby hates Jews, but when I heard this, my first thought was that I would not feel welcome at a Hobby Lobby store. I posted on Twitter: “Hobby Lobby in my hometown has sign: “No hanukkah here, we are a Christian store.” Guess I’m not welcome there, will never shop there, ever.” See the logical mistake I made? It’s a doozy. My friend said that she “dislikes craft stores that say . . . “. The emphasis here is obviously mine. I assumed she had read this on a sign. It wasn’t a person who had said this, it was a store. When you talk about a person, you use the pronoun “who,” not “that.” “That” refers to an object or a concept. I believed she had read a sign out in front of the store that made this proclamation about Hanukkah. My original tweet was retweeted more than most tweets I write. Some interesting people picked up on it and passed it along. Some of those people tried to get the attention of major national news organizations. I figured I would get the jump on this story, so I called the store personally to check my facts. I talked to a manager named Tom who told me that there was no such sign. He sounded suspicious, but probably because I had identified myself as a writer with SlashGear.com. It is best to be suspicious when a reporter calls. Tom referred me to the corporate Web site for Hobby Lobby. Smart move. The corporate site has no corporate phone number or email address for press inquiries. You have to send a letter by post. If you don’t know what that is, it’s an archaic way of delivering messages written on paper in slow-moving trucks. Replies can take days, and it costs actual money to send mail. His denial made me curious, though. If he was denying the sign, I figured, then it must have been taken down, or it would be soon after he hung up. I hoped to find a camera phone picture of the sign. At the least, I wanted to verify exactly what the sign had said. So, I wrote to my friend. I told her the manager had denied ever having such a sign. Her response? “No sign. What a person told me.” That person was dressed better than the rest of the staff, who were wearing aprons while she was not. She was giving staff members directions and instruction. According to my friend, she “looked like a manager.” I was wrong. I got my facts wrong. I implied too much from what I read on Facebook. My tweet was inaccurate, and now it is circulating. I could delete it, but I cannot un-say it. I still believe my friend and what she heard. In a way, this is not as bad for Hobby Lobby. After all, a printed sign, even handwritten, appears to be a corporate policy set in stone. But in some ways, this is worse. This might have only been one store manager, but it was a store manager with the nerve to look another person in the eye and exclaim “We are a Christian store. We only celebrate Christmas.” That’s obnoxious, but it’s not a corporation being obnoxious, it’s a manager with a flawed sense of customer service. I never suspected this was Hobby Lobby corporate policy. I always figured this was the act of a rogue employee. But I am sorry for making the assumption that I made. When I discovered my mistake, I wrote on Twitter: “I’m chalking this up to a lone employee mistake. They are aware they’re being watched. Case closed.” What are the lessons learned? As a reporter, I know better. I need a second source or more specific verification, like a photo, before I write a story. Once a story is out there, riding the ether, it cannot be reigned in easily, if at all. Also, do not assume that everybody uses perfect grammar. Not everybody was an English major, you dolt.

iFan Charges your iPhone Thanks to the Wind Posted: 03 Dec 2010 09:56 AM PST There are a couple of different options out there for someone to keep their iPhone, or other mobile device, charged, even if they aren’t near a power outlet. While most of them focus on the power of the sun, the new iFan charger for the iPhone puts its attention on wind power. As of right now, the design is just a modification, and not actually a “ready for the market” device. And, as for the user who created the Do-It-Yourself iFan iPhone charger, it’s being reported that it took 6 hours to charge the iPhone fully. Sure, that’s a lot longer than some people may expect, but given the correct situation, the iFan could be the perfect accessory for your iPhone. Especially if the user can get the charge time down, like it’s suggested is possible. If the user can make the fan blades themselves more efficient, it’s suggested that the overall time needed to charge the iPhone could be reduced pretty significantly. [via UberGizmo]

DARPA’s Transformer Project Should be Finished by 2015 Posted: 03 Dec 2010 09:32 AM PST The Transformer project, or TX, from DARPA has been moving forward in its development stages pretty steadily. It wasn’t too long ago that we first reported about the project, and at the end of September we told you that DARPA was one step closer to making the Transformer project the real deal. And now it looks like, thanks to some cost reports and design elements, the military may be getting their hands on a flying Humvee sooner than we ever believed. If you’ll recall, the Transformer project has a lot of different scenarios for usage. One of the more unique ones, though, is the ability for the Humvee to work as a medical transport, with the ability to fly out of a dangerous situation at the drop of a hat. That means wounded soldiers on the ground, as long as they are near the Transformer, won’t have to wait for an incoming helicopter to evacuate. A few more details about the driving and flying vehicle have emerged as well. For example, the Transformer will be able to move at a speed of about 65 mph, while it’s driving around. However, while it’s in the air, it will be able to reach speeds of 150 mph. The design calls for lightweight anti-blast armor, as well as ballistic-proof windows installed throughout. And, as you can imagine, the Transformer will indeed be outfitted with heavy weapons for defense, as well as offensive maneuvers. But, the real motivator for the Transformer to take shape, and actually find its way to the battlefield, is the supposed cost. According to DARPA, the Transformer will only cost around $203,000 to construct. That’s about the same cost as any high-end supercar out there, so it doesn’t look like cost will keep the Transformer from seeing the light of day. [via DailyMail]

Apple Confirms no Trial Software or Demos in Mac App Store Posted: 03 Dec 2010 09:12 AM PST Apple has confirmed, over the course of Thursday night, that their upcoming Mac App Store will not feature demos, or any trial software for the applications therein. It’s a distinct step in the opposite direction that the Cupertino-based company has utilized in their App Store since its debut. The news was made known by Apple recently via their News and Announcements for Apple Developers. The Mac App Store, which is set to debut by the end of January, will launch on Mac OS X Snow Leopard. However, Apple hasn’t blocked the whole concept of a demo, or trial version to developer’s applications. In fact, Apple suggests a way for developers to provide demos of their wares: “Your website is the best place to provide demos, trial versions, or betas of your software for customers to explore. The apps you submit to be reviewed for the Mac App Store should be fully functional, retail versions of your apps.” There’s no telling why Apple has decided against allowing demos and trial versions of applications within the Mac App Store, especially considering the model of allowing “Lite” versions for people to try has worked so well for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. At least there will still be demos available, even if it means you’ll have to go through an extra step, and access the developer’s website, to reach it. [via AppleInsider]

Congress Passes the CALM Act, TV Advertisement Sound Soon to be Regulated Posted: 03 Dec 2010 08:43 AM PST There’s probably been a few nights where you’ve been watching your favorite show, or just flipping through channels, and before you realize what’s happening, your passed out. And then, without warning, a commercial comes on the air, and the volume is surprisingly louder than what you remember. It isn’t your imagination, and you probably didn’t roll over and hit the volume up button on your remote. It’s a problem that many people have been clamoring about for some time now, and Congress has listened. They’ve officially passed the CALM Act, which is specifically meant to address the fact that some TV advertisements are way too loud. Congress has officially passed the new bill this week. It’s called the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM Act. However, despite the fact that Congress has passed the bill, it still needs one more step before it can be finalized, and actually put into use. At some point, if it’s not already there, the bill will be sitting on President Obama’s desk, waiting to get approved. If the President of the United States does approve the CALM Act, then it would be up to the Federal Communications Commission to put into affect a set standard for volume level, based on the regular programming’s volume level. All of this would have to be implemented within one year. And thankfully, the CALM Act includes not only Cable providers, but satellite as well. [via MSNBC]

RedEye universal remote update adds universal browser support, new iPad app Posted: 03 Dec 2010 08:28 AM PST ThinkFlood’s RedEye universal remote is getting a whole lot more useful, with the release of a new software update – RedEye app v2.0 – which adds browser control. Rather than demanding owners control the RedEye with an iOS device such as an iPhone or iPod touch, with the new software any browser – whether on a PC or Mac, or indeed on an Android or BlackBerry smartphone – will be able to operate the device. Meanwhile there’s also an updated iOS app, v2.0 [iTunes link], which has native iPad support to take advantage of the tablet’s larger screen. The web version can be used to rearrange the button layout, too, and you can assign keyboard shortcuts to the various functions. The RedEye itself is priced at $188 and is a WiFi to infrared bridge, capable of controlling multiple home cinema or other devices simultaneously. More information here. [via Engadget] Press Release: ThinkFlood’s RedEye Universal Remote Control Now Compatible With Your Web Browser ThinkFlood’s RedEye Application Gets Major Updates That Expand the Compatibility of RedEye Units to Include Access From PC and Mobile Browsers WALTHAM, MA–(Marketwire – December 2, 2010) – ThinkFlood (http://thinkflood.com/), maker of RedEye universal remote controls, announced that (Wi-Fi) RedEye owners will soon be able to setup and manage their RedEye systems using any Web browser connected to their home network. “The networked power of RedEye Wi-Fi systems becomes more apparent in this new version,” said ThinkFlood founder, Matt Eagar. “No longer are our Wi-Fi customers limited to iOS, as they can configure and control RedEye from both PCs and other mobile platforms.” The RedEye browser app gives (Wi-Fi) RedEye customers the ability to use any PC browser to control their RedEye systems and edit activity layouts. With RedEye app version 2.0, custom layouts are even easier to configure with the ability to select and move multiple buttons at once, align edges automatically and more. RedEye customers may also run the application from a variety of mobile Web browsers — such as those included with Android and BlackBerry operating systems. ThinkFlood developers say that while the RedEye browser app performs well in tests using non-iOS mobile browsers, version 2.0 is not specifically optimized for them. ThinkFlood (Wi-Fi) RedEye customers may choose from nearly 70 different keyboard shortcuts to easily control their home entertainment devices when accessing their universal remote control system from a PC. “Our goal from the start has been to make the RedEye a truly ‘universal’ universal remote control system,” said Eagar. “Our customers should be able to use RedEye from whatever device they have at hand, whether it’s an iPhone or a laptop.” The updated RedEye application for RedEye universal remote control systems will be available during the first week of December 2010 as a free download from iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/app/redeye/id315598320?mt=8). About ThinkFlood: ThinkFlood designs and develops remote control hardware and software. Its RedEye line (http://thinkflood.com/products) of universal remote control products for mobile phones, MP3 players and tablets offers features and functionality previously available only in remotes priced several times as much. ThinkFlood is a privately held company headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: December 3 2010 Posted: 03 Dec 2010 08:23 AM PST Oh man. Yesterday we learned about a new form of life, but Julian Assange of WikiLeaks wasn’t satisfied. He wanted ALIENS. So what’s he do today? He announces the next WikiLeaks cable to have UFOs in it. Wowie! Then we find out there’s going to be some World of Warcraft on Android devices via GameString, a Professor in NYC installs a camera in the back of his head, and we review the super cute funny little device the Sony Ericsson LiveView – kawaii! Finally, Google pays someone $1 compensation in a Street View privacy case. Cash! All this and a whole lot more on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up! R3 Media Network Android Community SPB TV v2.0 released: Free mobile TV with VoD Samsung grabs US Android sales top-spot in Q3 2010 Dell Streak gets battery meter tweak Gameloft's Dungeon Hunter for Android goes free for one day only Samsung hit 1m Galaxy Tab sales early; predict 1.5m by end of year Android Market gets new Similar tab for some users GameString brings Warcraft to Android [WOW] [IMAGE ABOVE] Best Buy offers free Android phones for Christmas T-Mobile UK Responds to delayed Galaxy S 2.2 Update Android Flash Player Updated 10.1.105.7 SlashGear Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 integrates PS2 and 720p HDTV UFOs mentioned in WikiLeaks cables confirms Julian Assange Txtr ereader reportedly erased CLEAR Modem with WiFi wants to replace your DSL Sony Ericsson LiveView [REVIEW] Uranium soap glows radioactively Japanese battery makes power from vibrations GSLO applies to Apple MFi program for Peel 520 Professor in NYC installs camera in head Orange offers cheap subsidized iPad Speck offers new PixelSkin HD case for HTC HD7 smartphone [SUPER CUTE] Prosecution in Xbox 360 modder case drops charges Best Buy offers free Android phones just in time for Christmas FTC testifies before Congress on Do Not Track list Kaleidescape debuts Cinema One movie server Google +1 social network now involving Sergey Brin? Vonage offers users free calls to Santa for Christmas Inventec HP webOS tablet & Oak Trail slates in Q1 2011; ASUS Core i5 tablet by end of year tipped Google pays $1 compensation in Street View privacy case WikiLeaks: Amazon denies government pressure; DNS yanked & servers moved to Switzerland Parrot AR.Drone gets grounded in new teardown mophie Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 4 packs biggest battery so far To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

HTC HD7 death grip response blames “inevitable” antenna shortcomings Posted: 03 Dec 2010 08:14 AM PST The so-called death grip issue some HTC HD7 owners have complained about has prompted an official comment from the company, who basically reckon that any device can suffer from the way it’s being held. “It is inevitable that a phone’s signal strength will weaken a little when covered in its entirety by a user’s palm or fingers,” an HTC spokesperson told Computer Weekly. “Quality in industrial design is of key importance to HTC. To ensure the best possible signal strength, antennas are placed in the area least likely to be covered by a person’s face or hands while the phone is in use. However, it is inevitable that a phone’s signal strength will weaken a little when covered in its entirety by a user’s palm or fingers. We test all of our phones extensively and are confident that under normal circumstances reception strength and performance will be more than sufficient for the operation of the phone when network coverage is also adequate” HTC statement The death grip reports have refuelled debate from earlier this year, when Apple was criticized for its iPhone 4 reception. In response, the company pointed out – like HTC has done – that any mobile device makes compromises between the antenna positioning, usability and design. Signal issues aren’t something we experienced either with our European or T-Mobile USA HD7 review units, but we’d be interested to hear from you in the comments if you’ve been encountering problems.

Pentax K-r limited edition gets bizarre robot theme makeover Posted: 03 Dec 2010 08:06 AM PST Pentax has outed another in the company’s range of unusually colored DSLRs, this time a limited edition of 100 rainbow K-r cameras. Supposedly the result of customer demand, on the inside it’s the same 12.4-megapixel shooter previously offered in white, black and red, complete with a 3-inch 920k dot LCD display, 6fps shooting for up to 25 frames, in-camera HDR editing and a 100 – 25600 ISO range, but on the outside it’s an eye-catching (if not eye-watering) array of colors and a matching lens. That lens, incidentally, is a PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 prime, though obviously you can use any existing sober black lenses you might already have. The odd head attached to the hot-shoe blocks the pop-up flash, Pentax warn, which seems a somewhat odd compromise to make in the name of style. Still, we’re sure Pentax has done its sums and worked out that there are enough interested parties to account for the mere 100 units when they go on sale in early January 2011. Sticker price will be 99,800 yen ($1,203).

Sony BRAVIA KDL22PX300 integrates PS2 and 720p HDTV Posted: 03 Dec 2010 07:08 AM PST Sony has quietly begun sales of an integrated HDTV and PlayStation, though the BRAVIA KDL22PX300 does only give you a PS2 rather than a PS3. Available in the UK for a bargain £199.95 ($312), the 22-inch set runs at 720p-friendly 1366 x 768 resolution and has four HDMI ports and three USB ports (two of which are apparently USB 1.1). There’s also an ethernet port, for hooking up to Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video service, and a pair of optical digital audio outputs. A single Freeview digital TV tuner, SCART socket, component video input and VGA input round out the main specs; the only thing missing is that you can’t wall-mount it, which would’ve been a nice touch for a kid’s bedroom. Given the UK-spec tuner we’re guessing the BRAVIA KDL22PX300 won’t be showing up on North American shores any time soon, though we suppose Sony could well come out with a US-spec version if there’s sufficient demand. It’s available now. [via Kotaku]

Samsung tops Android sales chart in US last quarter Posted: 03 Dec 2010 06:47 AM PST Samsung‘s approach of pushing Galaxy S family smartphones out on every major US carrier seems to have worked out, with Gartner confirming that the company took the number one spot for US Android device sales in Q3 2010. According to their figures, Galaxy S handsets – like the Verizon Fascinate, AT&T Captivate and T-Mobile Vibrant – accounted for 32.1-percent of Android device sales that quarter, with total sales of the devices in the country recently exceeding three million units. It’s a fair step up from Samsung’s previous performance with Android; the company had a mere 9.2-percent of the Android market in the US in Q4 2009. It’s likely that strong sales performance will continue, as the Google Nexus S – the Samsung-made next-gen Googlephone – is expected to debut imminently. [via Android Community] Press Release: SAMSUNG MOBILE NAMED #1 ANDROID SMARTPHONE PROVIDER BASED ON RETAIL SALES IN U.S. & GALAXY S PORTFOLIO REACHES THREE MILLION SHIPMENTS MILESTONE Independent research from leading industry analyst firm shows Samsung captured top spot in U.S. Android smartphone market in third quarter of 2010 DALLAS, December 3, 2010 — Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S., today announced that third party research firm Gartner® reported Samsung as the top Android smartphone provider in terms of sell through to end users in the United States for the third quarter of 20102. According to Gartner, Samsung Mobile captured 32.1 percent of the U.S. Android smartphone market in Q3 2010 based on retail sales, an increase from 9.2 percent of the Android smartphone market in Q4 2009. Samsung Mobile attributes much of the success to its Galaxy S portfolio of premium smartphones, which recently passed the three million shipment milestone in the U.S. Galaxy S smartphones are currently available with AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, along with U.S. Cellular and Cellular South. "I want to personally thank everyone who selected a Galaxy S smartphone as their mobile handset of choice. Neither of these wonderful accomplishments would have been possible without the loyalty and support of our customers," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. "The Galaxy S portfolio has played a significant role in Samsung's success in 2010 and we are extremely excited to show you what products, services and innovations we have in store for the U.S. market in 2011." The Samsung Galaxy S portfolio is packed with premium features and services, including a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED display screen, 1GHz Hummingbird Application Processor, Samsung's Media Hub premium movie and TV programming download service and a full array of entertainment, messaging and social networking capabilities. The Galaxy S portfolio will be upgraded to the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system in the near future. For additional information on the Samsung Galaxy S portfolio, please visit www.samsung.com/galaxys. 1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q3 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports. 2 Number one Android smartphone provider in the U.S. claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported sales data according to Gartner Inc. Competitive Landscape: Mobile Devices, Worldwide, 3Q10 Report (published November 9, 2010 by authors Roberta Cozza, Carolina Milanesi, Anshul Gupta, Hugues J. De La Vergne, Annette Zimmermann, CK Lu, Atsuro Sato and Tuong Huy Nguyen)

UFOs mentioned in WikiLeaks cables confirms Julian Assange Posted: 03 Dec 2010 06:18 AM PST WikiLeaks may be prompting embarrassment in embassies across the world right now, but it could soon have us all looking to the skies. Founder Julian Assange has confirmed that parts of the as-yet-unpublished remainder of the cable documents passed to the site does make reference to UFOs, though he’s not saying what, exactly, the confidential files are claiming. “Many weirdos email us about UFOs or how they discovered that they were the anti-christ whilst talking with their ex-wife at a garden party over a pot-plant. However, as yet they have not satisfied two of our publishing rules. 1) that the documents not be self-authored; 2) that they be original. However, it is worth noting that in yet-to-be-published parts of the cablegate archive there are indeed references to UFOs.” Julian Assange, founder, WikiLeaks It’s been a week of extraterrestrial rumor, what with NASA’s teasing press release in the run up to yesterday’s revelations about arsenic-based lifeforms. We doubt the documents in Assange’s possession detail anything quite so impressive as changing the definition of life as we know it, though; WikiLeaks would probably have pushed those files out first, were it the case.

Txtr ereader reportedly erased Posted: 03 Dec 2010 06:07 AM PST It seems the ereader market may be a little less crowded than we expected, with word that the German txtr device has been abandoned by parent company Txtr. According to an ex-employee speaking to The Digital Reader, the txtr – which was due to be launched earlier in the year, considerably later than initially promised – has been quietly ditched while the company attempts to work on its software ebookstore business. The txtr was initially being positioned as particularly developer friendly, with an open API and publicly-released details about the hardware and software the company was using. Unfortunately that ambitious plan encountered problems along the way, with Txtr deleting WiFi from the hardware list back in 2009. According to TDR’s source, Txtr is currently attempting to salvage its place in the software ebookstore market, and facing strong competition from rivals. Now, with no official confirmation from the company itself we can’t assume the txtr is dead, but with it failing to show at the Frankfurt Book Fair earlier this year, as had been promised, it’s not looking hopeful.

CLEAR Modem with WiFi wants to replace your DSL Posted: 03 Dec 2010 05:34 AM PST CLEAR has launched a new modem for use with its WiMAX service, though it’s targeted at home or small-office users rather than mobile mavens. The unimaginatively titled CLEAR Modem with WiFi is, as you can probably guess, a CLEAR WiMAX modem with an integrated WiFi b/g/n radio, for sharing the 4G connection with multiple users. There’s also a single ethernet port for hooking up a wired computer, and a simple five LED signal strength gauge. What we’d really like to see is a WAN port for using the router with a cable/DSL modem, opening up the possibility of either coupling the bandwidth from two connections, or keeping the WiMAX as a fall-back should the hardline go down. The CLEAR Modem with WiFi is available now, priced at $120 outright or $7 per month leased. It’s available with month-to-month or two-year agreements, with service plans starting at $35/month (plus tax); CLEAR Voice can be added for $15/month (plus tax).

1m Samsung Galaxy Tab sold; 10-inch Tab in 1H 2011 Posted: 03 Dec 2010 05:12 AM PST Samsung has announced that global sales of the Galaxy Tab have already met its one million unit target for 2010, and that the company now expects to shift 1.5m of the Android slates before the year is out. The milestone follows Samsung’s last announced sales goal of 600,000 Tabs back in late November 2010. According to Samsung, 10-percent of the total sales to-date have been in Korea alone, with 100,000 Galaxy Tabs being snapped up since the 7-inch tablet went on sale there on November 13. The company now plans to launch a 10-inch Galaxy Tab in the first half of 2011, believed to be the first in a range of models both larger and smaller than their initial attempt. [via Android Community]

Sony Ericsson LiveView Review Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:50 AM PST A tiny sub-display, for remotely-controlling your Android smartphone and sneaking glances at incoming messages when you probably should be paying attention in class, in meetings or in the midst of romantic dinners: what’s not to like about Sony Ericsson’s LiveView? The compact OLED display promises to pick out the most important updates from your smartphone and push them out to your wrist or wherever you have the LiveView clipped, but does the real-world experience live up to the marketing promise? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut. Hardware Measuring in at 35 x 35 x 11 mm, the plastic-bodied LiveView is a lightweight if somewhat thick black square, fronted by a 1.3-inch 128 x 128 color OLED display. On the back there’s a metal clip, sturdy enough to keep the LiveView fixed snugly to your lapel or the shoulder-strap of your bag; Sony Ericsson also supply a nylon wrist-strap and a plastic frame assembly to turn the LiveView into a chunky watch. Hardware controls are limited to a power button with integrated multicolor LED on the top left corner and a second button on the top right; on the bottom edge there’s a microUSB port for charging, covered with a somewhat fiddly rubber flap. Unfortunately there’s no touchscreen – likely to keep the price down – and instead the bezel around the display hides four touch-sensitive directional controls, with the right physical button acting as select. It’s not as intuitive as, say, sweeping the display on the iPod nano. As well as flashing its notification light, the LiveView also has a vibration motor inside for discrete updates of new messages, calendar appointments and the like. It’s not the most powerful we’ve seen, but it’ll get your attention, particularly if you have the display clipped to your wrist. Software Sony Ericsson get points for not making the LiveView an accessory solely for their own range of XPERIA smartphones, and more again for opening up the SDK for third-party developers. Instead, it’ll work with most Android smartphones running OS 2.0 or above, and the LiveView application – which runs in the background on your phone – is freely available in the Android Market. It’s not quite as straightforward as installing the app and going from there, though; there’s actually a second app, Sony Ericsson LiveWare, which the company tells you to install first and then which guides you through the LiveView installation. It’s not entirely clear from the description of either app as to the differences, which could well lead to confusion, especially as – when we tried running both or just the LiveView app on different devices – we couldn’t see any particular difference in operation. Out of the box, the app supports incoming calls, SMS, Facebook and Twitter updates, along with basic media player control, RSS headlines and date/time. It’s straightforward to toggle each on or off from the app’s settings – if you don’t want to use the RSS functionality, you don’t have to see it on the LiveView’s display – and you sign into Facebook and Twitter independently from any other apps you may be using on your phone. If you’re reading an SMS or RSS excerpt and want to review it (or, indeed, reply to it) on your phone, hitting a button automatically opens that page on the handset itself. There’s also a “plug-ins” option, which opens the LiveView up to third-party apps also distributed via the Android Market. So far, with the sub-display in its infancy, the choice is limited; there are weather and Gmail apps, together with a “Where Am I” app which shows your current position in a zoomable snapshot from Google Maps, along with a few others. Performance Unfortunately, while the premise has merit, the actual experience of using the LiveView falls well short. Most frustrating are the regular connection failures, with the LiveView randomly dropping its link to the various handsets we tested it with and then proving unable to re-connect. Most of the time either power-toggling Bluetooth or the sub-display itself addressed the issue, but it happened far too frequently for our liking. Navigation, too, felt more convoluted than it should be. The menu layout should be straightforward – cycle through the top level of Sony Ericsson’s native apps with the left/right touch keys, select with the right-hand physical button and then move up and down lists of RSS headlines or missed calls with the up/down keys – but all too often presses would fail to be recognized. We also found the LiveView would often stall, refusing to back out to the main menu and instead leaving us either looking at a blank screen or simply the status bar of time and battery life. Integration between phone and LiveView is also patchy. There’s no access to existing phone call logs or messages, only those that come in from the point you connect the LiveView, and you can’t browse through your calendar entries, only see alerts on those you’ve set notifications for. Bizarrely, while the included watch strap obviously positions the LiveView as a timepiece, it’s entirely dependent on your phone for the actual time. Lose connection, and it caches neither time nor date. The LiveView works best with the simplest functionality: incoming calls. The sub-display shows the number of the caller and, if they’re saved in your phone’s address book, their name as well. You can mute the ringer but not actually answer the call; the LiveView doesn’t work as a Bluetooth speakerphone, so your Dick Tracy ambitions will go unachieved. If you’ve lost the phone itself, a locator function will make it chirp until you find it, though if your handset is set on vibrate or silent it won’t make a noise. It’s also possible to control the normal Android media player – though not any third-party media apps, such as Spotify – using the LiveView’s buttons, with basic track skip, volume and play/pause functionality. You also see track information, though nothing more than artist and title. As for the third-party plug-ins, we had mixed results with these, too. The Gmail app does what you’d expect, though is relatively bare when it comes to options for things like frequency of updates, and the weather app does what it promises. We had high hopes for the Where Am I app, imagining discrete navigation from our wrist rather than pulling out a phone and looking like a tourist, but the reality was somewhat less impressive. Much of the time was spent watching a clock icon that never disappeared, though by tapping the up and down controls – which steps through different levels of zoom – we did find two frames that had successfully made it over from Google Maps. Unfortunately it’s not a dynamically updating display, instead literally a snapshot of your current position, with no direction indicator. We’d like to have been able to pan around the surrounding area with the direction buttons, but that’s not possible either. Hopefully a developer will step in with a Google Maps Navigation plug-in that puts updating pedestrian directions onto the LiveView’s display. Battery Sony Ericsson reckon the LiveView’s non-replaceable battery is good for up to four days use, though we found that was overly ambitious. Instead, we managed almost two days of sporadic use, though it’s worth noting that on some occasions, when we tried to use the LiveView, it had dropped the Bluetooth connection and refused to reconnect; it’s not clear how much of the time was spent unconnected in this way. The problem is compounded by a flaky battery gauge, which for much of the time seemed to bear little relationship to how much use we subsequently got out of it. Wrap-Up The concept behind the LiveView is brilliant: offsetting alerts and updates to a secondary screen, allowing you to keep on top of them without having to constantly pull out your phone. That demands consistency, however, and it’s there that the LiveView stumbles. We experienced far too many random disconnects or apparent crashes for comfort, and all too often had to resort to power-cycling Bluetooth on our phone in order to get the LiveView working again. Sony Ericsson deserves credit for the concept and flexibility with a range of Android devices, and the price – at around what you’d pay for a mid-range Bluetooth headset – is considerably less than the company’s earlier Bluetooth watches. Unfortunately the day to day experience simply doesn’t live up to the promise. Thanks to Clove for the loan of the Sony Ericsson LiveView. It’s available now, priced at £69.

Uranium soap glows radioactively Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:29 AM PST Geeks like weird stuff. If that weird stuff happens to not be a gadget, that’s fine. We need to decorate our homes too. My wife is always buying some sort of soap to put in the bathroom that we aren't allowed to use, which is silly to me. What I need to decorate my sink with is this Uranium glow in the dark soap. The soap is marked with the periodic table notations for the soap and a single bar is not cheap at $6.99. You can buy an entire box of Dial soap for that price. Each bar measures in at 2.25″ x 3″ x 1″ and its human tested and vegan free. Apparently, it smells like the ocean, which in Texas means it smells like oil and dead shrimp.

Japanese battery makes power from vibrations Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:19 AM PST When it comes to gadgets many of us tend to focus on the performance as far as how fast the thing operates. Perhaps more important that advances in outright performance such as how fast a phone operates are improvements in battery technology that will allow our gadgets to run longer. A cool new battery technology from Japan has surfaced that is able to make power from harnessing the energy in vibrations. The little battery is very small at about the size of the tip of a sharp pencil. Despite its small size, it is able to generate impressive levels of power with an energy density of around 22mW/cm3. That is about 20 times higher than the energy density of other vibration-powered generators. One of the keys to making so much more power than other similar devices is the high-tech alloy used in the device. The alloy is made from a mixture of iron and gallium called Galfenol that has magnetostrictive properties. That means the material reacts when a magnetic field is applied and change shape in response to the field. This is still in the research stages so it is much too early to know when or if the battery will ever make it to market in a consumer device. Via Inhabitat

GSLO applies to Apple MFi program for Peel 520 Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:04 AM PST You might remember that Peel 520 device that we talked about a while back that promises to turn your iPod touch into a phone capable of sending and receiving texts and making voice calls. I honestly thought Apple would not like the idea of that device because it might make people not want to buy the iPhone. GSLO has announced that it is applying to the Apple MFi program that allows the company to license Apple tech and use the Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad logos on the device. The 520 plugs into the iPod touch using the docking connector. I am not sure if Apple will be included to grant the company a license considering that the iPhone is the bread and butter of Apple right now and amounts for such a huge part of what Apple is worth. The Peel 520 is undeniably cool and I hope it gets the certification. Do you think Apple will approve of the device?

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