What's new on SlashGear.com |
- Comparing Nexus S to Nexus One and Galaxy S and Choosing Between Them
- Thanko Presents AnyChair, Wonder Office Chair
- Android 2.3 Gingerbread Complete Rundown on Android Community
- APEN A2 Lets You Use Regular Paper to Record Written Word, Drawings
- Custom iPhone 4 Features Diamonds and T-Rex Tooth, Costs $62,700
- eJOUX Concept Design Shows Electronic Jewelry is the Way of the Future
- Sony PSP2 Dead on Arrival, Says Analyst
- HP’s webOS 2.0 On-Screen Keyboard Gets Shown Off in Video
- Apple’s 42 Patent Litigation Actions Against Motorola and HTC, and Vice Versa
- SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: December 6 2010
- Nexus S Reviewed by TechCrunch
- Nexus One Gingerbread OTA Update Due in a Few Weeks
- BenQ DV S11 Camcorder Breaks Cover, Features Pico Projector Built-In
- A Cartoonish Way to Prevent Cruelty
- Android 2.3 SDK Released, Download Now [Video]
- Google Nexus S official
- Samsung SCH-W899 Android clamshell packs dual Super AMOLED touchscreens
- Google eBookstore official: iOS & Android apps, plus eBook Web Reader
- Acer Aspire 5745DG Review
- Sprint Network Vision will combine 3G/4G base-stations, boost voice/data/PTT
- Verizon may pay Apple to lock out T-Mobile/Sprint iPhone tips analyst
- Tony Hawk rides 630hp V8-powered skateboard
- AT&T worst US carrier claims Consumer Reports
- Russian launch fails to put three nav satellites in orbit
- Low-bandwidth Skype custom app created for UN Refugee aid workers [Video]
- French court finds welder and Continental at fault in fatal Concorde crash
- FedEx expects to ship 16 million packages on December 13
- Rear view cameras to become standard on just about all Ford cars
- Android 2.3 might land today, Notion Ink Adam supports NFC?
- Verizon announces the first cities to get LTE service
| Comparing Nexus S to Nexus One and Galaxy S and Choosing Between Them Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:02 PM PST So you’ve got a decision to make now that Nexus S has officially been announced, yes? You’re sitting around with your Nexus One or Galaxy S device, (we use Samsung Vibrant in this comparison, then additional Galaxy S devices,) and you’re wondering if it’ll be a smart move to switch over to the Nexus S when it’s time for you to get a new phone. Well! We’ve got just the compare and contrast for you! Take a peek here for a full rundown of what you’re going to be up against when you take that step into the world of Android phone switching in these late 2010 and early 2011 months.
Nexus S
This is the newest Android-based phone on the market and the first to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread. This is the fastest version of Android currently on the market, and this phone is announced to be carried exclusively on T-Mobile and you can only buy it from Best Buy (at least at first.) This phone runs Android 2.3 and is developed with input from the Android crew, thusly it of course runs Android UI. Radio connectivity is Quad-band GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 Tri-band HSPA: 900, 2100, 1700 HSPA type: HSDPA (7.2Mbps) HSUPA (5.76Mbps), battery is Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1500 mAH) with a possible 6 hours of talk time and 428 hours of stand-by. There’s no removable storage, 512MB of RAM, and 16384MB of internal storage. Connect with 802.11 b/g/n Wifi, Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS tracking. This phone is 63.0mm x 123.9mm x 10.88mm (w x h x d) and weights in at 129.0 grams. It has a 4 inch screen with WVGA 800 x 480 resolution. Inside you’ll find a 1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor, around the edges you’ll see USB 2.0 and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and this device has an accelerometer. Nexus S has a 5.0 megapixel camera and Flash Video and additional features are thus: Contour Display, Near Field Communications (NFC), Three-axis gyroscope, Anti-fingerprint display coating, and Internet Calling support (VoIP/SIP). Have a look at all the Nexus S news we’ve reported [here] Nexus One
This is the predecessor to Nexus S. Inside you’ll find a very similar situation with the exception of, of course, Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Nexus One is carried by several operators: T-Mobile (United States), Vodafone (United Kingdom, Italy, Spain), KT (Korea), and Videotron (Canada), and is sold by Vodafone (United Kingdom, Spain, Italy), Korea Telecom (Korea), and Videotron (Canada.) Nexus One has the same situation going on as far as development, having been overseen by official Android developers on its way to the shop. It runs Android 2.2 Froyo and again has an Android UI. Connectivity is through 3 UMTS bands (either 900/AWS/2100 MHz or 850/1900/2100 MHz) HSDPA 7.2 Mbps HSUPA 2 Mbps GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). Battery is a Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1400 mAH) which will give you 10 hours of talk time or approximately 290 hours of standby. Nexus One DOES have removable storage in a microSD card (4GB included, max 32GB), includes 512MB RAM and 512MB internal storage. Wifi is 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth is 2.0, and Nexus One does have GPS. The device is 59.8mm x 119.0mm x 11.5mm (w x h x d) and weighs in at 130 grams. It’s screen is a slightly smaller 3.7 inches (the smallest of these first three phones compared) and is WVGA (800 x 480 resolution.) Inside you’ll find a 1 GHz Qualcomm QSD 8250 Snapdragon CPU, USB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, and an accelerometer. Camera is 5.0 megapixels, Flash Video included, and additional features include a second microphone for dynamic noise suppression. Check out our Nexus One hands-on mini-review [here] Samsung Vibrant (Galaxy S)
Samsung Vibrant is its own beast, being carried and sold by only T-Mobile (United States) and Bell (Canada.) Inside you’ll find Android 2.1 with a TouchWiz UI, connectivity being GSM : 850/900/1800/1900 3G : 1700/1900/2100/. The battery on the Vibrant is a Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1500 mAH), putting it right in between the first two phones on this list for talk time (7 hours) and right on top for standby (510 hours.) You are able to insert a microSD card for removable storage, and Vibrant is exactly the same for RAM (512MB) and up high compared to Nexus One, right up near Nexus S with 16000MB. Wifi is the same as the Nexus S 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth is the most advanced of the three with 3.0. Size of the Vibrant is 64.5mm x 122.5mm x 9.99mm (w x h x d), it weighs the least at 118 grams, and the screen is the same size as Nexus S at 4 inches and WVGA (800 x 480 resolution.) Vibrant has a 1 GHz CPU, USB 2.0 (all three phones have 2.0,) and a 3.5mm headphone jack, along with an accelerometer like the others as well. The only difference on the camera (5.0 megapixels) is the video, which isn’t the same Flash Video the others have. Other features include Swype and Video Messaging. Check out more news from us on the Samsung Vibrant [here], then while we’re at it, why don’t we continue with a couple more Galaxy S phones? Yes lets do such a thing. Samsung Epic 4G (Galaxy S)
This is a rather different phone from the rest, featuring not only a physical landscape QWERTY keyboard, but a front-facing camera as well. This phone is carried by and sold by Sprint in the US. Inside you’ll find Android 2.1 and a TouchWiz UI, connectivity is CDMA 800/1900 MHz EVDO Rev. A WiMAX 2.5 to 2.7 GHz, 802.16e, and the Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1500 mAH) battery will give you 6 hours talk time and 780 hours standby. There’s removable storage with a microSD card (16GB included, max 32GB), 512MB RAM, and 1000MB internal storage. Wifi is 802.11 b/g/n, there’s Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS. The size of this phone is 64.6mm x 124.8mm x 14.2mm (w x h x d), it weighs 155 grams, and the screen is 4 inches (notice a trend?) and WVGA (800 x 480 resolution). Also inside is a 1GHz CPU, USB 2.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Accelerometer, 5.0 megapixel camera, and Flash Video. Additional features include SWYPE text entry, Tactile QWERTY keyboard (I’d mention it again, but how many times is too many?), arrow keys, dedicated number keys, camera button, and TalkBack screen reader. Check out our full review of the Samsung Epic 4G [here] Samsung Captivate
This phone is sold and distributed through AT&T (United States) and Rogers (Canada.) Inside is Android 2.1 and TouchWiz UI, connectivity is provided by GSM : 850/900/1800/1900, 3G : 850/1900/2100. Captivate’s Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1500 mAH) battery provides 10 hours of talk time or 710 hours on standby, and it’s got a microSD card slot for removable storage. Also inside is 512MB RAM as well as 16000MB of internal storage. Wifi is 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth is 3.0, and GPS is inside. This handset is 64.0mm x 123.0mm x 9.9mm (w x h x d), 130 grams, and has a 4 inch screen with WVGA (800 x 480 resolution.) The CPU on this device is 1GHz, USB is 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, and it’s got an accelerometer. It’s got a 5.0 megapixel camera and no Flash Video. Additionally, it features SWYPE. See our hands-on post of Samsung Captivate [here] Samsung Fascinate
This handset is sold and distributed through Verizon in the USA. It features Android 2.1 and TouchWiz, connectivity on CDMA 800/1900 and EV-DO, Rev A 3G. The battery is a Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1500 mAH) with around 10 hours of talk time and 730 hours of standby. Removable microSD, microSDHC, and inside is 2GB of internal storage, 384 MB RAM, and 2048 MB internal storage. Wifi is 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS is inside. This handset is 64 x 125 x 10 mm (w x h x d), weighs 118 g, and has a 4 inch screen with WVGA (800 x 480 resolution). Also inside you’ll find a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, USB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, and Accelerometer. 5 megapixels camera (with smile detection!), and no Flash Video. Check out our full review of the Samsung Fascinate [here] Samsung Galaxy S
You didn’t think we’d make a guide without the original, right? This phone has massive distribution, being sold on 26 carriers in over 10 countries. If you can’t find this phone at your local mall, you’re not looking hard enough. Samsung Galaxy S features Android 2.1 and a TouchWiz UI and connectivity is through EDGE (850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900) HSDPA 7.2Mbps HSUPA 5.76Mbps (900/ 1900/ 2100) CDMA (for Korea). The battery, a Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) (1500 mAH), gives you a massive talk time of 13 hours with a max standby time of 750 hours. Removable storage is microSD card (32GB included, max 32GB), there’s 512MB of RAM, and it ties for second on internal storage at 16000MB. Wifi is 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth is 3.0, and GPS is inside for all your mapping needs. Galaxy S is 64.2mm x 122.4mm x 9.99mm (w x h x d) in size, 119 grams, and has a 4 inch screen with WVGA (800 x 480 resolution). Inside also you’ll find that lovely 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird S5PC110, USB 2.0, a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio (this is the first phone on this list to have this), and an accelerometer. There’s a 5.0 megapixel camera, no Flash Video, and additional features are thus: Social Hub, TouchWiz 3.0, Swype, DNLA (connectivity with Samsung TV & Laptop), and ThinkFree Office. Check out our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S [here] So which one comes out on top? You’ve got some deciding to do. Stick with your Galaxy S? Or move to a phone that Google helped produce? Work with a phone that’s got software additions you might not like, or work with the closest thing to a base clean Android system you’re going to get? But wait, do you want a physical keyboard? Behold the epic choice between Androids! Do you pick one of these Android titans, or pick a different robot, one not even close to this heavy list? You’ve GOT TO CHOOSE!
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| Thanko Presents AnyChair, Wonder Office Chair Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:23 PM PST This is for those office workers who are the laziest. Those people you more than likely don’t want working for you (unless a nap break is in your plan, that’s cool!) In this chair is not only a super comfy situation, but an office bed as well. Take a nap in the middle of the day if you wish!
Apparently, and I’ve not been there to confirm this by watching offices like a hawk, in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, people take 30 minute power naps right in the middle of their work day to increase their productivity. Does it work? Have you seen the movie Office Space? You gotta do what it takes go get ahead, even if that means laying your head back. [Via Akihabara News]
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| Android 2.3 Gingerbread Complete Rundown on Android Community Posted: 06 Dec 2010 02:16 PM PST Want to know everything that’s in store for you when you eventually lay your hands on a device that’s got some tasty cookies in it? Perhaps you’d like a new and improved keyboard, a new text selection tool, and improved copy and paste? Or maybe you’d like some improvements to the way you manage your situation on Android and some gyroscope support? Or what about the big mother – the Near Field Communication – how about that?
Take a look at the full extended guide over at Android Community or feel free to hang out here and watch the video. Either way, you’ve got some nice people telling you some nice things about a system you can’t quite have right now. Get your handkerchiefs out. [Via Android Community]
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| APEN A2 Lets You Use Regular Paper to Record Written Word, Drawings Posted: 06 Dec 2010 01:20 PM PST Using a pen and paper to record what you’re writing isn’t a new concept, so to speak. We’ve seen other ideas come to play, and actually really enjoyed items like the Livescribe Echo smartpen. But, while the idea is great, and the usability is just as high as anyone would like, there’s always the fact that you’ll need to buy special paper to make it work. For some, having extra costs down the road, especially for “smart paper,” just isn’t in the cards. That’s where the APEN A2 comes in, which is designed to let you digitally record what you write, or draw, on any kind of paper, thanks to a wireless transmitter.
All you need to do, is clip the wireless transmitter to the top of the piece of paper you’re writing on. Once you do, you’ll be able to use the specialized pen to write, or draw whatever you want. With the transmitter on, this will allow the pen to record whatever you do. Once you’re done, you can transfer what you have recorded over to your computer. The pen can record up to 100 pages of content. The designers of the APEN A2 have confirmed that the software to make their device work will be perfectly compatible with both Mac and Windows-based PCs. The APEN A2 will be made exclusively available through HSN this month, and it will retail for about $99.99. Interestingly enough, the company behind the pen will also have more models out later, which will allow for connectivity to your smartphone. [via UberGizmo]
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| Custom iPhone 4 Features Diamonds and T-Rex Tooth, Costs $62,700 Posted: 06 Dec 2010 12:32 PM PST Outlandish iPhone cases have been around for as long as anyone can remember. At least, as long as iPhones have been around. And while some of them may actually be worth the cost of buying it, there are others that, despite the “features” thrown in, the price tag causes more cardiac arrests than wallet reaching. This new design from Stuart Hughes is called the HISTORY Edition, and there’s plenty of history going on here — and you can make it all yours, if you’re ready to drop a small fortune on it.
So, what’s so special about the HISTORY Edition iPhone 4 from Stuart Hughes? Well, this particular iPhone 4 features 8.5ct internally flawless diamonds that are put around the entire bezel of the device. The diamonds also cover up the Apple logo on the back of the handset. But that’s not all. You won’t find the regular iPhone 4′s rear panel installed on this device. No, instead, you’ll realize with a simple touch that the back of the smartphone has been given a finish made from meteor pieces. And, a T-Rex tooth. There’s only 10 of these bad boys made in the world, which obviously hikes up the price even more. Not that it wasn’t already ridiculous. As the title suggests, you’ll have to have $62,700 lying around, ready to go, if you want to make one of these 10 iPhone 4 HISTORY Editions yours. Or, you could just go for the $20,000 diamond-covered iPhone 4. [via OhGizmo!]
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| eJOUX Concept Design Shows Electronic Jewelry is the Way of the Future Posted: 06 Dec 2010 12:07 PM PST Slapping electronic things on every day items, especially electronic things that move or offer shiny lights, seems to be the way the future wants to embrace those every day items, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Especially when it comes to every day items like jewelry, and it gets outfitted with a flexible display, where the owner is able to put anything they want on there, from moving images, to information about who’s calling you. That’s what the eJOUX electronic jewelry concept design is all about.
The pieces of jewelry are designed to fit around your wrist or neck, based on whether or not you prefer a bracelet or necklace. The concept, which was designed by Biju Neyyan, is meant to make sure that your normal bracelet is brought into the future. Thanks to a Bluetooth device, users will be able to upload images, dynamic wallpaper-like panoramic shots, or even allow the bracelet (or necklace) display what band you’re listening to, and which track. There are other uses, too, including providing caller ID information, or text messages. The design is meant to incorporate that of a normal bracelet or necklace, and just implant some flexible display technology into it. The result would be a bracelet that feels like your regular old bracelet, but now has a feature- and color-rich flexible display on it. [via Yanko Design]   
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| Sony PSP2 Dead on Arrival, Says Analyst Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:52 AM PST The mobile gaming market may not be as intense as the home console market, but there’s obviously still a lot of money to be made within its reach. So there’s no surprise that analysts would want to get their opinion out there about what’s coming, and how they think it will affect the market as a whole. When it comes to Sony’s PlayStation Portable 2, there’s a lot of discussion about whether or not it will be a waste of time for Sony, or be a smash-hit. Obviously, Sony believes that they’ve got a hit on their hand, and even some developers out there who have managed to get some hands-on time with the portable gaming console think it’s nice. But, for analyst Michael Pachter, none of that matters, because the PSP2 is already DOA.
Pachter is an analyst from Wedbush Morgan, and during a “Pach Attack” webcast, he outlined in brief why he believes the PSP2 won’t be worth the attention it will receive when it launches, and even went on to say why he believes the mobile market as a whole is over-saturated, but that Apple’s iPod Touch will thin the market soon enough. According to Pachter, “I think the PSP was dead on arrival and I think the PSP2 is going to be dead on arrival.” He went on to add that, “We’re approaching saturation in the handheld market. We’re starting to see DS hardware sales crack, the iPod Touch is cutting into the handheld market.” While some may say that Pachter is right, he points out that when Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS portable gaming console launches, it will spike interset in the market one more time, before it inevitably flat-lines again, and people realize that they’re paying too much money to play Tetris on their portable gaming unit. Pricing does obviously play a big part in the video game industry, just as it does in any industry. However, with the technology that the 3DS is bringing to the table, and with whatever Sony has up their sleeve for the next generation PSP2, it would seem, at least remotely possible, that the video game enthusiasts out there would still prefer to have the power, and technology (plus game selection) on their particular portable game consoles. [via MCV UK]
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| HP’s webOS 2.0 On-Screen Keyboard Gets Shown Off in Video Posted: 06 Dec 2010 11:40 AM PST When webOS launched, there was some grumbling that the device, when it came to the Palm Pre (and subsequently released, Palm Pre Plus), focused too much on the portrait-slider hardware keyboard. The absence of an official on-screen keyboard left some people wanting more. And while there were “options” available for those who wanted to travel down some particular roads, Palm seems to want to keep focusing on the hardware keyboards. That should surprise no one, considering Palm’s device legacy. But, it looks like webOS 2.0, which launched with the release of the Palm Pre 2, features a software keyboard, even if it is far from perfect.
Thanks to the fine folks at webOS Internals, they’ve found the software keyboard that had originally only been hinted at back when webOS 2.0 code was just beginning to be sifted through. They rummaged through several portions of the latest version of webOS 2.0, before they did a few tweaks, and then restarted the system. When everything came back online, they simply had to input “Opt+Sym+K,” and they had an on-screen keyboard displayed for them, ready to use. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the software keyboard is ready for the limelight quite yet. The whole thing is still a bit buggy, and there doesn’t seem to be any optimization for the keyboard. However, it’s obvious that Palm and HP feel that a software keyboard is necessary in one way or another. With that in mind, we can probably start counting down the days until a slate-style webOS 2.0-based device makes an appearance. [via PreCentral.net]
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| Apple’s 42 Patent Litigation Actions Against Motorola and HTC, and Vice Versa Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:59 AM PST Holy crap look at all of that legal battle logistic mapping. This is a simplified view of the battles Apple has currently waged against Android phone manufacturers Motorola and HTC. Seems simple, doesn’t it? This is a collection of cases that, with any luck, will be completed in oh, a decade? Can you imagine the intricacies involved here? The chart above and the study involved is done by none other than Florian Meuller of FOSS Patents. This man has created a 25 page PDF document to simplify the madness that’s occurring, updated with the graphic you see below today.
Of the 42 patents this set of cases involves, 24 of them are Apple, 18 are Motorola. These cases are going back and forth as we speak. The source “FOSS Patenets” for this exhaustive review is a place that, and I quote, “covers how software patents threaten free and open source software (FOSS) and what action can be done to deal with the threat.” And every post is about just that. Suit, and counter-suit. Who does it all belong to? The public, says Meuller. [Via Cult of Mac]
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| SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: December 6 2010 Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:24 AM PST Welcome to the world, Nexus S and Android 2.3 Gingerbread! We’ve been expecting you! Check out our full collection of Gingerbread and Nexus S posts below. Then have a nice read courtesy of Philip Berne, a column by the name of [A Cartoonish Way to Prevent Cruelty]. Feel free to have a glance at our [Acer Aspire 5745DG review] and switch over to the new Facebook profile with a simple [CLICK]. After that, you can press the “like” button on our [Parrot AR.Drone review] and figure out [Which is better: Short or long video games?] with a column by Don Reisinger. All this and MORE on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up!
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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| Nexus S Reviewed by TechCrunch Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:52 AM PST Focus between the latest two Android-specific announcements from Google, and Samsung, has been torn between the hardware side of things, and the software. While Google announced that the Android 2.3 SDK was available now for developers to download, they also announced in tandem with Samsung that the first Android 2.3-based device would be launching on December 16th, called the Nexus S. It’s a smartphone that, unlike the Nexus One before it, wasn’t necessarily built from the ground-up for this unveiling, but that’s not a bad thing, as the Galaxy S lineage of devices is a great base to improve off.
TechCrunch has managed to spend a few days with the device, and they approve of the device. In fact, they point out that several features of the device, including the software, are improvements over the iPhone. They do point out, though, that if you’re on the iPhone, the Nexus S won’t make you want to switch. However, if your’e already an Android fan, then the Nexus S will be the one device you want to get your hands on this year. With the device’s 4-inch Super AMOLED display, TechCrunch admits that it’s bested only by the smaller iPhone 4′s display. However, the 1GHz Hummingbird processor under the hood makes the Nexus S fly. You’ll find features like Google’s noise cancellation on the device, coupled with the excellent audio hardware makes for calls that are extremely high quality. The software is the main takeaway of the review, though, as they believe it’s a major improvement, even with its (not so) subtle software tweaks, and User Interface refinements. Overall, TechCrunch seems to approve of the device. While it may not be a groundbreaking endeavor from either Samsung or Google, it’s not just a toss-away device, either. Even amidst the other high-end handsets finding their way to the market, and with even more coming, Android’s latest version brings a breath of new life into the platform, and the hardware doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. Stay tuned in the coming days, as both SlashGear and Android Community will have their own hands-on time with the device. [via TechCrunch]
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| Nexus One Gingerbread OTA Update Due in a Few Weeks Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:41 AM PST With all of the talk about Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)’s release today, and the upcoming launch of the Samsung Nexus S, there are more than a few people out there, specifically owners of the Nexus One, who are wondering when, exactly, they’ll be getting an update to their device. With thew new software’s SDK available to download right now, there’s sure to be some modified versions of the OS released in no time. But some people want the official, real deal. According to a new tweet from @retomeier, those owners will have to wait a few weeks before they will see an official Over The Air update for their devices.
While an official date may have been better, it’s understandable that Google wouldn’t have an exact date to go on quite yet. Of course, if the update is anything like the official roll out to Android 2.2 earlier in the year, it’s perfectly possible to see some lucky individuals out there get the update long before anyone else, or even before Google officially rolls anything out. If that does happen, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that the update finds its way onto the Internet. So, if you’ve got yourself a Nexus One, it looks like you’ll have to be a little bit more patient for the update to land on your phone. Of course, “a few weeks” could mean that you’ll have a nice present waiting to be downloaded onto your phone by the time Christmas kicks off, so that’s something to look forward to. [via Android Community]
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| BenQ DV S11 Camcorder Breaks Cover, Features Pico Projector Built-In Posted: 06 Dec 2010 09:17 AM PST Amidst the other hot topic that seems to be taking over the Internet right now, BenQ has released a brand new camcorder that, for those who love some pico projectors, may be an interesting addition to their holiday wish list. Packing in the features, inside a bright orange shell, the new DV S11 camcorder is only lacking one thing: a release date for the United States.
The DV S11 camcorder is perfectly capable of recording 1080p video, and can take 5MP still photos courtesy of the 1/3.2-inch CMOS sensor inside. On the back of the device, a 3.5-inch LCD takes up the majority of the device’s body. However, there’s plenty of room for physical buttons. There’s an 800mAh Li-Ion battery inside, and users will be able to access the SDHC memory card slot for extra storage. Plus, that built-in pico projector for good measure. You’ll find a single USB 2.0 port, an HDMI output, and A/V RCA jacks as well. The device is shipping right now over in Hong Kong, and the price is set at somewhere around $310. However, there’s no word as of right now when US-based customers can expect to see the DV S11 camcorder land in this region. [via Electronista]
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| A Cartoonish Way to Prevent Cruelty Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:34 AM PST In graduate school, I mostly studied –isms. Feminism. Marxism. Racism. I got a Master’s degree in Cultural Theory, which is sort of an intersection between philosophy and deep analysis of English literature. Mostly, I read philosophers who talked about literature and wanted to change the world. When I started my course of study, I thought I would get a PhD. I thought I would become a professor. But over the course of two years of graduate study, I realized that all we were doing was reading and talking. The authors we read were writing mostly in terms so abstract that you could hardly divine what they were talking about, let alone what they wanted to accomplish. It seemed a terrible way to change the world, talking but not doing anything. So, I left.
[Image via Cinematical] There’s a fad going around Facebook this week that is bothering me. Lots of people I know are changing their avatars to cartoon characters. Apparently, a children’s rights organization called NSPCC, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, has inspired the campaign, which seeks to replace all of the faces on Facebook with childhood memories. Thus, people are changing their profile pictures to their favorite cartoon characters. At first, I was ready to jump on board. I started looking for pictures of my favorite characters. I wanted to find a good picture of Sky Warp from the Transformers. He was a cool black and purple jet that transformed into an evil robot. I couldn’t find anything good, so I started browsing G.I. Joe cartoon images. The irony didn’t escape me. As part of a campaign to promote awareness of cruelty, I was looking for pictures of villains and soldiers of war. Sure, nobody ever died in cartoons, but it still felt odd. But then something else occurred to me. I do not support cruelty to children. I am a loving parent. I’ve been a caring high school teacher. I was a supportive camp counselor to kids ages 10 – 14. I still keep in touch with former students, former campers. I was a swimming instructor for kids, specializing in hydrophobes and other difficult cases. I taught infant swim classes, teaching parents how to teach their children to swim. I worked with special needs children at camp and in my schools. Why do I need to do anything more to prove that I’m not in favor of cruelty to children? I like my Facebook avatar. It’s a cool, somewhat abstract self-portrait of my eye on a cracked phone screen. I put some thought into it, and I think it says something interesting about me. Know what doesn’t say anything interesting about me? Snake Eyes. Megatron. The only people who see my Facebook avatar will be my friends and people who search Facebook for me. If any one of those people needs me to prove that I don’t support cruelty towards children, they shouldn’t be my friend, and I don’t care if they can find me in a search. It seems like just a lot of talk with no action behind it. I don’t think that my Facebook friends are cruel towards children. I’m not friends with anyone who ever gave me the impression they were cruel, and I hope I’m right. But changing my Facebook profile picture seems like just about the weakest thing I could do to prevent cruelty to children. It seems like an easy, self-aggrandizing step, with no real muscle behind it. When I was a teacher, I served on the school’s disciplinary committee. I gave the Principal advice on whether a student should be expelled, after a disciplinary hearing. Nine out of ten times, the Principal and I agreed, or I swayed her to my way of thinking. I helped kick out numerous bullies in my school. I helped set a tone for a school free from violence and cruelty. Once, I encountered a case of a parent who was punishing a child in an especially cruel manner. I won’t go into details, except to say that I had to call child protective services and file a report. It was a difficult thing to do, because the end result might have been separating a child from her parent. But it was the right thing to do, because I have never believed in cruel punishment, and I will put my feelings and my reputation on the line to protect a child. If you’re not on a front-line job with children, there are still many ways to prevent cruelty. You can offer your time to organizations that need help. If you don’t have free time, you can make a trade, instead. Give time to your job, which will in turn give you money, and then give some of that money to the NSPCC. That’s the way the world works, and I think we’re better off for it. There is nothing wrong with giving money instead of your free time or effort. Either way, you are giving support. Enough with the empty gestures. If I change my Facebook avatar, I’m telling a bunch of people who already know me that I’m against cruelty towards children. Also, I like puppy dogs and enjoy chocolate, in case you didn’t know. If you want to raise awareness about cruelty towards children, do something real. Find a way to tell people who haven’t already gotten the message, or support groups that can get the message to the people who need to hear it. Changing a profile picture, hitting the “Like” button on Facebook, slapping a bumper sticker on your car, these are the most insignificant and self-centered ways of making a statement. If you aren’t exposing yourself to people you don’t know, you aren’t spreading the message. If you think you can send a message by doing something effortlessly, you don’t know how real change is accomplished. I know your heart is in the right place. I know you want to do something good, especially during this time of year. But helping to change the world takes more than abstract reading and talking. It takes real interaction with the world around you.
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| Android 2.3 SDK Released, Download Now [Video] Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:20 AM PST For Android users, waiting for an update can be an event in of itself. Especially when it’s an update that has generally brought plenty of rumor, and anticipation all the way up to its official release. While Gingerbread may not be the biggest release in Android’s history, it’s certainly an update that many people have been craving. And, with Samsung’s Nexus S device official, Google has pulled the curtain off the Android 2.3 update.
Better known as Gingerbread, Google has brought plenty of updates with the latest firmware version. First and foremost, there’s an improved overall look to the general User Interface, There’s also integrated support for Near Field Communications, and what some people have wanted all along: Internet calling. The end-user will also have a better grasp on power management, which should allow owners to keep their Android-based devices, running Android 2.3, alive for a little bit longer. Furthermore, Google has also made improvements to the way that applications are run on the updated Operating System, and have made improvements for the user to control them better. The end result should be a handset that users have more control over, especially which applications are running versus those that aren’t, as well as conserving battery life when they need to. Check out Google’s introductory video for Android 2.3 below. And head through the source link to find the SDK available for download. Stay tuned in the coming days, as both SlashGear and Android Community will have their own hands-on time with the device. [via Android Development; via Android Community]
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| Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:07 AM PST The Google Nexus S has just got official, complete with a full spec sheet and availability later this month. Available on T-Mobile USA, the Nexus S has a 4-inch WVGA touchscreen, 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, 16GB of storage and WiFi b/g/n; it also gets NFC (Near Field Communications) support, and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
There’s also Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS, along with USB 2.0 and a headphones socket. The camera is a 5-megapixel unit with flash, and there’s a three-axis gyroscope, anti-fingerprint display coating, and VoIP/SIP internet call support. Connectivity includes quadband GSM, (850, 900, 1800, 1900) and triband HSPA (900, 2100, 1700). In the US, the Nexus S will drop from December 16 at Best Buy, priced at $529 SIM-free or $199 with a new, two-year T-Mobile USA agreement; in the UK the Nexus S will be priced at £549.95 and be sold through retailer Carphone Warehouse from December 20. More on Android 2.3 Gingerbread in the video below. Stay tuned in the coming days, as both SlashGear and Android Community will have their own hands-on time with the device. Google Nexus S: Android 2.3 Gingerbread: The Backstory:           Press Release:
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| Samsung SCH-W899 Android clamshell packs dual Super AMOLED touchscreens Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:56 AM PST When we heard Samsung had launched a dual Super AMOLED touchscreen Android smartphone in China, we had visions of Fujitsu’s bendy-twisty dual-display prototype. Sadly the Samsung W899 isn’t quite so imaginative; instead you get a 3.3-inch touchscreen on the inside and outside of an Android 2.2 Froyo flip, complete with a physical numeric keypad for easier number entry.
Both displays run at WVGA – we’re guessing it’s the same panel as on the bada-powered Wave S8500 – and there’s a 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording on the back. Connectivity includes CDMA/EVDO and GSM for international roaming, along with WiFi and mobile hotspot functionality; you also get GPS and a microSD card slot. The whole thing measures a slightly-thick 57.4 x 107.5 x 17.55 mm and weighs 183g. There’s plenty to be said for the convenience of having a device you can use opened or closed, depending on what information you want at the time, but we’d still prefer a commercial version of Fujitsu’s handset. The Samsung SCH-W899 is available on China Telecom; no word on a North American or European launch. [via OLED-Display and via Android Community]
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| Google eBookstore official: iOS & Android apps, plus eBook Web Reader Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:24 AM PST Google has launched its play for the ebook market, in the shape of the new Google eBookstore along with ereader apps for Android and for iOS devices. Offering over 3m titles – made up of new bestsellers and free public-domain ebooks – the Google eBookstore also supports an online eBooks Web Reader, with browser-based access to a cloud-store of content.
As well as Google’s eBookstore, there’ll be content available from Powell's, Alibris and participating members of the American Booksellers Association. Certain ebooks will support user-selectable fonts, font sizes, day/night reading modes and line spacing, with page sync across devices. If you have a NOOK or a Sony Reader ereader, you’ll be able to transfer across your Google eBookstore purchases too, since they’re in Adobe’s eBook format. Currently the ebook service is available in the US only, though international readers can still access Google’s public-domain catalog. [via Android Community]
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| Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:07 AM PST 3D, if you believe the marketing hype, is the future of displays, and so with so many of us sitting in front of computer screens for a fair portion of the day, why shouldn’t they get in on the action as well? Acer‘s Aspire 5745DG promises 3D performance and everyday potency, thanks to a combination of an Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, but is this the notebook to get us wearing silly glasses? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
HardwareOur Aspire 5745DG-3855 review unit is certainly an imposing machine, both physically and in terms of the core specs. Measuring a bulky 14.9 x 9.8 x 1.25 – 2.27 inches and tipping the scales at 6.6lb, it’s heavy for a 15.6-inch notebook and the standard 9-cell battery protrudes considerably from the base. Design-wise, it’s in keeping with other Acer machines we’ve looked at recently, with decent plastics and a mixture of glossy and matte silver and black. Inside there’s a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-450M processor paired with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB 5,400rpm hard-drive. Graphics are courtesy of NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 425M GPU, though there’s no Optimus switching between the onboard Intel HD GPU and the discrete chip; in fact, the Intel graphics are basically disabled, since there’s no option to use anything but the NVIDIA chip. It powers a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 display, and though we’d like to have seen some extra pixels in there, it’s a decent – if highly glossy – panel. Viewing angles are good horizontally, though the combination of slightly reduced vertical angles and the gloss finish can make finding the ideal lid position a little trickier. System - Acer Aspire 5745DG
The broad width of the Aspire 5745DG has allowed Acer to slot in both a full-sized keyboard and a separate numeric keypad, which follows the fashionable chiclet-style design. It’s a good keyboard, too, with nicely weighted response and little bowing during typing. Underneath is a multitouch trackpad, offset to the left to fall beneath the space bar, and Acer also includes a button to turn it off should you find yourself accidentally hitting it.
Connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n, gigabit ethernet, HDMI, four USB 2.0 ports and audio in/out (with S/PDIF), along with a DVD burner and multi-format memory card reader. No Blu-ray, however, which seems a bizarre omission on a media-centric machine, nor eSATA, USB 3.0 or ExpressCard. A webcam above the screen and integrated microphone round out the main specs. In the box there’s also a set of NVIDIA’s 3D Vision glasses, recharged via miniUSB. These take advantage of the 5745DG’s 120Hz display, synchronizing with an infra-red emitter built into the bezel and flicking the view between the two lenses while the GPU serves up each half of a 3D image alternately. The end result is a 60Hz 3D picture.
SoftwareThe Acer Aspire 5745DG runs Windows 7 Home Premium, and as we’ve complained about before there’s the usual array of bloatware and trials pre-loaded. Several of those are of Acer’s own creation, handling webcam, registration and driver updating, but then you also get trials of Microsoft Office and McAfee Internet Security, Google’s Toolbar pre-installed, Skype, Norton Online Backup and more. The end result is a system that feels sluggish at the first power-on, and we wonder when Acer – and other manufacturers – will see sense and sacrifice the referral fees from the software companies in favor of a more favorable first-impression for the user. NVIDIA’s 3D Vision system is currently supported by over 450 games by the company’s own count, and of course there’s 3D video to think of as well. Since there’s no Blu-ray drive, that content will likely be downloaded rather than supplied on a disc; NVIDIA preloads sample media which performs well, but 3D content online is still in its infancy.
PerformanceWith no Blu-ray on this particular SKU, you’d be forgiven for assuming the 5745DG-3855 was targeted at gamers. Unfortunately, the mid-tier GPU may present a stumbling block for system-intensive modern titles. We kicked off our benchmarking with Geekbench, a synthetic test of processor and memory performance, and as you’d expect the Core i5 CPU puts in a decent show. The 2.4GHz Aspire scored 4814, roughly on a par with the similarly-specified HP ENVY 14, and around 200 points behind the 2.53GHz Gateway ID49C. Benchmark Score - Acer Aspire 5745DG
Unfortunately PCMark proved unable to detect the GeForce GT 425M GPU, so we turned instead to Cinebench. The Acer scored 20.67fps in OpenGL and 2.15pts in CPU. In terms of real-world performance, we had no problems with regular daily tasks, such as browsing with multiple tabs and windows open, or simultaneously playing video and audio. However, recent games such as Call of Duty 2 struggled with the power on offer, only playing comfortably when a knife was taken to the quality settings. It’s worth remembering, too, that 3D games place more of a demand on the GPU than 2D titles: the NVIDIA chip has to create left- and right-eye graphics for each frame, and that can take a significant toll on framerates. Need for Speed: Shift was more successful, with the 3D effect proving impressive.
Ironically, the 120Hz screen actually showed its worth more during regular 2D gaming and multimedia, where – just as on 120Hz HDTVs – faster content such as sports was smear-free. Glasses-free 2D viewing also avoids the inevitable brightness loss encountered during 3D playback, which can leave darker movies and games murky and uninspiring. BatteryWith a 9-cell battery, you’d hope the Aspire 5745DG could offer above the odds in terms of runtimes, but the Core i5 CPU and always-on GPU chew their way through a significant amount of power. Acer quote up to 4hrs normal use from a full charge. The absence of Optimus is a particular frustration, though the GT 425M is able to underclock itself depending on activity and load. Still, it’s not as frugal as Intel’s HD GPU. With a mixture of browsing over WiFi and some media playback, we managed around 3hrs 30mins of runtime. Playing DVD content continuously sapped that down to just under 3hrs.
Wrap-UpThere’s no denying that NVIDIA’s 3D Vision technology works, although those who already wear glasses or struggle to remember to charge their phone will likely find the necessary 3D eyewear a frustration. The question we’re left asking is why Acer decided to cut corners on the optical drive, given you’d expect the company to want Aspire 5745DG owners to have access to as much 3D content as possible. With no Blu-ray option, that choice is seriously curtailed. The limitations of the NVIDIA GPU, meanwhile, mean 3D gaming isn’t quite the Acer’s natural forte either. There are plenty of games that run perfectly well on the GeForce GT 425M, but they’re generally not the most recent and that doesn’t bode well for future 3D titles on the Aspire. Mix in the absence of Optimus technology and its impact on battery life, and you’re left with a fair few compromises for the Aspire 5745DG’s 3D offering. For most users, those compromises are unlikely to be worth the benefits. 120Hz displays on notebooks are relatively rare today, but as 3D Vision gains traction we imagine that will change; holding off will also give GPUs a chance to catch up and offer more future-proofing for system-intensive gaming. A combination of lacklustre content availability and middling performance leaves the Acer Aspire 5745DG-3855 underwhelming.          
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| Sprint Network Vision will combine 3G/4G base-stations, boost voice/data/PTT Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:49 AM PST Sprint has announced Network Vision, the carrier’s ambitious plans to combine the multiple spectrum bands it uses into single, multimode base stations, and in the process driving 4G expansion, increasing call quality and overall coverage, and reducing roll-out cost. Meanwhile Network Vision will also support next-gen PTT with broadband capabilities, plus the integration of multimode chipsets into smartphones, tablets and other broadband devices, including machine-to-machine (M2M) capabilities.
The multimode base stations will be constructed and installed by Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Samsung, and support the 800MHz and 1.9GHz spectrum used by Sprint’s 3G voice/data services, together with the 2.5GHz spectrum used by WiMAX. Sprint expects to finalize the implementation schedule and begin the first stages of deployment in 2011, with Network Vision completion expected to take from three to five years.
The change will also allow Sprint to juggle their current spectrum use, repurposing some of the 800MHz spectrum to increase coverage – particularly in-building – and provide stronger signal density and fewer dropped calls. The carrier expects to spend $4-5bn on Network Vision deployment during deployment, but estimates the total net financial benefit for a seven-year period to be between $10 billion and $11 billion. Press Release:
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| Verizon may pay Apple to lock out T-Mobile/Sprint iPhone tips analyst Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:26 AM PST Verizon is reportedly considering softening its negotiations with Apple, or even paying the company, to ensure rival carriers T-Mobile and Sprint don’t follow it with an iPhone version of their own. That’s according to Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu, who claims to have heard that, so eager is Verizon to offer a CDMA iPhone, the carrier has scaled back from hardline negotiating tactics and “could be more willing to give in to Apple’s terms.”
“We are hearing that [Verizon] does not want iPhone, the hottest selling smartphone, available on T-Mobile USA and/or Sprint and may be willing to pay for exclusivity to itself and AT&T” the analyst wrote in a note to investors today, though the nature of his sources is unclear. Android, he continues, has begun to “lose some of its luster” at Verizon, leaving Apple in the “driver’s seat”, while BlackBerry OS is similarly failing to provoke much enthusiasm. Rumors and speculation about a CDMA iPhone tend to cling to Apple like little else, and it’s hard to say how much of Wu’s information is beyond tenuous. Consumer Reports has just announced that Verizon’s top smartphones are the Motorola DROID X and Samsung Fascinate, both Android devices, which would seem to contradict the idea that the OS is falling short at the carrier.
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| Tony Hawk rides 630hp V8-powered skateboard Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:04 AM PST I am sure with the video games and the crazy skateboarding skills, just about everyone knows who Tony Hawk is today. Mr. Hawk did some sort of appearance in Australia recently and part of it was him riding on this beast of a skateboard.
The thing has a 630hp V8 engine powering it. I don't even want to think how badly things would go with me on that skateboard. I can’t even ride a normal skateboard let alone on with a massive V8 engine. Apparently, the people that made the thing for Tony speed limited it. It wouldn’t look good to kill the skateboarding king at his appearance. I’d like to see him take the thing on a half pipe.
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| AT&T worst US carrier claims Consumer Reports Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:58 AM PST Consumer Reports has ranked AT&T as worst carrier in the US, with value, voice and data performance, and customer service all scoring “worse” ratings. Only AT&T’s texting performance managed to scrape above the lowest possible score, leaving AT&T well behind US Cellular, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.
Unsurprisingly, AT&T isn’t taking the news lying down; while the carrier says it takes Consumer Reports’ figures “seriously”, it also pulls out stats of its own about mobile broadband speed, dropped-call rates and more:
Meanwhile, the report also ranks the top smartphones according to carrier, and it’s a strong showing for Android and for Samsung across the board. The iPhone 4 tied for first place with the Samsung Captivate on AT&T, while the Motorola DROID X and Samsung Fascinate tied at Verizon. On Sprint, the Epic 4G took top spot, while Samsung’s Vibrant was top of the pile at T-Mobile. Samsung recently announced that it had clinched the number one sales position for Android devices in the US in the last quarter. [via Chron]
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| Russian launch fails to put three nav satellites in orbit Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:54 AM PST Russia attempted to put three new Glonass-M navigation satellite into orbit over the weekend. The launch failed to loft the satellites into orbit and resulted in the loss of all three satellites. A launch failure was noted shortly after the 5:25 a.m. launch on December 5.
The satellites reportedly crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 1500 km northwest of Honolulu. Each of the satellites weighed 3,000 pounds at lift off and were designed to last for seven years in orbit. The satellites were the third batch of launch this year. Officials with the Russian Federal Space Agency said, “According to telemetry, the spacecraft’s cluster was lofted into non-targeted orbit.” The cause of the failed launch is under investigation at this time. The area of the Pacific that the satellites crashed into was a non-navigational area according to Russian officials.
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| Low-bandwidth Skype custom app created for UN Refugee aid workers [Video] Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:47 AM PST
The UNHCR has been testing the app in Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan, and it is now available to 1,010 staff locations including Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Chad, Congo, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Uganda. That will expand to more than 3,000 team members by the end of 2011. While the slimline-Skype is great news for the UNHCR, we’re hoping the company uses some of the technology its developed for the custom app to enhance their mainstream VoIP software. It’s unclear what sort of bandwidth is actually necessary at the moment, though you can hear a demo of the voice quality in the video below. Press Release:
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| French court finds welder and Continental at fault in fatal Concorde crash Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:07 AM PST Back in 2000, the supersonic Concorde aircraft suffered a fatal crash that killed 113 people including a few on the ground. The fatal accident ended the service life of the Concorde. A French court has reached a verdict on the accident and has assigned blame for the accident to Continental Airlines and a welder that was on duty when the aircraft crashed.
The court found the airline and the mechanic guilty of involuntary manslaughter for their role in the fatal crash. The Concorde jet was operated by Air France. During take off a part punctured the tire of the jet and sent shrapnel into the fuel tanks resulting in a fire that caused the jet to crash. The attorney for the welder named John Taylor said, “I do not understand how my client could be considered to have sole responsibility for the Concorde crash.” The welder received a 15-month suspended prison sentence and the airline was fines 200,000 euros and is exposed to damages of untold millions that will be split between the families of the people who died in the accident.
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| FedEx expects to ship 16 million packages on December 13 Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:51 AM PST
FedEx has announced that it expects the busiest day in the history of the company to happen on December 13. The company expects to ship 16 million packages around the world on that one day. Over the holiday period, ranging from Thanksgiving to Christmas FedEx expects an 11% increase in packages. FedEx was working Saturday in my area to handle all of the deliveries. You had better order your stuff early; FedEx blames much of the increased number of packages that it ships on the boom in online shopping for the holidays.
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| Rear view cameras to become standard on just about all Ford cars Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:30 AM PST There are so many new safety features on vehicles today that we didn’t have a few years ago that it’s amazing. A few years back only one of the high-end vehicles came from the factory with rear view cameras. These cameras make it easy to see what's behind you to help when backing up and to prevent children from getting hurt.
These cameras are perfect if you have neighbors with kids that are not that bright. My neighbor’s kids will not only walk behind a moving vehicle but they will stand there staring at the car as you try to back out. One of them walked behind a Ford car I was testing a few weeks ago and just stood there in my driveway watching me inch closer to them without saying a word. If it weren’t for the rear view camera on the car I don't even want to think what would have happened. Ford has announced that it has completed the roll out of a rear view camera option on just about all of the models in its lineup. There have also been some rumblings lately that in the next few years rear view cameras will be mandatory on all new vehicles. Ford’s rear view camera system will be on almost all of its line by 2011. The system will be on most pickups, vans, and crossovers from Ford and the image from the camera will be viewable on the rear view mirror or the navigation system screen.
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| Android 2.3 might land today, Notion Ink Adam supports NFC? Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:15 AM PST A few things are coming together today with some rumors and teased info from Notion Ink coming together to suggest things that Android fans will be excited about. Notion Ink was rumored a while back to have included some sort of secret hardware feature in the Adam Tablet. Another rumor has Android 2.3 Gingerbread landing today or tomorrow.
We know that Gingerbread will support NFC and Notion Ink has teased today as a “big day for Android.” Take those rumors and teases together and we get the picture that the secret hardware feature of the Adam tablet from Notion Ink was support for NFC. The big day for Android would have to be the launch of Gingerbread so we are thinking at this point that we will see Gingerbread hit today and Notion Ink will announce the Adam supports NFC. The NFC Forum will also be launching its new NFC certification program in Paris tomorrow. We should get some cool new additions to the Android realm this week.
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| Verizon announces the first cities to get LTE service Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:46 AM PST
We have talked a bit about the LTE plans at Verizon already with new LTE data plans starting at $50 monthly for 5GB of data and $80 monthly for 10GB. Each plan will cost you an extra $10 per GB for overages. Verizon has some new LTE modems coming for working with your notebook and desktops as well with prices at about $100. The cities to get the networks as of last weekend include: Akron, Ohio
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Skype 
I already mentioned today that Cyber Monday was a huge day for online sales. You can bet that a significant number of the packages sold on the day were shipped using FedEx. We all know that shipping during the holidays is much slower than it normally would be and apparently, FedEx is anticipating some very busy days for its drivers this year.
Verizon wireless has announced the first cities that will be getting its new and super fast LTE network. The networks kicked off yesterday in a bunch of cities all around the country. You can see if your area is covered by LTE with Verizon by going to the Verizon LTE page | You are subscribed to email updates from SlashGear To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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