What's new on SlashGear.com |
- Star Wars Posters Perfected in Every Way by Artist Tyler Stout
- Blackbird Mercedes TRON Concept For Great Light Justice
- Apple Reports First Quarter Results
- NoteSlate Features ePaper Display, Coming Soon for $99
- Road Train Technology Undergoes First Real World Testing, Proves Successful
- Daniel Eatock Teaches the World to Compensate with a Cheap Bookshelf
- Banksy’s True Identity Listed on eBay, Subsequently Pulled
- Leica X1 BMW Special Edition Camera Unveiled, Costs $3,500
- Comcast’s Purchase of NBC Approved by FCC
- Facebook Brings in $1.86 Billion Worldwide Advertising Revenue in 2010
- HP Topaz and Opal webOS Tablets Detailed, Renders Showcased
- 3G BlackBerry PlayBook Coming Soon to AT&T, Source Says
- Microsoft OneNote Mobile Lands on iOS
- Novatel Wireless 4G MiFi Wins Best Accessory at CES 2011 and Best Mobile Device Strategy at WCA
- White iPhone 4 Appears in Best Buy Inventory Database
- Facebook, Privacy & a little Self-Control
- Microsoft Publishes Incoming Windows Phone 7 Update Features
- Nintendo Confirms 3DS will be Region-Locked
- Sanwa Universal 3D Glasses Work on 3D TVs from Japan Only
- XPERIA Arc 8.1MP Exmor R camera gets video demo
- Chase 2053 Concept Car Features Hydrogen Engines
- SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: January 18 2011
- Swiss Army Knife Secure SSD and Apple Secure thumb drives revealed
- Lenovo establishes Mobile Internet & Digital Home team for tablets, phones & more
- Samsung passes 2m Smart TV App Store downloads
- Nokia E7 Finnish pre-orders open ahead of Feb 2011 delivery
- Samsung reportedly buys Liquavista e-paper specialists [Updated]
- ASUS Sirocco netbook is Eee PC 1015PW?
- Sprint adds $10 Premium Data smartphone fee from Jan 30
- TiVo Premiere for iPad remote app now available
| Star Wars Posters Perfected in Every Way by Artist Tyler Stout Posted: 18 Jan 2011 03:08 PM PST When it comes to Star Wars, there’s only a few ways you can go wrong. You can make life-sized plush animals (barring ewoks,) you can make terrible Christmas ornaments, and you can make a Star Wars Holiday Special. Of all the ways you can go right, it’s an extremely difficult market to break into for movie posters. Everyone in the world who wants a poster either already has one or already has a favorite, and why would they grab a new one with more than 30 years of posters already having been released. Surely the craft has been perfected by now. But I say thee nay, perfection was not done in any of the past three decades, it was done now, by illustrator Tyler Stout.
Mister Tyler Stout, an illustrator and designer extraordinair, does several things with his time including rock show posters, movie posters, and even toys! He’s often commissioned by The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to do fabulous new visions of classic or otherwise cult-classic films. With so many magical amalgamations under his belt such as The Big Lebowski, Inglourious Basterds, and Big Trouble in Little China under his belt, it was only a matter of time before this perfect vision was realized. Good luck getting one for yourself, they’re basically all spoken for! Regular editions of this set were done in a run of 850 and each poster sold for $50, while the variants (below) were editions of 275 and cost $100 each. Each poster was made as a screenprint, each one 7 colors with metallics. Check out more work by Tyler Stout over at http://www.tstout.com/
[Via TStout]
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| Blackbird Mercedes TRON Concept For Great Light Justice Posted: 18 Jan 2011 02:17 PM PST This is a design straight out of the concept books of both Peter Vardai and Tamas Fodor, both of whome have brought to life this magnificent machine for the world to get their TRON on in. It seems like this TRON fad has become a movement as the movie itself is leaving theaters yet concepts keep popping up. The goal of the designer of this project (Vardai) was to both reinforce the emotions people feel toward the Mercedes brand and bring their eyes up and out forward toward the future. Light strips on black sides will do that!
The shape of this vehicle, Vardai says, is based on the aerodynamics of an airplane, a streamlined set of sides for a smooth ride all the time. Black and silver are strewn throughout (though you can only see the black and the lights above) and lights, although the designer doesn’t mention them in his outline, are taken straight out of the newest installment in the Tron series: Legacy. Behold! [Via Yanko Design]
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| Apple Reports First Quarter Results Posted: 18 Jan 2011 01:50 PM PST In a report that should surprise absolutely no one in the entire world, Apple has posted an earnings report today for the past quarter (the Holiday quarter, mind you, of 2010) and it’s ginormous. On the other hand the sales of iPads alone are… what’s the word… shocking.
Apple officially unveiled the latest numbers from their first quarter financial results. Following the announcement of Steve Jobs’ medical leave of absence, Apple has confirmed that the company is still one of the most profitable on the planet. They’ve posted a $6 billion profit with $26.7 billion in total revenue for the quarter. The iPhone 4 managed to sell 16.2 million units through the quarter. Mac sales increased a total of 23 percent, selling 4.13 million. iPod sales saw a seven percent decline, though, with 19.45 million sold. The iPad, however, saw another increase, as it moved an additional 7.33 million units. We’ll say few words here on how any of this has a bearing on the future of the company and etc., but expect a large amount of thoughts on the subject in the near future. Check out the full press release below: Press Release
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| NoteSlate Features ePaper Display, Coming Soon for $99 Posted: 18 Jan 2011 01:43 PM PST As far as tablets go, there’s one for everyone’s taste. In the case of the NoteSlate, it’s for anyone who wants to have a tablet that features an advanced ePaper capacitive touchscreen display, of which you’ll be able to write in four different colors. There’s a catch with the colors, though: you’ll only be able to write in one at a time, based on the model that you decide to drop your hard earned money on.
The NoteSlate is a concept tablet right now, but the manufacturers hope to have it available for purchase soon. The tablet features a new ePaper screen technology, which allows for the display to have one color shown at one time: red, blue, green and black models are the ones being planned for now. However, the company does have plans of creating a tablet that can do all four colors. The tablet features a 13-inch capacitive touchscreen display, with a resolution of 750 x 1080. It’s designed for those who want to draw, take notes, and save what they want — or delete what they don’t — in an easy fashion. Unfortunately, considering it’s just a concept right now, with talk about the tablet heading to manufacturing in just a short while, we’re not so positive this will see the light of day. But, they company is already looking ahead to a future software update, which will provide PDF support. They also suggest that the battery life will last weeks, and weigh in at only 240g. [via The Digital Reader]
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| Road Train Technology Undergoes First Real World Testing, Proves Successful Posted: 18 Jan 2011 12:55 PM PST Volvo has recently tested new technology that will allow for cars to automatically sync up with a lead driver, and be part of an semi-autonomous convoy. Titled “road train technology,” it’s designed to allow drivers to sync up with a lead vehicle, and allow their car to take over for the most part. The tests were conducted on Volvo’s test tracks in Sweden, and the company (and testers) have officially labeled the first real world tests as a success.
Volvo believes that the road train technology could promote fuel usage, reduce the amount of congestion on roads, and promote safety for some drivers. For a tired driver, being able to find a semi-autonomous convoy to take over the trip for a certain amount of miles could be the difference between a successful arrival at their destination, and a catastrophic accident. The test was conducted by Volvo at their test track, but it was in part conducted by the European Commission, as part of a research project called Sartre — Safe Road Trains for the Environment. The test was proven a success after the test car was able to get behind the lead car, and then hand over control of the convoy to the lead car ahead of it. In the video (which you can watch here), we see the driver of the car completely remove their hands from the steering wheel, and then even begin reading a newspaper and drinking their coffee. In the lead vehicle, the convoy is told to speed up, slow down, or steer when necessary. Sensors in all vehicles would make sure that they keep a safe distance from one another while in the convoy, as well as other cars on the road. The idea is to be able to string together more cars than just one, and have the same results. The results of the first real world test mean that the designers believe that the technology behind Sartre could be used in the wild in just a few years. [via BBC]
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| Daniel Eatock Teaches the World to Compensate with a Cheap Bookshelf Posted: 18 Jan 2011 12:44 PM PST Take a look at this, a bookshelf that you could potentially purchase from a store for about… oh… $10? So long that when heavy contents are placed along the center, it bends and arcs. Designer / artist Daniel Eatock saw this situation and decided to make the best out of it by grabbing all of his favorite books and placing them along the center in a perfect order, an order so perfect that the arc of the shelf and the height of each of the books perfectly compliment one another in harmony.
Although this would be an amazingly simple sort of bookshelf to produce and sell in hipster shops across the USA, Eatock has only produced two of these, and both times for installations. This particular one you see above is host to 75 books that were, every single one of them, used as research material that informed the art show this project was included in, Book Show, Eastside Projects, all of them owned by the show’s curator James Langdon. MDF 1220mm long x 300mm deep x 18mm thick, two metal brackets, 75 books – take a peek on Eatock’s portfolio page for a full list of the books used (if you want to recreate it yourself, I suppose.) [Via Daniel Eatock]
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| Banksy’s True Identity Listed on eBay, Subsequently Pulled Posted: 18 Jan 2011 12:24 PM PST Banksy is a British artist that has recently grown in fame due to some controversial, however well-done short films. The unknown individual, who has kept a secret identity despite his growing fame, is perhaps best known for his spoof on the popular cartoon, The Simpsons. Banksy created a new opening sequence back in October, 2010, that seems to start off normal enough, but then towards the middle gets a bit more “interesting.” In an odd turn of events, an eBay seller has put up the “true identity” of Banksy on the popular bidding website, offering the name up for quite a bit of money.
According to the seller, it was quite a bit of work to figure out who Banksy really is. “I have uncovered [Banksy's] identity by matching up the prices of his sold pieces to corresponding tax records. I will reveal no more details… I give you 100 percent assurance that it is most certainly the full name of the street artist known as ‘Banksy.’” This actually isn’t the first time that Banksy’s true identity has been offered up on eBay, but that original auction was pulled because eBay said the seller wasn’t offering up a tangible item. This time around, though, the seller was offering up a piece of paper with a name on it. That’s a tangible item, so there’s still a question swirling around why eBay would pull this latest bid. The seller started the sale at $3,000, and it was pulled after 36 bids, with a whopping $999,999 as the final bid. You can see The Simpson’s opening Banksy created below, if you’re unfamiliar with the creation, or just want to see it again. [via GearLog]
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| Leica X1 BMW Special Edition Camera Unveiled, Costs $3,500 Posted: 18 Jan 2011 12:03 PM PST When you’re trying to sell a special edition of something, especially something that’s already been available to purchase, you generally want to add features to it. Or, perhaps just throw in more accessories or “never before seen” things. But, for Leica, who has released plenty of special edition cameras in the past, the BMW special edition version of the X1 doesn’t really do any of the aforementioned things. At least, not enough to warrant an almost $1,000 price increase.
The Leica X1 BMW Special Edition camera features the same 12MP CMOS sensor, and the F2.8 24mm optics that the original X1 features. The differences come in the different skin on the BMW special edition, along with “BMW” stamped onto the top of the camera. Other than that, the Leica X1 BMW Special Edition camera is exactly the same as the standard issue version. The cost? $3,500. That’s compared to the $2,600 that the original costs. [via CrunchGear]  
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| Comcast’s Purchase of NBC Approved by FCC Posted: 18 Jan 2011 11:50 AM PST The proposed purchase of NBC by Comcast has been one that’s stirred the pot for a little while now. With Comcast suggesting that they “could” offer low-cost Internet connectivity to families that fit the profile necessary, as long as the deal was pushed through. Hulu’s exclusivity of some content was even talked about being overlooked entirely, making sure that NBC Universal programming was available to any online video provider. It’s just been revealed that the deal has been approved by the FCC, but the details are still missing.
The purchase of NBC Universal by Comcast has been approved by the FCC, in a 4-to-1 vote. The details of what’s to come next are still being ironed out we imagine, and therefore haven’t been made public quite yet. Commissioner Michael Copps was the only one to vote no on the proposed purchase. Details of the proceeding are expected to be released soon. However, the Justice Department still needs to put their two cents in on the deal. They are expected to look at the FCC approval next week. [via CNBC]
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| Facebook Brings in $1.86 Billion Worldwide Advertising Revenue in 2010 Posted: 18 Jan 2011 11:34 AM PST Analysts are claiming that Facebook and Google may have more in common than previously believed, especially when it comes to how Facebook handles advertising. In new results from eMarketer, Facebook is raking in quite a bit of revenue based on advertising through the site. But, what’s most surprising to analysts, is not so much how much money that Facebook is drawing in, but the fact that it’s not coming from major advertising agencies, but more from small- and medium-sized businesses.
Facebook’s self-service ad platform is seeing a lot of business as of late. The popular social networking site has seen a worldwide advertising revenue increase of 86% versus the previous year’s results, courtesy of the $1.86 billion in revenue in took in. Of that, $1.21 billion was earned within the United States, adds the analyst. The main takeaway of the results, though, is where the majority of the money is coming from. According to eMarketer, 60 percent –or $1.12 billion– stems from small- or medium-sized business that are more than likely using self-serve tools to advertise on the social website. That’s compared to the $740 million that’s being produced by major marketers, like Coke, Match.com, and P&G. According to Debra Williamson, the principal analyst at eMarketer, these small- and medium-sized businesses are taking advantage of Facebook’s rapid growth (which now has over 650 million users), and using the strategies they used to promote themselves on Google to do the same thing on Facebook. Williamson adds that, “Facebook is the biggest storehouse of consumer data on the internet.” With that being said, it’s no surprise that marketers and advertisers, and anyone else that can prosper from the data that Facebook collects every day, is flocking to the social networking website. [via AdAge]
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| HP Topaz and Opal webOS Tablets Detailed, Renders Showcased Posted: 18 Jan 2011 11:09 AM PST HP has an announcement to make regarding webOS on February 9th. The tagline “Something big, Something small, Something beyond” had many people trying to guess what the company had to show off, with plenty of fingers being pointed at a tablet device. HP and Palm haven’t been coy with their tablet talk, though, and have confirmed that a tablet device is on its way featuring Palm’s webOS mobile Operating System (OS). As many high-profile devices generally do, it seems that at least one of the tablet devices has found its way into the Internet, in internal render form, well before the official unveiling of the device.
A source has sent Engadget the first renders of the tablet device that HP and Palm have been working on. According to the source, HP is working on a pair of tablet devices. Topaz, which we’ve heard about in the past, is the 9-inch variation, while the Opal is the 7-inch, smaller version. The render doesn’t do much to show us what will actually be coming to market later this year, and into 2012, but there are a few interesting things to take away from it. There’s a microUSB port on the bottom, and the design of the tablet seems to feature a three-speaker layout. There doesn’t seem to be any hardware buttons on the device, which goes right in-line with what we’ve heard in the past. While it’s a tablet device, we imagine that HP and Palm have made it so that the device can be rotated. With that in mind, while we can see that there’s a gesture area right above the microUSB port, Engadget believes it will probably rotate with the display. At the top of the device, there seems to be a front-facing camera. Details about the devices, both the Topaz and Opal, are still non-existent at this point. Word about a release date, let alone the specifications and pricing of the tablet devices, are still up in the air at this point. Though, we don’t imagine that HP and Palm will not showcase at least one, if not both, of these tablets at their press event right around the corner. A captured screenshot does suggest that an LTE-based version of the Opal will be launching on Verizon’s network in September, 2011. While an LTE-based AT&T model won’t be popping up in stores until July, 2012. [via Engadget]   
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| 3G BlackBerry PlayBook Coming Soon to AT&T, Source Says Posted: 18 Jan 2011 10:50 AM PST As of right now, Research In Motion has confirmed that the WiFi-only version of their first tablet device, the BlackBerry PlayBook, will launch some time before the end of the first quarter, 2011. After that, a WiMax-enabled version of the tablet will launch on Sprint’s network some time in the summer of this year. However, other carriers have been left out of the picture in the United States so far. That may change by March or April, if an unnamed source is to be believed. According to the source, it turns out RIM is working on releasing a 3G-enabled PlayBook for AT&T.
Published in CIO, Al Sacco reports that an unnamed, trusted source tells him that RIM is getting ready to unveil the device for a late March, early April unveil on AT&T’s 3G network. But, that’s not all. RIM’s not just focusing on WiMax for their 4G-enabled tablet device. It looks like LTE is getting some attention as well. The source retrieved this information from a carrier representative from AT&T, who says that the device should hit the time table that RIM s aiming for. Unfortunately, RIM is being tight-lipped about the information. No confirmation about a 3G-enabled, or LTE-based BlackBerry PlayBook have been announced by the company as of yet. But, it would make sense for RIM to get their tablet out to every carrier possible, especially one that connects to 3G. [via IntoMobile]
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| Microsoft OneNote Mobile Lands on iOS Posted: 18 Jan 2011 10:30 AM PST In an interesting move from Microsoft, the company has officially released OneNote Mobile for iOS. The Redmond-based company is trying to get the notebook-like software, with its note-taking functionality, on as many devices as possible — and for Microsoft, making it available on Apple’s iOS mobile Operating System (OS) was an obvious move for the mobile worker or student.
The application lets users take notes, make bulleted lists, and checklists. Users will also be able to pull images from their gallery and input them into their notes. Microsoft was also able to develop a slightly altered iOS keyboard, so that shortcuts could be added above the keys. If you’re a user of Microsoft’s Windows SkyDrive to store your information on the cloud, you’ll be happy to know that the iOS-based version also has this ability. This gives users the ability to work from their iOS-based device, save it to SkyDrive, and then finish it on their computer if they so choose. As long as they have OneNote installed there, of course. And to use the app, you’ll need to get yourself a Windows Live ID. Also another move that’s not all that surprising. As of right now, in a promotional move from Microsoft, OneNote Mobile for iOS is a free download. However, Microsoft has confirmed that they do plan on charging for the application in the near future. However, an exact date to the end of the promotional pricing, and how much the application will cost after that time has not been announced. [via CNET]
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| Novatel Wireless 4G MiFi Wins Best Accessory at CES 2011 and Best Mobile Device Strategy at WCA Posted: 18 Jan 2011 10:20 AM PST That’s right, the Novatel Wireless 4G MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot has won not only a Best in Show Award from Notebooks.com in the notebook accessories category, it’s also been recently awarded both the World Communication and Mobile Star awards. These additional awards are the 2010 World Communication Award (WCA) for Best Mobile Device Strategy and the Mobile Village Mobile Star Award for Best Laptop or Tablet Accessory. It’s hard to believe that such an integral piece of technology was created such a short period ago – well done, chaps!
The MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is of course that little device that lets you simply press a button and be inside a personal cloud of high-speed internet for your notebook or other compatible mobile devices. Rob Hadley, CMO, Novatel Wireless notes “Notebooks.com, the WCA and Mobile Village are widely recognized as some of the most trusted awards programs in the industry and
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| White iPhone 4 Appears in Best Buy Inventory Database Posted: 18 Jan 2011 09:49 AM PST Best Buy’s inventory database is a treasure trove of upcoming devices, it seems. Unlike the Vodafone Germany database snapshot, where the white version of the iPhone 4 was listed as “coming soon,” in both the 16 and 32GB variations, this inventory database screenshot gets a bit more detailed. In fact, according to Best Buy, it seems that the white iPhone 4 will be landing in stores on February 27th, 2011.
Obviously, Apple hasn’t confirmed any of this. The Cupertino-based company has been quiet on the white iPhone 4 front as of late, with updates regarding the handset’s status non-existent at this point. The device recently popped up on Verizon’s product page, after the iPhone 4 was officially announced for the wireless carrier, but it was quickly pulled down. Customers are still waiting for the white version of the device, but if this new leak is to be believed, folks won’t have to wait much longer. Will Verizon get the white iPhone 4? And will Apple really push the white version of the current generation iPhone, even with speculation about the next generation iPhone already picking up speed? We’ll have to wait and see. Perhaps the white version will be held off until the next iPhone is launched, or maybe Apple believes there are still enough people out there wanting the handset that it won’t matter when, or on which carrier, they launch it. [via MacRumors]
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| Facebook, Privacy & a little Self-Control Posted: 18 Jan 2011 09:30 AM PST Another Facebook change, another privacy uproar. Read the headlines and you might have thought the social network was planning to open the books on private cellphone numbers and home addresses to any advertiser willing to slip them some cash, rather than adding some more sharing options along with the usual granular control over who gets to see what of your digital details. Unsurprisingly Facebook froze its plans pending a reassessment of its privacy controls; unfortunately, nobody is taking Facebook users – and the online community in general – to task over taking some responsibility for what they share.
If you haven’t been following the story, here’s the situation in a nutshell. Facebook announced on Friday that it was planning to add address and mobile number to the personal information that could be shared with applications, websites and advertisers. As with other personal details, the degree to which that data was accessible would be managed under each user’s permissions settings: everything from a come-and-get-me open pipe to a complete block on anything being revealed. Facebook billed it as a way to “easily share your address and mobile phone with a shopping site to streamline the checkout process, or sign up for up-to-the-minute alerts on special deals directly to your mobile phone.” Don’t get me wrong; I’m under no illusion that Facebook is doing this for altruistic reasons. Making online purchases quicker is undoubtedly handy to those who actually click through Facebook adverts, but for the social network itself it’s all about making money from its most valuable asset: its millions of registered users. Just like with a free newspaper, Facebook makes its money by showing you adverts, and it can use your personal information to tailor those ads more appropriately. Access to personal contact details, meanwhile, is even more valuable. However, just because there’s profit to be made for Facebook, it doesn’t mean this is either bad for the user or a sign of Evil Big Business taking advantage of the general public. We manage the degrees to which we disclose personal information all the time, long before Facebook arrived and gave us a simple privacy settings page to work with. Every time you avoid giving your phone number to a door-to-door charity worker, tick the no-junk-mail box on a bank form or refuse to give your address to someone you just met at a bar, you’re exercising your own, personal privacy filter. Perhaps I’m being unfair. After all, it only takes a quick glance at sites like Lamebook (often NSFW) to see that many Facebook users have problems with over-sharing, accidentally making public posts out of what were meant to be private messages, and generally forgetting who out of their friends and family can read what they’re saying. Maybe Facebook does have some intrinsic responsibility to shepherd its members through the difficult journey that is online life; perhaps the privacy pages really won’t be complete until there’s color coding, pop-up warnings and a virtual cash register showing just how much you’ve lined Mark Zuckerberg’s pocket. This constant push-me-pull-me with Facebook does users no favours. Every time the privacy patrol scream, and Facebook backtracks, it reinforces the idea that the site itself is solely responsible – should be responsible – for making safe use of the information we share online. Don’t get me wrong, if Facebook was looking to sneak in a “we can sell your identify” clause into the T&Cs, that’s something worth shouting about. When, though, we muster the same amount of vitriol for sharing options that already have safeguards – safeguards that satisfactorily protect our email address and other details – it looks more like abdication of responsibility. We want to trust Facebook do “do the right thing” – based on our own interpretation of what “the right thing” is, exactly – so that we won’t have to. We can spend our time looking up old crushes, posting photos of ourselves looking fierce in clubs, and commenting on videos of cats. Privacy is important, but the responsibility begins at the individual level. Just as you don’t hand out your address to strangers in the street, maybe giving it to every website that asks isn’t all that sensible either. Relying on other people, or companies, to protect us universally is a naivety we abandon before adulthood in the real world, yet something many seem determined to cling to online. That’s before you get to the thorny issue of lost or stolen data. In the end, it’s your life, your number, your face: it’s up to you whether it’s an open book.
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| Microsoft Publishes Incoming Windows Phone 7 Update Features Posted: 18 Jan 2011 09:25 AM PST Microsoft has been forthcoming about their future Windows Phone 7 updates right from the get-go. Announcing that Copy & Paste would be included in their first Over the Air (OTA) update, the company has also made sure to include other must-have improvements for the mobile Operating System (OS). Fortunately, Microsoft’s official page regarding the future update coincides with what we’ve heard, and seen, in the past — especially those faster apps and games.
According to Microsoft, Windows Phone 7 will be updated “soon.” There’s no official date yet, but rumors are starting to pick up speed that Microsoft could be readying the update to launch onto their devices in time for Mobile World Congress, which kicks off in February. As for the update itself, it will indeed include Copy & Paste, of which Microsoft was nice enough to include a picture of the action being done in an email. Furthermore, Microsoft admits that people don’t like waiting for things, so the company has managed to “whittle down” the time it takes for applications to load on initial boot-up, along with the time it takes for them to resume. The company has also made some improvements to the search function within the Marketplace. To the point, the company has put a better focus on the search. So, if you are in the Games section of the Marketplace and you do a search, it won’t bring back a huge generalized search for what you’re looking for through the entire Marketplace. It will just bring back results in the Game section. If you’ve got yourself a Windows Phone 7 device, Microsoft says that as long as you haven’t turned off the Update feature, you’ll get a pop-up notification saying your phone is ready for an update. Unfortunately, we still have no idea when that’s going to happen. If you want to see how the update works on a device, check out the video below. [via Microsoft]
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| Nintendo Confirms 3DS will be Region-Locked Posted: 18 Jan 2011 09:05 AM PST The Nintendo 3DS is launching in Japan on February 26th, 2011, ahead of any other market. Getting the device imported to another region would probably not be that hard, and some highly-devoted gamers out there not wanting to wait for the device to launch in their region were probably already trying to figure out the best way of getting the device shipped to their home, outside of Japan. Unfortunately, a recent rumor last week put a damper on that possibility, with Nintendo supposedly admitting that the upcoming 3DS handheld gaming unit would be region-locked. Nintendo has finally come forward and provided an official statement regarding the rumor, and sure enough, the 3DS will indeed be locked to a specific region.
According to a company statement, Nintendo says that the “Nintendo 3DS hardware is available in three versions: Japanese, American and European/Australian.” They go on to add, “there is the possibility that Nintendo 3DS software sold in one region will not function properly when running on Nintendo 3DS hardware sold in another.” The reasons, according to Nintendo, vary from language differences in each region, local laws, and regional age ratings for each individual video game released. Nintendo also had to make changes, however subtle, to each region-specific 3DS because of network services that need to be compatible with technology in the area. That means that the content that Nintendo provides through its online distribution channel will more than likely be region-locked as well, which isn’t surprising. The region-based games will continue to appear, with “guidance” from Nintendo on each retail box. So, along with the ESRB rating, you’ll also see where the game in question is able to be played, based on the region. Nintendo says if you’re confused about a game and the region, you should buy Nintendo 3DS games in the region where you purchased your 3DS. “Guidance will appear on every packaging of Nintendo 3DS hardware and the accompanying software. If you are in doubt, Nintendo recommends that you only purchase Nintendo 3DS software in the region where purchased your Nintendo 3DS system.” [via VG247]
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| Sanwa Universal 3D Glasses Work on 3D TVs from Japan Only Posted: 18 Jan 2011 08:47 AM PST Sanwa has recently unveiled a pair of brand new 3D glasses that the company claims are universal. However, Sanwa’s definition of universal seems to be a bit more “defined,” then some might imagine. The company has announced that these new universal 3D glasses will work with a wide range of 3D TVs, but here’s the kicker: they have to be from a Japanese company.
Sanwa points out Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, and Panasonic as manufacturers that their new universal 3D glasses will work with just fine. Companies like LG, Samsung, and Vizio are apparently being left out in the cold. The glasses are available right now through Sanwa’s online store, and cost around $7,800 yen, or about $95. You’ll be able to charge the glasses through USB, though. And they’re probably better than not having any glasses to watch your 3D entertainment. [via Akihabara News]
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| XPERIA Arc 8.1MP Exmor R camera gets video demo Posted: 18 Jan 2011 08:39 AM PST Sony Ericsson may not have bothered with NFC or a front-facing camera on the XPERIA Arc, but that doesn’t mean the upcoming Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone fails to bring something new to the table. The company has been talking more about the Exmor R 8.1-megapixel camera on the Arc, and more precisely why there’s more than just pure megapixels to differentiate it from rival handsets.
Video demo after the cut
The XPERIA Arc uses a back-illuminated sensor, which shifts the light sensors to the front of the chip rather than behind the photo diode interconnects. That makes for a more sensitive camera, better at low-light photography, to which Sony Ericsson have paired a wider aperture – f/2.4 in fact – lens to allow even more light through. Meanwhile the UI has also been streamlined, to make it faster and reduce the amount of camera lag. The video of the Arc below is recorded by another Arc handset, so you can get an idea of its HD video capabilities too. More details on the smartphone in our hands-on report. [via Android Community]
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| Chase 2053 Concept Car Features Hydrogen Engines Posted: 18 Jan 2011 08:27 AM PST Most concepts won’t become reality. It’s a sad truth, but one nonetheless. In the case of the Chase 2053 concept car, it may have a chance at becoming a reality. Not because of the technology inside, but because the designer, Thomas Larsen Røed, has allowed plenty of time for this idea to get passed around amongst those who might make it a reality some day. 2053 isn’t around the corner, and that could be the singular hope for this vehicle to make it to production lines in the future.
The Chase 2053 is an attractive concept, no doubt. Røed envisions a vehicle that can’t be damaged, thanks to its construction from carbon nanotubes. If the construction isn’t any indicator, Røed envisions this from a purely science-fiction point of view. The vehicle also has sections of it created from fabric skin, which is a stretchable organic material. There’s a hydrogen-powered jet engine under the hood. The Chase 2053 is also capable of flying, or hovering to be more exact. A pair of carbon fiber seats allow for comfortable rides, wherever you might be driving in 2053. We can keep our fingers crossed that this future ride makes it to the streets sooner, but considering the tech inside, and part of the construction of the vehicle itself, we’ll probably find ourselves waiting. And waiting. [via Trendhunter]     
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| SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: January 18 2011 Posted: 18 Jan 2011 07:56 AM PST Hoax! Samsung Vibrant 4G Android phone for T-Mobile with Android 2.3 turns out to be Totally Faked! Then no fake! We’re having a heated debate on the effects of Consumer Reports hating on Verizon’s iPhone 4 – Good News for Android? See then another object ripe for debate: Intel IPAD – pre-dating the iPad by nine years! Then a product that’s making people get sick in a different way: Reports of 3DS users feeling ill surface after 3DS showcase in Japan. On the other side of the spectrum, Microsoft speaks with ChevronWP7 team, making them feel mighty healthy for their hacking of Windows Phone 7! Finally, take a peek at a couple reviews you may have missed last night – one for MacBook Air 11-inch and iPod Touch GelaSkins, the other for a lovely orange Lenovo U260 IdeaPad Notebook!
R3 Media Network Editor’s Choice SlashPhone Android Community SlashGear To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]
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| Swiss Army Knife Secure SSD and Apple Secure thumb drives revealed Posted: 18 Jan 2011 07:54 AM PST Victorinox‘s Slim and Slim Duo flash-drive hiding Swiss Army Knives aren’t the only new folding storage from the company; there’s also an Apple-friendly compact drive with integrated biometrics and an SSD with an integrated e-paper display. The Victorinox Secure SSD not only manages to be the world’s smallest 256GB SSD, but packs in a 96 x 48 monochrome display for status updates.
There’s also data encryption, the option to personalize what text is shown on the display – so you could advertise your contact details should the drive be lost – and dynamic power management. Victorionix even squeeze in a 32-bit processor. Meanwhile, the Victorinox Apple Secure has 128GB of storage and an integrated fingerprint scanner, together with a new app that works with OS X. No word on pricing or availability for either model at this stage.
Press Release:
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| Lenovo establishes Mobile Internet & Digital Home team for tablets, phones & more Posted: 18 Jan 2011 07:31 AM PST Lenovo has established a new product group to head tablet and smartphone development, the Lenovo mobile internet and digital home division, which will also look at web-connected home electronics including smart TVs. According to SeattlePI, the new division will be led by former Lenovo product group exec Liu Jun.
His previous role will be taken by Peter Hortensius, who previously was chief of the Think product group. Hortensius claims that the new division is part of an attempt by Lenovo to take smart TVs, smartphones and tablets seriously and with a clear focus at senior management level, given that they are “different enough from PCs” to be worth concentrating on individually. “This is definitely going to be a very important year in tablets,” Hortensius predicted, going on to suggest that the first tablets US customers should expect to see will come from Lenovo’s business unit. The company re-announced the LePad slate and dock at CES 2011 earlier this month. [via NetbookNews]
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| Samsung passes 2m Smart TV App Store downloads Posted: 18 Jan 2011 07:17 AM PST Samsung has announced that it has passed the 2m downloads milestone for its Smart TV App Store, proving that you don’t need to be Apple or have Google TV onboard to be successful in home entertainment software. The news comes 53 days after Samsung confirmed it had seen 1m downloads, a figure that took 268 days to reach.
Currently there are around 380 apps available for Samsung’s homegrown range of Smart TVs, out of which 259 are free and the remainder paid. Among the line-up are Netflix, Lovefilm, Twitter and other streaming media apps, though developers also offer games and news updates. Samsung is predicting 12m sales of own-brand Smart TV sets in 2011, and similarly healthy adoption of the companion app store. No word on the possibility of Google TV Samsung hardware, as was rumored prior to CES 2011 earlier this month.
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| Nokia E7 Finnish pre-orders open ahead of Feb 2011 delivery Posted: 18 Jan 2011 07:00 AM PST The Nokia E7 has gone up for official pre-order in Finland, with deliveries expected sometime in February 2011. Originally promised by the end of 2010, and delayed for unspecified reasons until “early 2011″, the Symbian smartphone is priced at €599 ($796) SIM-free and unlocked.
That gets you a 4-inch display, physical QWERTY keyboard and an 8-megapixel camera with HD video recording, all packed up into a metal chassis we still reckon is among the best physical design around today. No word on when other European pre-orders will open, not to mention North American availability – the E7, like the N8, has a pentaband modem for use on both AT&T and T-Mobile USA – but we’re guessing it’ll be sometime in February too. [via Twitter]
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| Samsung reportedly buys Liquavista e-paper specialists [Updated] Posted: 18 Jan 2011 06:18 AM PST Samsung has reportedly bought Liquavista, the electrowetting screen specialists whose e-paper displays were poised to take on E Ink and mirasol. Neither company has confirmed the deal, but a translated Dutch job listing suggests that “the organization has a new Liquavista division of Samsung.”
Samsung is also reportedly listed as a corporate parent at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, though we’ve been unable to independently verify that fact. [Update: See below] Liquavista last made headlines with a flexible, unbreakable e-paper display, and it seems Samsung has decided it wants that technology for its own products. Job description (translated):
Update: eReaders.nl have grabbed a screenshot showing Samsung as the new Liquavista parent company [Thanks Natasja]:
[via The Digital Reader]
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| ASUS Sirocco netbook is Eee PC 1015PW? Posted: 18 Jan 2011 06:04 AM PST ASUS’ upcoming “Sirocco” Eee PC may well be the the Eee PC 1005PW 1015PW, according to the latest tips, with the dune-textured netbooks getting an unofficial pre-unveil preview. According to imidoresc, the ASUS Eee PC 1015PW Sirocco will be a 10.1-inch WSVGA netbook with Intel’s Atom N550 processor and up to 10hrs battery life.
There’s also a choice of 250GB or 320GB hard-drives, Bluetooth 3.0 and a -.3-megapixel webcam. We’re guessing on WiFi b/g/n and the usual trio of USB 2.0 ports, single ethernet, audio in/out and a memory card reader as well. It’s expected to weigh around 1.25kg. Pricing and availability haven’t been revealed, but this is looking pretty mainstream for a current netbook, and not the hurricane ultraportable the “Sirocco” name led us to hope for. We’ll find out all the details on Wednesday when the netbook is announced officially.   
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| Sprint adds $10 Premium Data smartphone fee from Jan 30 Posted: 18 Jan 2011 05:45 AM PST Sprint has announced that it will be adding a new $10 monthly Premium Data surcharge for users of smartphones from the end of January 2011, affecting all new subscribers. According to the carrier, it is “committed to providing its customers a great wireless experience now and in the future” and so has decided that the best way to do that is charge people more for it.
Featurephones, meanwhile, will escape the surcharge. There’s no definitive list of which handsets Sprint considers to be smartphones and which are featurephones, though we’re guessing Sprint will reveal that before implementing the price change on January 30. Existing subscribers with smartphones won’t see their price plans affected – until they upgrade, of course – but for all Sprint’s talk of doubling smartphone penetration over the next four years, we can’t see this going down well. The carrier claims smartphone users are responsible for 10x more data traffic than those users of traditional phones. Press Release:
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| TiVo Premiere for iPad remote app now available Posted: 18 Jan 2011 05:37 AM PST TiVo has released its TiVo Premiere for iPad remote control app, a free download [iTunes link] which turns your iOS slate into not only a remote but an EPG guide and recording management station. The app also packs integration with Facebook and Twitter, for easier commenting on broadcast shows.
Both one-off and season pass recording scheduling is possible, as is managing the to-do list. Users can also review their recorded content and remotely begin playback from the iPad, while keeping the currently-showing program full-screen on their TV. If you’ve a Netflix or Amazon Video on Demand account, you can also browse those streaming services from the iPad as well. You’ll need a a TiVo Premiere or TiVo Premiere XL box, as well as an iPad obviously, in order to make use of the free app.
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