Kamis, 24 Februari 2011

What's new on SlashGear.com

What's new on SlashGear.com

Google Introduces Cloud Connect For Microsoft Office

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 02:47 PM PST

Google has released a new plug-in for Microsoft Office that helps users sync their Office documents with their Google Docs account. The Office documents will be saved via the "cloud" to Google's servers and can be accessed by whomever you name as an "editor" to the document. Different users can then access and edit the file, increasing their collaboration and cutting down on confusion and wasted time over multiple copies of the document.

Cloud Connect installs a toolbar into your Microsoft Office programs where you can log in and sync your documents with Google Docs. Google saves every edited version of the document, no matter if those edits were made in Office or Google Docs. You can also make documents read-only as well via Google Docs and each document will get its own unique web address.

"For example, you can edit a Word document's table of contents from Dublin while co-workers adjust formatting and make revisions in Denver," says Google's Apps product manager Shan Sinha. "Instead of bombarding each other with attachments and hassling to reconcile people's edits, your whole team can focus on productive work together."

Cloud Connect is free and works with the 2003, 2007, and 2010 versions of Microsoft Office. The plug-in will only work on PC versions of the popular office suite right now. Sinha says because there isn't support for open API's for Mac's version of Office the plug-in can't work right now.

[via LA Times]

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The Daily Coming to Android Very Soon

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 02:18 PM PST

A couple weeks back The Daily made its splashy introduction exclusively on Apple's iPad. That exclusivity will be gone in a couple months as The Daily is set to launch on Android sometime in the second quarter of this year. The announcement is a bit of a surprise since The Daily flaunted its relationship and exclusivity with Apple so much prior to its launch.

It was clear that The Daily would eventually move to other tablets as well, but how quickly they’re moving to Android is what’s surprising. At the launch event Rupert Murdoch said that Apple would not have exclusivity forever but that "we think last year, this year, and next year will belong to iPad."

The Daily is the first app to use Apple's much criticized new subscription policy. The app has had numerous bugs plaguing it from crashes to slow loading times. The problems were severe enough that Apple had The Daily's technology team fly in to Cupertino from New York to go over the issues. Despite the setbacks subscriptions have exceeded expectations thus far and we'll see if The Daily's popularity wanes when its free trial period ends next week.

[via All Things Digital]

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iDisplay Transforms Your Android Device Into A Second Monitor

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 01:50 PM PST

Shape Services has launched the Android version of its iDisplay app which allows Android smartphones and tablets to become secondary monitors for your computer. While the app may not be ideal for use with smartphones given their small screensize, but using iDisplay on a Xoom or an iPad would be very nice. iDisplay is already out on iOS and works on both Windows and Macs.

Anyone who has worked with a second monitor knows how much more productive you can be. After you purchase iDisplay, you need to download the free iDisplay Desktop app to your computer and enter your computer's I.P. address into your phone or tablet. iDisplay will synch up the two displays so that now when you’re not on the go, you can still put your tablet to good use.

iDisplay costs $4.99 and is available now in both Android and iOS versions.

[via IntoMobile]

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Verizon Sneaks In Another Motorola Xoom Ad

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 01:38 PM PST

Beginning of the week we caught a glimpse of a mesmerizing 16 second ad released by Verizon for the Motorola Xoom. The pulsing of a heart beat, the darkness of the night, and then the levitating Motorola Xoom that engulfs the man in a giant flying metal pod, yes, that commercial. Well, today Verizon just sneaked out another version that looks to be a continuation of what actually happens to the guy after he gets enveloped by the pod.

Apparently, he gets to chill out and play with the Xoom undisturbed inside the pod, except now the soundtrack turns upbeat and we’ve suddenly got a Spanish narrator. It seems like there would be an English version of this ad, but we haven’t been able to find it. This version of the ad isn’t going for that mysterious vibe, but instead its the let’s-party-in-this-super-cool-Xoom-pod vibe. The Xoom is actually shown in action with the man in the commercial navigating through the interface, swiping through the music collection, uploading his fishing picture to the web, and just overall having a good time.

Enjoy the video below. It sure makes us want to say Yo Quiero Motorola Xoom!

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The Prospect of an Apple Television Bores Me

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 01:30 PM PST

Through the many years I've been covering the technology industry, I've always enjoyed Apple rumors. From the absurd to the downright obvious, there is no limit to what people will say about Apple's plans for the future. But as of late, I've been most intrigued by continued rumors that Apple is working on a television that would pit it against some of the best plasma and LCD makers in the business.

As one might expect, given Apple's history of secrecy, details are slim on the possibility of the company launching a television. But given the value people find in the iPhone, iPad, and countless other products Apple sells, the excitement is palpable.

Just about everyone is wondering what kind of television Apple would sell. And they want to know if it would move that market forward the same way the iPod changed the music industry and the iPhone changed the smartphone business.

But I'm not nearly as excited. I believe that the most Apple will do if it ever offers a television is integrate iTunes into the set. The technology just isn't there for the company to drastically change the way we interact with televisions or dramatically improve quality over other sets in the space.

Moreover, I'm not sold on the idea that Apple will be able to command the television market with the same "cool" factor that it has delivered elsewhere.

Like it or not, there are already some really "cool" sets in the space already.

Take, for example, the Samsung C8000 or C9000 series of televisions. They have a great silver-colored bezel and come with an application store to extend their functionality. Plus, the C8000 is less than an inch thick, making it one of the more sleek options in the business.

The same might be said for Vizio's line of HDTVs. The company consistently delivers nice-looking sets and it delivers a featureset — including Wi-Fi built-in — that makes all others in the market look awfully cheap with their services.

Assuming Apple wants to break into the television market, there's no telling how it will fit in. As mentioned, it will likely add iTunes integration and include some extras that some other TV makers haven't thought about. But other than that, I just don't see Apple doing much more than delivering a nice television at a high price. After all, that has been Apple's way over the last decade.

But I'm not quite sure that Apple's strategy of delivering high-end products for a high-end price will necessarily work in the TV market. As Vizio's meteoric rise in the television space has shown over the years, being a more budget-friendly HDTV vendor pays off. And there's a reason why LCD prices have been plummeting over the past year.

Needless to say, I'm bored by the idea of Apple delivering a television at some point in the near future. Will it be well-designed? Sure. Will it offer some neat features? Of course. But will it be worth spending serious cash on?

I just don't think so.

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EcoSquid Makes Selling or Recycling Gadgets Easy

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 01:11 PM PST

There are lots of gadget recycling options out there, and sometimes the number of choices can be overwhelming. EcoSquid is a site that compares many different websites and lets you choose the best option for selling, trading in, or recycling your old device. You just type in what gadget you want to get rid of, and the site will give you a list of options. So step away from that blender…


EcoSquid works like the travel site Kayak for gadget recycling, you just sign up for the free account once, and then you can search all of the different sites for your best option.
The site also allows you to earn points for selling and recycling, rating your experience, and referring friends. The points will let you get discounts on devices, and possibly win prizes. There was a Droid X available for $19.99 (with a Verizon account, though).
According to Nik Raman, founder of EcoSquid, “Our biggest competitor is your hallway junk drawer.”

The site has been in beta, but it officially launched today. EcoSquid is based in New York, and was started by Nik Raman and Christian Croft.
[via TNW]

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Disney Buys Kids Social Network Togetherville

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:43 PM PST


Disney has bought social network Togetherville today for an undisclosed amount. Disney is combining the popularity of social networks with its popularity amongst kids. Togetherville operates just like other social networking sites and uses Facebook to enable connections, but the target users are kids aged 10 and under.

Togetherville allows parents to monitor their kid’s activity and gives kids a more secure environment to socialize online. Parents can approve their kids friends request and can even connect with other parents of children on Togetherville if the parents are on Facebook. Parents can choose pre-selected messages for their kids or have those messages checked by the parent before being sent out.

Kids can form "neighborhoods" with their Facebook friends where they can form their own group of friends and watch videos, play games, and create art. Parents and children can connect to their school communities, which will allow parents and children to interact with friends from school without having the parents to connect through Facebook.

[via TechCrunch]

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Sprint Stops Android Froyo Update to Samsung Epic 4G

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:24 PM PST

Samsung Epic 4G owners on Sprint may have to wait a while longer to update their devices to Android 2.2 Froyo. Sprint has stopped all over-the-air updates to the device and has taken down the download link for the update as well. These measures were taken after Sprint received several complaints from Epic 4G owners that the update wrecked their phones.

The Froyo update has messed up data connectivity and impaired accessing media stored the SD card. The only solution right now is to have Epic 4G owners do a hard reset on their phone, effectively wiping out all the data. Samsung and Sprint are working together to resolve the issue, but a timetable hasn't been given on when the fix will come.

This is a big setback considering Epic 4G owners have been running Android 2.1 since last August and Android 2.3 is already on the prowl. The Android 2.2 update comes with support for apps on the SD card, updates voice commands for Bluetooth dialing, and updates for many of the apps and widgets.

[via Electronista]

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LaCie Announces Little Big Disk Featuring Thunderbolt

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:15 PM PST


Intel’s Light Peak technology, known commercially as Thunderbolt has been confirmed in Apple’s new MacBook Pro series. However, we also mentioned that a few other Intel partners will soon be unveiling Thunderbolt products as well. First one up is La Cie’s announcement today of the LaCie Little Big Disk featuring Thunderbolt technology.

“Thunderbolt technology is a breakthrough in I/O technology and represents the future of mobile computing. Soon you will be able to carry workstation-class power and functionality in compact devices,” said Philippe Spruch, Chairman and General Manager, LaCie. “LaCie is excited to be one of the first to deliver Thunderbolt technology with the LaCie Little Big Disk.”

The Little Big Disk was designed to store large audio and video files and now with the new Thunderbolt technology, data can truly be transferred to and from the device at lightening speeds. This boosts the performance of creative workflows with ultra-fast data transfer, complete system backup in minutes, and faster content editing than ever before.

Press Release:

LaCie Introduces Little Big Disk,
Featuring High-Speed Thunderbolt Technology

LaCie today announced the LaCie Little Big Disk featuring the all-new Thunderbolt™ technology, developed by Intel® and brought to market with collaboration from Apple®. Designed to store large audio and video files, the LaCie Little Big Disk will bring a new level of performance to creative workflows with ultra-fast data transfer, complete system backup in minutes, and faster content editing than ever before.

“Thunderbolt technology is a breakthrough in I/O technology and represents the future of mobile computing. Soon you will be able to carry workstation-class power and functionality in compact devices,” said Philippe Spruch, Chairman and General Manager, LaCie. “LaCie is excited to be one of the first to deliver Thunderbolt technology with the LaCie Little Big Disk.”

“Intel believes Thunderbolt technology in combination with LaCie’s unique portfolio of storage products and displays will drive new levels of performance and simplicity for consumers,” said Jason Ziller, Director, Thunderbolt Planning and Marketing, Intel Corporation.

Thunderbolt technology delivers incredible bandwidth at 10Gbps and runs two protocols (PCI Express and DisplayPort) simultaneously over a single cable for connectivity to high performance peripherals like the LaCie Little Disk and high-resolution displays. Created with mobile and media professionals in mind, Thunderbolt technology moves content with blazing speed and facilitates complete system backups in minutes. Using a single Thunderbolt cable, users can connect their notebooks to high resolution displays, cameras and storage — all at the same time — for a fast, simple, and portable computing environment.

The LaCie Little Big Disk can deliver multiple streams of HD video and offload hours of content in minutes without compromising bandwidth and performance. With the LaCie Little Big Disk, speeds that previously were only available from rack mounted storage arrays are now possible with a portable computer – including Apple’s MacBook® Pro, the first notebook to feature Thunderbolt technology. Users will be able to edit on-set during a day of filming, and then transfer all of the assets for the edit suite within seconds. The LaCie Little Big Disk can even be daisy chained for storage expansion or connecting other peripherals.

AVAILABILITY

The LaCie Little Big Disk will be the first in a range of storage and peripherals solutions from LaCie that feature Thunderbolt technology. The Little Big Disk will be available by summer 2011 from the LaCie Online Store (www.lacie.com), the Apple Store (www.apple.com) and authorized resellers. For more information please visit www.lacie.com.

About LaCie

With operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of storage devices for PC, Apple, and Linux. LaCie has differentiated itself through sleek design and remarkable technical performance. Find out more about our products at www.lacie.com .

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OCZ Launches Vertex 3 and Vertex 3 Pro SATA SSDs

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:08 PM PST

OCZ Technology Group announced today its next generation Vertex 3 SATA III SSD lineup. These will be for both client and enterprise applications. According to OCZ, the new series will deliver “double the performance of the previous generation.” The release includes the Vertex 3 and the enterprise-class Vertex 3 Pro. See all the specs after the break.


The Vertex 3 features the new SandForce SF-2200 SSD processor, and has up to 550MB/s read and 500MB/s write transfer rates, with up to 60,000 IOPS (4k random write). It will be available in 120GB and 240GB capacities.

The enterprise-class Vertex 3 Pro features the premium SF-2500 SSD SATA III processor, and can implement MLC (Multi-Level Cell) SSD storage for server farms and IT infrastructures. The Pro edition will come in 100GB, 200GB and 400GB models.

The new SSDs will be showcased at next week’s CeBIT trade show in Hanover, Germany. They will begin shipping immediately following the event.

CEO quote: “The new Vertex 3 solid state drive series builds on the success of our previous two generations of products and delivers exceptional performance by utilizing fast synchronous mode 2Xnm MLC NAND flash technology,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology Group. “These storage solutions feature both the highest sequential speeds available with a SATA 6GBps SSD and the highest IOPS of any current 2.5 inch SSD on the market today, allowing us to once again set the benchmark for industry leading SSD performance and reliability.”

Check out the full press release, complete with much more corporate happiness here.

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MacBook Pro Sandy Bridge Doesn’t Work with Verizon LTE Pantech Card/Software [BREAKING]

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 12:00 PM PST

We’re taking a hands-on look at the new MacBooks released today and we’ve noticed something potentially quite important. When attempting to use Verizon’s LTE Pantech card/software, we’ve found that it doesn’t work with this brand new MacBook Sandy Bridge platform. When attempting to work with the VZAccess Manager we get an error which says it’s unable to launch. This is a saddening situation for us who’ve basically it seems like just five minutes ago gotten 4G on our OSX machines.

This modem is the one we’ve been using to access the internet on our MacBook Air at 4G speeds. It’s fast. It’s real fast. If we can’t use it with this brand new wave of MacBooks, what good is it? Surely there’ll be a fix in the very near future, especially since Verizon and Apple have a closer relationship now then that ever have before? We want those 12.44 Mb/s download speeds, 6.73 Mb/s upload speeds. Have a look back at our LG VL600 LTE modem review to see what we’ll be missing barring a fix.

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Cisco Upgrades Video Sharing/Conferencing Portfolio

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:39 AM PST

Cisco will soon be releasing upgrades to its videoconferencing and video sharing portfolio, the company said Thursday. According to David Hsieh, vice president of marketing for Cisco’s emerging technologies business group, the new Cisco gear could reduce video production and distribution costs by up to 90% by reducing the need for businesses to hire contractors for video production. Among the updrades are a 12-inch touchscreen device for controlling endpoints and two new IP desktop phones (the 8941 and 8945) with integrated video cameras and 5 inch displays.


Other announcements include the Media Experience Engine (MXE) 3500 network appliance and the Cisco Telepresence Content Server 5.0, which is designed to make it easier for any worker in an organization to produce video content. The Telepresence Content Server can be used to deliver messages from executives, for training and for other purposes.

The Content Server 5.0 can record Telepresence sessions in 1080p resolution at 30 frames a second and allow for immediate review, playback and sharing, using Cisco’s Show and Share technology. The MXE 3500 can help tag words from a speech to a text engine to allow easy searches for videos with specific content.

Cisco also announced a 47-inch display unit, the CTS 1300, which is big enough for telepresence sessions with three to six people.

Prices have not yet been announced. The MXE 3500 will ship in Q2 2011, and the Content Server will be available in March, according to Cisco.

[via ComputerWorld]

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Verizon Says No Required Data Plan for Motorola Xoom

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:37 AM PST

Verizon initially required customers who want to purchase the Motorola Xoom to also purchase their data plan. However, the carrier has changed its mind and says users can now purchase a Motorola Xoom off contract without signing up for a data plan. Initially Xoom owners had to pay for a month of required 3G service at $20 on top of the $35 activation fee.

You could cancel the required 3G service after a month, but you would have lost $55 already. Verizon did away with this requirement today and you can now buy the Xoom with no contract for $800 and you won't be required to pay the $35 activation fee, nor will you have to sign up for a data plan. If you plan to purchase the Xoom at Best Buy, the retailer is also honoring the new policy.

At this moment the Verizon website hasn't changed yet to reflect the new policy, the options for purchasers online are a 2-year contract, a 1-year contract, or a month-to-month contract. All three of those options will come with the aforementioned $55 charge, but you can expect website updated soon. Verizon customer service says that if you already purchased a Xoom and paid for the required fees and data plan, you can call them and have the plan removed and the cost will be refunded to you.

[via Computerworld]

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MacBook Pro 15-inch with ThunderBolt hands-on (early 2011)

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:32 AM PST

Make no mistake; the new MacBook Pro notebooks are impressive beasts. Outwardly all but identical to the previous range, which means plenty of milled aluminum, a backlit chiclet keyboard and broad multitouch trackpad, on the inside there’s a fresh injection of Sandy Bridge and potent AMD processors to match. We met with Apple this morning to find out what’s special, and came away with a maxed-out 2.2GHz Core i7 15-inch model, retailing for $2,199. Check out our first impressions and more after the cut.

Hands-on, the general experience is much the same as before. The keyboard is still responsive and pleasant to type on, the display is still – unless you’ve opted for the matte finish – highly glossy but bright and color-rich, and the unibody chassis is still head and shoulders above what most of the PC competition can offer. Even the ports look, at first glance, the same, though closer examination confirms the DisplayPort logo has been switched for a Thor-style Thunderbolt.

iSight has gone, replaced by a FaceTime-HD camera, which supports up to 720p HD video calls between Macs and with iPhone 4 and iPod touch owners. The new FaceTime app is preloaded on the new notebooks (or a $0.99 download on older models – which run at VGA not 720p – from the Mac App Store) and the quality is surprisingly strong. Obviously chats with mobile users will be limited by the bandwidth they have to receive and the fact that, currently, both the phone and PMP have a VGA camera themselves; we wouldn’t be surprised to see a 720p HD webcam on the iPad 2 next week.

With no Thunderbolt-compatible hardware on the market – although various manufacturers have confirmed they’ll be offering devices using the Light Peak based standard – we can only go from Apple’s own demonstrations as to how the technology works. Even from a short demo, however, the potential is clear. Apple showed a Promise Pegasus RAID hooked up via Thunderbolt to a new MacBook Pro, with a 27-inch LED Cinema Display linked off of that.

With a theoretical limit of 10 Gbps, it’s no surprise that file transfers were blisteringly fast. A selection of files from 5GB to 10GB shifted from laptop to RAID in just seconds. More impressive was how Thunderbolt handled bi-directional data. Apple showed how the MacBook Pro could pull four, uncompressed HD video streams from the Pegasus RAID, and then push that back out down the same Thunderbolt pipe to the LED Cinema Display. In effect, there’s 20 Gbps of bandwidth to play with – 10 Gbps for DisplayPort video and 10 Gbps for PCI Express data – with this particular demo pulling at around 7 Gbps from the RAID and then pushing at around 6 Gbps to the monitor. In theory, Apple pointed out, you could push the data for two 27-inch LED Cinema Displays simultaneously, though since the panels don’t currently have a daisy-chain Thunderbolt port, that’s hypothetical right now.

Finally, Apple showed a currently-unnamed Intel external storage device, in effect a pair of 256GB SSDs packaged into a semi-ruggedized external enclosure. Hooked up via Thunderbolt it’s intended for heavy duty video editing, taking advantage of the huge two-way bandwidth and direct PCI Express connection to keep up with the MacBook Pro’s quadcore processor.

We’ll be putting the new MacBook Pro 15-inch through its paces for the full SlashGear review, including benchmarking the new Sandy Bridge processors and AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1GB graphics. As a sample, Apple showed us rendering a huge image in Modo 3D – across all eight virtualized cores of the Core i7 processor – in 21 seconds, versus over 60 seconds on the last-gen Core i7 MacBook Pro. Until then, enjoy the hands-on gallery and video!

MacBook Pro 15-inch with ThunderBolt Unboxing video:

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Samsung 9 Series Laptop Has a Release Date

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 11:04 AM PST

The Samsung 9 Series laptop, which according to Samsung is “a durable, ultra premium, lightweight laptop…equally suited for work and entertainment”, now has an official price and release date. The 9 Series was unveiled at CES back in January. Samsung’s 9 Series is a super slim 13 inch notebook, measuring just 16.3mm at the thickest point. All right, so how much? And when can we get one?


The 9 Series will be available in South Korea this month, and will be available most everywhere else next month. It will sell for around $2200 US.

The laptop has a duralumin case, and has a Core i5 processor, Windows 7 OS, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM, 1366×768 display, Intel HD graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, LAN, micro-HDMI, microSD slot, backlit keyboard and 6-cell battery.

[via Samsung Hub]

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Google Cooks Up A New Recipe Search

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:59 AM PST

Being one that aspires to cook well and beyond my current staple of instant ramen, I’m really excited about Google’s latest search feature. Google announced today that it will be implementing a new Recipe View to help you more easily find recipes online and it includes a whole slew of filtering options to really help you narrow down what’s for dinner.

You can search using all kinds of keywords including specific recipe names, ingredient names, or even holidays and events. With Google’s Recipe View, the results that show up will only be recipes related to those terms. And to help you make your selection, ratings for each recipe will also show up in the results much like how current business listings have ratings.

Google’s Recipe View search results can also be filtered and sorted based on your ideal ingredients, cooking time, and even calorie count. The results are based on data from “rich snippets markup” which Google first introduced back in 2009. If you publish recipes on the web and would like your recipes to show up in the new Google Recipe View along with any useful filtering data, you can add rich snippets markup to your webpages.

[via Google Blog]

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NYC Leading the Way In Hydrogen Powered Buildings

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:50 AM PST

According to a new report on TreeHugger.com, more hydrogen powered buildings have gone up in New York City since 2005 than anywhere else in the world. These include two of the world’s largest hydrogen-powered mixed use buildings, and the first residential hydrogen-powered homes. And a residential building is being planned across the Hudson that will be the largest hydrogen powered residential tower in the world. The cost per square foot is not as high as you might think, so hydrogen power (probably in combination with solar) may become increasingly common.


Some of the buildings use solar power-generated energy to create hydrogen, another uses fuel cells to convert natural gas to hydrogen.
Here are a couple examples of these green projects.

The first hydrogen powered house is in Kings Point, Long Island, just outside of NYC. It was built by the New York Institute of Technology. The house is tiny, only 800 square feet, and has a solar-hydrogen system that was engineered by the US Merchant Marine Academy. It uses a Proton Energy Systems HOGEN 40RE Electrolyzer, Plug Power GenCore 5 kW Fuel Cell and 54 Sanyo HIT 200 Photovoltaic panels. The solar panels generate electricity, which powers the electrolyzer. That in turn creates the hydrogen by splitting the molecules that make water. Then the hydrogen is stored in tanks until needed.

The New Haven project, at 360 State Street (building pictured in the first shot) encompasses the full block. It is 700,000 square feet and has 500 apartments, a grocery store, retail, a parking garage, and an early childhood education center. The cost of the development was about $260 per square foot. The fuel cells used in the building weigh over 60,000 lbs and provide 400 kilowatts of energy by converting natural gas to hydrogen, then converting hydrogen and oxygen into energy and heat. The project was completed in 2010.

These hydrogen powered buildings are a smart way to supplement solar power, since solar can have a tough time providing 100% of the energy, especially for a large building. Hopefully we will see more of this technology in the next few years.

[via TreeHugger]

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Room 77 Finds You The Best Hotel Room, Not Just Best Hotel

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:26 AM PST


Travel planning is being kicked up a notch. Instead of just searching for the best hotel, you can now search for the best hotel room. A startup by the name Room 77 is building a database of more than 425,000 hotel rooms at 2500 properties with information such as room category, square footage, bed type, and even proximity to an elevator. But most interestingly, is its tie in with Google Earth to bring you Room View, which simulates the actual view you would see from a particular hotel room.

Before you start thinking that this is just another crowdsourced review platform, it’s not. Most of the work is being done by Room 77′s staff and the integration of Room View really sets it apart. And an special algorithm is used to rank rooms based on how well they match your preferences. So if you had the Room 77 iPhone app and you’re checking in at the front desk of a hotel, you can instantly search the room they assign you to see if you may need to make a swap.

“All hotel rooms are not created equal, and we’ve built Room 77 to open up room data and give travelers more control in getting a great room,” said Brad Gerstner, founder and chairman. “Travelers have several options that rate and review hotels, but until now there’s nothing that breaks down hotel rooms even though the room is a critical part of the experience.”

[via Venture Beat]

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HTC Incredible S Available for Pre-Order, Ships on 26th

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 10:19 AM PST

We’ve just received word that pre-orders have just begun for the HTC Incredible S, a phone that’s available exclusively through Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy in the UK, via their webpage at CarphoneWarehouse.com. With this pre-order starting up instantly, we can’t help but wonder how long it’ll take Best Buy to start up theirs – or perhaps there wont be a pre-order at Best Buy? Either way, you’ll be able to start picking up your phone on Saturday – of course, that’s only if you DID get a pre-order in. Shipping for everyone else starts on Thursday, March 3, 2011.

This is one big fat beautiful phone with what they’re calling an “Inside-Out design that we’re torn on the feel of. Inside, this phone will include Android 2.2 at launch, but will have an upgrade to the 2.4 version of Gingerbread “early on.” On the back you’ll see there’s a big fat 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, and there’s a 1.3-megapixel webcam up front. There’s 1.1-GB of internal storage, 768MB of RAM and a microSD memory card slot.

This is the sort of phone you want if you want a gigantic entertainment machine. It’ll be covered with HTC Sense, an overlay most people with skills in developing end up pushing aside for a greater ROM, but the insides are going to be just fine for playing of games and the clicking of high quality photos. Have a look at the photos we took of this phone whilst at Mobile World Congress 2011 as well as our lovely hands-on video with some lovely music instead of the loud clamor of voices all around us.

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Rumor: Sony Considering “Hack Proof” PS3

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 09:51 AM PST

Possibly in response to the leak of “Killzone 3″ a few weeks ago, Sony may be considering a hack-proof PS3. According to an anonymous souce cited by Everything HQ, “Sony are already deep into plans of developing a hack-proof PS3 system.” The new PS3 would replace all current PS3 SKUs.


Sony had not had problems with hacking until last year, when hackers found out how to run unsigned code on the system. This has been used for pirated games, but also third party applications, or “Homebrew”. This all started to break loose early last year when Sony removed support for Linux, motivating the hacker community to crack into the PS3. And now, Killzone 3 has been leaked, and the 40GB package can be found all over the internet to be downloaded to any jailbroken PS3.

The release of the hack proof PS3 would be preceded by a price drop on current models in order to clear them out. Again, according to Everything HQ, “The hack-proof SKU will be a slim PlayStation 3 model and will contain a 300GB hard drive as an incentive to purchase the hack-proof system – the price of the SKU will be £186.99″. That’s about $300 US.

This could also depend on Sony’s lawsuit against George “Geohot” Hotz, who posted a how-to video for unlocking the PS3 using a key. So now anyone who is really interested can jailbreak the game system.

Of course, the very name “hack proof” will be a motivation for breaking into it, so who knows how long that will last. What do you think? Is this worth Sony releasing a whole new system? Will it sell?

[via CrunchGear]

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New MacBook Pro: Dumped NVIDIA is the Biggest News

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 09:22 AM PST

The new MacBook Pro range certainly doesn’t hold back when it comes to specifications, but in some respects it’s what’s missing from the updated notebooks that’s more interesting than what made the cut. I met with Apple this morning for a hands-on briefing with the new MacBook Pro line-up – stand by for some first impressions of the maxed-out 15-inch model – and one of the most conspicuous changes is the shift to AMD Radeon HD graphics on the 15- and 17-inchers.

For NVIDIA, it’s a considerable set-back after several product cycles in Apple’s notebook range. It couldn’t come at a worse time, either; many people have been holding off upgrading until the new Sandy Bridge processors made an appearance, a significant architecture change in Intel’s silicon, and this particular cycle could be one of the biggest to-date.

Apple says the AMD graphics chipsets were picked because they offer up to three times the performance of the old models, but I’d be surprised if the NVIDIA GPU debacle back in mid-2008 wasn’t at least a partial cause. Initially, NVIDIA had promised Apple that MacBook Pro units running NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT chips wouldn’t be affected by a packaging defect that led to above average failure rates, but Apple’s own investigations later found that not to be the case. In response, Apple extended the warranty on the potentially faulty GPUs to four years from the data of purchase.

Although neither company is likely to confirm it, I can’t believe that such a failure not only in hardware but in communications hasn’t left lingering doubts over NVIDIA GPUs in Apple notebooks. It’s taken a cycle or two to work GeForce out of the roadmap, but with the new 2011 MacBook Pro line it’s AMD’s Radeon that takes pride of place in the high-end machines. I’d also expect that to be the case for the foreseeable future, with at least the next couple of product cycles using Radeon GPUs.

For users, it’s certainly a step up in performance. Apple showed me a processing demo, crunching a 3D image in modo 3D on both the last-gen Core i7 system and the new model. What took over a minute before, now takes only 21 seconds; consider how many image and video edits are made during the average day, and that soon adds up to more time productive and less time waiting for the pinwheel to spin. It’s a big day for Apple and a big win for AMD, but a potentially even bigger blow to NVIDIA’s fortunes.

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NEC MEDIAS E-04C super-slim Android gets hands-on treatment

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 09:01 AM PST

Almost as wafer-thin as the proverbial wafer-thin mint, NEC’s MEDIAS E-04C has been well pawed in the wild at its launch event in Japan. Impress carefully fondled the 4-inch Android smartphone, finding its 7.7mm girth to be slightly spoiled by a bulging camera module, but when said-bulge includes a 5.1-megapixel camera, we won’t complain too much.

A slice of Gorilla Glass up-front keeps things from flexing, and should hopefully prevent accidental snapping when Japanese buyers inevitably sit down with the E-04C in their back pocket. Inside there’s Froyo, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and, somehow, NFC as well.

NTT DoCoMo will be offering the NEC MEDIAS E-04C from March 4, with deliveries expected from March 15. The battery is apparently good for up to 360hrs standby. No word on international availability.

[via Android Community]

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Roku get Rdio streaming radio support

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 08:50 AM PST

Roku continues to add content to its media streamer range, with the latest deal bringing Rdio streaming radio to the compact STBs. A $9.99 monthly subscription, the new Rdio Channel on Roku offers over 8 million tracks and social playlist support, as well as integration with Sonos, Windows Phone, iOS, Android and other apps.

Existing Rdio subscribers can simply punch their credentials into their Roku and get access, and there’s a 7 day trial for new users. In addition to simply picking from the catalog, it’s possible to see the listening activity, collections and playlists of other Rdio users, see what’s being played most, access top charts and quickly pick from newly released albums. There are  also Artist Rdio Stations and recommendations based on music previously played.

Press Release:

Rdio Expands to Roku and ‘Puts the Needle on the Record’ in the Homes of Music Lovers

Unlimited, On-Demand Social Music Service Debuts in the Roku Channel Store

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Rdio, the unlimited, on-demand social music service from the founders of Skype, today continued revolutionizing the music experience by extending its reach to a leading home entertainment platform with its debut on the Roku streaming player.

Rdio service lets music fans listen to as many songs as they like, anytime, anywhere. Built around community and powered by people, Rdio puts the social into music by making it super easy to both share music and discover new music through friends and other influencers. Rdio offers millions of songs in its continuously expanding music catalogue for just pennies a day.

“This combination of Rdio and Roku is a solid step forward in our march to redefine the music experience across the variety of platforms and devices in the marketplace,” said Drew Larner, CEO of Rdio. “By extending Rdio’s core social and music innovations onto Roku devices, users can, for the first time, share and discover music from their TV and home entertainment system.”

Roku is a family of streaming players that deliver high definition video and audio via built in wireless and Ethernet to your TV and home entertainment system. The Roku Channel Store contains over 150 channels for customers to add to their Roku device for immediate, on-demand viewing and listening. Since pioneering the streaming player category in 2008, Roku has sold over a million devices and served over a billion streams of content.

“We are excited about the rich social dimension that Rdio brings to the Roku Channel Store,” said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku, Inc. “With great music and an innovative service, Rdio offers tremendous value for customers and an experience that will fuel connection within the Roku user community.”

Key features of Rdio’s Roku channel include:
Build your music collection – Whether you want to listen to the latest Top 40 album or indie artist, Rdio brings millions of songs in its library to your music collection.
Listen to playlists – Rdio users have created playlists with creative and descriptive names, making it easy to pick a playlist based on your mood.
Search everything fast – Search for more than just artists, albums and songs, our fast search also provides results for playlists and people.
See what’s popular – Check out what’s in “heavy rotation” and easily listen to the music that your friends and influencers are listening to most.
Check out new releases, top charts and recommended music – Be in the know about what’s new and buzzing in music. Rdio gives easy access to new releases, top charts, and recommended albums so you’re always up to date on the latest music and can easily re-discover old favorites. Check out top albums, songs and playlists, or browse album recommendations based upon the music you’ve previously played.
· Know your personal history – view the albums, songs and playlists you have previously played.
· Amazing web queue – Create a seamless listening experience across web, mobile and your TV by accessing your web queue across platforms. Queue up a set of albums, songs or playlists on the web and play that queue directly from Rdio on Roku.

Rdio is an unlimited, on-demand social music service that lets subscribers listen to music on the web, in your home and on your mobile phone, even offline. One of Rdio’s key differentiators is its unique social design that emulates the way music has always been shared—from person to person. Rdio subscribers build and share their online music collections from a catalogue of over 8 million songs, and can see the listening activity, collections and playlists of other Rdio users including friends and influencers. Subscribers can also see what’s in heavy rotation in their network and the Rdio community, top charts and newly released albums. Rdio can also help you decide to play what’s next with Artist Rdio Stations and recommendations based on music you’ve previously played. Rdio has relationships with all four major labels (EMI Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group) and thousands of indie labels. Rdio platform and device support includes a browser-based application, Mac and PC desktop clients, a Google Chrome Web Store App, Sonos, and Roku as well as iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry mobile devices.

Pricing & Availability
The Rdio Channel on Roku is available to all Rdio Unlimited subscribers for $9.99 a month. Rdio offers a 7-day free trial for new users. Current Rdio Unlimited customers with a Roku device have immediate, all-platform access by simply linking their account to the Rdio channel which is now available in the Roku Channel Store. Roku customers can try Rdio on Roku by signing up for a 7-day free trial at www.rdio.com and then linking their Roku player to the newly created Rdio account. Current Rdio Web subscribers with a Roku device may upgrade to Rdio Unlimited for immediate access to Rdio on Roku. While Rdio is available in the US and Canada, Roku devices and the Rdio Channel on Roku are only available in the US.

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iPad 2 Thunderbolt rumors reignite: More than just raw throughput

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 07:56 AM PST

Apple’s confirmation of Thunderbolt on the newly refreshed MacBook Pro range this morning could lend weight to speculation earlier that the new iPad 2 will have a Light Peak connection of its own. Examination of the various batches of leaked iPad 2 cases had led to suggestions that the mysterious opening on the top edge could be for a smaller-than-USB connector; that would certainly fit in with the Mini DisplayPort connection Thunderbolt has been confirmed to use.

The adoption of the Light Peak based connection standard would also allow Apple to broaden its peripheral options with the iPad, since Thunderbolt supports gigabit ethernet, DisplayPort/HDMI/DVI/VGA video outputs, storage and more. Of course, Apple would have to add in software support for that in iOS.

The faster data bus – up to 10 Gbps bi-directionally – might also speed up iTunes synchronization, though that’s not just a factor of the pipe between the iPad and the Mac or PC it’s linked up to. Still, if Apple is pushing Thunderbolt adoption as a way to leave behind the bulky array of FireWire, USB, network and other ports on future MacBook Pro models, shifting its iOS portable devices to the new connector might have more value than simple speed. We’ll find out for sure at the Apple event next Wednesday, March 2nd.

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Leica denies Micro Four Thirds plans: M9 as small as it gets

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 07:48 AM PST

Leica has denied rumors it intends to join the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem, despite reports in Europe that it was preparing to launch a mirrorless camera based on Panasonic’s LUMIX models. “We have no information on anything like that at the moment” a Leica spokesperson told Amateur Photographer, going on to point out that “With the Leica M9 we have the most compact, full-format, mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses on the market.”

The M9 has an 18.5-megapixel Kodak KAF-18500 Full Frame CCD image sensor, larger than the sensors Panasonic and others use in their Micro Four Thirds cameras. A smaller sensor might allow Leica to produce a more compact version than the M9 – which measures in at 139 x 80 x 37 mm, versus the Panasonic LUMIX GF2‘s 112.8 x 67.8 x 32.8 mm body – but with a concurrent reduction in image quality.

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Vodafone Galaxy Tab 10.1 hands-on

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 07:35 AM PST

We’re no stranger to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, having given the Android 3.0 Honeycomb slate a good going-over while at MWC 2011 last week, but we didn’t turn down the chance of some one-on-one time with the Vodafone-branded version set to launch imminently. Sighted for the first time with the carrier’s logo getting up close and personal with Google’s own, the tablet still impresses with its lightweight build and XOOM-busting 8-megapixel camera.

This particular Galaxy Tab 10.1 was running non-final software, though when it arrives it’ll be the same Honeycomb experience as we know from the XOOM. Since carrier software modifications can make a big difference to upgrade schedules, we took the opportunity to ask about what tweaks Vodafone plans to make to Android 3.0 before the Samsung hits shelves. Apparently, bar the potential for a Vodafone splash-screen, no real changes are expected (similarly, the hardware is believed to be final, but could still be polished a little just prior to release).

However, given the way OS updates are handled by all carriers, it’s worth noting that there could still be some delays involved along the line. Actual OTA distribution for Android devices is managed by Google, but before carrier-specific versions – even if completely stock – can be pushed out, the operator itself has to put it through their testing. Otherwise, if it doesn’t play nicely on their network, they’ll bear the brunt of customer complaints (and rightly so).

Vodafone tells us it’s pushing hard for as early access to software as possible, which should hopefully minimize delays between future Android 3.x releases and slates like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 getting them, and it’s interesting to see firmware timeliness becoming another of the metrics by which carriers are measured. Considering up until a few years back users were pretty much content with the software their new phone came with over the entire course of their agreement, it’s quite a shift for the smartphone industry as a whole.

As for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 itself, at around 200g lighter than an iPad (or, for that matter, a XOOM) it’s easy to hold, with a one-handed grip practical even when in landscape orientation. The textured plastic back doesn’t feel as high-quality as a metal chassis would, but the compromise seems more acceptable when you consider the heft saved. The 10.1-inch display is maddeningly glossy, making not just photographing the tablet but using it under bright lights frustrating. Vodafone could do worse than include a matte screen protector in their retail packaging.

Otherwise, the speedy dual-core 1GHz processor means things run smoothly and slickly, and missing HDMI connector aside it seems a solid alternative to the XOOM. What we’re perhaps most excited about is being able to film in HD using the 8-megapixel camera, edit clips on-device using Google’s Movie Studio app for Honeycomb, and then upload them straight from the device. We’ll save our final judgement until review units are available, so until then check out our video demo from MWC and our hands-on gallery below!

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Apple Store open: Get your new MacBook Pro!

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 07:13 AM PST

It’s been down for a few hours now, and the contents of the updated shelves are now known to us, but the Apple Store has finally come back online. That means all of the new MacBook Pro models are available to buy, with the standard configurations shipping out within 1-2 business days. Pricing kicks off at $1,199 for the updated 13-inch model.


The 15-inch model starts at $1,799 and the 17-inch at $2,499. All have Intel’s 2011 Core i5 or Core i7 processors, either dual- or quad-core, and the larger versions have discrete AMD Radeon HD 6000 Series graphics as well. Full details on all the new models are here, and full pricing is below.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.

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Apple AirDrop makes OS X file sharing super-simple

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 07:03 AM PST

Developers may be giddy over Mac OS X Lion‘s more advanced features – which pull in multitouch and full-screen app behaviors from iOS onto the desktop platform – but it’s AirDrop that is likely to make the biggest impact on everyday users. Apple’s new wireless file transfer system, AirDrop is all about making impromptu shares with the users around you, and doing it in an incredible straightforward way.

AirDrop is added as a new icon in the Finder sidebar, and when clicked OS X Lion automatically scans for nearby users also using AirDrop. If they’re in your Address Book then you’ll see profile photos, too; otherwise it will be a MacBook name.

Files to be shared – whether music tracks, documents, images or something else – can be dragged from the Finder window straight onto the AirDrop contact’s name and, after the transfer request has been accepted by that person, automatically shuffle over and straight into the person’s Downloads folder. Closing the Finder window automatically turns off AirDrop, so that you won’t inadvertently show up in other people’s search results.

What remains to be seen is what happens to existing apps using the AirDrop name: there’s already an iOS game called AirDrop [iTunes link] as well as a company making a podcast downloading app [iTunes link].

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Intel Thunderbolt partners detailed: LaCie, Promise, Western Digital, more

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 06:41 AM PST

While Apple may be the first to debut Thunderbolt, the technology is all Intel’s, and the company is not being quiet about which partners have jumped on board with the 10Gbps connection. Aja, Apogee, Avid, Blackmagic, LaCie, Promise and Western Digital are all among the roster of firms committed to pushing out Thunderbolt-equipped devices, which will include displays, storage devices, audio/video devices, cameras, docking stations and more.

Developed as Light Peak, Intel Thunderbolt consists of a bi-directional, dual-channel 10 Gbps pipe using electrical or optical cables. Compatible with existing DisplayPort devices out of the box, it’s dual protocol – with DisplayPort and PCI Express – and allows for daisy-chaining and bus-power.

What makes the daisy-chaining special is that, thanks to the dual-channel technology, the first device still gets 10 Gbps to play with even if you then plug in a second device off the back of it. Up to six can be linked up from a single port, and with simple adapters a Thunderbolt connection can be turned into HDMI, VGA, DVI, gigabit ethernet, FireWire or USB.

We already know that Promise is readying the Pegasus RAID and LaCie a new Little Big Disk, both using Thunderbolt, and more should be announced any time now. Apple’s new MacBook Pro notebooks will go on sale today.

Press Release:

Intel Announces Thunderbolt™ Technology: The Fastest Data Connection to Your PC Just Arrived

Blazingly Fast Data Transfer Combines with HD Display Connectivity to Enable New Usages and Peripheral Devices

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:

Thunderbolt technology is a new high-speed PC connection technology that runs at 10Gbps.
Thunderbolt technology supports both data and display on a single cable, enabling greater simplicity, flexibility and new and exciting ways to use a PC.
Apple* is the first customer to offer Thunderbolt technology, coming first on its new line of MacBook* Pro laptops.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intel Corporation today announced the availability of Thunderbolt technology, a new high-speed PC connection technology that brings together high-speed data transfer and high-definition (HD) display on to a single cable. Running at 10Gbps, Thunderbolt technology can transfer a full-length HD movie in less than 30 seconds. This Intel-developed technology is coming to market through a technical collaboration with Apple, and is available first on Apple's new line of MacBook Pro laptop computers.

"We’re thrilled to collaborate with Intel to bring the groundbreaking Thunderbolt technology to Mac users"
Wait Less. Do More.

The vision for Thunderbolt technology (formerly codenamed "Light Peak") is to move media faster, simplify connections between devices, and foster new and exciting ways to build and use PCs. Combining high-speed data and HD video connections together onto a single cable is instrumental to achieving that vision. Thunderbolt technology delivers this via two communications methods, or protocols — PCI Express* for data transfer and DisplayPort* for displays. PCI Express has the flexibility to connect to almost any type of device, and DisplayPort can drive greater than 1080p resolution displays and up to eight channels of audio simultaneously. Thunderbolt technology is compatible with existing DisplayPort displays and adapters. All Thunderbolt technology devices share a common connector, and let individuals simply daisy-chain their devices one after another, connected by electrical or optical cables.

Thunderbolt technology is designed to meet the demands of serious HD media creators. For example, videographers can unleash their creativity using high-bandwidth audio and video capture/mixing devices, and get both low latency and highly-accurate time synchronization for real-time processing. At 10Gbps, larger media files are transferred faster so there's less time spent waiting to watch and edit videos. Data can be backed up and restored quicker, so there's less waiting for archived content. For mobile PC users, it means having a single connector on their ultra-thin laptop that extends their high-speed media and HD display capabilities at home or in the office. Thunderbolt technology is complementary to other I/O technologies that Intel continues to support.

"Working with HD media is one of the most demanding things people do with their PCs," said Mooly Eden, general manager, PC Client Group, Intel. "With Thunderbolt technology, Intel has delivered innovative technology to help professionals and consumers work faster and more easily with their growing collection of media content, from music to HD movies. We've taken the vision of simple, fast transfer of content between PCs and devices, and made it a reality."

"We’re thrilled to collaborate with Intel to bring the groundbreaking Thunderbolt technology to Mac users," said Bob Mansfield, Apple’s senior vice president of Mac Hardware Engineering. "With ultra-fast transfer speeds, support for high-resolution displays and compatibility with existing I/O technologies, Thunderbolt is a breakthrough for the entire industry and we think developers are going to have a blast with it."

Thunderbolt technology is powered by an Intel controller chip, and uses a small connector suitable for mobile devices that will be included in products supporting the technology. Several innovative companies have announced Thunderbolt technology-based products, or currently plan to support Thunderbolt technology in upcoming products, including Aja*, Apogee*, Avid*, Blackmagic*, LaCie*, Promise*, and Western Digital*. Intel is working with the industry on a range of Thunderbolt technology-enabled products including computers, displays, storage devices, audio/video devices, cameras, docking stations and more.

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Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview Released

Posted: 24 Feb 2011 06:12 AM PST

While the new MacBook Pro line-up delivers the Sandy bridge update consumers have been clamoring for, Apple has something for developers too. The new developer preview of Mac OS X Lion has been released, adding full-screen app support, pinch and double-tap zoom in Safari – some of the multitouch gestures borrowed from OS X – a document saving system called Versions (which automatically saves successive versions of documents as you work on them) and AirDrop, a wireless file transfer system for drag & drop moving of documents between Macs.

There’s also Resume, which automatically brings you back up to speed with the apps and documents you had open after a reboot, along with Mission Control, a bird’s-eye view of of open windows grouped by app, thumbnails of full-screen apps, and Dashboard. Mail 5 has an updated UI to take advantage of widescreen displays, and there’s Conversations (Apple’s name for threaded messages).

“With AirDrop in Mac OS X Lion, you can send files to anyone around you —  wirelessly. AirDrop doesn't require setup or special settings. Just click the AirDrop icon in the Finder sidebar, and your Mac automatically discovers other people nearby who are using AirDrop. You'll even see contact photos for those who are already in your Address Book. To share a file, simply drag it to someone's name. Once accepted, the file transfers directly to the person's Downloads folder. When you're done with AirDrop, close the Finder and your Mac is no longer visible to others.” Apple

Apple has also integrated OS X Server into a single SKU; Lion Server is built into the client version of the updated OS. If you’re a developer you can check out all the changes and new features here at the updated checklist; the release itself will be seeded through the Mac App Store.

Press Release:

Apple Releases Developer Preview of Mac OS X Lion

CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apple® today released a developer preview of Mac OS® X Lion, which takes some of the best ideas from iPad™ and brings them back to the Mac® for the eighth major release of the world's most advanced operating system. Lion features Mission Control, an innovative new view of everything running on your Mac; Launchpad, a new home for all your Mac apps; full screen apps that use the entire Mac display; and new Multi-Touch™ gestures. Lion also includes the Mac App Store℠, the best place to discover, install and automatically update Mac apps. The Lion preview is available to Mac Developer Program members through the Mac App Store today, and the final version of Lion will ship to customers this summer.

"Developers are going to love Mission Control and Launchpad, and can now start adding great new Lion features like full screen, gestures, Versions and Auto Save to their own apps."
"The iPad has inspired a new generation of innovative features in Lion," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Developers are going to love Mission Control and Launchpad, and can now start adding great new Lion features like full screen, gestures, Versions and Auto Save to their own apps."

Mission Control is a powerful, entirely new feature that unifies Exposé®, Dashboard, Spaces®, and full screen apps to give you a bird's eye view of every app and window running on your Mac. With a simple swipe, your desktop zooms out to display your open windows grouped by app, thumbnails of your full screen apps as well as your Dashboard, and allows you to instantly navigate anywhere with a click.

Launchpad makes it easier than ever to find and launch any app. With a single click, Launchpad displays all your Mac apps in a stunning full screen layout where you can launch, re-order or organize apps into folders. You can also arrange apps into multiple pages and swipe between them.

Lion brings the full screen experience that iPad users love to the Mac. With one click, your application window goes full screen, taking advantage of your Mac's brilliant display. You can swipe from one full screen window to another and even back to your Desktop or Dashboard.

New Multi-Touch gestures and fluid animations give you a natural and intuitive way to interact with your Mac. New gestures include pinching your fingers to zoom in on a web page or image, swiping left or right to turn a page or switch between full screen apps and swiping up to enter Mission Control.

Lion also includes the Mac App Store, where you can find great new apps, buy them with your iTunes® account, and download and install them in just one step. Apps purchased from the Mac App Store are installed directly into Launchpad.

Additional features in Lion include:

A new version of Mail, with an elegant, widescreen layout inspired by the iPad; Conversations, which automatically groups related messages into one easy to read timeline; more powerful search; and support for Microsoft Exchange 2010;
AirDrop, a remarkably simple way to copy files wirelessly from one Mac to another with no setup;
Versions, which automatically saves successive versions of your document as you create it, and gives you an easy way to browse, edit and even revert to previous versions;
Resume, which conveniently brings your apps back exactly how you left them when you restart your Mac or quit and relaunch an app;
Auto Save, which automatically saves your documents as you work;
The all new FileVault, that provides high performance full disk encryption for local and external drives, and the ability to wipe data from your Mac instantaneously; and
Mac OS X Lion Server, which makes setting up a server easier than ever and adds support for managing Mac OS X Lion, iPhone®, iPad and iPod touch® devices.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

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