Selasa, 08 Maret 2011

What's new on SlashGear.com

What's new on SlashGear.com

Study Shows One In Five Seniors Is Potential Facebook Gamer

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:44 PM PST


Gaming is a major part of Facebook and you're constantly bombarded with updates and gifts from friends who are playing Mafia Wars or Farmville among a whole host of other games. A recent study shows that many of those gamers aren't exactly who you might expect. Many of the gamers may very well be your parents or grandparents.

A study conducted by All Assisted Living Homes says that 20 percent of the baby boomer generation is on Facebook now. They're most likely on for at least one hour a day and most likely gaming. It makes sense because the games on Facebook can wrap up relatively quick compared to PC or console games and have almost no learning barrier to start. It is such a growing trend that at one senior center in Sandy City, Utah, there most popular class is one that teaches the art of Facebook.

Mark Zuckerberg probably didn’t envision having the baby boomer demographic on his once Harvard-exclusive social network, but I’m sure he doesn’t mind. Reportedly valued at $65 billion, Facebook has amassed people of all ages from around the world. Do your parents or grandparents friend you on Facebook and send you mystery gifts and game requests?

[via Games]

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Windows Phone 7 App Marketplace Growing

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:32 PM PST

Microsoft says that its Windows Phone App marketplace is growing, and that it is adding 100 new apps a day. Microsoft’s selection of apps, at 9,000, is still tiny compared to Apple’s or Android’s. Apple, for example, has over 350,000 apps, and there are more than 100,000 apps in the Android marketplace. But according to the Windows Phone Developer blog, there are 32,000 registered developers working on apps right now.


Microsoft also changed some policies recently, raising the number of app certifications – a type of approval – it will do at no cost to builders of free apps, from five free certifications to 100. The company is encouraging developers to build trial versions of their apps. “Trials result in higher sales. Nearly 1 out of 10 trial apps downloaded convert to a purchase and generate 10 times more revenue, on average, than paid apps that don’t include trial functionality,” wrote Todd Brix senior director of Windows Phone Marketplace. But according to commenters on the Windows Phone Developer Blog, there is a bug that prevents trial apps from being updated.

Brix also stated “The Windows Phone Developer Tools have now been downloaded more than one million times, and we recently announced an update to let developers take advantage of OS updates such as the addition of copy and paste functionality.”

We will continue to monitor the progress of Microsoft’s App Marketplace and Windows Phone 7 as it faces an uphill battle competing against Apple and Android.

[via ComputerWorld]

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Foursquare 3.0 Adds Explore, Revamped Leaderboard, And New Deals

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:19 PM PST

Foursquare has just revealed details on its revamped 3.0 version due out late tonight. The popular location-based app allows people to share information on the places they’ve been via check-ins and encourages them to do so by turning it into a game of attaining badges and titles based on frequency of check-ins. The updated version adds several new new features including check-in recommendations, revamped leaderboard, and new deals for businesses.

A new ‘Explore’ tab has been added that will help you discover new places nearby. It will recommend locations based on your search patterns, the places you’ve visited, the places your friends have visited, your loyalty to your favorite places, and the general categories you gravitate towards among various other factors.

A revamped leaderboard now shows a 7-day barometer of you and your friends. Check-ins will now trigger dozens of different actions including discovering new places, trying new restaurants, and visiting new cities. And to reward your loyalty, six new types of deals will be available for businesses to offer. Businesses will be able to offer Specials to swarms, groups of friends, regulars, newbies, Mayors, or simply everyone.

The Foursquare 3.0 version will be available tonight for iOS and Android devices. The 3.0 version for BlackBerry will be later on this week.

[via Foursquare]

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Facebook Could Present a Credible Threat to Netflix

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 01:02 PM PST

Facebook’s trial run of movie rentals could spell trouble for Netflix in the future, but probably not the near future. On Monday, Facebook announced the availability of the movie “The Dark Knight” for rental using Facebook Credits. Having one movie available for rental is not exactly competing with Netflix, which has thousands, but it is an interesting direction for the social media giant.


Users who rent “The Dark Knight” have full Facebook functionality while watching the movie, commenting, updating status, and chat. There is no doubt that there would be an appeal to watching a movie “with” friends on Facebook, so if the company decides to expand its offerings, this could present serious competion to Netflix. Especially considering that Netflix has 20 million subscribers, and Facebook has 500 million active users.

There is the issue of watching movies on your computer vs. watching on a television, but that is already becoming less of an issue, and the barrier will likely come down in the future. Goldman Sachs analyst Ingrid Chung said Tuesday, “Facebook represents a new potential entrant that few in the investment community were concerned with prior to this announcement, so we believe it does indeed represent an incremental negative for Netflix shares.”

Are you interested in a Facebook movie service? What do you think it should look like?

[via Hollywood Reporter]

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Documentary Examines First PC Virus In History Called “Brain”

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 12:13 PM PST

The first PC virus in history was created back in 1986 and called "Brain." Since this was before common use of computer networks and the world wide web, the virus was transmitted through a floppy disk, the original kind that was actually floppy and about the size of a dinner plate. F-Secure researcher Mikko Hypponen and his company have made a small documentary tracing Brain back to its roots and delivering it back home to the original writers of the virus, Basit and Amjad Farooq.

Hypponen remembers working on Brain back in the 80's and when he reversed engineered it, the code revealed the names, address, and phone numbers for the brothers near Lahore Railway Station in Lahore, Pakistan. Hypponen travels to visit the Farooq brothers in Pakistan and interviews them about the story behind "Brain".

The brothers said they wrote Brain to explore the security holes of operating systems, but did not make it a malicious virus. They called it a "friendly virus" and that it would only detect if there was enough space on the floppy, and then only goes to that particular floppy. They could also see if the code was spreading or if it stayed within a small circle. Brain is named after the brother's own company, Brain Telecommunications Ltd., in Pakistan and the virus was written in the same building that the company is still in today. At the end of the short documentary Hypponen gives Brain back to its original creators some 25 years after they created it in the same building.

[via USA Today]

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Nyko Announces Nintendo 3DS Accessories For Double Battery Life

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:55 AM PST

With the Nintendo 3DS set to launch on March 27th, comes new accessories for the gaming device. Nyko announced today that they will be debuting two new accessories called the Power Pak+ and the Charge Base. The Power Pak+ will be released on the same day as the Nintendo 3DS while the Charge Base will release one week after.

The Nyko Power Pak+ is a high capacity rechargeable battery pack that will double the battery life of the Nintendo 3DS. For extra control and comfort, the battery pack features debossed finger rests. Dropping at the same time as the 3DS, the Power Pak+ will cost $19.99.

The Charge Base is a drop-in charging and storage station for the Nintendo 3DS. A Power Pak+ rechargeable battery pack is included with the purchase of a Charge Base. It features an LED indicator and on/off switch so you know when your battery is done charging. The base will launch one week after the Nintendo 3DS and will cost $29.99.

Press Release:

Nyko Doubles the Juice with New Charge Base and Power Pak+ for Nintendo® 3DS

LOS ANGELES – March 8, 2011
Nyko Technologies today announced two new accessories set to debut with the launch of the new Nintendo® 3DS handheld system this March. On launch day Nyko will release the Power Pak+, a high capacity rechargeable battery pack for Nintendo 3DS that offers double the capacity and battery life of the original 3DS battery. One week later Nyko will release the newest Charge Base, designed to store your Nintendo 3DS and make sure it's always fully juiced with easy drop-in charging.

"Every new console or game system launch is an opportunity for us to find ways to improve the user's experience with the device through innovative technology," said Chris Arbogast, director of marketing, Nyko Technologies. "We are proud to be able to bring our robust knowledge of charging technology to the 3DS user base by providing users the ability to substantially increase their play time."

The Nyko Power Pak+ for Nintendo 3DS is a high-capacity rechargeable battery pack that offers double the battery life of the original 3DS battery. The Power Pak+ features debossed finger rests for improved control and comfort. The Power Pak+ will be available March 27 for $19.99.

The Nyko Charge Base for Nintendo 3DS is a drop-in charging and storage solution for the new handheld device. Each Charge Base includes a Power Pak+ rechargeable battery pack. The Charge Base features an on/off switch as well as LED indicator lights that let you know when your battery is charging and when it has finished. The Charge Base for Nintendo 3DS will be available shortly after the system's launch for $29.99.

Both the Power Pak+ and the Charge Base utilize the standard 3DS AC adaptor for recharging.

Connect with Nyko for a chance to win exciting Nyko prizes at @nykotech or on Facebook.

About Nyko Technologies, Inc.

Nyko Technologies ® develops, manufactures and markets innovative peripherals to enhance the digital lifestyle. The company’s mission is to deliver products that solve problems and improve user experience for work and play. Nyko specializes in interactive entertainment, computing, consumer electronics, portable audio, as well as online and wireless technologies. The company has distribution through major U.S. and Canadian retailers, along with distributors worldwide. Founded in 1995, Nyko is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Please visit www.nyko.com or call 1-888-444-6956 for more information.

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gHome uses Google Voice for home phone service

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:54 AM PST

Here is yet another reason to rid yourself of that antiquated home phone. gHome is offering a new service that will turn your Google Voice account into a home phone. But can’t you already use Google Voice on your home phone? Yes, but you need an actual phone line to do it. This service lets you set up the service using only a high speed internet connection and a VoIP adapter. Yes, you can do that with Vonage, too. But this is cheaper. Find out more after the cut.


gHome, by TelTub is an SIP-based VoIP service which can be used as a home phone-line using a SIP analog telephony adaptor (ATA) and your high speed connection. You can either use your own standard VoIP adaptor or order a pre-configured one from TELTUB for $50. The service was launched in January. You can see a comparison of gHome to other phone services here. gHome is $5 a month, with the first month free. It still does not have 911 service, the same as Google Voice. They do not require a contract.

Here is their promo video:
[vimeo 17386356]

Seems like it’s worth trying out.

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Alien Fossils Found (Maybe) Inside Meteorites

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:09 AM PST

Is it evidence of alien life, or just wishful thinking? A scientist from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center thinks that it may be the former. Dr. Richard Hoover published a study in the Journal of Cosmology that examines possible microfossils inside of carbonaceous meteorites. But some scientists are skeptical that they may just be very old earth organisms.


Dr. Hoover used a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope to vies slices that he cut from Alais, Ivuna, and Orgueil CI1 type carbonaceous meteorites. The microfossils he found look similar to trichomic (with hair-like features on the surface) cyanobacteria and trichomic prokaryotes. He concluded that since the bacteria are inside the meteorites, they are not contaminants from Earth, but are from space, possibly from a comet, moon, or another planet.

The Journal of Cosmology has invited over 100 experts in the field, and over 5,000 scientists to review the paper and thoroughly vet the discovery. Dr. Hoover, who is the Astrobiology Group Leader at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center has previously conducted research on meteorites from Antarctica and studied bacteria from around the world. He ran various tests on the fossils to prove that they are biological life. A number of them are similar to those found on Earth, but they are not exactly the same. For comparison below are two pictures, the first is from the Ivuna CI1 meteorite, and the second is the bacterium Titanospirillum velox from Earth:

The form looks pretty similar. But the directory of NASA’s Astrobiology Institue, Carl Pilcher, has his doubts. The meteorites in question fell to earth around 100 to 200 years ago, and Pilcher thinks the simplest explanation is that the microbes are Earth microbes that found their way into the meteorites. And Paul Hertz, the chief scientist of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, issued a statement saying that NASA does not support Hoover’s findings.

We will have to await further review to see if this is really a staggering discovery, or just overblown.

The original study in the Journal of Cosmology is here.
[via PC World]

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Fiskar “88″ HDD Headphone Amplifier Designed For Sharp Audio

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:06 AM PST

Fiskar, the brand best known for shears and garden tools is stepping into the audio equipment market? Most likely not, but that doesn’t stop creative experimental designs using the Fiskar aesthetic. Designer Edouard Urcadez created a fittingly sharp looking concept of an HDD headphone amplifier called the 88.

The 88 amplifier has a sleek stainless steel body with black and orange accents that tastefully transfer a Fiskar vibe in a minimalist form. The 88 design features 2TB of HDD space along with a USB 3.0 port. It is meant for headphones, but can also be used as a preamp with its four speaker outputs on the back side.

It’s not clear if this was simply a fun exercise or something Fiskar may actually be contemplating as a way to diversify its portfolio. However, jumping into audio products for the company is a bit of a stretch. And although we all love our garden shears, I’m not sure if I really need my stereo system to match.

[via Yanko Design]

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HTC Tube Tablet And Smartphone Concept Design

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:38 AM PST

As mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones become ever more an integral part of our daily lives, the ecosystem in which all devices work in harmony is very important. A recent concept design by Antoine Brieux, called the HTC Tube Tablet combines smartphone and tablet via a Tube cartridge system that not only syncs the two devices but also allows for easy upgrades.

The HTC Tube Tablet design measures 10mm in thickness and runs on either Android or Windows Phone OS relying on HTC Sense as the interface. It features a 10.4-inch Super Amoled display that is multi-touch capable and supports full HD along with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU and 128GB memory.

However, the design centers on the concept of a Tube cartridge that allows users to upgrade features by swapping out the cartridge. And it appears the cartridge can be swapped between the tablet and the smartphone such that you could transfer data and processing power between the two devices. The cartridges themselves differ on processor speeds, OS, Internal memory, and camera resolution.

[via Concept Phones]

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Netbook with Sliding Keyboard Coming from China

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:33 AM PST

At first glance, it looks like another tablet, but if you try to touch the screen…no response. No, it didn’t get bricked by a bad operating system download, it’s a netbook! The Shanzhai group in China has created a netbook with a sliding keyboard that folds underneath the screen. When folded, it looks just like a large Nokia N97. Observe:


If netbooks are not being made obsolete by tablets, this seems like a good design concept. It’s compact, has a 10-inch display, and a “red cap” mouse in the middle of the keyboard. It looks like it may have a couple of USB ports on the side, but we can’t be sure.

More pics:

And specs:

  • 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N455 processor
  • 10 inch 1026×600 display
  • 1GB RAM
  • 160GB hard drive
  • 3700mAh LI-ion battery

There is no word on when this would actually be available, in China or in the US, but the manufacturer has said it would sell for 1600 Yuan (about $250 USD).
[via Cloned in China]

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Nokia Aims for “Next Billion” With X1-00

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:14 AM PST

Looking to grab its next billion users, Nokia has launched a new, entry level mobile phone aimed at “growth markets”, or the developing world. The X1-00 will retail for less than €35 (or $48 bucks), and has special features that will make it appealing for those markets. Oh, and it’s orange. Read on past the cut to see more specs and info.


The phone has a massive speaker on the back, rated at 106phon (a measure of perceived loudness), which as far as we can tell is about as loud as a jet flying over. Nokia has tweaked the frequency response so that the sound does not distort at higher volumes. So why so loud? This way the phone can be heard over loud traffic and other ambient noise that can be quite loud in the developing world. Also, this allows people to share music on the phone with those around them, kind of like a mini-boombox. So just hope that you don’t get stuck on a bus next to one of these. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack for plugging into speakers if you want things to get even louder (or headphones, of course).

The phone will have a flashlight built in, and will have a staggering battery life of 61 days. It also includes five phone books, allowing the phone to be shared within a family, or even with neighbors. Even though the price is low, that is still a lot of money for many people around the world, so this may need to be a community phone.

Additional features:

  • Three dedicated player keys and single-key playlist creator
  • Supports MicroSD memory cards for storage up to 16GB
  • Integrated FM radio
  • Uses Series 30 operating system
  • Measures 112.2 x 47.3 x 16mm, weighs 91g

The phone will be available starting in April.

[via Nokia Conversations]

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Google Instant Previews Now Mobile

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 09:42 AM PST

Google’s Instant Previews, which allows you to see webpage snapshots alongside text search results, is now available on mobile for Android (2.2+) and iOS (4.0+) devices. Google rolled out this functionality today across 38 languages. In order to try it out, just do a search on google.com on your device and tap the magnifying glass next to any search result. You will see a side-by-side comparison view of webpage previews for the first page of search results.


This should make it easier to quickly choose the best result when you already know what content you want to see. And you won’t have to navigate back and forth between pages and search results. You will also see a mobile version of the website if it is available.

Have you give Instant Previews a try yet? Do you like it? Any tweaks you think it needs?

[via Google Mobile Blog]

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EX Trike hits 30km/h with super screwdriver power

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 09:09 AM PST

If you ever wondered whether screwdrivers could be legitimately scary, try hunching over Nils Ferber’s EX Trike and doing 30km/h just inches from the road. A DIY three-wheeler powered by a couple of 18V Bosch electric screwdrivers, the eye-catching trike is designed to look like an exposed skeleton.

Steering is courtesy of a specially developed joint that links the main chassis to the rear wheel, with the rider having to tilt their body in the direction they want to turn. Most of the off-the-shelf parts are from bicycles, but the rest has been custom CNC milled; an overrunning clutch couples the screwdrivers to the wheels.

It looks, frankly, incredible, scary and utterly brilliant, a little like an Ariel Atom but with less petrol and a more precarious stance. No word on whether Ferber will craft one for you, even if you ask very nicely.

[via OhGizmo]

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Windows Phone 7 NoDo update leaks

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 08:27 AM PST

Microsoft may be having difficulty getting the NoDo update into the wild, but it seems there’s nothing stopping it from leaking. A ROM for the HTC Schubert – aka the HTC HD7 – has hit the wilds of xda-developers, complete with the NoDo update (i.e. copy & paste functionality, among other tweaks) baked in.

Unfortunately, flashing it isn’t a simple matter of copying the ROM over. Instead, you’ll need to have the specific unlocked HD7 or else spend some time creating a Goldcard to fool the installer into thinking your handset has a generic ID.

Of course, that leaves every other Windows Phone 7 user out in the cold still, though we imagine there’ll be people already at work trying to tease the NoDo elements out of this particular ROM. Hopefully Microsoft will get its act together and release NoDo officially before that’s necessary, anyway.

[via xda-developers]

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Panasonic prices 3D-capable LUMUX 2011 range

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 08:10 AM PST

Panasonic has come through with pricing and full details for its incoming LUMIX range, all headed to shelves in late March 2011. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS10, LUMIX DMC-ZS8, LUMIX DMC-TS3 and LUMIX DMC-FX78 are priced at $399.99, $299.99, $399.99 and $349.99 respectively, with the ZS10, TS3 and FX78 all offering the company’s new 3D Photo mode, taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best to make a 3D image.

The ZS10 has a 16x optical zoom, 3-inch touchscreen, GPS and Full HD video recording, while the ZS8 keeps the zoom and touchscreen but loses the GPS. As for the TS3, that’s wrapped in a ruggedized chassis and has a 12.1-inch display and full HD recording.

Finally, the FX78 has a 3.5-inch touchscreen supporting Touch AF, Touch Zoom, Touch Shutter, and Touch Playback, along with a 5x optical zoom and 24mm wide-angle lens.

Press Release:

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR ITS 2011 PREMIUM LINEUP OF LUMIX DIGITAL CAMERA MODELS

SECAUCUS, NJ (March 8, 2011) – Panasonic today announces pricing for its LUMIX DMC-ZS10, LUMIX DMC-ZS8, LUMIX DMC-TS3 and LUMIX DMC-FX78 digital cameras, all of which will be available in late-March 2011. All four models feature Leica lenses, High Definition video recording-capabilities and Panasonic's iA technology – making shooting photos and videos simple and intuitive – while still producing beautiful images.

The LUMIX ZS10, LUMIX TS3 and LUMIX FX78 also include the new Panasonic 3D Photo mode, which produces a realistic 3D photo by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best images to provide a 3D image that can then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. The format of the 3D image is compatible with MPO, and can also be played back on other MPO-compatible equipment such as a televisions, digital photo frames and printers.

The LUMIX ZS10 will have a suggested retail price (SRP) of $399.99 and is an extremely versatile digital camera with a 24mm ultra-wide-angle, a powerful 16x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens, full-High Definition 1920×1080 video recording capability, plus a newly-adopted large 3.0-inch, 460,000-dot Smart Touch Intelligent LCD. The new touchscreen LCD allows for Touch Zoom, Touch Auto Focus (AF), Touch Shutter, and Touch Playback. The LUMIX ZS10 also features a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) function allowing geotagged images to be pinpointed via online maps and easily shared with friends and families. The LUMIX ZS10 will be available in black, red, blue, silver and brown models. The LUMIX DMC-ZS8, with an SRP of $299.99, maintains the versatile 24mm ultra-wide angle and powerful 16x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens and includes a large 3-inch LCD and a manual exposure mode. The LUMIX ZS8 will be available in black and silver models.

The LUMIX DMC-TS3 (SRP: $399.99) is specifically designed for active users who want to capture high-quality photos and 1920 x 1080 full-High Definition videos, incorporating a powerful rugged design and new outdoor-friendly features, such as a built-in GPS function, a compass, altimeter and barometer. The 12.1-megapixel LUMIX TS3 further steps up its toughness, when compared to its LUMIX TS2 predecessor, and is now waterproof to approximately 40 feet (12m)*1; shockproof to approximately 6.6 feet (2m) *2; freezeproof to 14ºF (-10 degrees C); and dustproof*1. The LUMIX TS3 will be available in red, orange, silver, and blue models.

The LUMIX FX78, with an SRP of $349.99, features a new Smart Touch operation on the large 3.5-inch 16:9 aspect LCD that allows for intuitive touch operation, including Touch AF, Touch Zoom, Touch Shutter, and Touch Playback. The LUMIX FX78 also incorporates a new LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMARIT, 24mm ultra-wide angle lens that has a 5x optical zoom with F2.5 aperture. The 24mm wide-angle lens offers approximately 213% larger viewing space when compared to a traditional 35mm camera. This high-performing lens has been designed to fit the slim body while still offering exceptional photo and video quality. With its wide and bright lens, the LUMIX FX78 excels when shooting dynamic landscapes and in low-light situations.

The LUMIX FX78's Smart Touch Screen allows for the Auto Focus (AF) to be set by simply touching the subject on the LCD and a touch can even release the shutter. Once locked on the subject, the LUMIX FX78 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function even if it moves. With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the FX78 automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. The touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting, but also in playback, allowing the user to drag the images across the screen with a finger and browse the collection of photos as though flipping the pages of the book. The LUMIX FX78 will be available in black, gold and white models.

For more information all Panasonic's LUMIX digital cameras, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

*1 Waterproof/dustproof performance complies with the "IPX8" and "IP6X" ratings. Provided the care and maintenance guidelines described in this document are strictly followed, this camera can operate underwater, to a depth not exceeding 12 m for a time not exceeding 60 minutes. This does not guarantee no destruction, no malfunction, or waterproofing in all conditions.
*2 Anti-shock performance complies with "MIL-STD 810F Method 516.5-Shock" of the U.S. Defense Department, which specifies performing drop tests from a height of 122 cm, at 26 orientations (8 corners, 12 ridges, 6 faces) using 5 sets of devices, and passing the 26 orientation drops within 5 devices. (If failure occurs during the test, a new set is used to pass the drop orientation test within a total of 5 devices). The camera has cleared a drop test from a height of 2 m onto 3 cm thick plywood. In most cases this camera should not sustain any damage if dropped from a height not exceeding 2 m. This drop test was passed. (Disregarding appearance change such as loss of paint or distortion of the part where drop impact is applied). This does not guarantee no destruction, no malfunction, or waterproofing in all conditions.

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MeeGo gets new boss, promises “unique appeal” in N950

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 07:25 AM PST

MeeGo has found itself a new head, in the shape of ex-Qt lead Sebastian Nyström, replacing Alberto Torres who stepped down amid the Nokia-Microsoft partnership. Nyström will take responsibility for the first MeeGo phone, expected to be released later in 2011, and believed to be the Nokia N950. “We believe our upcoming device will have unique appeal to the style-conscious, connected enthusiast” the new chief told Nokia employees.

The comments follow Nokia CTO Rich Green’s own teases about the N950, who told developers last month that “there’s a lot of work that's gone into the technology, there's a lot of really interesting user interface and platform design work, some very elegant hardware.” The exact nature of that hardware is currently unclear, though Nokia is believed to have axed the slide-out QWERTY keyboard of previously leaked prototypes in favor of a full-touchscreen candybar design instead.

Nyström will also take responsibility for “keeping Nokia on track to deliver necessary software updates following launch of the product” and “working with the Linux Foundation, Intel and the wider community to plan Nokia's future involvement in meego.com.” Nokia has previously said that it considers MeeGo a development platform for “future disruption in [the] mobile ecosystem.“

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Sprint eyeing T-Mobile USA for potential merger?

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 07:15 AM PST

When it comes to odd bedfellows, GSM and CDMA generally don’t mix, but according to the latest carrier rumors that may not be the case forever. Businessweek‘s sources claim Sprint is in talks with Deutsche Telekon over buying T-Mobile USA in return for “a major stake” in the resulting combined company, with negotiations currently caught up on a fair valuation of T-Mobile.

However, two sources claim T-Mobile USA is also looking into buying wireless spectrum from Clearwire as an alternative to a Sprint merger. Deutsche Telekom CFO Timotheus Hoettges would only say that ”In general, all options are open in the U.S. — the sale of the whole business or of parts,” though has previously claimed that the carrier is “not under pressure” and won’t be rushing any decision.

Last week, Sprint suggested it was considering an LTE 4G network deployment that could, the carrier insisted, be operational by 2012 and cover the US by 2013. However, there was speculation that Sprint’s motivation was to pressure WiMAX partner Clearwire amid ongoing wholesale revenue negotiations.

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Apple dynamically-generated video ringtone patent spotted

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 07:02 AM PST

A new Apple patent application could lead to a new video ringtone system that could dynamically create caller ID clips and animations when your iPhone rings. The application, Dynamically Generated Ring Tones, describes an iPhone automatically cutting together different video clips associated with a particular caller, synching them to a separate audio track and creating, in effect, a unique video montage themed around the incoming call.

The video could be sped up or slowed down, either by freezing the frame or increasing the framerate, and various audio analysis systems – beat detection, amplitude or frequency are specifically mentioned – could be used to modify then clips. Photos, and 2D or 3D animations could also be introduced, or different layers of animation responding to different elements of the audio.

“As an example, the media signal may be a drum sound that defines the beat of the song of an audio file. The inventive system can define the drum sound as the characteristic and sample this characteristic while playing the audio file normally. When the audio and video tracks are played together, the inventive system will automatically alter the sequence of the video file based upon the characteristic of the audio signal. Specifically, the video frame that would normally be displayed at the time of the characteristic (i.e., the beat) is not displayed and an alternate substitute video frame is displayed in its place. In addition, each and every frame could be reordered.” Apple example

As well as using content already stored on the local device, Apple explains how Genius data could be used to pick out other, thematically-linked content from iTunes. Alternatively, the caller could seed the video or audio to be played, sharing a new track they’d been enjoying for instance. Now, there’s no telling whether Apple will actually deploy something like this in future versions of iOS, but it would sure beat hearing the same default iPhone ringtone everywhere you go.

[via Patently Apple]

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Opera Mobile Store opens: cross-platform apps on the go

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 06:19 AM PST

Opera has launched its own app store, the Opera Mobile Store, for its Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers. Offering titles for Java, Symbian, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Android devices – though not, yet, iOS – the store is accessed by a new Speed Dial link in the apps and automatically filters by phone, location and currency.

Although it’s Opera’s name on the app store, it’s Appia’s tech behind it. In beta testing last month, the companies reckon over 15m users accessed the store, for a total of more than 700,000 downloads per day.

You can browse the catalog by visiting mobilestore.opera.com (even if you don’t have Opera installed) and while the UI isn’t exactly the most inspiring we’ve seen, there’s a decent range of apps on offer. More details for developers here.

Press Release:

Opera launches the Opera Mobile Store, available in over 200 Countries

Oslo, Norway – March 8, 2011

Opera Software, the leading provider of mobile browsers around the world, today announced that the Opera Mobile Store is now open and available at mobilestore.opera.com. This storefront is a featured Speed Dial link in the Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers, which makes the storefront immediately accessible by more than 100 million people who use an Opera browser on their mobile phones. The Opera Mobile Store has been built and delivered through a strategic partnership with Appia, the leading provider of open application marketplace technology. The Opera Mobile Store offers both free and paid applications for virtually any mobile platform and device. The Opera Mobile Store is available to Opera users and users of other mobile browsers, on all popular mobile phone platforms in more than 200 countries. The Opera Mobile Store uses Appia's storefront commerce technology and leverages a wide catalog of applications for phones with Java, Symbian, BlackBerry and Android operating systems. The storefront experience is customized to each user's phone, providing a tailored catalog based on the phone's operating system, local language and currency.

"The launch of the Opera Mobile Store supports Opera's core belief in an open, cross-platform mobile Internet experience by providing Opera users with an integrated storefront of mobile applications," said Mahi de Silva, EVP, Consumer Mobile, Opera Software. "Our partnership with Appia delivers to all Opera Mobile and Opera Mini users easy access to a wide variety of great content, on any device, all over the world."

To support the Opera Mobile Store, Opera Software has also launched the Opera Publisher Portal, providing developers with an easy way to get their applications onto the Opera Mobile Store and in front of millions of Opera users every month. In its pre-launch state, the Opera Mobile Store attracted more than 15 million users in February, from 200 countries, achieving more than 700,000 downloads per day. These metrics establish the Opera Mobile Store as a top 10 mobile application store around the world.

"The Opera Mobile Store presents a remarkable opportunity for mobile application developers to distribute localized content through a single, far-reaching marketplace," said Jud Bowman, CEO of Appia. "Appia is thrilled to partner with Opera to deliver an incredible storefront of applications to Opera users and beyond."

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Angry Birds St. Patricks Day special gets video preview

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 05:55 AM PST

Angry Birds addict? Fingers almost worn through the glass of whatever smartphone you play it on? Rovio has just the teaser for you, a preview video – which you can see after the cut – of the new St. Patricks Day “Go Green, Get Lucky” special levels for Angry Birds Seasons.

The gameplay is more of the same, with the pigs now wearing dapper little Irish hats and the usual stacks of precarious towers to knock them down from. Rovio says the new levels are “coming soon”, though since St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until March 17 we’re guessing there’ll be a little while to wait yet. Expect it on Android and iOS first, with Symbian and webOS bringing up the rear.

[via Android Community]

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Kazaa music streaming for iPhone, iPad and Android without an app

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 05:31 AM PST

If you have been around the web for a long time and are a fan of music, you will recognize the Kazaa name. The site was a peer-to-peer sharing network in its early days and then morphed into a subscription site to keep the music industry legal ninjas away. Kazaa has announced a new work around that will allow it to stream tunes to mobile devices without having to pay the 30% subscription fee Apple demands.

Kazaa has announced that anyone with a subscription to the service can now stream all the tunes they want to their iPhone, iPad, or Android device by simply navigating to the Kazaa website. There is no need to download an app or any other software on any of the supported devices. Kazaa will charge your subscription fees to a credit card, mobile bill and in some cases to your home phone bill.

"We intend to broaden access for our service with new and dedicated applications, so that the browser is not the only way customers can access our service," commented Ray Musci, Atrinsic's COO. "For Kazaa, Apple's App Store is just one of many marketing and distribution channels we already engage in, with our primary objective of making it convenient and easy for customers to access our service." Mr. Musci continued, "We have been carefully monitoring our users habits and interacting with them for several months while we build out and customize Kazaa's products and services to better fit their needs. We intend to continue this practice with many new and exciting innovations to enhance our product and expand our direct marketing relationships."

[via Android Community]

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Apple iOS 4.3 drops today at 10AM PT?

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 05:21 AM PST

Could iOS 4.3 be landing earlier than expected? Steve Jobs announced that the updated OS would arrive on Friday, March 11, alongside the new iPad 2, but a new rumor has pegged it for release today. BGR‘s source – who also had some interesting tidbits to share about the iPhone 4 mobile hotspot situation – claims iOS 4.3 will in fact be released at 10AM PT today.

That’s three days early, and if true an unusual decision by Apple considering the March 11 date has been so well publicized. iOS 4.3 will be available for the first-gen iPad, the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS, and the 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch.

As for the mobile hotspot service, while Apple says the connection sharing system “works with up to three devices over Wi-Fi, three devices over Bluetooth, and one device over USB” the source claims that’s an artificial limitation. If a carrier requests different – such as the more common five WiFi devices – then Apple will supposedly tweak the app to support that instead.

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Bracketron unveils Twist360 iPad stand

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 05:13 AM PST

The week the iPad 2 is announced to replace the original iPad seems to be an odd time to introduce a new case and stand for the original iPad. I guess there are enough owners of the first iPad out there that the Twist360 from Bracketron will find a market. This is an interesting case with a section on the back that twists and adjusts for different needs.

The back of the case has a ring called the TwistGrip that can turn in any direction and has a fold down section that can be used as a prop. That prop will allow the iPad to stand in portrait or landscape modes. The ring will also rotate to allow the user to hang the iPad on the wall. That might be the perfect way to keep the iPad away from little ones when you don’t want them messing with it.

The ring can also be used as a handle for carrying the iPad with you on the go. When the TwistGrip ring is folded flat, it can be used as a grip when you are standing up with the iPad. The Twist360 will ship “soon” for $59.95.

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Phosphor Reveal watch is bedazzling

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 05:02 AM PST

The last time we talked about the cool line of Phosphor watches was back in November when the company unveiled the World Time watch. Phosphor is back with a new line of watches called the Phosphor Reveal. These watches have a couple designs that appear to be aimed at guys and then several theirs that are more feminine looking with crystals around the bezels and shiny straps.

The watch can be had in a black leather strap with silver case or black leather with IPB case and the more manly side. The watch comes with a crystal-adorned bezel with glossy pink, red, white, or black straps. The red watch has red numbers and the pink as pink numbers with all the others using black numbers.

The face of all of the watches is packed with crystals, which are what looks like the white dots. The numbers on the watch face are rendered by using an electromagnetic field to slightly channel the crystal position and display the time. These aren't cheap watches with a MSRP of $249 for the glossy versions with crystals on the bezel and $199 for the versions lacking the crystal bezel.

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iSkin cases for iPad 2 coming soon

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:42 AM PST

This Friday marks the official launch of the iPad 2 in stores all around the country and online. If you plan to get one of the new tablets, you will want to get some accessories at the same time most likely. iSkin makes some really cool product for the original iPad and has some of the better cases on the market today.

The company has announced that it was working on new cases just for the iPad 2 as well. I would be surprised if some of the cases didn’t launch at the end of the week along with the tablet. You can find out more about the iPad 2 gear from the company on the Facebook page or sign up to be notified via email when new iPad 2 cases are unveiled.

I would bet we will see the same types of cases that iSkin has for the iPad right now for the iPad 2. I particularly like the iSkin aura with its multiple positions and adjustability. The iSkin cases also come in thinner and slim fitting styles we are sure to see for the iPad 2 as well.

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Batman: The Dark Knight can be rented directly from Facebook

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:20 AM PST

If you are a big Facebook fan and a fan of Batman, we have some good news for you. Warner Brothers has tied up with Facebook to allow fans to rent and watch the flick directly on Facebook. All you have to do to watch is hop over to the official Facebook page for Batman: The Dark Knight and hit the “watch” button under the movie poster pic.

To view the film takes credits and you have to allow Facebook to access you profile info like friends, picture, and gender. I would assume that to mean you will end up being used to advertise the flick to your friends. I really hate that.

The good news is that you can opt to not allow it to share that information. The downside to not sharing though is that you aren’t allowed to view the movie. If you allow your info to be shared, you are sent to a page to start watching. I’m not sure how you get the credits or how many credits you need. I get a message telling me the service isn’t supported in my state or region.

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Samsung HDDs reach 1TB per platter; dawn of 4TB HDDs is here

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 04:06 AM PST

When it comes to storage for computers and other devices that use HDDs more capacity is much better for some applications. The HDD industry is marching forward and it wasn't too long ago that 3TB was just hitting the market and some people were probably boasting that you would never need that much storage space. This is the same thing the guy that sold me my first computer as a kid said about the tiny HDD measured in tens of megabytes.

Samsung is marching on and has made those 3TB HDDs look downright small with a new breakthrough in areal density with the ability to cram 1TB of data on a single platter. This new tech means that we can see 1TB single platter HDDs on the thin side of things and on full size HDDs 4TB storage will be coming soon.

Samsung was mum on when we might see the 4TB HDDs shipped, but I would bet it would be this year. The 4TB storage drives will fit into the Samsung EcoGreen series and will be 5400rpm offerings with 32MB of cache and 6Gbps SATA interfaces. Samsung also offered up a very interesting little tidbit stating that the tech it used would allow for 10TB drives with a bit of modification.

[via Electronista]

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Clear Sony Alpha DSLR gets felt up, still not likely to see production

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 03:52 AM PST

I have never been a big fan of Sony gear for many different reasons. I think the stuff tends to be overpriced compared to similar gear from competitors and often to be honest the stuff is just a bit boring. Sony unveiled a cool DSLR last month that had a clear case that let you see all the cool innards of the camera. That thing is the coolest product I have ever seen from Sony and the only product I have ever really wanted from the company other than the PS3.

We offered up a few pics of the clear DSLR when it first turned up and now the geeks over at Pocket-lint had taken hoards of new shots of the camera and had a bit of hands on time with the thing. The clear concept is a demo device for an unreleased midrange DSLR that is expected to hit shops this year. Sadly, Sony tells Pocket-lint that the clear case is unlikely to make it to production.

The camera will carry the Alpha name as expected and will use the translucent mirror tech that debuted last year. The sensor inside the new camera will be an APS HD CMOS that is newly developed and it will have a fast continuous autofocus feature as well. Apparently, the reason for the clear case on the demo DSLR was just because Sony wanted to prove it could build the thing. Unless it actually comes in that clear case I will stick with my Nikon. Lots more pics at the source below.

[via Pocket-lint]

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SocialKeyboards unveils S.N.A.K. the Social Network Access Keyboard

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 03:34 AM PST

If you are a serious user of Facebook that spend lots of time uploading photos and other content to your social network page on Facebook a new keyboard just for you has surfaced. The keyboard is called the S.N.A.K. and it has a bunch of short cut keys that will let you go directly to the parts of Facebook you want with a single button press. The keyboard has 19 different networking hotkeys.

The multitude of hot keys allows you to press a button and go right to uploading pictures and there is a button for liking a post as well. The keyboard requires you to install software on the computer for use and it offers online documentation as well. The software controls the hot keys that are on the keyboard.

The idea behind the S.N.A.K. keyboard is that no matter what Facebook does to the layout and button arrangement of the social network you will always be able to upload pics easily and quickly. The keyboard can be purchased right now for $29.99.

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