Adsense and Nod32 : July 2013

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Tizen 2.0-powered Systena tablet gets a quick hands-on

Samsung integrated its Bada OS into the Tizen OS project earlier this year and we even saw few screenshots of the brand new mobile operating system that was developed by the global market leaders. Now, the hands-images and the video of what seems to be the first Tizen powered tablet has been leaked.

The Tizen 2.0 powered tablet goes by the name Systena and sports a 10.1-inch full HD display. Systena is powered by a 1.4 GHz quad-core Cortex A9 processor along with 2 GB of RAM.
Here are the images of the Tizen 2.0 powered Systena.

The hands-on video of the tablet is also out and the clip, which is about a minute long, shows us the design of the slate, boot screen, slide to unlock screen and the photo viewer of the Systena. Check out the hands-on video below:

Source

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

ABB to build over 200 EV charging stations in the Netherlands' largest network

ABB to build over 200 EV charging stations in the Netherlands' network

Swiss company ABB has been chosen by Fastned to provide chargers for over 200 EV charging stations throughout the Netherlands, in what will be that nation's largest such network. The largely solar-fueled stations will be spaced out along Dutch highways at a maximum distance of 50 kilometers from each other. Fastned will be using ABB's Terra fast chargers, which are compatible with a large number of vehicles, including "all major car brands from Europe, Asia and the USA." Each charger will also be connected to the internet, allowing ABB to push software updates and provide customers with remote assistance. The first batch of chargers will land roadside in September with rollout expected to be completed in 2015. There's one more image and video after the break

Philips intros Ambilight+Hue integration, 60-inch Elevation TV (video)

Philips makes colorful Hue light bulbs, and it (indirectly) makes colorful Ambilight TVs. Wouldn't it make sense if the two devices talked to each other? They do now: a new Ambilight+Hue app for Android and iOS coordinates Hue bulbs with compatible TVs, spreading Ambilight effects across the entire room. To mark the occasion, Philips and TPVision are launching the 60-inch Elevation TV (not pictured here). The 3D-capable, 1080p LCD introduces a four-sided Ambilight system that produces a fuller lighting effect when the set is wall-mounted. It's also the thinnest Philips TV to date, at 0.54 inches thick, and it includes the requisite smart TV features like Netflix, web browsing and Miracast media sharing. Ambilight+Hue should be available now, although Europeans will have to wait until later in the summer to buy the Elevation for about £2,800 ($4,168).

Check if your Android phone is patched against the 'Master Key' exploit with this app

After discovering a longstanding exploit in Android firmware dating back to version 1.6 that allowed malicious developers to circumvent software security measures, Bluebox Security released an Android app this week for users to check whether their phone is still vulnerable to the exploit. Since Bluebox's report last week, Google acknowledged the issue and released a patch that it says is in the hands of OEMs and already being pushed out by certain manufacturers (Samsung, for one). The app is thankfully free, and should provide some much-needed reassurance to most Android users. Head to the source link below to snag it for yourself.

Hubble researchers identify color of an exoplanet for the first time

Hubble telescope identifies an exoplanet as blue, but it's no Earth video

While exoplanets are seemingly a dime a dozen, their looks have been mysteries; they often exist only as measurements. Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have partly solved that riddle by pinpointing the visible color of an extrasolar world for the first time. By measuring reflected light, they can tell that HD 189733b (conceptualized above) is a cobalt blue, much like Earth's oceans. Not that we can claim much kinship, though. The planet is a gas giant 63 light-years away -- its blue tint comes from an atmosphere likely full of deadly silicate. As disappointing as that may be, the discovery should at least help us understand planet types that don't exist in the Solar System.

PlayStation 3 YouTube update adds auto-pairing with mobile device

PlayStation 3 YouTube app updated with send to TV support

The folks at YouTube are updating Sony's PlayStation 3 YouTube app today with additional support for send to TV functionality, making it all the easier to share clips from your mobile device of choice with a living room full of people. Similar to the Xbox 360's SmartGlass functionality, YouTube's send to TV allows for a phone or tablet to be paired via a shared Wi-Fi network with the PS3, enabling videos on your mobile device in the YouTube app to be transferred "instantly" to the big screen -- the service now pairs automatically rather than requiring a PIN. Moreover, today's update looks to be yet another example of YouTube's co-developed DIAL tech. YouTube also added some video stream stabilization in the latest update, should you be experiencing hiccups.

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Thumbs need a break from saving the world from zombies, and want to catch up on the latest PewDiePie videos? The updated YouTube app for Playstation 3 now has the send to TV feature that automatically pairs your phone or tablet with your PS3 on the same Wi-Fi network. Open YouTube on your PS3, click the TV icon on your YouTube app for Android or iPhone, and the video starts playing instantly on your big screen. It'll be like the same awesome feeling you had when you played Metal Gear Solid for the first time. For bonus points, we also made videos play more smoothly and with less buffering. Ok, now back to the zombies...

There they were, a caravan of nine electric car enthusiasts with a lot of free time on their hands, "tearing" down North America's west coast in a bunch of environmentally conscious vehicles. That was just last week in what organizer Tony Williams called the All Electric Vehicle Rally, and nearly all nine participants arrived in the rally's end location of Tijuana, Mexico.
The convoy started in Blaine, Washington and took to I-5 in four chunks. This year a Tesla Model S piloted by Jack Bowers and Georg Kuhnke arrived first, with just 41 hours of driving time -- a far cry from the eight days and five hours the course took Williams last year. The approximately 1,400 miles were covered by the winner at an average speed of about 34 MPH. Sadly, one Nissan Leaf owner got stuck charging their car for 15 hours in California due to a lack of CHADEMO chargers en route. Despite years of promises, CHADEMO sites haven't made their way south of the Oregon/California border as part of the west coast's Green Highway. Still, that we've reached the point where even some EVs can clear that many miles in under two days using only public chargers is pretty impressive.

Nokia Lumia 925 lands on T-Mobile July 17th for $49.99 down

We knew the Nokia Lumia 925 was coming to T-Mobile, but we didn't know when, and we didn't know how much it would cost. No longer. Turns out, Lumia fans can have the handset starting July 17th for the low, low price of $49.99 down with 24 monthly payments of $20 thereafter. Of course, should a new, more photographically-capable handset become available down the road, you can always Jump to the new model -- provided you pay the additional ten bucks a month and happen to live in the right part of the world.

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T-Mobile Announces Boldest Moves Yet as America's Un-carrier
- Unveils JUMP!(TM) - a groundbreaking approach to more frequent phone upgrades
- Rapidly expands 4G LTE network to cover 157 million people in 116 metro areas
- Launches four-line family plan for $100 per month
NEW YORK - July 10, 2013 - T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) isn't resting after turning the industry upside down with its "Un-carrier" approach to wireless earlier this year. It's picking up the pace and continuing to revolutionize wireless for consumers.
At an event in New York today, America's Un-carrier announced a groundbreaking new program, JUMP!(TM), which enables people to upgrade their phones when they want, up to twice a year as soon as six months from enrollment.
"At some point, big wireless companies made a decision for you that you should have to wait two years to get a new phone for a fair price. That's 730 days of waiting. 730 days of watching new phones come out that you can't have. Or having to live with a cracked screen or an outdated camera," said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile US. "We say two years is just too long to wait. Today, we're changing all that with the launch of JUMP! Now, customers never have to worry about being stuck with the wrong phone. And, yes - it's really as good as it sounds."
In addition to JUMP!, T-Mobile today announced a major expansion of its 4G LTE network to reach 157 million people in 116 metro areas across the United States. The company also unveiled a program enabling families to get four phone lines with unlimited talk, text and Web and up to 500MB of high-speed data for only $100 per month - with no credit check or annual service contract required.
Today's news builds on months of momentum since T-Mobile announced a series of bold moves in March. The announcements included dramatically simplifying its lineup of consumer rate plans to one affordable plan for unlimited talk, text and Web on a nationwide network; eliminating the need for consumers to sign annual service contracts; and enabling customers to get popular smartphones whenever they want for amazingly low upfront pricing.
Since then, market data indicates the company has nearly tripled its flow of postpaid net-new customers from AT&T and shows T-Mobile gaining more net-new customers in May than each of the other major wireless carriers in New York; Los Angeles; Houston; the San Francisco Bay Area; Miami; San Diego; and Washington, D.C.
An Easy "JUMP" to Phone Upgrades
JUMP! from T-Mobile is designed to provide customers with total protection for one of their prized possessions: their smartphones. It offers the freedom to upgrade to a new device more affordably and protects against malfunction, damage, loss or theft - all for just $10 per month, per phone (plus taxes and fees). That's just $2 more than most customers have been paying for handset protection alone.
Beginning Sunday, July 14, customers can choose to upgrade when they want, not when they're told with JUMP! Here's how it works: Customers can upgrade to a new phone, financed through T-Mobile's Equipment Installment Program (EIP), twice every 12 months after they've been in the JUMP! program for six months. Simply trade in an eligible T-Mobile phone in good working condition at a participating store location. Any remaining EIP payments will be eliminated, and current customers can purchase new phones for the same upfront pricing as new customers, with device financing and Simple Choice Plan, a no-annual-service contract. With JUMP!, current customers never pay more for their new phones than new customers.1
T-Mobile's 4G LTE Network Rapidly Expanding
Having a great device means little without a fantastic network supporting it, so T-Mobile is also moving at incredible speed to make its already lightning-fast network even better and faster for customers.
Today, T-Mobile announced that its 4G LTE network now reaches 157 million people across the United States - far exceeding the company's stated midyear goal of reaching 100 million people - and is live in 116 metropolitan areas.
Major metropolitan areas where T-Mobile's 4G LTE network service has launched include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, and many others. The company debuted 4G LTE less than four months ago.
T-Mobile remains on target to deliver nationwide 4G LTE network coverage by the end of the year, reaching 200 million people in more than 200 metropolitan areas.
In addition, T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ network service is available to 228 million people nationwide. By combining 4G HSPA+ and LTE network technologies, T-Mobile can provide customers with a strong, seamless nationwide 4G network experience.
Launching Breakthrough Family Option with No Credit Checks
T-Mobile today is also extending its Un-carrier strategy to families by addressing a huge customer headache: being denied premium family-plan rates because of less-than-premium credit.
Beginning July 14, families can get four Simple Choice Plan lines with unlimited talk, text and Web and up to 500MB of high-speed data for only $100 per month (plus taxes and fees) - no credit check and no annual service contract required.
An average of one in three consumers who apply for wireless service do not have strong enough credit to qualify for the best wireless rates, according to industry data. Other customers prefer to avoid the hassle of a credit check. As a result, these customers may forego service from a top provider or purchase several prepaid lines.
But with T-Mobile, all families can now access a great multi-line deal with no credit check. Simply put down a deposit (roughly equivalent to one month's bill) to get the same incredible multi-line rates and network experience as other customers.
The Simple Choice Plan has been wildly popular with families since its introduction in March. About 80 percent of customers who have signed up for the plan have opted for multiple lines.
Continues to Expand 4G LTE Device Lineup
T-Mobile also is quickly growing its premium lineup of 4G LTE-capable devices. Today, the company announced pricing and availability for three new devices, bringing its portfolio to nine 4G LTE-capable smartphones. The new devices include the following:
Xperia® Z from Sony. T-Mobile will be the exclusive U.S. wireless company to offer Sony's flagship water-resistant Android(TM)-powered smartphone to customers this summer.2 The Xperia Z will be available for $99.99 down, with 24 equal monthly device payments of $20 for well-qualified buyers for 0 percent APR on approved credit3 through T-Mobile retail stores and select retailers, as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com starting July 17. On July 16, customers can also pre-order the device online from the same website and receive a free Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker gift with purchase (while supplies last). Customers may also purchase the device beginning today at any of the 38 U.S. Sony Store locations, including the flagship store in New York, or online at www.Sony.com/xperiaz/tmobile and will be eligible to receive the free Sony speaker as a gift with purchase (while supplies last).
Nokia Lumia 925. Also starting July 17, T-Mobile's first 4G LTE Windows Phone will be available for $49.99 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $20 for well-qualified buyers for 0 percent APR on approved credit3 through T-Mobile retail stores and select retailers, as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com.
Samsung Galaxy Tab(TM) 2 10.1. T-Mobile will provide current Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 users with an over-the-air software update that will enable customers to take advantage of T-Mobile's 4G LTE network in the coming weeks. Well-qualified customers may also purchase the device with the 4G LTE capability for $99.99 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $15 for 0 percent APR on approved credit3 through T-Mobile retail stores and select retailers, as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com today.
JUMP! may not be available in all locations. See your sales associate at participating T-Mobile retail stores, or go to http://www.T-Mobile.com for details.
For more information, fact sheets, artwork and other collateral materials, see http://multimediacapsule.thomsonone.com/t-mobileusa/t-mobile's-un-carrier-2-0-event.
1 Device pricing may vary based on approved credit.
2 As of Feb. 4, 2013, outside of Japan there are no smartphones with a waterproof rating higher than the Sony Xperia Z/ZL. For more information on Strategy Analytics results, go to http//:www.sonymobile.com/testresults.
3 If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance on phone becomes due. Not available in Washington, D.C.

T-Mobile's LTE network expanding faster than planned, now covers 116 metro areas

When T-Mobile threw the switch on its first LTE markets back in March, the company promised to cover 100 million people by mid year. Four months on, there are 157 million potential customers with access to the un-carrier's still fledgling 4G LTE network. With true 4G now launched in 116 metro areas the expansion is actually ahead of schedule, and could match its HSPA+ footprint within a year. By the end of 2013, Big Magenta plans to cover 200 markets, encompassing 200 million people -- which actually seems quite conservative seeing how quickly the network has expanded so far. In fact, the speedy deployment kinda puts AT&T and Sprint to shame. T-Mo might have waited the longest to get on the LTE train, but it's hasn't wasted any time getting those blazing speeds to its loyal customers.

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T-Mobile introduces Simple Choice family plans with no credit check required

As part of T-Mobile's "Boldest Moves Yet" smorgasbord of service changes announced today, the carrier is introducing a family option that doesn't require a credit check. The new plan, which kicks in beginning July 14th, enables families to activate up to four Simple Choice Plan lines with unlimited talk, texting and up to 500MB of data for $100 per month plus taxes and fees. In lieu of the traditional credit check, individuals who want to take advantage of this option can make a deposit equivalent to one month's bill. Otherwise, the available offering is similar to the Simple Choice plan that T-Mobile detailed in March.

Sony Xperia Z reaches T-Mobile July 17th for $100 down, $580 up front

T-Mobile teased last month that it would bring an LTE version of the Sony Xperia Z to the US, and it's following through on its promise. The glass-backed flagship is on sale now at Sony's online and retail stores for $25 a month on an installment plan or $580 outright. As rumored, the phone reaches T-Mobile's stores on July 17th; wait until then and you can either pay the full $580 price or put $100 down for the installment option. While you'll want to read our review of the Xperia Z on T-Mobile before you fork over any cash, you'll get to pick up the device very soon if you like what you see.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch steps down; Michael Huseby appointed CEO of Nook Media

Following reports earlier this year that Barnes & Noble may be sliding away from producing its own Nook hardware, the outfit's CEO has just stepped away from his corner office. Announced in a series of shuffles, William Lynch has resigned as chief executive officer and director of the company effective immediately, while Michael P. Huseby has been appointed CEO of the Nook Media division (as well as president of B&N as a whole).
The firm also announced that vice president Allen Lindstrom was being subsequently promoted to CFO, reporting to Huseby. Moreover, Kanuj Malhotra -- VP of corporate development, has been promoted to CFO of Nook Media. Chairman Leonard Riggio thanked Lynch for his leadership during an era where B&N emerged as a real rival to Amazon in the reader / tablet market, while the man himself said that he "appreciated the opportunity to serve as CEO over the last three years." As for his immediate plans? Kicking back on the shores of Ocracoke and reading a book... on a Nook, of course.

Virgin Media launches Play Games portal for TiVo

Many of us don't see TiVos as game consoles, but Virgin Media would beg to differ -- there have been over a million game sessions this year on its edition of the DVR. Accordingly, it just launched a Play Games portal to court this growing audience. Besides putting games in one handy location, the hub saves game states and ranks favorite titles. Virgin is also recruiting more developers to expand Play Games' fledgling catalog. While the casual gaming focus is unlikely to stop serious players from pre-ordering an Xbox One or PS4, it may be enough to keep TiVo owners on the couch long after their favorite show is over.

Nokia Lumia 1020 spotted in yellow, white and black, replete with 2GB of RAM

For those obsessed with obscene megapixel counts and Windows Phone, Thursday can't come soon enough. If rumors prove true, the renders shown above will be made official in around 72 hours, with the Lumia 1020 to debut in a flurry of hues -- yellow, black and white, specifically. Moreover, Windows Phone Central is reporting that the device previously known as EOS will ship with optical image stabilization built right in, 2GB of RAM (a boost from the 1GB found on most modern WP8 handsets) and 32GB of internal storage. Head on down to the source link for more... you know, given that waiting for the formal word isn't something you're prone to do.

Android's Jelly Bean contingent finally surpasses Gingerbread

It's a new era, we tell ya. An era where Google can finally say that its latest build of Android is also the one being used by the greatest majority of Android users. For over a year, Android 4.1+ has been the most up-to-date build of Google's mobile OS, and yet, the greatest majority of those accessing the Play Store were using a build that was bordering on antediluvian. According to the official Developers Dashboard, the percentages have slid to a point where Android Jelly Bean -- which encompasses 4.1.x and 4.2.x -- now represents 37.9 percent of Play Store users. Gingerbread (v2.3.3 through 2.3.7) has fallen to second place with 34.1 percent, while Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0.3 through 4.0.4) holds down the bronze with 23.3 percent. Hit up the source link to view the full breakdown, and do us a solid -- if you know someone still using Donut, grab 'em a Christmas-in-July present.

Deus Ex's iOS spinoff launches on July 11th

Deus Ex: The Fall is sneaking / punching / stalking its way to iOS on July 11th, Square Enix announced this morning. When it arrives, it'll cost you nearly a sawbuck ($6.99 / £4.99 / 5.99€), and work on a wide variety of iOS devices (iPad 2 and above, iPhone 4S and above, and iPod Touch 5 and above). But which way will you play it? Us, well, we're all about refrigerator stacking.

Imagination Tech CEO 'the industry needs MIPS as much as MIPS needs the industry'

At an earlier press event in Shenzhen, Imagination Technologies' CEO Sir Hossein Yassaie delivered a clear message: his company's $100 million acquisition of MIPS isn't a short term strategy. Additionally, he has ambitious plans with the latter's chip architecture -- a well-known rival of ARM and Intel's x86.
In his presentation, Yassaie boasted that there are currently over 300 SoCs based on MIPS. And out of the five billion devices shipped with Imagination Tech's IP to date, three billion of them use MIPS. These include phones, tablets (especially in China), wearables, printers, networking devices, storage devices and more.
For a company who already owns IP in the graphic (including ray-tracing), video (low-power transcoding) and radio processing space, it's no surprise for Imagination Tech to acquire MIPS to complete its portfolio. The result is the upcoming Warrior CPU that promises "best-in-class performance and efficiency" in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors, but we've been told that these won't hit the market until next year. Nevertheless, Yassaie believes that MIPS has strong technical advantages in terms of silicon area, power and capabilities such as multithreading. And apparently he has people to back him up on this.
"In my discussion with many customers in the last four months -- customers who have used both MIPS and competitors' solution -- the feedback for MIPS has been very, very positive from a technical point of view," said the exec.
Fortunately, Yassaie promised that as an open IP company, Imagination Tech will still happily let its customers mix its CPUs or its renowned PowerVR GPUs with other offerings.
Then there's the aspect of Imagination offering a third choice. Without naming the obvious "one key player," Yassaie stated that there needs to be a balance in the CPU IP market, and he believes his company has the energy and the long term vision to create an alternative choice.

"MIPS is here to make sure that there is a Pepsi."

"One example I often use is that the industry needs MIPS as much as MIPS needs the industry, because no industry can operate in an environment where it is a near-monopoly. I often say on this subject that wherever there is a Coke, there will be Pepsi. And MIPS is here to make sure that there is a Pepsi."

Yassaie admitted that MIPS Technologies had been constrained by difficult history and instability prior to the acquisition in February, but he assured us that this is now in the past.
"The company's future had been unclear, and the energy put into the roadmap and the future, in our opinion, had been below our acceptable level," said the CEO. "Those issues are fixed -- we already announced a very strong roadmap. We also have a very strong link to a lot of the companies that matter. For example, the link we have with Google is much stronger than what MIPS had in the past."
David Harold, the Senior Director of Marketing Communications, added that the state of MIPS Technologies back then wasn't as bad as some had put it. According to Gartner, the chip designer actually had a 17 percent growth in 2012, which was ahead of the overall design IP market's 11.2 percent. And with the acquisition of MIPS, Imagination Tech now owns over 11 percent of the market.
"I have to stress that the strategy with MIPS isn't short term," the CEO continued. "We see this as a multi-year plan. Our goal is to have 25 percent of the processor market within five years in terms of design elements."

"Our goal is to have 25 percent of the processor market within five years in terms of design elements."

Throughout the press event, Yassaie reminded us several times that MIPS is a fully supported architecture within the Android source code, and that Google is keen to keep it that way. But when it came to the touchy subject of fragmentation, the exec put some of the blame on MediaTek, which has apparently caused some apps to run well on one platform but not so much on the other. Imagination Tech, on the other hand, claims to be well-prepared to prevent such mishap.
"We've put significantly more investment into emulation and working on a technology known as MagicCode, which would emulate any backward compatibility or legacy-related issue," said the CEO. "We expect that to resolve to very, very high compatibility; in the same way, for example, an Intel platform has achieved through being adopted by companies like Samsung."
Yassaie also went slightly technical on the new LLVM (Low Level Virtual Machine) compiler, which allows apps to be developed in an architecture-independent intermediate language. Regardless, the exec is placing a heavy bet on Google's support and the openness of Android.
"You can see that with the success that Intel is beginning to have in the mobile space, I am absolutely convinced that MIPS will have a strong play in the mobile market, given the trends that are ongoing."

New BlackBerry Bold 9270 spotted, runs old BB7 OS

We're right in the middle of putting BlackBerry's gently priced Q5 through review testing, but the latest phone leak from Waterloo (well, Thailand actually) doesn't run BB10 at all and will presumably weigh in at an even lower price tag. According to ThaiBBClub, the Bold 9720 you see before you will run on OS version 7, with all the requisite legacy hardware keys and menus. While it looks nothing like the 9900-mimicking Bold 9790 that came before it, there's still a full square-ish keyboard (with contoured keys), as well as a striped finish on the back that'll be familiar to the BB faithful still out there. Unfortunately, there's nothing leaked resembling a spec sheet, but you can visit the source link for a full gallery tour.

Clearwire shareholders approve buyout by Sprint

Well, the FCC has already offered its tacit approval of the merger between Sprint, Clearwire and Softbank. And Sprint shareholders are on board with its buyout by Softbank. Really, the last hurdle for this major wireless marriage, was Clearwire's shareholders. Now they've approved the plan to be purchased by Sprint, which in turn will be absorbed by Softbank, putting an end to a long drama over the tiny carrier's future. When Dish decided to exit the bidding war over the company in late June it seemed to be all but a done deal that Sprint, already a majority shareholder of Clearwire, would take over the rest of the company. The deal is expected to be officially closed on July 9th, followed only shortly after by the Sprint and Softbank merger on July 10th.

All Windows Phones were not created equal. Nokia's managed to snag exclusive access to this year's FIFA game -- it's only available for Lumia smartphone owners, so HTC and Samsung users are apparently out of luck. EA Sports claims that FIFA 13 offers some enhanced graphics and significant control improvements, featuring game play that includes 30 leagues, 500 teams, 15,000 players and 32 authentic stadiums. The Xbox Live-enabled 951 MB download can be yours for $4.99 at the source link below.

Twitter updates apps with direct message syncing and improved search results

Remember that raucous applause that occurred when the WWDC crowd was told that Notification Center clearings would be synced across devices in iOS 7? If you listen carefully, you'll hear something similar happening today from the Twitter faithful. At long last, the company has updated its litany of apps with support for direct message syncing -- in other words, a DM that you reply to on your Nexus 7 will no longer show as an unread message on your iPhone.
All told, seven different programs are seeing an update: Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, twitter.com, mobile.twitter.com and TweetDeck (sorry, Windows Phone users!). For Android, iPhone, iPad and mobile.twitter.com, the outfit's making search result improvements as well; additionally, a new in-app indicator in search results will show you when there are new Tweets for your query. Hit up the links below to download the new wares.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

HERE Maps now available on Nokia Asha 501

Nokia has just released HERE Maps of its latest Asha 501. Nokia promised to bring us soon its mapping service to the new Asha platform during the Asha 501 announcement event and it kept its promise.

This beta version of HERE Maps is specifically designed for devices without GPS, but still offers drive, walk and public transport directions.
As other available versions of HERE Maps you will be able to explore standard, satellite, public transports and traffic maps; search places and addresses; and plan routes.
HERE Maps is already available at Nokia’s Store and you can get it on your Asha 501 right now. The app will be available for all other Asha phones to follow running on the new Asha platform and will be optimized later for those with integrated GPS chip.
Source

B&N cuts Nook HD and HD+ prices in UK, e-Ink readers discounted too

London mayor Boris Johnson, Barnes & Noble and Evening Standard are organizing the Get Reading festival, which will be held in Trafalgar Square on June 13. To get you ready, B&N cut the prices of its Android-powered (with full Play Store access) Nook HD and HD+ tablets to £99 and £149 respectively.

If you prefer e-Ink, the Nook Simple Touch GlowLight (what a name, huh?) is currently at £69 (down from £109). The non-GlowLight model can be found for £29 here or here (a few other places too).

The promotion for the Nook HD tablets is until the end of July, while the Simple Touch promotion is just listed as “limited time only”.

By the way, Barnes & Noble recently announced it will hand the manufacturing of Nook HD models to third-party companies.

Source | Via

Nokia 207 and 208 promo videos appear, are almost identical

Despite the budget nature of the Nokia 207 and 208, they get treated like any other Nokia product and as such have received promo videos of their own to accompany the launch.

In the promos, Nokia emphasizes the colors available for the duo as well as the software features they have, such as Facebook, Xpress Browser and YouTube video playback.

And here are the videos. First, it’s the Nokia 208′s promo piece, and then is the Nokia 207′s. You can be forgiven for watching just one of them, as they are pretty much identical.

Source, Source (2)

Alleged pricing for budget iPhone surfaces

The line of cheaper iPhones which Apple is supposedly preparing to launch alongside the iPhone 5S have leaked several times already, including this latest image below, which purports an iPhone mini name.

Besides new color schemes and more cost effective materials, the latest rumors surrounding the budget iPhone range include mass production of the models currently under way, as well as leaked pricing. Turns out budget version isn’t that cheap after all.
Sonny Dickson, the man behind several accurate Apple-related leaks in the past, posted on Twitter what he alleges will be the pricing of the new cheaper iPhone line.

Apple's Lower-Cost iPhone Prices iPhone – 16GB – $349 iPhone – 32GB – $449 iPhone – 64GB – $549
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) June 30, 2013

Currently, the cheapest unlocked phone available from the online Apple Store is $450 for the 8GB iPhone 4, which means that the base model of the budget line will run you about $100 less for double the onboard memory – not out of the realm of possibility, especially if cheaper manufacturing materials are thrown into the mix. It’s also anyone’s guess what hardware will be available inside, so there might be some cost cutting going on there, too.
Also floating around is the rumor that mass production of the new budget models is already under way, which aligns with reports we heard last month of with an eventual launch date this September. Here’s hoping we hear something from Apple’s camp towards the end of summer.
Source (Chinese) | Via

Latest BlackBerry Q10 ad brags about cool gesture-based UI

BlackBerry has outed a new TV advertisement for the US, promoting the touch gestures available in BlackBerry OS 10.1. The star of the show is the QWERTY-packing BlackBerry Q10, which is used to show just how much you can do in a short period of time.

The ad demonstrates that you can change your Facebook status without actually opening the social network’s app. Quickly browsing and sharing photos and other content is demoed in the TV spot as well.
You can check the short ad below. Sadly, the ad was captured with a camera while it was playing on the TV, as BlackBerry hasn’t uploaded the ad anywhere on the Internet as of the time of writing.

Lenovo ThinkPad Helix review

It's been six months since Lenovo launched the ThinkPad Helix at CES, but during that time we've never really stopped talking about it. Every time we've reviewed a comparable product -- a small-ish PC that could be used in some sort of tablet mode -- we've returned to the Helix as a beacon of what could be in this category. All told, the Helix has had a few things potentially recommending it: it rocks the same sturdy, well-spaced keyboard you'll find on other ThinkPads and a spec list that includes NFC, a Wacom pen digitizer and a high-quality, 11.6-inch, 1080p display. Best of all, the Helix can be used in three ways: not just in tablet mode, but with the tablet inserted either facing the user or pointed away, a design Lenovo is calling "Rip n' Flip." It's the sort of versatility we loved so much in Lenovo's Yoga line; only this is a more compact machine with a higher-res screen and pen input. Sounds lovely, right? Read on to see if it's as good in practice as it is on paper.

The US isn't the only western country with an all-seeing digital eye... at least, according to Le Monde. The news outlet claims that France's General Directorate for External Security has a PRISM-like system that captures and processes the metadata for "billions and billions" of communications, including internet messaging, phone calls, SMS and even faxes. The goal is ostensibly to track the behavior of terrorist cells, but the Directorate allegedly shares the anonymized information with other intelligence services, including the police. Whether or not residents can do much about the snooping, if real, is another matter. One source believes that it exists in a gray area, as French law reportedly doesn't account for the possibility of storing personal data this way. We're skeptical of claims that the Directorate can spy on "anyone, anytime," especially without official commentary, but we'd suggest that locals be careful with their secrets all the same.
Dan Cooper contributed to this report.

Latest Humble e-book Bundle lets you pick your own price for unicorns, Wheaton

DNP Latest Humble ebook Bundle shakes bones, finds a geeky final unicorn

For the next two weeks, you can snag four e-books for whatever price you want with the second Humble e-book Bundle. As always, each contribution benefits whoever you prefer, be it the authors, charity, Humble itself or a combination of the three. If you want access to all six books, as per the Humble pricing model you need to kick in a sum greater than the average $9.40 donation. For less than a few gallons of gas you'll net Wil Wheaton's Just a Geek and Peter Beagle's The Last Unicorn in addition to the other four tomes shown below. The sun hasn't set on the first day of this six-pack promo and over $150K's been donated so far. Reading-on-the-beach season's half over, so get crackin'!

The Last Unicorn - Peter Beagle
Just a Geek - Wil Wheaton
Little Brother - Cory Doctorow
Boneshaker - Cherie Priest
Spin - Robert Charles Wilson
Shards of Honor - Lois McMaster Bujold

Snapchat Android update adds transparency, still lacks 'bad judgment' filter

The latest version of Snapchat's Android app cleans up its interface and adds gesture-based navigation controls. Everything from conversation view and the contact list received a once over making it feel more like a platform-native app, even though it's more than a blush similar to the last iOS update. Perhaps the biggest fix is the new shutter button, which is a clear bubble instead of a big blue bar. Now nothing's obscuring your view of a poor snap decision.

Deutsche Borse to open Cloud Exchange, treat computing as a commodity

Deutsche Boerse to treate cloud computing as a tradeable commodity

Bitcoin fans are familiar with using cloud computing to generate a commodity -- but what would happen if cloud computing was the commodity? The Deutsche Börse should find out when it opens its newly-unveiled Cloud Exchange in the first quarter of 2014. The independent market will let organizations buy remote computing and storage in respective 8GB and 1TB blocks, with traders agreeing on when and where the number crunching takes place. Theoretically, this creates a neutral, competitive space for exchanging server power: buyers can easily spot the best value, while sellers can efficiently offload their unused cycles. Whether or not the Cloud Exchange works that way in practice, we're just hoping that it isn't as volatile as an old-fashioned stock exchange.
[Image credit: Dontworry, Wikipedia]

Samsung ships its 55 and 65inch 4K TVs to Korea, slightly later than promised

If you're one of the lucky 100-plus Koreans who pre-ordered one of Samsung's F9000-series 4K TVs this June, you'll be glad to know that you're getting your reward very soon. The company has just announced that both the 55- and 65-inch F9000 sets should ship to Korea on July 6th. As before, the series is a more affordable yet functionally similar alternative to Samsung's 85-inch behemoth -- customers get the Ultra HD screen resolution and Evolution Kit support at relatively modest prices of 6.4 million won ($5,670) for the 55-inch TV and 8.9 million won ($7,913) for its 65-inch cousin. We're still twiddling our thumbs waiting for a launch on this side of the Pacific, but those who need something to tide themselves over can read Samsung's translated press release after the break.

Stem cells used to create human liver tissue

Stem cell research has resulted in several important breakthroughs in medicine, such as rebuilding the larynx and regenerating spinal cord connectors. Now the liver, one of the most highly sought after organs on the donor transplant list, could get some serious stem cell assistance as well. A team of scientists led by Takanori Takebe of Yokohama City University has successfully created a miniature version of the human liver with the help of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which are derived from adult somatic cells. They developed the iPSC into generalized liver cells called hepatocytes, at which point the researchers mixed in endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells, left the petri dishes alone for a couple days, and voila -- an extremely tiny version of a human liver, said to be the first-ever functional human organ grown from stem cells, was born.
The liver "buds," as they're known, measure five millimeters long and are the sort you would find in human embryos shortly after fertilization. When implanted in mice, the baby livers managed to perform all the functions of their adult equivalents. The researchers' next step would be to generate liver buds that are a touch closer to normal liver tissue -- like the addition of bile ducts -- and to see if they can mass produce them by the tens of thousands. Don't go wasting your liver just yet though, as it'll likely be years before the likes of you and me will be able to have a lab-grown liver in our bodies. In the meantime, check out the time-lapse video after the break to see a young liver bud take shape in a petri dish.

Plasma thruster could propel small satellites into deep space for cheap

DNP Interplanetary CubeSat plasma thruster kickstarter project, July 4 launch

A few years from now, we might be able to send small satellites into deep space for cheap using a new propulsion system being developed by University of Michigan engineers -- assuming they raise enough money via Kickstarter. Called CAT (CubeSat Ambipolar Thruster), it's designed to propel 10 x 10 x 10 centimeter CubeSat blocks far beyond the planet's orbit using only solar energy for fuel. Thus far, similar satellites can only orbit the Earth after going along for a ride on current rockets that are larger and more expensive. In the future, CATs could head to the asteroid belt, or even as far as Saturn and Jupiter to investigate water on their moons. The $200,000 its engineers aim to raise (in exchange for your name etched on the golden layer of a spacecraft panel) will go towards the CAT engine's development and testing. The team could send an experimental thruster to space as soon as 2014 with help from NASA-Ames and Google, with a spacecraft launch targeted for 2015.

White Nexus 4 sells out, no longer available on Google Play

DNP White Nexus 4 no longer available on Google Play

If you've been putting off buying a white Nexus 4, be ready to wallow in regret: you've missed your chance to get one straight from Google Play. Both the 8GB and 16GB versions are "no longer available for sale," a little more than a month after the company's online store started carrying them. A Google spokesperson told us that the alabaster phone has indeed sold out, and that the Play Store won't carry it again, as it was a limited edition release. All's not lost, though -- T-Mobile still sells the white Nexus 4, but you'll pay a slight premium for it.

BBC to broadcast Wimbledon final and semi-final matches in 3D

By Steve Dent posted Jul 4th 2013 1:56AM 0

Though ESPN 3D's imminent demise might be evidence to some that 3D TV isn't exactly killing it, BBC has confirmed that it will cover Wimbledon again this year with that extra dimension. In particular, it will broadcast selected matches, including the men's and women's finals and semi-finals, in free-to-air 3D for those with the Red Button service and supported sets. Wimbledon marked its first-ever 3D broadcast two years ago, and the BBC is also experimenting with 4K coverage this year with Sony, albeit exclusively at a live spectator "experience zone" on the finely manicured grounds. The network also said it would up its live streams from six to ten to go with its YouTube coverage -- meaning UKers who miss a single grunt will have only themselves to blame.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Virtuix Omni VR treadmill demoed with Minecraft in multiplayer mode (video)

Virtuix Omni gaming treadmill demoed with Minecraft in multiplayer mode

Remember that gaming treadmill that we sweated all over during E3 last month? Virtuix's Kickstarted Omni is still firmly in the prototype stage, but that's not stopping the company from putting the gigantic peripheral through its special-shoe-requiring paces. CEO Jan Goetgeluk headed to the machine shop where the first Omni was built to demo some multiplayer gaming. And what better title to try things out than with a little Minecraft? If the below video is any indication, things went relatively smoothly. Says the exec, "even though the Minecraft graphics seem unsuited for VR, the game is actually a blast with Rift and Omni." Who needs the gym?

14-inch Razer Blade gaming laptop review: smaller, faster, lighter

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Razer Blade r eview (late 2012)

Razer reveals the Blade Pro and 14-inch Blade gaming laptops

Razer Blade Pro and 14-inch models hands-on

Most companies refresh their products on an annual basis, carefully timing development and release schedules to match consumer demand, product obsolescence and component upgrades. It's the norm, an expected pattern that most PC, smartphone and tablet manufacturers follow. Razer, however, completely ignores this cycle, as exemplified by its Blade line of gaming laptops -- already on its third generation in less than two years. This would be less impressive if the firm wasn't a relative newcomer to the game; before it announced the Blade, Razer was known primarily for creating keyboards, gaming mice and console controllers. A fully fledged gaming PC was a jarring departure for the humble peripheral maker.
Even so, here we are: reviewing the third-generation Razer Blade gaming laptop. This, too, is a departure from what we've grown to expect from the company -- a smaller, thinner device bereft of the previous model's signature Switchblade interface. For some PC manufacturers, a 14-inch machine might be just another SKU in the catalog. But for Razer, it's almost a mark of progress: not only is the Blade popular enough to necessitate successive generations, but also multiple form factors. It's also the company's lowest-priced laptop yet, not to mention its first to include Intel's new fourth-generation CPU -- but at $1,800 for the base model, it still isn't cheap. Read on to see if the new Blade has enough charm to be worth its lofty price tag.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on redux: benchmark and camera preview

Sony Xperia Z Ultra handson redux previewing its camera and benchmark performance

You may have already read our Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on last week, but since then we've also been able to spend a tiny bit more time with a pre-production unit (with firmware build 14.1.B.1.277). Instead of going over again how hilariously large this 6.4-inch, pen-friendly phone is, this time we'll focus on some early benchmark results, camera performance and Sony's very own UX features.
As you'll see after the break, many of the benchmark scores aren't too far off from what we saw on the MDP phone with the same Snapdragon 800 SoC, and the final units should be optimized with higher numbers. While we didn't manage to get CF-Bench and Quadrant running on the phone, the higher-than-before 3DMark score did cheer us up, meaning either Sony or Qualcomm's managed to fine tune the latter's new Adreno 330 GPU.

Meet Styx and Kerberos, Pluto's newly named moons

SETI's best known for its search for sentient life in the cosmos, but when the Hubble space telescope found a pair of new moons orbiting Pluto (at SETI's behest), it decided to do some planetoid naming, too. Today, SETI announced those names: Styx and Kerberos. The institute didn't grant titles to the moons itself, however. Instead, it put the onus on the public to come up with the proper names -- with instructions from the International Astronomical Union (IAU) that the nomenclature have something to do with the mythological underworld known as Hades. Voting lasted for two weeks, and SETI received over 450,000 regular votes and around 30,000 write-ins. Though many wished for the moons to be named for Stephen Colbert or the Romulan home world, the IAU found those choices to be unfit for the new moons. Instead, we have Styx (the river that separates earth from the underworld) and Kerberos (the three-headed dog that serves as the guardian to the underworld) -- who said studying Classics was a waste of time?

HTC confirms One S will no longer receive Android updates

It's not a Nexus, so suspend your disbelief: HTC's One S will not be getting any further Android updates. That's right, One S owners, your device is now officially a relic. In a statement released to the press, HTC today confirmed that the mid-ranger, which bowed last year in tandem with the One X, will remain frozen on 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. That means current owners will have to look elsewhere (read: developer forums) for unofficial access to Sense 5 ROMs and the latest tweaks Google's packed into Android 4.2 updates. We can't really lament the loss of BlinkFeed, but it sure would've been nice to see HTC port Zoe over to the device. At the very least, this makes a strong case for that Google Play edition One and its promise of consistent updates.

"We can confirm that the HTC One S will not receive further Android OS updates and will remain on the current version of Android and HTC Sense. We realize this news will be met with disappointment by some, but our customers should feel confident that we have designed the HTC One S to be optimized with our amazing camera and audio experiences."

Microsoft and Nokia launch Music Mix Party, let friends share a streaming Xbox playlist (video)

Nokia Music Mix Party lets friends share an Xbox music stream

We've seen a few attempts at shared audio streaming, but many of these depend on specialized apps or hardware. Microsoft and Nokia could clear that hurdle with their newly launched Nokia Music Mix Party, which leans on what many of us have at home. Xbox 360 owners with an Xbox Live Gold subscription just have to visit a website that starts an artist-based streaming playlist with a custom QR code; after that, anyone in the room with a mobile device can scan the code and vote on which songs should play next. The service is free to use during July, although we don't yet know if and how pricing will change afterward. Is Mix Party simple? You bet -- but it could keep guests happy at future shindigs, even if they don't care for our tastes in music.

Pebble seals exclusive retail deal, lands at Best Buy July 7th for $150 (video

Yes, last night's rumors were true. Pebble just announced that it's sealed an exclusive retail deal to sell its iconic smartwatch at Best Buy locations nationwide. The wearable device is available online right now (source link below) and will land in stores starting July 7th for $150. Color choices include Jet Black today followed by Cherry Red in August. Pebble will continue taking pre-orders for the other colors (orange, grey and white) directly on its own website. The partnership with Best Buy also brings new retail packaging (above) to store shelves. We've sure come a long way since Pebble launched its Kickstarter campaign -- one of the most successful ever -- back in April 2012. Check out the promo video and full PR after the break.

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