3-D silly but EVO 3D smart overall

There has been a big push for 3-D at movie theaters and on TV sets, so it was only a matter of time before digitally enhanced fisticuffs started popping out of smartphone screens, too.

The 3-D technology is the most boasted-about feature on HTC's new EVO 3D smartphone, which goes on sale Friday. You can watch 3-D movies and play 3-D games without putting on annoying glasses. You can shoot 3-D photos and videos, too.

The inclusion of 3-D is gimmicky and might make you feel nauseous, but it is creative at times and the EVO 3D is a fine smartphone overall. The phone costs $200 with a two-year service plan with Sprint Nextel Corp.

I wear glasses, so I was excited that I didn't need to put on another pair to try out the EVO 3D. The phone creates the appearance of depth using a technique called autostereoscopy. The screen has a layer that guides light so that the light from one pixel goes to the left eye and from the next to the right.

I got right to work watching a 3-D version of "The Green Hornet," which came with the phone. I was wowed by a fight scene where glass seemed to be flying out of the screen. A friend I handed the phone to even flinched when the shards blew past.

I also checked out some animated 3-D clips on YouTube. The scenes that looked best were, not surprisingly, those with people and objects in the foreground and background and with things moving right toward the camera.

Whether I was watching 3-D or 2-D videos, the phone's 4.3-inch touch screen was crisp and colors looked vivid.

That said, my brain wasn't thrilled about processing the 3-D images, so I couldn't stare at the display for long without feeling queasy.

It was also evident that I wouldn't really be able to share the dizzying experience with friends unless I handed them the phone. You need to tilt the EVO 3D in your hands until you find the viewing angle that is optimal for your eyes. That may not be an optimal angle for the person next to or behind you.

You can, however, involve buddies by letting them star in a 3-D movie or in photos that you shoot with the EVO 3D. The phone takes pictures or videos by recording overlapping images when its two 5-megapixel cameras are side by side. The camera lenses are positioned next to each other only when the phone is on its side, so you can only capture things in 3-D in "landscape" mode.

I couldn't manage to take any great shots, however. The images always seemed fuzzily misaligned, even with the inclusion of a feature for adjusting the alignment of the images.

I was more successful with the 3-D video camera, though I couldn't test whether objects really fly off the screen because my colleagues wouldn't hold the camera for me so I could throw things at them (even when I promised to lob only wads of paper at the lens).

I could see how the 3-D mode might come in handy for recording sporting events, especially if you're crazy enough to jump into the fray and fast enough to stay ahead of the action.

If you're not into flowers or people popping out of the screen, you can switch to 2-D mode by pressing a button on the side of the phone.

I also liked that the phone had a button dedicated to the camera, which I always find easier to take photos and videos with than a virtual touch-screen button.

The phone has a front-facing camera, too, for taking self-portraits or video chatting.

Not wanting to lose my lunch all over the phone, I took a break from the 3-D features and checked out the rest of the phone.

The mostly black EVO 3D runs on Gingerbread, which is the latest version of Google's Android meant for smartphones. As I've seen on other Gingerbread-running phones, the software is easy to use and speedy. 

The phone uses HTC's Sense software as well, the best part of which is a customizable smarty-pants screen that is visible when the phone is locked. You can set it to show stock quotes, weather, social network updates or other content without unlocking the device. 

The phone swiftly opened applications and Web pages and streamed content with ease over Sprint's next-generation, high-speed 4G network. 

It was also easy to type on, as it includes the uber-useful Swype keyboard software, which lets you slide your fingers on the virtual keyboard to type. I also liked the inclusion of an FM radio, as it offers a way to listen to tunes without requiring Internet access or the storage of songs on the phone itself. 

Aside from the stomach-churning aspect of the 3-D feature, I had only a few complaints: 

• I still make plenty of calls on cellphones, so I was disappointed that the EVO 3D's sound quality wasn't very good, with voices sounding muffled.

• The phone's battery life wasn't fabulous. In a day of heavy usage, which included making phone calls, recording and watching 3-D videos and surfing the Web, I got 5.5 hours before needing a recharge.

• I missed having a built-in kickstand, a feature available on the EVO 3D's predecessor, the EVO 4G.

Nonetheless, the EVO 3D has strong software and plenty of other useful features. Although 3-D is touted as this smartphone's coolest feature, it's merely a silly extra that's occasionally useful than a necessity. And beyond that, the phone has a lot more to offer that won't make you feel queasy. 

3-D silly but EVO 3D smart overall

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How to Burn PS3 Games to DVD

How to Burn PS3 Games to DVD. Read the instruction manual of Game Copy Wizard, and install the software onto your computer. When you're done installing the software, run it. Following that, insert your original PS3 game into the...

What could be the most prized possession for a hardcore gamer? His games, of course. For games consuming a lot of space in your PC, burn PS3 games into a DVD, and give your computer hard disk some 'space' and breaths of respite. It doesn't matter for what purpose are you copying games. Whether you're burning a DVD of your Sony Playstation 3 games for security reasons, or just dread a device crash, we tell you how to burn PS3 games to DVD with the help of a single software. You know what's amazing with these software programs? They are compatible with all games, and do not require a particular platform. What follows below is a simple method of burning PS3 onto a DVD, easily and effortlessly. Things you require:

• Good quality blank DVD (Blu-ray Disc preferred)
• Computer with a DVD burner
• PS3 Game copying software

Following words illustrate how to burn PS3 games to disc. Take a look.

• Easy Steps for Burning PS3 Games to DVD

I would like to mention one thing right at the onset, that you cannot burn PS3 games for free which have been burned onto a Blu-ray Disc in the first place. These games consume as less as 25 GB - 35 GB of space, and for this reason, compressing them, or accommodating them in a DVD is not possible until and unless you're using a recordable DVD or Blu-ray disc. Also, you need to have a special software that is capable of bypassing the copyright protection that Sony has set for its games.

Any software, for example, Game Copy Wizard or ImgBurn are straightforward software that help you burn your best PS3 games to DVD, without costing you much. Game Copy Wizard is one software that can easily be fetched in $30. We're going to be discussing about burning PS3 games with the help of this software. Simple instructions, and no rocket science involved. The following words explain how to burn PS3 games to DVD:

1. Read the instruction manual of Game Copy Wizard, and install the software onto your computer.
2. When you're done installing the software, run it. Following that, insert your original PS3 game into the computer, and follow the guidelines that tell you how to copy PS3 games to hard drive.
3. When you're done copying, insert the blank DVD, and with the help of the Game Copy Wizard manual, burn your PS3 games in accordance with the guidelines.
4. When all is done, remove the DVD, and you have the backup of your PS3 games in your hand.

How to Burn PS3 Games to DVD

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Google Launch Chromebook Laptop

Google Launch Chromebook Laptop.. The company will offer businesses its Chromebooks, along with technical support, as a hassle-free solution for $28 a month. The laptops, using processors made by Intel, will be available...

Google has launched an audacious attack on Microsoft, announcing laptop computers called Chromebooks that will use its own operating system – rather than Windows – will ship in June.

The machines will be made by Samsung and Acer, two companies that have previously made machines running Microsoft's software.

The laptops will coordinate tightly with Google's "cloud" online services, and have almost no capacity to store information. Instead, the bare-bones operating system is essentially a web browser that steers users to applications like email and spreadsheets directly on the web, rather than storing software such as Outlook or Word directly on PCs.

The move is Google's first directly onto Microsoft's home turf of PC operating systems and the Office suite software – a pair of monopolies that generate around $5bn of profits for the company every quarter. Until now it has largely avoided direct competition with Bill Gates's company on its strongest areas, focusing instead on internet areas such as search and webmail and online document services.

The Chromebooks shift day-to-day functions onto the internet, removing what Google sees as the time-consuming burden of tasks associated with traditional PCs such as installing software and updates, backing up files and running antivirus checks, executives said.

"The complexity of managing your computer is torturing users," Google co-founder Sergey Brin said at the announcement at Google's IO conference in San Francisco. "It's a flawed model fundamentally. Chromebooks are a new model that doesn't put the burden of managing your computer on yourself."

PC sales have grown steadily over the past 15 years, with brief dips during the recession, but there are signs of slowdowns, especially in Europe and the US, among consumers. Businesses are Microsoft's most loyal customers. Google is aiming at such "enterprise" customers, too, with the suggestion that their data will be safer in the cloud than on a PC that could get lost or stolen.

The company will offer businesses its Chromebooks, along with technical support, as a hassle-free solution for $28 a month. The laptops, using processors made by Intel, will be available for order initially in the US on Amazon.com and Best Buy's online store from 15 June.

As with Google's Android mobile operating system, the Chrome operating system (Chrome OS) will be free. The intention is that it will encourage people to spend more time on the internet – where they are more likely to use Google and so see or click on its adverts, because Google is the dominant provider of search adverts, with about 90% of world share.

In another move encouraging people to move their computing off their PCs and onto "the cloud", Google on Tuesday launched an online music locker service in the US letting users store and listen to their songs wherever they are.

The operating system and Chromebook PCs expand on Google's web browser, also called Chrome, that competes against Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Earlier on Wednesday Google announced that there are 160m users of its Chrome browser, launched in September 2008.

Google targets Microsoft with launch of Chromebook laptop

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RIM Announces New BlackBerry Bold

RIM Announces New BlackBerry Bold... RIM calls the new software BlackBerry 7 OS and says it provides an easier and faster user experience, with an updated Web browser

Research In Motion Ltd. on Monday showed off a new version of one of its high-end BlackBerrys, updating the Bold with a touch screen and fresh software.

T-Mobile USA said it will carry the BlackBerry Bold 9900 later this year.

Research in Motion is under pressure to update its high-end phones as it's losing out to iPhones and phones running Google Inc.'s Android software. Last week, the company cut its earnings and sales forecasts for the current quarter, saying it's selling fewer and cheaper phones than expected. Its stock plummeted. The fall continued Monday, with the shares losing 55 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $48.10.

Like the original Bold, launched in 2008, the 9900 has a keyboard under a 2.8-inch-screen in landscape orientation. It's thinner than before, at just 10.5 millimeters, making it the thinnest BlackBerry yet.

RIM calls the new software BlackBerry 7 OS and says it provides an easier and faster user experience, with an updated Web browser.

The new phone will come in two versions: one for the type of network used by T-Mobile USA and AT&T, and the other for the type used by Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile USA is the only carrier to announce that it will carry the phone, so far.

RIM demonstrated the phone on the first day of its BlackBerry World conference in Orlando, Fla.

RIM Announces New BlackBerry Bold

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Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080p Review

Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and more. Listen to music on Pandora, or listen to your own iTunes playlists. Even watch major sports, news, or original Internet programming. It's all available whenever you want it. The all-new, top-of-the-line Roku XDS sets a new standard with 1080p streaming video, the latest wireless technology, and Instant Replay. All for under $100. No wonder Roku is the best selling streaming player ever.

*  Works with any TV—up to 1080p*. The XDS delivers the biggest and best streaming video experience you can get.     

* It's really easy. Be up and running in 5 minutes. Roku works with any TV.

* No PC needed. Roku connects to your high speed Internet connection wirelessly. With the XDS, you get extended-range, dual-band Wireless-N performance.

* No extra monthly bills.Use your existing subscriptions (like Netflix or Hulu Plus), or enjoy free and on-demand content (like Pandora, Flickr, and Amazon Instant Video). 

* It's always getting better. Roku is constantly expanding its library of streaming entertainment, so there will always be something new to watch.

Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080p Review

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Nokia Launches New Symbian Smartphones

Nokia Launches New Symbian Smartphones... Nokia said it will use Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Phone software as the main platform for its smartphones in an effort to recover lost share from the iPhone and RIM's Blackberry. But Nokia said it will continue to develop and use the new Symbian software...

Nokia Corp. on Tuesday launched its first smartphones to run on the updated Symbian software with new icons, enhancements and a faster browser.

Nokia said the two models — the E6 and X7 — have longer battery life, better text input and new Ovi Maps applications with improved search and public transport routes.

The Nokia E6, with a standard QWERTY keypad and high resolution touch display, is aimed at corporate customers, while the Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused handset with a 4-inch (10-centimeter) display made for games.

The world's largest cellphone maker did not price the handsets.

Markets seemed unimpressed by the announcement, which comes as Nokia continues to struggle against stiff competition, especially from Apple Inc. and Research in Motion.

Nokia stock fell more than 1.5 percent to euro6.18 ($8.92) in afternoon trading in Helsinki.

More than 200 million phones, with 150 million more expected on the market, use Symbian technology, seen by some developers as clumsy and dated. At the end of last year, it was surpassed by Android as the world's No. 1 smart phone software.

Nokia said the new, faster Symbian software, known as Symbian Anna, will be available for previously released top models, including the N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 devices "in coming months."

In February, Nokia and Microsoft surprised the industry by announcing they were joining forces to challenge major rivals — Apple's iPhone and Android, Google's software for phones and tablets.

Nokia said it will use Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Phone software as the main platform for its smartphones in an effort to recover lost share from the iPhone and RIM's Blackberry. But Nokia said it will continue to develop and use the new Symbian software.

The company, which claims 1.3 billion daily users of its devices, said it hopes the partnership with Microsoft will lead to capturing the next billion users to join the Internet in developing growth markets.

Nokia, an Espoo-based company, near Helsinki, employs 132,500 people.

Nokia Launches New Symbian Smartphones

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BlackBerry PlayBook review

BlackBerry PlayBook review... The PlayBook supports Flash video playback — something the iPad doesn't do — and HTML5 for rich video content. Thus, you can browse the Web much the way you do on a computer. There are a few annoying quirks: For example, the PlayBook took a long time when scrolling through long documents or Web pages...

You need three things to compete with Apple's iPad tablet computer: A gorgeous, easy-to-use device that people will love, a bustling app store and an attractive price tag.

Nobody has been able to match the iPad thus far. But the PlayBook, the first effort from BlackBerry smartphone maker Research In Motion, has emerged as one of the strongest contenders.

On the surface, the PlayBook looks similar to other iPad competitors: Its slick touch screen measures 7 inches diagonally, smaller than the iPad's but comparable with those of others. It has front and rear cameras for snapping photos and video conferencing and a black rubberized plastic back and sides.

What's different is the software powering the PlayBook. Most non-iPad tablets use Google's Android software; RIM developed its own — a smart decision, yielding a device that is a pleasure to navigate and filled with cool features. Although RIM's software was built from scratch, it has hints of the BlackBerry phone's interface.

When it goes on sale on Tuesday, the cheapest version will cost $499 — the same as the cheapest iPad. It comes with Wi-Fi capabilities and 16 gigabytes of memory. A model with 32 GB will cost $599, and the 64 GB version will go for $699. Sprint plans a version that works over cellular connections this summer, rivaling the iPad's ability to connect on AT&T's network.

Unfortunately, the PlayBook isn't yet much of a competitor on the app front: There are just 3,000 applications currently optimized for the tablet, and during my testing it appeared unable to download App World apps available for BlackBerry smartphones.

By contrast, there are more than 65,000 apps available for the iPad, which can also run iPhone apps (Apple offers more than 350,000 apps total). And while it's unclear exactly how many tablet-specific Apps there are for Android, Android tablets can run any of the more than 150,000 apps in the Android Market.

But the PlayBook aims to catch up, in a way: Later this year, it will be able to run Android apps, too.

In my hands, the PlayBook felt solid and easy to use. There are just a few buttons on the top for adjusting volume and playing or pausing music or videos. There's also a tiny button for turning on the device — so teeny, in fact, that I regretted trimming my nails right before testing.

Finding my way around the PlayBook was delightfully easy and fast because it has a speedy processor.

At the top of the main page sit device settings and alerts for things such as software updates. Across the bottom, you see a scroll of apps that you can swipe through or expand to fill the screen by swiping a finger upward.

In the middle of the screen are small thumbnails of your open apps; you can slide your finger left or right to sort through these and pick or dismiss them with a tap or a flick.

One cool feature: Open apps remain active even when you're looking at them from this view. So if you open the camera and later sort through your open apps, the viewfinder will still be working in the tiny thumbnail of the camera app.

Even though the Blackberry PlayBook is smaller than the iPad, its screen was bright, colors looked rich and images were sharp. I felt immersed watching videos — a combination of the excellent display and simple frame surrounding.

The PlayBook supports Flash video playback — something the iPad doesn't do — and HTML5 for rich video content. Thus, you can browse the Web much the way you do on a computer. There are a few annoying quirks: For example, the PlayBook took a long time when scrolling through long documents or Web pages.

In general, though, the PlayBook's screen was very touch sensitive, and I especially liked how the PlayBook takes advantage of it. Instead of hitting the power button to wake up the device, you can make one long swipe upward with a finger.

When using an application, a long upward swipe will bring you back to the main page that shows the settings and your applications. Make a hard swipe to the left or right to flip through your other open applications. Another neat trick: You can zoom in on Flash videos by spreading two fingers on the screen.

Like so many other tablets, the PlayBook includes cameras for taking photos and videos and for video chatting. On the rear, the PlayBook sports a pretty simple 5-megapixel camera that took decent photos (no flash, though) and videos. The 3-megapixel front camera is probably more suited to video calls. I wasn't able to try it, though, as RIM isn't planning to roll out a video chat app until after the device is available. 

Of course, RIM is known for its focus on business users, and the PlayBook can do plenty of work, too. It includes word processing, spreadsheet and slideshow apps and can easily be attached to an HD TV through its Micro HDMI port (for presentations or, if you're like me, streaming online movies to a flat screen). Its onscreen virtual keyboard was surprisingly accurate and took very little time to get used to. 

And if you have a BlackBerry phone, a nifty feature called BlackBerry Bridge links the two devices over Bluetooth. When I tested it, it wasn't fully functional. But it promises to let you easily do things on the tablet such as using the BlackBerry Messenger app on your phone and accessing BlackBerry e-mails and calendar. For a business user who feels constrained by the BlackBerry's small screen, this could be a nice complement.

RIM expects the PlayBook to get eight to 10 hours of battery life while multitasking. I got about six hours while surfing the Web, streaming Internet radio, checking e-mails and streaming videos. Maybe this was actually a hint that I should limit my music video habit. 

The PlayBook is an impressive tablet — it has to be, considering the iPad's head start. And if RIM can ramp up its app offerings, it will be an even heartier contender.

BlackBerry PlayBook

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Acer Iconia Tab A100 Review

Acer Iconia Tab A100 Review : The price of Acer Iconia Tab A100 it’s 483$, and can be bought starting from 20 April. It has a 7 inch display, and a hardware platform based on Tegra 2. The processor it’s a dual core of 1Ghz and, only 512 MB RAM

Acer announced the release of the new Tab, called Iconia A100 on April 20. After the huge success of Ipad, many manufactures are trying to create tabs to compete with the big Apple. However, the market it’s almost owned by Apple, by 70%. In the next lines you will find a review of the Acer Iconia Tab A100, and we will try to tell you if it’s worth buying one.

The Acer Iconia Tab A100, it’s a tablet that run’s on Android 3.0 system, and it’s a low-cost gadget. Acer it’s trying to create a useful pad, at a competitive price. The price of Acer Iconia Tab A100 it’s 483$, and can be bought starting from 20 April. It has a 7 inch display, and a hardware platform based on Tegra 2. The processor it’s a dual core of 1Ghz and, only 512 MB RAM. The storage it’s supplied by a memory card of 8 GB.

The list of facilities also includes Bluetooth module and 803.11n Wifi connectivity. On the front, you can find a 2MP camera, for video conferences, and a 5MP camera with autofocus and Led flash on the back. The memory card can be extended up to 32Gb capacity.

The new tab from Acer can be connected on the PC by a Micro USB interface and also Multimedia, HDMI connector.

Like all the tabs, and smartphones, even the Acer Iconia has an accelerometer, gyroscope, and digital compass. The screen resolution it’s 600 x 1024 pixles.

When I was asked to review the new Acer Iconia Tab A100, I first noticed, the weight. It’s not really the lightest gadget in the world. It has 450 grams, and 470 grams, the 3G version.
Looking forward to see what impact this new tab will have on the market. 

Acer Iconia Tab A100 Review

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Lenovo IdeaCentre A700 review

Lenovo IdeaCentre A700 review : On the bottom of the screen you can find a bad with LEDs. It’s used to illuminate the keyboard when you want to work at night with the lights off. The size of the Lenovo IdeaCentre A700 it’s similar to the power supply from gaming laptops...

The market for PC’s All-in-one is low yet. Very few people are thinking to save space on the desk by using this kind of PC. Almost everybody’s looking to buy a monitor, and a desktop PC . The price for all in one pc’s is also much bigger than a common computer.

We will present a review of Lenovo Idea Centre A 700, that will make you understand if it’s worth buying. We are very interested to see what impact this computer from Lenovo will produce.

Under the Lenovo A700’s screen, behind the shiny grilles have been placed two JBL speakers signed. For most users, they can replace a small sound system. On the right side of the pc, you can find an optical drive, and on opposite side, the system connectors. The others are placed on the bottom of the screen. The one from the right are actually touch-sensitive buttons, used to adjust brightness and speaker volume.

On the bottom of the screen you can find a bad with LEDs. It’s used to illuminate the keyboard when you want to work at night with the lights off. The size of the Lenovo IdeaCentre A700 it’s similar to the power supply from gaming laptops . The maximum power it’s 150 W .

Specifications :
Display: 23.1 “, 1920×1080, capacitive touch screen, LED
CPU: Intel Core i5-480M, 2.66 GHz, 3 MB Cache, 2.93 GHzTurbo Boost, HT, 35 W TDP
Chipset: Intel HM55
RAM: 2 x 2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
Integrated GPU: Intel HD Graphics
Dedicated GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 1GB DDR3
HDD: 1 TB, 3.5 “, 7200 RPM, 32 MB buffer
Optical Drive: DVD RW
Network: LAN, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth
Connectors: 6 x USB 2.0, Firewire, HDMI in, HDMI out, A / V in,SPDIF
Dimensions: -
Weight: 9.7 kg

Other: Wireless keyboard and mouse, webcam, SD and MScard reader, JBL audio system

Lenovo IdeaCentre A700 review

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White iPhone in stores by end of April

White iPhone in stores by end of April... With recent reports suggesting that the launch of the next-generation iPhone may be some way off, the release of a white iPhone may be enough to keep the popular product in the headlines, boosting sales at the same time

When we tell you that the long-awaited white iPhone will be in stores by the end of April, you may well ask, Yeah, but April what year?

A report from Bloomberg Businessweek says that according to three unnamed sources who are apparently familiar with Apple’s plans, the white iPhone will be lining up alongside its black counterpart by the end of this month – that’s within the next sixteen days.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless will be distributing the phones to patient customers who for the last 10 months have been hanging on and hanging on (possibly clinging on by this stage).

When Steve Jobs proudly announced the coming of the white iPhone last year, few expected to have to wait this long to see it in stores. Due to a number of manufacturing issues, which included paint peeling when the product became hot, the launch was delayed. It seems that now, however, these problems have been overcome.

With recent reports suggesting that the launch of the next-generation iPhone may be some way off, the release of a white iPhone may be enough to keep the popular product in the headlines, boosting sales at the same time.

But will the addition of merely a new color be enough for Apple to maintain the edge in an increasingly crowded smartphone market? Only time will tell.

And for anyone still doubting the coming of the white iPhone, further evidence pointing to an April launch came in the form of a tweet from Apple’s senior vice president of marketing, Phil Schiller. The March 14 message reads: The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!).

For those keen to get their mitts on a white iPhone, things are looking up – Phil even says which spring. 

White iPhone

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Intel Launches Chip For Tablet Computers

Intel launches chip for tablet computers... As for smartphones, Intel says a processor for that market is scheduled for release later this year. Intel, based in Santa Clara, Calif., has not announced specifications for those chips

Intel Corp. has launched a new chip for tablet computers, as the world's most powerful semiconductor company aims to become a contender in the market for mobile chips.

Intel's chips are in 80 percent of laptops and desktop PCs, but it's had less success getting its chips into smaller devices such as cellphones and tablets. Known for pushing the processing speeds of its chips to the limit, energy efficiency has now become critical for Intel as gadgets and their batteries get smaller, testing the limits of engineering in a different way. And with more consumers starting to opt to buy tablets instead of upgrading their PCs, Intel is looking to diversify its revenue sources.

Intel's chips have been maligned as too power-hungry for the smallest of mobile devices, a criticism Intel is hoping its new chips address. Intel is trying to elbow in to a mobile market dominated by lower-power processors from companies such as Qualcomm Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. Apple Inc. designs its own chip for the iPad.

Intel also faces a challenge in that mobile chips are generally built around a different chip design, from a company called ARM Holdings Inc., than the so-called x86 design that Intel uses. Intel said Monday that more than 35 tablet and "hybrid" computers are being built on its newest chip, which is part of the Atom family of chips.

As for smartphones, Intel says a processor for that market is scheduled for release later this year. Intel, based in Santa Clara, Calif., has not announced specifications for those chips.

Intel has a history of dabbling in, and retreating from, the wireless business, so the company's success in this market is not a foregone conclusion.

It sold its mobile-chip business in 2006, then last year bought the wireless-chip division of Germany's Infineon Technologies AG for $1.4 billion. With that deal, Intel bought its way back in to a booming market, but only got a bit player. The Infineon division, while notching some high-profile wins such as Apple's iPhone, only owned about 5 percent of the total market for processors and other communications chips for mobile phones, according to Gartner Inc.

Analysts are split about Intel's prospects. Some say Intel is too late to the game to score any major market share. Others caution that Intel, with $11.7 billion in net income last year on $43.6 billion in revenue, has plenty of money to pour into making its mobile division a winner.

 Intel launches chip for tablet computers

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Sony adding music to PSP video game gadgets

Sony adding music to PSP videogame gadgets... Sony charges a $3.99 monthly subscription fee for basic Music Unlimited service, which offers commercial free listening.

Sony revealed that it was adding a streaming music service to PlayStation Portable handheld gaming gadgets next week.

A Music Unlimited service powered by Qriocity will let PSP users with PlayStation Network accounts tap into a library of millions of songs stored on computers in the Internet "cloud" beginning April 14, according to Sony.

PSP devices will need to be connected wirelessly to the Internet at "hotspots" to access tunes, according to the Japanese consumer electronics titan.

The service already streams music to personal computers and an array of Sony devices including newer model Bravia televisions, Blu-ray disk players and PlayStation 3 videogame consoles.

"PSP owners can also enjoy a common and synchronized music experience on their PS3 systems as well as PCs and other network-enabled Sony devices without the need to manage or transfer music files," Sony said in a release.

Sony charges a $3.99 monthly subscription fee for basic Music Unlimited service, which offers commercial free listening.

Sony adding music to PSP videogame gadgets

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Apple iOS 4.3.2 to launch within two weeks

Apple iOS 4.3.2 to launch within two weeks.. Apple’s hugely popular range of portable devices run the company’s propriety iOS operating system with the full array of iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch products set to benefit from any upcoming patch.

Bug fix and security patch expected in iOS 4.3.2.

Following hot on the heels of the latest software update, Apple is to launch iOS version 4.3.2 within the next two weeks, new reports suggest.

With claimed insider sources at Apple confirming the existence and imminent release of iOS 4.3.2 the operating system update is expected to touch down by the end of the month in order to address a number of bugs and security flaws within the current offering.

Whilst it remains unclear exactly what bugs and security issues the mooted iOS release will attend, many iPhone users will no doubt be hoping for a correction to the device’s alarm bug that reared its head once again recently when British clocks moved to BST causing preset alarms to fail to activate.

Apple’s hugely popular range of portable devices run the company’s propriety iOS operating system with the full array of iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch products set to benefit from any upcoming patch.

Apple iOS 4.3.2 to launch within two weeks

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Root Android App Shows Coverage Maps

Root Android App Shows Coverage Maps. However, now that tens of thousands of iPhone users have the app, that's changed. "Ironically, the most common request on the iPhone app is 'can you enable persistent data collection,'" he said. Users want to be able to turn on data collection for a specific period, for example, during their commute

Root Metrics on Wednesday will start offering an Android app that lets users compare coverage of the various mobile operators and contribute to Root's network measurement service. "

Root collects data about wireless network performance, sharing some with consumers and selling more detailed reports to operators. It collects the data in two ways, including hiring people who drive around cities in cars equipped with phones from all the large carriers running Root's data collection software. 

In addition, Root lets iPhone and now Android users download software to their phones that collects and sends Root data about network coverage and performance and also shares with users some of the same data.

Root had offered a bare-bones beta app for Android and BlackBerry users more than a year ago, but it didn't have much of a user interface, said Paul Griff, co-founder and CEO of Root. 

With the new Android app, like the iPhone app, users can view a map of their location that shows the coverage of their operator, using a color-coded scheme where green is the best coverage and black is the worst. Users also get a basic comparison of coverage of the other operators in their area. Anyone can view the maps on Root's website http://www.rootmetrics.com/. 

The apps also let users test the speed of their data connections. On the Android app, that test uses an updated method. On the iPhone client, the app tests data rates by downloading a relatively small 64K bit file to the phone. 

"The way people use their phones and what they do with the data network has changed dramatically," Griff explained. "It used to be you'd grab a Google search page or get directions or e-mail." The 64K bit test was designed to mimic the most common use of data on phones. 

Now, however, people are downloading movies and music to their phones and uploading photos. Using the small packet size doesn't give a fair measure of the higher-speed data networks, he said. 

So the new Android app measures speed over a period of time and by opening multiple concurrent sessions, which is the way that the Android browser works by default, he said. In addition to download speed, the app measures performance by collecting data about whether the connection gets broken, how quickly the session opens and what are the minimum and maximum speeds during the test period. 

For now, only the basic download speed data will be displayed to phone users. Root expects to soon update the iPhone client to test data downloads in a similar way. 

Also, in the second quarter, Root expects to update the maps to display additional network measurement information. That could help in instances where the map may show excellent coverage while a user is unable to make a call because the network is overloaded. "We are developing and will start introducing in the public maps some new ways of filtering data that will give you a look at congestion and other dimensions of performance," he said. 

In both apps, the only time it collects data is when the user interacts with the application. The original beta applications collected data in the background without user involvement. "The feedback was people didn't want anybody collecting anything without overt involvement," Griff said. 

However, now that tens of thousands of iPhone users have the app, that's changed. "Ironically, the most common request on the iPhone app is 'can you enable persistent data collection,'" he said. Users want to be able to turn on data collection for a specific period, for example, during their commute. Griff said Root plans to add a feature like that in the future. 

Next week, Root expects to release its first full-scale market profile, starting with Seattle. The report, some of which Root will release publicly, will rank carriers by voice and data network performance. The company hopes to release such reports, which it will sell to operators and other interested companies, for more than 130 markets this year. 

Targeting operators with such products has kept Root busy enough that it has put off one of the initial goals of the company: offering a service for enterprises. "We will get there," Griff said. "It was the original genesis of the company. But frankly I don't foresee us focusing on that enterprise market in the coming couple of quarters."

Root Android App Shows Coverage Maps

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Office Depot launches mobile apps

“The advanced functionality of Office Depot’s new mobile applications for the iPhone and Android-based phones provide our customers with a best-in-class experience, including the ability to check out and purchase products without being redirected to another site outside of the mobile application.”

iPhone And Android Apps Launch From Office Depot

Office Depot has expanded its mobile offerings and has launched an iPhone and Android app available for free download on iTunes and the Android Market.

The new apps are part of the company’s broader “Office Depot Anywhere” strategy aimed at helping people show via a variety of mobile platforms and m-commerce sites.

The apps allow users to browse and buy products from their mobile phone, read product revies, find a store location, access order history, track shipments, scan a product barcode in store for detailed descriptions, reviews and pricing. 

The Office Depot iPhone and Android apps also allows users to “follow” their mobile shopping cart across multiple devices.

“We know our customers are busy and sometimes the only time they have to shop for their office needs is between meetings, in the airport, or from the road,” said Barry Litwin, Vice President of E-Commerce for Office Depot. 

“The advanced functionality of Office Depot’s new mobile applications for the iPhone and Android-based phones provide our customers with a best-in-class experience, including the ability to check out and purchase products without being redirected to another site outside of the mobile application.” 

Office Depot says it plans to add more mobile platforms in the future, including BlackBerry and Microsoft operating systems, as well as tablet devices.

iPhone And Android Apps

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Sony NSX-46GT1 – Google TV

I got the 46 inch model in my labs for review and all these panels, except for 24 inch model, have LED backlighting. The 24 inch TV is based on standard CCFL technology. The cost ranges from $1,399 for 46 inch product to $599 for 24 inch TV. The pricing is attractive and it is on par with other large HDTVs in the market

Sony NSX-46GT1 is a TV with Google TV and it is the first panel to have this feature. The service is integrated in to the panel itself and you don’t need something like an external set top box for getting the Google TV features. Apart from that, this is a standard edge-lit LCD TV and you won’t find a lot of higher end features here like 120 Hz video processing. Google TV is the main feature here and it lets you search through internet video sources and also your TV sources from antenna, set top or cable from the same search window. You just have to go in, look for the desired show title and then browse through the results from internet, satellite, cable or variety of TV services.

Sony NSX-46GT1 is the first TV ever to incorporate all the sources in to a single search window. This TV has a unique remote and I’ve never seen anything like it before. The clicker looks very similar to a PS3 controller and comes with a full QWERTY keyboard for searching the content. Another unique feature on the clickers is the touch sensitive mouse located on the right side for moving the cursor around. This mouse area is flanked by left, right, down and up buttons which makes the selection easy. I liked the remote, it is pretty slick but also bulkier all others I have had till now. It has a learning curve. This remote is based on RF technology and you don’t have to be in line of sight for controlling the TV.

You can also control other devices AV devices or cable box through the Sony NSX-46GT1. But for full integration, you will have to hook this TV up to dish DVR. This TV is available in four different screen sizes of 32 inches, 40 inches, 46 inches, and 24 inches. I got the 46 inch model in my labs for review and all these panels, except for 24 inch model, have LED backlighting. The 24 inch TV is based on standard CCFL technology. The cost ranges from $1,399 for 46 inch product to $599 for 24 inch TV. The pricing is attractive and it is on par with other large HDTVs in the market.

Sony will be announcing a Blu-ray player called NSG-ZT1 with a price tag of $399. This player too has all these Google TV features and it is for people who own a TV and still want the Google TV goodies. Sony NSX-46GT1 has apps like Twitter, Amazon Video on Demand, Netflix, etc. Sony will be getting more apps soon like Facebook.

Another cool feature on the Sony NSX-46GT1 is its access to the internet. There is a Chrome browser built-in for surfing through the video Websites like PBS.org, ComedyCentral.com, etc. accessing these sites was easier as compared to other Internet based TVs that I’ve previously seen in the market. The only big disappointment is absence of Hulu.com. You cannot search Hulu or play any of its videos.

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Virus on Nokia phones

There is no payload, apart from the vastly shortened battery life caused by the constant scanning for Bluetooth-enabled devices. However the anti-virus is important in the phone to protect our phone from viruses. It also can makes our phone more stabile and free from viruses

Nokia is smartphone and has developed their phone very well. It is like a market law that advancement has risk. This smart phone also has a problem call virus. This phone has a virus create by some people hoping for the glory for himself. 

The virus danger the phone and make the phone broken and attack the soft program and also can broke the hard system. But there are many anti-viruses that provide to protect our Nokia. It is because the demand from people who use Nokia and do not want to get the viruses.

One of the anti virus is Symbols Caber is a proof-of-concept worm that replicates on Series 60 phones. This worm repeatedly sends itself to the first Bluetooth-enabled device that it can find, regardless of the type of device. For example, even a Bluetooth-enabled printer will be attacked if it is within range. The worm spreads as a .SIS file, which is installed into the APPS directory.

There is no payload, apart from the vastly shortened battery life caused by the constant scanning for Bluetooth-enabled devices. However the anti-virus is important in the phone to protect our phone from viruses. It also can makes our phone more stabile and free from viruses.

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Android Looks to Overtake BlackBerry, iPhone

Android devices will be tops in market share globally, not just in the United States. Nokia's share will continue to erode, as will RIM's and Apple's. Unless Apple can find a way to step up its development rate or provide a broader choice in models, it's likely that the popularity of iPhones will decline fairly quickly

 Google Android Smartphone OS Will Overtake BlackBerry, iPhone OSes.

News Analysis: Android-based devices could outnumber BlackBerry smartphones and iPhones by the end of 2010, and match Symbian sooner than expected.

I suppose that it's just as well that Apple's Steve Jobs is used to being at the bottom in terms of market share, because it's about to happen again. According to Gartner research it will happen by the end of 2010, when the Android mobile OS will have surpassed both Apple's iOS and Research In Motion's BlackBerry operating system to reach second place behind only Symbian. By 2014, according to the report, Android and Symbian will be approximately equal in market share.

Interestingly, this growth to parity with Symbian is happening about two years sooner than Gartner had predicted in 2009. What's happened, of course, is that Android has been adopted by a wide variety of manufacturers this year, and it's selling a lot of those devices at prices far lower than Apple sets for the iPhone. In the United States, where Nokia's presence is relatively low, Android is expected to reach the top spot by the end of 2010.

There are many reasons for the explosive growth of Android phones. In the United States, there are a lot of users who can't use the sole iPhone carrier, AT&T, and a lot who could but don't want to, either because they're happy with whatever company provides their wireless service now or because AT&T's service has gotten a poor reputation due to problems with iPhone service.

Android phones, on the other hand, are available from every carrier in the United States, and they're made by nearly every company that builds smartphones. 

This wide range of choices means that you don't have to do things Apple's way if you don't want to. And you don't have to use your smartphone in any particular way because of the number of form factors and interfaces available for Android devices. Giving users a range of choices has always worked well, and it works even better when that range of choices is also less expensive than the alternative.

Apple is trying to combat the market-share erosion caused by Android devices by letting other carriers sell the iPhone. In the United States, it appears that T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless will be getting the iPhone in the near future. However, the chance of Apple actually pulling off an Android upset is remote. The iPhone is too expensive for many buyers who are looking for a phone that's smart enough, but still affordable. Android can offer that, while Apple has been going after the high end of the market and that isn't going to change.

It's the long run that's the most interesting, however. Just as Gartner missed the mark on Android growth last year, it's very likely the predictions are also too conservative this year. The reason lies in the nature of the Symbian market and Nokia's smartphones. Symbian has a large market share due to a preponderance of legacy devices, legacy here being another term for "old." While much of the world has a much lower level of turnover than happens in the United States and Western Europe, old phones are still going to be replaced when they die or when they fail to meet their users' needs. Nokia, with its aging phone population, faces that turnover much sooner than does the Android world. 

So what's going to happen is that a portion of those old Nokia phones are going to be replaced with Android devices, while a much smaller portion of Android devices will be replaced with Symbian phones. Nokia's market share will sink while Android's market share grows. I think the crossing point will happen sooner than predicted in 2014 and could happen as soon as the end of 2012.

At that point, Android devices will be tops in market share globally, not just in the United States. Nokia's share will continue to erode, as will RIM's and Apple's. Unless Apple can find a way to step up its development rate or provide a broader choice in models, it's likely that the popularity of iPhones will decline fairly quickly. RIM will have a similar problem with the BlackBerry, but not to the same extent. RIM has a solid business base that the other makers don't and can't get a part of. But that's not going to keep RIM at the top of the heap, either.

There is, of course, a wild card. Microsoft is getting ready to release its new phone and its new Windows Phone 7 operating system. If the Redmond team can get past the clunky interface and vague models showed in earlier versions of Windows Mobile and the ill-fated Kin line, and if the company can sell those phones at a highly competitive price, then you may see Microsoft gaining significant market share. Right now we don't know what will happen, but remember, one reason Windows has such a huge part of the computer operating system market today is because Microsoft let anybody sell Windows, and machines running it were far cheaper than those running the Mac OS. 

If Microsoft does the same thing with phones, then it could be a factor that upsets all of those carefully (or not-so-carefully) thought-out predictions. We'll have to see, but I think Android is still going to come out on top.

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Apple Approves Google Voice App

Some enterprising developers, such as Sean Kovacs, built apps such as GV Mobile that take the dialing and other capabilities from Google Voice and make them work on Apple's iPhone.

Apple Approves Google Voice App for iPhone App Store.

Apple accepted third-party Google Voice applications GV Mobile and GV Connect into its iPhone App Store. Google's own Google Voice app should be coming soon to the store.

More than 14 months after shutting the door on the official and third-party applications for Google Voice, Apple has relented, approving GV Mobile for the iPhone. 

Google Voice is a phone management application more than 1.4 million people use to route calls to their phones using a special phone number. 

The app, which enables free calls in the U.S. and cheap international calls, lets users enjoy automatic voicemail transcription, the ability to listen to live messages as they come in to voicemail and several other tools to make call management easier.

Google submitted a version of its app for the iPhone to Apple's App Store for approval in June 2009. Some enterprising developers, such as Sean Kovacs, built apps such as GV Mobile that take the dialing and other capabilities from Google Voice and make them work on Apple's iPhone.

Google's app was never approved, though Apple said it never actually rejected the app. 

The he said, she said touched off such scrutiny among the media that the Federal Communications Commission formally questioned Google, Apple and AT&T. Apple, it turned out, was indeed behind the rejection.

Third-party apps such as VoiceCentral and GV Mobile was originally approved but then removed for competing too closely with features on the iPhone. 

Now, Apple has done an about-face, accepting GV Mobile, Kovacs said on his blog Sept. 18.

The app is available for download from the iTunes Webstore here for $2.99. "After a long year and a half of being home sick, GV Mobile makes an epic return to the App Store," Kovacs wrote.

Like Google's version of the app, GV Mobile supports automatic transcription and voicemail playback and most other features. Apple also accepted GV Mobile rival GV Connect, which does what GV Mobile does and also costs $2.99 for purchase here. 

The move comes weeks after Apple loosened the reins on its App Store development rules and procedures after enough developers complained about the gauntlet they had to run.

It's a safe bet that Google's own Voice app will be approved by Apple, if not this year, than early 2011.

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How the iPad won over a skeptic

A lot of manufacturers want a piece of the tablet action, and we'll see quite a few options in stores this holiday season. For instance, Samsung Electronics Inc. has shown off a 7-inch tablet called the Galaxy Tab, and according to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. wireless carriers will sell it subsidized with two-year data service contracts.

At first glance, the iPad looked like a heavy, overgrown iPod Touch. After just a few months of use, however, this iPad skeptic realized that it's so much more — it's one of those devices I've always needed. Those don't come around very often.

Most things get less interesting the more examples you see of them. If you've never seen a computer before, the first one is a revelation, but each successive model gets less and less remarkable.

Apple Inc.'s iPad is the other way around. It looks more impressive in light of what's come before it. I've seen many tablet computers of different stripes since 2002, when Microsoft introduced Windows XP Tablet Edition. The quality has varied, but they've all been failures, even the recent ones. They're a Stonehenge's worth of near-useless slabs.

The iPad finally fulfills the promise of the tablet computer when it came out in April.

It cuts the mouse and keyboard out of the equation, giving us a straight, tactile connection. While the iPad builds on the iPhone, it feels like a bigger achievement. The first iPhone was a great phone, driven by far-thinking new ideas. But other people had made good phones before. Before the iPad, no one had made a good tablet computer. Even Apple failed with its first attempt, the Newton, back in the 90s.

When I first got my hands on an iPad for a review, I played games on it for about a month. My favorite strategy game, "Battle for Wesnoth," was written for the PC, but actually works better on the iPad, thanks to the immediacy of the touch interface. Several other games conspired to suck away my productivity, so it took me a while to realize that the iPad actually fulfills a long-time tablet vision as well: It's like a sheet of paper, electronified. That's what made me plunk down $499 for one of my own once I was done with the borrowed review unit.

I knew I was waiting for a device that could replace printouts, magazines, newspapers and books in my life. At first, I didn't think the iPad was it, because it's too heavy to hold comfortably in one hand. In particular, I need one hand free to steady myself on the New York subway. Better, I thought, to wait for a smaller device, something with a screen that measures 5 to 7 inches diagonally instead of the iPad's 9.7 inches.

I was wrong. The iPad isn't too heavy if I support it on a bag when standing. And the screen is just big and sharp enough to display decently a letter-sized document or a reformatted newspaper page with teasers for a couple of articles.

That means the last defenses that kept dead trees relevant to me have been overcome. I canceled the print subscription for one of my newspapers and went electronic. I've also started stuffing papers I want to have with me through a sheet-fed scanner and moved the resulting files to the iPad as PDFs. It's like ripping CDs to get MP3s; the iPad is like an iPod for paper.

Replacing paper was the rationale of Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle e-reader, but the multi-purpose iPad beats it at its own game. The Kindle was revolutionary in its way because it could download books wirelessly, but it has been held back by a screen technology that's slow to react to our commands. It can display static page after static page, but scrolling and zooming don't really work, so PDF viewing is impractical.

Amazon launched a new TV spot this week, showing a man struggling to read an iPad poolside in bright sunlight, while a bikini-clad woman next to him is reading a Kindle comfortably. It's true that Kindles are more readable than iPads in bright light. What the ad doesn't mention is that that's the only situation in which you'll be happier with a Kindle. By all means, if you spend your days at the pool or beach, get a $139 Kindle and spend the $360 you'll be saving over the iPad on a lot of sunscreen.

Other reviewers have spread confusion about the selection of books available on the iPad. It's true that Apple's own iBook store has fewer books than Kindle store. That doesn't matter, though: You can buy and read Kindle books on the iPad, along with books from a lot of other retailers, including Barnes & Noble Inc.

What about other competing devices? A lot of manufacturers want a piece of the tablet action, and we'll see quite a few options in stores this holiday season. For instance, Samsung Electronics Inc. has shown off a 7-inch tablet called the Galaxy Tab, and according to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. wireless carriers will sell it subsidized with two-year data service contracts.

From a hardware standpoint, these could be compelling options (though a 7-inch screen is now too small for my taste). Samsung and others can take advantage of the same technological advances that helped Apple improve over previous tablets. They could also remedy some of the annoying omissions of the iPad, such as the lack of built-in USB and memory card ports. They'll have built-in cameras, too.

The crux, though, is the software. Competitors are relying on Android, a free software package from Google Inc. that's done well in smart phones. It's not intended for tablets, though, and Google doesn't promote it as such. Apple managed to move the iPhone's software to the iPad without much trouble, but that transition looks more difficult for Android. It just isn't as slick to begin with. That said, Android has some compelling advantages, including PC-like access to stored files and the ability to run Flash on Web pages.

Next year, we may see better software alternatives. Google has another software package called Chrome OS in the works. It's designed for netbooks coming out later this year, and could be used for tablets as well. But it's heavily Web-oriented, and may not provide a lot of functions when used without an Internet connection. Hewlett-Packard Co. recently bought Palm Inc. and plans to use its excellent webOS smart phone software for a tablet, probably next year.

It took competitors a couple of years to start catching up to the iPhone in a serious way. The gap will probably be shorter for tablet computers, but by getting the iPad right on its first try, Apple has real head start. Maybe I'm trying to justify my purchase here, but I have a strong feeling there isn't a lot to be gained by waiting for the others to catch up.

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