phoneindex

Absinthe A5 Jailbreaker for iPhone 4S / iPad 2 now available for Windows

2012-01-21T20:15:00.000-05:00

When the Absinthe A5 untethered jailbreak solution hit yesterday it opened Apple's iPhone 4S and iPad 2 for more creative uses by their owners -- as long as they were on OS X. Now the team has returned with a version of the tool built for Windows users who enjoy iLife mixing and matching. All the usual restrictions, warnings and directives apply, but you know what you're here for -- hit the source link below to download a ZIP file straight from greenpois0n's servers and get going, or check the other links for more information on the exact steps to follow.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Absinthe A5 Jailbreaker for iPhone 4S / iPad 2 now available for Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Jailbreak Story, @p0sixninja (Twitter) | Direct Download, greenpois0n | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/untethered-jailbreak-iphone-4s-ipad-2-windows/

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$35 Raspberry Pi Model B computer shows off AirPlay capabilities [video]

2012-01-21T16:52:00.000-05:00

Not long ago we published a story about Raspberry Pi, a $35 Linux-based single board computer that is still in development. Now, a Model B version of the device is being demoed and it shows off the small computer's AirPlay streaming capabilities. The video shows one of Raspberry Pi's developers using an iPad to stream a video clip to the Raspberry Pi Model B device using AirPlay without a hitch. The developers behind the tiny and affordable computer have said they hope the gadget will eventually be used in schools, although it's still unclear when the company will begin shipping devices to consumers. A video of Model B working seamlessly with AirPlay follows after the break.

Read

http://www.bgr.com/2012/01/20/35-raspberry-pi-model-b-computer-shows-off-airplay-capabilities-video/

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Sprint iPhone officially announced: on sale October 14

2011-10-04T14:41:00.001-04:00

Regardless of whether Sprint dropped $20 billion, or just the right combination of phrases to the right combination of people, Dan Hesse finally (finally!) has an iPhone to call his own. Despite The Now Network's stellar lineup of Android devices (and that increasingly valuable Everything plan), Sprint's been struggling to gain postpaid subscribers for as long as most can remember. Granted, the prepaid arm is doing alright, but without Apple's cash cow sitting on its shelves -- well, let's just say the company's shareholders are apt to be pleased with today's turn of events.

Developing...

Follow along in our ongoing liveblog right here!

Sprint iPhone officially announced: on sale October 14 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/sprint-iphone-officially-announced-on-sale-october-14/

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Apple updates iPod Nano and iPod Touch product lines

2011-10-04T14:36:00.001-04:00

The iPod Nano and iPod Touch lines have now been refreshed. The iPod Nano will now have built in sensors to make the fitness experience even better. You won't need any additional adapters or software. Icons are also a bit bigger to make navigation easier. It'll come in seven different colors and you can choose between an 8GB capacity ($129) and a 16GB capacity ($149).

The iPod Touch line will also see the addition of a white model. The models will remain the same capacity wise – 8, 32, and 64GB with the following price points –

8GB iPod Touch – $199
32 GB iPod Touch – $299
64 GB iPod Touch – $399

It doesn't appear there are any internal changes to the iPod Touch. The main change Apple seems to be highlighting is iOS 5, which will be a free update on October 12. Did you expect more of a change to the iPod Touch line?

If we find out anything else, we'll update here!

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/zc9igMNV3Tc/

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iOS 5 to be released as a free update on October 12th

2011-10-04T14:35:00.003-04:00

iOS 5 is slated to be released as a free update on October 12th for current iOS users. This is a bit different than in the past where iPod Touch users typically had to pay a fee of $9.95 for major iOS updates.

This probably means the rumored October 14th release date for the next hardware version of iPhone is right on track. Software typically is released officially just a few days beforehand so the new hardware can come with new software straight out of the box.

We're still covering the Let's Talk iPhone event live. Come chat with us!

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/4gEkqDFPzlY/

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Apple announces card printing app, Cards for iPhone

2011-10-04T14:35:00.001-04:00

During Apple's Let's talk iPhone event, Apple announced their newest app, Cards. With Cards, users can create and order printed cards directly from their iPhone.

The cards will be made from 100% cotton paper, stamped with Apple-designed postage, and you will receive a push notification when the USPS delivery is complete.

Cards will cost $2.99 in the US and $4.99 everywhere else.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/UN19nmgYSRc/

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iPhone 4S World Phone revealed

2011-10-04T14:34:00.001-04:00

This week at the Apple event we've been shown the new iPhone 4S, and the details are pouring in. This is the number one smartphone in the world, now with a completely redesigned interior. The outside of the device is all the same, with a new A5 chip inside – that's dual-core graphics for "7 time faster [performance] than in the previous iPhone." To show off this new device, Mike Capps of Epic Games was called on stage to show off one of the most awesome games of all time: Infinity Blade. Here they show the newest installment, Infinity Blade 2 as played on the iPhone 4S. And it looks darn good, that's for sure.

We've previously looked at this game on the iPad but it seemed much too large to be working on the tiny iPhone – looks like we were wrong. This game will be out on December 1st for all you holiday shoppers. Once this presentation was done, Apple's Phil Schiller took the stage to re-introduce the A5 chip (you might recognize this chip from the iPad 2, btw). Dual-core processor (they say), up to 2X faster CPU, dual core graphics – and "up to 7x faster graphics." Sounds good to you?

The battery on this new device was touted as well, battery times over several types of usage shown to be quite impressive – 10 hours of video, 6 hours of 3G browsing, and more (see image in gallery). The wireless system has been improved so that users can "intelligently switch between antennas for even better call quality." Phil continued by noting that maximum data speeds for the iPhone 4S were the same upload (at 5.8 Mpbs) but 14.4 for download, this doubling the iPhone 4 speeds.

Where the iPhone 4 came as either a GSM or a CDMA phone, the iPhone 4S comes with both. There's a new camera system as well – the most popular camera on Flicker being the iPhone 4, you'd think they'd be concentrating on bringing an even better experience in the future. Truly they have, here.

The new camera on the iPhone 4S is 8 megapixels strong and can shoot in 3264 x 2448 – "that's 60% more pixels than the iPhone 4." Yes it is, Phil, and with the new filter that's being introduced today, 73% more light can be captured than in previous models, and it's faster! Goodness, this seems like a rather cool improvement. There's a new Hybrid IR filter, better white balance, and face detection.

This new camera allows you to take a photo in 1.1 seconds, then just a half second more to take a second shot. Phil makes fun of the DROID BIONIC's supposedly terrible camera with a note: "I don't know what Droid Bionic customers have to do between taking pictures… like, go get coffee." And adds that the iPhone 4S camera will have 1080p HD video recording, video image stabilization, and temporal noise reduction. Winner!

Check out the rest of our live coverage of the iPhone event this week in the iPhone portal here on SlashGear! We've also got live coverage of the event via our live feed at http://live.slashgear.com/ if it's still day of – check it out!

Relevant Entries on SlashGear.com

iPhone 4S World Phone revealed is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2011, SlashGear. All right reserved.

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/4OJB0Ef67WI/

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Apple unveils new iPod nano, most affordable yet

2011-10-04T14:33:00.003-04:00

Apple just unveiled a new iPod nano at its Let's Talk iPhone event. The company is touting the device as the most affordable nano ever and it's definitely taking it beyond enjoying music. The new iPod nano integrates Nike+ with a slew of new fitness features rolled in.

The new iPod features an improved navigation interface. It's now easier to use and instead of having a grid of icons, you now swipe from app icon to icon. It's integrated Nike+ feaeture lets you track your walking and running metrics and doesn't require any additional adapters.

There's also plenty of ways to customize your iPod nano, say, onto a watch strap with various customized clock faces. There are now 16 new clock faces to choose from, including one with Mickey Mouse. These new nanos retail for $129 for the 8GB model and $149 for 16GB model and are available today.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear.com

Apple unveils new iPod nano, most affordable yet is written by Rue Liu & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2011, SlashGear. All right reserved.

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/EzcmappXeQE/

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Infinity Blade 2 from Epic Games coming December 1st to iOS devices

2011-10-04T14:33:00.001-04:00

With the iPhone 4S having been updated to the Apple A5 dual-core processor like the iPad 2 features having up to 7x better graphics performance you can bet we'll be seeing some simply amazing games coming soon. Just for a tease Apple has shown a bit of the graphics prowess we can expect on iOS devices with the A5 with the new upcoming release of Infinity Blade 2.

With Infinity Blade 2 we should see amazing graphics never before seen with a mobile device. With amazing special effects, physics, real-time lighting and more. Using features and physics from games such as God of War, we can all expect this game to be stellar. The original Infinity Blade stunned users and mobile gamers everywhere bringing unrivaled graphics and immersive gameplay to iOS devices. The original was the first game to make use of the Unreal Engine 3 for mobile and we can expect even greater things from the next release.

Apple's Game Center has seen continued success thanks to all the popular games. Today they announced that the Apple Game Center has over 67 million active accounts and growing every second. If that isn't a reason to develop games on iOS (as if devs didn't need a reason anyways) I don't know what is. Infinity Blade 2 will hit the App Store on December 1st so be ready to snatch it up and enjoy mobile gaming like never before.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear.com

Infinity Blade 2 from Epic Games coming December 1st to iOS devices is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2011, SlashGear. All right reserved.

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/ipexYUhV06o/

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New iPhone 5 Image Surfaces Claiming to be the Real Deal (Updated)

2011-08-07T21:13:00.001-04:00

Could we be staring at the first clear(ish) spy shot of the long gestating iPhone 5? That's up for everyone to decide on their own, but of all the photos to have popped up recently, this one certainly looks the most realistic and "finished."

Posted today on the MacRumors forums by a user known as "guigsh," they slapped up the image with the only explanation being, "Picture taken yesterday in the office of a French operator. Believe it or not." The user then came back to explain that they were only allowed two minutes with the device and that no pictures were allowed, but somehow they snuck this image. Another follow-up post stated, "The only thing I can tell you, is that my iPhone 4 looks really slow now."

Of course, there are a few things that hurt the story, such as the fact that if no pictures were allowed, how were they able to hold a piece of paper behind it for a background and balance it on their hand in the way they did? Wouldn't that have been somewhat obvious that something was going on? Add in the fact that guigsh only registered their forum account this month, and only has three posts – all relating to this image – to their name, and it starts to seem a bit random.

All of that being said, if it's a fake, it's a mighty good fake. It somewhat matches up with the iPhone 5 cases we've been seeing, but not exactly. That could be the fact that the cases may be wrong, but we'll know for sure in the next few months. Otherwise this image does seem to match up with the numerous other rumors we've been hearing about the design, so we'll just have to wait and see if we've somehow been made privy to an image far earlier than Apple would ever like us to be.

What do you think? Does this look like an actual iPhone 5 to you?

Update: Gizmodo (oh, the irony) has debunked this story. So, no, no real picture of the iPhone 5 as of yet.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/iphone/new-iphone-5-image-surfaces-claiming-to-be-the-real-deal/

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PS Vita in 2012? Sony’s Missing a Golden Opportunity

2011-08-07T21:12:00.000-04:00

Face it, the PSP was trounced by the Nintendo DS, and all its variations, in the United States. The system may have done exceptionally well in Japan, but the rest of the world loved the DS more by leaps and bounds. The price and the ergonomics of the unit, the software library and the UMD format worked against Sony to keep the PSP so far from the top spot in the States.

Fast forward to today. The Nintendo 3DS is, by all accounts, under-performing. Nintendo poorly elected to bolster the hardware with a weak software lineup leaving gamers with no real reason to buy a unit. The 3D aspect of the device is far from its greatest asset, and the cost of the system kept the frugal and fence-sitters away.

So Nintendo was forced to bring out an early price drop. I still think it was a great move, by the way, and Sony's decision to keep the PS Vita in Japan during 2011 only solidifies my opinion.

Then came news of Sony's release schedule for the PS Vita. The system will only be releasing in Japan this holiday, it won't be out in the United States or Europe until 2012. Our own Killian Bell touched on this briefly in his initial report, but I feel it absolutely must be hammered home that this move is a bad call by Sony. Really.

With the price cut from $250 to $170, the Nintendo 3DS has become a lot more attractive to potential consumers. In the face of mobile phones and the current economy, the new $170 price might be sitting directly in the sweet spot for a slew of would-be-buyers.

Still, an early cut is a sign of weakness in product for customers. That's a market Sony should release their hardware to. Now, Sony's giving Nintendo and their new, low, attractive price wide open space to breathe. Anyone that wants a brand new portable system this year will be able to turn to the Nintendo 3DS. The PS Vita will not be directly in front of everyday consumers when it comes time to shop for the holidays.

Sony was poised to vault over the 3DS come fall. The system has hype, a great price, a nice roster of games and a purely sexy look. It would have sat on shelves next to a portable that has a tumbling price in the eyes of buyers. And, carrying the Sony brand would have done it even more justice given the success of the PS3.

Now? The hardware will release in a dead spot in the calendar year. Holiday consumers won't be interested. Will it perform? I hope so. But the space Sony's given Nintendo may be hard to overcome.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/gaming/portable/ps-vita-in-2012-sonys-missing-a-golden-opportunity/

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Nokia’s N9 to Arrive on September 23

2011-08-07T17:43:00.002-04:00

Fans of the MeeGo platform, it's time to get all excited. The Nokia N9, which could be Nokia's first and final MeeGo device before the company adopts Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, is set for release later this year. And according to Nokia's Swedish site, its launch could be as soon as next month.

The webpage dedicated to the upcoming N9 on Nokia's Swedish site now features a countdown timer that will end on September 23 — finally confirming the device's release date (in one country at least). It's currently unclear whether this date will apply to the rest of Europe, but for Sweden, the N9 is now just 48 days away. As for you guys in the U.S., Nokia has previously suggested that the device may not reach American shores at all.

Will the device be worth the wait for you MeeGo fans? Well, let's take a look at its ingredients. The N9 will sport a 3.9-inch curved glass AMOLED display, which is 0.4 inches bigger than the iPhone 4's Retina display, but 0.4 inches smaller than Samsung's new Galaxy S II smartphone. Just like the Samsung, the N9 features an 8-megapixel camera, and also packs a 1GHz ARM processor and 1GB of RAM. The device will be available in three colors: black, cyan and magenta; and will be available with either 16GB or 32GB of storage.

The N9 is Nokia's most advanced phone for some time, with a completely button-free design that relies on touch input alone. It's also Nokia's first smartphone to support NFC. That's a specifications list which, I'm sure you'll agree, will give the MeeGo platform a good send off — if indeed it is Nokia's last MeeGo device. However, the have been rumors that the company is working on a MeeGo-powered tablet that it hopes will do battle with the iPad.

Do you think Nokia's first and final MeeGo device will be a success, or is it destined to fail with Nokia's short-lived support for the platform?

[via Pocket-lint]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/nokia/nokias-n9-to-arrive-on-september-23/

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Samsung Conquer 4G Coming to Sprint

2011-08-07T17:43:00.000-04:00

Samsung and Sprint today announced a new 4G phone which will be the first to sell for under $100 on the carrier. Launching on Aug. 21st, the Samsung Conquer 4G will sell for $99.99 with a two-year agreement and after a $50 mail-in rebate.

"The price of Samsung Conquer 4G makes Sprint's 4G speeds accessible to more customers than ever," said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. "We are proud to deliver this dynamic device at a great value without sacrificing must-have technology. Our customers can really do more for less when this ultra-affordable 4G device is paired with the great value of our unlimited data calling plans."

Samsung Conquer 4G Tech Specs

1 GHz processor
Android 2.3 Gingerbread
3.5-inch touchscreen
Dual-Mode 3G/4G device
3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with flash and zoom
1.3-megapixel front facing camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
GPS capable
MicroSD card slot that supports up to a 32GB memory card (2GB card included)
3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capable, supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices on the Sprint 3G or 4G networks
Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology

While we aren't huge fans of the mail-in rebate gimmick, even at $150 this looks to be a fairly decent device. True, the 4G is Sprint's WiMax, but you're still going to get decent speeds and truly unlimited data, so you're going to be able to download pretty much anything you want at decent speeds (when in a service area). It is rather interesting to see mid-tier phones getting to the point that the upper-tier was at not all that long ago, and the Samsung Conquer 4G looks like it could be a phone you could easily get as your first smartphone or to give to a teenager.

Do you have any interest int he Samsung Conquer 4G?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/phones/samsung-conquer-4g-coming-to-sprint/

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Droid Bionic to Ship with Two Batteries?

2011-08-07T17:42:00.001-04:00

As we keep waiting for the Droid Bionic to ship, rumors keep leaking out of what we can expect. The newest information to cross the TechnoBuffalo desks comes from a trusted source that has never led us astray before, and things seem to be a little odd in the world of the Bionic.

Our known source has had some time to try out the Droid Bionic already, and they have walked away less than impressed. While they note that they were trying out a pre-production model, they found the screen and performance to be very unimpressive. Considering the amount of time they've had to work on this device you would think that even pre-production models would be up to snuff, but they have found themselves distinctly disappointed in two of the most important aspects of any new big name phone.

The weirdest twist, however, is that there were two batteries packed with the device. While they were unsure of the miliamp hours, there were a smaller and larger capacity batteries packed with it, but use of the larger one would require a different battery cover. We don't know if Motorola was testing two different batteries for possible inclusion, or if the Bionic will actually ship with both sizes.

Considering the length of time we've been waiting for this phone to arrive on Verizon, this news is leaving us a little downhearted. All we can hope that as it was a pre-production model that some of the kinks will be worked out by the time it ships, but we'll have to wait and see.

Does this news lessen your excitement for the Droid Bionic at all?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/phones/droid-bionic-to-ship-with-two-batteries/

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Samsung Hercules Coming to Telus?

2011-08-07T17:41:00.001-04:00

It seems that a previously unannounced Samsung phone called the Samsung Hercules got a rather unsophisticated introduction to the world last night in Canada.

MobileSyrup attended a Samsung event last night in Canada, and in the VIP area is where they spotted the phone you see above. They described it as "a cross between the Samsung Galaxy SII, Nexus S and the Galaxy S Infuse" with the screen being around 4.5-inches. From what they could glean it will be running Android Gingerbread on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with a rear 8 megapixel camera capable of shooting 1080p video and a front-facing 2 megapixel lens for video conferencing. What they do know for sure is that it was being referred to as the Samsung Hercules and that it appears it is coming to Telus.

No pricing or release date information was available, but the fact it was being passed around at such a public event surely indicates that it has to be close to a release. From first glance, and only going by this one picture, I pretty firmly have to label this as "awesome." The screen, even in a hastily shot photo, looks gigantic and clear, and makes me a tad jealous of the folks in the Great White North.

What are your first impressions of the Samsung Hercules?

[via MobileSyrup]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/phones/samsung-hercules-coming-to-telus/

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White Samsung Galaxy S II Headed To O2 Next Month

2011-08-07T17:39:00.001-04:00

We knew the white version of the Samsung Galaxy II was headed to some UK carriers next month, and now we know at least one of those carriers is going to be O2. O2 has posted a landing page for the white Galaxy S II, listing its arrival date as September.

The white version of the Galaxy S II is identical to its black counterpart, and will also be available unlocked in the UK. Samsung sold 5 million of the handsets within its first 85 days on the market. Check out a full spec rundown of the handset below:

Samsung Galaxy S II Tech Specs

4.27" WVGA super AMOLED Plus screen (800 x 480)
1.2GHz Dual Core CPU
8.49mm thick
Android Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0
HSPA+ connectivity
8 megapixel rear camera
2 megapixel front camera
Full HD 1080P video at 30fps
1GB of RAM
16GB of Internal Memory
Bluetooth 3.0+HS
Wi-Fi Direct for connectivity to Wi-Fi enable computers for communication
AGPS
Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity Senor and Light Sensor
Support for MP4, 3GP, DivX, XviD and Streaming video.

What do you think about the white Galaxy S II? Are anyone you holding out to get one of these over the traditional black model?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/samsung/white-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-headed-to-o2-next-month/

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Verizon Expects the iPhone 5 to Launch This Fall

2011-07-24T14:36:00.001-04:00

While discussing Verizon's results from the past quarter, Verizon COO and soon-to-be CEO Lowell McAdam made a very candid quip about Apple's next iPhone release saying that while his company had expected it this summer, the carrier now expects it to arrive sometime this fall. Of course, this isn't new. There are rumors abound about a release sometime this fall and possibly as soon as the end of August but what does make this interesting is that it's coming from the CEO of a major wireless provider and not from a source. He did however state that his company still has no idea when the phone is going to come out. (Right.)

Here's the full quote, courtesy of 9to5Mac:

We are probably what I would view as maybe a quarter behind what we had talked about in January, primarily because we expected an iPhone 5 refresh sometime this summer. We don't know when the next one is going to come out. You will have to ask Apple that, but we expect that probably sometime in the fall, and I think you will see a significant jump there when we get to that point.

So, if you've been worrying about whether or not the iPhone 4S/iPhone 5 would be coming out this year, you can probably rest pretty easy. It's now just a matter of getting a specific date down.

Speaking of that, iPhone Italia, a source that will surely get a laugh out of our own Will Shanklin, is reporting that September 5th is the date that a "very reliable source" told them would be launch day for the next iPhone in the United States. That launch would then be followed by a October 5th launch everywhere else. Take those specific dates with a grain of salt but that early September release date has popped up so many times that it seems like the right horse to bet on.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/22/verizon-expects-the-iphone-5-to-launch-this-fall/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=verizon-expects-the-iphone-5-to-launch-this-fall

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Beta 4 of iOS 5 Released by Apple – Over the Air!

2011-07-24T14:36:00.000-04:00

Apple is keeping the beta releases coming for their upcoming iOS 5. Developers can now get their hands on Beta 4, and they don't even need to bother with iTunes.

Registered developers who are already on iOS 5 beta 3 can download the new beta 4 OTA. Simply opening the iDevice's settings app, and touching on "Check for Updates" will begin the process. It will be a much more svelte download, as it's a "delta update" (only the necessary elements that have been changed will be downloaded).

Of course the over the air updates will ultimately be how all of us apply updates once iOS 5 is officially released. Part of iCloud, the OTA delta updates are part of Apple's march towards cutting the cords from its iDevices. For now, devs (and those risk-takers who had their device added as a testers' slot on a developers' account) get to have all the fun.

For those developers who prefer to manage things "the old fashioned way," (or who just want the latest iTunes), the fourth beta of iTunes 10.5 was released alongside the iOS 5 update.

You can check out the full changelog below (via BGR). We'll keep you posted on changes in less of an "official changelog" kind of way as soon as they come trickling in. If any devs want to let us know in the comments what they see different, we'd be glad to hear it.

via 9 to 5 Mac, TUAW, and BGR

NOTES AND KNOWN ISSUES

The following issues relate to using the 5.0 SDK to develop code.

Accounts

When creating an iCloud account you can use any Apple ID provided it is a full email address and not a MobileMe account. If you have a MobileMe account, you can copy data from that account to an iCloud account to use during testing. You can find more information on iCloud at: http://developer.apple.com/icloud
When setting up an iCloud or MobileMe account using the setup assistant and leaving Find My iPhone on, it might actually turn Find my iPhone off after the setup. Please verify in Settings/Mail, Contacts, Calendar/YourAccount that Find my iPhone is toggled On after leaving the setup assistant.
It is recommended that you disable Bookmarks on multiple accounts. If they are enabled, the results might be undefined.
FIXED: In this beta the option of "Choosing a security question" is not working during an iCloud account setup.

AirPlay

Starting in iOS 5, video content in applications and websites are AirPlay-enabled by default.
iOS 5 supports AirPlay of video via AV Foundation.
Switching into AirPay Video while using mirroring will leave the screen black but the video is still playing.

Apple TV

Apple TV Software beta enables users to mirror the contents of an iPad 2 to an Apple TV (2nd generation) using AirPlay. This beta software also enables Photo Stream on Apple TV so users can access photos stored in iCloud. Apple TV Software beta is being provided to test the latest AirPlay functionality with your iOS 5 apps and web sites. If you wish to install Apple TV Software beta on your device, you must first register your device UDID in the iOS Developer Program Portal.
There is no new build for AppleTV for beta 4. Please continue using the build provided with beta 3.

Audio

Using voice chat in iOS 5 requires setting the kAudioSessionMode_VoiceChat mode on the Audio Session, or setting the AVAudioSessionModeVoiceChat mode on the AVAudioSession object.

Calendar

All MobileMe calendars were duplicated after turning calendar syncing off and back on.
FIXED: Restoring from a Seed 1 backup or earlier will cause MobileMe/iCloud calendars not to sync. Subscribed calendars will show up in Calendars but none of your event calendars will appear in MobileCal. To workaround the problem please remove and re-add the account.
If SnowLeopard isn't syncing your calendars on iOS device and you created a calendar or reminders list using a previous iOS 5.0 seed, change the name of that calendar or list on the iOS device and then let it sync.
In this beta Birthday calendar is temporarily disabled for Web apps and Windows and will be available in a future release.

Contacts

NEW:In MobileMe local contacts are deleted instead of be being merged.
In this beta Import/Export vCard is disabled from Action menu and will be available in future release.

GameKit

Match data for turn based matches is currently limited to 4 KB of data.
When both Wifi and 3G are disabled (i.e. in Airplane mode) sometimes GameKit can cause the connection in a local Bluetooth match to fail.

iBooks

iBooks 1.2.2 may fail to display some text or images in books. Please update to iBooks 1.3 in the App Store.

iCloud Backup

As this is beta software, it is recommended that you do not use the iCloud services to store any critical data or information. If you enable iCloud Backup, automatic backup with iTunes when syncing will be disabled. We suggest you also manually back up your device with iTunes. It is strongly advised you upgrade to this version of the iOS 5 beta in order to continue backing up your devices and preserve previous backups.

iCloud Storage

During the iOS 5 beta period, any documents stored on the servers might be purged periodically before GM. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you do not store any critical documents or information on the servers.
If your application is using the NSMetadataQuery class, you must set a predicate, even though the predicate itself is ignored.
The Foundation framework doesn't include the team ID when looking for an app's mobile documents container. The Team ID must be included at the beginning of the identifier string passed to theURLForUbiquityContainerIdentifier: method.
In this beta, the setSortDescriptors: method of NSMetadataQuery is not supported.
In this beta, if you want to use iCloud, you have to manually specify various container identifiers (your application's Display set) within an Entitlements file for both of your Mac OS X and iOS projects.
There are issues using the Cloud Storage document API in conjunction with protected data which can lead to data corruption.
In this beta, document-based applications cannot always detect when files change, move, or are deleted out from underneath them.
NEW: In this beta, file presenters (objects that adopt the NSFilePresenter protocol) do not receive some of the messages that they're supposed to receive, especially:
- presentedItemDidChange
- presentedSubitemDidAppearAtURL:
- presentedSubitemDidChangeAtURL:
You can workaround this by implementing the relinquishPresentedItemToWriter: method and checking to see if the writer actually wrote when your file presenter reacquires. You can also use FSEvents to observe file system changes
In this beta, messages about changes to files in a directory are not getting delivered to objects that adopt the NSFilePresenter protocol.
While reporting a bug related to the iCloud storage interfaces, please include the logs collected during your debugging session. To generate these logs, you must install a special debug profile on your device.The debug profile can be obtained from http://connect.apple.com. This profile enables the generation of debug logs that are needed to diagnose any problems using iCloud storage. The instructions to collect the logs are:
1. Install the profile. (The easiest way to do this is to mail it to yourself and open the attachment on their device.)
2. Reproduce the bug.
3. Sync with iTunes to pull the logs off your device.
4. Attach the logs to your bug report. You can find the logs in ~/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/DeviceName/DiagnosticLogs.
These logs can grow large very quickly, so you should remove the profile after you have reproduced the problem and pulled the logs for the bug report.
NEW: File names in iCloud Storage are case sensitive.

iMessage

NEW: iMessage beta 1 will be unable to communicate with iMessage users on beta 2 or later.

iTunes

The version of iTunes that comes with beta 4 cannot sync devices that have the beta 2 software installed. To avoid this problem, do the following:
1. Sync any devices that have beta 3 installed to the version of iTunes that came with beta 4.
2. Upgrade iTunes to the version that comes with beta 4.
3. Connect the device and install the beta 4 software. (Understand that you might see a failure to sync error when you first connect the device.)
4. After installing the beta 4 software, restore from your the backup you made in step 1.
Videos purchased from the iTunes Store do not play on a 2nd generation AppleTV over AirPlay with iTunes 10.5.

Location

NEW:The startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges method of CLLocationManagerdoes not cause applications to be resumed or launched in the background for significant location change updates. However, if a backup from a previous software version (where an application was monitoring significant location changes) is restored to the device, significant location change monitoring will continue to cause that application to be resumed or launched in the background.

Mail

NEW:Forwarding a message with attachments included does not attach the file and the message compose screen does not change from "Loading…."

Music Library

NEW:Some songs are missing their album artwork after changing the device library via syncing.

OpenGL

NEW: In iOS 5.0 beta 4, several OpenGL extensions have been moved from the APPLE namespace to the EXT namespace, causing some API to be renamed. The altered extensions are EXT_color_buffer_half_float,EXT_occlusion_query_boolean, EXT_separate_shader_objects, EXT_shadow_samplers, EXT_texture_rg, EXT_debug_label, and EXT_debug_marker.

OTA Software Update

NEW: If you are doing a OTA software update from beta 3 to beta 4, you will need to re-sync your photos with iTunes."

Personal HotSpot

NEW:In this beta iPhone 4 device cannot join personal hotspot even if it is on due to a non functional WiFi tethering on these devices.

Photo Adjustments

If you apply red-eye adjustments in iOS, and import your image into the iPhoto seed build, the red-eye adjustments will not appear on that image in iPhoto. As a result, subsequent syncing of your image back to the iOS device from iPhoto will not show the red-eye adjustments.

Settings

FIXED: In this beta FaceTime icon is missing in Settings on the iPhones.

Simulator

NEW: Location services are not functional in iOS 4.3 simulator running on Mac OS 10.7 with Xcode 4.2.

Springboard

Push and local notifications for apps appear in the new Notification Center in iOS 5. Notification Center displays notifications that are considered "unread." In order to accommodate push and local notifications that have no "unread" status, developers can use their application badge count to trigger a clearing of notifications from Notification Center. When an application clears its badge count (by setting it to zero), iOS 5 will clear its notifications from Notification Center.
NEW: iOS 5.0 terminates VoIP applications that are resumed in the background for incoming network traffic with extreme frequency. Developers are encouraged to make sure all incoming data is read from VoIP sockets to avoid this condition.

Twitter

NEW: When tweeting your location from Safari and exiting before the location can be established, the location arrow will stay in the status bar. The arrow can be removed by killing Safari from the task switcher.

UI Automation

NEW: Instruments overwrites the loaded automation script, even if another program is editing it.
The play and record buttons in the Automation instrument script editor may not work properly after targeting an application that was launched by a trace session and has ended. They may also not work if you target an application that was suspended. If you run into this problem and it persists, you may need to close and reopen the trace document to get back into a functional state.
When capturing actions into a script using the Automation instrument, interfaces with web views or table cells that contain a high number of off screen elements may take an extremely long time before returning with an expression.
The lock() and unlock() functions of UIATarget have been replaced with the lockForDuration(<seconds>) function.
FIXED:Instruments overwrites the loaded automation script, even if another program is editing it.
Starting in iOS 5 beta 2, you can now trigger the execution of an UI Automation script on an iOS device from the host terminal by using the instruments tool. The command is:
- instruments -w <device id> -t <template> <application>
When using the cli instruments for UI Automation you can now target the default Automation Template and pass the script and results path into the tool as environment variable options. For example:
- instruments -w <device id> -t /Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/Library/Instruments/PlugIns/AutomationInstrument.bundle/Contents/Resources/Automation.tracetemplate <application> -e UIASCRIPT <script> -e UIARESULTSPATH <results path>

UIKit

Starting in iOS 5 beta 3, the exclusiveTouch property of UIControl has returned to its original default value of NO.
Returning nil from the tableView:viewForHeaderInSection: method (or its footer equivalent) is no longer sufficient to hide a header. You must override tableView:heightForHeaderInSection:and return0.0 to hide a header.
In the iOS 5 beta, the UITableView class has two methods to move one cell from one row to another with defined parameters. These APIs are:
- moveSection:toSection:
- moveRowAtIndexPath:toIndexPath:
Using the UIWebView class in Interface Builder, setting transparent background color is possible in iOS 5. Developers compiling against the new SDK can check their XIB for the UIWebView transparent setting.
In the iOS 5 beta, the UINavigationBar, UIToolbar, and UITabBar implementations have changed so that the drawRect: method is not called on instances of these classes unless it is implemented in a subclass. Apps that have re-implemented drawRect: in a category on any of these classes will find that the drawRect: method isn't called. UIKit does link-checking to keep the method from being called in apps linked before iOS 5 but does not support this design on iOS 5 or later. Apps can either:
- Use the customization API for bars that in iOS 5 and later, which is the preferred way.
- Subclass UINavigationBar (or the other bar classes) and override drawRect: in the subclass.
The indexPathForRow:inSection:, section, and row methods of NSIndexPath now use NSInteger instead of NSUInteger, so that these types match with methods defined on UITableView.
Touch events are not getting forwarded to the view in the cameraOverlayView property of UIImagePickerController.
FIXED:When creating a new appointment in calendar app on a device using 24 hr clock, you cannot select an hour value greater than 12. The date-time picker value sets current weekday to be the same as previous day (e.g: a An appointment on Tuesday will be set as Monday).
We have changed the behavior of scrollToRowAtIndexPath:atScrollPosition:animated:such that UITableViewScrollPositionTop and UITableViewScrollPositionBottom now adjust for the top and bottom portions of the contentInset property.

WebKit

In iOS 5, a new inherited CSS property, -webkit-overflow-scrolling, is available. The value touch allows the web developer to opt in to native-style scrolling in an overflow:scrollelement. The default value for this property is auto, which allows single-finger scrolling without momentum.
The WebKit framework has picked up a newer WebKit engine, which closely matches Safari 5.1. Some areas to be aware of with the new WebKit framework on iOS:
- There is a new HTML5-compliant parser.
- Text layout width may change slightly because word-rounding behavior now has floating-point-based precision.
- There is improved validation of the <input> form field, which includes removing leading zeros and number formatting.
- Touch events are now supported on input fields.
- window.onerror is now supported.
- There is a new user agent that does not have locale information in the User Agent string.

WiFi Syncing

In iOS 5 beta 4, wireless syncing is now available on Windows as well as the Mac (requires OS X 10.6.8 or Lion)You will see an option to enable wireless syncing when you connect your device to iTunes with the USB cable. It is recommended you perform your initial sync with a cable after restoring your device.
- Wireless syncing is triggered automatically when the device is connected to power and on the same network as the paired computer. Or, you can manually trigger a sync from iTunes or from Settings -> General -> iTunes Sync (same network as paired computer required).
- If you find issues with apps, media and/or photos synced to your device, you can reset then resync. From Settings -> General -> Reset, choose Erase all Content and Settings. Then reconnect to iTunes and sync again.
In some cases, your device may fail to sync contacts, calendars and account settings, or back up to iTunes. If this happens, reboot your device and re-sync.
NEW:In some cases, syncing photos may result in only thumbnails on your device. If this happens, unsync Photos then re-sync again.

Xcode

When uninstalling iOS 5.0 SDK beta 2 or upgrading from iOS 5.0 SDK beta 2 your new install might be missing the /usr/lib/libsvn* files thus making some subversion functionality (such as the perl bindings and git-svn) unavailable.
- If your host machine is a Snow Leopard based, you can get these back by reinstalling BSD.pkgfrom your OS DVD, followed by a Combo Update to Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later.
- If your host machine is Lion based you will have to reinstall the OS.
In this beta, device restores using Xcode are disabled. Please use iTunes only to back up and restore your device.
In some cases, Xcode 4.2 Organizer does not display a device that is in restore mode. As a workaround you can use iTunes to restore.
In iOS 5 beta 4, the iOS Simulator is not compatible with previous releases of the iCloud Developer Seed for OS X. It is highly recommended that you update to the latest iCloud Developer Seed to ensure compatibility.
iOS 5.0 SDK supports both iOS 4.3 and iOS 5.0 simulators.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/22/beta-4-of-ios-5-released-by-apple-over-the-air/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beta-4-of-ios-5-released-by-apple-over-the-air

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LG Thrill 4G Pre-Orders Begin at Radio Shack

2011-07-24T14:35:00.001-04:00

The LG Thrill 4G for AT&T, the United States' version of the LG Optimus 3D, has been lurking in the shadows of the Motorola Droid Bionic and Samsung Galaxy S II for some time now but today, it has finally emerged (sort of) and is now available to those who waltz into Radio Shack outlets. According to evidence procured by Engadget, the 3D smartphone can be secured with by buying a $50 Radio Shack gift card. It's going to cost $80, not bad, on a new two year contract and will supposedly launch in the beginning of August with August 7th being the supposed release date.

For those of you that dislike contracts, you can also snag the Thrill 4G for $550 off-contract but unless you have vaults of money, that's probably going to be too steep of a cost for most.

The LG Thrill 4G faces an uphill battle right from the get-go as it will definitely be launching after Sprint's HTC EVO 3D and will likely be launching right around the time the Motorola Droid Bionic arrives on Verizon. Throw in the fact that the Galaxy S II is supposedly coming to America next month and you can see why the Thrill 4G is probably not at the top of many peoples wish list.

If 3D is your thing though and you don't like the EVO 3D and its WiMax speeds, the Thrill 4G is probably going to be the phone you want to snag and luckily, you can do that today if you wish.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/22/lg-thrill-4g-pre-orders-begin-at-radio-shack/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lg-thrill-4g-pre-orders-begin-at-radio-shack

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iOS 5 Beta 4 Brings Documents in the Cloud Support

2011-07-24T14:35:00.000-04:00

Users of the previous three versions of the iOS 5 beta may have noticed that the promised "Documents in the Cloud" feature was, up to this point, missing from the party. With today's release of the fourth iOS 5 beta though, the folks at 9to5Mac point out that Cloud Docs support is now active.

Documents in the Cloud centers around the iWork apps on iOS (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote). Cloud syncing will eventually happen behind the scenes between all iOS and Mac devices that are registered under the same iCloud account. So if you're writing an essay on Pages on your new MacBook Air, you can open the same application on your iPhone and it will be there. Open Pages on your iPad or iPod touch, and your prized essay will be waiting there too.

The timing of activating the Doc Syncing abilities in this beta likely have to do with this week's release of Mac OS X 'Lion.' With iCloud integration in Lion, the pieces are in place for one of Apple's broadest visions to come to fruition. One of their goals has always been to keep users as far away as possible from a computer's file system. Their philosophy of we'll handle the file system, you just sit back and enjoy the result shows more than ever with Docs in the Cloud (and the rest of iCloud). Users will be so far away from the file system that they won't even have to open a "documents" folder within the app. From Apple, regarding iCloud:

Apps make it possible to create amazing presentations, write reports, and more right from your iOS device. You don't have to manage your documents in a complicated file system or remember to save your work. Your documents are just there, stored in your apps, and ready whenever you need them. And now, your apps can store that information in iCloud. Which means you can access your documents — with your latest updates — on whichever device you happen to be using at the time. Even better, this all happens automatically, without any effort from you.

Devs and other beta testers can start playing with this feature today. The rest of us will have to wait until (probably) September to experience the "magic" of iCloud doc syncing.

Have any of you devs tried out doc syncing in iOS 5 beta 4 yet? Is it active between Lion and iOS devices yet? We'd love to hear all about it in the comments.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/22/ios-5-beta-4-brings-documents-in-the-cloud-support/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ios-5-beta-4-brings-documents-in-the-cloud-support

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Sources: Viliv Closing Shop

2011-07-24T14:31:00.001-04:00

If this is true, I won't be surprised because there's been a trail of hints over the last few months that have already led me to put warnings out about Viliv.

According to not one, but two of our business contacts, Viliv is just about ready to shut up shop. Our sources tell us that Viliv have been in receivership for a while and despite trying to find a buyer for some of their unique ultra-mobile computing solutions, have failed to secure a future for them. It looks like its the end of the road for Viliv and we're just wait Read more ...

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/carrypadfullfeed/~3/eGAkDGLaPuI/

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Advance Tech Communications Magic W3 – Pocket PC Phone

2011-07-24T14:31:00.000-04:00

Excitement turned to disapointment yesterday when I took a closer look at this 4.8″ UMPC. The Magic W3.

No it wasn't the 800*480 screen that disapointed me the most although Windows 7 on that resolution is not recommended by Microsoft. It wasn't the small battery which would probably only return 2.5hrs in-use battery life and it wasn't the fact that it's aiming for a highly niche phone-pc market (read expensive.)

The most disappointing thing about the Magic W3 is that it uses the 'old' Menlow platform. Oaktrail technology (that's the Z6xx series of Atom CPUs) Read more ...

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/carrypadfullfeed/~3/UhT45Qtp-w4/

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HTC Wildfire S Coming to T-Mobile Aug. 3rd for $80

2011-07-24T14:29:00.000-04:00

The HTC Wildfire S is finally coming to the United States after having been out in Europe for a little while now. The phone will release on T-Mobile on Aug. 3rd for $79.99 on a two-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate.

While the Wildfire S definitely falls out of the realm of top-tier Android devices, the combination of Android 2.3 Gingerbread with the popular HTC Sense UI could be tempting to a lot of people at this price. While it may not be for everyone, there is definitely enough here to tempt someone into giving Android a try, or even picking up their first smartphone.

You'll be able to pick up the HTC Wildfire S in a white finish at T-Mobile stores, and in a black finish at Walmart, Sam's Club and the T-Mobile website.

HTC Wildfire S Tech Specs

Android 2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense
800 MHz Qualcomm processor
3.2-inch HVGA capiacitive touch screen
512MB RAM, 512MB ROM
5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash
Bluetooth 3.0
802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
3.5mm stereo headphone jack
micro-USB port
1230 mAh battery

Do you have any interest in the HTC Wildfire S?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/htc/htc-wildfire-s-coming-to-t-mobile-aug-3rd-for-80/

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Samsung Galaxy S II Finally Heading to the U.S. (UPDATED)

2011-07-24T14:28:00.000-04:00

It seems like forever since we first heard about the Samsung Galaxy S II, but it was really only back in Feb. at the Mobile World Congress. Since then it has seen some releases, but the United States has been (not-so) patiently waiting for some word on when we can expect it to release here.

According to a report from the Yonhap News Agency, Samsung has finally announced a release date at a press conference held in in the company's home country of Korea.

"We expect to release the Galaxy S2 in the U.S. market sometime in August," Shin Jong-kyun, president of Samsung's mobile business and digital imaging, told reporters at a media briefing.

We don't know anything beyond that at this point, and there is no word if any of the tech specs will change from the version released in other countries, but there isn't much reason to think that they will. Even though it's a few months old now, the original specs still hold up well, and it still looks like it will be a heck of a phone.

Here are the specs as a reminder.

Samsung Galaxy S II Tech Specs

4.27" WVGA super AMOLED Plus screen (800 x 480)
1.2GHz Dual Core CPU
8.49mm thick
Android Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0
HSPA+ connectivity
8 megapixel rear camera
2 megapixel front camera
Full HD 1080P video at 30fps
1GB of RAM
16GB of Internal Memory
Bluetooth 3.0+HS
Wi-Fi Direct for connectivity to Wi-Fi enable computers for communication
AGPS
Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity Senor and Light Sensor
Support for MP4, 3GP, DivX, XviD and Streaming video.

What do you think? Are you excited for the Samsung Galaxy S II?

UPDATE: Corrected the amount of RAM and changed the processor in the specs.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/google/android/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-finally-heading-to-the-u-s/

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Lenovo Announces 3 New Tablets, First Tablets To Be Netflix-Certified

2011-07-24T14:24:00.000-04:00

Lenovo has finally made good on its tablet promises, announcing three new tablets to be released later this year. The trifecta of tablets includes the IdeaPad Tablet K1 designed for consumers, the ThinkPad Tablet for business users, and the IdeaPad Tablet P1 for those who want to mix business with pleasure when it comes to their tablet.

"Tablets are extremely personal technology devices. That's why we've created a family of tablets that has something for everyone, including entertainment-friendly features and content for consumers, or business- friendly features to enhance productivity for professionals as well as security and manageability for IT Managers," said Liu Jun, senior vice president and president, Mobile Internet Digital Home business group, Lenovo. "So whether it's the IdeaPad for entertainment or the ThinkPad for business, we have listened to our customers and are delivering Android tablets designed to meet their particular needs."

All three tablets are Netflix-certified, and will be the only Honeycomb tablets on the market that are for a short period of time. All three tablets have 1080p HDMI output coupled with Digital Rights Management (DRM) built-in, Netflix members can also instantly watch movies and TV shows streaming from Netflix on their tablet directly on a big screen TV.

All of the tablets come with Netflix preinstalled, as well as 40 other applications and access to the "Lenovo App Store," where users can purchase "applications that have been tested specifically for Lenovo IdeaPad and ThinkPad Tablets."

Curious what you're looking at Spec-wise?

IdeaPad Tablet K1 Specs

Nvidia Tegra 2 1 GHz dual core processor
Android 3.1 (with Lenovo's Launch Zone skin)
10.1" (1280×800) display
1.6 pounds
1GB RAM
16/32/64GB SSD storage
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
MicroSD expansion
Forward-facing 2-megapixel cam
Rear-facing 5-megapixel camera
Available August 2011 starting at $499

ThinkPad Tablet Specs

Nvidia Tegra 2 1 GHz dual core processor
Android 3.1
10.1" IPS 1280×800 display with Corning Gorilla Glass
1GB RAM
16/32/64GB storage
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
MicroSD expansion
mini-HDMI
Full-size USB port
Forward-facing 2-megapixel camera
Rear-facing 5-megapixel camera
Optional Keyboard Folio case ($99 available "at a later date")
Optional digitzer pen
Available in August starting at $499 (no pen) and $529 (with pen)

ThinkPad Tablet P1 Specs

Intel 1.5 GHz processor
Windows 7
10.1-inch 1280×800 multi-touch display
Up to 2GB memory
32/64GB SSD storage
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth )
MicroSD slot
Forward-facing 0.3-megapixel camera
6 hour battery
Available in 4th quarter of 2011

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/tablets/lenovo-announces-3-new-tablets-first-tablets-to-be-netflix-certified/

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Nexus S for AT&T Arrives July 24, Pre-orders Begin ($100)

2011-07-24T14:20:00.000-04:00

Nexus fans on America's leading GSM carrier finally get their due today: Best Buy / Best Buy Mobile have opened pre-orders for the AT&T-compatible version of the Nexus S. Selling for $99.99 (on contract), the device will be available on shelves beginning July 24th.

For the uninitiated, the Nexus S is a well-respected handset in a crowded field of Android smartphones. It may not sit at the very top of the list when it comes to specs these days, but it still holds court as a true Google Experience phone that features solid hardware and an enviable software position of being first for updates. It features Android (Gingerbread), a 1GHz processor, 4-inch Super AMOLED Contour display, and dual cameras (5 MP rear, VGA cam in front).

For more, check out the press release, or pop by Best Buy in person or online.

So who's snagging this deal? Let us know what your plans are in the comments below.

SAMSUNG MOBILE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILTY OF NEXUS S ON AT&T

Nexus S hits Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, as well as online on July 24; pre-sale begins July 21

DALLAS – July 21, 2011 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, today announced the upcoming availability of Nexus™ S from Google™ through Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and www.BestBuy.com/Mobile.

Optimized for AT&T's network, and powered by Android™ 2.3, Nexus S offers an experience with uniquely powerful technology. Nexus S is designed with Samsung's special Super AMOLED™ touch screen technology providing a premium viewing experience. Nexus S runs off of a 1 GHz Samsung application processor, producing rich 3D graphics, as well as faster download and upload times. With Nexus S AT&T customers will now have access to the latest and greatest Google applications and Android updates first.

Nexus S will be available at Best Buy in stores on July 24 for $99.99 with a new, two-year activation. In addition, the phone is available for pre-sale in Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and online at www.BestBuy.com/Mobile beginning July 21.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/google/android/nexus-s-for-att-arrives-july-24-pre-orders-begin-100/

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HTC Wildfire S Coming to T-Mobile Aug. 3rd for $80

2011-07-24T14:19:00.000-04:00

You'll be able to pick up the HTC Wildfire S in a white finish at T-Mobile stores, and in a black finish at Walmart, Sam's Club and the T-Mobile website.

HTC Wildfire S Tech Specs

Android 2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense
800 MHz Qualcomm processor
3.2-inch HVGA capiacitive touch screen
512MB RAM, 512MB ROM
5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash
Bluetooth 3.0
802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
3.5mm stereo headphone jack
micro-USB port
1230 mAh battery

Do you have any interest in the HTC Wildfire S?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/htc/htc-wildfire-s-coming-to-t-mobile-aug-3rd-for-80/

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White Next-Gen iPod Touch Pic Leaked

2011-07-24T14:18:00.000-04:00

A white iPod Touch? That's what this photo, presumably of the Touch's digitizer, suggests. And it's not really all that far-fetched, is it? There are white versions now of the iPhone and iPad.

This could wind up being the most major update to the iPod Touch this year, say analysts. Orders are said to begin next month, and the availability of components are still a major concern, particularly in the wake of the Japan Earthquake-Tsunami. If push came to shove with any shared parts , there's little doubt Apple would give them to the iPhone and iPad first. We're still crossing our fingers that a dual-core A5 and better quality cameras will make their way in there.

What about you? Would availability in white be enough to get you to upgrade to a new Touch? What about internal refinements? Weigh in. [Minor typo corrected. Thanks, @AdrianScreenChild!]

[via 9to5Mac]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/ipod/white-next-gen-ipod-touch-pic-leaked/

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Apple Tests OTA Updates with New iOS 5 Beta Build

2011-07-24T14:16:00.000-04:00

Apple is releasing version 4 of the iOS 5 beta, and with it comes the first test of OTA (over the air) updating.

9to5Mac threw up a screenshot of the notification page, and there are two caveats not listed: All of you pictures will be deleted from your device, and you must have iOS 5 beta 3 installed to take advantage of the OTA feature. Of course your images are still in iTunes, so it is only the physical device they are being deleted from. I'm sure this will be dealt with before the final version ships in the fall, but that would be a rather odd problem to have when this first rolls out as it is supposed to do away with the need for cables.

9to5Mac also confirmed that the updated did work over 3G on Verizon, so the support for on-the-go updates is there, but those of you with data caps will definitely have to be mindful when this becomes a regular thing.

There are sure to be all sorts of hidden niftiness in this latest build of iOS 5, and we'll bring you the highlights as they spill out.

[via 9to5Mac]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/iphone/apple-tests-ota-updates-with-new-ios-5-beta-build/

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Reminder - Ciprimoloci wants you on StumbleUpon

2011-07-23T04:43:00.001-04:00

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Why the iPhone 5 and Not the iPhone 4S

2011-07-19T17:06:00.000-04:00

Since the beginning of this year, rumor after rumor has circulated about Apple's latest iteration of their immensely popular iPhone line. I don't need to tell you that the iPhone 4 has been tremendously successful, and Apple has been selling them just as quickly as they can roll off of production lines. With such a successful phone, it was initially guessed/suggested/prophesied that the next iPhone would receive only minor changes, essentially rendering it an 'S' model (think iPhone 3GS). Now, I'm going to tell you that the iPhone 4S moniker would be a misnomer.

"Why?" whisper the confused masses in hushed tones.

"Why would Steve Jobs scrap the design of such a successful device? Why would he not iterate it as slowly and as painfully as possible?" Two simple reasons:

Apple Hates the iPhone 4

Who can forget the pre-release Gizmodo leak from 2010? We all know the story: Apple employee mistakenly leaves phone at bar, phone is sold to Gizmodo. The entire city of Cupertino facepalms and Ninja-Steve leads a strike team to raid the editor's house. The device was recovered, but the launch was spoiled. The company's secretive ways are legendary, and no one revels in a suspenseful presser like Steve Jobs. At least they could relax once the phones hit shelves, right? Cue Antennaegate. The phone is beautiful, but suffers from signal-loss when the handset is held "improperly." The culprit: the newly designed antennae system that was lauded as an advance in engineering during the launch. When Consumer Reports says that it cannot recommend the device due to the signal issue, the media takes the story and runs with it. Steve frowns. Strike two. As if this weren't enough, people are beginning to take notice of the phone's glass backside. Surely you've seen pictures of it. Shattered.

Shareholders love the phone. They tend to love things that make money. If a vomitous mass of pukeworms and garlic made money, they'd love it. Back to the point.

The point is that Apple got to where they were by not following the money, but by pushing design and by making sure the innards of their products were modern as well. Just as importantly, their products have been durable. Take any Apple product starting in the Newjobsian Era. All of the products are built like tanks. Heck, I TRIED to destroy my 1st generation iPod touch, and only halfway succeeded in doing so after hurling it to the ground, full-force. Repeatedly. The rest of the Apple fleet is a sturdy bunch: The iMac and MacBook Pro are made of anodized aluminum, as is the Mac Mini. An army of unbreakable brutes vs. a shatter-prone, malfunctioning slab. You can see why the head-honchos want to distance themselves from this one. Distancing oneself. This leads us to point deux.

Apple's Competition is no longer the Treo

According to last count, there are about 10,067,343,982 different Android configurations*[1]. Until the release of the G1, the only competition Apple had for the smartphone market was . . . itself? Apple never faced serious competition*[2] before the introduction of Android, and lately the OS has been on a tear. 550,000 activations daily. That's 550,000 new Android phones being activated a day. Android has risen to the top in smartphone OS market share. Android means options. New options. Apple may have released a new iPhone a little over one year ago, but Samsung, HTC and a bevy of other OEMs have released new phones this month. Phones now have dual-cores, qHD and Super AMOLED + screens, NFC support and so much more. Apple still has their retina display (made by LG, of course), but what else do they really have that sets them apart, aside from a beautiful, breakable design? In regard to specs, Apple right now is in a catch-up position. That's not a game Apple usually has to play. They don't like to be on-par with the competition, or even just ahead. They like to be different.

Maybe I'm a crazyman. Maybe I should be tied up in a Posey vest and made to intern for Mihalis Lazaridis. But I don't think so.
So, in September, when you're listening to Steve introduce the next revolutionary and paradigm-shifting product, don't be surprised to see him touting a drastically redesigned, durable piece of hardware.

It will be magical.

*[1]I really have no idea, but the number must be outstanding.

*[2]RIM. HA! RIM! HA! FUNNY!

This article was submitted by Sage Lane, and has been edited only for spelling, grammar and punctuation. Any opinions expressed in a User Submitted article are solely those of the author and do not reflect that of TechnoBuffalo.com, its management, employees or its advertisers.

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http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/iphone/why-the-iphone-5-and-not-the-iphone-4s/

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Samsung Galaxy Q to Have 5.3-inch Screen?

2011-07-19T17:05:00.000-04:00

It seems Samsung may be making a big splash at IFA 2011 in Berlin this September … literally.

Sources in Korea told Yahoo News Korea that the company will debut the Samsung Galaxy Q at the world's largest consumer electronics trade show, clocking in at a massive 5.3-inches. The screen is reportedly one of Samsung's popular Super AMOLED Plus displays, but no word on what the pixel dimensions will be.

The source went on to say that the device would have both 3G WCDMA and 4G LTE connectivity, meaning that in the United States it could be heading to either AT&T or Verizon, but there is no clue as of yet which one it will be.

Beyond those small facts, next to nothing is known about the device. We have no clue if it will support voice calls or not as the 7-inch Galaxy Tab did so in Europe, but not in the United States. It is not unprecedented for a device of the size to support calls as the 5-inch Dell Streak does, but when devices get into this size range, you have to wonder about the practicalities of holding it up to your face for any extended period of time.

Samsung does seem to have an obsession with making phones bigger and bigger. The Infuse 4G is currently the company's largest device at 4.7-inches, but when you're talking about a device that needs to be carries with you and potentially held up to your face, the difference between 4.7 and 5.3-inches is pretty substantial.

What do you think? Do you have any interest in a 5.3-inch device from Samsung? Do you think it will support voice calls?

[via Android Community]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/rumors/samsung-galaxy-q-to-have-5-3-inch-screen/

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Blackberry Torch 2 (9810) Prototype Reveals it’s AT&T Bound

2011-07-19T17:04:00.001-04:00

The BlackBerry Torch 2 is coming to AT&T. Our brand new prototype is revealing all kinds of new secrets.

That may not come as a giant surprise seeing as the original is still a Ma Bell exclusive. What is strange, however, is that RIM still has yet to even acknowledge that the Torch 2 (9810) even exists, despite our hands on, and it just clearing FCC tests.

Back in May we were fortunate enough to get some hands on time with a very early Torch 2 prototype. That version was running BlackBerry OS 7.0.0.100 which seemed extremely unstable and was devoid of any carrier branding or software. Almost two months later we have another Torch 2 prototype, but this one feels very close to production ready, running a never before seen BlackBerry OS 7.0.0.123 with AT&T splashed all over it. In our tests (we've had the device for 48 hours) the OS feels extremely stable, and we wouldn't be surprised if this is the shipping ROM. Tucked into this .123 version of RIM's 7^th OS are all kinds of AT&T goodies, including AT&T AppCenter, AT&T Maps +Nav, , AT&T Code Scanner, and a host of other branded applications.

Now that we've answered the question of if the Torch 2 is coming to AT&T, let's turn to the more important question, when is it coming? It seems extremely odd that RIM didn't even mention this guys existence at BlackBerry World 2011, especially when it was so close to production ready. Our sources do tell us that RIM is finally getting ready to own up to the 9810, and prepare it for a late August release as an AT&T exclusive in North America. Thus far, the phone has proven to be a tremendous upgrade over the original 9800, but more testing is still needed.

Over the next week, stay tuned to TechnoBuffalo as the 9810 spills more secrets.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/blackberry/blackberry-torch-2-9810-is-coming-to-att/

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Two New iPhones on the Way This Summer?

2011-07-19T17:04:00.000-04:00

Another day, another iPhone rumor. This one, however, comes from the a highly trusted source of a well-known blog, and not just some analyst trying to fill their quota of predictions before leaving for the weekend. According to Boy Genius Report, Apple is preparing both a low-cost prepaid handset as well as the next iteration in the family of smartphones.

The first device, the low cost option, would retail for no more than $350 and could even possibly be the iPhone 3GS rebranded as a new option for the budget minded folks who have avoided getting into the iOS world due to price. We have seen several different versions of the "cheaper" iPhone rumor for a while now, but this version is one that possibly makes the most sense as it would mean next to no extra work for the company to get it out there. Of course we have also seen stories that it may end up being free on AT&T post iPhone 5 launch, and if the $350 retail price is true, this would fit in nicely with that.

Moving on to the new version of the iPhone, this source is saying that it is not going to be the iPhone 5, but the iPhone 4S instead as some have expected. The reason for this would be that Apple CEO Steve Jobs may have finally hit on a way to expand the company's product line without spending a ton on research & development. Under this supposed new plan, the iPhone 3GS would go prepaid, the iPhone 4S would be come the new top dog, and the iPhone 4 would stay in the mix as a mid-tier phone.

What adds some credibility to this rumor over a lot of the others floating around out there is that it actually makes sense. Android is taking over the market based on sheer volume of handsets available alone. By Apple finally offering three phones, as opposed to the current two, and making sure they hit various price points and plan concepts, Apple could take a lot of the wind out of Google's sails. Add in the rumors that the iPhone is coming to Sprint and T-Mobile, and a massive plan to win a much larger chunk of the market really starts to take shape.

Of course none of this will be confirmed until Apple takes the wraps off its new phone, which the source says should be some time in August.

What do you think? Is apple going for a multi-prong attack on the cell phone market?

[via Boy Genius Report]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/iphone/two-new-iphones-on-the-way-this-summer/

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Rumor: MacBook Air, OS X Lion Uncaged on Wednesday?

2011-07-19T17:02:00.000-04:00

The new MacBook Airs and OS X 10.7, "Lion," could be arriving as soon as Wednesday, says sources over at AppleInsider. (The tipsters even dropped a time — 8:30 a.m. Eastern.) The Air is expected to arrive with Intel's new Sandy Bridge processor, Apple's new high-speed Thunderbolt port, backlit keyboard, solid-state drive (at 128GB or 256GB) and 4GB of RAM.

The Golden Master of Lion was seeded to developers at the beginning of this month, so it seems on track for a July debut, as promised. If it arrives alongside the Air, then chances are good that the OS might come loaded on the laptop at launch, though even if not, new Air customers will be able to snag it for free. Lion will be available via the Mac App Store only, with a regular retail price of $29.99.

[via AppleInsider]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/rumor-macbook-air-os-x-lion-uncaged-on-wednesday/

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Amazon Kindle App Finally Arrives for the TouchPad

2011-07-19T17:01:00.001-04:00

For those of you who picked up the TouchPad, you may have been annoyed by the fact that the Amazon Kindle app was there … but not there. As our own Jon Rettinger pointed out in his video review earlier this month, the app was listed on the device, but when you clicked on it all you got was a message telling you they were hard at work on it. Well, earlier today the app was indeed finally ready and you can read all of your purchased titles on the first webOS table.

No clue why it took so long, but it's nice to see it finally make its debut. Have you given it a try yet?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/e-readers/amazon-kindle-app-finally-arrives-for-the-touchpad/

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Leak Sauce: Sammy Hard QWERTY Slider with Verizon Logo

2011-07-19T17:01:00.000-04:00

Android Central leaked a little sliding QWERTY action with a peep at this bad boy, a new unidentified Samsung Android phone.

The handset may be brandishing some Big Red branding there, but it still sort of smacks of Sprint's Epic 4G a little. The site says this unknown device rocks 4G LTE support, Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4), 1GHz single-core processor, 512MB RAM, Super AMOLED Plus display, 1,800mAh battery and dual cams (5 MP rear, 1.3 MP front).

What do you think, Verizon Android fans? Would you be tempted by a Sammy slider with hardware keyboard, crazy good display and 4G/LTE? Or would you stick with a Droid 3, with better specs but 3G limitation?

[via BoyGenius Report, source Android Central]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/google/android/leak-sauce-sammy-hard-qwerty-slider-with-verizon-logo/

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Nokia 'Sea Ray' WP7 handset revealed on a factory floor? (Video)

2011-07-19T16:58:00.000-04:00

Stephen Elop himself spilled the beans about Nokia's first WP7 handset, codenamed Sea Ray, when he told a large live audience and some whirring video cameras that he wanted the phone to be kept "super confidential." Now we have a whole new puddle of legumes lying on what sounds like a Chinese factory floor, courtesy of the authentic-looking video above. The clip reveals the N9-like device removed from what appears to be a stealth case, followed by a speedy boot-up into the Windows Phone OS. We're also treated to a quick look at the camera in action -- triggered by a dedicated shutter button that's missing on the N9 -- before a hurried "goodbye." There's not much else to see here, but could that reddish theme be a hint that this particular example is destined for Vodafone? Only time will tell.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nokia 'Sea Ray' WP7 handset revealed on a factory floor? (Video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WPCentral | WPXAP | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/nokia-sea-ray-wp7-handset-revealed-on-a-factory-floor-video/

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro slides through the FCC, gets turned inside out

2011-07-19T16:52:00.000-04:00

It's been a long road for the Xperia Pro, but the little sliding QWERTY phone from Sony Ericsson finally appears to be nearing release. After getting manhandled, posing for a few glamor shots, and going up for pre-order, the 900MHz and 2100MHz HSPA friendly handset has, months after its unveiling, glided through the FCC. Granted, those bands don't do American fans of SE's Android customizations much good but, on the plus side, the Pro now appears to be sporting ANT+ for all your fitness tracking needs. Unfortunately, the September delivery date still stands, so our friends across the pond will just have remain patient.

Gallery: Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro

Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro slides through the FCC, gets turned inside out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | FCC, (2) | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/sony-ericcson-xperia-pro-slides-through-the-fcc-gets-turned-ins/

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BlackBerry PlayBook update brings zip extraction, more storage options for attachments

2011-07-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

RIM sure is working fast to bring its 500,000-strong BlackBerry Playbooks up to functional par. The tablet's been on the market for three short months and is already set to receive its fourth software update. This go 'round, RIM added the ability to save attachments to a removable SD card or your phone's internal storage, extract zip files from email (although you'll have to use Bridge and port from your BlackBerry smartphone), a pinch-to-zoom feature for video viewing and -- winner of the duh award -- portrait viewing for photos. Also, the software now supports 15 additional languages -- great news if you speak Galician. If you're planning on picking up this QNX tab, you'll receive the v1.0.7 update as part of the setup process. Current owners can wait for an update notification, or just pull it manually. So, what are you waiting for? Get downloading.

BlackBerry PlayBook update brings zip extraction, more storage options for attachments originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MobileBurn | BlackBerry Blog | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/blackberry-playbook-update-brings-zip-extraction-more-storage-o/

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Sony's latest tablet teaser plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, still tells us nothing

2011-07-19T16:50:00.000-04:00

Ready for yet another S1 / S2 teaser video that tells you more about the marketing team's potential extra-curricular indulgences and absolutely nothing new about the tablets? Well, drop those tabs and strap in for some doll-voiced la la la's as Sony leads us even deeper into the late-night realm of desktop toys and the tablets they love. Shots of the stylish slates displaying video and gaming functionality are all but hidden in a "filled with fun" maze of booby-trap triggered contraptions. It's a romp through the sort of endearing Tim Burton-esque, high-art nightmare Sony's dabbled in for past Playstation campaigns -- so we 're not too surprised. Hit the break to hitch a ride on this video wonderland.

Continue reading Sony's latest tablet teaser plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, still tells us nothing

Sony's latest tablet teaser plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, still tells us nothing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/sonys-latest-tablet-teaser-plunges-deeper-into-the-rabbit-hole/

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2011-07-16T10:06:00.001-04:00

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Apple’s Revamped LED Cinema Displays With Thunderbolt Coming Soon

2011-07-16T09:47:00.000-04:00

Rumors for an upcoming MacBook Air revamp alongside Mac OS X Lion are so prominent that we've pretty much accepted their launch next week as fact. However, other rumors on upcoming Mac Pro, Mac Mini, and even a revamped white MacBook keep flip flopping. The part numbers leaked earlier in the week are now believed to be new Apple LED Cinema Displays.

The part number MC914LL/A-J59 was originally thought to be that of a new white MacBook with a Thunderbolt port. But now Apple has partially confirmed that it is actually a new Apple LED Cinema Display after it posted a new image of the display to its product page and identified it in the URL as "MC914."

The new display looks identical to the current model except that the promotional images show it displaying a Lion desktop rather than a Snow Leopard one. And the biggest change is that the mini display port on the back is now replaced by the blazing fast 10Gbps Thunderbolt connector port.

Additional images spotted by MacRumors show a MacBook Pro connected to two of these new LED Cinema Displays via Thunderbolt in a daisy chain.

[via MacRumors]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear.com

Apple's Revamped LED Cinema Displays With Thunderbolt Coming Soon is written by Rue Liu & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2011, SlashGear. All right reserved.

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/R0SYVnXol2w/

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HP Pre 3 Specs Boosted To 1.2Ghz Dual-Core Processor

2011-07-16T09:46:00.000-04:00

HP's first flagship webOS smartphone, the Pre 3, which is oddly being released months after the HP Veer, is tipped to launch on July 21 on both Verizon and AT&T. That's only a week away, and now the company has updated their website to reveal a spec boost for the handset. This fuels rumors of a price bump and a possible delay until August.

We first got our hands on the device back in February when it was slated to run on a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Scorpion single-core processor. But the new specs posted by HP now list the handset as running on a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor. It's believed that this could be the cause of the delay, as the device was slated for a July 8 UK launch that didn't pan out.

Other specs remain the same, so don't be expecting a major revamp like we've seen with the Motorola DROID Bionic, which had a complete facelift. The Pre 3 will still have a 3.6-inch WVGA (800×400) display along with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and will ship with WebOS 2.2.

[via BGR]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear.com

HP Pre 3 Specs Boosted To 1.2Ghz Dual-Core Processor is written by Rue Liu & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2011, SlashGear. All right reserved.

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/wwPEHk7shUk/

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Las Vegas: Home to Carrot Top and the ‘world’s greenest’ data center?

2011-07-16T09:44:00.000-04:00

Initially, I was excited to see that someone else sees Las Vegas as the green data center hotspot it should be. Rich Miller at Data Center Knowledge reported Friday that a company called pair Networks is building a new data center in Las Vegas that runs entirely off the grid thanks to natural gas, cogeneration and a rooftop solar array.

I've suggested in the past (albeit somewhat selfishly because I live there) that Las Vegas is an ideal spot to build new green data centers. We have lots of space and cheap real estate; we're close to California; and, most importantly,we have a very abundant supply of sun. Pair Networks seems to get this, kind of.

Pair calls the new data center "the world's greenest web site hosting facility" and says that:

When all phases of the facility are constructed, the data centers will have the capacity to house over 20,000 Web site hosting servers, and host millions of Web sites, all on less than 2.5 acres of desert outside of Las Vegas, NV.

It gives a litany of reasons for staking its claim as the world's greenest data center, but it's only installing a 100 kWh solar array, which isn't big at all, and suggests solar will be used primarily for non-computing needs. In fact, most solar energy in data centers goes toward lighting and other office-related energy. By way of comparison, the average house uses about 100 kWh per day.

Rating how green data centers are can be a bit misleading. The widely accepted PUE measure, for example, measures how much of a facility's power consumption goes toward actual computing, as opposed to getting lost in transit or being used for cooling. As Miller explains in his post, a data center that receives a 1.0 PUE score is considered to have an optimal efficiency, although sub-1.0 is theoretically possible. In that regard, pair Networks' certainly is efficient, but is it green? Is it clean?

That's debatable. Natural gas might burn cleaner than coal, but extracting it is arguably an environmentally unfriendly process, and natural gas is still a fossil fuel — it releases considerable carbon emissions. If you want truly clean data centers, look at some of the projects in Iceland that are running entirely off geothermal and hydropower, which are pretty much carbon-emission free. It seems only logical that if you're talking about green or clean in Las Vegas, you'd be talking about solar energy — and lots of it.

Las Vegas does have a handful of data centers already, including the impressive SuperNAP, but I haven't heard a whole lot about them relying heavily on solar power or clean power. It doesn't look as if pair Networks is either, but attempting to be the "world's greenest" is a start. If it replaces that gas with more solar energy, it'll really be onto something.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OmMalik/~3/XhGAuLgOh68/

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Apple Wins Partial Victory Over HTC in Patent Suit, May Block Sale of HTC Devices

2011-07-16T09:37:00.000-04:00

Apple has won a partial victory over HTC in the patent lawsuit it filed earlier this month. The suit alleged that HTC violated 10 patents held by Apple. Today an International Trade Commission (ITC) judge ruled in favor of Apple on two of those 10 patents.

In a statement, Grace Lei, general counsel for HTC said "This is only one step of many in these legal proceedings. The ITC's Staff Attorney independently studied the facts and argued at trial that HTC does not violate any Apple patents. Apple filed suit on 10 of its patents against HTC, but based on the judge's initial decision today only prevailed on two of those patents. HTC will vigorously fight these two remaining patents through an appeal before the ITC Commissioners who make the final decision.

We are highly confident we have a strong case for the ITC appeals process and are fully prepared to defend ourselves using all means possible. As a leading smartphone innovator for more than a decade, we develop and
acquire technology in many areas and strongly believe we have alternative solutions in place for the issues raised by Apple. We look forward to resolving this case, so we can continue creating the most innovative mobile experiences for consumers."

If an appeal isn't successful, then HTC will be forced to make a settlement with Apple, which could potentially end in several HTC devices being blocked for sale in the United States. The suit specifically targets the HTC Droid Incredible, Droid Incredible 2, Wildfire, T-Mobile myTouch 3G, T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide, T-Mobile G1, T-Mobile G2, Evo 4G, Aria, Desire, Hero, Merge, Inspire 4G, Evo 4G, Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt 4G.

The patents that HTC has allegedly violated; however pertain to "system and method for performing an action on a structure in computer," and "real-time signal processing system for serially transmitted data."The functionality of both is not used exclusively in HTC devices. If the final ruling is in favor of Apple, it would pave the way for additional Android devices to also be banned from the U.S.

Apple currently has a similar lawsuit pending with Samsung.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/apple-wins-partial-victory-over-htc-in-patent-suit-may-block-sale-of-htc-devices/

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Netflix on Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)

2011-07-14T19:37:00.000-04:00

The Nintendo 3DS may be suffering from a slight lack of hot games at the moment, but thanks to a little update it is certainly not suffering from a lack of great movies and TV shows to watch. The Netflix addition that Nintendo promised us back in the summer is now up for download, and download is just what we did. If you're wondering just how Instant content looks on the small screen, click on through and find out.

Gallery: Netflix on Nintendo 3DS

Continue reading Netflix on Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)

Netflix on Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/netflix-on-nintendo-3ds-hands-on-video/

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Apple Attempting to Block the Sale of HTC Devices in the U.S.

2011-07-14T19:35:00.002-04:00

Last week Apple filed paperwork attempting to block the sale of several Samsung devices in the U.S. A little over a week later we're back to the trenches, with Apple now attempting to block the sale of several HTC devices including the HTC Droid Incredible, Droid Incredible 2, Wildfire, T-Mobile myTouch 3G, T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide, T-Mobile G1, T-Mobile G2, Evo 4G, Aria, Desire, Hero, Merge, Inspire 4G, Evo 4G, Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt 4G.

Apple filed the paperwork with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington on July 8th. The commission has 30 days to decide whether an investigation is necessary. Should one be granted, and the courts side with Apple – those devices would then be banned for sale in the U.S.

In a statement, Grace Lei, HTC's general counsel said "HTC is dismayed that Apple has resorted to competition in the courts rather than the marketplace, HTC continues to vehemently deny all of Apple's past and present claims against it and will continue to protect and defend its own intellectual property as it has already done this year."

So, on a basic level I get why Apple is suing Samsung and HTC (and probably a slew of other people eventually). Take any one of the phones and tablets Apple is up in arms about, place them beside an iPhone, walk about 10 feet away and you're not going to able to tell the difference. I do nothing but write about this stuff all day long, and I couldn't tell a lot of them apart from across the room – and myTouch? Sounds a heck of a lot like iTouch and is catering to the same customer base as the music player. They are, hardware wise, very similar looking devices.

So, does that give Apple the right to sue everyone?
Yes, and no. I'm no lawyer (by any stretch of the imagination), but Apple does have the legal right to some of that technology/design etc. and Samsung, HTC, and every other touchscreen smartphone maker is capitalizing on that. Apple lover or hater I think we can all agree that the iPhone dramatically changed the smartphone market. Would those changes have happened if there was no iPhone? Probably in some form, but also probably not in the same way. The same could be said for the iPad. Had the first iPad not been so incredibly popular, would be be seeing so many other tablets hit the market?

I think my main issue with the whole lawsuit bonanza is that it's happening now. Had Apple been suing smartphone makers for every phone throughout the years that resembled an iPhone I would wholeheartedly think they should win. Now that its suing people years later? Having a little bit of trouble supporting it.

Android has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Maybe Apple felt like it had to prove the offending handsets were stealing away some of its business before it could effectively sue them for it? On the other hand, maybe its trying slow down its competition now that its competition is starting to take away some of its business?

All Android/Apple fanboydom aside, what do you think? Does Apple have the right to sue HTC and Samsung for allegedly copying the iPhone and iPad? Would you feel differently if Apple had been suing everyone from the first non-iPhone touchscreen smartphone that was released?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/apple-attempting-to-block-the-sale-of-htc-devices-in-the-u-s/

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New MacBook Airs and Pros Coming This Week?

2011-07-14T19:35:00.001-04:00

Mentioning "people familiar with the matter" AppleInsider is reporting that new MacBook Airs will be released this week with Sandy Bridge processors, high-speed Thunderbolt ports, and potentially 400Mbps of flash memory. All those rumors are things we've heard before – but the site is also claiming that Apple will be bringing back backlit keyboards in the updated Air line.

9 to 5 Mac is also adding to the rumor mill today, claiming that in addition to four new MacBook Air models (basic and upgraded 11-inch and 13-inch) we'll potentially see new MacBook Pro models this week, or at least this month. New Pro models are thought to have a re-designed enclosure that is rack-mountable and will also potentially be upgraded with Thunderbolt connections.

The new laptops are thought to be launching on the same day as Apple's newest version of its operating system ,OS X Lion on June 14th.

As a MacBook Air owner, a backlit keyboard was one of those features I didn't think I would even notice wasn't there- and one of my biggest complaints about the computer. Typing in dimly lit rooms is really not much of an option with the Air due to its lack of a backlit keyboard. I'd love to see Apple add the feature to the updated models.

What do you think about the rumors? Will we see updated Airs and Pros this week?

[via AppleInsider and 9to5Mac]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/new-macbook-airs-and-pros-coming-this-week/

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LG Optimus Pro Shows Up In Video and Pictures

2011-07-14T19:35:00.000-04:00

Italy's Android World has managed to pick up a few images (and a video!) of the BlackBerry-esque LG Optimus Pro. According to the site the phone will come running Gingerbread on its 2.8-inch screen, and packing an 800MHz processor and 8-megapixel camera under the hood. The handset is expected to run around $249 US when it becomes available in Italy later this year.

[via AndroidCommunity]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/phones/lg-optimus-pro-shows-up-in-video-and-pictures/

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Could HTC Status Rock As a Business Phone?

2011-07-14T19:34:00.001-04:00

The HTC Status (known abroad as the ChaCha) has opened for AT&T pre-orders, with in-store stock set for July 17th. On the surface, it looks like a great mid-tier option for featurephoners dallying with the thought of hopping on the Android bandwagon. But it turns out that it could actually be big with another market — BlackBerry-toting business users looking to switch.

Why? Well, just look at it: Comparisons to BlackBerry were bound to happen. The Status features a pocketable candybar form factor, with a very respectable hardware QWERTY keyboard set below a petite 2.6-inch widescreen display. Although the OS may be quite different, it offers a familiar feel that BB users can take comfort in, to prevent total culture shock from happening.

Our own Jon Rettinger offered some thoughts on the phone in advance of its NYC press unveiling tonight, and he concurs: "It's running Android 2.3, permanent portrait orientation, big keyboard. Could be great for a business user; almost a substitute for a BlackBerry."

While certainly not the first non-RIM handset to feature such looks — not even the first Android phone (*cough*, Samsung Galaxy Pro, *cough*) — the Status offers some pretty sleek styling and the always-elegant Sense interface. And that dedicated Facebook button gives it away as a device built around social networking, with multiple features for fast updates, check-ins, sharing and feed info. That, plus its highly portable size, could make it very popular among hyper-connected pros. (The device's affordable $50 price tag could also be really attractive for budget-conscious entrepreneurs.)

What do you think? If you had a choice of work phone, would the Status' hardware keyboard, pocketability and social features win you over? Or would you stick with a highly spec'ed, big screen handset?

If you can't decide right now, keep your eyes on TechnoBuffalo for more HTC Status impressions from Jon, who'll be on the ground at the unveiling tonight. In the mean time, here a run-through of major specs:

HTC Status Specs

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Sense UI
2.6″ capacitive touchscreen (480 x 320 res)
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900
512 MB RAM / 512 MB ROM
MicroSD expansion (up to 32 GB)
800 MHz CPU (MSM7227)
1250 mAh li-ion battery
Dual cameras: 5 MP rear with autofocus and flash, VGA front cam

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/google/android/could-htc-status-rock-as-a-business-phone/

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Analyst: iPhone 5 Headed To Sprint and T-Mobile

2011-07-14T19:34:00.000-04:00

According to Piper Jaffray analyst Chris Larsen we'll see the iPhone 5 on Sprint and T-Mobile in addition to Verizon and AT&T.

In a research study note issued today Larsen said, "While we remain uncertain regarding the next-generation iPhone's specs and features, we believe the most noteworthy change could be the device's ability to run on more networks, specifically Sprint and T-Mobile in the U.S…Our belief is that if Apple is already going through the trouble to make a device that has the ability to work on both major network technologies, why not include all the necessary spectrum bands to make one device work on all carriers."

I'd actually tend to agree. Apple has been the biggest game in town for a while, but is quickly losing ground to Android. Windows Phone 7 even claims to be doing well sales-wise. In order to stay at the top of the heap (or at least near it) Apple needs to make sure that any and everyone who wants to own an iPhone can buy one, regardless of what carrier they happen to be using. The iPhone 4 being available unlocked is a decent first step in making the phone available to everyone, now it's time to start adding more carriers.

There's also been rumors lately that the iPhone 3GS may stick around after the iPhone 5 is released, and be available as a free handset or as a prepaid model. Both options would put it in quite a few more hands.

What do you think? Will we see an iPhone 5 on T-Mobile and Sprint?

[via CNET]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/apple/iphone/analyst-iphone-5-headed-to-sprint-and-t-mobile/

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Sony S1 Headed To The UK September 1

2011-07-14T19:33:00.000-04:00

If you're waiting to nab one of Sony's Android tablets, you might have to head to the UK in order to get one. According to documents obtained by This is my next pre-orders for the S1 are slated to start on September 1 in Sony Centre stores in the UK.

According to the documents, Sony Centre stores are pushing to be the "preferred retailer" for the tablets, and will train their staff to know the S1 in and out and be able to answer customer questions and deal with concerns.

The S1 was officially announced by Sony in late April, along with a clamshell-designed S2 tablet. The tablet has a 9.4" screen with an off-center back design for easy gripping and increased stability. The tablet is also expected to able to be used as a remote for Sony Bravia products, and be able to stream content to televisions and audio to speakers.

No pricing has been announced yet for the S1. What do you think? What do you think pricing will look like when it is announced?

[via This is my next]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/sony/sony-s1-headed-to-the-uk-september-1/

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AT&T Will Carry the Sony Tablet S2

2011-07-14T19:32:00.001-04:00

AT&T is on a tear with its tablet lineup right now. Yesterday it officially unveiled the TouchPad for its network, and today they tell us that they will be adding the Sony Tablet S2.

The compact Android tablet from Sony will be coming to big blue sometime this year, but there is definitive date or cellular pricing yet. The latter will be announced when the release date is finalized. It'll also be packing 4G of the HSPA+ variety and Wi-Fi that you can use with your own or any of AT&T's 20,000 hotspots around the nation. "With its unprecedented, completely portable form factor, the "Sony Tablet" S2 offers tablet enthusiasts a convenient and unique entertainment experience," said David Haight, vice president of business development, AT&T emerging devices. "Users will be treated to exceptional graphics and the touch-screen capabilities will enable a fast and efficient website experience."

It does appear that AT&T is getting really into the tablet market these days, but we'll see if it's a winning formula for them as the market still tries to figure out how badly they all want to pick them up.

Do you have any interest in the Sony Tablet S2 on AT&T?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/tablets/att-will-carry-the-sony-tablet-s2/

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Motorola Photon 4G Launching on July 31st for $199.99

2011-07-14T19:32:00.000-04:00

Sprint said the Motorola Photon 4G would launch in July … the last day of the month still counts, right? The Photon 4G will pop into Sprint retail stores on the 31st of the month for $199.99 with a two-year agreement. Sprint Premiere customers will get the opportunity to order it online starting on the 28th.

This beast of a phone will be sporting Android Gingerbread running on NVIDIA's dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 processor and a 4.3-inch qHD screen. Internally you'll find 16GB of memory along with an expansion slot for a 32GB card so you could be sporting a total of 48GB of memory, more than enough for a ton of music or a few movies.

Following in the footsteps of the Atrix, the Photon 4G will also have a laptop dock that will allow you to launch the Webtop OS for a hybrid laptop experience. While not a big selling point for most, it's still a nice feature should you ever feel so inclined to need it in your life.

"Sprint is thrilled to build on the strength of our relationship with Motorola by bringing customers Motorola's first Sprint 4G device with a dual-core processor," said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. "Motorola PHOTON 4G brings our customers the latest in Android technology combined with enterprise-quality security for business users and international GSM capabilities for those who travel abroad. It is spectacular to bring yet another Sprint 4G device to our customers."

Here's the full specs if you need a refresher.

Photon 4G Tech Specs

Android 2.3 Gingerbread
1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 Processor
4.3-inch qHD Display (960 x 540)
2.6 inches x 5.0 inches x 0.5 inches (66.9mm x 126.9mm x 12.2mm)
5.6 oz (158 grams)
International GSM capabilities
3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability for up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
WiMax Support
1 GB DDR2 RAM
16GB of on board memory, support for up to 32GB SD Card
8MP rear camera with 720p HD video capture
VGA front-facing camera
HDMI output up to 1080p
Latest Build of MotoBlur
Soft-Grip Back with Metal Kickstand
Bluetooth 2.1
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Atrix-style Laptop Dock
Corporate (MS Exchange ActiveSync) and personal (POP & IMAP) email access
GPS navigation enabled
1700 mAh Lithium-ion battery

What do you think? Are you interested in the Photon 4G?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/companies/google/android/motorola-photon-4g-launching-on-july-31st-for-199-99/

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Amazon Tablets and New Kindles Coming by Oct.?

2011-07-14T19:31:00.000-04:00

The Amazon tablet rumors just keep rolling in, but now we're finally hearing a possible release date: Oct.

According to The Wall Street Journal, and the always reliable "people familiar with the matter," at least one tablet and two new Kindle e-readers will appear in Oct. of this year on Amazon. Whomever it was they spoke to, however, only mentioned one device with a 9-inch screen when it came to tablets which would line up with what we've heard about the device codenamed Hollywood, but nothing of its little brother known as Coyote. Also mentioned was the fact that the device would run on Android, but that has been the assumption all along. Interestingly, the source went out of their way to mention the tablet had no camera, which is a bit of an oddity in this day and age.

In other news, apparently two new versions of the Kindle will be coming along for the ride leading up to the all important winter holiday shopping season. It seems one will have a touchscreen interface, but will retain the current e-ink technology that the brand has been using up until now. The second version will not have a touch interface, and there was no mention of what its size or design changes might be.

The potential launch of at least one tablet by the company in Oct. lines up with the orders that the company is rumored to be taking delivery on in the next few months. We had been hearing that the tablets may launch in Aug. or Sept., but that could not just be when they are announced with shipments beginning Oct. It is a tad puzzling that there was no mention of the smaller Coyote, so it could either have been dropped or the anonymous source simply hasn't seen it. It's difficult to tell in situations such as this.

You can add this to the ever growing pile of rumors, but all of this is making sense, and so now it's just time to see if Amazon actually delivers on any of it.

Are you interested in an Amazon tablet or a new version of the Kindle?

[via The Wall Street Journal]

http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/e-readers/amazon-tablets-and-new-kindles-coming-by-oct/

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Why the Samsung Galaxy S II May Never Come to the U.S.

2011-07-12T12:53:00.000-04:00

A couple of days ago we alerted you to the possibility that negotiations between Samsung and the major mobile carriers in the U.S. were the reason why the Samsung Galaxy S II' hasn't launched in the United States. It's a rumor but one that makes a whole lot of sense considering the Galaxy S II has launched in several big markets worldwide, will launch in Canada next week, but still doesn't have a release date in the United States.

It also has me thinking. Why have these negotiations dragged on for so long and will this phone actually make it to the U.S.? The more that I think about it, the more I feel like it won't be coming stateside. Here's why.

It Would Already Be Out

The Samsung Galaxy S II is widely considered to be one of the best Android phones on the market and so it's hard to believe that Samsung and the U.S. carriers would wait this long to release the phone if they were, in fact, going to release it. If you recall, the original Samsung Galaxy S phone hit U.S. carriers a month after it first launched in Korea. The Galaxy S II is now going on three months since it landed in Korea.

I should also note that Canada is notorious for getting phones after they launch in the U.S. and that's just another reason why I think that this phone would definitely have already hit the United States already if it was actually coming out here.

Carriers Have Other Plans

The timing for a launch in the U.S. is about as horrible as it could get. I touched on this before but I'll touch on it again. Carriers are probably having a very hard time fitting this phone into their plans for 2011. Let me break it down for you.

AT&T

AT&T has the iPhone 5 on the way this fall. It also just launched a bevy of Android phones (HTC Inspire 4G, Samsung Infuse 4G), has another one coming in the form of the LG Thrill 4G aka Optimus 3D, and will likely have a 4G LTE Android handset out at some point this year. Does it really need another 4G HSPA+ Android phone?

Sprint

Sprint just launched its flagship WiMax phone, the HTC EVO 3D and it will be launching its next WiMax device, the Motorola Photon 4G at some point this summer. With the Motorola Droid Bionic headed to Verizon as major competition in the 4G space, I don't see Sprint spending the money to nab a non-WiMax version of the Galaxy S II. Even with the ridiculous specs, it would be a tough sell over Motorola and HTC's devices.

T-Mobile

If any of the carriers do decide to jump on the Samsung Galaxy S II, T-Mobile is the horse I would bet on. Still, it just released the extremely popular HTC Sensation 4G and has another dual-core device on the way in the form of the myTouch 4G Slide. I don't see T-Mobile announcing this phone until the smoke from those releases has cleared and by then we'll be in August and people will want to see if the iPhone comes to the Magenta carrier.

Verizon

Verizon just launched two solid 3G phones, the Motorola Droid 3 and the Motorola Droid X2 and it will be launching its first dual-core 4G LTE handset at some point in the next couple of weeks. Why on earth would Big Red release the Samsung Galaxy S II before the Bionic? Won't happen. So again, we're looking at a release at some point in August if anything and by then, those who haven't bought the Bionic will be waiting for the iPhone.

So, there is really no room for this device right now. I'm sure that it could be squeezed in but what's the point especially after what happened with the Galaxy S devices.

Bad Blood

This is purely speculative on my part but I would not be shocked if there was some bad blood between the U.S. carriers and Samsung after the release of the Galaxy S devices last year. Sure, they sold well, but I wonder how many angry emails and phone calls Sammy and the carriers got from consumers who were promised Froyo shortly after launch but had to wait half a year to get it. Thousands?

Hundreds of thousands?

Millions?

Sure, this is a new phone, but you've got to wonder what took place behind the scenes when that debacle was going down and if it in any way has contributed to the U.S. carriers being wary of another Galaxy S device.

We Would Have Seen More Leaks

Plain and simple, this phone has not leaked out with U.S. branding save for a photo that leaked out on Facebook of a phone that supposedly is/was the Samsung Galaxy S II Attain for AT&T. That's it. These days, phones leak out like hot cakes before they are released. The Galaxy S II? It's been way too quiet and I have a feeling it's not because Samsung and the carriers were able to keep it under wraps.

And wasn't it a bit strange that a T-Mobile device was no where to be found when those cases for the Galaxy S II devices for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon leaked out? It certainly rubbed me the wrong way.

No photos, no possible release dates, nada. And in the world of smartphones, especially sought after ones like the Galaxy S II, that's extremely odd.

What Happens From Here

The more I think about it, the more I get the feeling that this phone will not be hitting the United States. Yes, it's possible that the launch has been moved back, maybe to outfit the U.S. device with some goodies to better compete with the iPhone 5 but I'm skeptical. A more likely scenario in my mind would be a fairly quiet launch on one or two U.S. carriers in the same fashion as the Samsung Galaxy S 4G for T-Mobile followed by a launch on carriers like U.S. Cellular or Virgin Mobile U.S.

I'd be shocked if there was a full-fledged U.S. launch of the Samsung Galaxy S II at this point and that's an absolute shame, especially when a recent tear down revealed the phone to be on the cutting edge of mobile technology.

That being said, is anyone still going to be waiting around for this phone? Or have you moved on to potentially greener pastures?

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/10/why-the-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-may-never-come-to-the-u-s/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-the-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-may-never-come-to-the-u-s

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HTC to Start Unlocking Bootloaders in August

2011-07-12T12:52:00.001-04:00

Back in May, HTC announced that it would no longer lock the bootloaders on its devices and that it would unlock the bootloaders of several older phones including the HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation 4G and the HTC EVO 3D with software updates. Today, HTC has announced when it will make good on its promise saying the unlocking will begin in August with the global HTC Sensation.

On its Facebook page, HTC has put up a lengthy post addressed to owners of the HTC Sensation, Sensation 4G and HTC EVO 3D and it reads like this:

We wanted to provide an update on HTC's progress with bringing bootloader unlocking to our newest phones. We know how excited some of you are for this capability, and we've put significant resources behind making this change as soon as possible. While we wish we could flip a simple switch and unlock all bootloaders across our device portfolio, this is actually a complex challenge that requires a new software build and extensive testing to deliver the best possible customer experience.

We're thrilled to announce today that software updates to support bootloader unlocking will begin rolling out in August for the global HTC Sensation, followed by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile USA and the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. We're in the testing phase for the unlocking capability now, and we expect it to be fully operational by early September for devices that have received the software updates. We'll continue rolling out the unlocking capability over time to other devices as part of maintenance releases and new shipments.

HTC continues its commitment to unlocking bootloaders and supporting the developer community. Because of the importance of this community to us, please expect an update on this about every few weeks as we make progress toward launch. Thank you for your patience and continued support!

Awesome, awesome, awesome, especially if you own one of these phones. August and September are still a ways away but I have a feeling that a little waiting won't bother all of you out there who have been waiting for this day to arrive.

Unfortunately, HTC didn't announce if any other phones (like the HTC EVO 4G) would get unlocked but we have a feeling that we'll know more once we get closer to these roll outs.

Who's excited to finally be able to customize their device without having to use workarounds?

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/10/htc-to-start-unlocking-bootloaders-in-august/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=htc-to-start-unlocking-bootloaders-in-august

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Leaked Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread Firmware Appears for Samsung Galaxy S II

2011-07-12T12:52:00.000-04:00

While the U.S. is still awaiting the release of the Samsung Galaxy S II, international owners of Samsung's second-generation dual-core flagship Android smartphone can grab a leaked Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread firmware update for their devices if their aching to take Google Talk video chat with them on the road.

The firmware, which shows a July 5th build date, also improves on cellular reception with a new modem firmware. Users who have installed the firmware have also noticed improved battery life as well.

If you're going to try to install the firmware on your Galaxy S II, you should know that as the firmware was leaked, it won't officially be supported by Samsung or your carrier, and installing the firmware may void your warranty, cause problems for your device, or have unintended effects.

Via: GSM Arena

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/11/leaked-android-2-3-4-gingerbread-firmware-appears-for-samsung-galaxy-s-ii/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=leaked-android-2-3-4-gingerbread-firmware-appears-for-samsung-galaxy-s-ii

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Does the Nokia E6 Have the Best Display of Any Smartphone?

2011-07-12T12:51:00.000-04:00

The Nokia E6 is Nokia's first smartphone with a front-facing QWERTY keyboard that combines a touchscreen and the Symbian^3 operating system, and that device may have the best display of any modern smartphone. According to testing by GSM Arena, the Nokia E6′s display is the most pixel-dense display on the market as well as having the most brightness.

The previous title for pixel density was held by the iPhone 4 with Apple's Retina Display, which boasts a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch. However, the Nokia E6′s VGA display, which is spread out over a 2.46-inch display, packs in 328 pixels per inch, slightly edging out the iPhone 4 title-holder.

In the brightness category, the LG Optimus Black is the current title-holder boasting 700 nits of brightness. However, the Nokia E6 has just de-throwned the Optimus Black in that department as well.

If you're interested in the Nokia E6, you can read the full GSM Arena review. The device comes pre-loaded with the Symbian Anna software update out of the box.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/11/does-the-nokia-e6-have-the-best-display-of-any-smartphone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=does-the-nokia-e6-have-the-best-display-of-any-smartphone

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Android 3.2 to Bring New Way of Viewing Non-Tablet Apps

2011-07-12T12:49:00.001-04:00

It's no secret that Android tablets are lacking in the optimized application department with current numbers for optimized Honeycomb applications hovering around 250-300 in number. And it doesn't help that the rest of the applications, the ones designed for phones, often look and behave terrible. Well, to combat that, Google has announced that it will optimize those phone apps better using something called 'zoom' mode, a feature that will likely be coming in Android 3.2.

Right now, phone apps on Honeycomb tablets run in 'stretch' mode but owners will, after the update to Android 3.2 (Google says 'upcoming' update but it will be Android 3.2), will be able to switch between stretch and zoom modes.

Zoom mode is going to emulate a normal/mdpi screen and then scale up to the point that it fills the screen.

In cases where an app does not properly resize for larger screens, this screen compatibility mode can improve the app's usability by emulating the app's phone-style look, but zoomed in to fill the screen on a tablet.

If you're wondering how that looks, here is a before and after image, the zoom feature shown on the right:

Not bad, but quite frankly, this should have been available from the get-go and still does not remedy the fact that there are a minimal amount of tablet optimized applications on the Android Market right now.

Android 3.2′s roll out to the Motorola Xoom is imminent so this feature should be available to owners of that tablet very soon.

Via: ThisIsMyNext

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/11/android-3-2-to-bring-new-way-of-viewing-non-tablet-apps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=android-3-2-to-bring-new-way-of-viewing-non-tablet-apps

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Is The HTC ThunderBolt Finally Worth Considering?

2011-07-12T12:49:00.000-04:00

Last Friday, Verizon rolled out an update for the HTC ThunderBolt that promised to fix the random reboot issues that had been plaguing the device for weeks on end. Well, as it turns out, Big Red made good on its promise because there has been relative silence from ThunderBolt owners who have updated. And while it appears that Verizon hit a home run with this update, was it enough to make the HTC ThunderBolt a phone worth considering?

In my opinion, not yet.

I am hearing a lot of good things from ThunderBolt owners who have updated. A few of them, who absolutely deplored the phone before the update and were considering switching to something else (eating an ETF in the process), have let me know that things like battery life have improved with the new software and that they will be keeping their phone for the time being.

That being said, even with the improvements, I don't believe the ThunderBolt should warrant your attention at this point. I believe that those who hold an upgrade or are thinking about going the Verizon 4G LTE route should definitely wait for the Motorola Droid Bionic. However, if for some reason the Droid Bionic is not up to snuff, this new and improved ThunderBolt will be an extremely tantalizing option for a couple of reasons.

First, it's possible that at this point it will finally be upgraded to Android 2.3 Gingerbread bringing it on par with the other top of the line smartphones out there and second, it's likely going to have a cheap price tag come August. I believe that we could see the ThunderBolt fall to as low as free once the Droid Bionic rolls around. A cheap, Gingerbread-powered 4G LTE smartphone from HTC? Lack of dual-core aside, that's a pretty tempting phone and one that I could recommend to friends as a possibility.

That's a long way from what I told them prior to this update which was "stay as far away as possible."

The HTC ThunderBolt's ascension to a full-fledged flagship smartphone still isn't complete as there is still work to be done. It needs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Skype and Netflix but this update was a good start and it shows that Verizon took its time in order to make sure that it got things right and is committed to making this decent phone great.

How has the update been treating the rest of you ThunderBolt owners out there? And is anybody out there considering this phone now that one of its major issues has been taken care of?

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/11/is-the-htc-thunderbolt-finally-worth-considering/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-the-htc-thunderbolt-finally-worth-considering

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Wireless Battery Covers Arrive for HTC ThunderBolt, Droid Charge, Droid 3, More

2011-07-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

If you've been interested in acquiring a Wireless Charging Inductive Battery Cover for your Verizon-branded Android smartphone, you're in luck because the carrier has released covers for a slew of top of the line Android devices.

The phones that the cover is now available for are the HTC ThunderBolt, the Samsung Droid Charge, the newly released Motorola Droid 3, the LG Revolution, and the HTC Droid Incredible 2. The covers for the Droid 3, LG Revolution and HTC Incredible 2 are currently not available but the other two are currently in stock. If you own a ThunderBolt or a Droid Incredible 2, be prepared to pay $10 more as those covers cost $40.

Covers for the LG Revolution, Droid Charge and Droid 3 all cost $30. Now remember, in addition to the covers, you'll need the Wireless Charging Pad which is going to run you an additional $70. It's a lot to pay for a convenience like this but if you're Mr. Moneybags or you're just plain lazy, it might be worth the investment.

Joking aside, this technology is likely going to be the future of juicing up the batteries on most if not all mobile devices and hopefully when the future does arrive, these will come included with the phones themselves.

Might Apple be the first to do it? It's certainly possible.

Via: Droid-Life

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/11/wireless-battery-covers-arrive-for-htc-thunderbolt-droid-charge-droid-3-more/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wireless-battery-covers-arrive-for-htc-thunderbolt-droid-charge-droid-3-more

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T-Mobile Launching Samsung Hercules September?

2011-07-12T12:47:00.001-04:00

The Samsung Hercules Android smartphone may be launching this September on T-Mobile USA with an impressive, yet conflicting, array of specs. The smartphone will either be a Samsung Galaxy S II variant or a variant of the single-core, but capable, Samsung Infuse 4G found on U.S. carrier AT&T. TmoNews is reporting a late September launch for the smartphone, perhaps on September 26th.

Like the Samsung Infuse 4G on AT&T, which only packs a single-core CPU, this device will feature a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display; the 4.5-inch display size will make it larger than the 4.3-inch afforded for the Galaxy S II.

The device is said to support T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ network with download speeds of up to 42 Mbps. If the merger for AT&T will be a go, the phone will also be compatible with AT&T's 3G/4G network as well.

The device will pack in NFC support, 16 GB ROM, 1 GB RAM, a micro SDHC card slot, 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture, front-facing camera, and micro USB support. Still up for debate is whether this phone will pack a single-core or dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU.

Via: TmoNews

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/12/t-mobile-launching-samsung-hercules-september/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=t-mobile-launching-samsung-hercules-september

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A GSM Droid 3 on AT&T? It’s Possible!

2011-07-12T12:47:00.000-04:00

A GSM variant of the Motorola Droid 3 for Verizon Wireless was seen going through the FCC for regulatory approval with an identifying number of IHDT56MF2. The device is said to be sporting AT&T's 3G and GSM bands.

Additionally, although the FCC filing does not specifically say that this is a GSM variant of the Droid 3, various similarities between the specs on this GSM variant and the Verizon Wireless CDMA model suggests that the two may be closely related. Both devices sport a qHD display, 16 GB stroage, and also the same battery as that on the Droid 3. Most significant of the similarities is the use of the same Droid 3 battery as that battery is not yet used on any other Motorola product.

It's still unclear whether this device will launch on AT&T or if it's just getting the necessary certification. A launch on AT&T at this point would not be impossible as Verizon Wireless has seemingly loosen its grips on Motorola since the carrier had obtained the iPhone 4. The Droid Pro, which is an Android BlackBerry-inspired smartphone, was most recently re-badged and slightly altered cosmetically to launch on rival CDMA carrier as the Sprint XPRT. A similar situation could occur with the Droid 3 where it would get re-badged–Verizon Wireless owns rights to the Droid name and franchise–and launched on AT&T.

As Motorola launches the international version of its keyboarded-Android devices under the Milestone brand–the Droid Pro is the exception as it launched as the Motorola Pro–internationally, the device could be launched as the Milestone 3.

Via: Wireless Goodness

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/07/12/a-gsm-droid-3-on-att-its-possible/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-gsm-droid-3-on-att-its-possible

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Acer AC700 WiFi goes on sale, is your $350 ticket to the Chromebook club

2011-07-12T12:44:00.000-04:00

Good niches don't come cheap, but while $350 isn't exactly a steal, Acer's new AC700 will, at the very least, get you into the wonderful cloud-based world of Chrome OS for a good deal less than, say, Samsung's Series 5. Of course, there are certain sacrifices to be made for the sake of affordability, namely the fact that the current version of Acer's entry into the space is WiFi-only -- a 3G version is set to hit later this summer for, one assumes, a noticeable price bump. The AC700 has an Atom N570 processor, 16GB of storage, and 2GB of RAM, and best of all, is available right this very moment.

Acer AC700 WiFi goes on sale, is your $350 ticket to the Chromebook club originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/acer-ac700-wifi-goes-on-sale-is-your-350-ticket-to-the-chromeb/

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NTT DoCoMo to power cellphone towers with renewable energy, tenderness

2011-07-12T12:42:00.000-04:00

When they're not busy carving handsets out of teak (or rockin' out with their pupils), the folks over at NTT DoCoMo apparently focus their efforts on saving the environment. Next year, the Japanese provider will begin outfitting its expansive cellphone tower network with ten "green transmission stations," to be powered by an artillery of biofuels, wind and solar energy. This kind of infrastructure would obviously bring a smile to the face of ol' Mama Nature, but it could also help mitigate the adverse effects of power outages and elfin insurgents. And for that, we should all be grateful.

NTT DoCoMo to power cellphone towers with renewable energy, tenderness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | AFP (PhysOrg) | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/ntt-docomo-to-power-cellphone-towers-with-renewable-energy-tend/

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Maingear Clutch-15 gets upgraded with NVIDIA Optimus graphics switching

2011-07-12T12:41:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since we last laid eyes on Maingear's fine looking Clutch-15, and while it's still rocking that sexy exterior, the latest iteration has a little surprise for you under the hood. With the recent addition of NVIDIA's graphics switching Optimus technology, this portable's bringing the juice -- battery juice, that is. Aside from that, things look mostly the same, inside and out; you've still got your pick of Intel Core i3 or i5 CPUs, a 750GB HDD or 512GB SSD, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, and the same (still disappointing) WXGA display. This go 'round, however, the dedicated graphics have been bumped up a touch with NVIDIA's GeForce GT 525M GPU (1GB). If automated graphics switching is your thing, you can get your custom laptop on at the source link starting at $1,030. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Maingear Clutch-15 gets upgraded with NVIDIA Optimus graphics switching

Maingear Clutch-15 gets upgraded with NVIDIA Optimus graphics switching originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/maingear-clutch-15-gets-upgraded-with-nvidia-optimus-graphics-sw/

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iOS 5 beta 3 already jailbroken, new features come to light

2011-07-12T12:38:00.000-04:00

Who needs sleep, right? Rather than putting in the tried-and-true "eight hours" that your mum still insists that you get, you're going to be doing something a bit more adventurous this evening. Something involving a "jailbreak" of your recently updated iPod touch, iPhone or iPad. Just hours after Apple pushed out iOS 5 beta 3 to its developers, a Sn0wbreeze update has been confirmed to support jailbreaking on that very build. Sadly, it's still tethered for the time being, and the iPad 2 remains unsupported, but those with nerves of steel (and gobs of vacation days) can hit the source links to get started. Furthermore, we're just starting to see what kind of wacky tricks beta 3 has up its sleeve -- things like custom alerts for text messages and what appears to be a shattering of the app grid on the iPad. For more on that, hop on past the break; for more on the jailbreak, we'd encourage you to talk amongst yourselves in comments below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading iOS 5 beta 3 already jailbroken, new features come to light

iOS 5 beta 3 already jailbroken, new features come to light originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Redmond Pie (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/ios-5-beta-3-already-jailbroken-new-features-come-to-light/

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Panasonic debuts UT-PB1 e-reader tablet, spices it with Android flavor (video)

2011-07-12T12:37:00.000-04:00

Listen up, bibliophiles. Current e-readers don't have enough pizazz for ya? Panasonic's Japan-bound prototype e-book reader tablet may just be your fancy. According to DigInfo, the UT-PB1 was recently shown-off at e-Book Expo Tokyo sporting a 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, micro SD slot, webcam, and WiFi, all running atop a dual-core processor. Being Android-based, there's confirmed support for basic apps like email, but it's hard to tell just how ~~restricted~~ customized the build will be. The reader will have 600 "previewable" titles to get you started, and Rakuten's e-book store will serve up content and real-time updates -- via a custom API -- in August when the service goes live. Panny's remaining coy about specific price and release details, but before you get back to that hardcover on your desk, head past the break to view it in action.

Continue reading Panasonic debuts UT-PB1 e-reader tablet, spices it with Android flavor (video)

Panasonic debuts UT-PB1 e-reader tablet, spices it with Android flavor (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/panasonic-debuts-ut-pb1-e-reader-tablet-spices-it-with-android/

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Tokyoflash's Kisai Kaidoku LCD watch arrives 12 years too late for Neo, Trinity

2011-07-12T12:36:00.000-04:00

There's something to be said about someone who'd rather strap an LCD full of words on their wrist instead of a tried-and-true pointer-based timepiece. Comically enough, that description is likely to flow across the LCD of Tokyoflash's new Kisai Kaidoku. This limited run watch is available with a black or white strap, and shockingly enough, was designed by a 15-year old by the name of Tynan Mayhew. The whole thing's water resistant, and the EL backlight enables nighttime viewing; unfortunately, it's hard to know just how long that CR2016 battery will last, but those who'd rather not think about such trivial matters can snag one now for $139.

Continue reading Tokyoflash's Kisai Kaidoku LCD watch arrives 12 years too late for Neo, Trinity

Tokyoflash's Kisai Kaidoku LCD watch arrives 12 years too late for Neo, Trinity originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/tokyoflashs-kisai-kaidoku-lcd-watch-arrives-12-years-too-late-f/

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Samsung Romania's Twitter account either leaked the next Nexus or just reposted some blog rumors

2011-07-12T12:30:00.000-04:00

So far rumors of the next Nexus phone have been mostly whispered and unverifiable, but they appeared to get a strong confirmation when confirmation and specs were spotted on the Samsung Romania Twitter account (@SamsungMobileRO). Romanian business paper ZF grabbed the tweets saying the Nexus Prime would feature a Super AMOLED HD (1280 x 720) screen and Android 4.0 when it ships later this year, however when contacted, Samsung reps deleted them and claimed the information originated from an outside source. That outside source could be a rumor posted on the Boy Genius Report the day before mentioning the same specs, as well as the possibility of "halo" Ice Cream Sandwich phones from HTC and Motorola at the same time. For now we'll lean towards believing the company line, but if any of the Samsung social media accounts ever cough an accidental DM or two (who hasn't done it?) we'll consider them more carefully.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Samsung Romania's Twitter account either leaked the next Nexus or just reposted some blog rumors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | ZF | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/samsung-romanias-twitter-account-either-leaked-the-next-nexus-o/

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LG Optimus Pro surfaces, dressed for your next business meeting (video)

2011-07-12T12:22:00.000-04:00

Poor RIM -- everybody wants a piece of the BlackBerry pie, as the company attempts to maintain its position as the face of business-minded smartphones in an era ruled by iPhones and Android devices. It's tough to avoid mentioning the company when looking at these shots unearthed by Italy's Android World blog of the forthcoming LG Optimus Pro, whose form factor ought to prove comfortably familiar to BlackBerry devotees. According to the site, the Gingerbread device has a 2.8 inch screen, a three megapixel camera, an 800MHz processor, and will run €179 ($249) in that country. Not much more info is available at present, but there's a video after the break, and the source link has a few more shots, if you need help imagining it in your hand at your next board meeting.

Continue reading LG Optimus Pro surfaces, dressed for your next business meeting (video)

LG Optimus Pro surfaces, dressed for your next business meeting (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Community | Android World (Translation), Android HD Blog (Translation) | Email this | Comments

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/lg-optimus-pro-surfaces-dressed-for-your-next-business-meeting/

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