We would like to apologize to our regular readers for the lack of updates to AfterDawn's news section over the past week or so.
By coincidence, multiple members of staff have been absent due to bereavement at exactly the same time. Things should start to get back to normal from later today.
Thank you for reading.
After reaching a $65 million settlement with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg back in 2008, ConnectU founders Tyler and Cameron Winkelvoss are now appealing the settlement.
The twins agreed to a settlement in 2008 that got them $20 million in cash and $45 million in stock, valued at $36 per share. Now, the pair are alleging that they were misled about the real value of Facebook stock in 2008, and have brought the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
A skeptical three judge panel began considering today whether the Winkelvoss twins have a case. They scrutinized the argument put forward by the twins through attorney Jerome Falk. "The (ConnectU) founders are pretty smart people themselves, the twins also have a father from Wharton School who is very bright," Judge John Wallace said.
"If you have all these people to advise you, isn't it difficult to say this is one of those things where you were taken advantage of?"
Wallace was pointing out that the settlement was reached by teams of lawyers and a top mediator. The Winkelvoss brothers had valued the Facebook stock based on a news report that Microsoft had bought a small piece of the social networking site in a deal that valued the stock at around $36, and the company at $15 billion.
Microsoft has offered a temporary "Fix It" workaround for a bug in Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8 that is being exploited on some websites.
The vulnerability involves the way the browser handles cascading style sheets (CSS), triggered by recursive CSS pages where the style sheets include their own address. The flaw was confirmed by Microsoft in December, and it has updated its advisory to include a workaround due to reports of attacks that target the vulnerability.
The workaround comes in the form of a "Fix It" solution from Microsoft. To be effective, the browser needs to have all the existing security updates installed. The fix basically forces Internet Explorer to avoid importing a CSS style sheet if it has the same URL as the CSS style sheet from which it is being loaded.
Using the Fix It solution will cause a slight performance hit, adding about 150 milliseconds to the browser's start-up time, so it should be removed after Microsoft releases a proper security update for the flaw.
After originally pledging to support both H.264 and WebM content, Google has decided it will ditch the H.264 video codec from Chrome and go with its WebM format instead.
H.264 video is widely used, currently being the de facto industry standard for encoding digital video. It is used with Blu-ray disc and is supported by a wide variety of consumer electronics devices. However, H.264 technology is patented and adopters pay royalties to the MPEG-LA group.
Google acquired On2 Technologies in 2009 to gain access to the VP8 codec. It opened op the VP8 codec and created a new royalty-free media format called WebM. WebM gained support in the Firefox, Opera and Chrome browsers, but Apple and Microsoft declined to officially support WebM (although WebM support can technically be added to Internet Explorer).
The growing split on the Internet between H.264 and now it's growing royalty-free competitor WebM is likely to cause problems for content producers looking to use HTML5 to display video content on the Internet.
It is unclear how Google's removal of H.264 from Chrome will affect Google's other web services, particularly YouTube.
After announcing a CDMA iPhone 4 available on its network in February, word also came from Verizon about an iPad that will use its CDMA network.
Verizon Communications CFO Francis Shammo revealed the upcoming iPad to Bloomberg, which will feature built in CDMA features. Verizon already offers Apple's iPad in bundles with its MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot device, which does not come cheap.
Shammo did not reveal anything else about the iPad. He didn't indicate whether it will be the same iPad with just CDMA support added (like the iPhone announced Tuesday) or if it will be a new rumored next generation iPad.
The revelation comes as more bad news to AT&T, who up until Tuesday was officially the only provider offering the iPhone. AT&T also sells an iPad that uses its 3G network.
Intel is now considering it's Light Peak interconnect technology, made to connect PCs to devices like displays and external storage, is ready for implementation.
Light Peak was announced in 2009 by Intel and was originally presented as a fiber optic solution to connecting devices to PCs. However, Intel also tested Light Peak using copper and said the results surpassed all of their expectations.
"The copper came out very good, surprisingly better than what we thought," David Perlmutter, executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Architecture Group, said. "Optical is always a new technology which is more expensive."
Intel had said it expected devices using Light Peak technology to begin shipping in late 2010 or early 2011, and Perlmutter said that it depends on device makers for now. The company said the technology, using fiber optics, would deliver bandwidths starting at 10Gbps over distances of up to 100 meters.
Nintendo has denied that it is planning to phase out its DSi handheld console in anticipation of the release of the Nintendo 3DS over the coming weeks.
Kotaku.com had translated a report from Japan that suggested Nintendo would stop making and selling new units of its DSi handheld, although it would keep manufacturing and marketing the larger-screen DSi XL model alongside the new 3DS.
"We plan to still manufacture and supply DSi consoles in a range of colours in the UK in 2011," Nintendo said in a statement to the media. "On an on-going basis, continuing supply is based on retail and consumer demand."
The Nintendo 3DS handheld console will launch in Japan on February 26th and will follow in North America and Europe in March. Nintendo is to ship 1.5 million units of the device to Japan to avoid supply shortages that were experienced with older iterations of the console.
The 3DS will sell for „25,000 in Japan.
Social entertainment website MySpace.com is dropping almost half of its staff in an ongoing transformation of its services.
Once the King of social networking, MySpace lost out to the phenomenal growth of Facebook over the past few years. News Corporation gave MySpace a limited time frame to turn around its loss-making services. The result was a relaunch as a "social entertainment" site aimed at "Generation Y", which would be users aged 35 and younger.
The "restructuring" affects about 500 employees, representing 47 percent of the company. "These changes were purely driven by issues related to our legacy business, and in no way reflect the performance of the new product," Chief Executive Mike Jones said.
News Corp has repeatedly indicated that it is open to selling the relaunched MySpace service to any interested parties, but reports just last week suggested that there are no ongoing talks.
Indonesia has welcomed a planned filter for pornographic content on BlackBerry handsets in the country.
Canadian Research in Motion (RIM) said it will start filtering web content on Indonesian users handsets in response to a threat from the government to block it from the market.
"We've heard about RIM saying it will filter the Internet.... That's good news to us and we highly appreciate that," communications ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto said. Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring told reporters on Monday that if RIM failed to comply with an order by January 21, they would revoke its permit.
There are an estimated 2 million BlackBerry users in Indonesia. RIM does not filter content on BlackBerry devices in any other market in the world. "We need them to give us the word that they will comply and the actual filtering is just a matter of time," Broto told AFP.
"We can't say what our next step will be until we meet them. We have yet to see the details of the filtering, what will be filtered, how it's going to be filtered."
Activision Blizzard has announced that its eagerly awaited World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm sold 4.7 million copies in December.
The title was dubbed the "fastest-selling PC game of all time," after selling 3.3 million copies in its first 24 hours. While it didn't keep the blistering momentum of the first 24 hours, it still sold 4.7 million copies in its first month of availability.
"We created thousands of new quests, introduced new lands to explore, and extensively revamped the game world for 'World of Warcraft: Cataclysm,' making it our biggest and most ambitious expansion yet," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment, in a statement.
The company didn't mention any changes to the number of subscribers, but it had announced back in October that the WoW subscriber base had grown from 11 million to 12 million since October 2008.
Activision's success story of the year is Call of Duty: Black Ops, which sold 8.4 million units in its first month. Last month it was announced that the title had generated $1 billion in sales.
Anti-fraud firm MarkMonitor has said that file locker and easy file-sharing sites like RapidShare, Megaupload and Megavideo, receiving enormous amounts of traffic due to piracy.
The firm monitored traffic levels to illegal files on 43 file sharing sites and found that it amounted to about 53 billion visits per year. RapidShare, Megaupload and Megavideo alone received more than 21 billion visits to illegal content stored on their servers.
"The numbers are staggering," said Charlie Abrahams, vice president of MarkMonitor. The study was carried out following requests made by the US Chamber of Commerce. The figures put file locker services right up there with file sharing networks.
"These upload sites index their files. It is very easy and convenient," Mark Mulligan, an analyst at research firm Forrester, said. "Upload sites, alongside instant messaging and blogs, are now on a par with peer-to-peer sites when it comes to piracy."
Copyright holders have attempted to address the problem by taking on RapidShare in several countries. RapidShare scored a victory in Germany this week when the Higher Regional Court of Dusseldorf ruled that it does not have to install filters demanded by rights' holders, and found that the Swiss company was already taking reasonable measures against piracy.
Ericsson, the world's largest mobile network equipment manufacturer, has said mobile broadband subscriptions will hit 1 billion in 2011.
The new milestone would come only months after mobile broadband subscriptions hit 500 million in 2010. Ericsson estimates the figure will double before the end of the year, with the Asia Pacific region accounting for most of the growth, hitting 400 million subscriptions.
Both North America and Europe will account for about 200 million each. Mobile broadband adoption has accelerated with strong growth of smartphones, connected laptops and tablets, supported by the introduction of high-performance networks.
Smartphones' users are increasingly using applications and internet services on the go. Global mobile data traffic continues to grow rapidly, with Ericsson announcing in August 2010 that it had tripled in just one year.
Users' consumption of the internet and other media is changing as a result of the introduction of fast networks and the availability of various types of devices, including smartphones. According to TeliaSonera's survey of its LTE users, about 23 percent of them now watch more online TV, and in excess of 46 percent surf the web more frequently when away from home.
Microsoft has confirmed that it is investigating online reports from its users of "phantom" data usage over mobile networks.
Several net forums have been buzzing with complaints and questions about what could be using so much data in the background on Windows Phone 7 devices. Some are complaining that their handsets are using up between 30MB and 50MB per day, eating into their data allowance with the provider.
"I received an e-mail from AT&T saying that I was close to my 2GB data limit which truly shocked me as I feel I do not use data that much," a phone owner called Julie said on the Supersite for Windows forum. "I went and looked at my AT&T account online and noticed that my phone was sending huge chunks of data seemingly in patterns."
Some have speculated the problem could be the software sending excessive feedback to Microsoft about the software's performance, or that handsets might be opting to use a 3G connection instead of an available Wi-Fi connection to handle certain tasks.
"We are investigating this issue to determine the root cause and will update with information and guidance as it becomes available," a Microsoft spokesperson said.
Verizon Wireless has just confirmed that rumors of it getting Apple's iPhone this time around are true.
Apple Inc.'s iPhone 4 will be available next month, confirmed at a press event today by Verizon President and Chief Operating Officer, Lowell McAdam. "Our relationship with Apple has developed over the last two years. In 2008 we started talking about bringing the iPhone to a CDMA network. We spent a year testing," McAdam said.
"We are extremely gratified to announce that the iPhone 4 will be available early next month."
He was joined on stage by Apple's Tim Cook who spent some time talking up the iPhone's global success, and then got onto the Verizon iPhone. "We're incredibly pleased to give Verizon's customers the choice we've been waiting for. We've designed an iPhone 4 which connects to the CDMA network, and it has all the features that you'd expect," Cook said.
iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless will also include new Personal Hotspot capabilities allowing customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.
"Verizon Wireless customers have told us they can't wait to get their hands on iPhone 4, and we think they are going to love it," Cook said. "We have enormous respect for the company Verizon has built and the loyalty they have earned from their customers."
China has said it will do more to combat "rampant" violation of intellectual property rights throughout the country.
Since the government announced a crackdown on the activity in November, it has arrested over 4,000 individuals. It now says it will seek to impose tougher punishments to send a message. Ministry of Public Security's Economic Crimes Investigation Bureau director, Gao Feng, said his agency had uncovered over 2,000 cases, with a financial value of 2.3 billion yuan, or $384 million.
"On one hand they demonstrate the achievements we've made in cracking down on the violation of IPR, on the other hand it also indicates that IPR violation is still quite rampant and frequent," Gao said. "So we want to introduce heavier punishments."
The topic of intellectual property is likely to come up in a meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Hu Jintao next week.
The International Intellectual Property Alliance estimates U.S. trade losses in China due to piracy hit $3.5 billion in 2009.
It has been revealed that Intel will pay Nvidia Corp. $1.5 billion to license its technology, settling a dispute among the pair.
The deal gives Intel the right to use Nvidia technology in its new chips as graphics performance becomes more and more important. Nvidia will be able to use some of Intel's technology (but not related to the x86 architecture).
Nvidia recently announced that it plans to produce processors for personal computers, which will use technology from ARM Holdings. The company is trying to drag the low-energy chips into the PC space from their stronghold in the market for smartphones and tablets.
The company does not plan to produce x86 chips. "Those are not our core businesses nor do we have the intention or strategy to go develop those things," Nvidia chief executive Jen-Hsun Huang, told analysts.
Nvidia has been touting the possible benefits of utilizing its powerful parallel processors used in its graphics chips for important intensive tasks such as medical imaging, or weather forecasting.
The Supreme Court in the United States has dealt a blow to major record companies by refusing to review a decision by a lower court in an antitrust case over the sale of music online.
In 2008, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against several major record companies which alleged price fixing in the music download market. It stated that the major record companies had agreed on a 70 cent wholesale price for music tracks when rivals began to offer music on the Internet for a cheaper price.
An appeal's court found that the original judged had made an error, ruling the plaintiffs had described enough facts to suggest an antitrust price-fixing conspiracy, and sending the case back to continue proceedings under the judge.
Record company attorneys decided to take the case to the Supreme Court, but the Justices declined to review the decision. The case involves Sony Corp (Vivendi), Warner Music Group and the EMI Group.
Japanese media is reporting that Nintendo will ship a significant amount of 3DS units in the first week of availability in Japan.
After launch events in the country for previous iterations of the Nintendo DS handheld platform have been impacted by supply problems, Nintendo is hoping to avoid the same problem by shipping 1.5 million Nintendo 3DS units in its first month of availability after its launch on February 26th.
The 3DS handheld will launch in the United States and Europe in March. It was unveiled at the E for ALL (E3) show in 2010, promising to deliver 3D games content to consumers without the need to wear any kind of glasses for the effect.
Due to the release of PlayStation Move and Microsof't Kinect for Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii console is under new pressure from its competition, and smartphone gaming is starting to grow as well to challenge the NDS and PSP. Nintendo will be hoping the 3D capabilities of the 3DS handheld will result in strong sales throughout 2011.
"It's important that we ensure a continuous supply," Nintendo President Satoru Iwata was quoted as saying by the Nikkei.
Nvidia Corp revealed late last week that it plans to develop and market its own line of processors made for personal computers.
The processors would use ARM technology, which Microsoft has pledged to support in upcoming versions of its Windows operating system across several platforms. "Project Denver" is being seen as retaliation by Nvidia against Intel for its stroll into the graphics space.
"If you have the ability to have your own processor architecture and the support of operating-system vendors like Microsoft, then that becomes a formidable dynamic that Intel will have to contend with," said Hans Mosesmann, an analyst at Raymond James. "You and I five years from now might look back at this ... and say this was the turning point in the industry."
Nvidia has broadened its targets in the market to smartphones and tablet devices with its new chips. However, Nvidia is taking a risk entering into the market for PC processors, analysts are warning. At the very least, such a venture by Nvidia would take years to pay off.
A Sony executive has indicated that Sony is looking to catch up with market-leader Apple Inc., and take second place in sales of tablet PCs.
Sony's lack of a new tablet device to challenge the iPad was one surprise of the Consumer Electronics Show this year. Most other big players came with their iPad assassination attempts, including Samsung Electronics with its Galaxy Tab and Research in Motion's PlayBook.
While admittedly late to the game, Sony is looking to catch up quickly and get on the heels of the iPad. "For sure iPad is the king of tablets. But what is the second, what is the third? Who is taking the second position? That is our focus," computer division head Kunimasa Suzuki said. "We would like to really take the number two position in a year."
Sony CEO Howard Stringer also said that the company is waiting to watch the market and listen to consumer demands, specifically mulling whether or not adding 3D viewing capabilities to its own tablet device makes sense yet in the growing market.
A security researcher in Germany is warning that Amazon's cloud service can be used to brute force weak passwords used to protect Wi-Fi security.
Thomas Roth says it is quite easy to break weak passwords using brute force methods with access to Amazon's cloud-based computing service, which is capable of testing 400,000 potential passwords every second. Amazon rents its service to customers for 28 cents per minute.
Networks that use the WPA-PSK setup to secure their networks are always going to be vulnerable to weak passwords (or more accurately, the pre-shared key). Short and weak passwords would be vulnerable to a brute force attack, especially at the speeds offered by Amazon's services.
"Nothing in this researcher's work is predicated on the use of Amazon EC2. As researchers often do, he used EC2 as a tool to show how the security of some network configurations can be improved," said Amazon spokesman Drew Herdener.
"Testing is an excellent use of AWS, however, it is a violation of our acceptable use policy to use our services to compromise the security of a network without authorization."
Roth claims to have found the key for a network in his neighborhood using his method and Amazon's service. The brute force attack took about 20 minutes to get the correct key, but Roth is making changes to his code which he reckons could bring the time down in such a case to about 6 minutes.
Intel chief executive officer, Paul Otellini, has indicated to Fox Business Network that chipmaker giant is not concerned about Windows 8 running on ARM architecture.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last week, Microsoft demonstrated a build of Windows OS running on ARM and pledged to support ARM and play nicely with SoC developers over the coming years. Some had speculated the Intel would be concerned about its long-term partner Microsoft stretching its hand out to competitors.
"The Windows CE today, the Windows phone applications today all run on ARM and only on ARM, so what they are saying is for the tablet version and the phone version they are going to support ARM for Windows 8," Otellini said.
"What I am excited about is that Windows 8 will also support Intel down into the other devices. Today we do not have an opportunity to sell into Microsoft-based phones and Microsoft-based tablets."
ARM processors are dominating in portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, and now NVIDIA is talking about producing its own processors for personal computers using ARM technology too. Many analysts see it as NVIDIA standing up to Intel, due to Intel's continued advance into graphics solutions.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is showing off a line of new camcorders at CES, including the new HMX-H300 series, which it called the Ultimate HD Family Camcorder series.
The HMX-H300 series is designed to automatically deliver stable video in crystal-clear HD, allowing the user to enjoy the moment without worrying about correcting settings or focusing. With its long recording time, a battery life of up to three hours, and built-in USB charging, the camcorder allows users to relax while filming, as they're guaranteed to capture every special occasion from start to finish.
Another key feature is the 30x Optical Zoom, available on the HMX-H300 series lens, which records in greater definition than any of the competitors in its class, and creates incredible close-ups from long distances. The HMX-H300 series is also built with a 5 Megapixel 1/4" (1/6.3", 1.75M Effective) BSI (Back Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor, which is twice as sensitive as a regular CMOS sensor.
Some key features and benefits of the HMX-H300 Series include...
| HMX-H300 | |||
| Image stabilization | OIS Duo (upgraded optical image stabilization) | ||
| Sensor | 1/ 4.1 5.1 Megapixel BSI CMOS sensor | ||
| Lens | Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan-HD 30x optical zoom / 300x digital zoom Focal length: 2.47mm ~ 74.1mm | ||
| Size | 49.5 x 56.6 x 119.7 mm | ||
| Additional features | Face detection (up to 6 persons) Record Pause 3 lux @1/30sec minimum illumination Time lapse recording Magic Finger Touch/Shot Intelli-Studio 2.0 Tripod screw USB Battery charging | ||
| Display | 3.0 230K Touch LCD screen | ||
| Video Recording | HD 1920 x 1080 60i 1280 x 720 60p
SD 720 x 480 60i | ||
| Still Image Capture | 4.9MP (2MP) | ||
| Device Connectivity | USB interface Composite interface HDMI interface | ||
| Battery type | BP210R (2100mAh) | ||
| Recording Time (max.) | 3 hours USB Battery charging With 32GB built in memory (H305) HD SD SF : 4h10m 17h30m F : 5h 23h10m N : 6h30m 34h | ||
| Colors | Black, red and silver | ||
| Pricing | HMX-H300: $399 H303/304 : $449/499 H305: $599 | ||
| Availability | Feb. 2011 | ||
Samsung is showing off new camcorders at CES, two of which it dubs "point and share" devices.
The Full HD HMX-P300 and HMX-P100 have been designed specifically for people who like to record and share video content regularly. Key developments including a 5M BSI (Back Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor, which dramatically improves low-light recording and HD movie recording, are available in the P100.
The HMX-P300 and HMX-P100 are also the ultimate point-and-share camcorders for those who want to upload their videos quickly and easily. Through the new One Touch Sharing feature, users can select which website they want to upload files to directly from the LCD screen.
The 3" 230K pixel Touch LCD screen can also rotate to give multiple shooting angles that allow the user a full, clear view of their subject without sacrificing the shot through portrait or landscape orientation. To make sure that you don't miss any of the action, the Samsung HMX-P100 is also built with an LCD screen that has an 80-degree viewing angle, so no matter how you're holding your point-and-share camcorder, you'll enjoy a clear view every time.
Some specification and key features of each include...
SanDisk Corporation has shown off two new USB Flash drives along with security and backup software at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
SanDisk SecureAccess software protects files against unauthorized access on SanDisk's entire retail USB portfolio using an encrypted, password protected folder on the drive. Additionally, up to 2GB of contents can be backed up online with the software.
SanDisk SecureAccess Software specs include...
SanDisk has unveiled the fastest and highest capacity CompactFlash card at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Aimed at professionals, the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash card features 128GB of storage and up to 100MB/s write speeds. Featuring a Power Core controller and UDMA-7 interface, the card is perfect for use with demanding DSLR cameras and other devices.
"No other product on the market can match our new card's combination of speed and storage capacity," said Susan Park, director, product marketing, SanDisk. "By consistently pushing the boundaries of flash innovation, we are able to develop advanced products not found anywhere else."
Some key features of the new card...
Toshiba's Digital Products Division has showed off some of its latest 3D technologies and products at the Consumer Electronics Show.
It's 2011 3D LED TV line-up for 2011 features exclusive CEVO Engine Technology that includes enhancements for 3D picture quality. The products sport new ultra-thin cosmetic designs with chrome. "For 2011, Toshiba is incorporating the new CEVO Engine to create stunning 2D images, immersive 3D images and more advanced and interactive connectivity," said Scott Ramirez, Vice President of Product Marketing and Development.
"CEVO takes 3D to the next level and to make sure it is available to everyone, we are offering it in both Dynamic active 3D and Natural passive 3D in a variety of screen sizes."
The CEVO engine features 2D to 3D Conversion, letting viewers watch their favorite 2D Blu-ray or DVD movies, or play their favorite 2D video games, with a 3D effect. 3D Resolution+ upconverts 3D sources that are not full HD to produce the highest quality effect. Finally, 3D Cross Talk Canceller technology mitigates any cross talk ghosting to create the clearest possible dynamic 3D images.
Vivitek is showing off three new projectors at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, featuring 2D to 3D conversion technology.
The D512-3D, D536-3D and the D538-3D can take existing 2D content and convert the image into 3D without having to use an external converter. The can take standard DVD and Blu-ray Disc content via HDMI and convert it from 2D to 3D via DLP Link from Texas Instruments.
The three projectors can also display 3D content from 720p/1080i at 50/60Hz and 1080p at 24Hz from 3D BluRay players or other 3D sources, such as cable or satellite boxes. All three feature BrilliantColor technologies for bright and detailed digital images.
Here are some key features and specifications...
Samsung and Adobe announced that Samsung Smart TV will come with Adobe AIR and soon Adobe Flash Player 10.1.
The integration of AIR for TV with Samsung's Smart TV platform will create new opportunities for a growing community of more than three million Adobe Flash Platform developers who can use Adobe Creative Suite 5 to author content for AIR for TV.
Both companies also plan to bring Adobe Flash Player 10.1 to the Smart TV browser, extending the company's current support for Flash Player 10.1 on Samsung smartphones and tablets. The addition of Flash Player 10.1 means users will enjoy a more complete web browsing experience on the TV.
"Content publishers want to extend their reach from smartphones to the largest screen in the home all without sacrificing the unique context and experience of each screen," said Shantanu Narayen, president and CEO of Adobe.
"Samsung is the first device manufacturer to embrace Adobe AIR for TV, and together we will enable developers to extend media applications, social games and other forms of rich content to televisions and a wide range of Samsung devices."
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), MSI Computer Corp. is showing two new tablets; one running an Android operating system and the other running Windows.
The two new generation WindPad tablets feature a stylish design and useful functions such as G-Sensor gravity detection, which apparently protects the internal hardware in case the unit is dropped. An ALS light sensor adjusts screen brightness based on surrounding light sources.
The MSI WindPad 100A tablet measures 10.1-inches, is half an inch thick at its thinnest point and weighs 1.6 pounds. It runs Android OS, powered by an ARM processor. It's features include a digital compass, GPS locator, Wi-Fi and optional 3G.
The WindPas 100A also includes USB and HDMI ports for expanding and connecting to other devices. The battery can run for right to ten hours on a single charge.
The MSI WindPad 100W tablet is much like the 100A but runs Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. It is equipped with an Intel Menlow Z530 processor and a 32GB SSD for storage.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple's iPhone handset is finally going to be available on the Verizon Wireless network.
The report cites people close to the companies, stating that Verizon Wireless will make the announcement of the new partnership on Tuesday in New York. The move will now give U.S. consumers a choice of network when buying an iPhone.
The Verizon phone will be similar to the iPhone 4 but run on the carrier's CDMA technology, WSJ's sources are saying.
AT&T has had exclusive rights to sell iPhones in the U.S. since the first device was introduced back in 2007. Since then, the handset has fueled much of AT&T's subscriber growth.
Smartphones running the Android operating system are offered by all major carriers in the United States, and sales of smartphones running Android outpaced iPhone sales in the second quarter, 2010.
Dell has shown new Alienware-branded products at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The Alienware brand is Dell's premium high-performance PC gaming brand, and now Dell is complimenting the line-up with the new M17x laptop line and new Aurora desktop systems.
The MI7x is Alienware's first 3D-capable gaming laptop when the optional 120Hz w/3D Bundle WideFHD WLED LCD display and NVIDIA graphics card are included. M17x laptops come with the latest mobile Intel processors including the Intel Core i7 940XM Extreme Edition. It's dimensions are listed as (W)16.1" (D)12.6" (H)2.1". As with other Dell products, you build the system yourself online to what you want (here), with prices starting at $1,499.
"Serious PC gamers and enthusiasts who want an immersive, 3D and high-definition sound experience have found their universe," said Sam Burd, Vice President of Dell's Consumer, Small, and Medium Business group.
Dell is showing off its new XPS 17 laptop touting impressive HD and 3D capabilities, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The new XPS brand edition features a 17-inch high-definition 3D display, which requires NVIDIA NVision 3D glasses (sadly, sold separately) for the 3D effect.
The new 3D capable XPS 17 joins Dell's recently introduced line of XPS laptops featuring booming JBL sound, an integrated subwoofer and crystal clear high-definition screens and, of course, HD video streaming with Skype for the ultimate in HD camming.
The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and comes equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M graphics card.
In addition to its 3D screen, the XPS 17 also features NVIDIA 3DTV Play software allowing users to connect their XPS laptop to a compatible 3D HDTV, for playback of Blu-ray 3D titles or popular PC games available in stereoscopic 3D.
Dell has shown off its new Streak 7 tablet that utilizes T-Mobile's 4G mobile network, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
It features the Android 2.2 operating system and is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra dual-core processor. Streak 7 touts a 7-inch multi-touch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass and full Adobe Flash Player 10.1 support. It has built-in Wi-Fi capabilities and Bluetooth.
Armed with front and rear-facing cameras, it is ideal for online communication either through Wi-Fi or over a 3G or 4G network. The high-resolution rear-facing camera combines with seamless social networking integration to make it easy to capture and share multimedia content.
RapidShare AG has again won in court in a case brought by Atari over the distribution of Atari content through the RapidShare service.
RapidShare originally had lost a case in a lower Düsseldorf court. The court had sided with Atari originally, finding that the file hosting service needed to take responsibility for the content shared illegally by third-party users on its websites.
Yesterday, a higher court overturned the lower court's ruling. "The ruling demonstrates once again that RapidShare is operating a fully legal range and has taken measures against the misuse of its service which go beyond the level that is legally required. We are confident that copyright holders will gradually come to accept this conclusion," RapidShare's lawyer and spokesman, Daniel Raimer, said.
RapidShare also won a case in the United States, with a court declining to rule that the company is liable for the copyright infringement of its users.
Intel has insisted that the "Insider" feature of new Sandy Bridge chips is not intended to be used as Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Instead, the microchip superpower insists that the Insider features are only intended to entice Hollywood studios to make streaming high definition content available on PCs. The technology, consisting of specialized authentication and encryption features and present in second generation Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, establishes a secure connection between streaming services and PCs.
At CES, a demonstration showed the CinemaNow movie streaming site identifying a PC with a Sandy Bridge processor, and then initiating s 1080p stream of Inception.
"Insider gives PCs the level of trust that the studio needs to make their content available. In the past they were very leery of streaming content. It's not a DRM technology at all," said Josh Newman, graphics marketing director at Intel.
The Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group plans to start streaming movies in high-definition to PCs with the new processors. Kevin Tsujihara, president of the group, said on Wednesday that the studio would be making 300 new HD titles available for streaming and may consider streaming some titles in 3D.
Homebrew-loving PS3 owners will be happy to hear the news that George Hotz has "jailbroken" firmware 3.55 on the PlayStation 3 (PS3) console.
He updated his geohot.com website with a single line of text saying just "I made a video". A click on the video link takes you to YouTube to a video he uploaded himself titled, "Jailbroken PS3 3.55 with Homebrew".
In the video he boots a console running stock 3.55 firmware with no modifications to LV2 (with a warning not to patch LV2 or you will brick your console) and notes that there is no USB dongle plugged into the system. He says he ran an lv2diag earlier that added Install PGK (package) files and added a modified NAS Plugin to the flash to ensure the PKG's signature is not checked.
He then installs a PKG that he made earlier and proceeds to boot up "Geohot does homebrew", a simple "Supp daug, it's geohot" message. No files are available to download just yet to do this yourself but most sources are expecting something soon.
Microsoft has pledged support for System on a Chip (SoC) architectures, including ARM-based systems from partners NVIDIA Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. in the next version of Windows at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Intel Corporation and AMD have continued development of low-power SoC designs that will fully support the Windows platform, including support for native x86 applications. SoC architectures consolidate the major components of a computing device onto a single package of silicon, making it possible to produce smaller, thinner devices while reducing the amount of power required for the device.
At CES, Microsoft demonstrated the next version of Windows running on SoC platforms developed by Intel (x86 architecture) and on ARM architecture platforms developed by NVIDIA, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm. Microsoft Office running natively on ARM was also shown as a demonstration of the potential of Windows platform capabilities on ARM architecture.
"With today's announcement, we're showing the flexibility and resiliency of Windows through the power of software and a commitment to world-class engineering. We continue to evolve Windows to deliver the functionality customers demand across the widest variety of hardware platforms and form factors," said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft.
Kingston used the Internet Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to announce that its 8GB 2133MHz HyperX memory kits have achieved Intel XMP certification for the P67 Sandy Bridge platform.
The HyperX T1 8GB memory kits are the first to be validated for the platform. The kits were subjected to extensive testing using the Asus P8P67 PRO and Gigabyte GA-P67-UD4 motherboards in Kingston labs. Following success, Kingston submitted the memory to Intel. Intel posted the XMP certification results here.
"The new 8GB HyperX memory kits were designed to push the memory boundaries of the new P67 motherboards in both speed and capacity," said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston.
"Our 2133MHz T1 modules featuring the signature tall heatspreaders passed the rigorous testing requirements both in-house and at Intel to achieve XMP certification. This is the perfect kit for enthusiasts who want to maximize performance from the new Sandy Bridge platform."
Acer has unveiled the new Aspire AS8950G-9839, a powerful entertainment center laptop, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Acer claims that the Aspire AS8950 Series delivers an unparalleled high-definition personal theater experience, and it has the specifications to back up such a claim. Powered by the Intel i7-2630QM processor with next generation ATI graphics, it also features a Blu-ray drive and new Dolby audio technology.
"The new Acer Aspire AS8950G is the ultimate portable entertainment center," said Preeta Anil, Acer product marketing. "The new 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processor delivers approximately a 20 percent overall performance gain, while its graphics subsystem delivers performance comparable to an entry level discrete graphics card. This allows the Acer Aspire 8950 to process video and play Blu-ray better than ever."
Key specifications of the Acer Aspire AS89850G are...
LogiTech is showing an adapter at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that enables laptop users to easily send audio to their existing speaker systems wirelessly.
The adapter is being made for Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) enabled laptops, which are becoming more commonplace. Several netbooks are also coming to the market that feature Intel WiDi technology. The Logitech Wireless Speaker Adapter uses WiDi wireless connectivity to stream audio from your Intel WiDi-enabled laptop to your favorite speakers.
Simply plug the Logitech adapter into your speakers using the included standard analog RCA or 3.5 mm jacks, launch the Intel WiDi software on your laptop, push "Connect" on your laptop and adapter, and your Intel WiDi-enabled laptop will automatically pair with your speakers.
"Intel's WiDi technology is quickly proliferating in the marketplace," said Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager Logitech's audio business unit. "Now thanks to Intel WiDi and the Logitech Wireless Adapter for Intel WiDi-enabled laptops, it's easy to turn up the volume while you're listening to Pandora or watching a YouTube video. And you can do it with the speaker system you already own."
Toshiba's Digital Products Division introduced the new cutting-edge Satellite E305 laptop at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The laptop represents the third collaboration between Toshiba and Best Buy as part of the retailer's Blue Label initiative. The Satellite E305 features an all-new exclusive design, hallmarked by a lightweight Aluminum cover and sturdy case with an LED-backlit raised tile keyboard, and features a tray-loading Blu-ray drive. It sports a 14-inch diagonal widescreen LED-backlit display.
The Satellite E305 is powered by the second generation Intel Core i5 processor. Using Next Generation Intel Wireless Display technology, the laptop can be connected wirelessly to a HDTV for playback of content up to 1080p.
It features USB 3.0 support with Sleep & Charge features, offering up to 5Gbps bi-directional signaling speeds. It comes with a hybrid drive setup, which features 4GB of flash storage that enables quick access to commonly used files and applications, seamlessly integrated into a spacious 7200RPM 500GB hard drive.
Some SKUs come with integrated support for WiMAX 4G networks. It comes loaded with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, Wireless-N Wi-Fi, HDMI port and touts an average charge life of more than 7 hours.
Samsung Electronics America Inc. announced the 9 Series, lightweight laptop computer at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Measuring 13.3-inches, the 9 Series is made from Duralumin, offering construction quality twice as durable as aluminum, but still under 3 lbs in weight. It features an LED-backlit screen touting 100,000:1 contrast ratio and true-to-life color reproduction.
The 9 Series is powered by a second generation Intel Core i5 processor and Intel HD Graphics technology. The new 9 Series boasts USB 3.0, Bluetooth 3.0, built-in WiMax1 and utilizes the latest in Wi-Fi and USB Sleep & Charge technologies.
Here are the key specs of the Samsung 9 Series laptop...
MSI Computer Corp. has unveiled its new line-up of notebooks, all-in-one devices and components powered by Intel's next generation Sandy Bridge Platform at CES.
The company has unveiled its line of G Series and F Series notebooks. The GT780, GT680, GE620 and GR620 all come powered by second generation Intel Core i7 quad core processors and feature USB 3.0 support.
The 17.3-inch GT780 and 15.6-inch GT680 offer advanced DirectX 11-ready nVidia GeForce GTX 500 Series and 400 Series graphics cards along with Dynaudio speakers. Both incorporate MSI's Turbo Drive Engine (TDE) technology, accelerated dual SSD storage and 4 SO-DIMM DDR3 memory slots allowing for up to 16GB memory.
The 15.6-inch GR620 and GE620 are designed for casual gamers, and feature nVidia GeForce GT Series discrete graphics cards. The GT680 ships in January with a base price of $1499.99 while the GT780 follows in Q2 for an undisclosed price. No release or pricing details are available for the GR620 or GE620.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Acer is showing off two notebooks featuring AMD Fusion processors.
At the heart of the Aspire 5253 and Aspire 4253 is the new AMD E-Series Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) and the VISION Engine from AMD, enabling stutter-free HD movies and HD Internet video streaming, enough processing power to handle even the most demanding applications, DirectX 11 capable graphics and extended battery life.
They come with Acer's Clear.fi network multimedia sharing system pre-installed. The 14-inch Aspire 4253 and 15.6-inch Aspire 5253 feature high-definition Acer CineCrystal LED backlit displays. The Aspire 5253 can come with up to 8GB DDR3 RAM and with large capacity hard drives depending on requirements.
Both feature 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi support and optional Bluetooth 3.0. For online communication, they come equipped with a built-in Acer Crystal Eye high-definition webcam and microphone. These notebooks are available in three color options Mesh Black, Mesh Brown, and Mesh Red with palm rest in matching shade and finish, for a more appealing look.
Acer's announced ICONIA tablet device is being showcased at CES with Verizon Wireless, taking advantage of its 4G LTE network.
The ICONIA Tab A500 will come with the Android OS and Acer UI 4.5, and will feature the Clear.fi media sharing system preloaded to access, play and share multimedia across the home network and to instantly publish updates to social media networks.
It features a 10.1-inch high-resolution, high color contrast display and also features a HDMI port to output 1080p content to a HDTV. The ICONIA Tab A500 will be equipped with NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core 1.0Ghz processor with Flash 10.1 support for optimized HD Web experience. For seamless communication, it also features the SkyCross antenna and ZTE LTE wireless module.
Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network currently reaches about a third of all Americans and is planned to grow to the size of the carrier's 3G network, offering 10 times the speed.
"Innovation is in our DNA," said Campbell Kan, vice president of Acer's Smart Handheld BU. "We are proud to once again offer users the most advanced technologies. With the ICONIA Tab A500 supporting 4G LTE, users will be able to wirelessly navigate, download or stream as seamlessly as they do with a wired connection. This is indeed another step toward a truly mobile Internet experience."
The SD Association is detailing the new UHS-II bus-interface specification that will dramatically improve SD card speeds at CES.
The new UHS-II bus-interface specification bumps up SD bus-interface speeds up to 312 Megabytes per second. These transfer speeds give manufacturers the flexibility to develop new features and markets for mobile phones and other consumer electronics strengthened by the world-leading memory card standard.
"UHS-II increases SD performance and value and delivers immediate impact on manufacturer innovation and consumer creativity," said Norm Frentz, chairman of the SD Association. "We've tripled bus-interface speeds from last year's UHS-I development, and we plan to double UHS-II speeds in the future."
Tripled bus-interface speeds give manufacturers more flexible design options, including low voltage and low power consumption, for large and small SD devices without compromising data transfer rates. Since it is fully backwards compatible, devices supporting UHS bus interface will accept the billions of existing SD memory cards in the market today.
New high-speed interface signals are assigned on the second row of pins on UHS-II SDXC and SDHC memory cards. This new speed option will be available in full-size SDHC and SDXC memory cards and microSDHC and microSDXC form factors and does not change the physical size or shape of the cards.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies announced two new HDD families to its line of drives for consumer electronics products.
The hard drives are intended for use with digital video recorders (DVR), IPTV set-top boxes, video surveillance systems and HDD-equipped televisions. The new CinemaStar 5K2000 family brings 2TB and 1.5TB capacities, and the 2.5-inch CinemaStar C5K750 family with 750GB, 640GB and 500GB capacities.
The drives are optimized for use in CE products, offering low power consumption, barely audible noise level and come fine-tuned for their host equipment's purposes (video content recording etc.).
The 2.5-inch CinemaStar C5K750 family contain 375GB per platter and feature Advanced Format (increasing the sector size on the HDD from 512 bytes to 4096 bytes). They operate at 0.5 watts (W) low power while idle, 1.5W power during read/write operations and are put out a barely audible 2.3 idle bels.
The 3.5-inch CinemaStar 5K2000 Family offer up to 2TB capacities (667GB per platter) and CoolSpin technology. The new CinemaStar 5K2000 drives are nearly silent at 2.4 bels during operation, draw only 4.2W or less idle power and generate less heat.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Micron Technology's Lexar Media is showing new Class 10 high-speed microSD cards intended for use with mobile phones.
The 32GB Class 10 microSDHC card guarantees a minimum sustained write speed of 10MB per second and a read speed up to 20MB per second. The card is part of a performance kit that includes a USB reader and mediamove for Lexar Media sideload software for easy and quick file management.
The card also includes pre-loaded software to allow users to manage their stored images and videos, sync content with their PC or Mac, and share them on the most popular social websites. "We've seen a steady rise in the sophistication of smart and mobile phones, and usage trends show a convergence between communication and entertainment," said Jim Chan, product marketing manager, Lexar Media.
"Today's users rely on their mobile devices, beyond talk and email, for capturing live moments and downloading their favorite content whether it's photos, music, or HD video and they want the flexibility to store and share them on demand. It is with this knowledge that weve developed this convenient, all-in-one solution to enable users to not only capture moments and download content, but also to move these to a computer or social media sites easily."
Lenovo launched its new Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 is an exclusive certification only granted to Lenovo products that meet certain performance criteria. Certified products feature improved and industry-leading Windows start-up and shutdown performance and other optimization features for Lenovo consumer and business PCs.
Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 certified products guarantee the following benefits...
- Customers can start their Lenovo PC on average 20 seconds faster than a typical Windows 7 computer thanks to Lenovo RapidBoot technology featured on all Enhanced Experience 2.0 PCs.
- On select Lenovo EE 2.0 PCs with optional RapidDrive SSD technology, users can start their PCs in less than 10 seconds, and open applications two times faster. Lenovo PCs with boot times under 10 seconds include the new IdeaPad Y570 and Y470 laptops.
- Idea-branded PCs with Enhanced Experience 2.0 are optimized for consumers for multimedia with Enhanced Digital Audio and HD graphics.
- Think-branded PCs are optimized for businesses with robust security tools and rich Web conferencing features.
Toshiba's Digital Products Division has unveiled a new ultra-portable full HD camcorder at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The new CAMILEO S30 camcorder features image stabilization in 1080p, 720p and 480p modes for smooth and clear video. It also offers a 16X digital zoom and a 3-inch diagonal LCD touch screen controls designed for easy navigation.
The CAMILEO S30 also doubles as an eight megapixel digital still camera, and accommodates an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card with up to 64GB capacity for an estimated 10 hours of recording at 1080p, or 24 hours at the lowest setting.
Using an included HDMI cable and HDMI-out, users can view HD videos and high quality photographs on a HDTV, or upload the content to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Picasa easily using an Internet Upload button. "The CAMILEO S30 camcorder is for those who want an easy to use, compact camcorder at an affordable price with the high quality they expect from Toshiba," said Paul Collas, director, accessory marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division.
Toshiba's Digital Products Division has unveiled its newest netbooks for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The new offerings include the all new mini NB505 netbook, and an update to the award-winning mini NB305 netbook. Toshiba has designed the new products with style and performance in mind, with the new mini NB505 topped with Toshiba's new rubberized EasyGrip Finish on the cover that makes it easier to carry, while also reducing fingerprints and a flat keyboard with Black textured finish on the inside.
It is available in Turquoise, Blue, Lime Green, Brown and Orange. Under the hood, it features an Intel Atom N455 processor, 1GB of DDR3 RAM and comes with up to a 250GB hard disk drive. The 2.9 pound mini NB505 is priced at $299.99.
Kingston Digital has announced new SDHC UHS-I UltimateXX memory cards at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) today.
The new cards meet the standards set by the SD Association for next-level performance in SD card technology. The USH-I-complaint cards tout a read speed of up to 60MB/s and a write speed up to 35MB/s.
At this performance level, the write speed of SDHC UHS-I memory cards is more than three times as fast as SDHC Class 10 cards. The UltimateXX product line will offer capacities of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB.
Some Kingston SDHC UHS-1 UltimateXX Features and Specifications...
Toshiba has previewed its first Android-powered (Honeycomb) tablet for the U.S. market.
The tablet features a 10.1-inch diagonal widescreen high-definition (HD) display. The multi-touch display is ideal for viewing full websites and both landscape and portrait mode. The display's high definition 1280x800 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio also creates a cinematic experience for movie viewing and gaming.
To provide a full web experience, Toshiba emphasizes the support for Adobe Flash-enabled content. Adaptive Display technology ensures that users get the best visual experience, automatically adjusting the displays brightness and color to the lighting environment.
It is powered by the dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 with integrated NVIDIA graphics, delivering smooth, full frame-rate 1080p HD video playback.
ST-Ericsson, a world leader in wireless platforms and semiconductors, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, that its Long-Term Evolution (LTE) modem will support Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE broadband network.
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless' 3G network. Verizon plans to expand its 4G network to the company's 3G coverage area. It already reached a third of all Americans.
"We are committed to working with Verizon Wireless to provide its customers with a better, faster and unprecedented mobile experience," says Jorgen Lantto, executive vice president and chief technology officer of ST-Ericsson.
"Our M700 LTE modem can download data at very high speeds, enabling consumers to enjoy demanding mobile multimedia services such as rapid file transfers, high-definition video streaming, video conferencing and online gaming."
VUDU as revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that it will begin streaming 3D movies to select 3D-capable HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players.
Manufacturers that will support 3D streaming from VUDU include FUNAI (Magnavox, Sylvania), LG Electronics, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Philips, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Toshiba, and VIZIO, as well as to the PlayStation 3 entertainment system and Boxee Media Software.
"We are proud to be a leader in the delivery of 3D movies," said Edward Lichty, General Manager of VUDU. "Our launch of 3D today is another example of our commitment to deliver the best home entertainment experience available anywhere. There is no better, easier way to get 3D movies at home than through the VUDU Service."
"The biggest obstacle for the 3D market in the home in the past was the lack of 3D content, where buyers just weren't interested in a feature they couldn't use," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst for Enderle Group. "VUDU delivering 3D streaming content directly addresses this challenge and allows consumers who want to enjoy a major advance in home televisions."
VUDU's 3D title selection will be automatically available on any device that is enabled for VUDU 3D, in standard definition 480p, 720p and full HD 1080p. The VUDU Streaming Movie Service provides customers with access to the worlds largest catalog of more than 4,000 on-demand HD movies.
OnStar announced on Wednesday the launch of a public pilot test of an Android voice communication app aimed at drivers.
The application enables drivers to send and receive text messages and Facebook updates using only their voices, using a Bluetooth connection between drivers' phones and their cars.
Texting while driving emerged as a major safety concern in recent years. The 2009 Pew Internet & American Life Project showed that 42 percent of drivers have texted while driving at some point.
"With the OnStar Voice Communications App, there is no need to look away from the road or take hands off the wheel to receive or send messages," a release from OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, reads.
"As more and more drivers pair their Bluetooth phones with their vehicles, OnStar wants to add value to the mobile connection and offer a safer and easy alternative for staying connected while driving."
AMD has today announced new Dekstop processors, including its fastest quad core offering and a new six core chip.
The growth of high definition and 3D content has created a new level of immersive visual experience, and AMD's new processors along with the 8-series chipset and recently launched AMD Radeon HD 6000 series graphics provide the raw processing power to handle everything from Internet-based multimedia to the most demanding video games.
The AMD Phenom II X4 975 Black Edition is AMD's fastest quad-core processor, an enthusiast's favorite including unlocked clock multipliers and quad-core performance.
The AMD Phenom II X6 1065T is a new six-core processor combining high performance, low 95W TDP, and AMD Turbo CORE technology.
Check out AMD VISION products at amd.com.
MediaTek Inc. announced today that it will showcase the world's first 120Hz SoC solutions for 3D TV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
According to the latest DisplaySearch forecast, the estimated shipments of 3D TV in 2010 is 3.4 million, and the 3D TV market penetration rate is expected to grow from 5 percent of total flat panel TVs in 2010 to 37 percent in 2014. Furthermore, connected TV is to reach new height with over 40 million units in 2010 to 118 million in 2014.
Furthermore, connected TV is to reach new height with over 40 million units in 2010 to 118 million in 2014. MediaTek will demonstrate a complete 3D TV solution at CES feating 120Hz and 2240Hz pattern retarder/ shutter glasses 3D TV technologies.
The solutions can support not only multiview video coding (MVC), but also various 3D media formats, including 3D VOD (Video on Demand), VC-1, 3D Blu-ray and broadcasting.
Sonic Solutions' DivX has announced a range of new partners for its DivX TV service, which enables consumer electronics manufacturers to bring a broad range of web-based content to home and mobile devices.
DivX TV is a dynamic and customizable service with an intuitive menu that provides the convenience of simply watching TV. Lightweight and scalable, DivX TV enables the best of Internet TV on any device or platform, combining the best of the web with the ease of flipping channels.
"Consumer electronics companies are dedicated to delivering easy, convenient, managed content for consumers and families on TVs and net-connected media players," said Richard Doherty, Research Director, Envisioneering Group.
"DivX TV delivers a powerful, extendable and compelling solution, delivering intuitive access to the best of the web, from the comfort of their couch cushions."
DivX TV offers a rapidly growing library that now provides 10,000 high-quality videos from more than 200 shows and is capable of powering the distribution of ad-supported and subscription video content, including premium services. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, DivX announced a bunch of new partners including...
After a federal judge effectively killed LimeWire in a decision in October last year, the company is now determined not to go down quietly.
Instead, LimeWire wants to turn its case into a much larger analysis of the market for music online, dragging in all kinds of players in the field. Since LimeWire was found responsible for copyright violations, the next part of the case is to determine the amount of damages the company is liable for.
Record companies reckon the figure ought to be north of a billion dollars, but LimeWire's attorneys have been fighting tooth and nail to force the record companies to prove every loss that it claimed. A judge previously ordered record companies to provide information regarding costs such as royalty payments on some of the music content allegedly infringed through LimeWire software.
LimeWire's attorneys do not believe that the court's requests are nearly enough however, and has gone after third-party licensees to produce documents that range from royalty payment information to internal company communications related to negotiations with record companies.
One target in LimeWire's sights is online heavyweight Amazon.com. LimeWire's attorneys have requested a Washington judge to compel Amazon to cooperate with its discovery. Amazon however feels that, going by the guidance of the New York District Court, such documents should be handed over by the record companies instead.
StatCounter has revealed that Mozilla's Firefox browser is now in pole position in the European market.
This is the first time that Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser has lost the top spot in a major market, according to the analytics firm. The figures show that during December, Firefox claimed 38.1 percent of the market while Internet Explorer fell to 37.5 percent.
Firefox's jump to the top was actually helped along by Google's Chrome browser, which saw its share in Europe rise from 5.1 percent last year to 14.6 percent this year. Ironically, the Firefox browser only seems to have managed to maintain its share from the previous year.
The major losses for Internet Explorer in Europe have come after Microsoft began pushing out a "Browser Choice" screen to European users under an agreement with the European Union to settle an antitrust case. The screen lists other web browsers as an alternative to Internet Explorer (in random order), and directs the user to the alternative browser's homepage.
Globally, Internet Explorer is still clinging on to the top spot with 46.9 percent of the market, followed by Firefox with 30.8 percent of the market. Microsoft hopes to reverse the downward trend with Internet Explorer 9, which the software giant has tuned up for better performance and enhanced security compared to its predecessors.
Microsoft has issued a security advisory detailing a new code execution bug in some of its Windows operating system iterations.
The publicly disclosed vulnerability resides in the Windows Graphics Rendering Engine and could be exploited by cybercriminals to run arbitrary code on a victim's PC. The code would be run in the security context of the logged in user, so would be less threatening under a limited account than one with full administrative rights.
The flaw does not affect Microsoft's latest major operating systems, Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, but does affect the following installations.
**Server Core installation not affected
- Windows XP Service Pack 3
- Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
- Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2
- Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1 and Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems and Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2**
- Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2**
- Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems and Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2
TOM Group, Skype's partner in the Chinese market, has said that the Internet calling service is fully complying with laws in the country amid fears that a crackdown could adversely affect the service.
On December 10 last year the Ministry for Information and Industry Technology announced a crackdown on what it called "illegal VoIP telephone services". It said it was collecting evidence against the services, but did not specify what services or holding companies it was referring to.
The announcement sparked fears of a possible Google-like showdown with the Chinese government involving Skype, and also fueled cries of protectionism from some in the market. "The operation of Skype in China is compliant with local laws and regulations," a TOM Group spokeswoman told Reuters on Tuesday. "Currently, it is business as usual while service provision stays normal."
Skype and UUCall dominate the VoIP space in China, offering free or much cheaper options for long distance communication than the three main carriers in the country. China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom all make a loss on their long-distance call services.
Nintendo has revealed that its DS family of handheld consoles has sold more than 47 million units in the United States since its original launch back in 2004.
Nintendo of America claims that the figures show that the Nintendo DS is the country's best selling video game system of all time. As for Nintendo's Wii home console, the company is reporting sales of more than 7 million in the U.S. for the 2010 calendar year.
The company claims that the 7 million sales in 2010 represent a feat never before accomplished by a home console in the country. The Wii console has sold more than 34 million units in the United States alone in its lifetime.
"When we look back at 2010, we see consumers time and again turning to the value and enjoyment of our products," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "When we look ahead to 2011, we see new portable technology and more great Wii games that need to be seen to be believed."
Nintendo is set to release its new Nintendo 3DS hand-held system in the United States in March. The portable system lets players see 3D content without the need for special glasses.
Reuters is citing a source close to News Corp in reporting that there are no ongoing talks regarding the future of the social entertainment site.
News Corp has revealed that it is open to a sale of the social entertainment site that still attracts 60 million users a month. CNCB reported on Monday that News Corp is on track to sell the website by mid-2011, but Reuters cites a source in reporting that there are no talks with any potential buyers at this time.
The company is to lay off more than half of its staff in its continued efforts to turn around the loss making venture. Following a successful relaunch of MySpace as a social entertainment site, rather than a competitor to $50 billion giant Facebook, Reuters reported that News Corp was open to a sale.
Norwegian firm Opera will show off a preview of its browser software intended for use with tablet PCs and netbooks at the Consumer Electronics Show this week.
The company claims that its software will provide the smoothest tablet and netbook experience on the market whether its used for checking e-mail, managing social networks or just general web surfing. "In 2011, tablets are a new must-have. Opera is creating waves with the first public preview of Opera for tablets," said Christen Krogh, Chief Development Officer, Opera Software.
"Opera for tablets brings the same trusted Internet experience to tablets and netbook PCs as users have come to love on their mobile phones and desktops."
Microsoft has revealed that downloads of the Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) beta have surpassed 20 million since it became available in September.
The 20 million downloads by interested users can be seen in its share of the market, standing at 0.46 percent by year's end. Internet Explorer 6 hit an all-time low of 13.81 percent of the market, and combined with IE7 lost 40 percent of its users in the prior 12 months.
Microsoft has been urging users to upgrade their IE6 and IE7 installations to IE8, and indeed IE8 users rose 40 percent in the 12 month period. According to Net Applications, Internet Explorer still maintains a 34.07 percent share of the market.
IE9 has been noted in several reviews for its great improvements over IE8 in terms of performance and general security for end users, but whether it can reverse the downward trend of Internet Explorer's market share remains to be seen over the coming year.
Web use measurement vendor Net Applications has revealed that Windows 7 crossed a 20 percent share mark last month, an accomplishment not ever achieved by Windows Vista.
Net Applications gathers information on Operating System usage from 40,000 websites it monitors, accounting for 160 million unique visitors. It found that in December, Windows 7's share rose 1.2 percentage points to 20.9 percent, crossing a barrier that Vista never managed to.
It's heavily criticized predecessor fell to just 12.1 percent in December, a drop of half a percentage point. This represents the lowest share Vista has claimed since July 2008. Usage of Windows Vista peaked in October 2009 at 18.8 percent, which by no coincidence is also the month Windows 7 was released.
Windows XP use fell to 56.7 percent in December, dropping 1.2 percentage points. It's plunge over the fourth quarter of 2010 was measured at about 3.3 percent, accelerating from 2.4 percent in the third quarter of 2010 and 2 percent in the second quarter.
The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will release at least 15 Blu-ray 3D titles over the coming year.
Among the list of films already revealed by Disney are the animated classics The Lion Kind and Beauty And The Beast. As for more recent titles, the list includes the recent TRON: Legacy and the box-office smash hit Tangled.
"As our contemporary library of 3D content continues to grow, and the original artists and filmmakers meticulously 'dimensionalize' their work for release on the Blu-ray 3D format, we will be offering movie-lovers the most incredible in-home entertainment experience they will ever have," noted Lori MacPherson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
"In addition to offering new releases day-and-date in 3D and further cementing our leadership in the marketplace, we're thrilled that consumers will have the exclusive Blu-ray 3D experience of two of the most celebrated Disney animated features, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, in their homes."
BitTorrent, Inc. has announced a new milestone in the usage of its original BitTorrent Mainline client, and its popular ”Torrent client.
The company announced yesterday that its software products have grown to over 100 million worldwide monthly (active) users. Each day, an average of over 400,000 downloads of the clients are made by Internet users, while 20 million are using them any given day.
It has also announced that its software is available in 52 languages and that clients are checking in (for updates etc.) from over 220 different countries every day.
Microchip superpower Intel is plotting its own movie / video service to compete with the likes of iTunes and Amazon in 2011.
Intel's Insider service will offer movies in full 1080p resolution for rental or purchase to users of Core 2011-powered laptops or desktop computers. What sets Intel's outfit aside from the ever-growing number of competing similar services is that it provides content protection in the hardware, being tied to the second generation Core processors.
Intel's Erik Reid has said the plan is to offer content at the same time as it becomes available on Blu-ray and DVD. So far the chip giant has already struck deals with Warner Bros and CinemaNow.
