Smartphone Apps That Help You Track Your Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween hasn't seemed the same to me in years. Long gone seem to be the days of hundreds of kids running around the neighborhood gathering candy from their neighbors. These days it seems like everyone takes their kids to a party, local mall or a church event. Over the last five years I could probably count on both hands the number of children that have knocked on our door.

But I know in some areas parents still allow their kids the freedom to roam and visit their neighbors to gather that sweet stuff. For them tracking their kids is an all to important task. Well luckily most smartphones these days are equipped with the tools that will allow you to keep a close eye on their whereabouts.Here are just a few apps that will help you keep your trick-or-treaters safe this Halloween.

AT&T have a great option with the FamilyMap application. FamilyMap will quickly and easily report the location of any phone on AT&T's 3G network. Yes that is any phone on a contract account. You don't need an iPhone or Android based phone however the most accurate locations available are with A-GPS (Assisted GPS) phones. To use the application all you need to do is activate it on the phones you want to track. Then from your computer you can log in and view each phones location on a fairly detailed street level map. The best part is the first 30 days are FREE! So worried parents only wanting to track their kids over the Halloween weekend won't be out any money.

At the end of the free 30 days, you will automatically be subscribed and charged $9.99 per month thereafter to locate up to two family members or $14.99 per month thereafter to locate up to five family members so make sure you cancel the service unless you really want it.

Another great application is MobileMe which is available for the iPhone. MobileMe allows users to 'find their lost iPhone or iPad', essentially creating an easy way to pinpoint any phone attached to the account from a computer or another phone. The app is currently free to try with a free 60-day trial. An iPhone alternative is Life 360 free Family GPS Tracker, which also lists sex offenders in the area. The family tracker will run you either $3.99 or $5.99 and will pop up a message on the home screen of the phone telling your child that you are looking for him.

For you Android OS phone users there is a great app called "Trick or Tracker" which is available for free until November 2 -- then the price increases to $10. This app can send text messages at regular intervals to an Android OS based smartphone telling parents exactly where their child is on a route. Trick or Tracker also has a flashlight feature to help children travel more safely in dark areas.

The option I personally use to track my own phone, is Google Latitude. Google Latitude allows you to 'share' your location with your friends or family as a dot on a Google map. These maps can be viewed either on your smartphone or through the Google Latitude site on a laptop or PC. You can also get directions towards the location of shared friends, which is great for meeting up with others! Latitude is part of Google Maps for mobile on most phones however to all phones are supported. You can see supported phones in the Help Center for details.

White iPhone 4 Apple's Great White Whale

Apparently the third time isn't the charm for Apple has three times now Apple has delayed shipments of the companies white iPhone 4 leaving many left to wonder exactly what the issue is and if the device will ever be shipped.

Rumors and speculation point to issues with the white glass planned to be used for the delayed iPhone 4 model. The glass apparently allows in too much light, resulting in poorer quality digital pictures. Yet more rumors speculate that Apple is trying to fix the 'antennagate' issues and then new 'glassgate' issues which are resulting in an increased case of screen glass breakage.

One thing is for certain all these delays and added rumors are leaving many user wandering if Apple is ever going to release the White iPhone 4 or if they will just have to wait for the next iPhone to get out of the black. The latest rumor out of BGR suggests the white iPhone 4 has been canceled. The rumor implies that Apple is pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes with these repeated delays and has no plans to release the coveted device.

The standard black iPhone 4, was released in June, but the white model was delayed first to July, then to the end of the year and now it appears as though it won't make it to market until early next year. In the mean time BGR is speculating that an iPhone 5 release date should be expected around June/July.

So far Apple has been pretty silent about the issue. "We're sorry to disappoint customers waiting for the white iPhone again," Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told Reuters. She declined to explain the delay or offer any further information. The company has only said the white model was "more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected."

Google Giving Away Free Google TV Devices

Google has always taken care of their developers giving way things like free Android Phones in the hopes to spike some interest and get those developers working. Now that the Google TV device is out there in the wild Google hopes to peak a little interest there too. So what's Google to do, well have a giveaway off course!

As they’ve announced on their Google TV blog, the search giant is giving away 10,000 Google TV units to various web developers. Yes, 10,000 and yes web developers. The giveaway is meant to spur developers into making optimized sites for Google TV — not necessarily app developers. I'm sure however both are welcome to apply.

According to the post over the next few weeks, Google will be handing out the Google TV devices to help urge developers to start building for TV.

As of post time, yesterday morning, Google had planned to give away more than 3,000 Google TV devices to attendees of the Adobe MAX conference. Additionally, they’ll be reaching out to thousands of web developers in the Google Code community to offer them a free device. Finally, if you are a professional web developer who wants to help make the Google TV experience even better and you don’t happen to fall into one of those two groups, Google is inviting you to submit an entry to their Google TV Web Developer Promotion and include a short summary about the type of interesting website your company would like to create or optimize for Google TV. From those entries the company will select 2,500 winners to receive a free Google TV device.

New Wi-Fi Direct Protocol We've Got Some Answers

I've seen a lot of discussion over the new Wi-Fi Direct protocol and it seems like no one can really nail down all the specifics. So I've decided to do a little digging and do my best to answer a few questions that I've seen posted. Some of these answers and more can be found via the Wi-Fi Alliance Frequently Asked Questions page.

Backward Compatibility - One of the most often asked question is will it work with legacy Wi-Fi devices. The answer is yes and no. Legacy devices will be supported for connecting to a new Wi-Fi Direct certified device but your older devices will not support the new protocol to do any routing or directing of network traffic as a Wi-Fi Direct device would.

Will A Software Update Make My Device Wi-Fi Direct? - It is my understanding that only new Wi-Fi Direct certified devices, which there are some already out there, can use the new protocol. So no AFAIK a software update will not work to make your older device into a Wi-Fi Direct device. I believe these are new chips and a new protocol so until I hear otherwise I'll stand by that assumpotion

How many devices can connect? - This is a tough one to answer as it really depends on your devices. A Wi-Fi Direct-certified network can be one-to-one, or one-to-many. The number of devices in a Wi-Fi Direct network is expected to be smaller than the number supported by traditional standalone access points.

Your Router or AP can connect literally hundreds of devices a Wi-Fi Direct network is really only meant to handle a few devices at one time. Some devices will limit the number of connections to multiple other devices as this is an optional feature that will not be supported in all Wi-Fi Direct-certified devices; some devices will only make 1:1 connections, some will allow several devices to be connected at once.

How far will a Wi-Fi Direct connection travel? - Just like any standard Wi-Fi device in use now a Wi-Fi Direct devices will have a variable range. Things like dense walls, interference from other devices ect will have an undoubtedly have an affect on your range. The max advertised distance is 200m but that's not likely to happen. So I'd say like most standard Wi-Fi devices your range should be expected to be wide enough to reach throughout your entire house.

How About Security? Is Wi-Fi Direct Secure? - I'm on the fence about this one. Wi-Fi Direct uses forced WPA2 authentication and encryption which can not be disabled. That's all great and all but that doesn't help once a device is connected. P2P connections are inherently insecure and without a firewall or added security allowing device like cameras, smartphones and god knows what to become a node for network you might be asking for trouble. Of course its assumed that you are only going to be making connections with 'trusted' sources, but is that really likely?

Part of the problem I see is the Wi-Fi Direct program use a service discovery association which relies on a simple handshake protocol for a connection. Basically any one can see your Wi-Fi Direct device that is 'discoverable' and can ask you for a connection or they can be 'discoverable' themselves and allow you a connection. This opens a ton of doors to several types of attacks namely "man in the middle attacks". I also see the potential for brute force attacks that can result in a device being forced to accept a connection. WPA has already been cracked and hackers can already insert malicious code into transmissions so I really question the security here.

The Wi-Fi Alliance says Wi-Fi Direct defines a new pre-association discovery method, which limits the amount of information given about device services prior to association (and before having an IP address). From my understanding this should provide some added security as an attacker won't know much about the device they are connecting to thus limiting there attack. But again I see many areas of concern!

If I make a Wi-Fi Direct connection will others see the contents of my device? - This is one major area of concern! If you've ever been to an internet cafe and browsed any of the other connection you know many times users have file and network sharing on. Essentially providing an open door to shared files on their PCs. Apparently this won't be an issues as nothing is shared without your permission. The content available over a Wi-Fi Direct group connection is driven by the applications you are using. While there may be applications which allow an authorized use to “browse” the content on your device, most applications will have a specific focus (e.g., sharing a game application or transferring photos).

Again, this is another issue that is very much in a grey area so users will want to make sure their Apps aren't sharing more than they want them to. I can already see this as being potentially exploited so make sure you are safe!

My Conclusion:

For now it seems as though there are a ton more questions than there are answers. I've seen numerous discussions on several sites as to how and why you'd implement Wi-Fi Direct. To be honest for an average user that already has a home wireless network you aren't going to gain much by upgrading to new devices.

One area that would be helpful that I didn't touch on is the use of a Wi-Fi Direct device as an AP to share a network connection. This could potentially be useful for users that need to expand their coverage throughout there house or for families that use multiple devices connected to a single wireless broadband connection.

The tone of my article might be a bit negative and admittedly I'd say I don't like the idea of my 'dumb' devices potentially being nodes for everyone else to connect to. I'll also say I'm not big on all my devices being wired into each other. But I do see some potential upsides here.

If you want more details checkout the Wi-Fi Alliance Wi-Fi Direct Page:

• Search for products certified for Wi-Fi Direct
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Press Release

So Long LimeWire, RIAA Claims Another Victim

Today marks the official death of popular peer-to-peer music sharing service LimeWire, as the service has given up in its fight against the RIAA. The site joins Napster, Kazaa, and all the rest on the mantel as victims claimed by the RIAA's lawyers.

A visit to the LimeWire site shows a legal notice notifying users that the parent company, Lime Company, will abide by a court-ordered injunction and begin to disable the file-sharing and music-searching features of its P2P software. Years of legal battles and the prospects of paying astronomical fines finally did the service in.

A full response posted from LimeWire's CEO George Searle on the Lime Company website:

As of today, we are required to stop distribution and support of LimeWire’s P2P file-sharing service as a result of a court-ordered injunction.

Naturally, we’re disappointed with this turn of events. We are extremely proud of our pioneering history and have, for years, worked hard to bridge the gap between technology and content rights holders. However, at this time, we have no option but to cease further distribution and support of our software.

It’s a sad occasion for our team, and for you – the hundreds of millions of people who have used LimeWire to discover new things.

While we have enabled open sharing and discovery for the past decade, LimeWire is mostly the product of the people who used it. You made LimeWire. Thank you for letting us being part of that. Your support and enthusiasm has fueled everything that we do.

During this challenging time, we are excited about the future. The injunction applies only to the LimeWire product. Our company remains open for business.

We remain deeply committed to working with the music industry and making the act of loving music more fulfilling for everyone – including artists, songwriters, publishers, labels, and of course music fans.

Our team of technologists and music enthusiasts are creating a completely new music service that puts you back at the center of your digital music experience.

We’ll be sharing more details about our new service and look forward to bringing it to you in the future.

This is just one of the latest blows dealt to the file-sharing community. This is one of the first cases in which a company's software has been a major target and the first I know of in which a judge has order an injunction against the software used. For more details on the case you can view our previous coverage from back in May.

Windows 7 SP1 Release Candidate Now Available

Microsoft has officially released an RC version of its upcoming service pack for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The new release candidate is version, windows6.1-KB976932, and is available for download here. The update is rather large at 865.4 MB for the 64 bit version and 514.7 MB for the 32 bit version.

This RC doesn't appear to have any major changes, at least none listed via the download page or the knowledge base article. So you may want to hold off installing anything until the actual release comes out. But since we are geeks and we like to test out things I'm trying to download it. I haven't been successful as of yet but I'll keep trying.

Keep in mind since this is an RC, a release candidate, it should be a fairly stable version of the service pack, but as with any pre-release software it is not recommended for use on critical machines and all user should create back-up/restore points before testing.

Google Gives Away $5 million In Grants To Help Digital Journalism

Google has granted $5 million to non-profit organizations that are working to develop new approaches to journalism in the digital age. Those grants include $2 million for The Knight Foundation (no not that night foundation) as well as an additional $3 million to be spent internationally.

“Clearly journalism is fundamental of a functioning society and democracy,” said Chris Gaither senior manager of news industry relations at Google. ”We have been doing lots of things working directly with news publishers to try and figure out ways to ease the transition to digital.”

Google has said that half of the $2 million grant sent to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which has a proven track record of supporting programs that drive innovation in journalism, will be used to support U.S. grant-making. While the other $1 million will augment the Knight News Challenge, which is accepting funding proposals from anyone, anywhere in the world, until December 1. Now in its fifth year, the News Challenge has supported projects like DocumentCloud, which aims to bring more investigative-reporting source material online so anyone can find and read it.

The foundation works with a wide cross section of innovators and leaders. They range from young entrepreneurs and new online news operations to established news organizations, universities and experts like Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. Knight also sponsors the Knight Community Information Challenge, a contest that seeks to engage community foundations from across the country in efforts to meet the information needs of their communities. Knight matches local community foundations projects and invests up to $4 million each year in this contest.

During the last 5 years, Knight Foundation has invested more than $100 million in a multi-faceted media innovation initiative. Its projects address media innovation on various levels, including national media policy, technology innovation, public media transformation and the evolution of the World Wide Web.

“This is an enormously important vote of confidence by the industry leader. We welcome Google’s support,” said Alberto Ibargüen, President of Knight Foundation. He added, “The free flow of information is essential to a democratic society. Already, more Americans get their information from the Internet than from newspapers. That trend will only intensify, making it imperative for our democracy that we find ways to effectively deliver the news and information people require on the new, digital platforms. It is essential in this transformative time that we join with others to find ways in which information can be generally shared so that, in Jack Knight’s words, the people ‘may pursue their true interests.’ Google is the right partner. We hope for many others.”

Google Sued for Violating the Privacy Rights of Millions of Americans

Class action suit filed for Google's systematic practices of sharing the personal information and search queries of its users with third-parties.

A class action lawsuit filed yesterday challenges Google's alleged practice of illegally sharing the search queries of its users with third-parties. Not only does Google, whose company motto is "Don't be evil," promise in its privacy policy not to do this, but Google has publicly denounced this very practice in the past.

In 2006,Google successfully fought a subpoena filed by the Department of Justice that sought to compel the release of search queries. Google argued: "[S]earch query content can disclose identities and personally identifiable information . . ." It further stated that it "will keep private whatever information users communicate absent a compelling reason."

The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in San Jose, Calif., is brought by Paloma Gaos of the San Francisco Bay Area. Ms. Gaos is represented by Kassra Nassiri of Nassiri & Jung LLP and Michael Aschenbrener of Edelson McGuire LLC. The class action seeks monetary relief for those whose search queries were wrongly shared, and injunctive relief to prevent continued privacy abuses.

"Because of its dominance in the search business, Google, more than any other company, presents a great risk to citizen privacy. As recent events have made clear, the selling and reselling of personal information is a multi-billion dollar business that shows no signs of slowing down," says Kassra Nassiri, co-lead attorney. "By systematically disclosing user search queries, Google is adding more fuel to the privacy fire than most people realize."

"For many people, Google is the first place they turn when they need help with a private matter. Google knows this and for this reason has promised to hold user searches completely private. Any search engine that fails to maintain this promise risks losing its place as a trusted adviser," says co-lead attorney Michael Aschenbrener.

Nassiri & Jung LLP and Edelson McGuire LLC are also prosecuting other high-profile privacy cases against major Silicon Valley companies, including Facebook and Zynga.

Nassiri & Jung LLP is a boutique litigation firm based in San Francisco that focuses on complex business disputes. www.nassiri-jung.com.

Edelson McGuire LLC is a leading class action firm that focuses on Internet, technology, privacy, banking, and consumer issues with attorneys in Illinois, New York, California, and Florida.
www.edelson.com

Source: PRNewswire

Skype Tells Nimbuzz To Buzz Off

According to reports Skype has officially asked popular mobile communication service provider Nimbuzz to discontinue use of the Skype services starting October 31, 2010. Reasoning behind the move is as of yet unclear however Nimbuzz believes it comes as part of a strategy for Skype to disconnect all open third party support ahead of its impending IPO.

Evert Jaap Lugt, CEO of Nimbuzz, "Skype’s decision is unfair to its own and our users. People want to choose how they communicate and to be able to make calls and send messages, regardless of service, social network, device or operator network. Nimbuzz gives them the freedom to do so, Skype does not."

Skype has responded with this canned statement:

“Skype has been in discussions with Nimbuzz regarding our concern and belief they were using Skype’s software in ways which it was not designed for, in a breach of our API Terms of Use and End User Licence Agreement. Skype offered to meet Nimbuzz and discuss the issue however we have not heard back from them since our last correspondence to them in early August. As we have said before, Skype encourages openness and supports developers to build products that work with the Skype platform.”

Nimbuzz isn't going to slip quietly into the night. The company points out users will remain free to communicate with their contacts using other VoIP/SIP, instant messaging services and social networks, including Facebook, Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Google Talk, Twitter, MySpace, ICQ and others. They have also decided to offer current users a discount on their own paid VoIP services, NimbuzzOut.

The offer is as follows:

• A 15% bonus credit to use on NimbuzzOut. That’s 15% extra on top of the credits you want to purchase. To access the 15% bonus credit, go to http://www.nimbuzzout.com and once logged-in, use this code NIMBUZZ15 (valid until end of November 2010).
• NimbuzzOut now lets you call mobile phones and landlines in 45 countries for only 2 cents per minute!
• NimbuzzOut is supported on more than 115 Symbian devices, all iPhone / iPod Touch, and all of the Android handsets.

Read more via Nimbuzz - What the Skype/Nimbuzz Breakup Means To You

AMD Launches Radeon HD 6800 Series

AMD today introduced the companies next generation of PC gaming GPUs, the AMD Radeon HD 6800 series, designed to be the “perfect graphics cards” for gamers by delivering unprecedented game performance. The new AMD Radeon HD 6800 series graphics cards provide more than 30 percent greater game performance than competing products, harnessing AMD’s second-generation Microsoft DirectX 11-capable architecture, best-in-class energy efficiency, and an unmatched feature set, including AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology.

“AMD is the market share leader by a landslide in DirectX 11 graphics,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. “Through our sweet spot strategy and our open, industry standards approach, we’ve worked to deliver the best possible experience for gamers. Today, our laser focus on gamers continues with the introduction of what we think is far and away the best graphics card series today, the AMD Radeon HD 6800 series. With exceptional game performance, an unrivaled feature set including breathtaking DirectX 11 gaming, AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing, and more, the AMD Radeon HD 6800 series will have all gamers wanting to get Radeon in their systems.”


The first two cards released under the 6800 series are the Radeon HD 6870 and Radeon HD 6850. Both cards are built with AMD's 40nm chips with a 255mm die size, 1.7B transistors and feature 1GB of GDDR5 with a 256-bit memory interface and 32 render back-ends. The two cards sport a dual-slot design and provide 2 mini-DisplayPort 1.2 connectors, 1 HDMI 1.4a connector, and 2 DVI ports with HD3D technology, AMD Eyefinity technology and AMD EyeSpeed visual acceleration support.

Pricing is set at an MSRP of $239 for the Radeon HD 6870 and $179 for the Radeon HD 6850.

AMD Radeon HD 6870 and 6850 Benchmarks and Reviews:

• PC Perspective - AMD Radeon HD 6870 and 6850 Review - Barts Architecture Refresh
• Legit Reviews - AMD Radeon HD 6850 and 6870 Video Card Preview | AMD Radeon HD 6850 and 6870 CrossFire Video Card Review
• Benchmark Reviews - AMD Radeon HD 6870 Barts Video Card | AMD Radeon HD 6850 Barts Video Card
• Hot Hardware - AMD Radeon HD 6870 & 6850 Graphics Cards Debut
• TweakTown - AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card | Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card
• PC World - AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series Is the New Midrange Graphics Champ
• TechPowerUp - Review HIS Radeon HD 6850 1 GB | Review HIS Radeon HD 6870

Related News:

• MSI launches R6800-series graphics cards
• ASUS Releases New EAH6800 Series Graphics Cards
• HIS introduces the HIS Radeon HD 6850 & 6870
• AMD And Powercolor Launch The New Generation HD6800 Series

Product page: AMD Radeon HD 6800 series product informationSource: AMD Press Release

Apple Updates The MacBook Air And I Want One

Call it a notebook, call it a netbook, call it what you want but damn you have to admit the two newly introduced MacBook Airs are sexy looking machines!

When Apple released the original MacBook Air even the biggest Apple detractors had to be a bit impressed. The sleek stylish notebook was nothing short of amazing. The starting price tag of $1,799 however was not!

Nearly three years has passed since the original MacBook Air made it's debut and today Apple has gone and wow'd us yet again. This time it's with the release of two even smaller, thinner, lighter (and whats more impressive) cheaper versions packing even more power than before.

First off is the new 13.3-inch device. This new model will pack a 13.3" LED backlit display, with 1440x900 resolution, an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, Nvidia GForce 320M graphics, 2GBs of DDR3 ram, an SSD drive for storage, full size keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, FaceTime camera and an 'instant on' OS. All this will be backed into a an aluminum unibody design that measures 12.8" x 8.94" is only .11-.68 inches thick and weighs 2.9 lbs. This model is currently priced at $1299 and $1599 with additional options for a 2.13 GHz CPU, 4GBs of ram and up to 256GB of storage.

The second device is Apple's new 'netbook' at least that's what I'd call it. It a new 11.6in MacBook Air which also packs an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, Nvidia GForce 320M, full size keyboard, FaceTime camera and multi-touch trackpad. The 11.6 inch model comes with a smaller 11.6" LED backlit display that features 1366x768 resolution. This model measures 11.8" x 7.56" and weights a scant 2.3 pounds. There are currently two price points $999 and $1199 with a 1.4 Ghz CPU and 64 or 128 GB storage respectively although Apple suggest you can upgrade to a 1.6GHz CPU and 4GBs of ram.

Both models are available today on Apple.com. More details via Apple "Apple Reinvents Notebooks With New MacBook Air"

Verizon First To Offer The Samsung Galaxy Tab At $600

Samsung has officially announced the price of the companies iPad rival, the new 7-inch Android-based Galaxy Tab. It will cost $600 and will eventually be available on all four major U.S. carriers, but Verizon is the first to come up with a concrete release date and price.

“This is an incredible time in mobile technology, and as a company we’re excited to add the Samsung Galaxy Tab to our portfolio,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “The Samsung Galaxy Tab brings together the reliability of Verizon Wireless’ 3G network and the power of Android 2. .2 to deliver on our promise of providing consumers and business customers with a host of options to help manage their lives.”

Starting November 11th Verizon will be offering the Samsung Galaxy Tab for the contract-free price of $599. A data plan is optional and will cost $20 per month for 1GB, $35 per month 3GB plan, and a $50 per month 5GB plan.

For those of you that are looking for a better deal or offers from different carriers rumor has it that the Sprint version of the tablet would launch around Nov. 14 for $400 with a contract, with a non-contract version going for $600. It was also speculated that T-Mobile would offer the tablet for $650 without a contract or $400 with a two-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Running on Android 2.2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab features a 7-inch touch screen; a full Web browsing experience with support for Adobe Flash 10.1 for video and mobile gaming; and a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application processor. Thee are two cameras a 3MP back and 1.3MP front, bluetooth 3.0 support and wireless N adapters.

For additional features and specifications on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxytab

Source: Samsung/Verizon press release

Microsoft Kinect To Have 17 Titles At Launch

Today Microsoft's countdown to the official launch of the new Kinect gaming platform begins, as Microsoft Corp. announced the launch of a multiyear advertising campaign and revealed the complete lineup of 17 controller-free games that will be released starting on Nov. 4.

The all-in-one Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect includes the new Xbox 360 4GB console, Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures,” priced at $299.99 ERP (U.S.). Or for those who have an Xbox 360 console1 at home, the stand-alone Kinect for Xbox 360 priced at $149.99 ERP (U.S.) includes the Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” and works with the 42 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in homes worldwide.

With 17 Kinect-enabled titles debuting in November, Kinect for Xbox 360 offers something for gamers (and nongamers) of every stripe.

Family Game Night … With a Kinect Twist

Befriend a playful tiger cub, collect treasures from around the globe or cast a spell in the wizarding world. Whether adopting a new family pet in “Kinectimals” (Frontier Developments Ltd./Microsoft Game Studios), or embarking on a wet and wild rafting trip in “Kinect Adventures” (Good Science Studio/Microsoft Game Studios), Kinect for Xbox 360 is the one gift the whole family will enjoy this holiday season.

• “Kinect Adventures” (Good Science Studio/Microsoft Game Studios), included with every Kinect sensor, Nov. 4. Float in outer space. Experience the thrill of roaring rapids. Tackle mountaintop obstacle courses. And dive into the deep sea to save a leaky underwater observatory — all from your living room. With “Kinect Adventures,” you are the controller as you jump, dodge and kick your way through exciting adventures set in a variety of exotic locations. “Kinect Adventures” is designed with something for everyone to enjoy and will be available with every Kinect sensor and Kinect bundle sold.
• “Kinectimals” (Frontier Developments Ltd./Microsoft Game Studios), $49.99 ERP (U.S.)/$59.99 ERP (U.S.) limited collector’s edition, Nov. 4. “Kinectimals” invites children, their parents and animal lovers of all ages to build lasting friendships with some of the world’s most exotic creatures. Just like real pets, your feline cubs will come running when they hear your voice, respond to commands such as “jump,” “roll over” and “play dead,” and purr with joy when you scratch them behind their ears. Limited collector’s editions of the “Kinectimals” game packaged with a 7” plush toy that unlocks a new animal and toy in the game will be available exclusively at Toys “R” Us and GameStop.
• “Game Party: In Motion” (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), $39.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 18. The popular party game value series comes to Kinect for Xbox 360. “Game Party: In Motion” lets players engage in true-to-life motions with 16 games appealing to people of all ability levels, ranging from sports such as Hoop Shoot and Darts to arcade and party games, including Rootbeer Tapper, Table Hockey and more.
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 The Videogame” (Electronic Arts/EA Bright Light), $49.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 16. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 The Videogame” is the most challenging yet, packed from start to finish with action and combat. Playing as Harry, you are on the run from the opening sequence, fighting for survival on a desperate and dangerous quest to locate and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. And with 22 exclusive Kinect challenges, conjure the weapons of magical warfare where your motions make the magic, only on Xbox 360.

Off the Couch and Into the Gym

Kinect gives you all-new ways to swing, sweat and step up your workout with a range of exclusive dance and fitness games. From martial arts and yoga to a variety of activities in “Your Shape: Fitness Evolved” (Ubisoft) to the iconic personal trainers of “The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout” (THQ), you’ve never had a living room workout like this before.

• “Your Shape: Fitness Evolved” (Ubisoft), $49.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 4. With Kinect for Xbox 360 and “Your Shape: Fitness Evolved,” you will experience the most advanced fitness technology available, your way and on your schedule. The advanced feedback system detects when your body is out of alignment and coaches you to correct your form. Personalize your workout, challenge your friends and share your progress while achieving real results.
• “Dance Central” (MTV Games/Harmonix), $49.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 4. From the creators of “Rock Band” comes the next great music experience: “Dance Central,” the first controller-free, body tracking, fully immersive dance video game that helps you take your moves to the next level. Featuring more than 90 routines and 650 dance moves, every routine has authentic choreography for beginners and experts alike to master, alongside a killer soundtrack that spans today’s current pop, hip-hop and R&B artists. You won’t just learn the dance moves — you’ll own the dance floor.
• “The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout” (THQ), $49.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 4. Based on the hit television show, “The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout” comes to Kinect offering the ultimate workout experience. Complete your fitness program using the interactive motion control sensors providing real-time feedback. From a body analyzer and recipes to personalized tips and a video diary to track your journey, “The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout” fitness game has it all to drop the weight and change your life.
• “DanceMasters” (Konami), $49.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 4. The pioneer of the franchise that started the dance game craze, Konami introduces a brand new way to experience music and rhythm. The next generation in full-body dancing is finally here.
• “EA SPORTS Active 2” (EA SPORTS), $99.95 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 16. “EA SPORTS Active 2” with Total Body Tracking will combine motion tracking from Kinect and heart rate data from the included wireless heart rate monitor to provide true fitness results. Users will be able to track and share their workout data online through automatic uploading from their online connected Xbox 360 consoles to their personalized EA SPORTS Active profile.
• “Zumba Fitness” (Majesco), $49.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 18. Join the party with “Zumba Fitness,” a one-of-a-kind, dance fitness workout set to sexy, high-energy Latin and international music. Find your rhythm and let go as “Zumba” instructor fan favorites Gina Grant, Tanya Beardsley and “Zumba” creator, Beto, guide you through 30 routines that will work you into a sweat and make you forget you’re even exercising.

Co-Op or Compete? The Choice Is Yours

Step onto the field with the first generation of sports games that turn your whole body into the controller. Want to play soccer? With Kinect, you use your feet — not your thumbs! Hone your skills solo, or compete with friends at home and afar over Xbox LIVE. Beach volleyball, boxing, skiing and more — Kinect offers something for athletes of every stripe.

• “Kinect Sports” (Rare/Microsoft Game Studios), $49.99 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 4. The first full-body, controller-free sports game that lets you physically compete with friends over Xbox LIVE, “Kinect Sports” is so real, you will almost feel the wind in your hair as you fly over hurdles and the sand in your toes as you set, bump and spike your way to volleyball victory. With six full sports — Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Track & Field, Boxing, Bowling and Table Tennis — “Kinect Sports” is the only title with a Team vs. Team mode, allowing the whole family to play in a fast-paced tournament style competition.
• “MotionSports” (Ubisoft) — $49.99 ERP(U.S.) — Nov. 4. Grab your friends and rush the living room, it is time to catapult into the wide world of “MotionSports.” Race down the slopes of a Super G slalom, score a mind-blowing penalty kick, duck-and-run your way to a game-winning touchdown, or throw punches at the champ as you test your skills in more than 40 awesome sports challenges. The “MotionSports” live in-game commentary will follow your hits and misses, as you compete to go from local hero to a global sports phenomenon.
• “DECA SPORTS FREEDOM” (Hudson Entertainment), Price TBA, Holiday 2010.Hudson Entertainment is taking sports to the next level with 10 sporting events you play using your own body in “DECA SPORTS FREEDOM.” No controller necessary — just move yourself as if you were playing the sport in real life. Spin, throw and smash your way to victory across all of the included events: tennis, boxing, archery, paintball, beach volleyball, dodge ball, kendo, mogul skiing, snowboard cross, and even figure skating.

Thrills, Spills and All-Out Action

Get your adrenaline fix with new, controller-free ways to race and rumble. Kinect removes the barrier between you and your games, delivering action and excitement like nothing you’ve experienced before.

• “Kinect Joy Ride” (Big Park/Microsoft Game Studios), $49.99 ERP(U.S.), Nov. 4. “Kinect Joy Ride,” the first controller-free racing game, will take you and your friends on the ride of your lives — no driver’s license required. “Kinect Joy Ride” combines wild kart-racing excitement with the effortless fun of full-body gaming possible only with Kinect for Xbox 360. Go solo or compete with up to eight players over Xbox LIVE to take on the world.2
• “ADRENALIN MISFITS” (Konami), $49.99 ERP(U.S.), Nov. 4.“Adrenalin Misfits” thrusts gamers into unbelievable fantasy worlds with exciting, sideways-stance boarding battles in amazing environments. It's not just a race, it’s a battle!
• “Fighters Uncaged” (Ubisoft), $49.99 ERP(U.S.), Nov. 4. Charge head-first into the vicious world of illegal free-fighting tournaments, where you will use every muscle in your body to battle your way to the top. Forced into a secret tournament, Simon must use what he learned from his father, an ex-boxing champ, as he faces off against violent combatants who will brutally unleash a range of mixed martial arts attacks to take him down. No guns. No blades. Your body is the deadly weapon.
• “SONIC FREE RIDERS” (SEGA), $49.95 ERP (U.S.), Nov. 4. Sonic is speeding onto Kinect for Xbox 360 in an action-packed experience unlike any other. Become your favorite character as you jump on your board and compete in adrenaline-fueled races against tough competition. For the first time use full-motion body control to twist and turn your way through a range of stunning courses.

The full press release can be read here.

Garmin GPS Now Offers In-Store Trade-In Program

Trade-in programs are all the rage these days and it seems like everyone has one for almost everything out there. Well now there is one more kid on the trade-in block. Garmin GPS has announced a new in-store trade-in program that is launching exclusively at the Garmin Chicago Store.

With the new program owners of qualifying automotive or fitness GPS units can trade-in their used equipment for credit toward the purchase of a new device. Garmin customers can call the store today for more information or visit the Chicago Store online to see if you have a qualifying automotive or fitness unit.

As with most these trade-in programs the trade-in value isn't much compared to selling it yourself, however it does take some of the hassle out of selling the items yourself. A qualifying automotive trade-in will land you a $35 credit toward a new purchase, and a qualifying fitness trade-in will get you $25 toward a new purchase.

Note that not all Garmin product model types are eligible for the trade-in program. Even if a particular model is eligible, a particular unit will only be accepted for trade-in if it is functional, unaltered, and has no screen damage. Other restrictions apply. See a store associate for complete details.

Worried About Germs On Your Cellphone? VIOlight Has You Covered!

VIOlight, the leading brand of toothbrush sanitizers, announces today the availability of the first ever UV Cell Phone Sanitizer that eliminates up to 99.9% of germs and bacteria on cell phones, and other small electronic devices. VIOlight's germicidal UV light - the same ground-breaking technology used in hospitals - decreases the number of strep, E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and H1N1 virus germs and bacteria in three minutes.

Studies show the average cell phone carries more germs per square inch than doorknobs, soles of shoes and most toilet seats. "Our goal is to help make people's lives healthier with every product we develop," said Joel Pinsky, co-developer and founder of VIOlight. "Consumers can now utilize the same UV technology used to clean their toothbrushes for their cell phones and other small electronics devices they use every day."

The VIOlight Cell Phone Sanitizer is battery operated, portable, and easy to use. To activate, place your cell phone, earbuds, Bluetooth headsets or other small electronic device into the cradle, close the lid, and a blue-violet indicator light signals that the sanitizer is working. The twin UV bulbs automatically shut off after three minutes when your device is ready.

The Cell Phone Sanitizer is available now for $49.99 at Brookstone, Hammacher Schlemmer, and Cellphone.violight.com.

Staples Now Offers Rebates Via PayPal

I've played the mail-in-rebate game for as long as I can remember, all the way back to the mail them in and hope and prey that your check comes in the mail days. Now days the rebate game has changed dramatically. For some sites gone are the days of filling out forms you can submit all your rebate information online - no clipping, no mailing, no hassles.

Staples has always led the way in the new paperless MIR game. They were one of the first large retailers to take all the hassles out of the rebate game and make the rebate process easier. For years now they've used the Easy Rebate system which allow you to submit almost all of their rebate offers online which removes the delay in mailing along with the postage cost and there is no worry that Staples didn’t receive the rebate. You can track the rebate online and so far I haven’t had any issues with rebate payment.

Now they've gone a step further and are allowing you to receive your payments electronically through PayPal. With the new PayPal payment system users can skip the snail mail process altogether which should actually make receiving rebate payments quicker and easier as there is no wait time for the check to arrive. This new option should also help ease concerns from many rebate shoppers who note that the rebate postcards often get lost in the mail.

Staples has said that not all their rebates will allow for PayPal payment so you'll need to check for the option when submitting. Staples has a short FAQ about the PayPal rebate payment option. It unclear, what if any, PayPal fees might apply, so users might check into that before opting for the option. But getting your rebate a little quicker might be worth a few pennies.

Skype And Facebook Unite

Skype today announced the launch of the new Skype 5.0 for Windows, with Facebook integration.

The Facebook integration makes Skype even more social. For the first time Skype users can keep up-to-date and interact with their Facebook News Feed, including posting status updates, commenting, and liking, directly from Skype. Even better, the Facebook Phonebook in Skype allows users to call and SMS their Facebook friends directly on their mobile phones and landlines with just a few clicks. If your Facebook friend is also a Skype contact, you can make a free Skype-to-Skype call.

With Facebook integration, you can:

• see your Facebook News Feed in Skype
• post status updates that can be synced with your Skype mood message
• comment and like friends’ updates and wall posts
• call and SMS your Facebook friends on their mobile phones and landlines
• make a free Skype-to-Skype call if your Facebook friend is also a Skype contact

"We're working with companies such as Skype to make it easy to find your friends anytime you want to connect," wrote Ethan Beard, director of Facebook's Developer Network, in a blog posting.

Source: Skype Blog

Tom's Hardware Wants Your Help Choosing CPU Tests For 2011

Tom's Hardware wants you, well not literally, but they do want your input as to which tests you'd like to see featured in their updated CPU charts for 2011. That's right if there is a new benchmark, game application or something else out there you'd like to see featured on the new CPU test charts for 2011 now is your chance to tell them and they might just listen!

Here’s the current list of test they'll be featuring:

• Apple iTunes 10.0.1
• TMPG 4.7 with DivX 6.9.2 and Xvid 1.2.2
• MainConcept Reference 2.0
• HandBrake 0.9.4
• Autodesk 3ds Max 2010
• WinRAR 3.92
• 7-Zip 4.65
• Adobe Photoshop CS5
• AVG Anti-Virus 11.0
• 3DMark Vantage
• PCMark Vantage
• SiSoftware Sandra 2010
• Metro 2033
• Just Cause 2
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• DiRT 2

Two things to keep in mind: Tom's would prefer to use free/trial/open source software, making reproducibility an option for as many of our readers as possible and the apps they are going to be willing to use will likely be the ones most applicable to the largest number of readers out there. So don't go all crazy suggesting some lame duck software no one has ever heard of or some totally niche test that only the geekiest of geeks would be willing to try. The have said there 'may' be room for a handful of more fringe tests but I'm sure that doesn't included something totally out there!

Fro more details checkout Tom's Hardware Wants You: CPU Tests For 2011

Google TV Now Taking Over Televisions Near You

Late last week Logitech became the first company to officially announce a Google TV device when they introduced the world to the $300 Logitech Revue. This week Sony is following suite with the introduction of several new Google TV devices. Sony's announcement includes five devices in all. Four HDTVs (24-, 32- , 40- and 46-inch) with prices from $599 to $1,399, plus a rather oddly built white set-top box with built-in Blu-ray player for $399.

The new Sony Internet TV devices are built on the Google TV platform featuring the Android OS, running the Google Chrome browser and includes a powerful Intel Atom processor offering the ability to quickly search across Internet and television content for easy access to entertainment and information.

The models also feature Dual View, allowing users to watch television while tweeting about what they’re watching, checking their fantasy football scores, or finding related content on the web.

They also deliver a truly personalized entertainment experience with the ability to bookmark content for easy access and add applications from the Android Market (coming in early 2011). The models feature Sony’s premium streaming service “Video On Demand powered by Qriocity” as well as pre-installed apps including CNBC, Napster, NBA, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, and YouTube.

Each set will feature an oddly shaped hand-held RF QWERTY keypad remote which incorporates an optical mouse making it easier to navigate content, type in search terms, and control the TV’s user interface. Additionally, Sony promises that select mobile devices such as an Android phone, can control the TV with an app that will be available for download from the mobile Android Market later this fall.

The Logitech Revue with Google TV includes a compact companion box that connects to any HDTV and a Logitech Keyboard Controller – a wireless compact keyboard that’s built specifically for the Google TV.

Additional accessories include the Logitech TV Cam which allows you to connect your TV Cam to your Google TV system, and have high-definition video calling directly from your HDTV, right in your living room. There is also a Logitech Mini Controller a compact palm-sized keyboard/ touch pad/remote control combo with the same power as the Keyboard Controller. The mini controller allows y to search, play, pause, rewind and fast-forward shows. And you can surf the web with a built-in combination touch pad/D-pad.

For Android and iPhone users Logitech has created the Logitech Harmony app for Android and iPhone. With the Harmony’s activity-based control, just one touch of “Watch Google TV” on your smartphone screen turns on all necessary devices and gives you control of your home entertainment system, including volume and video playback.

The Logitech Revue is currently only available for Pre-Order directly from Logitech while the Sony Internet TV and the Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player are currently on pre-sale at www.SonyStyle.com and www.BestBuy.com.  They will be available for purchase at Sony Style on October 16 and at Best Buy shortly after.

NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 Introduced

NVIDIA this week introduced the latest addition to its Fermi class of graphics processing units (GPUs), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 430, which was specifically designed to provide the horsepower needed to power today's digital media PCs and provide the high definition video and audio experiences that desktop customers demand.

The GeForce GT 430 utilizes the Company's latest 40nm GPU, codenamed GF108, which is already designed into a variety of desktop and notebook platforms from the world's leading OEMs, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung, Sony and others. For customers looking for a viable desktop upgrade from lowly integrated solutions, the GeForce GT 430 is a major step up, delivering unparalleled experiences in photo and video editing, Blu-ray 3D, as well as the next generation of GPU-accelerated Web browsers and Web content. And, when combined with NVIDIA 3D Vision™ technology and a compatible display, the GT430 is also the only GPU in its class that allows consumers to experience their digital content in full stereoscopic 3D.

Offering up to 1.5x the gaming performance of previous generation products, the GeForce GT 430 also adds support for DirectX 11 (DX11), the industry standard for game development. Most importantly, the GT 430 delivers unmatched out-of-the-box game compatibility(i) and playable frame rates in all of today's top 30 games(ii), when compared to integrated graphics solutions.
Key features of the new GeForce GT 430 include:

• Support for HDMI 1.4a, a TV standard for delivering 3D content and advanced multi-channel digital audio
• Special video engine to accelerate Blu-ray 3D content, delivering optimal 3D visuals at a full 1080p resolution
• High-definition 24-bit multi-channel audio up to 192KHz, and lossless DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio bit streaming
• Dedicated video processing engine for reduced system power and heat
• Support for NVIDIA PhysX technology, the industry's most comprehensive, cross-platform physics solution 

GeForce GT 430 Specifications:

GPU Specs:

• 96 Cuda Cores
• Graphics Clock 700 MHz DDR3
• Processor Clock 1400 MHz
• Texture Fill Rate 11.2 (billion/sec)

Memory Specs:

• Memory Clock 800 - 900 MHz DDR3
• Standard Memory Config 1 GB DDR3/GDDR5 (2GB per GPU)
• Memory Interface Width 128-bit
• Memory Bandwidth 25.6 - 28.8 GB/sec

Feature Support:

• NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready
• NVIDIA PureVideo Technology HD
• NVIDIA PhysX ready
• NVIDIA CUD Technology
• Microsoft DirectX 11
• OpenGL 4.0

Display Support:

• Maximum Digital Resolution 2560x1600
• Maximum VGA Resolution 2048x1536
• Standard Display Connectors HDMI
• VGA (optional)
• Dual Link DVI

GeForce GT 430 Benchmarks and Reviews

• Legit Reviews - ASUS ENGT430 GeForce GT 430 1GB DDR3 Video Card Review
• OCC - ASUS ENGT430 Review
• HotHardware - NVIDIA GeForce GT 430: Cheap DX11 Graphics
• PureOverclock - ASUS GeForce GT 430 1GB
• KitGuru - nVidia Geforce GT430 Review
• Hardware Canucks - ASUS GeForce GT 430 1GB Review
• Benchmark Reviews - ASUS GeForce GT 430 Fermi GF108 Video Card
• Hardware Heaven - Zotac GeForce GT 430 Zone Edition Review
• Funkykit - Review: Zotac Geforce GT 430 (1Gb DDR3) 

Related News:
MSI launches N430GT-series graphics cards
PNY Debuts GeForce GT 430 Graphics Card (PDF)
SPARKLE Announced GeForce GT 430 Graphics Cards
ZOTAC Unleashes GeForce GT 430 Series Graphics Cards
GeForce your PC for the Ultimate Performance Upgrade with Inno3D GeForce GT430!
GIGABYTE Launches Brand New Home Theater Solution NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 Graphics Card
The EVGA GT 430 Has Arrived!


Source: NVIDIA Press Release

Google No Longer Offering Free 411 Service

On November 12, 2010 Google will be officially saying goodbye to GOOG-411 the companies free voice-powered directory assistance service.

Originally launched back 2007 GOOG-411 was the first of Google's services to use speech recognition. At the time of its launch the 411 service was a great idea and very well received by users that were tired of being hit with directory assistance fees from their cellphone carriers. Google has said the company is making the change because many cell phone users are moving to smartphones with internet access and they no longer need to dial 411 to get contact information. However for those of us still in the stone age and not using smartphones it is sad to see the service shuttering.

Google will ve offering a bit of a reprieve for GOOG-411 that don’t use a smartphone, and you’re trying to call a business. Those users can send a text message with the name and location of the business to 466453 ("GOOGLE") and Google will text you back with the information.

Get Looney Tunes Character Voices On Your TomTom GPS

Voice navigation is a great feature on any GPS unit but lets face it sometimes those voice can just be flat out annoying. So I say lets add a little fun to the mix, and that's just what the folks at VoiceSkins.com have done in the form of some of our favorite Looney Tunes characters.

VoiceSkins.com, in association with Warner Bros., Consumer Products and TomTom, brings the classic and official Looney Tunes characters to TomTom navigation devices for the very first time. Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam are the first two out of five Official Celebrity GPS VoiceSkins to have recently launched with Daffy Duck and Sylvester/Tweety launching this month and another long time Looney Tunes favorite Pepe Le Pew coming in November.

All Looney Tunes voices will be available in English. The Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam voices are available for download immediately for $12.95. TomTom customers will also be able to download free of charge various official warning alert sounds voiced by Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam, along with free start up screen wallpapers for customizing their devices.

To hear clips of the voices -- and to find out more about them -- visit www.tomtom.com/looneytunes.

If Looney Tunes isn't your thing VoiceSkins.com offers several other great packages including the original Homer Simpson voice, recorded by Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Snoop Dogg and the official Star Wars voices.

Don't Pay Best Buy $30 For PS3 Firmware Upgrade

It appears as though Best Buy is screwing bilking non-tech customers out of their hard earned cash by charging them a $30 fee for upgrading their new Sony PS3 to the latest firmware. A practice which we see as very unscrupulous!!

According to gaming site DualShockers, who originally reported seeing the advertisements at the Best Buy in Staten Island, New York City, Best Buy has the audacity to advertise a service that even the most un-tech friendly of users can do themselves.That's right folks even grand-ma can update the firmware on the PS3, its that easy! Bu the folks are misleading their none-tech customers and are charging them $30 for something that can be done for free at home!

Here's the breakdown from the reports and the advertisement:

A PlayStation 3 Slim 120GB is $299.99 at most retail stores and online. But if you head to you local Best Buy you may see it priced at $329.98 as part of a 'package deal' This package deal is advertised as including the latest firmware upgrade from Sony. The firmware includes the following changes/fixes

• Play all Blu-ray movies & PS3 games
• Eliminates bugs & glitches
• System runs smoother
• Improved connection to Facebook
• Power save settings
• Photo gallery and video editor
• Adds PlayStation Plus (Subscription Based)
• Improved System Settings

The issue at hand here is that the $30 'upgrade' that Best Buy is charging it's customers for is something that basically runs by itself on any internet connected PS3 for nothing. Yes that's correct folks it practically installs itself and I all but guarantee its easy enough anyone can do it.

Performing a firmware update on the PS3 is as simple as going to the system menu and selecting system updates and requires nothing more than a few button presses on the controller (and of course an internet connection).

Best Buy has done some pretty shady things in the past but to me this one takes it. The sad part is that they seem to see nothing wrong with bilking unsuspecting customers. When asked by Industry Gamers confronted Best Buy about the policy the company stated the upgrade offer had been in place for nearly two years and the company denied any wrong doing stating:


"While many gamers can handle firmware upgrades easily on their own, those customers who do want help can get it from Geek Squad, and we continue to evaluate this offering to ensure it meets their needs," said a Best Buy spokesperson. "The service goes beyond a firmware updates, and includes user account setup, parental control setup and other components."

Sadly many customers out there will see the deal and think its something they need to spend the extra cash on not knowing its something they can do on their own within a few mins times.

Intel Releases New Acronis Based SSD Cloning Utility

Cloning your drives can be a useful tool for migrating to another newer drive or just for having a duplicate copy of your entire installation for back-up. This week Intel, along side Acronis, released a new tool aimed at existing Intel SSD users that will do just that.

The Intel Data Migration Software, powered by Acronis, is an easy-to-use cloning utility that allows users to create a full working copy of their operating system, applications, documents and personal settings to be moved to their new Intel SSD in a matter of minutes.

The software creates a complete working copy of your old hard drive right down to the very last byte. This copy is then moved over to your new drive, assuming that is the amount of data on your old drive doesn't exceed the size of your new SSD.

AT&T Adds Three Android Based Motorola Smartphones

AT&T today announced it is significantly expanding its portfolio of Android devices by introducing three new Motorola smartphones powered by Android, the Motorola BRAVO, Motorola FLIPOUT and Motorola FLIPSIDE. All three smartphones will feature the Android 2.1 platform and the latest version of Motorola’s MOTOBLUR

MOTOROLA FLIPOUT

MOTOROLA FLIPOUT delivers an enhanced user experience, with a stylishly square, affordable and innovative pivot design. FLIPOUT whips open to reveal a full keyboard below its touch screen with a dedicated fifth row for numbers. Users can customize the color to match their mood with Dark Sapphire and Saffron battery covers included in the box for personalization. Additional colors will be available for purchase in AT&T stores and online. Get all the MOTOROLA FLIPOUT details at http://att.com/flipout.

MOTOROLA BRAVO

BRAVO offers the power of Android, an 800 MHz processor and a large screen all in a compact design. The device features a 3.7-inch full WVGA touch screen experience, enhanced Web-browsing and entertainment while on the go. With a 3-megapixel camera with digital zoom and auto focus, customers can catch memorable moments to share with one-touch social media uploads to Facebook, MySpace, Picasa and PhotoBucket. Motorola BRAVO is a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) enabled device, so customers can stream, store and share entertainment with multiple devices around the home—including PCs, TVs and other mobile devices using an existing home Wi-Fi network. Get all the MOTOROLA BRAVO details at http://att.com/bravo.

MOTOROLA FLIPSIDE

MOTOROLA FLIPSIDE enables users to seamlessly manage their work and personal life. With a full slide-out QWERTY keypad, FLIPSIDE’s 3.1”-inch high-res HVGA display supports pinch to zoom gesturing, while the laptop-like track pad provides an alternative way to navigate with one hand while keeping your fingers off the screen. Users can stay connected to work with full push corporate e-mail, support for Microsoft Exchange, unified inbox and enhanced features for IT compliance like remote wipe and password enforcement. Get all the MOTOROLA FLIPSIDE details at http://att.com/flipside.

Enhanced MOTOBLUR

MOTOBLUR is Motorola’s exclusive experience that syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more — from your favorite social media sites, work and personal e-mail, and last.fm — and automatically delivers them to the home screen. MOTOBLUR can locate or remotely wipe lost or stolen devices, MOTOBLUR can also automatically restore a user’s contacts, log-in information, home screen customizations and e-mail with one username and password.
The new and enhanced MOTOBLUR functionality and features include:

• Filter social networking and Messages widgets – filter by social networking account, by contact(s) or by contact group to only see the information you want.
  
• Screen customization – move and resize preloaded widgets on up to seven home screens
  
• Battery Manager – manage battery consumption by operating in one of three performance modes
  
• Personal and Corporate e-mail – pushed directly to the device
  
• Improved social networking functionality – Retweet, like Facebook comments and more
  

Pricing

FLIPOUT will be the cheapest of the three phones will a list price of $79.99 while the FLIPSIDE will be available for $99.99 and BRAVO will come in with the highest price tag of $129.99. Each requires a new two service agreement and 2 year smartphone data plan from AT&T. The phones are expected to be available by this holiday season.

Source: Motorola

Skype Hits Android Market

Skype today announced the release of Skype for Android, a client for mobile handsets, built for smartphones running Android OS version 2.1 or above. With this latest release, the majority of smart phone users globally will now be able to experience the benefits of Skype on the move using either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). Skype for Android is downloadable for free from the Android Market or consumers can visit www.skype.com/m to find out more details about how to get the application.
Skype for Android enables users to:

• Make free Skype-to-Skype calls over WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G)* to other Skype users anywhere in the world using Skype’s SILK codec for CD-like audio quality.
• Make low rate Skype calls to landline or mobile phones
• Send and receive instant messages to one or a group of friends on Skype
• Synchronize contacts between Skype and the native address book and after synchronization place Skype calls directly from the native address book.
• See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or chat
• Easily import names and numbers to the Skype application from the native address book
• Receive calls on their Skype online number

Mark Douglas, Product Manager of Android said: “The Skype experience is ubiquitous today. More and more people are using Skype to do things together when apart. With the addition of Android, we are pleased that Skype is now available on three of the most popular mobile platforms today: Android, iOS and Symbian”S


Skype Press Release

Microsoft Announces Windows Phone 7 Worldwide Launch Event

Update: Microsoft has been making changes to the official invite page ever sense this story broke last night. Originally the site was quoted stating "T-Mobile reps will be present for device showing and their service offering discussion / Microsoft developer architect will demonstrate Windows Phone 7 applications." That has since been changed to read "We will present a Windows Phone 7 device / Microsoft developer architect will demonstrate Windows Phone 7 applications."

The event invitation, which was located here has since mysteriously been removed. Leaving many with unanswered questions. Several sites however have been reporting that when the new Windows 7 phone debuts on October 11th devices from T-Mobile as well as AT&T will be available.

Microsoft has made it official, the company will be holding a worldwide launch event October 11th for the new Windows Mobile and Windows Phone 7 Series.

The event will be held Monday, October 11, 2010 from 3 pm – 4:30 pm at the NYC Microsoft Technology Center. According to the the announcement the company will provide an "Insider's look at Windows Phone 7 and the Microsoft experience it brings to life."

Perhaps and even more interesting aspect of the event is that T-Mobile reps will be present for device showing and their service offering discussion. So it appears as though the announcement confirms that T-Mobile will be a launch partner.

More details can be found via the event invite page (link now dead).