Starting tomorrow on BestBuy.com you can get your hands on the 32GB version of discontinued HP TouchPad for $149 with the purchase of a new HP or Compaq laptop, desktop, or all-in-one computer. For in store shoppers the deal begins November 4 with very limited quantities.
There is no mention of a pricing limitation (say $499 or above) but the offer does exclude netbooks, as well as computers sold via the BestBuy.com Marketplace, or those that are refurbished, in an open box, or from a Best Buy outlet center.
Best Buy said the deal is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Approximately one hour before your local Best Buy store opens, employees will hand out tickets for the HP TouchPad (assuming anyone shows that early). One hour after opening, any unclaimed, ticketed TouchPads will be released to those in line without a ticket.
Best Buy will only accept TouchPad returns for up to 14 days after purchase. If you decide to return the computer and keep the TouchPad, however, Best Buy will charge you the full price of the tablet, which is $599.99
News Release - BBY.com
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
No Spin-off For The HP Computer Business
HP has confirmed the company's plans to keep the PC decision as a part of the larger whole and not sale or spin it off.
Late last week HP announced that it had completed an enteral evaluation of its Personal Systems Group (PSG) and has decided the unit will no longer purse the option of selling or spinning off the division to its own company. Instead opting to keep the No. 1 manufacturer of personal computers in the world as part of the main company.
“HP objectively evaluated the strategic, financial and operational impact of spinning off PSG. It’s clear after our analysis that keeping PSG within HP is right for customers and partners, right for shareholders, and right for employees,” said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. “HP is committed to PSG, and together we are stronger.”
Former CEO Leo Apotheker had announced plans to either sell or spin-off the division back in August. A move that left the company in serious turmoil and raised some serious questions. The market did not react well to the announcements and Apotheker was removed from his post by the board on Sept. 22.
HP has said thousands of hours were spent understanding how extracting the PC business would impact everything from supply chain to product development and brand image. The strategic review involved subject matter experts from across the businesses and functions. The data-driven evaluation revealed the depth of the integration that has occurred across key operations such as supply chain, IT and procurement. It also detailed the significant extent to which PSG contributes to HP’s solutions portfolio and overall brand value. Finally, it also showed that the cost to recreate these in a standalone company outweighed any benefits of separation.
Late last week HP announced that it had completed an enteral evaluation of its Personal Systems Group (PSG) and has decided the unit will no longer purse the option of selling or spinning off the division to its own company. Instead opting to keep the No. 1 manufacturer of personal computers in the world as part of the main company.
“HP objectively evaluated the strategic, financial and operational impact of spinning off PSG. It’s clear after our analysis that keeping PSG within HP is right for customers and partners, right for shareholders, and right for employees,” said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. “HP is committed to PSG, and together we are stronger.”
Former CEO Leo Apotheker had announced plans to either sell or spin-off the division back in August. A move that left the company in serious turmoil and raised some serious questions. The market did not react well to the announcements and Apotheker was removed from his post by the board on Sept. 22.
HP has said thousands of hours were spent understanding how extracting the PC business would impact everything from supply chain to product development and brand image. The strategic review involved subject matter experts from across the businesses and functions. The data-driven evaluation revealed the depth of the integration that has occurred across key operations such as supply chain, IT and procurement. It also detailed the significant extent to which PSG contributes to HP’s solutions portfolio and overall brand value. Finally, it also showed that the cost to recreate these in a standalone company outweighed any benefits of separation.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Avira Anti-Virus Reports Itself As A Virus
Are you running Avira Anti-virus? Is it detecting the file AESCRIPT.DLL as "TR/Spy.463227?" You aren't alone! A company spokesperson confirmed that a recent signature is the culprit.
According to a post in the Avira Support Forum, the company recently released an new AntiVir Virus Definition (VDF) file which was causing false positives. The VDF file 7.11.16.144 produced scans that would result in the detection of AESCRIPT.DLL as the TR/Spy.463227 virus.
The affected update has already been pulled from circulation and Avira advises that all users should immediately update their definitions to the current version, 7.11.16.146, which addresses the issue.
According to a post in the Avira Support Forum, the company recently released an new AntiVir Virus Definition (VDF) file which was causing false positives. The VDF file 7.11.16.144 produced scans that would result in the detection of AESCRIPT.DLL as the TR/Spy.463227 virus.
The affected update has already been pulled from circulation and Avira advises that all users should immediately update their definitions to the current version, 7.11.16.146, which addresses the issue.
Firefox With Bing Debuts
The folks over at Mozilla have released a new customized version of Firefox that, instead of being Google-centric, focuses use on Microsoft's Bing search engine.
Dubbed "Firefox with Bing," the new custom release uses a Firefox 7.01 foundation and features Bing as the default search engine in both the search box and in the browser's "Awesome Bar." Firefox with Bing also sets Bing.com as the browser's home page.
It is unclear whether the move to Bing is a step away from Google or if it is simply a move to offer users more options. Mozilla's lucrative contract with Google comes up for renewal in a few weeks and this move might be one to replace those contracts. Google has been working hard to develop their own strong following with Chrome which according to StatCounter data suggests that, on a global basis at least, has been out Firefox with a market share of 26.22% versus 26.16%. Chrome has showed continued growth through the year while Firefox has slipped.
Bing trails far behind Google in terms of overall search numbers. comScore reports Bing's U.S. search share was 14.7%, behind both Google, with 64.8%, and Yahoo, which held a 15.5% share in September.
Dubbed "Firefox with Bing," the new custom release uses a Firefox 7.01 foundation and features Bing as the default search engine in both the search box and in the browser's "Awesome Bar." Firefox with Bing also sets Bing.com as the browser's home page.
It is unclear whether the move to Bing is a step away from Google or if it is simply a move to offer users more options. Mozilla's lucrative contract with Google comes up for renewal in a few weeks and this move might be one to replace those contracts. Google has been working hard to develop their own strong following with Chrome which according to StatCounter data suggests that, on a global basis at least, has been out Firefox with a market share of 26.22% versus 26.16%. Chrome has showed continued growth through the year while Firefox has slipped.
Bing trails far behind Google in terms of overall search numbers. comScore reports Bing's U.S. search share was 14.7%, behind both Google, with 64.8%, and Yahoo, which held a 15.5% share in September.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Macworld Expo Renamed Macworld|iWorld Changes Focus To Include iDevices
The annual Macworld Expo conference taking place January 26-28, 2012 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco is getting a new name and a slight change of focus for 2012. Now dubbed the Ultimate iFan Event the Expo has changed it's name to Macworld|iWorld, even better the event will cost even less to attend.
The price drop, name change and addition of more iDevice related material is a result of the conference's hopes of attracting a new audience of Apple fans that relate more closely to the iPhone and iPad.
Paul Kent, IDG's guru for things related to Macworld|iWorld -- discussed the branding change with the corporate masses at Macworld magazine. "We want a heavy influence of OS X developers on the show floor this year," Kent said, "but the show will be balancing the iOS impact as well as moving outward to re-emphasize the cultural connections to Apple products."
The conference will not only include more information related to iOS devices and software but will feature elements aimed at providing what Kent characterized as a “dynamic culture experience.” There will be a new Music Experience showcase featuring live performances and talks from musicians who use Apple technology in their music. As well as a new Film Event highlighting the use of Apple technology in movies and TV shows. There is even going to be an iPhone Film Festival
Prices are going to range from $25 for a basic exhibit pass which gets you entry into the where organizers are expecting to have 300 exhibitors at the 2012 show.
For $75 get can get the iFan Pass that includes unlimited access to: the Macworld | iWorld Midway and the Exhibit Hall, Over 65 Tech Talks (Formerly known as the Users Conference), Music Experiences: (All currently announced Daily and Nightly Performances), Film Events, Art Showings, iFanPass holders will also have first option to purchase tickets to a yet unannounced headline concert.
Other options include an all access pass which allows visitors access all sessions and keynotes in the MacIT Conference, Mac IT Sponsor Showcase. For more details on those packages checkout the registration section of the Macworld|iWorld 2012 page.
Related Articles:
The price drop, name change and addition of more iDevice related material is a result of the conference's hopes of attracting a new audience of Apple fans that relate more closely to the iPhone and iPad.
The conference will not only include more information related to iOS devices and software but will feature elements aimed at providing what Kent characterized as a “dynamic culture experience.” There will be a new Music Experience showcase featuring live performances and talks from musicians who use Apple technology in their music. As well as a new Film Event highlighting the use of Apple technology in movies and TV shows. There is even going to be an iPhone Film Festival
Prices are going to range from $25 for a basic exhibit pass which gets you entry into the where organizers are expecting to have 300 exhibitors at the 2012 show.
For $75 get can get the iFan Pass that includes unlimited access to: the Macworld | iWorld Midway and the Exhibit Hall, Over 65 Tech Talks (Formerly known as the Users Conference), Music Experiences: (All currently announced Daily and Nightly Performances), Film Events, Art Showings, iFanPass holders will also have first option to purchase tickets to a yet unannounced headline concert.
Other options include an all access pass which allows visitors access all sessions and keynotes in the MacIT Conference, Mac IT Sponsor Showcase. For more details on those packages checkout the registration section of the Macworld|iWorld 2012 page.
Related Articles:
Rockstar Games Announces GTA V
Along with the new logo is a promise to launch a game trailer on November 2. Other than that, Rockstar hasn't divulged any details on the game.
Rockstar Games has reportedly shipped over 114 million total units of the popular series since it was first introduced in 1997. The most recent spinoff, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, received glowing reviews when it was released for handheld systems in 2009.
Though we don’t know anything about Grand Theft Auto V yet, I’ll take a wild guess and pressume it will be another big hit with gamers. After what more can you ask for from a game. You get big guns, fast cars and plenty of fun.
Microsoft Expands Windows Phone Inner Circle Tour
Microsoft has added 15 more cities to their promotional tour offering users a chance to checkout the latest Windows Phone offerings.
Called the “Windows Phone Inner Circle” Tour MS is promoting Windows Phones through parties all across the country. Visitors will have their chance to get hands on the latest and greatest Window Phone hardware, which is slated to debut this holiday season. Even better than that Microsoft will be giving away new phones and other cool prizes as well as flipping the bill for some food and drinks. Making for a nice way to meet some fellow geeks, possibly walk away with some swag and see some of the newest smartphones out there.
The schedule is below. Note, for the cities that overlap with the Windows Phone night parties, the link will take you to a separate registration page. If you want to register for those vents you'll need to checkout this post.
Called the “Windows Phone Inner Circle” Tour MS is promoting Windows Phones through parties all across the country. Visitors will have their chance to get hands on the latest and greatest Window Phone hardware, which is slated to debut this holiday season. Even better than that Microsoft will be giving away new phones and other cool prizes as well as flipping the bill for some food and drinks. Making for a nice way to meet some fellow geeks, possibly walk away with some swag and see some of the newest smartphones out there.
The schedule is below. Note, for the cities that overlap with the Windows Phone night parties, the link will take you to a separate registration page. If you want to register for those vents you'll need to checkout this post.
- 28-Oct L.A GDGT Live & after party
- 2-Nov SF - featuring the new HTC Radar 4G from T-Mobile
- 7-Nov NYC
- 9-Nov Miami
- 9-Nov San Diego
- 9-Nov DC
- 9-Nov Denver
- 10-Nov Baltimore
- 10-Nov St. Louis
- 11-Nov Chicago
- 14-Nov Boston
- 14-Nov Atlanta
- 14-Nov Houston
- 16-Nov Philadelphia
- 16-Nov Charlotte
- 17-Nov Dallas
- 17-Nov Nashville
- 17-Nov Phoenix
- 21-Nov Seattle
Monday, October 24, 2011
Steve Jobs Biography Released Today Already Tops Best Sellers List
Today marked the official release date of the much anticipated biography of Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. The book, which has already received raving reviewers debuted today at the top of both Amazon's and Barnes & Nobles' bestseller lists and will likely top almost any list out there before the end of the week.
So far the biography has garnered good reviews -- including one from the New York Times in which New York Times reviewer Janet Maslin wrote "Here is an encyclopedic survey of all that Mr. Jobs accomplished, replete with the passion and excitement that it deserves."
Isaacson, the onetime editor of Time magazine and author of biographies on Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, "has given us a nuanced portrait of the brilliant, mercurial, complicated genius," said Entertainment Weekly's Tina Jordan of what she called the "occasionally workmanlike ... thoughtful, broadly sourced" book.
"Isaacson has taken the complete measure of the man. This is a biography as big as Steve Jobs," Jordan concluded.
The Washington Post lauded the book for its scope -- "on the one hand a history of the most exciting time in the age of computers," and "a textbook study of the rise and fall and rise of Apple," as well as "a gadget-lover's dream."
"But more than anything," wrote the Post's Michael Rosenwald, "Isaacson has crafted a biography of a complicated, peculiar personality" which succeeded in showing how Job's character shaped great technological innovations.
Can't get enough Steve Jobs?
If the book wasn't enough for you then you then I suggest checking out some of the various media events and interviews that have been airing. The Remembering Steve memorial, now streaming on Apple's website, is the company's 80-minute tribute to the life of Steve Jobs, featuring speeches by Apple CEO Tim Cook, head of design Jonathan Ive, and Al Gore. It originally aired on October 19 and is a much watch in my opinion.
Jobs's biographer Walter Isaacson was on "60 Minutes" last night with an indepth no holds barred interview in which Isaacson spoke candidly about his experiences with Jobs. Part one and two are now available for streaming on CBS's website.
I also recommend checking out the Discovery Channel's tribute iGenius: How Steve Jobs Changed the World. It was hosted by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of, one of my favorite shows and I'm sure yours too, MythBusters.
So far the biography has garnered good reviews -- including one from the New York Times in which New York Times reviewer Janet Maslin wrote "Here is an encyclopedic survey of all that Mr. Jobs accomplished, replete with the passion and excitement that it deserves."
Isaacson, the onetime editor of Time magazine and author of biographies on Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, "has given us a nuanced portrait of the brilliant, mercurial, complicated genius," said Entertainment Weekly's Tina Jordan of what she called the "occasionally workmanlike ... thoughtful, broadly sourced" book.
"Isaacson has taken the complete measure of the man. This is a biography as big as Steve Jobs," Jordan concluded.
The Washington Post lauded the book for its scope -- "on the one hand a history of the most exciting time in the age of computers," and "a textbook study of the rise and fall and rise of Apple," as well as "a gadget-lover's dream."
"But more than anything," wrote the Post's Michael Rosenwald, "Isaacson has crafted a biography of a complicated, peculiar personality" which succeeded in showing how Job's character shaped great technological innovations.
Can't get enough Steve Jobs?
If the book wasn't enough for you then you then I suggest checking out some of the various media events and interviews that have been airing. The Remembering Steve memorial, now streaming on Apple's website, is the company's 80-minute tribute to the life of Steve Jobs, featuring speeches by Apple CEO Tim Cook, head of design Jonathan Ive, and Al Gore. It originally aired on October 19 and is a much watch in my opinion.
Jobs's biographer Walter Isaacson was on "60 Minutes" last night with an indepth no holds barred interview in which Isaacson spoke candidly about his experiences with Jobs. Part one and two are now available for streaming on CBS's website.
I also recommend checking out the Discovery Channel's tribute iGenius: How Steve Jobs Changed the World. It was hosted by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of, one of my favorite shows and I'm sure yours too, MythBusters.
Apple Quietly Improves MacBook Pro Specs
While slimmer, more portable products are making most of the news, Apple’s signature laptop line – well-suited for gaming, high-end processing, and Home Networking – recently underwent a quiet redesign.
This week, Apple upgraded its specs on the MacBook Pro without changing the laptop’s price or exterior design. The 13 inch base model of the MacBook Pro now has a 2.4 Ghz Intel i5 processor, a 500 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of RAM. The $1200 price tag remains unchanged.
The company also upgraded its 15 inch and 17 inch models, especially in the area of graphics. You can now get 512 MB of RAM and AMD Radeon HD 6750M with the 15 inch product, or can opt to pay more for a higher performance AMD, twice as much RAM, and a faster 2.4 Ghz processor. This upgraded system, which is similar to the 17 inch base model, will retail for around $2200.
The upgraded specs only serve to reaffirm the MacBook Pro’s status as one of the most powerful, advanced, and sophisticated laptops on the market. The product is just as expense, but you certainly will get what you’ve paid for. With this internal upgrade, what you pay for now goes even further.
But the lack of an exterior redesign only further draws attention to Apple’s need for an upgrade in that department. This is not to say that the product’s look and feel seem dated, rather that Apple has now gone through several rounds of minor upgrades without making any real changes to the external features. The external element that is probably most in need of refurbishing is the MacBook Pro’s width. With the introduction of the Motorola Razr and the Acer Aspire, in light of legal battles between Apple and Samsung over the thickness of their respective smartphones, and even with the MacBook Air making its older brother look a bit clunky by comparison, the Pro could probably stand to lose some width. Currently, all three models are just under an inch thick.
Fortunately, with the release of patent information that suggests that Apple is trying to build a slimmer optical drive, there’s a good chance that a thinner MacBook Pro is already in the works. Since it’s been so long since we’ve seen an exterior upgrade, it’s also feasible that a more extensive upgrade and redesign will be announced early next year.
This week, Apple upgraded its specs on the MacBook Pro without changing the laptop’s price or exterior design. The 13 inch base model of the MacBook Pro now has a 2.4 Ghz Intel i5 processor, a 500 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of RAM. The $1200 price tag remains unchanged.
The company also upgraded its 15 inch and 17 inch models, especially in the area of graphics. You can now get 512 MB of RAM and AMD Radeon HD 6750M with the 15 inch product, or can opt to pay more for a higher performance AMD, twice as much RAM, and a faster 2.4 Ghz processor. This upgraded system, which is similar to the 17 inch base model, will retail for around $2200.
The upgraded specs only serve to reaffirm the MacBook Pro’s status as one of the most powerful, advanced, and sophisticated laptops on the market. The product is just as expense, but you certainly will get what you’ve paid for. With this internal upgrade, what you pay for now goes even further.
But the lack of an exterior redesign only further draws attention to Apple’s need for an upgrade in that department. This is not to say that the product’s look and feel seem dated, rather that Apple has now gone through several rounds of minor upgrades without making any real changes to the external features. The external element that is probably most in need of refurbishing is the MacBook Pro’s width. With the introduction of the Motorola Razr and the Acer Aspire, in light of legal battles between Apple and Samsung over the thickness of their respective smartphones, and even with the MacBook Air making its older brother look a bit clunky by comparison, the Pro could probably stand to lose some width. Currently, all three models are just under an inch thick.
Fortunately, with the release of patent information that suggests that Apple is trying to build a slimmer optical drive, there’s a good chance that a thinner MacBook Pro is already in the works. Since it’s been so long since we’ve seen an exterior upgrade, it’s also feasible that a more extensive upgrade and redesign will be announced early next year.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Sprint Drops Unlimited Data Plans For Everything But Smartphones
In a rather confusing move, at least to me, Sprint has announced the company will no longer offer unlimited data plans for all devices except smartphones.
The news came via a notice posted Thursday on the customer support section of Sprints website. According to the notice Sprint has said it will begin imposing monthly data caps on plans for all tablets, laptops, netbooks, USB and PC Card modems as well as all Sprint mobile hotspot devices. Data will also be capped for Mobile Smartphone Hotspot plans that let subscribers connect other devices to the network through a smartphone.
The caps will begin with each subscriber's next bill following this notification.
So it seems, for now at least, that Sprint will continue to offer unlimited data use on phones, including the new Apple iPhone, which Sprint introduced just last week. You really have to wonder just how long unlimited data for Sprint’s smartphones will last at this point. I mean it seems to me that smartphone users would out number hotspot users. And I know from personal AT&T experience adding the iPhone to mix really sucks up the bandwidth.
So this move leaves me a bit perplexed. Why would you want to cap something that likely uses the least amount of data on your network while letting those that are likely to use the most run wild?
The news came via a notice posted Thursday on the customer support section of Sprints website. According to the notice Sprint has said it will begin imposing monthly data caps on plans for all tablets, laptops, netbooks, USB and PC Card modems as well as all Sprint mobile hotspot devices. Data will also be capped for Mobile Smartphone Hotspot plans that let subscribers connect other devices to the network through a smartphone.
The caps will begin with each subscriber's next bill following this notification.
So it seems, for now at least, that Sprint will continue to offer unlimited data use on phones, including the new Apple iPhone, which Sprint introduced just last week. You really have to wonder just how long unlimited data for Sprint’s smartphones will last at this point. I mean it seems to me that smartphone users would out number hotspot users. And I know from personal AT&T experience adding the iPhone to mix really sucks up the bandwidth.
So this move leaves me a bit perplexed. Why would you want to cap something that likely uses the least amount of data on your network while letting those that are likely to use the most run wild?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Apple Tech Talk World Tour 2011 Dates And Cities Announced
Apple has officially announced the dates and cities for its annual iOS Tech Talk World Tour, giving developers in nine cities around the world the opportunity to speak with and learn from Apple engineers. The nine cities include Berlin, London, Rome, Beijing, Seoul, São Paolo, New York City, Seattle, and Austin, and the dates run from November 2 to January 23.
There is no cost to attend a Tech Talk and anyone is welcome. However Apple suggests that since these Tech Talks are highly technical, it’s important that attendees have experience programming with the iOS SDK and have an app actively in development or on the App Store. These lectures really aren't meant for the every day user!
Full details and the Tech Talk World Tour 2011 agenda can be found here. It looks like two cities, London and New York, are already full. So if you plan on attending you better get in fast!
What’s iOS 5 Tech Talk World Tour 2011 all about?
Tech Talk World Tour 2011 is Apple's way of reaching out to iOS developers and giving them more information and insight in to ways that they can take their apps to the next level. Apple's team of experts will visit nine cities around the world, covering advanced coding and design techniques that any iOS developer can take advantage of to help aide them in creating stronger, more efficient and hopefully better apps.There is no cost to attend a Tech Talk and anyone is welcome. However Apple suggests that since these Tech Talks are highly technical, it’s important that attendees have experience programming with the iOS SDK and have an app actively in development or on the App Store. These lectures really aren't meant for the every day user!
Full details and the Tech Talk World Tour 2011 agenda can be found here. It looks like two cities, London and New York, are already full. So if you plan on attending you better get in fast!
Walking Dead Fans Can Purchase The Season 2 Survivor Pack Of Gerber gear
Fans of the hit AMC show the Walking Dead might be wondering where they can get their hands on the cool arsenal of deadly knives, machetes and axes the Walking Dead survivors stumbled upon in the season 2 premier that aired last Sunday. Well the good news is they are available from Gerber knives.
This past Sunday, with the Season 2 premiere of The Walking Dead, Mutt Industries and media partner Poh Media unveiled a campaign integrating Gerber gear as key survival tools for the characters. Through out the show you might have noticed integration of advertising directing viewers to The Walking Dead Facebook page and to Gerber's online websites. (If you missed it don't feel bad so did I).
Throughout the season viewers will be directed to GerberGear.com/apocalypse and Gerber's Facebook page that includes an Apocalypse Survival tab giving fans a chance to win tools featured on the show. Due to the heavy traffic of ravenous fans looking for more information on the arsenal of weapons the Gerber site was hit with intermittent crashes. Given the initial success of the launch Gerber is now considering releasing full packs for purchase. At this time the Gerber Apocalypse site features all the individual items for sale.
Gerber's Facebook page garnered over 3,000 new Likes and much online discussion within the first eighteen hours of the episode having aired. An episode which shattered basic cable records accumulating 7.3 million viewers, becoming the biggest telecast for any drama in basic cable history.
I know I for one was looking up the info to see if I could buy the survival pack. I mean you never know when a zombie apocalypse might hit and you might need to chop off some heads.
This past Sunday, with the Season 2 premiere of The Walking Dead, Mutt Industries and media partner Poh Media unveiled a campaign integrating Gerber gear as key survival tools for the characters. Through out the show you might have noticed integration of advertising directing viewers to The Walking Dead Facebook page and to Gerber's online websites. (If you missed it don't feel bad so did I).
Throughout the season viewers will be directed to GerberGear.com/apocalypse and Gerber's Facebook page that includes an Apocalypse Survival tab giving fans a chance to win tools featured on the show. Due to the heavy traffic of ravenous fans looking for more information on the arsenal of weapons the Gerber site was hit with intermittent crashes. Given the initial success of the launch Gerber is now considering releasing full packs for purchase. At this time the Gerber Apocalypse site features all the individual items for sale.
Gerber's Facebook page garnered over 3,000 new Likes and much online discussion within the first eighteen hours of the episode having aired. An episode which shattered basic cable records accumulating 7.3 million viewers, becoming the biggest telecast for any drama in basic cable history.
I know I for one was looking up the info to see if I could buy the survival pack. I mean you never know when a zombie apocalypse might hit and you might need to chop off some heads.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
HP Updates webOS Adds Performance And Functionality
HP may have discontinued the TouchPad and the company may eventually kill off webOS but for now at least they are still adding in some updates. The latest update, webOS 3.0.4, is now available as an over-the-air update and features several changes in functionality and performance.
Among the new functionality is a new native camera app that lets users take photos and videos. The ability to pair non-webOS phones to your TouchPad, so you can answer calls on your TouchPad. Streamlined airing with non-webOS Bluetooth keyboards. Support for OGG Vorbis music files and webOS 3.0.4 also includes online/offline messaging status support.
"In addition to new features, you'll also experience better performance, user interface improvements, and other enhancements such as support for accelerometer events in Adobe Flash Player, and more robust Skype video calling," HP's Jon Zilber wrote in a blog post announcing the changes.
For more details about the update, click here. For full details about how over-the-air updates work and how to update your TouchPad click here.
Among the new functionality is a new native camera app that lets users take photos and videos. The ability to pair non-webOS phones to your TouchPad, so you can answer calls on your TouchPad. Streamlined airing with non-webOS Bluetooth keyboards. Support for OGG Vorbis music files and webOS 3.0.4 also includes online/offline messaging status support.
"In addition to new features, you'll also experience better performance, user interface improvements, and other enhancements such as support for accelerometer events in Adobe Flash Player, and more robust Skype video calling," HP's Jon Zilber wrote in a blog post announcing the changes.
For more details about the update, click here. For full details about how over-the-air updates work and how to update your TouchPad click here.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
iFixit Does An iPhone 4S Teardown
While the rest of the geek world is sitting around waiting for the Fed-Ex man to deliver their new iPhone 4S the crazy geeks at iFixit have already got theirs and as usual immediately began a new teardown. They are currently still working on showing off the innards of the iPhone 4S so the teardown is still carrying the "In Progress" badge at the moment, but among the early findings thus far is the discovery of a slightly larger battery and of course the newer faster dual core chip and 8 MP Rear-Facing camera.
The full teardown should be complete later today, for now however they have some great pics of the phone and all the insides. If you have any questions you'd like the iFxit guys to answer you can post then on this page.
 |
| Image courtesy iFixit |
The full teardown should be complete later today, for now however they have some great pics of the phone and all the insides. If you have any questions you'd like the iFxit guys to answer you can post then on this page.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Samsung Dealt Yet Another Blow In Patent Fight With Apple
An Australian court has handed Apple yet another victory against Samsung as it imposed a temporary ban on the sale of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Tab in the Australian market.
Justice Annabelle Bennett said Apple had a prima facie case that Samsung had infringed two of its patents relating to touch screens and the gestures that control them. Apple is suing Samsung for patent infringement, arguing the firm "slavishly" copied their iPad tablet.
The Australian Court’s ban on sales of the Galaxy 10.1 tablet applies until the court rules on the core patent issue in dispute. Justice Bennett told the parties she would give them the opportunity for an early hearing next month, the result of which would not prejudice the outcome of the full hearing when it came to trial. If no further ruling is made and the injunction is upheld it could take months before a full trial is set which means Samsung may miss the Christmas gift-giving season in Australia.
Samsung naturally said it was disappointed with the judgement.
The Australian ruling follows Apple’s successfully legal move to block Samsung from selling its tablets in Germany and some smartphone models in the Netherlands. It comes ahead of important hearings in the United States and South Korea.
Justice Annabelle Bennett said Apple had a prima facie case that Samsung had infringed two of its patents relating to touch screens and the gestures that control them. Apple is suing Samsung for patent infringement, arguing the firm "slavishly" copied their iPad tablet.
The Australian Court’s ban on sales of the Galaxy 10.1 tablet applies until the court rules on the core patent issue in dispute. Justice Bennett told the parties she would give them the opportunity for an early hearing next month, the result of which would not prejudice the outcome of the full hearing when it came to trial. If no further ruling is made and the injunction is upheld it could take months before a full trial is set which means Samsung may miss the Christmas gift-giving season in Australia.
Samsung naturally said it was disappointed with the judgement.
We are disappointed with this ruling and Samsung will be seeking legal advice on its options. Samsung will continue its legal proceeding against Apple's claim in order to ensure our innovative products remain available to consumers.
This is a part of our ongoing legal proceeding against Apple's claim. Samsung is also confident it can prove Apple's violation of Samsung's wireless technology patents through a cross claim filed on 16 September 16 with the Federal Court of Australia, New South Wales.
Our wireless standard patents are essential for mobile business. We will continue to legally assert our intellectual property rights against those who violate Samsung's patents and free ride on our technology.
The Australian ruling follows Apple’s successfully legal move to block Samsung from selling its tablets in Germany and some smartphone models in the Netherlands. It comes ahead of important hearings in the United States and South Korea.
AMD Bulldozer Benchmarks And Reviews
One of this seasons most hotly-anticipated CPU launches is AMD’s new Bulldozer architecture. Geeks everywhere have waited to see if company’s new FX processor line-up has what it takes to face off against Intel’s Sandy Bridge and put AMD back in the fight.
“Bulldozer” is considered AMD’s first true redesign of a chip since the original Athlon 64. AMD will initially launch four FX chips (two eight cores, one six core and a quad core) ranging from $115 to $245 with three more chips (an additional eight core and two quad cores) coming sometime down the road.
- FX-8150: Eight cores, 3.6 GHz CPU base (3.9 GHz Turbo Core, 4.2 GHz Max Turbo), $245 suggested retail price (U.S.)
- FX-8120: Eight cores, 3.1 GHz CPU base (3.4 GHz Turbo Core, 4.0 GHz Max Turbo), $205 suggested retail price (U.S.)
- FX-6100: Six cores, 3.3 GHz CPU base (3.6 GHz Turbo Core, 3.9 GHz Max Turbo), $165 suggested retail price (U.S.)
- FX-4100: Four cores, 3.6 GHz CPU base (3.7 GHz Turbo Core, 3.8 GHz Max Turbo), $115 suggested retail price (U.S.)
The company’s top end chip is the FX-8150 which is made up of four dual-core modules on a single die. Modules are a new tech term coined by AMD to explain the use of two monolithic “cores” each with its own set of integer schedulers, pipelines and L1 data cache. Each of the chips in the FX line will feature these new modules, 2 for quad cores, 3 for six core chips and 4 for the eight core chips. All of the chips in the FX line-up will also be unlocked meaning they should be highly overclockable, not a big deal to the masses but great news for you overclockers out there.
Motherboard Compatibility
This is one question I'm sure everyone will have. So here it is in a nut shell. AMD is certifying its FX processors for use on Socket-AM3+ motherboards only. Owners of standard AM3 motherboards will have to rely on the motherboard manufacturers to certify their boards for use with the new chips. This means that the socket AM3 boards may indeed work (they are physically the same) however you may need a bios update. From AMD's perspective only AM3+ motherboards with BIOS/UEFI support for Bulldozer are officially supported. This doesn't mean other boards won't work AMD is just saying they can't guarantee that they will. You'll want to check with your motherboard manufacture before buying a new FX chip!
So the reviews are in, what is the verdict?
Well the early reviews are in and I hate to say AMD has failed to impress most reviewers. In most of the test the high end AMD FX-8150 shows performance results that falls in between Intel's Core i5-2500K and Core i7-2600K —which isn't really what most of us would expect. Speaking as an AMD fan I'm sure most of us had hoped the chip would out perform the more expensive Core i7-2600K and totally spank the Core i5-2500K. In some tests it did, in most it was really a toss up.
AMD FX-8150 Benchmarks and Reviews
- Maximum PC - Bulldozer Benchmarked and Analyzed: Is AMD Back in the Game?
- Tom's Hardware - AMD FX-8150 Review: From Bulldozer To Zambezi To FX
- AnandTech - The Bulldozer Review: AMD FX-8150 Tested
- TechSpot - Bulldozer Arrives: AMD FX-8150 Review
- Hexus.Net - AMD Bulldozer FX-8150 Review
- TweakTown - AMD FX-8150 (AM3+) 3.6GHz Bulldozer CPU Review
- HardOCP - AMD Bulldozer / FX-8150 Desktop Performance Review
Read more from AMD:
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
How To Update Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch To iOS 5
iOS 5 is due to be released to the public Wednesday and we know you Apple fans out there are chomping at the bit to update your iDevice to the latest version of the operating system. Below we've posted a quick easy how to that we hope makes the process of upgrading as painless and easy as possible.
Keep in mind iOS 5 only works with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and iPod Touch, it won't work on legacy devices
After you're all done with this initial manual update to iOS 5 you’ll have the option to use iCloud backups in the future as well as OTA updates so you’ll never have to fuss with cables and computers again.
Check for iOS Compatibility Issues
One thing many users fail to do is check to make sure their favorite apps, tools ect are going to be updated or compatible with new software. I strongly suggest you take the time and make a point of checking developers’ Web sites for any mission-critical apps you run to make sure they aren’t warning about any compatibility issues. If you find any issues with apps you simply can’t live without, I recommend delaying your iOS 5 upgrade until the developers release compatibility updates.
Jailbreakers!
The beta version of iOS 5 has already been jailbroken so we fully expect the iPhone Dev Team and ih8sn0w to have a jailbreak available for iOS 5 when it is actually released on Wednesday. This by no means confirms there will be one, I'm just speculating. There is no word on an untethered jailbreak as of yet. However, according to popular iPhone hacker @i0n1c (Stefan Esser), there is one in the works.
Keep in mind iOS 5 only works with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and iPod Touch, it won't work on legacy devices
- For starters you'll need to update to iTunes 10.5 which was made officially available to the public Tuesday afternoon. If you haven't grabbed it yet you can get it here.
- Plug your current iPhone iPad, or iPod Touch into your computer and launch iTunes. Your phone should start to sync and backup automatically. If it doesn’t start to sync automatically, click the Sync button in order to back up your device. Note: You should always make a back-up before updating!
- iTunes may prompt you that a software update is available. If it does just click update if it doesn’t click "Check for Update" under the version section.
- iOS 5 should automatically start to download and then install. Your iDevice will restart, don’t panic. Let iTunes do it’s thing and complete the update process.
- Once your update is completed iTunes should prompt you to do one of two things – set your device up as a new device or restore ir from a backup. If you want to keep all your old info, apps ect choose to restore from a backup and select the backup you should have just made.
- Once the restore is done your device will reboot. When iTunes detects it again it will start to sync back any apps and games your old iPhone had installed.
After you're all done with this initial manual update to iOS 5 you’ll have the option to use iCloud backups in the future as well as OTA updates so you’ll never have to fuss with cables and computers again.
Check for iOS Compatibility Issues
One thing many users fail to do is check to make sure their favorite apps, tools ect are going to be updated or compatible with new software. I strongly suggest you take the time and make a point of checking developers’ Web sites for any mission-critical apps you run to make sure they aren’t warning about any compatibility issues. If you find any issues with apps you simply can’t live without, I recommend delaying your iOS 5 upgrade until the developers release compatibility updates.
Jailbreakers!
The beta version of iOS 5 has already been jailbroken so we fully expect the iPhone Dev Team and ih8sn0w to have a jailbreak available for iOS 5 when it is actually released on Wednesday. This by no means confirms there will be one, I'm just speculating. There is no word on an untethered jailbreak as of yet. However, according to popular iPhone hacker @i0n1c (Stefan Esser), there is one in the works.
Amazon Launches New 47North Imprint Featuring Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
Amazon has announced the launch of 47North, a new imprint from Amazon Publishing featuring a wide array of new novels and cult favorites, from urban fantasies to space operas, alternate histories to gothic and supernatural horror.
Curious about the name? Well so was I but Amazon was nice enough to tell us that 47North is based on the latitude coordinates of Seattle.
The newest imprint joins Amazon's six other imprints AmazonEncore, AmazonCrossing, Powered by Amazon, Montlake Romance, Thomas & Mercer and the New York imprint in the Amazon Publishing family.
47North will launch with the following books & series:
For more information on 47North and upcoming titles, visit http://www.amazon.com/47North.
Curious about the name? Well so was I but Amazon was nice enough to tell us that 47North is based on the latitude coordinates of Seattle.
The newest imprint joins Amazon's six other imprints AmazonEncore, AmazonCrossing, Powered by Amazon, Montlake Romance, Thomas & Mercer and the New York imprint in the Amazon Publishing family.
47North will launch with the following books & series:
- Together, Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin are the authors of "Successful Television Writing" and have written and/or produced scores of highly successful network television series, including Diagnosis Murder, Spenser: For Hire, Baywatch and many more. Their digital-first novel, "Face of Evil," which will publish in October 2011, is the first novel in The Dead Man series. Protagonist Matthew Cahill gains new sight into the netherworld after a terrible accident, making each day a living nightmare. Four more installments will also publish in October, with a new adventure following each month thereafter. Additionally, a print compilation of the first three novels will publish in January 2012.
- Prolific science fiction and fantasy writer Dave Duncan's "Against the Light" tells the story of a young, magical missionary's arrest for heresy and treason in the land of Albi. Duncan is best known for fantasy series The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and The King's Blades. "Against the Light" will be published in January 2012.
- Arwen Elys Dayton's action-packed science fiction novel, "Resurrection," centers on warring alien races and the two star-crossed pilots who hold the key to salvation. The fan-favorite novel has been out of print for years and will be brought back into print by 47North in January 2012.
- Aric Davis' previous novel, "Nickel Plated," was named by Booklist as one of the Top Ten Crime Novels for Youth in 2011. Now, Davis turns his attention to the macabre in the all-new "A Good and Useful Hurt," in which tattoo artist Mike's life is torn apart when a supernatural, psychopathic killer targets him and those he loves. "A Good and Useful Hurt," Davis' first adult novel, will be published in February 2012.
- A new edition of the first book in Evan Currie's popular military space opera Odyssey series will be published in March 2012, now entitled "Into the Black: Odyssey One." 47North will also publish its sequel later in the year.
- Best-selling UK author Stephen Leather's new Nightingale series will be published by 47North starting in March 2012. "Nightfall," "Midnight" and "Nightmare" are fast-paced supernatural thrillers that follow former cop and struggling private investigator Jack Nightingale who is forced to confront the possibility that demons exist after inheriting a supernatural mansion.
- Hugo and Nebula Award-winning authors Neal Stephenson and Greg Bear have teamed up with an ensemble of respected authors and newcomers to create the Foreworld series. The series will begin with The Mongoliad trilogy, an epic tale about the birth of Western martial arts. The Foreworld series will begin with the publication of "The Mongoliad: Book One" in April 2012.
- New York Times best-selling author Chris Roberson lends his ear for humor and the otherworldly in "Further: Beyond the Threshold," to be published in May 2012. Roberson is best known for his DC Comics/Vertigo work in the Cinderella series and iZombie. "Further" is a novel about a space explorer who is kept in stasis for too long and awakens to a universe that is terrifying and unfamiliar.
- B.V. Larson has published over 20 novels in genres ranging from military science fiction, to epic fantasy, to paranormal romance. 47North will publish the next two novels in his urban fantasy series, Unspeakable Things, in June 2012. In the first book, "Technomancer," Larson's detective Quentin Draith is tasked with solving impossible crimes, and each clue leads him further into a world that exists between the raindrops of the known world.
For more information on 47North and upcoming titles, visit http://www.amazon.com/47North.
iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Top 1 Million In One Day
Despitethe original negative reactions to Apple's latest version of the iPhone pre-sales orders have reportedly topped more than 1 million units in the first days of sales alone.
“We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do.”
Over the weekend Apple began taking orders for the iPhone 4S, which will be available at all 245 Apple retail stores in the US beginning at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, October 14. iPhone 4S comes in either black or white and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the new 64GB model.* iPhone 4S will be available from the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and select Best Buy, Target and Walmart stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
Due to strong demand for Apple's latest smartphone, Sprint which will be carrying the iPhone for the first time since its release, has stated that it has already sold out of its 16GB iPhone 4S and will not be taking backorders. Meaning if the iPhone 4S isn't available for Sprint itself, customers apparently won't be allowed to buy them.
"16GB iPhone 4S in white and black is sold out for pre-order from Sprint," a Sprint spokesman said in an emailed statement on Monday. "We do have the 32GB and 64 GB versions, as well as the 8 GB iPhone 4, available in both colors at this time. It is important to note that Sprint is not taking backorders of our iPhone devices. Sprint is committed to delivering devices to our pre-order customers on or very near the time of launch and also making these devices available for purchase on launch day – Friday, October 14. Apple and other carriers may continue to take pre-orders that will be delivered to the customer at a later time."
Clearly consumers weren't that devastated by the news that there wasn't going to be an iPhone 5 yet. That or they are all concerned that with the untimely passing of Mr. Jobs Apple might live up to the innovative level we've seen before.
“We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do.”
Over the weekend Apple began taking orders for the iPhone 4S, which will be available at all 245 Apple retail stores in the US beginning at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, October 14. iPhone 4S comes in either black or white and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the new 64GB model.* iPhone 4S will be available from the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and select Best Buy, Target and Walmart stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
Due to strong demand for Apple's latest smartphone, Sprint which will be carrying the iPhone for the first time since its release, has stated that it has already sold out of its 16GB iPhone 4S and will not be taking backorders. Meaning if the iPhone 4S isn't available for Sprint itself, customers apparently won't be allowed to buy them.
"16GB iPhone 4S in white and black is sold out for pre-order from Sprint," a Sprint spokesman said in an emailed statement on Monday. "We do have the 32GB and 64 GB versions, as well as the 8 GB iPhone 4, available in both colors at this time. It is important to note that Sprint is not taking backorders of our iPhone devices. Sprint is committed to delivering devices to our pre-order customers on or very near the time of launch and also making these devices available for purchase on launch day – Friday, October 14. Apple and other carriers may continue to take pre-orders that will be delivered to the customer at a later time."
Clearly consumers weren't that devastated by the news that there wasn't going to be an iPhone 5 yet. That or they are all concerned that with the untimely passing of Mr. Jobs Apple might live up to the innovative level we've seen before.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Best Buy Temporarily Prices HTC Flyer At $99
Social networks exploded with posts this morning after it was discovered over night that Bestbuy.com was listing the HTC Flyer on sale for $99. Geeks scurried to stores to get a bargain basement deal on the 7 inch Android based tablet only to be told that is was a pricing mistake and stores would not honor it. While some geeks where lucky enough to talk the retail associates into honoring the sale most weren't so lucky. Prompting several complaints via social media.
The official word from Best Buy corporate, is that this was a mistake on their website and the stores are not to honor the price.
At current, the best buy page to buy an HTC Flyer, even at normal retail price, is oddly missing from the Best Buy site. Also strangely missing from the site any mention of HTC in the list of brand names available for tablets. Its as if Best Buy completely wiped the tablet from their system.
To add even more mystery to the puzzle sites like Geek.com are reporting that customers are seeing sale signs listing the $99 price tad in stores all across the US.
Could this be a preview of a Sunday sale? Or was it really just a snafu that spread like wildfire?
The official word from Best Buy corporate, is that this was a mistake on their website and the stores are not to honor the price.
At current, the best buy page to buy an HTC Flyer, even at normal retail price, is oddly missing from the Best Buy site. Also strangely missing from the site any mention of HTC in the list of brand names available for tablets. Its as if Best Buy completely wiped the tablet from their system.
To add even more mystery to the puzzle sites like Geek.com are reporting that customers are seeing sale signs listing the $99 price tad in stores all across the US.
Could this be a preview of a Sunday sale? Or was it really just a snafu that spread like wildfire?
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
RIP Steve Jobs
We just got some very, very sad news. Steve Jobs has passed away. As confirmed on Apple's site, and later confirmed by an announced Mr. Jobs has passed away at the age of 56 after recently stepping down from the position of CEO and naming Tim Cook his successor.
Jobs, who founded Apple Computing with Steve Wozniak, Mike Markkula, and others in the late 1970s, is responsible directly and indirectly for the iPhone, the iPad, The Apple Macintosh line of computers and a number of other innovations that have revolutionized the way we work, play, and interact. Jobs had been battling a rare and painful form of pancreatic cancer since 2004, and resigned from his position as head of Apple on August 24 of this year, writing that he could "no longer meet his duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO." Since then, Jobs had served as the chairman of Apple's board of directors.
Steve Jobs' family today also made the following statement regarding his death:
Our condolences go out to the Jobs family. All geeks out there are invited to share remembrances with Apple at rememberingsteve@apple.com.
In a statement Apple's board of directors said:
We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.
Jobs, who founded Apple Computing with Steve Wozniak, Mike Markkula, and others in the late 1970s, is responsible directly and indirectly for the iPhone, the iPad, The Apple Macintosh line of computers and a number of other innovations that have revolutionized the way we work, play, and interact. Jobs had been battling a rare and painful form of pancreatic cancer since 2004, and resigned from his position as head of Apple on August 24 of this year, writing that he could "no longer meet his duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO." Since then, Jobs had served as the chairman of Apple's board of directors.
Steve Jobs' family today also made the following statement regarding his death:
Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.
In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.
We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.
Our condolences go out to the Jobs family. All geeks out there are invited to share remembrances with Apple at rememberingsteve@apple.com.
Is Apple Losing Its Dominance?
As the tech universe sat in high anticipation of the unveiling of a new iPhone, many of the questions we heard alongside the arrival of iterations 1 through 4 have resurfaced: How will Apple improve its now-signature product this time? How long will the line be outside the Apple store? What’s the price?
But another, newer question has surfaced as well. This time around, an assortment of industry experts and consumers are asking whether Apple is still the dominant player in the increasingly competitive smartphone market. To be sure, Apple’s announcement of an iPhone 5 would probably have constituted the most noteworthy technology unveiling of the year. However the lack luster response to the announcement of the iPhone 4S had led many to question Apple's once dominant position in the smartphone market.
Apple's market share has continued to slip while the market share held by the Android operating system, which was about even with Apple’s a year ago, has more than doubled and now accounts for 43.4% of worldwide sales. Apple’s iOS, in comparison, holds a market share of 18.2%.
And the discrepancy doesn’t end there. Some commentators, in fact, have taken the once unthinkable next step and pointed to this changing landscape as proof that Apple’s product, on a quality and performance front, has fallen behind. App developers are increasingly focusing their energy on Android products, the most cutting-edge display and touchscreen technologies are owned by other manufacturers, and a new wave of lighter, thinner smartphones in the past year have surpassed the storage capabilities of the iPhone.
One phone in particular that compares favorably with the expected iPhone 5, and is indicative of a wider trend, is the new Samsung galaxy s2. The phone, released this past month in the United States, is one of the fastest, most powerful, and slimmest smartphones launched to date. It carries a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor, a 4.3 inch display with Super AMOLED+, and 1GB of RAM. These are specs that any new iPhone will probably struggle to match. But perhaps even more important are the Galaxy S II’s reviews and already-stellar sales record. Glowing reviews of the S II pushed sales to 10 million in five months, a mark that was reached even before the phone was launched in North America. It has been dubbed by some as an “iPhone Killer,” and it’s not too difficult to see why.
Of course, this does not mean that the iPhone is on a path to irrelevance. It still carries a brand name, a deserved reputation for innovation, and a loyal following that would make any competitor envious. But in the fast-changing technology world consumers always look for the superlatives; they want the fastest, most powerful, and most innovative phones out there. If Apple keeps losing ground to the Android OS, it won’t be able to rely on its reputation too much longer.
But another, newer question has surfaced as well. This time around, an assortment of industry experts and consumers are asking whether Apple is still the dominant player in the increasingly competitive smartphone market. To be sure, Apple’s announcement of an iPhone 5 would probably have constituted the most noteworthy technology unveiling of the year. However the lack luster response to the announcement of the iPhone 4S had led many to question Apple's once dominant position in the smartphone market.
Apple's market share has continued to slip while the market share held by the Android operating system, which was about even with Apple’s a year ago, has more than doubled and now accounts for 43.4% of worldwide sales. Apple’s iOS, in comparison, holds a market share of 18.2%.
And the discrepancy doesn’t end there. Some commentators, in fact, have taken the once unthinkable next step and pointed to this changing landscape as proof that Apple’s product, on a quality and performance front, has fallen behind. App developers are increasingly focusing their energy on Android products, the most cutting-edge display and touchscreen technologies are owned by other manufacturers, and a new wave of lighter, thinner smartphones in the past year have surpassed the storage capabilities of the iPhone.
One phone in particular that compares favorably with the expected iPhone 5, and is indicative of a wider trend, is the new Samsung galaxy s2. The phone, released this past month in the United States, is one of the fastest, most powerful, and slimmest smartphones launched to date. It carries a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor, a 4.3 inch display with Super AMOLED+, and 1GB of RAM. These are specs that any new iPhone will probably struggle to match. But perhaps even more important are the Galaxy S II’s reviews and already-stellar sales record. Glowing reviews of the S II pushed sales to 10 million in five months, a mark that was reached even before the phone was launched in North America. It has been dubbed by some as an “iPhone Killer,” and it’s not too difficult to see why.
Of course, this does not mean that the iPhone is on a path to irrelevance. It still carries a brand name, a deserved reputation for innovation, and a loyal following that would make any competitor envious. But in the fast-changing technology world consumers always look for the superlatives; they want the fastest, most powerful, and most innovative phones out there. If Apple keeps losing ground to the Android OS, it won’t be able to rely on its reputation too much longer.
Microsoft Makes Xbox Live TV Official
Your Xbox 360 isn't just for gaming anymore as today, Microsoft Corp. announced plans to roll out a new online entertainment service for Xbox 360 dubbed Xbox LIVE.
The new service will reportedly feature nearly 40 world-leading TV and entertainment providers, including Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the U.S.; BBC in the U.K., Telefónica in Spain; Rogers On Demand in Canada; Televisa in Mexico; ZDF in Germany; and MediaSet in Italy.
These new TV and video providers announced today join an existing lineup of TV and video entertainment partners already on Xbox 360 — AT&T, Netflix and Hulu+ in the U.S., TELUS in Canada, BSkyB in the U.K., Canal+ in France, Vodafone Portugal, VimpelCom in Russia, and FOXTEL in Australia.
Microsoft will begin rolling out entertainment services to the console this holiday, in more than 20 countries.
Source:
The new service will reportedly feature nearly 40 world-leading TV and entertainment providers, including Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the U.S.; BBC in the U.K., Telefónica in Spain; Rogers On Demand in Canada; Televisa in Mexico; ZDF in Germany; and MediaSet in Italy.
These new TV and video providers announced today join an existing lineup of TV and video entertainment partners already on Xbox 360 — AT&T, Netflix and Hulu+ in the U.S., TELUS in Canada, BSkyB in the U.K., Canal+ in France, Vodafone Portugal, VimpelCom in Russia, and FOXTEL in Australia.
Microsoft will begin rolling out entertainment services to the console this holiday, in more than 20 countries.
Source:
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
iPhone 5 A No Show At Apple Event
Much to the chagrin of many of my feel geek bloggers during today's iPhone press event Apple did not announce the new iPhone 5, instead announcing a new iPhone 4S, the release of iOS 5; the company's new cloud computing service iCloud.
Last week Apple had sent out event invites prompting several rumors that the company would be releasing a new version of the iPhone. However most sites out there got it wrong. Apple didn't announce a new iPhone 5 as some had suggested (even posted as confirmed). Instead they announced a faster iPhone 4s.
The iPhone 4S will run on a dual-core A5 processor, which also will allow the device to run graphics up to seven times faster than prior models, said Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing at Apple. That could allow for a better gaming experience and 1080p video playback. The iPhone 4's A4 chip provides up to 720p of video playback. The iPhoone 4s also features an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and the addition of Siri voice commands.
The iPhone 4S will go on sale at 8 a.m. local time Oct. 14 in Apple's retail stores, with online and phone pre-orders beginning Friday Oct. 7. The new smartphone will be priced at $199 for a 16GB model, $299 for 32GB and $399 for a new configuration with 64GB of storage space.
To coincide with the launch of the iPhone 4S comes the launch of iOS 5, and iCloud, a new free cloud service that Apple had discussed earlier this year. iOS 5 will also be available as a free software update for iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS customers allowing them to experience these amazing new features.
iCloud allows for seamless syncing with all your connected devices. The new service will work with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices. iCloud stores your music, photos, apps, contacts, calendars, documents and more.
iCloud will be available on October 12 as a free download to iPhone, iPad or iPod touch users running iOS 5 or a Mac running OS X Lion with a valid Apple ID. iCloud includes 5GB of free cloud storage for Mail, Document Storage and Backup. Purchased music, TV shows, apps, books and Photo Stream do not count against the storage limit. iTunes Match will be available starting in the US later this month for $24.99 a year. Using iCloud with a PC requires Windows Vista or Windows 7; Outlook 2010 or 2007 is recommended for accessing contacts and calendars. Additional iCloud storage upgrades are available to purchase starting at $20 a year for 10GB, $40 a year for 20GB and $100 a year for 50GB.
For more details see the following Apple press releases:
Related Articles:
Last week Apple had sent out event invites prompting several rumors that the company would be releasing a new version of the iPhone. However most sites out there got it wrong. Apple didn't announce a new iPhone 5 as some had suggested (even posted as confirmed). Instead they announced a faster iPhone 4s.
The iPhone 4S will go on sale at 8 a.m. local time Oct. 14 in Apple's retail stores, with online and phone pre-orders beginning Friday Oct. 7. The new smartphone will be priced at $199 for a 16GB model, $299 for 32GB and $399 for a new configuration with 64GB of storage space.
To coincide with the launch of the iPhone 4S comes the launch of iOS 5, and iCloud, a new free cloud service that Apple had discussed earlier this year. iOS 5 will also be available as a free software update for iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS customers allowing them to experience these amazing new features.
iCloud allows for seamless syncing with all your connected devices. The new service will work with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices. iCloud stores your music, photos, apps, contacts, calendars, documents and more.
iCloud will be available on October 12 as a free download to iPhone, iPad or iPod touch users running iOS 5 or a Mac running OS X Lion with a valid Apple ID. iCloud includes 5GB of free cloud storage for Mail, Document Storage and Backup. Purchased music, TV shows, apps, books and Photo Stream do not count against the storage limit. iTunes Match will be available starting in the US later this month for $24.99 a year. Using iCloud with a PC requires Windows Vista or Windows 7; Outlook 2010 or 2007 is recommended for accessing contacts and calendars. Additional iCloud storage upgrades are available to purchase starting at $20 a year for 10GB, $40 a year for 20GB and $100 a year for 50GB.
For more details see the following Apple press releases:
Related Articles:
- Wired.com - How the iPhone 4S Stacks Up With the Best of the Rest
- Cnet.com - iPhone 4S First Take
- Neowin.net - The iPhone rumors that fell flat
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