Gadgetell

Oddball Tech: Self-replicating nanobots to colonize Mars, tech makes us dumb, and robot doctors

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-07-04T01:16:57+00:00

Section: Computers, Security, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Robots/AI, Transportation

The nanobots, they’re multiplying!

Want to go to Mars? Of course you do. The only problem is that it not exactly the most friendly of places to visit just yet. How could we set up a colony of sorts? We could send people to live there to build a new civilization, but what fun is that?

Director of the NASA Ames Research Center Peter Worden thinks that self-replicating robots can handle the load. Yep, you read that right. Self-replicating robots. These robots would built a suitable environment for humans by transforming the atmosphere of Mars. Normally, I would go off and claim that these robots will eventually get irritated with its human overlords and try to stage a coup. After all, if they can control the air, they can pretty much kill us at will. However, I think this could be incredibly interesting if such a thing could happen (the atmosphere change, not the killing). [Source]

Grab a computer, go to stay in jail

The things we do for technology. We stand in ridiculously long lines so we can be the first to own that snazzy new phone. We are willing to forgo house improvements for a nicer television. We will spend minutes looking for a contact in our phones or contacts list in lieu of using a crash-proof paper notebook. Maybe technology makes us a little dumber.

There’s no doubt that some of us are affected more than others. William Bradley may be more affected than all of us. Here’s what he did: he stole a computer. That doesn’t seem too crazy. However, Bradley stole the computer from a jail while already in jail for another incident. The computer was supposed to be retrieved later. The weird thing about jail is that it’s wired up to watch out for things like escapes. Needless to say, Bradley’s scheme was foiled by the watchful security cameras. [Source]

Dr. Robot will see you now

Robots aren’t getting medical degrees yet, but the next time you see a doctor, don’t be surprised if you meet a robot. A large, mobile robot motors around the hallways with a monitor and camera setup so a doctor at a remote location can help patients. At first it looks like a gimmick. Why would anyone need this kind of thing? Think about being able to get a specialist via a teleconference who can diagnose ailments without having to travel or relay instructions to another doctor. Looks like we’re living in the future. Cool. [Source]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Gadgetell Review: SnapWords for the iPhone and iPod touch

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-07-03T23:13:59+00:00

Section: Apple, Computers, Software / Applications, Gaming, Games, Reviews

What is it?

SnapWords is a game by Magnetism Studios that is meant to be played by lots of people. It’s kind of like Taboo or Password. Get a word on the game and try to get someone on your team to guess the word. When your turn is over, hand your iPhone or iPod touch to the other team for their turn.

The Good:

At $0.99, this is a bargain. An official Taboo board game from Hasbro can run you $20. SnapWords has a library of 10,000 words, timer, and score keeper all in one application. A simple, but cool, feature is the ability to edit your score if you accidentally pressed the wrong button while playing.

The Bad:

This is not a game you should play on the bus or a train unless you’re a big fan of annoying everyone around you. There is no support for custom word packs, but this feature may be available in future editions of the game according to the guys at Magnetism Studios

The Crux:

If you’re a fan of party games, this is a fun little application. I know it could be pretty useful while waiting for a table at a restaurant. The lack of board game clutter is another plus - no parts to lose.

iTunes Link: [SnapWords]
Company Site: [Magnetism Studios]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Gadgetell Review: The Tonium Pacemaker

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-07-03T21:12:46+00:00

Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Gadgets / Other, DJ, Reviews

What is it:

The Tonium Pacemaker is a DJ tool that lets you make mixes using songs on its 60GB internal hard drive using a combination of buttons and a circular touchpad. Controlling tempos, effects like reverb, audio properties such as treble and bass are done via the circular touchpad through a series of gestures.

While the Pacemaker does have a screen, it is not designed for video playback, but can act as a simple music player. The Tonium Pacemaker is available at Amazon for $499.99.

The Good:

The Pacemaker has a solid design with a good screen and a responsive touchpad. It definitely feels like a sturdy device (and it should for that price).

Unlike so many other devices, the Pacemaker does not come with a CD of software. Instead, the “Pacemaker Editor” software is right on the device for both Mac and Windows. Just connect the included USB cable to grab the software and you are good to go.

The documentation is very helpful. The Pacemaker ships with an instruction sheet that is packed with the information you need to know in a clear and concise manner. Since the Pacemaker is not exactly an interface I have ever seen before, these instructions were invaluable.

Making mixes on the device is very simple. Tell the Pacemaker that you want to play one song and start it up. Then you click a track selector button to switch tracks. From there, play your second song. From there you can navigate back and forth between songs to change audio properties and tempos until you have something that sounds good.

The included Pacemaker Editor software is clear and easy to use. It analyzes your music to determine data like beats per minute to easier create mixes. You can make mixes on your PC and then take them on the go using the Pacemaker device. Tonium is now allowing its Pacemaker Editor software available for free to anyone who signs up for a free account with them.

The Bad:

There is a bit of a learning curve to the Tonium Pacemaker. In order to use the Pacemaker to its full capabilities, you must learn gestures and button combinations to access functions. You can’t just pick up the device and go. That being said, the Pacemaker really is a musical instrument. Very few can simply pick up a guitar and start playing like a guitar legend.

Learning the gestures can take a little time, but how necessary are the gestures over buttons? Then again, if you had dedicated buttons for each Pacemaker function, you would be looking at a much larger device that would not be as portable.

The Pacemaker Editor software must analyze the songs before you can import the songs to the Pacemaker. If you have a large library, you might want to set the software to analyze your music and go for a cup of coffee. Then come back and import your songs to the Pacemaker.

The In Between

Make no mistake about it, the Pacemaker does let you create mixes very easily. However, just because this is easy to use, don’t expect matching any two songs will yield a good result. In my tests, I was responsible for some truly awful mixes. The Pacemaker can help you by matching the tempos of the songs, but sometimes songs just don’t gel. That’s not a fault of the Pacemaker, it is just something to be aware of.

You can lose a lot of time just playing around with the Pacemaker. Obsessive types may lose days trying to craft the perfect mix since the Pacemaker makes it very easy to alter songs.

The Crux:

At $499.99, the price can seem very steep if you just want to play DJ. However, if making mixes is a passion of yours, the Pacemaker is incredibly useful. While I am not a DJ, I believe that you could work out rough mixes on the Pacemaker while on the go and perhaps put together a more complete product using additional software. This is a musical instrument—if you are willing to learn how to use it, you will get better with practice.

Product Site: [Pacemaker.net]
Download: [Pacemaker Editor]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Tech spending to likely grow in fourth quarter according to market reports

Heather Wood — 2009-07-03T19:19:54+00:00

Section: Business News

Forrester Research has released statistics that indicate that consumers will spend approximately 10.6 percent less on information technology products this year than last year. In January, the research firm had predicted a 3 percent drop in tech spending in the United States. They have now revised that figure to 5.1 percent less for the U.S.

The reports from Forrester Research also predict that technology spending will increase during the fourth quarter of this year for the United States. Other global areas may not see spending resume until the first quarter of 2010. In a statement released by Forrester Research, it said the following of the predictions, ““While Q1 2009 saw a scary drop in purchases in the US tech market, ironically that is good news for the long run and we expect to see a stronger rebound sooner.”

All information technology products are expected to experience a drop in sales this year, including computer equipment, software and communications products. This is not the only market forecast firm to indicate that sales will be much worse than first expected. Gartner released similar findings back in March.

Read [Information Week]

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Appletell reviews the Mophie JuicePack Air iPhone battery charger/case

NEWS — 2009-07-03T17:32:10+00:00

FROM APPLETELL - The Mophie JuicePack Air is one of the premier external battery solutions for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. The whole package couldn’t get much more simple, though that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.
MORE »

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Who’s on Crack in Tech: 07.03.09

JG Mason — 2009-07-03T17:00:28+00:00

Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Video, Portable Video, Communications

Welcome to this week’s edition of Who’s on Crack. This week was overflowing with what clearly was drug-induced euphoria. Maybe we can blame it on summer vacations? Maybe we can blame it on the torrential rains in the east. Maybe we can just blame Milli Vanilli. Whatever the blame, we’ll march these chosen examples right off to rehab.

Twitter your pulse out
Sony’s Walkman finally runs out of batteries?
Stealing images is just wrong
AT&T confuses iLaunch with Pizza Day

Twitter your pulse

Twitter seems to be catching on everywhere, not just the US and Iran. Seems Japan is getting into the swing of things and some inventor has come up with this: the Akiduki Pulse Box. With the touch of a button, this device Twitters your heart rate. Fun on a bun?

I’ve been trying to figure out a good reason this exists (the Akidui Box, not Twitter) and have come up with just three things: you are an athlete and want to send out your amazingly low resting heart rate, or perhaps you’ve left a suicide note that says push this button so you can Tweet “0 beats per minute” or for porn to show your level of, ahem, excitement.

This device points to a level of automatic tweets that could follow you around. A purchase in a coffee shop might trigger a tweet: “JG’s on a date or really thirsty” or perhaps a trip to the ATM triggers “JG is rolling in dough (or depending on the available balance) JG could use your loose change.” Maybe a broken taillight in my car would let my followers know “for a good time, find a cop and have JG drive by him”. The fun would never end.

Sony, Soni, Sone

With apologies to Tony, Toni, Tone, Sony is in a whirlwind. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Walkman, Sony’s blockbuster product, a story comes out that kids see the Walkman as old and outdated. The writer of the story doesn’t clarify the Walkman was the one from the 80s, not the one from this year. The brand is done. If this isn’t a wake up call to finish off the Walkman brand, I don’t know what is. I actually feel bad for Sony on this.

Sony gets smash idea: PSP+Phone. Genius. What I don’t feel bad about is mocking Sony for suddenly perhaps getting the idea that a gaming phone might be big. It hit me this year when searching for yet another Nintendo DS game in the grass that one of the best things about Apple’s gaming is no physical media to lose. That right there would tip the scales for me as a buyer. Can Sony get on this fast enough? I am not so sure.

I am not a gamer by any stretch of the definition, yet most of the iPhone apps I have are games and I play them frequently. Can Sony create an elevated gaming experience with its partners? Or will it be a “me too?” I fear it is the latter. Oh, Sony.

Credit where credit is due

As bloggers, we tend to borrow images from places all over the net. “Borrow” probably isn’t the right term, “steal” them is probably more accurate. Take this image from my Pink phone post yesterday. I borrowed it from Rene Ritchie over at iPhone blog and neglected to say thanks, or in this case, sorry. I was too hasty.

However, don’t you think the line should be drawn in stealing or borrowing images from your staff, one should get credit? For example, take these awesome images taken of a Wall Street Journal advertisement that Iyaz posted on. Iyaz doesn’t say where he got them but surely he didn’t produce them. But yet, Iyaz is mum on who the photo credits belong to. He stole them from me. [Editor Iyaz’s Note: In my haste to scoop everyone with the news—which we did scoop everyone—and my shock at seeing someone actually reading a newspaper, I forgot to give proper credit. I have since fixed that.]

AT&T’s best day ever?

Appletell’s Josh Holat reported these feats by AT&T:

Best-ever sales day in our retail stores
Second-largest traffic day in our retail stores
Most transactions processed via our IT systems in a single day
Most upgrade eligibility checks in a single day
Largest order day in att.com history
Largest features sales day in att.com history

Really? For a look-a-like? Perhaps it is a reflection of how many original iPhoners didn’t upgrade to the 3G and were finally ready to upgrade? Did Appletell build that much hype around the new phone with the help from a few other blogs? Is video recording capabilities that white hot right now? I have trouble believing this intel. Remember the lines back at the release of first generation? Has AT&T just smoothed everything out so they can crank through sales?

There are so many fence sitters now, like me, who are hesitant to upgrade. Maybe it wasn’t a 3GS rush, perhaps it was the $99 3G? Or maybe, just maybe, all of this is hooey as it is a leaked document and AT&T hasn’t released a darn thing.

And really, if that is AT&T’s “best day ever,” I feel sad. I believe the Aquabats said it best:

Well now I’m out of school
And I don’t have a job
I just sit around all sweaty and lethargic
And I’m just thinking ‘bout where it all went wrong
Why I can’t concentrate
On anything but reruns
I wish I had some more stability
I wish I had somebody making lunch for me
I guess I miss the seventh grades in life
The thought of Pizza Day
I thought it was stupid then
But I wish I had it now
I miss my
...
Friday was Pizza Day, the best day of the week
It always came with salad and a side of cold green beans

Hooray for Pizza Day
Hooray for Pizza Day
I miss Pizza Day
The best day of the week.

Have a great weekend.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Leaked AT&T memo discusses record iPhone sales for the 3GS

NEWS — 2009-07-03T16:01:27+00:00

FROM APPLETELL - A recent AT&T memo leaked to MacDailyNews, indicates the iPhone 3GS had a very, very good launch day.
MORE »

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Microsoft to offer family packs of Windows 7?

Shawn Ingram — 2009-07-03T15:22:32+00:00

Section: Computers, Software / Applications

We all know that Microsoft has a habit of taking some of the ideas that Apple put into Mac OS X and putting them into Windows. Just look at Spotlight and the Search in the start menu. Windows 7 even takes a few cues from the Dock in OS X, even if it merges those ideas with the Windows tradition of the menu bar. The list could go on, and now the list may include OS licensing.

It seems that somewhere within the latest leaked build of Windows 7 there is text in the licensing agreement that alludes to a family pack. It reads, “if you are a ‘Qualified Family Pack User’, you may install one copy of the software marked as ‘Family Pack’ on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there.” Looks pretty definitive there, unless it was added to throw us off. However, it’s doubtful that the text would be added just to throw off those who use the leaked versions.

There’s obviously no word on pricing yet, since there has been no official release or statement about the family packs. It looks like Microsoft might finally be realizing that businesses aren’t the only customers that require more than one license of Windows. Though there’s always the chance that the family packs won’t sell all that well. Microsoft has always had an issue with piracy, and why buy three licenses of Home Premium when you could pirate Ultimate or find a friend who can get you a Professional license? We wouldn’t condone any of those practices, but there’s a good chance they’ll continue with Windows 7.

Read [CNet News]

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Google Voice now allowing current users to change their number

Robert Nelson — 2009-07-03T13:06:15+00:00

Section: Communications, Web, Web Apps, Google

Google Voice has just announced a new feature—the ability for current users to change their Google Voice number. Sure, this feature is currently limited to those lucky enough to actually have received an invitation, but at the same time I am sure there are plenty of original GrandCentral users who are feeling the need for an updated number. The process to change your number is quick and easy, although it does require you to pay a one time fee of $10.

Anyway, assuming the $10 fee does not scare you away, then log in to your Google Voice account and go to Settings -> Phones. Once there you will see your current Google Voice number listed towards the top, with the word “Change” on the right side. If you click on the word “Change” you will be given the opportunity to change your number to something that better suits you. Google even allows for a bit of personalization and preference when it comes to finding a new number. You can search by entering a specific ZIP code or area code as well as entering a partial number or phrase to look for a more personalized match.

Additionally, your old Google Voice number will remain active for three months. Now, if we could just get the whole number portability issue settled out and let users begin transferring current numbers into Google Voice, that and of course, get more people using Google Voice, which from what I understand is still an ongoing process.

Read [Twitter @googlevoice]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Does this case reveal the next generation iPod touch?

NEWS — 2009-07-03T12:26:21+00:00

FROM APPLETELL - We received a tip with a link to uxsight.com, an online retailer that is marketing a silicone skin for, apparently, the iPod touch 3G. The difference? It includes a hole for a camera.
MORE »

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Google Blog Search gets new features including RSS feeds

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-07-03T11:01:59+00:00

Section: Web, Websites, Google

A while ago, Google introduced a way to search blogs. The search excludes lots of other sites so you can easily find information published on blogs (whether they are on Google’s Blogger or not). The Goolge Blog Search just got a couple of new features to make it more useful.

Now you can have an RSS or Atom feed of any search that you conduct. Say you always want to know what the blogs are saying about NASA. Just put “NASA” in the Google Blog Search and you’ll see the option to subscribe to the results in the bottom of the left hand column.

If you’re an iGoogle fan, you can get an iGoogle gadget of your search. Why Google didn’t have these features before is kind of a mystery. This reminds me of when Google Reader didn’t have a search feature. Added functionality is always good when you can get it.

Read: [Google Blog]

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The EU does away with a cell phone tax

Natesh Sood — 2009-07-02T23:18:31+00:00

Section: Business News, Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers

Recently, the EU was in discussion about a possible cell phone tax in Europe, which would pretty much affect everyone who wished to purchase a phone. Of course, big cell phone manufacturers such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson protested such a tax because their sales would fall.

Currently, the EU is based in Sweden, and after a vote was held in a meeting yesterday, it was clear what the public wanted. The vast majority of the EU members voted for duty-free cell phones. As you can imagine, cell phone sales are already falling in Europe due to bad economic times, and a higher tax would have only further plummeted sales.

Back in December, the EU searched for a way to differentiate these “multi-functional devices” we call cell phones. They came up with two pretty broad categories - cell phones with TV reception, and cell phones with GPS navigation. Basically, any phone with TV receivers would have been slapped with a 14% tax, while phones with GPS navigation would have been slapped with a 3.7% tax.

All major cell phone manufacturers are happy with the EU’s decision and I’m sure the citizens of Europe are as well. Whether cell phone sales turn around any time soon remains to be seen.

Via [Reuters]

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Dallas security guard facing charges for installing malware on hospital computers

Sue Walsh — 2009-07-02T21:16:06+00:00

Section: Computers, Security

A Dallas security guard charged with hacking the computer system of the hospital he worked for was busted by a fellow hacker, but didn’t help his case when he posted videos of his exploits on YouTube. Jesse McGraw, known by the hacker name GhostExodus, posted videos to YouTube in which he claimed to be breaking into a major corporate building, and as the “Mission: Impossible” theme played in the background, he was shown installing malware on several computers. In actuality, McGraw was in the hospital he worked at.

“He’s a security guard at the hospital, but he’s pretending to infiltrate a corporate office and he’s running around with a hoodie on over his security guard uniform and installing botnet software on a hospital computer all to the Mission Impossible music,” said security researcher Wesley McGrew. “[You] can’t make this stuff up.”

Wesley McGrew is the one who busted Jesse McGraw after another member of McGrew’s hacker group, the Electronik Tribulation Army, bragged to him about the hospital hacking and tried to take credit for it. McGrew investigated and eventually discovered that McGraw was the one responsible.

McGraw was either auditioning for “America’s Dumbest Criminals” or was overly full of himself and made the mistake of thinking he was invincible. His blunders included typing on the computer he used to install malware on the hospital’s network and then putting on gloves to prevent leaving fingerprints, wearing a mask to hide his identity but then holding up a fake FBI ID to the camera that had his picture on it, and of course, posting everything to YouTube!

The FBI said McGraw intended to use the malware to launch a massive DDoS attack on July 4th, the day after his last day of employment there. Some of the malware was installed on computers that held sensitive patient data and on the system that controlled the hospital’s heating, air conditioning and ventilation. He’s now facing felony charges of computer intrusion. If convicted he’ll likely have plenty of time to think about finding a new hobby!

Read [PCWorld]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Hail to the red, white, and blue gadgets

Jodie Andrefski — 2009-07-02T19:15:25+00:00

Section: Video, Computers, Gadgets / Other, Household, Lifestyle, Imaging, Camcorders, Digital Cameras, Peripherals, Storage

With Independence Day fast approaching here in the States, I thought it would be a nice time to have our own red, white and blue display. Of gadgets, of course. Ready for some bright, fun toys? Here’s a rundown of five I found.

1. The ScandiPhone

This thing has apparently gotten great reviews from almost all the people that have used it on the shopping sites I checked out. Although, even I have to admit, I’m a tad confused by the shape and “how?” of it all. But, regardless, if you are looking for a funky addition to a room, in an “I’m not shy” design and color, this may be for you.

It has push button dialing, auto redial, and you just plug it in to a regular phone socket. Those who get annoyed by tangled cords won’t have that problem anymore with the ScandiPhone. Size-wise, you are looking at a 4 inch base, 8.5 inches high (7 of which is the handle). Comes packaged in gift box for an MSRP of $61.50

2. Flip UltraHD Camcorder (120 minutes)

These things are great in my humble opinion. I used a Flip to film “You Tell Gadgetell” and was wondering how well it would actually work being so small, and seeming (to be honest) to look more like a toy than a real camera. I loved it. One total perk is how you can just pop it into your computer by the attached USB to quickly and easily download your images. The video quality is actually really pretty good; although granted, the sound leaves a little bit to be desired. (Although I wasn’t working with this one, the latest Flip).

It features one-touch recording as well as digital zoom. Very simple to use, I doubt you’ll need the manual. It’s ready to go as soon as you power on (mine worked right out of the box). It records 120 minutes of HD video on its internal 8 GB of memory, no tapes or memory cards needed. MSRP - I found it at Amazon for $177.50 with free shipping.

3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

The Lumix DMC-ZS3 came out a bit earlier this year. If you are looking for a decent camera, comparable to a Canon Power Shot, this may work for you. It has 10.1 megapixels, 12x Optical zoom, and a 3 inch LCD display. The lens in a long and wide-angle zoom, which comes in a compact camera body.

They moved the shutter and the mode locations on the Lumix, with the shutter now on the left of the mode. The dial lets you switch back and forth between camera and movie modes. The downside of this camera is that there aren’t many manual controls. But, if you are an auto-shoot type person, this obviously won’t bother you.

You can find the Lumix DMC-ZS3 at dell.com for $399.99

4. Blue Sky/Flag mousepad

Show your patriotism with this mousepad. The scene shows a gorgeous blue sky with a flag waving off to the right. Personalization is available. The site guarantees the mousepad to be “beautiful, durable, and original.” MSRP - $11.99

5. Statue of Liberty Flash Drive

For the person who wants to really show his country’s spirit, is the Statue of Liberty flash drive. The drive is accurately scaled at 330:1 and starts at 2GB. AES-256bit security is integrated into the drive, which also includes password protection.

When not in use, the USB connector can be covered with the base, and the Statue of Liberty can stand on your desktop. MSRP - $34.88 (with free shipping)

There you have it, five gadgets that will help you to show your red, white, and blue spirit, just in time for the 4th of July. Have fun playing with your new toys, and keep it safe this holiday.

Full Story » | Written by Jodie Andrefski for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

UnPirate: Free Fraps alternatives for capturing screenshots

Heather Wood — 2009-07-02T17:00:09+00:00

Section: Computers, Software / Applications, Web, Downloads, Web Apps, Features, Originals

When you buy Fraps, you are probably purchasing the software as a way to capture screenshots. With Fraps, you don’t have to copy and paste into another application as a way to capture a screenshot. You will instead set up one touch copying, which will automatically name and save the file. Check out these free alternatives for your screen capturing needs.

Get the free and similar Jing program

Jing is a free online download that is simple to use and can capture screenshots instantly with a single button press, much like Fraps. Simply assign a hotkey for the program, such as F11. Jing allows you to not only share screenshots, but short movies as well and embed them into your email, websites, or chats. [Jing Download]

Edit and capture with iQuick Screen Capture

If you want to not only capture online screenshots, but edit them as well, you can download iQuick Screen Capture. You can save images as a BMP, JPG or GIF file. Editing capabilities include the ability to crop, resize, add text or include shapes. You can also capture screenshots in ten different ways with the free program: full screen, active window, object, region and more. [iQuick Screen Capture Download]

Zap and paste your screenshots with Zap Grab

Zap Grab will appear in your Windows launch bar. Simply click on the icon and then click on the area of the screen that you want to capture. Once you have captured the screenshot, you can paste it into any program. It is probably the easiest program to use and can be downloaded quickly to be used instantly. The one main drawback is that you must have Windows Vista installed in order for the app to operate. [Zap Grab]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker game drawing eBay interest

NEWS — 2009-07-02T16:25:43+00:00

FROM GAMERTELL - Jackson collectibles are suddenly a hot market, including his star turn in the Sega Genesis game Moonwalker.
MORE »

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Archos bringing Windows 7 tablet to US, actually dates Android device

Shawn Ingram — 2009-07-02T15:13:45+00:00

Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Hardware

It won’t be very surprising when we start seeing announcements of netbooks carrying Windows 7 as the release of the OS draws closer. Although, it seemed more likely to see a netbook announced with the OS before a tablet, despite the multi-touch features in Windows 7. However, Archos decided to announce its tablet is coming to the US before anyone could get their netbooks announcements out of the way.

We’ve actually seen the Archos 9 PCtablet before when it was announced several weeks ago. However, now we know that is will actually be coming to the US sometime this fall. The tablet itself is almost fully controlled by touch, though it also has an optical trackpad and some shortcut key along the side of the device. It will run on the standard netbook/small computer Intel Atom chip running at 1.2 GHz which should be able to handle Windows 7 decently well. There’s also included Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, no TV tuner like the European release, and no word on any other hardware components.

That wasn’t the only announcement Archos had, however. With all the talk of non-smartphone Android devices, we have yet to actually hear anything about them, until now. Archos has announced that it will be launching its Android mini-tablet at a special event on September 15th. The device will have 3G phone features, which presumably include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 3G module in addition to 500 GB of storage, 7 hours of battery life, and even built-in flash support. Of course that all sounds nice, but also sounds potentially expensive. We’ll have to wait and see what Archos brings with this mini-tablet, and how it will compare to the HTC Hero and its Sense UI.

Read [Electronista]

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Apple remains silent on apparent iPhone 3GS overheating issue

NEWS — 2009-07-02T14:22:15+00:00

FROM APPLETELL - Many iPhone 3GS, users are reporting overheating issues with the device, which is apparently dramatically affecting battery life.
MORE »

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Microsoft Pink phone runs like Windows ME?

JG Mason — 2009-07-02T13:08:36+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile

The rumored and oft-denied Pink phone by Microsoft is gaining some credibility of actually existing. According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley (no relation to Axel Foley, I asked), Microsoft has leaked some key information that not only says Pink is real but is going to wow an awful lot of folks. Years ago, Microsoft divided its Windows unit: NT to focus on business and ME to focus on consumers. There is every reason to believe it will try something similar for its Windows Mobile vision.

First, Ms. Foley’s claimed rumors:

Pink will use the same ad agency that the Windows Mobile team uses.
Pink will be based on Windows Mobile 7, but won’t look like it.
Pink will be later than Windows Mobile 6.5
Built by Motorola or Sharp, expect a device targeted at Sidekick users with that Zune UI everyone seems to like (or at least not hate)

To me, this project smacks of a Seinfeld episode: “OK team, we are in trouble in mobile OS land, so I want you to do the exact opposite as the Windows Mobile 7 team.” Personally, I think it is a good idea to try some rebranding for the Windows Mobile team. The WinMo name gets dragged through the dirt and something fresh would be very nice to see coming out of Redmond.

The Danger purchase would make sense if Microsoft was bent on dividing its WinMo operation into business and consumer divisions as well. The division would likely be a shell UI difference, but might go a long way in differentiating their product as Apple and BlackBerry offer one OS to serve all markets. In light of Android’s open and no cost availability to manufacturers, MS has to pull something pretty cool here to make a dent. The Pink phone is expected to be that cool.

Will we see Zune integration? Xbox game porting? Hopefully we’ll learn more soon.

Read [ZD Net

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Sprint confirms July 12 release date for the BlackBerry Tour 9630

Robert Nelson — 2009-07-02T11:09:42+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

Sprint has recently taken to Twitter and confirmed the upcoming release date and the pricing for the BlackBerry Tour 9630 and it looks like they are staying head to head with Verizon on this release.

The Sprint-branded BlackBerry Tour will be available beginning on July 12 and retailing for $199. Availability will be either online or through telesales, however it looks like that $199 price tag will involve both an instant as well as a mail-in rebate. Otherwise, in order to get that pricing, you will also need to accept the standard two year agreement.

As of now, Sprint has not yet updated the website for the Tour, which is still reflecting the same “be the first to know” style page.

Read [Twitter @sprint]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Is Microsoft just skimming the Surface of multi-touch?

NEWS — 2009-07-02T00:08:51+00:00

FROM APPLETELL - Microsoft is really good at dreaming about the future; their track record on delivering it is not quite so shining. It begs the question: what impact, if any, will Microsoft’s Surface have on everyday computing?
MORE »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Shields Up!: Hackers, spammers and Michael Jackson

Sue Walsh — 2009-07-01T23:12:00+00:00

Section: Computers, Security, Features, Originals

This week we’re going to take a look at how spammers and scammers use news headlines to do their dirty work. It’s an old and well worn technique, presumably because of its effectiveness. Scammers and spammers love to send emails and links claiming to have exclusive info about a hot news story. So far this year we’ve seen spam with subjects such as President Obama’s inauguration, the Swine Flu outbreak, the Air France tragedy, and now the spam making the rounds claims to have exclusive footage of Michael Jackson’s last moments alive. They do this because they know people are likely to be looking for information on such hot topics and as a result may be more likely to click on titillating links about then.

Yes, the music icon’s shocking and sudden death is the newest thing to be exploited by spammers and scammers alike. The messages range from simple text based spam asking the recipient to reply to receive some exclusive info about Jackson’s death (meant to harvest their email address for a future attack, since the reply tells them the address is both active and receptive to spam!) to malicious messages with links to fake news videos that quietly infest the viewers computer with malware.

The most popular malware at the moment is ZBot, a Trojan that steals personal information from the victim’s computer and monitors a list of major sites that includes Amazon, Paypal, Ebay, and most major U.S. Banks. When it detects a site on the list has been loaded, a keylogger is activated and records the victims log on credentials. ZBot has also been discovered harvesting FTP log on credentials for over 68,000 major websites including Bank of America. It’s a very nasty piece of malware that looks to be targeting both businesses and end users.

Other Jackson themed spam has been showing up on blog comments and social networking sites, again claiming to have pics or videos of Jackson’s last moments or autopsy. The links usually lead to malicious sites that harvest personal info.

The latest wave of Jackson themed spam is being sent with the subject line “Remembering Michael Jackson” and claims to be from michaeljackson.com. The link in the message claims to lead to an unreleased song or video of the pop legend’s. Instead it leads to the Ackantta-F worm, which emails itself to everyone on the infected machine’s contact list, and is network aware which means it can spread to other machines networked to the infected one as well as to any memory cards or USB sticks connected to it.

To protect yourself get your Michael Jackson news from reputable news sources only. Don’t ever click on links in emails or posts claiming to offer secret or exclusive songs, videos, pictures or any other kind of information, especially if the email or message was unsolicited and/or from someone you don’t know.

Web traffic rose to a historic high when the news of Jackson’s death broke. In fact the traffic was so high several major sites (Including Google, Twitter and AIM) crashed under its weight. Spammers and scammers are doing everything they can to take advantage of that huge audience so beware and stay safe!

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

TiVo announces a new upgrade program for existing customers

Natesh Sood — 2009-07-01T21:24:59+00:00

Section: Video, Accessories, Content, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray, HDTV, Video Providers

Today, TiVo announced a new program that will allow current users to upgrade their current DVR set up to a new HD DVR set up. Many TiVo customers probably don’t have the income to purchase all this luxury equipment, such as HD DVR, and are often stuck using their regular DVR. Well, starting today TiVo is rewarding their veteran customers by offering them $50 off an HD DVR.

Basically, as long as you have been a TiVo customer for a year, you are eligible for the $50 discount. All you have to do is sign onto your TiVo account and you can save $50 or more off a brand new HD DVR. It looks like the program is a mainstay as TiVo hopes to keep customers as well as gain new ones with exciting offers and promotions. Remember, TiVo allows for instant Netflix streaming, access to YouTube videos straight from your television, Amazon Video On Demand access (as well as HD video access), and advanced search for broadcast and broadband content.

Thanks Jessica for the information.

Company Site: [TiVo]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Appletell’s Red, White and iBoo giveaway

NEWS — 2009-07-01T20:56:26+00:00

FROM APPLETELL - Appletell is celebrating Independence Day with it Red, White and iBoo giveaway. One winner will get to select a red, white or blue iBoo iPod Docking Station and 2.1 speaker system from Speakal
MORE »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

T-Mobile Dash 3G: Sneak peek and Review

Jodie Andrefski — 2009-07-01T19:55:14+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile, Reviews

There has been lots of buzz about the latest brainchild from T-Mobile and Gadgetell was lucky enough to get its hands on one of these before it hits the shelves. The T-Mobile Dash 3G, designed by HTC—does it live up to its speedy namesake, or do we find it lagging behind?

What is it:

The latest handset from T-Mobile features all the goodies you expect in this type of device: Voice calling, email, the QWERTY keyboard (with a trackball), Stereo Bluetooth, and 2.0 megapixel camera with video. It’s all there. It’s nicely sized and fits easily in the palm, weighing in at 4.2 ounces and measuring a half inch wide. Powered with Windows 6.1, the Dash 3G is geared for those on the go who want an easy way to stay in touch via texting or emailing in a convenient, stylish package.

Features:

* 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 pixels, 65k QVGA display
* Internet access/Web browsing over T-Mobile’s high-speed 3G network and Wi-Fi
* Windows Mobile 6.1
* Microsoft Voice Command
* Assisted GPS with Location Based Services by TeleNav
* 2.0 megapixel camera with digital zoom, video capture and playback
* Music and video multimedia player
* MicroSD expansion slot supporting optional removable memory
* Stereo Bluetooth capability
* Speakerphone and voice-activated dialing
* Built in support for four of the main instant messaging clients (AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger.)

Dimensions: 4.59 x 2.42 x 0.47 inches; 4.2 ounces
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE worldphone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Dual-band UMTS/HSDPA (AWS Band IV & Band I)

My Impressions:

Let me lead off by saying I was really looking forward to trying out the Dash 3G. I was. That said, I received the box containing the unit. All excited, I opened it up, ready to play with my newest toy. I took it out of the box, it looks cool. I like the shiny black veneer and the shape and feel of the Dash 3G. I like the softly rounded edges and it is light without feeling chintzy. So far, so good.

I messed around with the options on the screen, trying to determine what is what and how to work it. This is actually pretty simple to do and I can find what I was looking for without too much hassle. Okay, still doing well there, Dash.

Move on to trying to use the text messaging feature. This is where I hit the first stumbling block. I didn’t realize by simply looking at the phone how close the keys really were to each other and how this would affect typing. When I tried to type my first text, it came out something like “jhdhg fnfoiwp dnwio wi wpfmc vsfhuw,m”. OK, maybe not quite that bad, but you get my point. And if it does that to me, a girl, not to be gender-biased or anything, it just just seems to me that guys would have a much harder time with it. I don’t exactly have fingers sized like sausages. So, after playing with this for a while, getting rather frustrated, and finally texting on it slower than I do on my regular phone’s non-QWERTY keyboard, I decide to move on to something else.

I tried out the web browser next. I typed in the url for gadgetell.com and waited to see how long it took me to get there. 79 seconds. I wasn’t highly impressed. I tried not to think negative, knowing, well, it could have been worse. Problem is, it got worse.

When I was on the ‘Net and trying to scroll around using the trackball, it didn’t seem to like where I was telling it to go very much. I would roll, roll, roll that baby, just to make it budge a tiny bit. It had much more of a hard time with left/right than up and down. I also noticed it didn’t really do this when I was on the main screen of the handset and just scrolling through menus—it was more when I was trying to do anything within a webpage. Maybe I got a bum handset, I don’t know.

I also wasn’t totally impressed with the sound quality when I was trying to do something simple like record my greeting. It literally took me 8 tries to not sound like I was talking from across the room with someone crumpling paper while I was doing it. Once I got something somewhat intelligible, I just finally quit.

I also didn’t get to use the BlueTooth headphones, as when I tried to put them in, they were really big for my ears. I don’t know if Joe-Shmoe consumer gets to pick a different size pair to come with the phone. Granted, this obstacle can be overcome by buying a different set.

This really bummed me out, since I thought the Dash 3G looked great; and like I said, I really wanted to like it. It does have some positives. For example, it is easy to use and figure out where the features are etc. I also like the “my faves” on the display, which allows you to just go to any of your favorite contacts and then spin through choices to call, message, email, send video message, etc. to him or her. The GPS is a nice feature as well. Plus, the price isn’t as high as some other phones in this category.

Final Thoughts:

As much as I hoped to love it, this just isn’t a phone I would buy. Too many quirks about it that in my opinion make it frustrating to use and just not worth it.

Availability:

The T-mobile Dash 3G is set to be available beginning July 8, 2009 for an MSRP of $169.99 with a two-year contract and qualifying data plan. You can buy it at select T-Mobile retail stores or online.

Full Story » | Written by Jodie Andrefski for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Recession-O-Rama: Discounts on HPs and Lenovos

Adam Berger — 2009-07-01T17:55:26+00:00

Section: Computers, Laptops

We’ve partnered up with LogicHP.com to bring you today’s Recession-O-Rama deals. The website focuses news, deals, reviews, and discussion on everything HP Laptop, Desktop and Printers. So, what do we have for you today? $$$ off a bunch of HP computers?

HP Pavilion Slimline s5150t Desktop PC

$200 instant discount + $30 stackable coupon on customizable HP Pavilion Slimline s5150t Desktop PC. Plus, FREE 640GB hard drive upgrade, 40% off 18.5-inch LCD Monitor, 20% off all HP speakers, Free HP DeskJet Printer ($70 value) after mail-in rebate and FREE shipping. Plus FREE Windows 7 Upgrade.

HP Pavilion Elite e9150t Core i7

$200 off instantly and LogicHP’s $300 off coupon code for fully-loaded & powerful just released HP Pavilion Elite e9150t Core i7 2.66GHz Desktop PC. FREE shipping to your door. Plus get Windows 7 upgrade for free when its available in October. Base price starts from $1,099.99 - $200 instant savings - $30 off using LogicHP’s Coupon Code = $869.99 shipped free.

HP Pavilion Elite e9110t Desktop PC

Save up to $488 instantly on the NEW HP Pavilion Elite e9110t Desktop PC. Available for online customization with FREE 640GB Hard Drive upgrade, FREE 6GB DDR3 RAM Upgrade, FREE 15-month NIS subscription, 50% off 20-inch LCD Monitor, FREE HP DeskJet Printer ($70 value) after mail-in rebate, 20% off all HP speakers and FREE shipping. Plus, FREE Windows 7 Upgrade.

HP Pavilion dv2z Ultra-slim Laptop

Save up to $509 instantly on customizable HP Pavilion dv2z Ultra-slim Laptop with several free upgrades, $150 instant discount & $30 stackable coupon. It’s the thinnest and lightest HP laptop measuring .93” thin and 3.81 pounds wrapped in a magnesium-aluminum alloy case. Plus, get FREE 2GB RAM Upgrade, 75% off 4GB RAM upgrade, Free upgrade to 512MB discrete graphics, FREE Upgrade to 320GB Hard Drive, Free color customization, FREE HP DeskJet Printer after paperless rebate and FREE shipping. Available in Moonlight White (default) or Espresso Black. Eligible for FREE Windows 7 upgrade!

HP Pavilion dv3t

Save up to $384 instantly on customizable HP Pavilion dv3t 13.3-inch Notebook using multiple free upgrades, $150 instant discount & $30 stackable coupon. HP dv3t is the lightest Intel-based HP Pavilion Laptop. Features LED-backlit display, liquid metallic imprint pattern, in Black or White color designs, up to 7 hours battery life, optional backlit keyboard and Blu-ray. Plus, FREE upgrade to 4GB RAM, FREE upgrade to 320GB Hard Drive, 50% off 500GB Hard Drive upgrade ($25 only), FREE HP DeskJet D4360 Printer ($70 value) after mail-in rebate & Free shipping. Plus FREE Windows 7 upgrade.

Lenovo ThinkPad T400

The thinnest (.82”) & lightest (3.91 lbs) T-series Notebook ever. 14-inch Lenovo ThinkPad T400s starting $1,870 - $271 instant savings - 15% off coupon (Expires soon) = $1,359.15 plus FREE shipping. Lowest price yet for the newest ThinkPad T400s. Features improved keyboard design, 14.1” WXGA LED LCD, 6-cell battery, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, 2-Megapixel camera, and slew of connectivity options.

Full Story » | Written by Adam Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Twitter adding updates for list features

Heather Wood — 2009-07-01T17:41:16+00:00

Section: Web, Websites

Twitter is updating its interface to make certain features more user friendly. Most of the updates are to affect the Follower and Following list pages found on the mini blog website. You can now perform more actions while at the pages, which will likely make these lists better utilized. New actions added to these pages include mobile updates, direct messaging, and unfollow. Previously, there weren’t any actions permitted on these pages and they were just a listing of your Following and Follower friends.

Additional updates include the ability to change Follower and Following pages to the easier to read list view. The expanded view previously available made it difficult to view information about all of the accounts you were following. The design has also been adjusted on these pages to accommodate these changes.

More over, Twitter is now allowing users to view the accounts that other people are following on the site. If you see an account that interests you, you will have access to the action that allows you to follow them for yourself.

Read: [Twitter Blog]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Joost forced to change strategy, again

Shawn Ingram — 2009-07-01T16:12:22+00:00

Section: Video, Web, Web 2.0, Websites, Online Music/Video

Three years ago when Joost launched it was only a desktop client that could be used to watch TV shows, mostly older ones. Later, with the huge success of Hulu, Joost decided to switch its model to a flash player similar to that of Hulu. Now it’s being forced to change its model once again since it doesn’t have nearly enough traffic to compete with Hulu and YouTube, and not enough advertising money.

Joost is changing from its current flash-based player that competes with Hulu to a platform provider. It will be licensing out its technology to other companies. Most likely those other companies will be broadcasters that don’t want to put their video on Hulu, or who just want a piece of the $1.1 billion dollars being spent on online video ads this year. The new direction also comes with a new CEO, Matt Zelesko, who is currently senior vice president of engineering, the closing of the Netherlands office, and possibly substantial lay offs.

When Joost launched it was a big deal, not necessarily because of what it did, but because it was from the guys who created Kazaa and Skype. The desktop client wasn’t bad for beta software, and seemed to have a bit of promise. But then Hulu came and sucked in everything it could. While it is sad that Joost is being forced to change for a third time, it’s hard to say it wasn’t eventually going to happen. Even though Joost turned itself into somewhat of a Hulu clone, it just could get traffic. I know at least I only ever see the site when there’s some sort of news about it, which is usually bad news.

Read [NY Times]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Hate your battery life? Pig pile on this lawsuit.

JG Mason — 2009-07-01T13:20:23+00:00

Section: Computers, Laptops

Does anyone take manufacturers claims about battery life seriously anymore? Apparently someone does. A law firm out of North Carolina and they want to know if you feel cheated, ripped-off or otherwise victimized by manufacturer claims regarding your laptop’s advertised battery life.

That’s right, the law offices of Girard Gibbs, LLP is interested in hearing from you

“if you believe that your laptop battery has a shorter life span than what was advertised or represented to you”

Damn lies

The law office cites reports that AMD (Advanced Micro Design) says battery test information is based on a misleading test that exaggerates the batteries life. What is AMD’s beef? They believe the battery life test ought to be more like cell phone battery info: talk time vs standby time. Currently, the test is more like just standby time.

“AMD is basically saying that MobileMark 2007 tests the equivalent of the standby time in cell phones. That’s a little unfair. Granted, the laptop is using roughly 10 percent of the system resources and there are idle times during the test that brings CPU utilization down to nil.” - PC Mag

AMD suggests that a test looping HD video should be used as well. Most people use laptops for surfing the web, document and spreadsheet editing and the like; stuff that nowhere near approaches HD video playback demands on resources. PC Mag goes on record behind the old test, citing:

Perhaps most importantly, MobileMark allows us to test consistently. It offers a fair comparison of battery life across the swath of laptops on the market, at least for the scenario BapCo has created. Of course it could use improvement, but right now MobileMark is the fairest battery test on the market.

Really? AMD wants to be accurate like cell phone battery info? Puh-leeez

Cell phone battery life is the next biggest joke to laptop battery life. Standby time is a pretty useless stat as it assumes you have no friends to call and interrupt standby time. Talk time assumes you won’t be multitasking and playing Black Jack while your parents ramble on about the squirrel in the bird feeder.

The problem with battery life is baselines are pretty useless. It is like measuring potential. Sure you have to measure something, but knowing my phone’s battery is supposed to last 19 hours doing absolutely nothing isn’t very helpful. If I wanted to get a phone to last the longest doing nothing, I’d just get a cell phone sized rock and be pleased at my cash savings.

Pig Pile on the manufacturers

Girard Gibbs wants to get the word out. Google “laptop battery life” and you’ll find their sponsored link in the #1 position in results:

Short Laptop Lifespan?
www.GirardGibbs.com/batterylife Law firm investigating misleading ads re lifespan of laptop batteries

The lawyers are now looking for laptop users unhappy with their battery life. That should be just about everyone. You can submit your info at their website and be part of the coming class action.

Internal conflict

I am having trouble putting my finger on why I think this lawsuit is a bit of a sham. Maybe it is how jaded we’ve become at manufacturers claims. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten the miles per gallon on my Ford that the EPA suggests I should if I knew what I was doing. I’ve come to take these numbers at less than face value. To me, it seems silly to argue over something I don’t believe in.

I see the legal suits point and I am sure there are many customers that are genuinely surprised when their battery runs out well before they expect. Is it class action worthy? What is your take? Let us know in the comments.

Class action page: [Girard Gibbs] via [Semi Accurate]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Palm Pre bits: GSM version in Vietnam, webOS updated to 1.0.4 and a landscape mode for email hack

Robert Nelson — 2009-07-01T11:51:41+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

Here we are with another selection of Palm Pre related news, and first things first, a GSM version has been spotted.

GSM version Palm Pre spotted in Vietnam

Just recently a video has surfaced showing off a GSM version of the Palm Pre. Of course, we knew that such a model would eventually be released, however this one seems to have come from out of nowhere. What does this mean in terms of a release, unfortunately nothing. That said, it is nice to see that at least one is out there though. Here is hoping that we see a release of the GSM Pre sometime before the year is out, preferably in the form of an unlocked handset as opposed to being tied to a specific carrier.

webOS gets updated to version 1.0.4

Moving on, webOS has just gotten another update, which brings the current version up to 1.0.4. As with previous, and all the future updates, current users will be able to get the update over-the-air. The update comes in at 12MB and according to the official statement offers a fix for an “address security vulnerability.” Of course, what we are hearing is that it actually patches the loophole that allowed users to install homebrew apps through an email link.

Quick hack for your Pre enables a landscape mode for email

Finally, after Palm updated webOS to 1.0.4 and closed one loophole, we have yet another little hack that has surfaced. This one is pretty simple, and I hesitate in calling it a hack, however there is good news for those that feel the need to have a landscape mode for email. Anyway, thanks to a tipster over at PreCentral, you will be able to enable landscape mode for email by entering a code. According to the tip, users will have to enter the code “RocknRollHax” on the keyboard. Of course, on the downside, you will have to enter that same code each time you launch the email app. In other words, at this time it can be considered a neat trick, but it is not for everyone.

Read [Engadget] Read [Palm Developer Blog] Read [PreCentral]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Gadgetell visits with TechVi to talk about the Pirate Bay sale

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-07-01T00:21:57+00:00

Section: Gaming, Web, Websites, Online Music/Video

Gadgetell’s own JG Mason visited with Doug Aamoth from CrunchGear on Randall Bennett’s tech show, TechVi to talk about the latest Pirate Bay news. The company has been sold to a gaming company. Does this sale make any sense? What’s next from the Pirate Bay guys? Find out what JG and Doug had to say.

Watch more episodes: [TechVi]
Read Doug Aamoth’s work at CrunchGear: [CrunchGear]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

300,000 Pres sold in June, predicts an analyst

Natesh Sood — 2009-06-30T23:02:03+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones

Whenever a hyped phone debuts in its first month, it is always interesting to see how well it does, compared to other hyped phones. As you can imagine, every number released by Palm and analysts would be compared to Apple. According to Ed Snyder, of Charter Equity Research, 300,000 Pres have been sold by Sprint and Palm in its inaugural month of June.

300,000 represents hope for a struggling Palm company and certainly is a nice number for Sprint. Consider this, Palm only shipped 351,000 phones in the quarter before the Pre launch. Already in the first month of the Pre launch 300,000 units were shipped, and let’s not forget the 70,000 in May. In addition, Snyder estimates that 15,000 Pre units are manufactured everyday just to keep up with the strong demand. Moreover, if this continues pace, 1 million units could be shipped within the first quarter of launch, a mighty feat.

Take these numbers with a grain of salt because no official records have been released by Palm yet. My bet is they are waiting for a truly startling number to occur before they release any information. The Palm Pre looks to be doing pretty well, especially with the amount of downloads the App Catalog has seen. Hopefully, Palm and Sprint can keep up with consumer demand.

Read [Barrons] Read [Digital Daily]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

“Hit Man” spam returns

Sue Walsh — 2009-06-30T19:51:39+00:00

Section: Communications, Email / IM, Computers, Security

So called “Hit Man” spam is back. This type of spam attempts to extort people rather than sell them things or trick them into installing malware on their system. Basically, they get an email from someone claiming they have been hired to kill them but if they pay a certain amount the hit man will walk away rather than complete the job. It’s similar to ransomware and scareware in that all of them attempt to trick the victim into sending money.

This latest attack features emails claiming to be from someone in a group called the Ishmael Ghost Islamic Group. The group member explains that they were hired to kill the recipient and would also kill their family - but if they send $800 via Western Union they can save their lives and those of their loved ones. The Islamic mention is surely there to further frighten and inflame in hopes of convincing the recipient the email is real and the need to send money critical.

If you receive an email like this, ignore it. It’s a complete hoax and you are in no danger. Don’t send any money and don’t even reply as that can get you put on a list of people who read spam and that means even more of it will flood your inbox.

Read [SpamFighterNews]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

European cell phone companies agree to start using universal mobile charger including Apple

Heather Wood — 2009-06-30T17:14:50+00:00

Section: Communications, Accessories, Cellular Providers

Most of the major cell phone companies based in Europe have signed an agreement that requires them to employ a universal cell phone charger for all of their models. Newly released models will all use the same port in order to charge, the micro USB. This transition is supposed to start as quickly as next year.

Manufacturers that have currently signed the agreement, include Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Apple and RIM. Apple was a surprise addition to the agreement since everyone knows that Apple utilizes a dock connector. The agreement is not legally binding, but it is expected that most companies will cooperate in order to offer universal charging capabilities in Europe.

Currently, there are dozens of mobile phone charger types available for European cell phones, which makes this agreement all the more impressive. Unfortunately, the United States has no such deal in the works, which probably means we’ll be stuck with different charger types for years to come.

Read: [ZDNet]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Comcast brings WiMAX to Portland, more cities to follow

Shawn Ingram — 2009-06-30T15:08:12+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Broadband Cards, Computers

A lot of the time the name “Comcast” is met with disgust, or just general loathing thanks to its poor customer service and bandwidth caps. This time, however, Comcast is rolling out a new service that might actually raise some opinions. Comcast is the first cable company in the US to offer a wireless broadband connection through WiMAX.

The program, called “Comcact High Speed 2go,” starts today in Portland, Oregon. It covers the entire city in 4G wireless WiMAX, and will soon be bringing it to other cites, specifically Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia by the end of the year. The service will cost $50 per month for those who want use it only within those cities, or $70 to use the WiMAX in the cities, and Sprint’s 3G network elsewhere in the country. However, it looks to be that the nationwide plan will not allow you to access Sprint’s 4G networks already in some cities, which seems a bit counter intuitive. For $70 a month it would be nice to be able to use the Sprint WiMAX network in Baltimore and other cities.

While Comcast isn’t the first cable company to offer a wireless connection outside the home, it does seem to be the first to use WiMAX rather than Wi-Fi access points. Although, as Time Warner Cable gets into the same space elsewhere in the country it might not be all that great. If users of one WiMAX service can’t access the WiMAX in other cities, it might be better to wait until the other cell phone companies roll out their LTE networks. Nationwide 4G connection would be nice without having to worry about which company is providing it, though it’s probably just a pipe dream right now.

Read [Reuters]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Palm Pre to get battery with 2x life? Sweet.

JG Mason — 2009-06-30T13:13:13+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Email / IM, Smartphones, Mobile

Here’s one more thing that separates the Palm Pre from Apple’s iPhone: the removable battery. A new battery from Innocell promises longer standby and talk time than the original. The additional battery life is crammed into the exact same specifications as the original battery and costs just $44.95.

Battery life is the bane of smartphones. Many believe the next big thing in smart phones is battery advances as it doesn’t matter if your phone has GPS, Bluetooth, a billion Apps; if your battery runs out of juice, it is just as handy as a brick. Manufacturers are very aware of fine line they walk in keeping weight and size to a minimum while trying to eek out significant battery life.

But smart phones like Apple’s iPhone have a non-replaceable battery. This means users must plug the phone in or slide the phone into a battery pack such as Mophie’s Juice Pack, a clever work around that adds some bulk but carries more charge than the original battery.

According to Seido’s online store, Innocell is developing a super-duper extended battery that will include a rubberized battery door to accommodate the slightly bigger size. From Seido, “This Innocell extended battery provides up to nearly twice the capacity than the standard battery. Even with heavy phone and data usage, this battery will keep your Pre charged and ready to go.” Price and availability has yet to be announced for this battery.

For those traveling with their Palm Pre, extra batteries make a whole lot of sense. Having the ability to change out a common wear item, such as a battery, makes the Palm Pre a smarter smartphone.

Product Page: [Seido] via [PalmInfocenter ]

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Confirmed: BlackBerry Tour 9630 coming to Verizon July 12, retailing for $199

Robert Nelson — 2009-06-30T11:11:14+00:00

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

Just in case you had any doubt, Verizon has confirmed the upcoming availability of the BlackBerry Tour 9630. The handset is currently available for pre-order and will be available for purchase beginning on July 12. As for pricing, the Tour will be $199 which comes after a $70 instant online discount and along with the standard two year agreement.

Of course, if for some reason you want to get this in your hands as quickly as possible, then a trip to the store on the 12th may be in order. According to the pre-order page, any “pre-order shipments are estimated to begin on Monday July 13.”

Feature-wise, it will be difficult for many to complain as the handset seems to be a solid offering. The Tour 9630 has 3G support, a 2.4-inch 480 x 360 resolution display, a 3.2-megapixel camera with flash, auto-focus and video capture as well as Bluetooth and assisted GPS. Additionally, the handset also ships with a 2GB microSD card for some much needed extra storage.

Product [Verizon Wireless]

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Remote DVRs A-OK says Supreme Court

Natesh Sood — 2009-06-29T23:17:34+00:00

Section: Business News, Video, Content, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray, Video Providers

If you have Cablevision, then you probably know about its remote DVR features, which allow you to record TV shows remotely for later viewing within Cablevision offices. Previously, there was a petition questioning the legality of remote DVR usage which reached the Supreme Court. Once there, the United States Supreme Court disposed of the petition, a move greatly appreciated by the CEA.

CEO and President of CEA, Gary Shapiro, had this to say about the remote DVR technology, “The ability to record television programming has become commonplace to millions of Americans which has benefited consumers and allowed the consumer technology and content industries to contribute billions of dollars to our economy and create millions of jobs.”

He goes on further to say that it doesn’t matter how you record shows, whether it be a box, or in an office. Another argument used by Shapiro is the fact that Apple and Google already offer similar services, so it makes sense that remote DVR technology such as this is allowed to prosper.

This always seemed like an odd case. Why would remote DVRs be illegal when regular DVRs were legal? If you had a very long cable between your hard drive and your set top box, that would be illegal? With the Supreme Court denying to review the lower court’s decision, expect more cable providers to start setting up remote DVR functionality. Just imagine never filling up your hard drive space on your DVR. Or just imagine the cable companies telling you that you get 5 hours of DVR space and for a fee you can get more space. Hmm…one of those options seems a lot more realistic than the other.

The full press release is below.

CEA APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT’S DECISION IN REMOTE DVR CASE
Decision is a Triumph for Home Recording and Common Sense
Arlington, Va., June 29, 2009 – The United States Supreme Court today denied the petition for a writ of certiorari upholding the legality of Cablevision’s remote digital video recorder (DVR). The technology is functionally identical to a home DVR, and allows viewers to record programs on a remote system within Cablevision’s offices. The following statement can be attributed to CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro.

“We applaud the U.S. Supreme Court today for letting stand a decision that supports the growth of technology and innovation. The ability to record television programming has become commonplace to millions of Americans which has benefited consumers and allowed the consumer technology and content industries to contribute billions of dollars to our economy and create millions of jobs.

“From a common-sense standpoint, the Court’s decision was a slam-dunk. The Court has already ruled that consumers have the right to time-shift television shows. Whether the bits reside in a box under your TV or a box in the cable field office is not relevant.

“CEA has been at the forefront of promoting digital technologies for decades. The ability to shift content among devices and products within the home is paramount in allowing technology to thrive and allowing companies to continue to design and develop new products.

“In addition, remote computing and data storage, like that allowed by the remote DVR, offers extraordinary benefits. Indeed Americans already enjoy this technology through services like Google applications and Mac. An adverse ruling would have hamstrung this exciting new area of innovation.
“We commend the Supreme Court for protecting our ability to innovate and ensure that America remains the world’s technology leader.”

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.

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Lazy parents can limit kids’ gaming effortlessly with the GameDr

NEWS — 2009-06-29T22:12:49+00:00

FROM GAMERTELL - Digital Innovations is now distributing John Morrissey’s $29.99 GameDr, a timer that allows parents and guardians to limit children’s video game playing with minimal effort.
MORE »

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Couple slaps Apple with lawsuit over $0.30 price increase

Sue Walsh — 2009-06-29T21:28:50+00:00

Section: Apple, Web, Websites, Online Music/Video

The latest entry in the book of frivolous lawsuits is one filed against Apple by an Illinois couple. They are accusing the company of gift card fraud and they are seeking monetary damages for what they call Apple’s “wrongful, illegal and fraudulent acts.” The charges in the suit include one count each of violating the Illinois Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and Consumer Protection Statutes, and 2 counts of breach of contract.

The target of their outrage? Apple’s decision in April to change the iTunes store pricing structure from a flat 99 cents per song to a one where song prices vary from 69 cents to $1.29.

Yes, they are suing over a 30 cent price increase - but it gets better! The couple is irate because they feel the value of the two $25 iTunes gift cards they bought in March of *2008* has been reduced due to the increase! They said they been “denied the benefit of their bargain to purchase any song for 99 cents.” You did read that correctly.

It’s about gift cards they bought a year ago! Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? If the value of the cards is so important to them why did they let a year go by without using them?

Here’s what I think the real story is. They bought or were given some iTunes gift cards last year and forgot about them until recently. When they noticed the pricing structure had changed they thought they might have found an easy way to make some quick cash.

I think a snowball has a better chance in hell than they do of getting any windfall from Apple though, and if they were to win any kind of settlement their lawyer would probably get most of it. What do you think about this case? Frivolous lawsuit or serious case? Leave a comment and let us know!

Read[CNet]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »