Some big-wigs over at AT&T have apparently confirmed some juicy (we’re not certain that’s the best word to describe it, but we’re going to use it) rumors about Apple’s plans for this summer. The word is that it’s going to be big and it’s going to revolve around a new iPhone coming out in mid-June. Yeah, it’s closer than we realized. Based on what we’ve heard, it looks there are some things you should take note of.
First, of course, is that AT&T has said that the new-iPhone-June-release is about to become an annual holiday just below Christmas in marketing and hype potential. The new iPhone will be faster and have a more “seamless experience” (probably because it will have the new 3.0 OS, but that doesn’t sound as good as “seamless” and “experience”). There will also be a UVerse iPhone application that will allow control of your home DVR. Kind of cool.
The supposed source from AT&T also said the $99 3G netbook will also hit stands this summer. They say it won’t have a Windows OS, so we’re thinking Linux. Kind of a given, but still something to speculate about. We’re certain there will be plenty more rumors before June comes so you can check back often to get the latest juicy details.
For more information, see the smartphone review site. For more Applicious news and rumors, check out these other blog posts:
Apple Rumor Follow-Up: Throwing LG & OLED in the Mix
iTunes to Offer Video and Movie Titles in HD
Apple Rumor: New iPhone, iPod, IFPGA, & iPr
New iPhone to Be Released in Mid-June?
Asus Ready to Rid World of Keyboards
Keyboards have apparently become such a hassle for people. How else do we explain the growing popularity of touchscreen devices, from smartphones to portable video players to even computers and Apple’s potential netbook sans keyboard. But Asus wants to take it one step farther. Forget typing, even on a virtual keyboard, Asus plans to have voice-controlled Eee PCs out by the end of 2009.
Along with their Fold/ Unfold concept laptops, Asus is working to implement new technology that will rid the world of keyboards. In fact, Jerry Shen, CEO of the Taiwan-based company, said Asus wants to see “the end of the keyboard.” Why the aversion to keyboards? We doubt it’s because of the noise. Switching to voice-controlled PCs wouldn’t solve that problem at all. In fact, if everyone here started dictating their blogs to their computers, I’m quite certain I would go mad. And how would the computer pick my voice out of hundreds of others or even over the noise or the train?
Despite the questions of how the technology will work in the real world, the concept may have some real meat behind it. We think the real reason Shen wants to get rid of the keyboard is because he is mostly likely suffering from carpal tunnel. Thinking of it that way, we’re more than happy to bid a non-tearful adieu to the pain inducing and hand crippling keyboards and start jabbering away. Forget the noise, we’ll dictate all the witty and newsy blogs without any fear of what it will do to our forearms.
Play Xbox Games on Your Cell Phone?
And the gaming alternatives keep coming today. Mobile gaming isn’t anything new, but the quality has never been up to par with the latest generation consoles. ARM plans to change that, as early as the end of this year.
ARM graphics product manager Remi Pederson recently promised that their new mobile GPUs, slated to come out at the end of this year, will make Xbox 360 gaming possible on a cell phone. The Mali-200 and Mali-400 are said to bring 4x to 16x anti-aliasing, and soon OpenGL ES 2.0 to mobile handsets. Purported to run 16 million triangles a second and 275 million pixels a second, the Mali-200 GPU certainly won’t have a problem running Flash and Java games.
The Mali-400 will come in single-core on up to quad-core GPU configuration, supposedly able to scale to 1080p resolution. HD viewing on a mobile phone sounds pretty sweet. The good news is ARM isn’t (yet) tethered to any specific manufacturer, so we could see this functionality and performance in multiple cell- and smartphone brands by later this year or early next year.
Panasonic updates ToughBook 19 and 30 Rugged Laptops
The Panasonic Toughbook 19 Convertible Tablet PC is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 1.2GHz processor, up to 4GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive. It has a 10.4-inch LED backlit display with Circular polarization and 4 to 1000 nit LCD brightness.
On the other hand, Panasonic Toughbook 30 Clamshell Laptop is more powerful thanks to the Core 2 Duo SL9300 1.6GHz processor, up to 4GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive and integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics. It has a 13.3-inch LCD screen with Circular polarization and 1000 nit LCD brightness.
Both laptops supports WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth and offers optional Gobi 3G Global Mobile Internet module for HSPA and EV-DO Rev. A connectivity. 32GB SSD option is available for both rugged laptops.
Panasonic’s Mil-Spec-certified notebooks has magnesium alloy cases.Their screens, cases, ports, and keyboards are IP54-rated for particulates and water. They have also achieved UL1604 Class 1 / Div. 2 certification for use in hazardous environments.
The new Toughbook 19 is priced at $3749 while the new Toughbook 30 costs $3649.
Nokia N86 8MP Slider Phone
The N86 8MP has a 2.6-inch 240 x 320 QVGA OLED display, onboard Assisted GPS with Nokia Maps, WiFi 802.11b/g support and Bluetooth. It comes with 8GB internal storage capacity. You can expect a 3.5mm headphone jack and built-in stereo speakers. The phone runs S60 3rd Edition, FP2.
Nokia N86 8MP supports tri-band 3G HSDPA/HSUPA networks. There are 900/1900/2100 and 850/1900/2100 versions, that will be available in Q2 2009 for about Euro 375.
MSI Wind U110 ECO Power-Saving Netbook
Transcend SDHC HD Video Cards
LG Arena KM900 touchscreen phone
The Arena KM900 supports 3G HSDPA 7.2Mbps mobile network and WiFi connectivity. It has also A-GPS support with geo-tagging function. THe phone plays DivX and Xvid video files and offers FM tuner and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
LG will be available in March in major European markets. It will be available in silver and black titanium colour schemes.
Mouse Computer Nextgear L720 and Masterpiece V1200 Core i7 Desktop PCs
Got iMovie Envy? Take VideoSpin for a Spian
VideoSpin then takes your edited movie file and save it in numerous file formats, ready to upload to YouTube or any number of other places. It's got several built-in presets, which set the file type and aspect ratio for a few devices, but the "iPod Compatible" preset is out of date; it doesn't account for the increased aspect ratio of the iPhone / iPod Touch.
Since it's a free product, there are a few things VideoSpin doesn't do. It won't create the movie itself. You must capture your movie into an AVI or other video file first. That means it also won't work with a recorded DVD or mini-DVD until after you rip it to a video file with another utility. Pinnacle Systems recommends the commercial Studio product if you want to do those things.
VideoSpin also loses some features after 15 days, namely access to most of its codecs (another name for video conversion utilities). That means if you're fond of moving your videos to Mpeg-4 (iPhone compatible) or using MP3 audio (for most portable media players), you'll need to buy the $15 SpinPack. VideoSpin will still make AVI files for all eternity, though, so your YouTube uploading won't be affected.
The latest version of VideoSpin adds widescreen YouTube support, .mov support, and the aforementioned iPod support, among other additions. Simple integration with a built-in or USB webcam would have been nice, but since said Webcams generally include their own software, this isn't a huge deal.
VideoSpin is way better than Microsoft's built-in (practically useless) Movie Maker, and is the go-to choice for editing movies on a PC.
Presto: Instant-On for Any PC
Windows 7 is cross compatible on PC, TV and Phone
At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today, Microsoft CEO Ballmer said that Windows 7 will mean that users will be able to access their content on any device.
He said that this sort of thing was the kind of technology transformation that only happens once every 10 or 15 years.
Ballmer modestly said that Microsoft was transforming Windows from a PC operating system to a connected platform and experience across the PC, the phone, the TV and the cloud.
Windows 7 has now gone publicly Beta. It has been around for a few weeks now on various pirate sites after being leaked early.
However for those who came in late, the beta allows punters to move between running programs with a new preview window. You can also stick frequently used applications on to a redesigned taskbar.
Right clicking in the taskbar creates a "Jumplist" of tasks associated with that application.
There is better access to photos, music and videos stored on all devices on a network and "Play to" allows users to easily stream any video, music and photos stored on the network to other devices such as the Xbox 360 and the TV.
Those who want a play with the new beta can download it from their site tomorrow
The Sony Vaio P Laptop is Here!
Sony has finally unveiled the Vaio P-series , but whatever you do though, don't call it a netbook, as Sony says it's not a netbook. We're not quite sure what the difference is, but we guess it has something to do with the US$899.99 starting price.
When you consider that you get a 1.33GHz Atom 520 processor and 2GB of non upgradeable DDR2 memory for this price, then we wouldn't want to call it a netbook either, as it would make us look stupid.
However, Sony of course gone a crazy 1600x768 resolution 8in display (that's a 2.08:1 aspect ratio), although from early reports, it's not half as bad as it sounds. Other features include built in 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, a built in HSPDA modem, a GPS receiver, a webcam and separate memory card readers for SD and Memory Stick Duo cards.
The default storage device is a 60GB 1.8in hard drive, although 64 and 128GB SSD drives are available as a cost option. The Vaio P only has two USB 2.0 ports, one on each side. The only other two physical ports consists of a headphone jack and a combined display/network port to which a supplied dongle has to be attached. Although you only get a D-sub connector, Sony has at least added Gigabit Ethernet to the P-series.
Add to this the fact that the Vaio P weighs in at a ridiculously light 635g and you've got a fairly impressive netbook, sorry notebook.
More impressively, Sony claims four hours battery life out of the standard batter, with an optional battery available which is said to double this for an extra US$129.99. Sony has also incorporated its Xbar UI in an instant on OS for the P-series. All models ship with Windows Vista Home.
The base model at US$899.99 comes with the 60GB hard drive, Vista Home Basic and an option of four colours which consists of white, black, red and green. The next model up will set you back US$1,1199.99 and that extra money only buys you a 64GB SSD drive and a lesser choice of colours as this model only comes in black or red, at least at the moment. The top of the range model comes in at a whopping $1,499.99, but at least you get Vista Home Premium on top of the 128GB SSD drive upgrade. This model is only available in black.
'Love Spray' being developed by scientists
It may not be the most romantic gesture but scientists are developing drugs that can boost that most human of emotions.
They are studying the brain chemistry responsible for the complex feelings that draw us to a particular member of the opposite sex and help keep us monogamous.
Animal testing is beginning to shed light on the complex neural and genetic components of love in the same way they have led to pharmaceutical therapies for anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders.
The behavioural scientist Professor Larry Young, of Emory University, Georgia, writing in the journal Nature, said: "For one thing, drugs that manipulate brain systems at whim to enhance or diminish our love for another may not be far away."
Experiments have already shown a nasal squirt of the hormone oxytocin enhances trust and tunes people into others' emotions.
Websites are marketing products such as Enhanced Liquid Trust, a cologne-like mixture of oxytocin and chemical scents called pheromones "designed to boost the dating and relationship area of your life".
Prof Young said: "Although such products are unlikely to do anything other than boost users' confidence, studies are under way in Australia to determine whether an oxytocin spray might aid traditional marital therapy."
"The hormone interacts with the reward and reinforcement system driven by the neuro-transmitter dopamine – the same circuitry that drugs such as nicotine, cocaine and heroine act on in humans to produce euphoria and addiction.
"Dopamine-related reward regions of the human brain are active in mothers viewing images of their child. Similar activation patterns are seen in people looking at photographs of their lovers."
The Sony Vaio P Laptop is Here!
Camera with Web Browser...Awesome
Sony today introduced the world's first Wi-Fi enabled digital camera that uploads photos and videos to Web sites through any public hotspot due to its built-in Web browser.
The new Cyber-shot DSC-G3 digital still camera answers one of the most pressing needs for photo enthusiasts: how to share those amazing photos and video clips of family, friends and events as soon as you shoot. The Cyber-shot camera makes it easy to upload images and video directly to popular photo and video sharing sites wherever a Wi-Fi connection is available.
The camera can wirelessly connect to any public hotspot, including hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and airports. Like a computer, the camera can connect to free or fee-based hotspots, as well as to secure and unsecured access points.
By pressing the WLAN button on the camera, you can open its embedded Web browser. After connecting to the Internet via wireless access points, the camera automatically navigates to the Sony Easy Upload Home Page, which includes direct links to photo sharing sites like Picasa Web Albums; video sharing sites like YouTube; and a photo and video sharing site, such as Photobucket. Also, the DSC-G3 camera allows you to access other sharing sites for uploading photos and videos through its Web browser.
The 10-megapixel camera is about three-fourths of an inch thin and includes a 4X optical zoom Carl Zeiss(R) Vario-Tessar lens. Other goodies include Intelligent Scene Recognition feature, Face Detection technology, anti-blink function, Smile Shutter, Dynamic Range Optimizer, Optical SteadyShot. It's yours to grab right now for around $500.
Top 5 Space Launches of 2008
From Wired with love
The last 12 months have seen everything from a high profile space tourist, a powerful new space telescope, and everyone's favorite cuddly-looking microbes launched into space. Here are this year's tops from Wired magazine.
#5 - Space Tourist Richard Garriott
On number 5 is the space tourist. For just $30 million you too can visit outer space. Texan computer game developer Richard Garriott paid that lofty fee to Russia's Federal Space Agency for a chance to blast off aboard a Soyuz rocket in October.
The son of former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, the younger Garriott became the first American second-generation space traveler when he took a 10-day vacation to the International Space Station.
#4 - Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle
The biggest European spacecraft ever built, the double-decker bus-sized Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle, launched in March to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.
The unmanned cargo ship was the first new spacecraft in nine years to join the ranks of station-bound ships. After it completed its job, however, the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere as planned during a fiery death dive back to Earth.
#3 - IBEX Spacecraft to Study Solar System's Edge
NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) lifted off in October on a mission to study the farthest fringes of the solar system.
Its two bucket-sized sensors are designed to capture particles bouncing back toward Earth from the distant boundary between the hot wind from the sun and the cold wall of interstellar space.
#2 - Tardigrades!
Tardigrades, or "water bears," are microscopic eight-legged critters known to survive extreme temperatures, tons of radiation, and nearly a decade without water on Earth. In September scientists declared they had proven their mettle in one more extreme environment: outer space.
The adorable invertebrates technically launched at the end of last year, but only reached fame recently when they were found to have survived in perfect health upon their return to Earth.
India made its first space mission beyond Earth orbit in October when it launched the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft on a planned two-year mission to the moon.
The lunar orbiter included a small Moon Impact Probe that landed in November and planted the Indian flag on the lunar surface.
According to space experts, nearly 30% of unmanned moon missions of the US and the former USSR failed while being put into moon’s orbit. Three cheers for Chandrayaan 1!
In Pics: The 17-inch MacBook Pro
Here are the first pics of the highly anticipated unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro - the world's thinnest and lightest 17-inch laptop!
It features a 1900 x 1200 LED backlit display, with a 700:1 contrast ratio, wider color gamut and a glorious $50 matte option.
Most of the specs are otherwise quite similar to the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but unfortunately Apple went with a MBA-style non-removable battery, claiming that the lack of removable mechanism allowed for more battery -- they're speccing it at 8 hours of lithium polymer juice on integrated graphics, 7 hours on discrete, and it's rated at 1000 recharges
This amazing new treat from Apple comes with a FireWire 800 port, a Mini DisplayPort, three USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet port, an ExpressCard 34 slot and a battery life indicator.
The rigid aluminum keyboard webbing has been cut precisely to hold the keys and these illuminated keys are curved to perfectly fit fingers.
There will also be an exchange program for this MacBook Pro, like with the iPod. The base model hits at $2799.
