What to Expect From the Apple iPad 2

Sequels very seldom win public acclaim, unless you’re talking about "The Godfather II" or "The Empire Strikes Back." And the Apple iPad, of course.

On Wednesday Apple will release "iPad: Part II" -- the follow-up to the risky, untested, Silicon-Valley thriller "iPad: Begins." It was a hit the world over and a darling of the Academy that sold a whopping 15 million units. No one predicted that.

When movie sequels come out, they have a hard time impressing. Just consider "The Matrix Reloaded" or "Caddyshack 2." Or even "Weekend at Bernie's II" -- all major disappointments. But I have high hopes for iPad II.

In a world where all Internet video runs on Adobe Flash ... In a world where most mobile gadgets have front-facing cameras ... In a world where super-high-definition screens are the norm ...

In that world, the Apple iPad still rules the roost -- even though it lacks all of the above. We’ve seen dozens of tablets hit the market this year, all of them furiously trying to compete with it. The problem is that they are only just catching up with where the iPad started. None of them, in my opinion, surpass the iPad in functionality or finesse, and certainly not in apps. So when the iPad II hits the market, it could very easily put this year’s tablets yet another year behind.

Even the Motorola Xoom, unveiled in early January and finally released just a few days ago, doesn't have the stats to be an iPad killer. Sure, it impresses with speed and specs. And sure, it has a front-facing camera. but when the iPad II comes out with its widely anticipated front-facing camera, this will be a meaningless point.

The Xoom also holds the record for speed, too -- but perhaps not for long. My sources at Apple assure me that the next iteration of iPad will be not only fast but "wicked fast." 

Will it be 4G? I doubt it. But the guts in the new iPad will be speedy, with Apple's rumored next-generation A5 processor. The Motorola Xoom runs on a dual-core, 1-GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor; it stands to reason that Apple will at least see this bet, and perhaps raise the stakes?

With all of this speed, you’d think battery life might be compromised. Guess again. My sources at Apple assure me that this is not the case. The iPad is notorious for under-promising and over-delivering on battery life. I get upwards of 12 hours per charge. With increased performance, it will be an impressive feat for the battery life to remain constant.

Then there's the price. I don’t think Apple will significantly drop the cost of this gadget the way the company did with the original iPhone. Apple has proven that the price is already right, after all. It sells. A lot. And since the iPad is $100 cheaper than the Motorola Xoom, it will continue to sell. Other tablet manufactures simply can’t compete with Apple’s supply chain, from glass to silicon.

So I guess you could say that I’m excited about this week’s iPad launch. I'm definitely more excited than I was last week when the wraps came off of the Motorola Xoom. Again, the Xoom is a good tablet, but it isn’t a great tablet. 

Apple did it first and did it right and I’m excited to see the company do it again. My tickets to the sequel have been purchased (and by tickets I mean plane tickets), and my expectations are high. Lets just hope "iPad: Part II" is nothing like "Transformers 2."

Clayton Morris is a Fox and Friends host. Follow Clayton's adventures online on Twitter @ClaytonMorris and by reading his daily updates at his blog.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/28/apple-ipad-2-expect-ipad-sequel/

Cisco Expands Video Collaboration Portfolio

Cisco Systems is continuing to expand its video conferencing offerings, rolling out a host of new and upgraded devices designed to make it easier for users to collaborate via video, and to produce and share video with others.

The Feb. 24 announcement comes a week before Cisco’s Partner Summit 2011 in New Orleans, and is the latest evidence of the big bet Cisco is putting on video. Company officials have said that more than half all Internet traffic now is video-based, and that number will go to more than 90 percent by 2014. In addition, businesses will continue to adopt video conferencing as a way to reduce travel costs and improve employee productivity.

“Will it eliminate travel? No,” Guido Jouret, CTO of Cisco’s Emerging Technology Group, said in an interview with eWEEK. “Will it take a significant bite out of it? Yes.”

Jouret also said another indication of corporate interest is the change of discussion about the subject over the past couple of years.

“Two years ago, the conversation was, ‘Why video?’” he said. “Now I’m seeing the conversation changing to, ‘How video?’”

Cisco wants to push that transition along. The company’s new offerings include products designed to make it easier for businesses to deploy video throughout their organizations. It follows on the company’s announcement in November 2010 that it was video-enabling all its endpoints, officials said.

Cisco is rolling out its TelePresence Content Server 5.0, acquired via the company’s purchase of Tandberg. The offering, which will be available in March, gives customers a complete video recording and streaming capability, and it integrates with Cisco’s Show and Share video conferencing platform. In addition, Cisco has added French and Spanish capabilities to Show and Share, and has integrated with Cisco’s Quad enterprise social-networking platform.

Cisco’s MXE 3500 (Media Experience Engine) will make it easier for customers to find, record and deliver video, thanks to its integration with Cisco’s Pulse analytics-based video search capabilities. The integration will enable MXE 3500 users to tag word and speakers in videos for easier search. The offering also includes a new interface and live streaming of video to Cisco Digital Signage solutions.

Read more...

Article from:http://www.eweek.com

Apple iPad 2 Features: The Likely, the Unlikely and the Impossible

Apple will likely unveil the iPad 2 next week. Possible new features include dual cameras, slimmer body and a more powerful processor. But Adobe Flash support? Unlikely.

 Next week, Apple is widely expected to introduce the next version of its popular iPad.

Apple’s media invitation to the San Francisco event features an iOS calendar icon for March 2, its upper-right corner peeled away to reveal the edge of an iPad. That not only removes any questions over the focus of Apple’s announcement, but also poses a challenge to Motorola, whose Android-based Xoom tablet just hit store shelves.

The Xoom, along with other Android-based tablets either on the market or in the development pipeline, aim to break the iPad’s headlock on the consumer tablet market. It comes with Google’s Android 3.0, also known as “Honeycomb,” which has been optimized for tablets. Hardware includes a 10.1-inch screen (with 1280 x 800 resolution), Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, front- and rear-facing cameras, and 32GB memory.

Pair those specs with an $800 price tag, and it seems clear the Xoom is aiming at the market segment currently occupied by the highest-end iPads. But Apple isn’t a company to take challenges lightly: by all indications, the next iPad will include a number of features designed to keep the tablet on top of the market.

And therein lies a bit of a challenge for Apple. Since its April 2010, the iPad has sold around 15 million units. If the next iPad’s new features prove so wide-ranging and spectacular as to instantly antiquate its predecessor, it could irritate a substantial portion of those 15 million users who shelled out hundreds of dollars for their tablet. On the other hand, if the iPad 2 offers only incremental upgrades to the existing software and hardware, Apple could lose ground against increasingly aggressive (and increasingly powerful) competitors.

With that in mind, what potential features will make the cut in the iPad 2?

Front- and Rear-Facing Cameras

Rumors have circulated for months that Apple intends to integrate both front- and rear-facing cameras into the next iPad. That would allow the company to blunt competition from other tablets with a dual-camera setup, while letting iPad users take advantage of the FaceTime video-conferencing application already present in the iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition, an iPad rear camera would likely have the capability to take both photos and high-definition video. Likelihood: Almost Certain

Read more... 

Article from: http://www.eweek.com

Lab report: 2011 MacBook Pro benchmark results

Macworld - The benchmark results for Apple's latest MacBook Pros are in—and they’re impressive. In testing conducted by Macworld Lab, the laptops released Thursday turned in Speedmark scores between 13 and 53 percent faster than the systems they replace.

Apple overhauled its MacBook Pro offerings with new processors, new graphics, and a new peripheral connector. The new lineup consists of two 13-inch models, two 15-inch models (down from three in the previous generation) and one 17-inch model. The 13-inch models come with Intel’s integrated HD Graphics 3000, and either a 2.3GHz dual-core Core i5 processor and a 5400-rpm 320GB hard drive for $1199, or a 2.7GHz dual-core Core i7 processor with a 5400-rpm 500GB hard drive for $1499. Both 15-inch models come with Intel’s integrated HD Graphics 3000. The $1799 configuration sports a 2GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, a 5400-rpm 500GB drive, and a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6490M graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR5 video memory, while the $2199 offering features a 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, a 5400-rpm 750GB drive, and a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 video memory. The $2499 17-inch model has the same specs as the $2199 15-inch model. All MacBook Pros have 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory.

The only external clue to any changes comes in the form of a tiny icon near what was the Mini DisplayPort connector. It’s now the Thunderbolt port, a new technology that Intel developed with input from Apple. The port looks like the Mini DisplayPort and you can still connect a LED Cinema Display or Mini DisplayPort adapter, but you’ll also be able to connect up to six peripheral devices, such as hard drives. Thunderbolt-equipped products have been announced, but they are have not started shipping, so unfortunately, we are unable to test the speed of the Thunderbolt connection in this round of testing.

What we can test is the effect the new processors and graphics have on performance. Intel Core i series processors (known by the code-name Sandy Bridge), are found inside every new MacBook Pro. With the processor, cache, graphics, and memory controller all residing on the same die, these Core i5 and Core i7 processors helped propel the new MacBook Pros well past their predecessors in CPU performance.

The integrated graphics processor in each MacBook Pro has also changed, with Intel’s HD 3000 graphics installed across the line. In the last generation of MacBook Pros, Apple used Intel’s integrated HD graphics only in the higher-end models that had a second, higher-powered GPU, the Nvidia GeForce GT 330M, for graphically intensive applications. Apple didn’t think the older Intel HD graphics were powerful enough to be the only option in those older 13-inch models, which couldn’t support two graphics chips, so the company stuck with Core 2 Duo processors and used Nvidia’s integrated GeForce 320M graphics. With the new HD Graphics 3000, Apple found the improved performance good enough to finally invite the 13-inch models into the Core i era.

Originally published on www.macworld.com. Click here to read the original story.

Fujitsu Stylistic Windows 7 slate: Microsoft's latest, greatest iPad competitor?

Windows 7 slates and tablets haven’t exactly knocked customers off their feet. But there’s a new Windows 7 slate coming to town (starting in April this year) that Microsoft is hoping may give the company at least a temporary answer to Apple’s iPad and the various Android slates coming to market this year.

Fujitsu shared more details on February 24 about the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550, which got an early debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011. The coming slate, based on the Intel “Oak Trail” Atom processor, runs Windows 7 Professional. It supports pen-based input, along with touch, and offers an optional smartcard reader for extra security, according to Fujitsu’s press release about the business/enterprise-focused product.

Fujitsu is promising up to 10 hours of battery life (using a large-capacity battery), and the press release says the device weighs 1.5 pounds (690 grams) when a regular-capacity battery is inserted.

There’s no U.S. pricing (or availability information) for the Stylistic Q550 yet. The touch-only version goes on sale in Japan in April for JPY 90,000 ($1,100) and the touch/pen version will hit in May for JPY 100,000 ($1,222).

Here’s Fujitsu’s latest promotional video showing off the coming device:

In keeping with Microsoft’s own iPad-compete guidance, Fujitsu is highlighting the ability of the coming slates to be managed and secured by corporate IT departments as a differentiation point from the iPad and other consumer-focused slates. From Fujitsu press release:

“As enterprises struggle to keep consumer smartphones and tablets off their corporate networks to avoid security breaches, Fujitsu is taking an alternative approach with the introduction of a companion device designed for maximum interoperability with business environments. Seamless integration is provided thanks to use of the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. Additional licensing and rollout costs are capped since the slate PC uses the same software already deployed in enterprise infrastructures.”

Microsoft is touting the ability of Windows-based slates and tablets to help customers keep their IP secure, demonstrate compliance to auditors and lock stolen devices.

The battery life and weight of this device sound good to me, but the price tag is still on the high side. As I’ve noted before, Microsoft’s “real” answer to the iPad isn’t likely to happen until its partners start cranking out Windows 8 slates. Until then, do you think the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 has a chance to keep Apple from further infiltrating Microsoft’s installed base?

Article from: ZDNET

Power to the pocket: The next generation of superphones

We’re sick of the iPhone, too. Despite antenna issues, Draconian app store rules and an engineered inability to run Flash content, Apple’s flagship smartphone has done to the smartphone market what the Romans once did to Europe.

The good news: Now a marauding horde of smartphone manufacturers under the flag of Google Android are back for their turf, and they’re not just cobbling together iPhone-wannabes anymore. From the world’s first dual-screen smartphone to a phone with all the processing power of a laptop – and a dock that turns it into one – these next-generation smartphones will all bring something totally unique to the battlefield when they arrive soon.

LG Optimus 3D

The pitch: The 3D craze that has been raging on televisions for the last year finally reaches the small screen with the world’s first 3D smartphone. No glasses needed, just gaze into the 4.3-inch LCD and 3D content comes to life. As if that weren’t enough, dual 5-megapixel cameras in the rear allow you to capture 3D video in 1080p, for playback right on the phone, or a 3D TV via HDMI.

Skeptic’s slant: 3D seems questionable enough on a television, on a phone it’s almost comically frivolous. Adding depth to a screen you have to touch could actually make the phone harder to use, and experience also tells us that viewing 3D content on a screen this small typically lacks the punch that has made 3D a hot seller in theaters.

Availability: LG only announced the Optimus 3D on Monday at Mobile World Congress, so both price and availability remain a question mark for the time being.

Read more...
Source: digitaltrends

Nintendo 3DS launches in Japan, sells out 400,000 units

The Nintendo 3DS launched in Japan on Saturday, with the initial shipment of 400,000 units sold out by mid-morning and more stock promised before the close of the weekend.

The Nintendo 3DS portable gaming system hits North America on March 27, just about a month after yesterday’s February 26 launch in Japan. The new handheld promises glasses-free gaming on the go with a form factor that mirrors the company’s popular Nintendo DS. A reported 400,000 units shipped in Japan this weekend, and just about every one of them sold out in what can be described as a busy launch, though not overwhelmingly so.

Many stores saw line counts rise into the hundreds as shoppers gathered to pick up a mix of pre-order purchases and same-day sales, Andria Sang reports. The Yamada Denki Labi electronic retail chain offered only same-day sales; the store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district had a line of 400 by 6am, a number that eventually grew to 900 by the time the retailer stopped issuing pre-order tickets. The scene was similar throughout Japan, with long lines and very little product left for the latecomers, though more shipments were expected to arrive before the close of the weekend.

The 3DS arrived in Japan with eight games available at launch, including Nintendogs + Cats, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Combat of Giants Dinosaur 3D, Ridge Racer 3D, Samurai Warriors Chronicle, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Winning Eleven 3D and Puzzle Bobble 3D. Layton, Ridge Racer, Winning Eleven and Street Fighter were the most popular sellers among them according to Japanese gaming news outlet Famitsu (also via Andria Sang). North American territories will get 18 3DS games at launch, including every one of the Japan releases with the exception of Professor Layton.

Expect a similar scene here in the United States when the 3DS launches next month. The $250 handheld costs more than both the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 consoles, but the allure of glasses-free 3D gaming has helped keep excitement levels high. With Sony’s competing, and considerably more powerful, NGP coming closer to the end of the year, not to mention Nintendo’s well-established base of die-hard fans, it’s looking like the company isn’t going to have any problems hitting its target of 4 million units sold worldwide by the year’s end.

Source: digitaltrends

Sony VAIO Z-Series: A Strong Competitor to Apple’s Macbook Pro

With it’s compact, lightweight yet robust design features, many believe that the Sony VIAO Z-Series could pose some of the strongest competition in 2011 to Apple’s Macbook Pro.

With a design that almost perfectly balances portability with performance, the Z-Series offers options that will attract almost any user.

Out of the several models that are available Sony offers one model in particular (the VPCZ137GX) that boasts an exceptional ergonomic setup, and built-in DVD burner, while still achieving the title as one of the most compact and lightweight laptops available.

Several other key features of this years model include a 256GB hard drive that pushes Windows 7 into another realm, with a much more crisp feel that cannot be matched with a typical hard drive.

Similar to the Macbook pro, the VPCZ137GX comes with the Intel i5 Core  that additionally accelerates the speed of the computer.

One of the other major upsides to Sony’s VAIO Z-Series is the extended battery life in which sources claim extends over a six hour long period.  Other technical features include: a 4GB of 1066MHz memory, along with 1GB of solely dedicated video memory.

Sony VAIO PCG-FXA47 US $81.00

Sony Vaio VPCEB15FM Core i3 2.13GHz 4GB BlueRay Laptop US $350.00

Sony VAIO VPC-Z133GX/B Z Series VPCZ133GX/B VPCZ133GXB US $1,401.00

SONY VAIO VPCM111AX/W NOTEBOOK LAPTOP NETBOOK 250 GB US $255.00

Unfortunately, one of the items Sony did miss relates to speedier data transfer capabilities as the unit comes with a series of typical USB 2.0 ports, where the Apple Macbook pro comes standard with the new Intel Thunderbolt technology.

All things considered, if you’re a dedicated PC user looking for a top of the line model, the Sony VAIO Z-Series offers an excellent option with a standard price tag that sits near the $2,300 mark
Source: planetinsane.com

The Nokia/Microsoft Windows Phone: A Preview

Microsoft has finally stepped up to the plate and delivered a new smartphone operating system, called Windows Phone 7. It's shiny and distinct, and very different from both the iPhone's iOS and Android. But while Samsung and HTC have already built Windows phones using it, they haven't caught on so well, leaving Microsoft in a tight spot ... sort of like Nokia, who've seen their fortunes decline markedly since the rise of the iPhone and Android.

Rather than build modern phones with Google's open-source Android operating system, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop -- former head of Microsoft's business division -- predictably chose to partner with Microsoft, and build Windows phones with them. So far all we've seen is the concept artwork, and it does look very shiny. But if we look at the people involved, we can make a few guesses about what those shiny phones will be like.

Hardware by Nokia

Nokia makes cell phone hardware, dozens and dozens of different models of it. Aside from their cameras, which are reportedly outstanding, the biggest thing they have going for them is the supply and distribution network that lets them make so many phones for so cheap. Indeed, one of the big benefits being touted about the partnership is that they'll "bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points."

The downside is that those CGI models probably only represent the upper range of what they'll be making. There will probably be tons of cheaper Nokia phones that don't look as nice, plus competing Windows Phone models from Samsung and HTC. Besides that, most of the cost of a smartphone is absorbed by the cost of the data plan, which is why you can get a new Android phone for a single cent on a typical two-year contract. It'd be hard for Nokia to beat that. Read more...

Source: news.yahoo.com

Facebook tests souped-up privacy policy

Facebook announced this week that it's seeking user comment on a proposed redesign of its privacy policy that's meant to make the policy easier to understand while bringing the world of legalese-smothered documents into the widget-filled realm of the 21st century.

In a post to Facebook's site governance section, the company's privacy team offers a look at its "first attempt" to re-organize, rewrite, and add interactivity to the current policy, which is essentially your standard mass of small black text.

Among other potentially interesting re-imaginings, the proposed redesign features an interactive tool intended to demonstrate how profile data is put to use in serving advertisements (click "Personalized ads" and scroll down to "Try this tool"). The tool puts Facebook members into the shoes of someone creating and targeting an ad. It's not clear if users would deem it an educational aid or a nuisance in practice, but that seems to be part of why the potential redesign is being put to public scrutiny in this way.

The privacy team says the rough redesign is "outside of even our regular process of notice and comment," and it continues:

"Because we're tackling a challenge that matters to so many people--and doing it in a way that is so different from what we've done before--we're giving you a look even earlier in the process. If people like what we have, we'll put it through our regular notice and comment process at a later date."

Facebook's privacy team offers up several illustrations comparing its current, old-school privacy policy with its proposed new approach. This one focuses on interactivity and other such features.

(Credit: Facebook)

The team also makes it clear that the effort is meant to involve the reorganization and presentation of the privacy policy, not any significant changes to its actual content. "We've tried not to change the substance of the policy but, in our effort to simplify, we have added some new things that were elsewhere on the site (like our help center) and have made some other concepts clearer," it says.

Facebook, of course, has been battered by high-profile complaints from privacy advocates, including a U.S. senator or two. Last year, the company, which hosts the private data of many millions of members around the globe, instituted major changes to user privacy controls in response to such concerns.

Still, the company has given some indication that it could continue its "shoot first, ask questions later" approach to privacy-related site changes. It launched a tweak this past January that potentially made users' addresses and phone numbers available to app developers. That change was hastily reconsidered after it touched off yet another kerfuffle about the company's practices.

In its post about the redesign, the privacy team speaks proudly of Facebook's "unconventional, innovative spirit." True, the aforementioned tool for explaining ads could conceivably break new ground in the staid world of "reading the fine print." (Heck, if you're gonna go interactive, why not get Zynga involved--"MarketingVille" anyone?) But the truly visionary move here might just turn out to be the outreach effort itself. Making an extra effort to solicit comment before instituting a privacy-related change? For Facebook, that could be the real innovation.

You can check out the potential redesign, and leave a comment for the Facebook privacy team, here. And, as always, we encourage you to leave a comment for CNET readers and staff below.

Source: news.cnet.com

Overvalued in 2011 – iPad 2, iPhone 5 and Apple’s Attraction

When you’re looking for some new technology in your home, and start visiting online stores and the local electronics store, making sure the product is not overpriced has to be on top of your checklist. Apple products are known for their quality – to most of us – and the old saying ‘you get what you pay for‘ still rings true today.
The tech enthusiast is smarter than ever, and the Internet has helped buyers make sure they get a good deal, but Apple likes to keep a hold on the process of making their products, from the design, construction, and the sale. So when would a buyer feel that Apple’s products are overpriced? Especially when Apple buyers mostly buy direct.
The attraction for Apple’s MacBooks and other devices is increasing, and this has been shown in their latest sales results. Complaints have started to show from some of PR’s readers, with some people saying Apple’s iPad 2 and iPhone 5 “will be overpriced” in 2011, and not worth the money when comparing the specs to similar priced products. Do you feel like this?
We cannot confirm if these people own Apple products, but those of you that do know the quality you’re buying in the brand Apple. We’ve heard sayings like “once you go Mac, you don’t go back”. With this in mind, its our view that you will own an Apple MacBook Pro longer than you would an equivalent competitor, the products feel that much more solid and reliable.
The iPad 2 and iPhone 5 in 2011 will be more scrutinized that previous years, and this will be due to increased competition, and more options for consumers. Will these products be overvalued? Maybe they will, but you can also bet their reliability will be extra-value too. Apple will need to bring down their price a little to be more competitive, which may lead to mini-iPhone and iPads or at least versions with reduced features, showing again that you get what you pay for.
Recent news of a March 2 event will likely settle the price expectations for iPad 2, with some blogs claiming it could kill the Motorola Xoom if prices are similar. Are you willing to pay a premium for the Apple brand?
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The official Product Reviews app is available from iTunes, and it's free. Read more... 

 

 

Source: http://www.product-reviews.net

Apple pips Microsoft as world's biggest

Apple shot past Microsoft as the world's biggest tech company based on market value in overnight trade in the US - the latest milestone in the resurgence of the maker of the iPhone, which nearly went out of business in the 1990s.

Apple's shares rose as much 2.8 per cent on Nasdaq on Wednesday, as Microsoft shares floundered, briefly pushing its market value above $US229 billion ($281 billion), ahead of its longtime rival.

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Both stocks ended down after a late-day sell-off, but Apple emerged ahead with a market value of about $US222 billion, compared with Microsoft's $219 billion, according to Reuters data.

Apple shares closed down 0.4 per cent at $US244.11 on Nasdaq, while Microsoft fell 4 per cent to a seven-month low of $US25.01.

Shares of Apple are worth more than 10 times what they were 10 years ago, as it has profited from revolutionizing consumer electronics with its stylish, easy to use products such as the iPod, iPhone and MacBook laptops.

The last time Apple had a higher market value than Microsoft was December 19, 1989, according to Thomson Reuters Datastream.

Microsoft, whose operating system runs on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers, has not been able to match growth rates from its hey-day 1990s. Its stock is down 20 per cent from 10 years ago.

Apple, which struggled for many years to get its products into the mainstream, resorted to a $US150 million investment from the much larger Microsoft in 1997 in order to keep it afloat. At that time, Microsoft's market value was more than five times that of Apple.

Microsoft still leads Apple in sales. In the latest quarter, Microsoft reported $US14.5 billion in revenue compared with Apple's $US13.5 billion.

Cupertino, California-based Apple is now the second-largest company on the Standard & Poor's 500 index by market value, behind energy behemoth Exxon Mobil Corp.

Source: smh.com.au

Inside Motorola's Xoom: Plenty of horsepower

SEATTLE — Motorola's new Xoom tablet computer has enough power under the hood to challenge Apple Inc.'s iPad, according to analysis by market researchers IHS iSuppli, but buyers might be disappointed to find that it will need new hardware to work on new, high-speed networks.

The Xoom is seen as the first real competition for the iPad -- or at least for the first generation of Apple's wildly popular device, which launched a year ago. Other gadget makers have tried to mimic Apple's success with the keyboardless, touch-screen computer, but the iPad remains the nascent market's clear leader, and Apple is expected to unveil the second-generation iPad next week.

Motorola's Xoom, which went on sale Thursday, may have the best shot yet at winning a slice of the tablet business from Apple. Motorola's tablet has a 10.1-inch screen, slightly larger than the iPad's, and dual cameras for video chatting and recording high-definition video.

The original iPad didn't come with a camera, though the second generation is rumored to also have front and back cameras. The Xoom is the first tablet running a new version of Google Inc.'s Android software designed specifically for tablets, rather than earlier versions that were meant to work on much smaller smart phones.

While Apple's iPad costs US$499 to $829, depending on storage space and Internet configuration, the Xoom comes in one model with one price -- $800, or $600 with a two-year contract with Verizon Wireless.

When IHS iSuppli opened up the Xoom, it spotted two components that should make for a speedy device. One is a dual-core processor from Nvidia, which controls how fast the gadget runs its software. In theory at least, this should be about twice as speedy as Apple's own chip.

The Xoom also packs more of the type of memory that helps applications run faster.

"On paper, Motorola's Xoom should be running laps around the iPad," said iSuppli analyst Wayne Lam said. In practice, however, he said it also depends on how well Google's software takes advantage of the powerful hardware.

Motorola appears to have skimped a bit on the quality of the display, at least compared with what Apple was willing to spend. Lam said the Xoom has a more limited range of colors. The iPad will also do a better job of showing people what's on the screen even if they're not looking at the device head-on, whereas on the Xoom, the image will appear to fade out when the tablet is held at an angle.

The parts of the Xoom that control how touch-sensitive the screen is, however, are on par with what's inside the iPad, Lam said.

In terms of battery life, the iPad, which runs for about 10 hours, may still have an edge, though this, too, depends on software and other factors. The iPad has two batteries that are each twice as big as the single battery in the Xoom, Lam said.

One of the Xoom's distinguishing features is that the tablet can be upgraded in the future to work on Verizon's speedy new "4G," or fourth-generation, network, which is expected to be available in nearly 40 cities by the end of this year. Lam said he was surprised to find out that Motorola didn't build the necessary 4G radios into the Xoom -- instead, people will need to hand over their tablet for a hardware upgrade.

In addition to GPS, an accelerometer, a gyroscope and other sensors also found in Apple's newer gadgets, the Xoom has a built-in atmospheric pressure monitor that Lam thinks could be used to help people navigate large indoor spaces, because that could help figure out whether the user is on the first floor or the fifth, for example.

"What happened here is a perfect storm. Google came up with Android 3.0," Lam said, "and Motorola seized the moment to come up with high-end hardware."

Source: ctv.ca

Nintendo 3DS will not prevent R4

Nintendo 3DS consoles will be one of the safest in the landscape due to their more recent output is the Japanese market.
With the rise of piracy, Nintendo has worked on this aspect even more than previous models and have been able to achieve what they wanted, vulnerability.
Nintendo 3DS shall not prevent the R4, memory card which allowed the previous portables  known as  DSi and DSi   XL to be pirated, the two consoles most vulnerable through this attack.
The previous memory card of consoles used to load the game from the previous console and may increase piracy of the new console as it just arrived in Japan and soon in Europe.
You can only load games of Nintendo DS  but not Nintendo  3DS said  Destructoid .
Source: dailynewsengine.com

Motorola Xoom wants to dethrone the iPad

While rumors of an imminent launch of the second version of the iPad are increasing, from February 24 Motorola began selling its “iPad Killer” simply called Xoom. What makes us think it’s a Killer iPad?

IPad “Killer, or just  iPad Teaser?

First of all, Xoom is officially announced as  the first device that uses the Google Android Honeycomb operating system,I mean,  version 3.0. Unlike other tablets with Android, Xoom is equipped with an SO made “from scratch”, and designed specifically for Tablets (recall that previous versions of Android were designed for Smartphones).

Second, and most importantly, Xoom incorporates in its first version (and so far only) two cameras, a 5 MP in the back, able to record HD video and one in front of a lower capacity (2 MP) but ideal for videoconferencing.

Another important aspect that is an advantage over the iPad, is that Xoom  will be able to play Flash content, but you will have to download a plug-in that will be available within a few weeks.

The new “toy” from Motorola is only available in the U.S. for now, for a price  of $ 800 (about $ 70 more than the similar version of  iPad).

Source: dailynewsengine

Next Up: iPhone 5

Next week Apple will spill the beans on the iPad 2, which can only mean one thing: It's time to start focusing on the iPhone 5 -- which will (probably) be announced in June.

Like clockwork, 9 to 5 Mac on Friday uncovered a photo from a Chinese reseller of Apple parts that will get that process under way.

The site suggests the unconfirmed part could be the digitizer panel for the next iPhone. Interestingly enough, the part appears to have a larger cutout section for a screen which could support earlier reports from DigiTimes that the new model will feature a four-inch display to compete with some Android devices.

Besides being unconfirmed, the photo is problematic because the part doesn't appear next to anything -- giving it no scale. It could just as easily mean that the upcoming iPhone could be smaller if the screensize remains the same and the bezel shrinks. The screen could also be any other size, there's really no way to tell.

Regardless if this is a legit part or not, it seems like Apple has a few changes in store for the next iPhone besides a larger screen.

onny Evans of Computerworld reported last month that the new model is expected to run on a multi-core A5 CPU and may feature a dual-core graphics core. Evans also suggests that Apple will be getting into the NFC field after hiring veteran Benjamin Vigier as the Mobile Commerce Manager.

Stay tuned. The iPhone 5 rumor mill is sure to heat up in the coming months. iDealsChina, the website that leaked the part photo, seems to hint that more photos will be popping up soon.

See more like this: apple iphone

 

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/220846/next_up_iphone_5.html#tk.hp_new

Consumer Reports reignites 'Antennagate,' cites Apple's Verizon iPhone 4 issues

Renewing an issue that just does not seem to want to die, Consumer Reports says Apple's Verizon iPhone 4 suffers from the same "death grip" antenna issues as the original device, released last summer amid widespread controversy.

The Verizon iPhone 4 has a problem that could cause the phone to drop calls, or be unable to place calls, in weak signal conditions, Consumer Reports engineers have found in lab tests.

The "death grip" occurs when users hold the iPhone in a way that covers the antenna band, located on the bottom of the left side of the phone. As with the AT&T version of the iPhone 4, any case (or cottage industry "band-aid" product) would alleviate the problem, which is caused by the conductivity of human skin interfering with the cell phone signal.

Consumer Reports tested the new Verizon iPhone 4, along with several other popular Verizon smartphones.

The special tests were all carried out in the controlled environment of CU's radio-frequency isolation chamber at our National Research and Testing Center in Yonkers, NY. In this room, which blocks interference from outside signals, our test engineers mounted each phone on a stand and established a continuous signal connection to our base-station emulator, a device that simulates the signals phones receive in the field. We then placed a finger to each phone in a range of locations around its edge, and monitored any changes to the phone's performance at each position.

The tests conclude that the iPhone was the only phone affected by placing a finger around the outer band of the phone.

Again, Consumer Reports has not included the Verizon iPhone in its list of recommended smartphones for its subscribers, despite the fact that it outperformed most other smartphones in nearly every other category.

Is Consumer Reports right to not include Apple's Verizon iPhone 4 in its recommended smartphones? Let me know what you think in the comments! Read more...

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20036552-94.html?tag=mncol;title 

Streaming Netflix on the iPad via Verizon iPhone 4

One of the most exciting advantages the Verizon iPhone 4 has over its AT&T counterpart is its ability to become a mobile hot spot. A mobile hot spot allows several devices to connect to it via Wi-Fi and then uses a cellular signal to connect those devices to the Internet. Essentially the hot spot becomes a wireless router.

I was curious about the strain something like this would have on the iPhone 4's battery, so I decided to run a little test. I turned on the iPhone 4's hot spot and then connected a Wi-Fi-only iPad to its network. I then streamed a movie through Netflix ("Macbeth"; the Patrick Stewart version, which is surprisingly ambitious, by the way), until the battery on the iPhone 4 died. The movie is only about 2.5 hours, so periodically I'd have to scrub it back toward the beginning.

For comparison, I used the T-Mobile MyTouch 4G, as it was the only hot-spot-capable phone available for testing at the time. I used the same methodology to kill the MyTouch 4G's battery life.

To provide context, I'm also including how long each phone's battery took to die while playing a movie. The movie, "Toy Story 3," on the iPhone 4 was optimized for iPhone 4, whereas "Toy Story 3" on the MyTouch 4G was encoded at 720p. Read more...

Source: news.cnet

Benchmarks of Apple's new MacBook Pros find speeds 13%-53% faster

The addition of Intel's latest-generation Sandy Bridge processors has boosted the performance of Apple's new line of MacBook Pros by between 13 percent and 53 percent faster than their predecessors.

Speedmark 6.5 tests administered by Macworld found that the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.3GHz Core i5 dual-core processor earned a score of 140, versus its predecessor's score of 106. That means the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is 35 percent faster than the model released last April.

While the new system was faster at "just about everything," it did fall short in playing the game Call of Duty 4, averaging 26 frames per second versus 33 frames in last year's model. This is due to the use of Intel's integrated HD Graphics 3000 in the Sandy Bridge processor, while last year's model included a discrete Nvidia graphics card.

The 13-inch 2.7GHz Core i7 MacBook Pro was 13 percent faster than last year's offering with a score of 155. It sports a 2.7GHz Core i7 processor, but again relies on Intel's discrete graphics.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro with 2.0GHz quad-core Core i7 MacBook Pro came in 33 percent faster than last year's 15-inch model with a 2.4GHz Core i5 dual-core system. And the 15-inch 2.2GHz Core i7 quad-core came in 38 percent faster than last year's model.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro has similar specifications to the high-end 15-inch model, and was 53 percent faster than last year's 17-inch model. Both the new 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros feature discrete Radeon HD 6750M graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory that makes them display 31 percent more frames per second in Call of Duty 4.

Macworld also had the new MacBook Pros square off against Apple's iMac all-in-one desktop line, and found that the 2.0GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro beat out the entry-level 3.06GHz dual core Core i3 iMac by one speedmark point. They also found the 15- and 17-inch 2.2GHz MacBook Pros to be about 7 percent faster than the high-end standard configuration iMac with a 2.7GHz quad-core Core i5 processor.

For more, see AppleInsider's coverage of Apple's new line of MacBook Pros:

Apple's new 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros feature quad-core i7 chips, AMD graphics

Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pros sport dual-core Core i5, i7 chips

First Look: Inside Apple's fast new Thunderbolt port on MacBook Pros

Teardown of Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro finds large Thunderbolt chip

Source: http://www.appleinsider.com

Deal of the Day – New 2011 Apple MacBook Pro Laptops

Today’s LogicBUY deal offers savings on the new 2011 MacBook Pro laptops from Apple. You can save up to $150 on these brand new 2011 laptops. There are two configurations for the 13” and the 15” models and a single loaded configuration for the 17” Pro to choose from. Check out the above link for details on these deals.

This deal expires March 2, 2011 or sooner. Check the above link for more details on this deal, and check the LogicBUY home page for other deals.

Source: Here..

Motorola XOOM Specs And The Tablet War

The recent launch of Motorola Xoom has revealed the tablet war hoping to be erupted in the background of the consumer electronic market. The new Android-based Xoom tablet from Motorola, has certainly planned to dethrone Apple’s iPad in the fast-growing tablet consumer market segment.

The added features of the Xoom tablet includes the front (2MP) and rear (5MP) facing cameras, also one to record in HD, which you will not find in the latest version of the iPad. Another important feature of the Xoom includes a large screen with comparatively high resolution and support for Adobe Flash and the Verizon’s network instead of AT&T’s used in others.

Motorola XOOM OS

Motorola Xoom uses Honeycomb, the latest Google’s Android operating system, capable of multitasking. It is designed especially for the tablets. It is now available in the 3G and has the option to be upgraded to 4G.

 Motorola XOOM Processor

The processor of the Xoom is a dual-core Nvida Tegra 2, it is capable of 720 pixel video screening and even sending a 1080p full HD video to the TV via the HDMI connecting port. This is the only detail available till now. Further information will be available when the product will actually see light in the market.

 Motorola XOOM Touch Screen

The screen of the Motorola Xoom is a 10.1-inch with a display quality of 1280 x 800. Most of the tablet computers in comparison are smaller in screen size, as the PlayBook from Blackberry is only a 7-inch tablet with a 1024 x 600 resolution and the iPad is a 9.7-inch display with 1024×768 resolutions. After reviewing Xoom’s screen, it is found to be pretty spectacular on looks even under the bright show lights. 

Motorola XOOM Memory and Storage

At 1GB RAM, Xoom is at par with Playbook having the highest RAM memory on the tablet computers. The Xoom also has a Micro SD slot, but as its Android operating system Android 3.0 do not support the removable memory drive. According to Motorola, as soon as Android starts supporting the external memory devices, Xoom might support the 16 or 32GB on board flash storage space.

 Motorola XOOM Connectivity

The Motorola Xoom at present is 3G enabled and in future is expected to be upgraded to the 4G with wi-fi having 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi.

 Motorola XOOM Accessories

There are three accessories included in this Pack. One is a leather case that can also be used as a stand, another is a standard dock for charging and display, and the “speaker HD” dock. It also includes an HDMI output port, three USB ports and also the built-in speakers. You may also find a Bluetooth keyboard, but all of these should work.

In the coming months we may expect to see many Android based tablets…an a proliferation of the tablets war as even LG Mobile Phones also announced their G-Slate tablet expected to be run on Honeycomb.
Source: www.islandcrisis.net

Samsung I9003 Galaxy SL to hit Germany (and India) in three days

The Samsung I9003 Galaxy SL is just about to hit the shelves in Germany and India. Pre-orders are already accepted and the most eager customers will be able to get their hands on one come Monday.
The Samsung I9003 Galaxy SL was announced a three weeks ago, but we guess its similarity to the Galaxy S helped it enter production so quickly. Plus with the Super Clear LCD replacing the Super AMOLED there's no screen supply shortages to worry about.
Now for the pricing. In Germany the 16GB (there's no 8GB version this time) Samsung I9003 Galaxy SL goes for €380, which is about €10 less than the 8GB I9000 Galaxy S. You should also remember that the I9003 is only now coming to the market. Its price will probably slide down even further making it a more attractive offer.
The Samsung I9003 Galaxy SL prospects in India seem even better - its asking price is just €315. Now that's starting to look like a real bargain!
If you still haven't made up your mind about the I9003 Galaxy SL, you have three days to check out our review. It should answer most of the questions you may have about this new Galaxy S smartphone.
Source:http://www.gsmarena.com

Peripheral makers get ready for Thunderbolt

The arrival of Apple’s latest MacBook Pro models brings a brand new peripheral-connection technology from Intel—Thunderbolt—and with it the promise of faster data transfer speeds. But if Thunderbolt’s going to deliver on that promise, peripheral makers will need to deliver products that take advantage of that technology.

A smattering of companies have already unveiled products aimed at making the most of Thunderbolt. A few other that Macworld spoke to aren’t revealing their plans just yet, though they did express interest in what the new technology has to offer.

To review, Intel developed Thunderbolt in conjunction with Apple. The connectivity technology will transfer data between host devices and external devices at speeds of up to 10Gbps. At that speed, you could transfer a full-length high-definition movie from an external storage device to your Mac in less than 30 seconds.

With Thunderbolt ports included in all new MacBook Pro models, the technology will soon be in the hands of consumers worldwide. And in a few cases, they won’t have to wait too long for Thunderbolt-ready peripherals.

Intel and Apple had barely broken the news of Thunderbolt’s arrival Thursday when RAID storage supplier Promise Technology announced its own plans for the connectivity standard. The company praised Thunderbolt’s speed and “amazing flexibility for connectivity to high-performance peripherals” when announcing its own Thunderbolt-compatible high performance hardware RAID offering, Pegasus. Set for release in the second quarter of 2011 and designed for media and entertainment customers, Pegasus will feature two Thunderbolt ports and will be available in 4-bay and 6-bay aluminum enclosures with up to 12TB of storage.

“Once we were approached [by Intel] about this, it was a no-brainer,” Promise product manager Billy Harrison told Macworld. “The performance, with 10 Gigabits, dual channel, bidirectional…that’s extremely appealing.”  Read more...

Source: http://www.macworld.com

Nintendo 3-D Handheld Goes On Sale In Japan

Nintendo's latest game machine, offering glasses-free 3-D images, went on sale in Japan on Saturday ahead of a global rollout, and analysts say it promises to be the world's first 3-D mass-market product.

"I'm so excited," said 9-year-old Natsumi Miyasaka, clutching her brand new blue 3DS portable that her father bought for her.

Lines formed outside Tokyo electronics stores, although they weren't as long as some previous gadget launches, as Nintendo offered purchase reservations in advance.

The Nintendo 3DS, which costs 25,000 yen ($300) in Japan, goes on sale in Europe on March 25 for 250 euros, and arrives in the U.S. on March 27 for $250.

Kyoto-based Nintendo Co. is banking on the 3-D technology as sales momentum gradually fades for earlier hits such as the Wii home console and predecessor DS models.

Nintendo expects to sell 4 million of the 3DS machines through the end of March — 1.5 million in Japan and the rest overseas. The company is expected to have no problems meeting that target.

"It is the most comprehensive handheld gaming device from Nintendo to date, with high-quality graphics and online features," said Hiroshi Kamide, an analyst with J.P. Morgan in Tokyo. "I believe the 3DS will be the first mass-market 3-D device."

While 3-D technology for TVs has created a buzz, and 3-D camcorders are also gaining some attention, such products have not sold in big numbers so far, making for a tiny fraction of overall TV and camcorder sales. So selling 4 million 3DS machines in a month would be significant for a 3-D product.

The 3DS looks much like older DS machines, and has two panels. The top panel shows 3-D imagery, giving players an illusion of virtual reality, such as a puppy licking the screen from inside the machine. The bottom screen is a touch panel.

The device also comes with three cameras, and allows the user to take 3-D photos. It doesn't require the special glasses needed for 3-D theater movies or 3-D game consoles like rival Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3. They also don't require 3-D TV sets.

Sony is promising a new handheld code-named NGP later this year, but has yet to give pricing and the machine does not offer 3-D gaming.

On the downside are growing fears about the health effects of too much 3-D. Some people have gotten sick by watching 3-D movies or playing 3-D games.

Nintendo has issued a warning that the 3DS could harm the eyesight of children 6 or younger, recommending they play in 2-D. It also says users should stop playing if they become tired or start to feel ill.

Although more game software is expected to be ready by the Europe and U.S. launch dates, only eight games were ready for the Japan launch. But the machine comes with several built-in games and other features.

Such drawbacks didn't faze Toyohisa Ishihara, a 43-year-old engineer, who stood in line for two hours to get his 3DS.

"The images seem to pop out. There is a sense of a world spreading beyond," he said. "I can't wait to play it."

Compared to Westerners, Japanese are expected to use 3DS for networking, creating avatars, listening to music and other lifestyle enjoyment, rather than just for games — partly because of their long daily train commutes.

"The 3DS is moving in on the territory typically held by Apple products," said Ricardo Torres, editor-in-chief of GameSpot, an online gaming review site. "I expect Nintendo to sell 3DS as fast as they can get them into stores."

Source: npr.org

iOS publisher Bulky Pix to release 40 games in 2011

Developer and publisher augments its lineup with new titles, announcements

While most New Year’s resolutions are waning by this time of year, game publisher Bulky Pix is making good on their ambitious plan to release 40 iPad and iPhone games in 2011. These new titles will double their current library of games for iOS devices. The Paris- and San Francisco-based publisher developed about a third of these new releases in-house, while the remaining projects are being developed by outside studios.

You might have already recognized some new Bulky Pix titles in the iOS App Store over the past few weeks; Hysteria Project 2, iCannon Hellfire, and Cardboard Castle are already available for download on the App Store.

Hysteria Project 2 (a sequel to the award-winning original) begins where its predecessor left off. Bulky Pix promises the sequel will be longer than the original (providing over an hour of gameplay) but fans will likely still find the episodic first person horror series to be short. Employing new filming techniques and gesture controls, the player must find clues and navigate a maze-like building while hiding from a serial killer. In one thrilling segment of the game, you have to peer out behind a wall to see what the killer is doing. But if you peer out too far, he’ll see you and it’s game over. Developed internally at Bulky Pix, Hysteria Project 2 is available for $2 on the iTunes App Store.

Another Bulky Pix-developed title, iCannon Hellfire, is a shooter game with a twist: players must defend their position from invasion from not just one direction, but from a full 360 degrees around them. iCannon utilizes the iPhone’s accelerometer to create the illusion of adrenaline-pumping combat all around you. The game features over 20 missions and the ability to garner powers like an energy wave or invincibility. Read more...

Source: www.macworld.com