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Download kaspesky internet security 2011 license keys
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Monday, August 27, 2012
kaspersky license keys free download
Download kaspesky internet security 2011 license keys
In-case this keys will be black list please comment i will upload new keys
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Experiment 19: How Windows NT was streamlined for Windows Phone 8
Microsoft Research has published a few more details on their skunkworks project that commenced in 2008 to bring the Windows NT core to ARM. Better still this goes on to show that not only were they successful, but also they were able to beat Windows CE in performance tests on the same hardware.Windows CE, on which Windows Mobile and Windows Phone 7 run, has been the mainstay of Microsoft’s mobile efforts for a very long time. The problem of course is that it’s never really been Windows at all and for the most part it an entirely separate beast. Windows NT, the core of Microsoft’s standard Windows products, was long considered too large and resource heavy to work well on mobile devices. Experiment 19 was a project to prove that not only could NT come to mobile, it could do so and beat Windows CE in the process. It was a success.For Microsoft this must have been a breakthrough moment, they decided to drop CE for its mobile platforms and go with this new slimmed down core (MinWin). Whilst we already know that the core of Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT tablets share a similar genesis, it’s nice to see some backstory on where and how this came to pass.Bringing NT to ARM whilst compacting the fundamentals of Windows has likely been a mammoth undertaking. The fruits of this drive to slim down the once lumbering NT core are being seen clearly now. Windows 7 actually had MinWin as its core and further streamlining of the OS means now Windows 8 runs faster on the same hardware.As an interesting aside, I was under the impression that Windows Phone 8 would require dual core to run efficiently, due to its basis on the more traditional windows technologies. That is at odds with what I’m reading and seeing here in this snippet from the project. MinWin shows it’s able to run faster on the same hardware. That dispels any rationale I had for MS dropping support for older Windows Phone 7 hardware. That of course is not to say there aren’t a great many other reasons why it can’t run on current gen devices due to hardware requirements or just the plain reason that MS want to drop these lower end devices and move briskly forward with a platform that’s fit to tough it out with the higher end devices of today.Whilst my feelings about Microsoft’s decision to leave current gen devices behind is mixed, my feelings toward a properly joined up eco system running roughly the same core is very warm indeed. As a long time Windows user, I have seen the benefits of having a wholly formed eco system feeding in and augmenting the other parts. You can see this with client and server versions of Windows clearly. Having a common windows core running on all of their future devices will have so many benefits for Microsoft. Already we are seeing traditional Windows running faster and more efficiently on lower end hardware, a direct result of the need to have an agile core that runs well on mobile. Conversely, Windows Phone 8 will benefit from long established and familiar technology from Windows NT. We can look forward to finally having a highly scalable core, meaning dual and quad core phones are just the start. In Windows Phone 8 we’ll get Bitlocker to secure the device to enterprise levels of security, common driver models and a whole lot more.
Strength through unity of core designIf breaking compatibility with the past and not offering Windows Phone 7 devices an upgrade means we get a more scalable, secure and rich future, I’m prepared to accept that. Windows Phone won’t be a side project at Microsoft anymore. Being a true member of the Windows family will mean that it will be part of Microsoft’s single biggest engineering effort. The results of this project will be hitting the shelves in the October timeframe in the form of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Next year I wonder will we see the Xbox vNext based on a similar core again. I would be very surprised if it we did not.As ever, I am keen to know what you think. Are you happy to see Windows NT finally reaching Windows Phone? Would you have preferred MS kept Windows Phone separate?Source Microsoft via Mary Jo Foley
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Freda ebook reader for Windows Phone bumped to 2.6
Freda, the free ebook reader for Windows Phone, has been updated to version 2.6, which introduces a number of new features and improvements. We previously looked at the app back in November when the developers were eagerly seeking beta testers for a previous update, so it's good to see Freda continue to receive invested time and effort to further improve the user experience.
So what's new in version two-point-six? The Turnipsoft team have worked hard to translate the UI for French, German, Swedish and Slovak users, further opening up the service for international consumers, but that's not all. Find the full changelog below:
Improved Metro-style appearance (including a jump-list view of the 'bookshelf')FB2 formatAbility to backup and restore the bookshelf using SkyDrive storageBetter handling of CODE, PRE and DIV elementsAdvertising no longer displayed on the main front screenBulk-download feature to get multiple books at onceLow-memory mode for better performance on low-end hardware (Lumia 610, etc.)Password lockFrench, German, Swedish and Slovak UI localisationNumerous stability and performance fixesNot a shabby update. In fact it's quite a leap forward. If you're into ebooks and haven't given this app a try, be sure to do so as it supports EPUB (DRM-free), FB2, HTML and TXT formats to keep you busy. Freda sports customisable controls that enable the user to alter fonts and colours, while inserting annotations and bookmarks, as well as the ability to look up dictionary definitions and translations.
The app can render EPUB formatting (eg. bold / italic text, margins and alignment) and can display code, images and diagrams. Book sources supported include Feedbooks, Smashwords and the Gutenberg Project catalogues. SkyDrive, DropBox or Calibre can be used to share existing book collections with the app for on-the-go reading. If that wasn't enough, Freda can also download books from websites using the built-in web browser. Favourite books can then be pinned to the home screen for more convenient access.
You can download Freda and Freda+ ($0.99 / £0.79) from the Marketplace. Difference between the two versions is advertisement removal.
Microsoft Surface and RIM BlackBerry Windows Phone 8 concepts that will probably never come to be
Could Microsoft make a Surface Phone? Not likelyWe've re-published a number of concepts in the past when it came to guessing what designs Nokia had up their sleeves for Windows Phone, or how Windows 8 tablets could look like. Fortunately for consumers, Microsoft decided to smash the latter and unveil their Surface range of Windows 8 tablets to compete with the iPad and Android counterparts. So we now switch back to the phone, and with Apollo on the horizon what could we see if Microsoft and RIM made a Windows Phone?
We've seen designers somewhat expectedly take what Microsoft has accomplished thus far with Surface and attempt to apply it across the software giant's entire product range. Carrying on this trend, we have the above concept by Jonas Daehnert. If you haven't guessed it already, it's a design for a Surface Windows Phone (or "Surface Phone"). This is what we could expect from Microsoft should they choose to go down the hardware route with their mobile platform too. We're going to take a look at this and report on why we believe this is most likely not going to happen in the immediate future.
While it looks impressive and we'd not expect anything less from Microsoft with what we've seen with Zune hardware and of course the Surface tablets, there's always the issue of OEMs. Windows Phone already has a number of established manufacturing partners. Nokia, Samsung, HTC, ZTE, and more, with the likes of Lenovo on the way. While the company could aquire Nokia if things go from bad to worst, it just wouldn't make sense to directly compete with hardware we've seen so far.
Microsoft has actually denied rumours already, stating that the company has no plans to bring Surface to Windows Phone, or attempt to compete directly with hardware partners. The software giant has always enjoyed establishing strong relationships with vendors when it comes to Windows and have proven to be incredibly successful so far. The fact that current Windows Phone manufacturers are looking at Apollo with excitement, preparing to launch high-end hardware, and don't have the issue with patent infringements makes the future seem somewhat bright for the ecosystem.
The reasons behind the Surface tablet itself is down to the big M believing that what partners offered weren't good enough and they couldn't work with them, so the company decided to do it alone - check out the above video for the announcement. While OEMs will still bring tablets running Windows 8 to the Surface (pun intended), all eyes will be glued to Microsoft's offering unless a competing device is on the same level of uniqueness and beauty.
Then again, we don't know what the future will bring. The Surface could be yet another flop and may then have to rely on OEM partners, or it could be a huge success and Ballmer and co. may look to bring this Surface success across to Windows Phone. But we've seen Microsoft make mobile hardware before, which didn't turn out too well.
What RIM would develop to join the Windows Phone ecosystemRIM (or in this case - Research In Migration) has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, much like our beloved Nokia. If you've been hiding under a rock for the past several months, be sure to head on over to CrackBerry for all the latest and greatest from RIM HQ. That said, it's not looking good at all for the future of BlackBerry. The company has continuously delayed the next major upgrade to their OS, BlackBerry 10, and the setup which is being forced to last until release is just not likely to hold out without major issues.
The above (and below) concepts are by Michal Bonikowski, and appear to resemble a BlackBerry-WindowsPhone hybrid of sorts, it's as if Ballmer visited a mad doctor with a BlackBerry and demanded him to mutate it into a Windows product for "Developers! Developers! Developers!" to make use of. Sporting a fairly sizable display -- minus the usual QUERTY keyboard -- the slim look really makes it fit in with the likes of the HTC TITAN II and Nokia Lumia 900.
When it comes to BlackBerry and Windows Phone, we've published a number of headlines ourselves, starting with an investment calling for the company to adopt Windows Phone back in December 2011. RIM declined Microsoft's offer for a Nokia-type deal with the former scraping its OS in favour for Windows Phone, accompanied by a cash injection from the software giant for a stake of the Canadian company.
RIM's CEO, Thorsten Heins, has recently commented in an interview with CNET that Microsoft's plan for Windows Phone is 'confusing'. Some would argue that at least Microsoft is delivering promised updates in a timely fashion and is looking to the distant future of the platform as well as the imminent months ahead. To top it all off between the two platforms, developer interest in Windows Phone has been reported to be increasing while interest in RIM plummets (though the company has responded rather defensively).
Could we see RIM adopting Windows Phone? It seems like a highly unlikely outcome for the time being. While the company is in trouble, it's making progress and is still working valiantly on its next OS upgrade. Hopefully it'll arrive sooner rather than later as while we'd love to see more big brand support for Windows Phone, it's never good to see such a well known (and respected) company suffer.
Should BlackBerry 10 not provide the positive momentum RIM so desperately requires, we could re-visit this Windows Phone adoption possibility as potential reality and a feasible decision. It's either that or Android. Could you imagine BlackBerry hardware running multiple versions of the fragmented OS? Until then, we'd recommend not reading too much into anything.
So now we've established that both concepts are fairly far-fetched, what do you make of the designs? Like 'em? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Source: DeviantART (Surface), Yanko Design (BlackBerry)
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Sony drops VAIO T from free PlayStation offer, hikes real cost of entry to $970
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Scientists develop flush-efficient toilet system that can turn waste into energy, sort before it recycles
By Alexis Santos 
posted Jun 29th 2012 9:43PM \ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\All From Here\imobile\PinExt.png "Pin It")
posted Jun 29th 2012 9:43PM 
Scientists from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University aren't keen on being wasteful -- that's why they've developed a toilet that uses 90% less water than other commodes and is capable of generating energy. Aptly named the No-Mix Vacuum Toilet, the porcelain pedestal's pot divides waste between two partitions -- one side for liquids, the other for solids -- and uses vacuum tech reminiscent of airline lavatories. Flushing solid and fluid wastes with 1 and 0.2 liters of H2O, respectively, the can will be able to route refuse to external processing facilities. Fertilizer ingredients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous would then be harvested from liquids. Similarly, methane can be coaxed from solids for conversion to electricity or as a replacement for other natural gasses. Two of the university's restrooms are slated to have the toilets installed in the near future, and the team expects the thrones to roll out worldwide within three years.
[Thanks, Yuka]
Friday, July 6, 2012
New system lets you type with your brain using MRIs
By Terrence O'Brien posted Jun 29th 2012 1:46PM 
posted Jun 29th 2012 1:46PM 
This isn't mind reading, per say. Instead Bettina Sorger, Joel Reithler, Brigitte Dahmen and Rainer Goebel at Universiteit Maastricht have figured out a way to monitor the flow of blood in the brain and associate the images captured using an MRI with the letters of the alphabet. The whole system takes about an hour to learn and configure for each individual. Trials focused on healthy individuals, but clearly its the paralyzed and people suffering from diseases like ALS that have the most to gain. Sorger hopes to enable "locked-in" patients to finally be able to communicate with the outside world by thinking out letter at a time. Obviously, patients aren't going to be able to install an MRI in their homes, much less lug one around with them. The data collected could be used to finely tailor less accurate but more portable systems for patients that monitor electrical or light signals. If you're interested in the real nitty-gritty you can check out the complete research paper at the source link.
Android Army: US soldiers to leverage portable battlefield network and smartphones
Reception and call quality 8.3 Display 8.5 Battery life 7 Camera 6.7 Ease of use 8.1 Design and form factor 8.1 Portability (size / weight) 9.1 Media support 8.8 Durability 8.2 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 8.9
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HTC teases something 'Incredible' for the US in July, we think a 4G LTE Droid might fit the bill
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Rdio goes minimalist, tries another redesign on for size
By Donald Melanson posted Jun 29th 2012 4:46PM
posted Jun 29th 2012 4:46PM 
Finally get settled into the last Rdio redesign from just a few months ago? Well, we're afraid you've got a bit more adjusting to do. The streaming music service has now rolled out another sweeping visual overhaul of its website and desktop apps -- one that ditches the former iTunes-like appearance for a far more minimalist look, although all of the key elements remain in the same places as before. Naturally, that brings with it yet another software update for the desktop apps, although there's no word on any changes for its mobile apps just yet.
NASA's NuSTAR probe snaps first X-ray image of feeding black hole
Space Telescope Opens Its X-Ray Eyes
06.28.12
Mission Status Report
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, has snapped its first test images of the sizzling high-energy X-ray universe. The observatory, launched June 13, is the first space telescope with the ability to focus high-energy X-rays, the same kind used by doctors and dentists, into crisp images.
Soon, the mission will begin its exploration of hidden black holes; fiery cinder balls left over from star explosions; and other sites of extreme physics in our cosmos.
"Today, we obtained the first-ever focused images of the high-energy X-ray universe," said Fiona Harrison, the mission's principal investigator at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, who first conceived of NuSTAR about 15 years ago. "It's like putting on a new pair of glasses and seeing aspects of the world around us clearly for the first time."
NuSTAR's lengthy mast, which provides the telescope mirrors and detectors with the distance needed to focus X-rays, was deployed on June 21. The NuSTAR team spent the next week verifying the pointing and motion capabilities of the satellite, and fine-tuning the alignment of the mast.
The first images from the observatory show Cygnus X-1, a black hole in our galaxy that is siphoning gas off a giant-star companion. This particular black hole was chosen as a first target because it is extremely bright in X-rays, allowing the NuSTAR team to easily see where the telescope's focused X-rays are falling on the detectors.
In the next two weeks, the team will point at two other bright calibration targets: G21.5-0.9, the remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred several thousand years ago in our own Milky Way galaxy; and 3C273, an actively feeding black hole, or quasar, located 2 billion light-years away at the center of another galaxy. These targets will be used to make a small adjustment to place the X-ray light at the optimum spot on the detector, and to further calibrate and understand the telescope in preparation for future science observations.
Other telescopes, including NASA's Swift and Chandra space telescopes, and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton, will look at 3C273 in coordination with NuSTAR, helping to further calibrate the telescope.
The mission's primary observing program is expected to commence within two weeks.
"This is a really exciting time for the team," said Daniel Stern, the NuSTAR project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "We can already see the power of NuSTAR to crack open the high-energy X-ray universe and reveal secrets that were impossible to get at before."
Throughout its two-year prime mission, NuSTAR will turn its focused gaze on the most energetic objects in the universe, producing images with 100 times the sensitivity and 10 times the resolution of its predecessors operating at similar wavelength ranges. It will take a census of black holes both inside and outside of our Milky Way galaxy, and answer questions about how this enigmatic cosmic "species" behaves and evolves. Because it sees high-energy X-rays, NuSTAR will also probe farther into the dynamic regions around black holes, where matter is heated to temperatures as high as hundreds of millions of degrees, and will measure how fast black holes are spinning.
Other targets for the mission include the burnt-out remains of dead stars, such as those that exploded as supernovae; high-speed jets; the temperamental surface of our sun; and the structures where galaxies cluster together like mega-cities.
NuSTAR is a Small Explorer mission led by Caltech and managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The spacecraft was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Va. Its instrument was built by a consortium including Caltech; JPL; the University of California, Berkeley; Columbia University, New York; NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.; the Danish Technical University in Denmark; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, Calif.; and ATK Aerospace Systems, Goleta, Calif. NuSTAR will be operated by UC Berkeley, with the Italian Space Agency providing its equatorial ground station located at Malindi, Kenya. The mission's outreach program is based at Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, Calif. NASA's Explorer Program is managed by Goddard. JPL is managed by Caltech for NASA.
For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar and http://www.nustar.caltech.edu/
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Windows 8 renames Windows Explorer, File Explorer to help you find files instead
Ease of use 8.6 Speed 8.4 Configurability 8.4 Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.) 8.7 Openness 6.9
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Google+ patent app details myFaves-like carrier contacts integration with social network circles
By Zach Honig posted Jun 29th 2012 10:08AM
posted Jun 29th 2012 10:08AM 
With more carriers pushing unlimited calling plans, we can't say there's necessarily a need for the friends and family features of yesteryear on this side of the Atlantic, but plenty of networks beyond the good ole US of A are a bit more stingy when it comes to tallying talk time. The latest Google patent application to be published was filed last December and covers exactly this type of scenario, suggesting that the Google+ profile of the future could include an option to create a "Telco Co. Preferred Calling" circle, which would theoretically enable free calling between yourself and a small group of friends.
According to the application, semi-public information, such as a telephone number, would be shared between Google and a registered service provider, and you would maintain discount calling relationships from within Google+, adding and dropping callers to and from your online contacts list. You could also dictate custom rules, such as ringtones for contacts in specific groups, or create carrier-branded circles that are populated with your friends on the same network, making it easier to determine whether or not you'll be billed for calls to a particular user. Like all patent applications, there's no guarantee that Google's submission with come to fruition, but if you're feeling optimistic, you can hit up the source link below for all the legalese.
Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5pm ET!
Regular time, regular place. Wait, what? For such a hectic and crazy week as this, it's equally astounding to think that we'll be doing the Engadget Mobile Podcast the usual way -- Friday afternoon at 5pm. Just like last week, this is definitely one you don't want to miss: Google announced a couple things, RIM broke a few hearts and we reviewed a few devices. Tune in and enjoy Myriam and Brad waxing poetic about the wild week that was wireless!
Flickr brings in Nokia map data for precise geotagged photos, Instagram shots just got eerily accurate
By Jon Fingas posted Jun 29th 2012 12:59PM
posted Jun 29th 2012 12:59PM 
Open Street Map has been helping Flickr display geotagged shots for some time. That crowdsourced map data has led to more than a few photos being located in a gray blob, however, which is why Yahoo just struck a deal to put Nokia maps into as many nooks and crevices of the world as possible. The addition will make sure that Instagram photo tour of Africa is often accurate down to the street corner, not to mention give a slightly Finland-tinged look to the maps themselves. Open Street Map isn't going away, but it's now being used only for those areas where regular coverage is spotty or non-existent. The images already apply to any existing and upcoming uploads -- there will be no question that self-portrait was taken in Tanzania.
World's smallest 4K USB 3.0 camera delivers 21 frames per second, fits in pockets
Point Grey Launches World's Smallest 4K USB 3.0 Camera
RICHMOND, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Point Grey, one of the world's largest and most innovative manufacturers of industrial digital cameras for machine vision, bioscience, traffic, and GIS applications, today releases an innovative new model to its popular line of Flea3 USB 3.0 cameras. This new model leverages the bandwidth capabilities of USB 3.0 by delivering 4096 x 2160 color images at 21 FPS (185 MByte/s) in an ice-cube sized, low-cost package.
"This camera is our latest innovation; we packed a high quality 8.8 MP, 4K2K sensor into the Flea3 and did it at an unbeatable price-point."
The FL3-U3-88S2C features Sony's new IMX121 sensor with "Exmor R" back-illuminated CMOS architecture. By increasing quantum efficiency and reducing noise, "Exmor R" improves sensitivity and dynamic range for sharp, high-quality color images. The impressive 4K2K resolution combined with the ease of USB 3.0 and the camera's small size makes the new Flea3 suitable for a variety of high resolution color applications including automatic optical inspection, ophthalmology, interactive multimedia, and broadcast.
"Since demonstrating the world's first USB 3.0 camera in 2009, Point Grey continues to push the boundaries of imaging technology," explains Michael Gibbons, Director of Sales and Marketing. Mr. Gibbons adds, "This camera is our latest innovation; we packed a high quality 8.8 MP, 4K2K sensor into the Flea3 and did it at an unbeatable price-point."
Point Grey's Flea3 camera line measures just 29 x 29 x 30mm and provides a unique set of features dedicated to maximizing USB 3.0 reliability, including a 32 megabyte frame buffer; on-camera power, temperature, and status monitoring; and in-field updatable firmware. The camera also provides color interpolation, look up table, gamma correction, and pixel binning functionality.
The Flea3 FL3-U3-88S2C-C (color) model is list priced at USD $945 and is available to order now from Point Grey and its network of distributors.
HP plans to hold off on building ARM-based Windows tablets, focus on x86 instead
Ease of use 8.6 Speed 8.4 Configurability 8.4 Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.) 8.7 Openness 6.9
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Wednesday, July 4, 2012
University of Tokyo builds a soap bubble 3D screen, guarantees your display stays squeaky clean (video)
There are waterfall screens, but what if you'd like your display to be a little more... pristine? Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a display that hits soap bubbles with ultrasonic sound to change the surface. At a minimum, it can change how light glances off the soap film to produce the image. It gets truly creative when taking advantage of the soap's properties: a single screen is enough to alter the texture of a 2D image, and multiple screens in tandem can create what amounts to a slightly sticky hologram. As the soap is made out of sturdy colloids rather than the easily-burst mixture we all knew as kids, users won't have to worry about an overly touch-happy colleague popping a business presentation. There's a video preview of the technology after the jump; we're promised a closer look at the technology during the SIGGRAPH expo in August, but we don't yet know how many years it will take to find sudsy screens in the wild.
Gigabyte launches Aivia Xenon dual-mode touchpad mouse
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Sony Smart Wireless Headset pro hits retail with $150 price in tow
Smart Wireless Headset pro – a Premium Bluetooth™ Stereo Headset Delivering a Quality Wireless Audio Experience - Now Available in the US
What: Engineered for music lovers, the Smart Wireless Headset pro is a multifunctional Bluetooth™ stereo headset. It packs four functions into one small, sleek device. Take phone calls, receive text, email, social media, and calendar alerts (1), or use as a standalone MP3 player and FM radio.
In addition to delivering stunning sound and clear call quality, the Smart Wireless Headset pro uses smart text to speech technology that reads aloud text and email messages, so you don't miss that crucial email from your boss informing you that your meeting has been rescheduled. (1)
Smart Wireless Headset pro is part of Sony Mobile Communications' strategy to create Smart Extras that make Android smartphones smarter.
Key features:
· Proprietary tangle-free headset with 6mm speaker drivers delivers sound richness and clarity
· 4 devices in 1: wireless headset, MP3 player, FM radio and notification hub for incoming texts, emails, social media and calendar alerts
· Basic audio and call features enabled with all Bluetooth™ 2.0 capable devices
· Use the Smart Wireless Headset pro with an Android™ smartphone to receive additional capabilities:
o Call directly from the headset's recent call list
o Read messages into the headset with text to speech function
· Enjoy tunes anywhere with the included 2GB Micro SD memory card (ability to upgrade to 32GB)
Pricing & availability:
The Smart Wireless Headset pro is $149.99 and is now available at Sony.com/smartheadset and Sony stores.
In the box:
· Premium tangle-free headset
· Music transfer USB cable
· Micro USB charger
· 2GB Micro SD card
· USB-Micro SD Card Reader CCR-80
· Earbuds: 4 sizes
· User guide & Warranty leaflet
ASUS' Cedar Trail-loaded EeeBox EB1030 nettop keeps your desk clean, thumbs green
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Recon goggles gain Facebook integration and augmented reality at Google I/O (hands-on video)
By Myriam Joire posted Jun 29th 2012 4:56PM
posted Jun 29th 2012 4:56PM 
Remember that Android SDK Recon Instruments finally unveiled for its heads-up display goggles? Well the company was showing off the fruits of its labor here at Google I/O 2012 with two demos -- specifically two-way Facebook integration and augmented reality using a Contour camera. In the first demo, the goggles are paired over Bluetooth with an app running on an Android phone. Each time you jump while snowboarding or skying, the accelerometer data from the goggles is sent to the handset which posts a graphic to Facebook showing the distance, height and duration of your flight. Any comments made to the post are then immediately relayed back to the heads-up display. The second demo uses a Contour camera attached to the goggles and paired via Bluetooth. As you look around, the output from the camera appears on the heads-up display augmented with labels showing the location and distance of the nearby train stations based on the compass and GPS data from the goggles. Pretty cool, eh? Check out the gallery below and hit the break for our two hands-on videos.
BBC introduces Red Button to the internet, thinks they'll be great pals
By Alexis Santos posted Jun 30th 2012 11:46AM
posted Jun 30th 2012 11:46AM 
Since 1999, the BBC's Red Button feature has delivered alternative camera angles, sports scores and the like over broadcast spectrum, but it's now set to become internet enabled. Channel surfers shouldn't expect a full-blown web experience, however, as the Beebs stresses it's not about to include everything and the kitchen sink in terms of functionality. Rather, their Connected Red Button aims for simplicity. Punching the clicker could bring up the iPlayer to catch previous episodes of shows or save recipes from a cooking program for later viewing on a computer or smartphone. Companion screen experiences such as the Antiques Roadshow app, which is slated for a September release, are also part of their web-connected roadmap. Mum's the word on when these new features might roll out, but we're promised the BBC's Olympics coverage will give us a taste of what's to come.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Apple lands preliminary ban against Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the US (update: search patent the key)
Reception and call quality 8.3 Display 9.5 Battery life 6.6 Camera 7.2 Ease of use 8.9 Design and form factor 8.9 Portability (size / weight) 8.6 Media support 8.9 Durability 8.1 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 8.7
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BMW and Toyota sign deal to collaborate on sports car and EV technology
BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation agree to further strengthen collaboration
29.06.2012
Companies sign MoU aimed at collaboration in four fields of technology
Tokyo/Munich. Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), met today with Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at BMW Group headquarters in Munich to announce the planned expansion of their existing cooperation initiated in December last year. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at long-term strategic collaboration in four fields: joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, collaboration on powertrain electrification and joint research and development on lightweight technologies.
Also today, Norbert Reithofer and Akio Toyoda of TMC both signed a Joint Statement to reconfirm their companies' shared intention to strengthen the long-term, strategic collaboration between them.
Reithofer said: "We aim to further strengthen our competitive position in sustainable future technologies. We signed an MoU to this effect today. Toyota and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility. Together we have a great opportunity to continue leading our industry through this transformation."
Toyoda added: "BMW and Toyota both want to make ever-better cars. We respect each other. And I think this is shown by our taking the next step only six months since the signing of our initial agreement. Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells. On the other hand, I believe BMW's strength is in developing sports cars. I am excited to think of the cars that will result from this relationship."
In March 2012, the BMW Group and TMC signed a binding agreement on collaborative research in the field of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells. In addition, the BMW Group and Toyota Motor Europe entered into a contract under which the BMW Group will supply highly-efficient 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe, starting in 2014.
Today's MoU represents the companies' agreement in December last year to identify and discuss other possible collaborative projects.
Government-backed movie streaming service coming to China in Q4, bringing Paramount titles along
Jiaflix Named Exclusive Partner of China Movie Channel Web Subsidiary M1905; Venture Will Stream Films Throughout China
Jiaflix Enterprises principals Sid Ganis, Marc Ganis and Kenneth Huang, and M1905, the official internet subsidiary of China Movie Channel/CCTV6 jointly announced today an exclusive venture to stream both Chinese and international feature films on a subscription basis (SVOD), as well as international feature films on a transactional video on demand basis (TVOD) throughout China. The long term agreement names Jiaflix, a U.S./China enterprise, M1905's exclusive authorized party for the importation of international films and libraries from North America and Europe for new media, internet streaming and mobile devices.
"China has the largest number of online users in the world, and M1905.com, commonly known as China Movie Web, is SARFT's official internet movie site. The M1905.com web site is dedicated solely to movies and caters to fans of both domestic Chinese and international films. It averages more than 16 million page views and 4 million unique visitors daily, has more than 3 million registered users and has been growing rapidly, more than doubling year to year," said Jiaflix principal Marc Ganis. "This new venture will bring the best that Hollywood has to offer to viewers in China. It represents a great opportunity to enhance cultural cooperation between our two nations and we are thrilled to be part of this official bridge between the Chinese and Hollywood film industries."
Jiaflix also announced today that it has signed a multi-year licensing deal with Paramount Pictures to include titles from Paramount's extensive and renowned film library for both SVOD and TVOD.
"This is an important step for Paramount in terms of positioning our product in China," said Hal Richardson, President, Paramount Home Media Distribution. "Paramount has worked with China Movie Channel for many years and we are happy to be expanding our relationship and online movie viewership in China through our deal with Jiaflix."
M1905's Director and Vice President, Longfei Liang, adds, "We are delighted to make this announcement with our partners at Jiaflix. China has a long and storied history in films. New media distribution of films is the future and M1905 is excited to be working with Jiaflix and Paramount Pictures, an iconic Hollywood studio, in bringing great movies to our expanding online audience."
The agreement with Paramount is the first under the Jiaflix partnership with M1905 that will see licensing deals with several other North American and European content providers.
M1905 is the wholly-owned subsidiary of the China Movie Channel, which is under the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) of the People's Republic of China. China Movie Channel is that country's largest television buyer of international movies and has agreements with virtually all of the major movie studios. M1905 sub-licenses domestic Chinese films to a number of video web sites in China. In June 2012, M1905's mobile television service officially started operations with China Mobile and China Telecom's mobile video service allowing M1905 to provide officially licensed content and VOD service to the more than 100 million 3G mobile subscribers in China.
Sid Ganis' long affiliation within the film industry along with his recent role in China as Honorary Chairperson of Wuxi Studio Development and Promotion Committee, assisted in bringing this venture to fruition. He is a former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and previously held roles as Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and President of Paramount Pictures. Ganis is currently an independent producer at his company Out of the Blue Entertainment and Co-Executive Producer on last year's ABC Television series PAN AM.
Kenneth Huang is a China based entrepreneur and investor. He is active in a number of important business sectors in China including capital markets, infrastructure construction, sports and entertainment. Mr. Huang is a successful philanthropist and was voted the most popular philanthropist by Sina.com and BQ Magazine in December 2009. Mr. Huang was raised in China and educated in the United States.
Marc Ganis is President and Founder of Sportscorp Ltd., a Chicago based sports business advisory firm. Mr. Ganis has been involved in a number of the most visible and valuable sports business transactions in the U.S. He has been active in China for more than a decade in the capital markets, sports and entertainment sectors.
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Cracking the Nexus Q, Google's 25-watt amplified obsession
"We're missing a nut," says a bemused Matt Hershenson, former Danger founder and now Google's director of hardware for Android, pointing at a vacant spot on an exploded photo of the Nexus Q. Its parts are strewn out across a white background, perfectly arranged in a linear pattern that starkly contrasts with the spherical nature of the thing. "Wow, you're right," agrees Joe Britt, engineering director at Google and another former Danger founder. "It's like the illuminators, you know, the monks who used to draw up the codexes." Hershenson picks up the reference without missing a beat: "Everybody needs to make at least one mistake. Nothing can be perfect."
That goes against everything else we've been learning from the pair, who spend 45 minutes walking us through every detail of what went into the development of the new Nexus Q. They worked hand-in-hand with engineers and designers and materials experts, ensuring everything from the bearings to the LEDs were, well, perfect. But there is one thing, something larger, that many have said is a crucial flaw in this illuminated device: pricing. Will people pay $299 for a high-concept, low-functionality social media streamer? Join us after the break for how the Q came to be, and why Britt and Hershenson think it will be a success.
Inside that spherical exterior is a decidedly more square dual-core TI OMAP 4460 processor CPU paired with 1GB of RAM, the same basic power behind the Galaxy Nexus. That's matched with 16GB of flash storage, but that storage is (at least out of the box) inaccessible. This is a purely streaming device, connecting over 10/100 Ethernet or dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi to pull media only from the cloud -- and, even more restrictively, only from Google Play.
Even though you start playback from your phone or tablet, the data must always go directly through the Q, and it's always pulled from Google's servers. Even the concept of "pinning" something for offline playback later is absent here. "Fundamentally, this is the way content is changing," says Hershenson. "There are a lot of people consuming data this way. YouTube is coming from the cloud in the first place. we're not doing something out of convention with regards to the information being in the cloud, and the use cases it enables is just awesome. The social aspect... those kinds of things are really exploiting the fact that it's in the cloud."
But, Britt is quick to point out that "this is just the initial feature set." As we've already seen, the Q is eminently hackable, a point that its two proud parents return to frequently. That "initial feature set" is admittedly limited, but Britt hopes the "collective imagination of the community" will continue to do amazing things to expand the functionality of the device. He is, after all, an evangelist for the Accessory Development Kit and the kind of person who has all sorts of naughty ideas for what could be done with the ADK demo hardware given out at I/O this year. He's also proud to point out the Arduino bootloader that's lurking within.
What that community won't be able to do, at least not easily, is expand the hardware, which is perhaps partly why the two obsessed over the Q's design. The alloy base, for example, is intentionally heavy, both acting as a heat sink for that OMAP chip and also preventing the Q from rolling off the back of your entertainment center when you plug in high-gauge, low-impedance speaker wire.
The top half, which can be spun about to quickly adjust volume and is ringed by 32 RGB LEDs (plus a 33rd on top), was originally going to be made of stainless steel but, due largely to cost concerns, is instead made of plastic. But, a weighted metal ring is inset within and the whole assembly rides on stainless steel bearings, conspiring to give it a higher-spec feel than its polymer composition would otherwise impart.
It's a custom class-D amplifier in there, nestled dangerously close to an integrated switching power supply, a recipe for noise if not handled properly. "We didn't want a wall wart," says Britt, but we shouldn't worry about interference. "The same guy who designed the amp designed the power supply." That amp is one of the more curious, and honestly controversial aspects of the device, but it was a fundamental part of its design, says Hershenson. "The sound this is capable of delivering is best realized on bookshelf speakers. A lot of powered speakers are fine, but the typical sound source is a PC, right? It's not quite as high-fidelity in the first place."
That amp, and all the engineering required to make this thing sound genuinely good, surely has a lot to do with why the Nexus Q costs as much as it does. We have to imagine the majority of Q users will skip the amp and rely on the TOSLINK or HDMI outputs for digital audio, thus bypassing all that attention to detail altogether. Plus, we couldn't help but question the merit of having such a high-fidelity audio source that can exclusively play compressed audio streamed from the internet.
Is lossless playback coming? "That would be a good idea," says Britt, saying it not in an "I hadn't thought of that" kind of way but with more in a "Wait and see" sort of intonation. "The hardware's totally capable."
Another thing driving up that cost is the geographic heritage of the device itself: designed and produced right here in the great US of A. This is an aspect that Google barely mentioned during its keynote unveiling, but is an important point at a time when so many are criticizing Apple for the handling of its partnership with Foxconn and thinking a lot more closely about where our gadgets are made. However, we're asked to not read too much into any implications here.
"I don't think that we're philosophically set," says Hershenson, when asked about the reasoning behind the domestic nature of the Q. Instead, it seems to have been more a question of optimizing the design and engineering process, which took a little over a year. Having partners locally meant they could get hardware revisions to evaluate the very next day, not next week. It seems to have worked well here, but again it sadly isn't something we can necessarily expect to see in whatever comes next. "We have to look at what's appropriate for each product," says Britt.
And presumably what comes next depends a lot on the success of the Q -- not the success of the engineering, of which we have little doubt, but rather the success of the marketing and consumer perception. As of now, the biggest question asked about the thing, even by ourselves, is why folks would pay $300 for a device that is less functional than a $100 Apple TV. Far more beautiful and with much higher quality analog output, sure, but that's largely meaningless for anyone who sticks an HDMI cable in the back.
It's the social aspect, the ability for anyone to interact with the device and add their own music to a playlist, that Google is making the most fuss about here. Of course, that "anyone" should come with a very large asterisk, pointing to a disclaimer stating: "Anyone with an Android-powered device and their own collection of music on Google Play." Even should you have an appropriate number of anyones among your gaggle of friends, there's still another question. How often will you legitimately get enough of those anyones together to really make use of everything this has to offer?
Google does every Friday, having something of a social mixer with multiple Q devices, each hooked to analog speakers, scattered about for all of their anyones to interact with. That sounds like the perfect storm for a Nexus Q -- a situation that typical users will have the opportunity to experience far less frequently.
So, then, is this a niche or halo device, expected to be fondly remembered but not frequently purchased? Definitely not -- Britt and Hershenson are both adamant that there's enough general appeal for this thing to be a mass-market success. "This is a device that sets a precedent," says Britt, "but it isn't like a concept car. We built it to sell it... This is the first of many."
We have to imagine that exactly how many is at least partially related to how well this thing sells. And that, of course, is largely up to you.
Don't worry, you're not the only one: Netflix is currently down, admins hard at work (Update: back up)
What to do on this Friday night? If your answer to that age old question was "Netflix," then you likely received a bit of a rude shock this evening upon discovery that the company's video streaming service is currently out-of-whack. If you're wondering why that is, it appears to be tied to some of Amazon's EC2 servers in Virgina losing power due to the bad weather there. As VentureBeat notes, it's a problem which is also affecting sites like Instagram and Pinterest at the moment. For its part, Netflix has acknowledged the issue via its Twitter account, to which it states, "We're aware that some members are experiencing issues streaming movies and TV shows. We're working to resolve the problem." So, there you have it. Now the only question that remains is whether you'll break out one of those red envelopes, fire up Hulu Plus or venture out to the theater to satiate your movie desires.
Update: @Netflix just tweeted that everyone should be back up, or will be shortly. The Amazon AWS dashboard indicates it's recovering as of 3:13AM, so all should be ready for your tilt-shifted Saturday brunch pics and subsequent dream board updates.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Monday, July 2, 2012
Visualized: The iPhone five years after launch
Reception and call quality 7.6 Display 8 Battery life 6.7 Camera 5 Ease of use 9.4 Design and form factor 9.3 Portability (size / weight) 8.9 Media support 7.4 Durability 8.4 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 8.8
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BAE Systems' NAVSOP does positioning without GPS, makes sure the only jammin' going on is yours
By Jon Fingas posted Jun 30th 2012 10:29AM
posted Jun 30th 2012 10:29AM 
Just in case GPS and GLONASS didn't make for enough of an acronym soup, BAE Systems wants to add one more to the navigation broth. NAVSOP (Navigation via Signals of Opportunity) uses some of the basic concepts we know from cell tower triangulation and WiFi location-finding to lock down a position, but goes much further to geolocate from nearly anything that pushes out a signal, such as nearby radios and TVs. It doesn't even need to know what kind of signal it's looking at, and it can get its position in places there's no GPS to work from, whether it's in an urban canyon or the natural kind. BAE is most excited about the prospects of ending GPS jamming against soldiers and UAVs, once and for all: not only is the new technology mostly impervious to attempts to block its signal, it can use the jamming attempt itself to get the position fix. Thankfully, the company's roots in defense aren't precluding use for civilians, so there's a chance that future smartphones might never have to use guesswork to get their bearings -- provided that governments around the world sign off on the idea, that is.
IRL: Bose SoundLink, DropCopy and Worldmate Gold
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
Happy Friday, folks. This week in real life, Brian invests in the Bose SoundLink after his pet rabbit destroyed his previous setup (no, really), while our own Andy Bowen explains why he'd rather use the DropCopy app than DropBox, much less AirDrop. And Darren, who racked up frequent flier miles this week traveling out to Google I/O, details the virtues of Worldmate over TripIt. Bunnies! Apps versus apps versus more apps. All that, just past the break.
Happy Friday, folks. This week in real life, Brian invests in the Bose SoundLink after his pet rabbit destroyed his previous setup (no, really), while our own Andy Bowen explains why he'd rather use the DropCopy app than DropBox, much less AirDrop. And Darren, who racked up frequent flier miles this week traveling out to Google I/O, details the virtues of Worldmate over TripIt. Bunnies! Apps versus apps versus more apps. All that, just past the break.
I have what is likely a fairly unique problem: a pet rabbit whose overwhelming sense of curiosity, ever-growing incisors and insatiable appetite for electronics wires rendered my last sound system useless. I've been in-between stereo gear since then, largely relying on a tiny pair of computer speakers for sound -- a less-than-adequate solution, even in a New York City apartment. The question, then, is how to fill the small (by non-NYC standards) space on a reasonable budget, while using this as an opportunity to cut cords in the process.
The Bose SoundLink seemed an ideal solution, a standalone speaker that can be synced to multiple Bluetooth devices, and that's small enough to cart around. It's not particularly light, but it can fit in my messenger bag, and is a lot easier to pick up than a standard home stereo system. Granted, it's not quite as ritzy as a multiple-room system, but despite my love of music, I'm not really trying to impress anyone with my audio setup.
The Bose has big enough sound to fill the rooms of my apartment. It's a warm and full sound, and breathes a lot more life into those Thelonious Monk records than the computer speakers I've been relying on. The whole thing's pretty easy to set up, and being able to play Spotify tracks off of my iPhone the minute I get home is a nice bonus. I've run into a few syncing problems on occasion, but it's nothing that can't be remedied by holding down the Bluetooth button atop the speaker. Meanwhile, the range is good, but not great -- my dream of pushing music from my house into the back yard is often met with hiccups in the stream.
Those minor issues aside, this thing has been an awesome addition to apartment living. Since I picked it up, not a day's gone by that I haven't used it -- and that includes recent trips to Boston and LA, when I kept the speaker stashed in my luggage.
-- Brian Heater
DropCopy has quickly made its way onto my top 10 favorite apps list. Part of that being because it cost me not one penny -- well, the lite version anyway -- but mostly because of its amazing usefulness. Back in 2011, I was wildly disappointed to discover that AirDrop seemingly wasn't making its way onto iOS devices. Actually, I may have been more confused than disappointed. I'd been waiting on a native app like that for the sole purpose of quickly sharing URLs and text files with my iPhone 4S. Unless iOS 6 really surprises us all, I'll probably stick with DropCopy for my data sharing needs. For one, it's generally much quicker than AirDrop. Yeah, I know, DropBox and SugarSync accomplish the same task, but it's much faster sharing a single URL or message with DropCopy rather than having to produce a text file and toss that sucker into the cloud. DropCopy's shining star? Speed, obviously. No dialogues, accounts or confirmations. It's an IP address, drag-and-drop straight shot.
Ideally, I'd like DropCopy to chug along in the background (as it does on OS X). Manually launching the app every time I'm in need of a transfer? That gets annoying. I'd also welcome the ability to share those bits and bytes with my Macbook Pro courtesy of my data plan, and not be limited to a local WiFi network. Cloud apps definitely have the advantage here. Of course, thanks to Apple's third-party app regulations, internal files aren't accessible through DropCopy anyway, and vice versa -- you won't find an "export to DropCopy" option. There are a few ways to sort through the files that you're storing in DropCopy on your iOS device, but other than that there's really no organization at all. Just one folder with many, many files. A falling star perhaps? This app has a temperament: it's 100 percent dependable, 90 percent of the time.
-- Andy Bowen
I've actually been using Worldmate for some time now, but I only upgraded to the Gold option recently -- right around the time it went on sale in the App Store for $2.99 (it's usually $9.99). Unlike so many other travel / itinerary managers, this one requires no yearly subscription. You pay once, and it'll work magic on whatever trips you have coming up. For one, I love that Worldmate Gold works on Android, iOS and the web, and it's relatively easy to make edits to trips on any of those platforms. It's also a super-polished app, and the ability to export minute details (things like multiple flight confirmation numbers for the Mr. and Mrs.) to my Google Calendar with minimal effort is a huge boon.
For those who aren't familiar with the app, it's designed to digest travel information via email. Just shoot over any email with confirmation details (a flight, car rental, hotel booking, etc.) and it'll update your trip and any connected calendars. The Gold edition also keeps tabs on your upcoming flights, alerting you to gate changes, time changes and the like as they're reported -- push notifications here work excellently, except when information isn't delivered to Worldmate from the airlines fast enough. Granted, that's not a Worldmate problem.
Overall, it's remarkably useful for keeping tabs on a schedule that involves well over 80 flights per year (read: mine). But, I do have a few bones to pick. For one, it didn't recognize legitimate Delta flight information for a flight that was 9.5 months out (but flights happening within the next six months were added sans fuss). Two, it rarely understands atypical emails. For example, your casual email conversation about a Homeaway.com rental will probably confuse Worldmate's processing engine, again forcing a manual entry. And lastly, it requires you to forward each piece of your trip to "trips@worldmate.com." TripIt, in contrast, simply looks in your inbox for you and makes updates as new email confirmations arrive -- that's way, way slicker. Of course, TripIt requires a $49 annual subscription for most of its niceties, so for $2.99, I'm more than willing to forgive Worldmate Gold's minor shortcomings.
-- Darren Murph
Users reporting BBM down, joins Instagram in being less social
By James Trew posted Jun 30th 2012 9:54AM
posted Jun 30th 2012 9:54AM 
First Netflix, then Instagram, now BBM? We're getting reports along with plenty of Twitter noise that the popular BlackBerry service has headed south. This makes for one heck of an anti-social weekend if you're a photo-sharing, BBM-er for sure. Let us know if you've been affected by the service, in the meantime why not read up on some tech news? We've plenty!
