News Archive for 09/09/29
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HP chief Mark Hurd is allegedly preparing to reorganize the company, with the most significant adjustment involving the printer and PC divisions merged under the same leadership, according to the Wall Street Journal. The sources, claimed to be "familiar with the situation," suggest the plan currently awaits final approval from Hurd.
LaCie and loudspeaker manufacturer Cabassee have announced the Sound2 Speakers, a new USB-powered speaker system. The set is designed to be used with any computer, iPhone, iPod or other media player, with plug-and-play connection to avoid setup hassle. The system integrates a Class D digital amplifier with magnetic shielding, which reaches a total output of 15W per speaker. Cabasse's Wide Band Drivers provide a frequency response reaching from 80Hz to 20kHz, while a bass reflex design helps enhance the low-end sound.
A mid-progress update from an FCC panel said today that the US may need $20 billion to $350 billion invested into broadband to realize current government plans for readily available, national Internet access. The agency warns that its data is incomplete but that the figures may be necessary depending on the guaranteed speeds, with $20 billion covering relatively basic broadband while the top sum would cover high-grade access. The figure is well beyond the $7.2 billion so far assigned to the initiative.
Action sports cam maker VholdR on Tuesday revamped its ContourHD helmet camera with its first major upgrade. The new variant of the ruggedized unit jumps from 720p to 1080p and now shoots in more modes, such as at 4:3 ratio 960p or at 60 frames per second in 720p. A particularly wide-angle, 135-degree lens gives it a better view of the environment, and dual sighting lasers help owners compose the shot.
A number of software developers that make competitors to Microsoft's Internet Explorer have complained about the recent settlement with the EU that would allow Microsoft to give users the option to install another web browser. According to a Monday WSJ report (subscription required), the complaints came via a questionnaire EU officials sent out to Microsoft's competition, urging them for comment on the settlement idea.
Akamai on Tuesday announced it will soon launch the Akamai HD Network that will be capable of delivering HD video to hundreds of thousands of people using Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight and, eventually, the iPhone. The Akamai HD Network will support both live and on-demand streaming. It will run on Adamai's global EdgePlatform network platform composed of over 50,000 servers, allowing content providers with a reach to some 70 countries.
Belkin on Tuesday announced the release of its Conserve Surge with Timer power bar, which has a built-in timer to eliminate power draw when an office workstation is not in use. The power bar is meant for but not limited to use in offices, where IT energy costs are unnecessarily high due to the phantom power draw from turned off devices or computers in standby mode. Related devices such as printers, lamps, speakers, scanners and other accessories are also disconnected from the electrical outlet when the timer runs out.
Canon today confirmed recent rumors and said it had chosen not to have a presence at the 2010 PMA (Photo Marketing Association) trade show in February. A spokeswoman for the camera maker argued to PDN that the company's product line is showing too much "convergence" for it to go to the expense of attending a speciality show. Future shows will only involve those that have the "broadest reach," the representative said.
Korea-based C-motech has shown off a new mobile Internet device (MID), the Mangrove. Unlike conventional MIDs, the 7-inch device uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and Windows Mobile 6.5. The Mangrove should be quick as it centers on Qualcomm's Snapdragon CPU, which also powers smartphones like Toshiba's TG01. In this case it builds both 3G and CDMA into the chipset to give the MID data without needing a separate chipset.
T-Mobile this afternoon set out official launch details for the Motorola Cliq, its newest Android phone and Motorola's first touchscreen smartphone. Pre-orders for existing users should start on October 19th while the phone should ultimately arrive in stores on November 2nd; those who order in advance may get the phone early, T-Mobile said. The handset itself is priced at the same $200 on contract as its tougher competition, including the iPhone and BlackBerry Tour, though it's more expensive than the $150 prices of the Palm Pre or T-Mobile's own myTouch 3G.
Verizon has quietly shut down sales of its Hub home phone after less than a year of sales. No explanation has been given, but the device was targeted at a narrow audience of families that still needed a home phone but were willing to use it as a sync point for their cellphones' calendars and news. Cost may also be a factor, as while the Internet-based calling was $35 per month for unlimited North American calls, the device itself cost $200, or more than most of Verizon's cellphones.
The HTC Imagio XV6975 smartphone that will soon arrive at wireless provider Verizon has been spotted again, showing more details and the required Verizon branding. The phone will run on Windows Mobile 6.5, but lacks a hardware QWERTY keyboard. It will also be the first full smartphone offering in Verizon's lineup to support FLO TV broadcasts.
Microsoft's Courier dual-screen tablet uses a full desktop OS underneath, a leak from the project maintains. Just as the company's Surface multi-touch tables use Vista underneath, the new project is seen by Mary Jo Foley as using Microsoft's latest OS and having access to its deeper features. It isn't believed to be just a cosmetic change, however, and would intentionally break compatibility with regular Windows 7 apps; Courier-native third-party apps are a possibility.
Sony will soon release its DPP-F700 photo frame, which also includes a built-in photo printer. The 7-inch screen on the frame sports 800x480 resolution, and there is 1GB of built-in memory. Users can display the current time in a choice of 21 templates. The integrated printer can create 4x6-inch prints at up to 300x300dpi resolution. The prints uses TruFast technology, meaning they are resistant to fingerprint marks, water and discoloration when exposed to light. Photos stored on the frame can be printed in less than one minute.
Panasonic on Tuesday morning debuted six new Let's Note models in Japan, which are the equivalent of the maker's ToughBook rugged notebook PCs in North America. There were updated versions of the F8, R8, T8, W8 as well as two new models in the S8 and N8. The main change is the inclusion of 32-bit Windows 7, with some models getting the option to downgrade to Windows XP. The new S8 and N8 PCs also get much more powerful processors, with Intel's 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, whereas the R8 makes do with a low-power 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo. The main difference between the S8 and N8 is the inclusion of a DVD drive in the S8 and a lack of one in the N8.
In a bid to spur upcoming holiday sales, Microsoft has announced two new gaming bundles. The first is the Xbox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle, which links the high-end version of the 360 with Pure, an all-terrain racing game, and the kids' action title Lego Batman. The bundle should already be in Canadian and American stores, and cost approximately $299 US. The Elite is distinguished by a 120GB hard drive and HDMI output.
Samsung Mobile left little time for a recent leak to sit and today launched the AMOLED 12M. Already the company's second 12-megapixel camera phone, the touchscreen phone is rare in having true 3X optical zoom as wll as other features of dedicated cameras, such as tap-to-focus, a xenon flash and image stabilization. Its name appropriately betrays the 3.3-inch, 800x480 AMOLED display and its more color-accurate image.
Apple has abruptly notified resellers that it's ramping down stock of iMacs and Mac minis in what's likely a sign of new models ahead, according to leaked details. US-based stores are being told they can no longer place new orders for any of the existing iMac models and, according to AppleInsider, at least the starter Mac mini configuration. A supply change of the sort is often a sign Apple is readying new models and wants existing stock to clear out before the new models are ready.
Sharp on Tuesday announced the upcoming release of four new HDTV sets using LED backlights. The AQUOS LX-series includes the 40-inch LC-40LX1, 46-inch LC-46LX1, 52-inch LC-52LX1 and 60-inch LC-60LX1. The advanced lighting gives them a 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and all are said to be 30 percent more efficient than Sharp's preceding GX-series of HDTVs launched in January of 2008. The power draw is the lowest in its segment, according to the Japanese firm.
Sony today added a designer USB-based DVD rewriter tailored for notebooks. The DRX-S70U-W is only just larger than the drive itself and records single-layerDVDs at 8X; it can also burn rewritable discs at the same speed and dual-layer 8.5GB discs at 6X. The drive is powered by the USB bus and is intended first for netbooks and ultraportables where optical storage isn't built-in.
Toshiba this morning made its second-ever Windows 7 notebook its first system ever to use Intel's CULV platform. The Satellite T100 series is aimed at the space just above netbooks with the added processor speed but also larger screens and thinner designs; at its smallest, the line is less than an inch thick and weighs just under 3.5 pounds. Every model is said to get as much as nine hours of battery life out of its built-in six-cell pack.
More than a year and a half after it was originally announced, Garmin's nüvifone G60 has received an official launch in the US through AT&T. The GPS-centric phone originally meant to compete with the pre-GPS iPhone centers on a deep navigation app based directly on Garmin's dedicated nüvi in-car units with some accommodations for mobile users: it not only works as a pedestrian device but will remember when it was last attached to its car mount, helping owners remember where they parked. It shares the same-strength GPS receiver and should provide a quicker lock than most smartphones.
Dell today unveiled a new flagship business notebook that should mark a number of firsts not just for itself but for the industry. The Latitude Z is the thinnest and lightest mid-size notebook to date at just 0.57 inches deep and 4.4 pounds despite its 16-inch display, courtesy of its use of ULV Core 2 Duo processors. However, it's also one of the first that can charge wirelessly: an inductive charging plate in the notebook bottom can power the system as quickly through contact with an optional charging stand as quickly as the optional AC adapter, Dell claims.
Apple's heavily rumored media tablet has received added details today through a leak from a historically accurate source. The device is now thought to have a 10.7-inch screen -- up from the 9.7 most often suggested -- and to have versions both with a 3G modem as well as without. Resolution would logically increase, but it's now said the display may reach near 720p (1280x720) and would be large enough for comfortably reading books and magazines as well as larger websites and videos.
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