Apple testing A5-packing MacBook Air?

We've seen it put its processing power behind the iPad 2 and heard rumors of its presence in the upcoming fifth-gen iPhone, but could Apple really be considering putting its mobile-minded A5 processor in a MacBook Air? According to Japanese website, Macotakara, a trial of the ARM chip is already underway. Apple's reportedly been experimenting with a Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Air with the A5 on board, and "according to someone who has seen a model running with [Apple's] A5 processor, the performance is better than had been thought." Two weeks ago, we reported on rumors that the upcoming MacBook Air refresh could be on its way as early as next month, featuring Intel's Sandy Bridge 17W mobile processors -- a claim we'd say could hold water. Of course, this information has trickled a ways down the grapevine, and the presence of an A5-packing test vehicle doesn't mean much anyway, but you can consider our interest piqued, regardless.

VIA  CNET

SOURCE  Macotakara

Nokia using ads to go straight against Apple iOS devices

Nokia might be having a downward slope in sales, market share and even its own share value but that does not stop Nokia India from being a little more than loyal to fight back with a strong ad suggesting a direct attack on iOS devices. Nokia suggest that iDoalotmore on Nokia smartphones even if Symbian is moving away from the limelight since the announcement for Nokia to make transitions from Nokia to Windows Phone 7.

SOURCE  Nokia India

World's First 64GB MicroSD card unveiled by Kingmax

The record-setter microSD manufacturer, Kingmax which manufactured the world's first 4GB SD2.0 compliant MicroSD card 4 years back returns with an all new record set to make your multimedia experience unforgettable. Kingmax unveiled the first 64GB micro SDXC having a class 6 rating. While there's still a relatively low number of devices out there supporting this card, you might want to start saving now to get this piece of memory enhance your future devices. No words on when this will be on sale. Now, we can save the 50gb Avatar to our PMP to watch.

SOURCE  Kingmax

Glasses free 3D comes to iOS devices through i3D app (video)

i3D is a new app that can create a glasses-free 3D display on iDevices, using a technology known as Head-Coupled Perspective (HCP). Developed by the folks from the Engineering Human-Computer Interaction (EHCI) Research Group, HCP uses a front facing camera to track the movements of a user's head, allowing the app to adjust the display accordingly. The result is a monocular 3D screen that creates the illusion of looking into a box. If the concept sounds a little familiar, it could be because Google unveiled a similar headtracking feature for Ice Cream Sandwich during the opening keynote at this month's I/O event. And by "similar" we mean "pretty much the exact same thing." i3D is now available for free in the iTunes Store and runs on the iPad 2, iPhone 4 and fourth generation iPod Touch. You can compare both iOS and Ice Cream Sandwich 3D generators after the break (Google's demo kicks off around the 16:50 mark).

Nokia's Windows Phones will feature dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500, says STMicroelectronics chief

As you'll no doubt be aware, Qualcomm currently enjoys a stranglehold on processing hardware inside Windows Phone handsets. Its Snapdragon chip stars in both Microsoft's original and updated chassis spec for the platform, but its hegemony may soon be coming to an end. STMicroelectronics (the ST in ST-Ericsson) boss Carlo Bozotti is cited by Forbes as saying that Nokia will use ST-Ericsson hardware to power at least some of its Windows Phones. The dual-core U8500, a long-time Nokia favorite, is touted as the first such system-on-chip to appear, with its successors helping to populate Nokia's expansive WP lineup in 2012. The only intel we've had so far on Nokia's initial handsets for the new OS revolved around Qualcomm-based devices, so even if ST-Ericsson is indeed going to infiltrate the Windows Phone ecosystem, it doesn't look likely to be among the very first Nokias out of the gate. Now, will N9 still get the U8500 since ST Ericsson have proven their point that U8500 will make it in Nokia devices? Let's hope it does.

Nokia N9 with Meego the Ultimate Device?

We've definitely heard lots of rumors on Nokia N9 since last year. Then E7 was released making us thought N9 leak was a prototype of N9 which will never hit the shelves. We even have words saying that N9 would be running on WP7 instead of Meego. Elop mentioned that N9 has a close to perfection hardware. A couple days back, Nokia N9 hit the FCC, making us all too surprise and yesterday we were teased by the above video having known that N9 comes packed with 12mpx Carl Zeiss. The glimpse of UI we are seeing represent much of Symbian Anna due released soon. Meego Facebook page confirmed it was running Meego though.

Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab getting Gingerbread update in mid-May

After encountering a little hitch with its mid-April Gingerbread delivery, Samsung is now ready to boot up Kies for another try. The company has this morning released word that it intends to update its entire Galaxy S family line, starting with models in the UK and Nordic countries from the middle of this month. The rest of the globe, including North America, will follow suit "according to the regional plan." Also benefiting from a Gingerbread upgrade will be the 7-inch Galaxy Tab, which already got a taste of Android 2.3 in Italy, and the company's bevy of budget Galaxy devices, the Ace, Gio, Fit and mini.




SOURCE  Engadget

Apple iMac refreshed with latest Quad-Core processors and Thunderbolt

As we have said in an earlier post, Apple iMac has indeed been refreshed with the latest Sandy Bridge i5 or i7 Quad-Core processors. Prices starts at $1199 for the 21.5-inch model with 2.5Ghz i5 Quad-Core processor. The 21.5-inch iMac features 1920-by-1080 resolution while the 27-inch iMac boasts even greater resolution of 2560-by-1440. Both the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models have IPS displays which offers a stunning viewing angle.

The lowest ranged 21.5-inch is equipped with 512MB AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics processor while followed by Radeon HD 6770M and with 6970M being equipped in the highest end model.

FaceTime which has been an added feature on iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4th Gen and iPad 2 is now featured on iMac.It has a FaceTime HD camera which is capable of videos up to 2560-by-1600 in pixels. 

One other new feature which can never be left out is the added Thunderbolt port on the iMac. You'll be seeing 1 Thunderbolt port on the 21.5-inch model and 2 on the 27-inch model.

On the plus side, we're now given a SDXC card slot which though is not widely used at the moment is great for all future electronics with capacities up to 2TB.

 
The exterior pretty much looks the same but much has changed with the interior so head on to Apple Store now to get one which ships within 24 hours.


SOURCE  Apple

How Barack Obama Found Osama bin Laden

Thanks to the social media, Osama bin Laden was killed. Now, Foursquare might be the other reason.


SOURCE  Facebook (Only In Malaysia)

FREE at Ovi Store!!! Avatar, Spider-Man, H.A.W.X., Assassins Creed, Settlers, Angry Birds Seasons and MORE! All free at Ovi Store right now!

Today we reported that Angry Birds Rio was Free at the Ovi Store and that possibly Fruit Ninja and Worms HD were free too. For some reason, even more premium titles are appearing FREE for your (legal :p) downloading joy. These are all awesome games, and worth their price (when they weren’t free) but now even more brilliant now that they’re free. Use the Ovi Store app on your phone to search and find the following apps. List after the break.

Win yourself an iPad 2, Blackberry Bold 3 or iPod Touch by joining The Great ChurpChurp Race

Are you ready to join The Great ChurpChurp Race? The contest is pretty simple. All you have to do is Share the campaigns in ChurpChurp.  Well, of course you have to signup to ChurpChurp before participating in the contest. Stand a chance to win iPad 2, Blackberry Bold 3 or iPod Touch and what's more. There are even 100 movie passes as consolation prizes up for grab. What are you waiting for! Hit the link below to join The Great or should I say AMAZING ChurpChurp Race.

Qualcomm shows off MSM8660's slick video performance on development kit (video)

If you've been closely tracking the development of Qualcomm's 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8660, you would've already seen AnandTech's impressive set of benchmark results back in early April. But of course, it'd be more convincing to actually see this chipset in action, so Qualcomm's latest videos of its Mobile Development Platform should satisfy your curiosity. As demoed after the break, this Snapdragon's Adreno 220 is seen effortlessly handling in-page HTML5 video streaming, Flash video streaming, and 1080p playback. And as a sideshow, Qualcomm even put its current-gen single-core QSD8255 head-to-head with a rival dual-core chipset -- no doubt a Tegra 2 in an LG Optimus 2x -- and easily won the Flash video contest. All of this might lure you into getting the MDP as your next everyday phone, but here's the bad news: this professional kit will cost you a dear $1,350. So unless you're feeling very generous, you'd probably want to wait for the consumer devices to arrive in the summer -- think EVO 3D, Sensation (with GSM-flavored MSM8260, naturally), Flyer, and TouchPad.

Tactile kiss transmission device finally makes it okay to smooch your computer (video)

They say the vast majority of communication is done physically rather than verbally, but in the realm of technological advances we seem to have rather neglected the transmission of physical contact. Thankfully, there's always Japan to provide us with off-the-wall innovations, this latest one being a kiss transmission device that will record, relay, and -- if you wish it -- replay your finest tongue gymnastics. It's the height of simplicity at the moment, with a plastic implement taking input from one person's mouth and conveying it to a second box, intended to be gobbled up by the recipient of this techno-affection, who may respond in kind or just sit back and enjoy the thrill of it. The researchers sagely point out that there's more to be done, as the sense of taste, manner of breathing, and moistness of the tongue are all important aspects of a kiss that have yet to be recreated. Once they do get their kiss transmitter to v2.0, however, they envision a pretty neat market for it in reselling kiss replays performed by celebrities. For now, you can see a celeb-free video demo after the break.

Samsung's Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 now rolling out to certain countries

While Samsung has yet to announce an actual date for its new Galaxy Players in the US, their international counterparts are already heading towards other parts of the world for a head start. The Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 is said to be debuting in Russia followed by other countries, whereas its 5.0 sibling will be launched in Switzerland. In terms of specs, not much has changed since we last saw these 1GHz, DivX-friendly Android PMPs, and yes, they'll still be shipped with Froyo "with a possibility to upgrade to 2.3 Gingerbread." To be frank, we'd rather just go for the beefier Galaxy S II instead.

Angry Bird found in the wood. (Endangered species)

SOURCE  Switch

The T-Mobile Royal Wedding

SOURCE  Youtube

Motorola promises more Atrix-like laptop docks for future phones

Motorola's Atrix 4G laptop dock was a seriously sweet concept, which is why we were so disappointed when it failed to pan out. Sounds like Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha is ready to give it another try, though -- on the company's earnings results call this past week, he told investors that Moto is planning a whole series of Lapdock devices in the second half of the year:

You will see multiple devices from us in the second half launching with these capabilities, and we will expand the range of our Lapdock devices so we cover a broader price point, addressing both the enterprise premium tier as well as more consumer tiers.

"We plan on introducing successive iterations of our Webtop software and accessories that incorporate improved productivity tools and multiple price points," he also said, echoing previous promises to include Webtop in all high-end smartphones starting this summer. Perhaps those closely spaced I/O ports on the Droid Bionic and Targa won't go to waste after all? If you simply can't wait, Sanjay claims there's also an official price drop inbound for the Atrix 4G -- AT&T will offer a bundle with the Lapdock and phone for $400 later this month.


VIA  Engadget
SOURCE  Motorola Mobility

Researchers create two 100 terabit per second optical connections, dare us to torrent something

Even a woman with a 40 Gbps internet connection might feel a twinge of jealousy at this news -- Japan has successfully tested two separate 100 terabit per second data links that use a single optical fiber to carry their loads. New Scientist reports that NEC scholars stuffed the light from 370 lasers into 165 kilometers of fiber to achieve a speed of 101.7 Tbps, while NICT researchers set a new record of 109 Tbps using a special fiber with seven cores to manage the trick. We imagine that Alcatel-Lucent and NTT aren't sitting still. Not that we really care who has the fastest fiber... just so long as one end leads to our house.


VIA  Engadget
SOURCE  New Scientist

Gigabyte's S1080 Windows tablet undressed by the FCC

Looks like Gigabyte's S1080 tablet, which landed in Taiwan earlier this month, is getting ready to hit shelves here in the US. The 10.1-inch Windows 7 slate stopped by the FCC, where it got cracked open and had its silicon-packed innards exposed for the camera. There's nothing new to glean here -- specs are still the same (dual-core Atom, 320GB hard drive, etcetera) and we haven't heard anything about a much-needed price drop, but if you want a quick peak under the hood, check out the gallery after the break!

Video: Suuuperfast barcode scanner for S^3 – Even works EDoF and old S60 – demoed on Nokia N8/E7/N95

Barcode scanners – nifty little things if you can bother to open the app other than that gimmicky inspired moment when you try it out to see if it actually works. You need to get it in focus though to get the image right. That takes time for the focusing to get it perfect.
Some do some sort of continuous autofocus thing and adjusts by itself. You just have to hold the phone still.
Anyway, basically with this app, the barcode is scanned instantly. Somehow like those barcode scanner guns you’d see in the grocery store/shops etc. In the time it takes to beep, it’s scanned.
Another bigger plus is that it also somehow seems to work for EDoF cameras. The demo specifically mentions working with EDoF, working with different angles so you don’t have to be as precise as the old barcode scanner apps. Video after the break.

Leaked Windows 8 builds reveal Windows Store and its logo

Microsoft is working on something along those lines to deliver in Windows 8. In fact, some of the bits are already in place in the leaked Windows 8 builds which have been shared on private FTP servers and torrent sites around the Web.

As spotted by some Russian enthusiasts who were digging around in the system folders in the Windows 8 Milestone 3 build, a handful of folders exist which confirm the early stages of the Windows Store. On your Windows desktop, the store will be comprised of several components, including a runtime module, service, and licensing client — each of which is called out in a folder name.

The Windows Store logo is also hiding within the Windows 8 files, though it’s just a 24 by 24 pixel .PNG. The above is a photoshop image. It’s fairly consistent with Microsoft’s other logos, with its multiple stacked squares and rounded corners. Two .HTML pages are also nestled away amongst the files, and based on the font used on the error page it’s safe to assume that the Metro design language will once again be front and center in the Windows Store.


SOURCE  Geek.com

Apple preparing to introduce Sandy Bridge iMacs early next week

We will be expecting Apple to deliver a much-needed refresh to its iMac line of all-in-one desktops, adopting Intel's newest family of Core processors, Sandy Bridge and the latest in personal computing I/O technology. Apple Insider have sources saying that Apple plans to introduce the new models on Tuesday, May 3, swapping out the systems' first-gen Core i processors and miniDisplay ports for second-generation Core i chips and the company's new high-speed Thunderbolt port. However, rumors that 2011 would see changes to the iMacs' display panel size and the inclusion of 6000-series AMD Radeon HD chips, could not be confirmed with any degree of certaint. Let us wait for Apple to give us the eye-popping surprise.


SOURCE  Apple Insider

Crazy nose stylus lets you use your phone if your hands are busy

The problem with most touchscreen smartphones is that you need two hands to run them. This weird looking nose stylus solves that problem, by letting you peck away using your nose when your other hand is...uh...preoccupied.

Created by admitted bathtub smartphone user Dominic Wilcox using plaster wrapped around an existing touchscreen stylus, the extended proboscis is long enough to reach the screen at a distance where you can still focus on it.

My problem is that it instantly reminded me of the mask Alex wore in A Clockwork Orange, so imagine how your partner would feel if they came in and saw you wearing this thing. Still, it's not any nuttier than operating your iPhone with a Slim Jim.

I think Wilcox needs a catchy name like The Droog for his creation, then he would have something that would sell. More pictures after the break.

Game Over for Incentivized App Downloads

The business model of incentivized app downloads was recently dealt a death sentence by Apple.  Apple said incentivized app downloads were driving inaccurate rankings in the App Store, almost certainly because essentially paying consumers to download apps was a way of gaming a ranking system that used downloads as a key metric.  To be fair, there were many quality apps taking advantage of the loophole in the ranking system, but that era has ended. And so have the days of companies making money hand over fist in the incentivized downloads business, better known in the industry as Cost Per Install or CPI.

So how exactly did it work? Say you’re playing a game that offers you virtual currency; the game might ask you to download an advertised application in exchange for virtual credits within that game. You install the app and get your in-game currency. The app gets a new install and pays for that.  This quickly generates bursts of installs, immediately boosting an app’s ranking in the app store.

Looks like developers need to look for another loophole to gain ranks now.


SOURCE  Tech Crunch

Internet Entrepreneurs Are Like Professional Athletes, They Peak Around 25

“Consumer Internet entrepreneurs are like pro basketball players,” said a venture capitalist recently while discussing the prospects for a thirty-something founder, “They peak at 25, by 30 they’re usually done.” Why? Because young entrepreneurs are more creative and imaginative, and are willing put 100% of their lives into their startups, he said. “It’s not a guess, this is a data driven observation,” says the VC. However, there are plenty of founders that, like Michael Jordan, can peak way beyond 25 (and the peak basketball age is really probably at least a 27). “Those tend to be the repeat success founders,” he said, “the rules don’t apply to them.” 
Should a startup founder be looking to make a name for themselves before they hit 30, or give up?


SOURCE  Tech Crunch

Nanocones make solar cells more efficient, sinister looking

Going green is de rigeur, so the sun is becoming a much-preferred source of power. However, solar cells' inefficient harvesting of helical energies is a major reason they haven't usurped the power of petroleum. Good thing the big brains at Oak Ridge National Labratory are looking to change that with nanocone-based solar technology. The teeny-tiny cones are made of zinc oxide and create "an intrinsic electric field distribution" to improve electrical charge transport within solar cells. We aren't sure what that means, but we do know the prickly-looking design provides a 3.2 percent light-to-power conversion efficiency that's a substantial improvement over the meager 1.8 percent offered by today's flat photovoltaics made of similar materials. That's 80 percent more efficient, and 100 percent more awesome.


VIA  Engadget, Physorg
SOURCE  ORNL

First Family Views Shuttle Atlantis

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia, left, Sasha, Mrs. Obama's mother Marian Robinson, astronaut Janet Kavandi and United Space Alliance project lead for thermal protection systems Terry White, walk under the landing gear of the space shuttle Atlantis as they visit Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.


SOURCE  NASA

Triton 36,000 submarine to plumb ocean's deepest depths, comes in yellow (video)

Richard Branson's not the only one eager to explore that other 70 percent of the world. Triton Submarines has designed a three-passenger sub able to dive 36,000 feet, reaching the deepest part of the world's oceans. And while Sir Richard envisions a spaceship-like craft, Triton's design evokes old school bathyspheres: it's a glass globe. Of course, water pressure poses a serious engineering challenge when you descend seven miles below the surface -- the last manned sub to reach that depth had only a single, small window made of plexiglass. The current design uses borosilicate glass (like those transparent displays we, um, saw through a while back) that actually grows stronger as depth pressure increases; it took eight months of careful heating and cooling to produce. Assuming the glass holds, it will take about 75 minutes to reach the bottom of the ocean. Anyone considering a test run should check out the PR video after the break, showing Triton's other submarines in action.

I-O Data's HDCA-UT3.0K drive offers USB 3.0 and 3TB of storage

If you've been on the hunt for the biggest, fastest hard drive around, it seems your options are expanding. I-O Data just introduced the HDCA-UT3.0K external hard drive, which offers USB 3.0 support and 3TB of storage, which, as the company notes, makes it an ideal companion for TVs with a USB recording mode. Struggling to resist the charm of its blue LED and the possibility of owning more storage than you'll ever need? Look for it in mid-May with a price of ¥26,400 ($324).

Royal wedding livestream breaks hearts, records

No frogs transformed into princes and no wicked stepmothers were vanquished -- not on camera, at least -- but today's royal wedding managed to capture the world's imagination. Thanks to partnerships with CBS, the Associated Press, UK Press Association, and Entertainment Tonight, the marriage between Prince William and Kate Middleton broke viewing records on Livestream.com, maxing out at 300,000 simultaneous viewers and a total of "at least 2 million" unique users, according to Max Haot, the site's CEO. We reached out to YouTube and Facebook to see how they did on the streaming front, but neither site has a final tally -- though a Facebook spokesperson did tell us that 6,819,072 people have commented on the wedding in the past 24 hours. We don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but we hear News Corp. has secured the rights to the Royal Divorce -- just in case.


VIA  Engadget
SOURCE  Mashable