According to China Daily, Terry Gou, Foxconn’s chief, disclosed this information at a press conference held in Shanghai. The report said that the manufacturing and development of the iTV (or iPanel) has not yet started.

Gou said that the company made a deal with Japanese TV company Sharp in preparation of the product.

“Gou said Foxconn is making preparations for iTV, Apple Inc’s rumored upcoming high-definition television, although development or manufacturing has yet to begin,” according to the article posted by China Daily. “iTV reportedly features an aluminum construction, Siri, and FaceTime video calling. Foxconn’s recent 50-50 joint venture factory with Sharp in Japan is one of the preparations made for the new device, Gou added.”

Previous reports claim that the Apple iTV will look very similar to Apple’s Cinema Displays, only a lot larger. Some rumors claim that users can start watching a movie using the HDTV and then use an iOS device, such as the iPhone and iPad, to continue watching from where they last watched.

It is said that the Apple iTV will be shipped in 2014, but with the information that we’re seeing here, we might see the new device in Q4 this year.

Are you looking forward to seeing the new Apple iTV?

via: China Daily

Foxconn chief confirms Apple’s iTV is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

The App Center will not only become a part of Facebook website, but also its Android and iOS apps. It will feature free and paid apps, just like the Apple App Store and Google Play.

“For the over 900 million people that use Facebook, the App Center will become the new, central place to find great apps like Draw Something, Pinterest, Spotify, Battle Pirates, Viddy, and Bubble Witch Saga,” wrote Facebook in a blog post for developers. “Everything has an app detail page, which helps people see what makes an app unique and lets them install it before going to an app.”

This is a big move for the company in terms of raking in money and users. According to tech news site Venture Beat, Facebook, being a platform-neutral party, can distribute any kind of applications for different kinds of devices.

Also, as a developer, there will be more opportunities from Facebook integration as the platform has more users and they might get better data. The company is offering a “simple-to-implement” payment system that allows users to pay a fee to use a Facebook app. Currently, the beta testing for Facebook’s paid apps program is underway.

What are your thoughts on this new move by Facebook?

via: Facebook

Facebook announces the new App Center is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

This little beauty is called the iThrone which has been designed by Los Angeles based Unicorn Design Studios. You can hook it up to your power outlet and use it to charge your device and it comes complete with a built in loudspeaker too.

Apparently the sound is crisp, punchy and much louder because it also packs in an amplifier too. Judging by the below pictures it also stands your phone at a number of great angles too which makes it perfect for FaceTime calls, browsing music or just admiring your phone from up close.

A great gadget looks good when in use and when left alone and this one ticks both of these boxes. When empty it looks just like a Monarchs throne with rich detailing on the seat and backrest – it looks so cool.

Check it out on Kickstarter

We found this on Kickstarter, a site which has spawned countless startups with crowd sourced investors. Would be investors can get their hands on one of the first iThrones by committing to the cause.

So what do you think, would you treat your iPhone like a King or Queen with the iThrone?

iThrone Gallery

iThrone iPhone Dock, For People Who Treat Their Phone Like a King is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Lenovo has been one of the most overlooked players in the tablet game because they have been pretty quiet since the company’s announcement last year that they were bringing out a new range. We first had a taste of the IdeaPad when we met the company at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin last year and couldn’t wait to get one of our own to try out longterm.

What’s surprising about the product is its price. Instead of coming up with a risky over priced tablet Lenovo did exactly the opposite: they released an entry-level tablet. This seems to be a step back from what manufacturers usually do, but they seem to have done the right thing just like Amazon has done with its Kindle Fire.

What is the Lenovo IdeaPad A1?

The IdeaPad A1 is a 7-inch tablet, which is relatively small compared to other best selling tablet. The company haven’t built it to compete with Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, but we’re pretty sure that they want to (and can) – compete with Amazon, ASUS and Samsung’s offerings.

The 7-inch tablet comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread already installed. A number of sources say that it will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich, Google’s latest Android version that merges both tablet and smartphone user interface, when its code becomes available. Some say that no upgrade has been planned for the device, though – time will tell.

What differentiates the IdeaPad A1 from other tablets like it is it’s free GPS service that is connected directly to the satellite. This is very useful if you travel a lot and don’t want to spend your hard-earned cash on data costs.

Specifications

For its price, the Lenovo IdeaPad A1 is a powerhouse. It is powered by a Texas Instruments (TI) ARM Cortex A8 single-core processor, running at 1 GHz and has a 512 MB total memory. It has a 3-megapixel rear camera and a 0.3-megapixel front camera for video calling which both performed well for their intended purpose.

Users can also choose from a selection of storage capacities as Lenovo offers 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB models. The great thing about this tablet is its expansion options: it has a micro SD card slot, which is like a dream come true  for such a cheap device, who’s going to complain about that?

Design

The device is aimed for the entry-level market, and from how cute the tablet looks, I think it is aimed to get a take chunk of the younger market too. Its back cover is made of plastic and has a glossy look. Users can easily choose back cover colors, which include white, black, pink and blue.

The body is also made from plastic, which helps decrease the tablet’s weight (400 g). Don’t you worry, though, as it is very sturdy. It has a thickness of 11.95 mm, which means it’s easy to handle but thick enough to take the odd knock or two.

Display and Performance

It has a 7-inch multi touch screen display that has 1024 x 600 resolution, which is quite good compared to the 1024 x 600 resolution offered by competing 10.1-inch tablets.

Of course, like many of its competitors, it has a problem with readability under sunlight. This is due to the glossy screen and the screen’s brightness that makes it hard to use outdoors. HD videos with 720p resolution can be played smoothly, but anything with a higher resolution than that can lag in some parts. On the whole though watching videos was a pleasurable experience and certainly better than squinting at your smartphone.

Being an Android device, there will never be a shortage of games and apps available, so it is great to know that the device can take on multiple apps running at the same time.

Conclusion

We can confidently say that the Lenovo IdeaPad A1 is a solid device that is worth its price. Yes, it is pretty cheap for a tablet, but don’t think it is cheaply built. It is a device built especially for watching videos, surfing the net, playing games and more. You can get more from the IdeaPad A1 than any other device within its price range.

No one would expect to have high-end hardware for £125. It is definitely worth more than it costs, check out the latest prices at Idealo.

Gallery

Lenovo IdeaPad A1 review is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Marking the big occasion

The Doodle comes 90 years after Carter made his startling find and as a fitting tribute the moment is captured as a freeze frame.

Unlike previous special Doodle this one simply places a shadow of Googles seven letters in the background behind the tomb, sarcophagus, canopic jars and other artifacts which he found whilst excavating King Tut’s final resting place.

Carter first made entry into the tomb using a chisel given to him by his Grandmother for his seventeenth birthday. After that he and his team painstakingly explored and excavated treasures which would have been untouched for over 3,000 years. After this he spent the final years of his life archiving each item, creating a catalogue which is thought to be the most comprehensive look into Egyptian history.

Final Days

Seven years after the discovery Howard Carter died from Lymphoma at the age of 64. Some superstitious people say it was a curse laid on him for opening the tomb, although many people tend to disagree.

What do you think of Howard Carter’s Google Doodle?

Howard Carter’s 138th Birthday Marked by Google Doodle is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

“It’s got the power, now bring on the games”, remarked Thomas in the office this morning. He, like other Blackberry users, have been playing games such as Angry Birds and Tomb Raider on Rim’s Tablet and want more. According to Anders Jeppsson owners will not have to wait much longer as new titles are on the horizon.

Sega has announced that it will be adding a slew of new titles to the Blackberry app World with Sonic 4 being the headline title. Others will include Glitchsofts Star Marine, Unity with Smashcops and Galaxy on Fire 2.

There aren’t any clear cut schedules for any of the above titles but it’s great to see that the Playbook will soon be able to play as hard as it, and it’s target user, works. You can read more about this over at Crackberry, a site which is very excited about the news.

Which titles would you like to see make their way onto the Playbook? And how much would you pay for the above titles?

New games alert – Playbook Now Works and Plays Hard is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

With the Apple chief being spotted in Valve’s headquarters, some say that Apple is interested in purchasing the gaming giant, while others claim that the company is working with Valve in building a gaming device.

Valve, the company that published hit titles such as Portal, Half-Life, Team Fortress and Counter Strike, also developed Steam, an App Store-like way of purchasing games for Windows and Mac.

According to Cult of Mac, Apple is planning a “full-on assault” in taking over the living room with its iTV or iPanel.

“We’ve gotten word that Cook was indeed at Valve yesterday, and what’s more, Apple is planning a full-on assault to take over the living room. This assault won’t just be limited to the long-rumored Apple HDTV set, but will also include a revolutionary home console as well,” wrote the site. “Our sources also say that Apple’s television set will come with an Apple-branded, Kinect-like video game console. The interface will rely heavily on motion and touch controls.”

The website also said that according to its sources, Apple is working on a TV set that has an iTunes-integrated remote with voice command technology.

What can you say about Apple and Valve’s rumored gaming collaboration?

via: Cult of Mac

Apple and Valve to make a gaming console is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Pottermore.com was officially launched over the weekend as a joint effort between author J.K. Rowling and media giant Sony Corp.

“Explore the Harry Potter stories in a whole new way and discover exclusive new writing from J.K. Rowling,” read the text in the website’s landing page. “The first story in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is now ready for you to explore – but that’s just the beginning of the Pottermore journey.”

The website is currently featuring interactive content related to the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone in other areas). Pottermore.com users can make their wat through the website through the four “gateways” that are associated with the different Hogwarts houses. Users can also learn spells, visit locations, meet the characters and creatures and go on adventures.

The website will expand over time, using content from all of the books in the Harry Potter series. The website will also include new material and other stories that Rowling has written.

Pottermore is also home to the Pottermore Shop, where fans can buy Harry Potter ebooks. The Pottermore Shop, which was launched on March 27, has sold $1.5 million worth of ebooks in just three days.

via: Pottermore

J.K. Rowling and Sony officially launch Pottermore is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

The device, which is named Choc Creator, enables users to “print their own custom-made sweets, layer by layer,” said the BBC on Friday. It is reported that the device works like any other 3D printers, but instead of using plastic to print out its designs, it uses chocolate.

The device had drawn the interest of a number of companies while it was still in its development stages and now, we are going to be able to see it live by the end of the month.

University of Exeter’s Dr. Lian Hao, the person in charge of the project, said that he founded Choc Edge to capitalize on retailers and merchants’ interests.

“We’ve improved and simplified the machine, so now it is really easy to use,” said Dr. Hao. “You just need to melt some chocolate, fill a syringe that is stored in the printer, and get creative printing your chocolate.”

One of those who are interested in the tech is Thornton’s, which is the largest retailer and manufacturer of chocolate goods in the United Kingdom. Dr. Hao said that he was approached by representatives from the company after they unveiled the prototype.

What do you think of this cool device?

via: ChocEdge

3D chocolate printer now available for pre-order is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Who’s it made by?
How much will it cost?
Do the doors open?
When can I get it?

And we’re thrilled to announce that we have the answers and more photos of the unit in the flesh.

We’ve been to see Scan and can confirm that the Police Phone Box will be available from Scan for the princely sum of £745.99 including VAT. Some might say that’s a tad expensive, others would say its a small price to pay(especially if you’re a Doctor Who mega fan).

We can also confirm that the doors on the front do not open, although it does come complete with authentic handles and the officially worded sign.

We also got a sneaky look at the back, which was full of cables as it was being used to run the stalls tills.

Gallery

So what do you think? Is this a must have for Who fans?

Doctor Who TARDIS PC Case Update is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos