Latest Cool Electronic Gadget's

Samsung Galaxy Note- Ice Cream Sandwich not until Q2

2012-03-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Samsung Galaxy Note owners will have to keep twiddling their S Pens a little longer in the wait for Ice Cream Sandwich. While the Samsung Galaxy S 2 is starting to get ICS rolled out this week, the extra coding required for the stylus-toting Note will mean a wait until as late as June for its new Premium Suite software.

The update to Premium Suite – which includes all your favourite S Pen apps – will mean S Note now recognises and digitises numeric formulas, geometric shapes and even grids and tables (scientists: cheer now). The update will also include My Story, a tool that lets you create digital cards using anything from notes and texts, to videos, photos and even voice recordings (blokes who forget birthdays until the last minute: cheer now).

And finally you'll get access to an exclusive Angry Birds Space level. There's also 30 Danger Zone levels. Will it be worth the wait?

Android 5.0 – Jelly Bean Features

2012-03-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Google has already released Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich which will soon make its way to several smartphones and tablets all over. However, it is now expected that the next generation of Andriod – Android 5.0 or Jelly Bean – will soon arrive with new features.

Although several features have been rumored on the Internet, there are a few which the fans will want to see. Here are 8 features we want integrated in the Jelly Bean.

Toggle Options: Google would do its users much help by adding toggle switches in the new version of the Android as it would greatly save the smartphone or tablet’s battery since toggle options will enable you to switch on/off applications. HTC smartphones already have several toggle switches to turn on/off GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Efficient File Management: An efficient file manager is what everybody is expecting with the new Android 5.0 because a smartphone or tablet will have an immense number of movies, music and other random media files that will even make a 32 GB memory look small, and hence a good file manager is the very least to expect from Google as soon as the new OS arrives. It is always better to have an integrated file managing service rather than downloading or buying one externally.

Themes: Google has to include some good themes to the new Jelly Bean OS. Although the later versions of Android after Froyo – Gingerbread, Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich – all look cool, nobody would want an all black theme for their devices as people have their own choices and likings. It is high time Google introduced some themes along with its new OS.

A Better Browser: A better integrated browser or simply a mobile version of Google’s own Chrome with constant on-screen tabs with a bookmark bar will be a welcome addition by Google along with the new OS. This is one area where Google might want to sweat it out as two of their major competitors in the market – iOS and Windows – have already done so with their own browsers like Safari and IE, respectively. Although there is support for Chrome Bookmark sync service in Android 4.0, it’s not enough.

Screen Lock: Google could introduce several lock screen widgets to the Jelly Bean. These widgets will greatly help in viewing any notifications with the screen locked. However this may not be possible if you have a passcode or pattern lock enabled for security reasons. But other small widgets like music player update, weather or custom clocks could be added. These are currently available in the HTC Sense 3.0 and 3.5.

Upgrade Procedure: Anyone who has gone through the procedure of updating or upgrading their Android device will know that the process takes a lot of time, and sometimes too long, unless your device is unlocked. Although the newly announced Ice Cream Sandwich promises to bring in the updates faster, it is still to be seen if that happens as compared to the previous Android versions. And even if faster upgrades fail to arrive this time, it is expected that this will start happening as soon as Jelly Bean arrives.

Improved Operating System: Google would really be a dangerous opponent in the OS market if it somehow manages to tweak the Jelly Bean so that the device doesn’t have to deal with heavy battery loss with dual or quad core processors in place that aim to make the device faster and smarter. Few reports have even claimed that the current Android versions are a bit sluggish than Windows Phone 7, let alone iOS.

Keyboard Issues: A standard keyboard is a must for the new Android 5.0 as in the absence of any specific Google-designed keyboard Swype and Swiftkey are providing as much assistance as they possibly can and have actually provided smart and quality keyboards. However, it may be better for Google to not depend on these and actually work on a standard keyboard for the next generation OS.

Rumored Slimmer MacBook Pro in production

2012-03-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

you like the MacBook Air but wished it was more powerful like the Macbook Pro, you might be in luck. We’ve heard rumors about an ultrathin MacBook Pro in the past but according to the folks over at DigiTimes, it is currently in production. According to their sources, the computers are being made right now and will be shipped out sometime this month.

These Macbook Pros will arrive in 13″ and 15″ models and are said to have no more optical drives as well, which will let them have a slimmer profile. The MacBook Pro computers are also said to feature more advanced specs than the MacBook Air in terms of CPU performance and storage capacity.

As is the case with DigiTimes stories, they’re more often misses than hits so take this news with a pinch of salt. But if they turn out to be true, you can expect the new, slimmer Macbook Pros to arrive pretty soon.

Apple's $10 billion share buyback

2012-03-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

Summary: Apple announced its plans to spend $45 billion of its cash reserve over the next three years, including a cash dividend and a $10 billion share repurchasing program.

Apple, the world’s richest technology company, announced its plans to spend $45 billion of its cash reserve over three years.

It sounds like a lot, but compared to it raking in over $13 billion in profit in the last quarter alone, it barely scrapes the surface of Apple’s value as a company.

The company will issue a quarterly divided of $2.65 a share. In doing so, it bows down to investor pressure, but keeps potential investors interested. Apple doesn’t need to give back to those who invest, however, as it continues to show considerable growth.

The board has also authorised a $10 billion share buyback program to start in fiscal 2013, after September 1, and to be carried through over three years. This gives Apple the option to buy more stock if it wishes.

In a press release, the reason for its share repurchasing plan is to: “neutralize the impact of dilution from future employee equity grants and employee stock purchase programs.”

The dividend starts in the fiscal fourth-quarter, after July 1. It is the first dividend Apple has issued in 17 years, ZDNet's Jason D. O'Grady reports.

“We have used some of our cash to make great investments in our business through increased research and development, acquisitions, new retail store openings, strategic prepayments and capital expenditures in our supply chain, and building out our infrastructure,” chief executive Tim Cook said.

“You’ll see more of all of these in the future.”

Shares of Apple were up 2.4 percent in premarket trading. Earlier this month, the company scraped the $600 a share mark, but fell slightly over the following days.

Apple iPad (3rd generation) review

2012-03-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

This year, it’s all about the screen. The third-generation iPad has lots of other improvements but it’s the brilliance of the display which leaps out at you as soon as you wake the screen.

Apple has come in for some criticism that the new iPad doesn't offer as many new features as some had hoped. But, with the new screen and improved GPU the battery has also had to be improved and its capacity increased – it's nearly twice as capacious as the one in the iPad 2. With all that, it's not a huge surprise that there aren't a raft of new features.

Jaw-dropping screen

As you may know, it has four times as many pixels as last year’s iPad 2, which wasn’t exactly a slouch in the display department. The 3.1 million pixels give a resolution of 264 pixels per inch, which is enough to make picking out the individual dots completely impossible.

As a result, text which had previously seemed perfectly readable is suddenly sharper, with a crispness that rivals print. No more jagged edges on curved lines, no matter how much you squint. It’s hard to convey what a major, but also subtle, change this is. Stare at it in the right light and it looks like it could be a printed photograph, not an electronic display.

Suddenly, even if you absolutely prefer reading books to ebooks – and who wouldn’t? – the new iPad becomes a much more tempting prospect. Of course, it is still a backlit screen rather than restful-on-the-eyes paper, but this is the first iPad to be a better e-reader than the Kindle in terms of sharpness. Though in bright sunlight Amazon’s e-ink screen still wins out.

The new screen also has greater colour saturation – an increase of 44 per cent, according to Apple – which lifts the vividness of the screen. And it does this without becoming over-saturated or garish.

This is a great technical achievement: to squeeze in this many pixels could easily have resulted in image noise, crosstalk or any number of visual artefacts, but Apple has pulled it off. Not once have we seen the display look blurry or anything less than stable and pin-sharp. According to Apple, that’s because the pixels have been distanced from the signal which tells them when to turn on and off or how brightly to burn. However it’s been achieved, it works flawlessly.

Of course, it’s down to the A5X chip, as well. This is an improvement to last year’s A5 CPU, found in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. It’s worth noting that the CPU itself remains the same, but the graphics capabilities have been specifically changed, upgrading the graphics processor to quad-core.

There’s more to say about the 2012 iPad than just the new display, but in passing, let’s note that this is an expensive component. It’s hard to believe that rival tablet-makers will be able to match, let alone undercut, Apple’s prices.

Developers are gearing-up for high resolution

Enhanced graphics in iPad games will arrive quickly as app developers update their programs to match the high-resolution screen, though until then, they’re upscaled nicely.

Some apps are already being retina-ed, such as Pocket-lint favorite Tweetbot Comparing the new iPad to the iPad 2 shows the new version is discreetly different. The text is universally sharper and tidier, and profile photos look punchier – though obviously the quality of those images is variable.

Improved camera

The camera on the new iPad is a big improvement over last year’s iPad 2, where the resolution of the video-optimised camera was less than 1 megapixel. Although the new model is 5MP, not the 8MP you’ll find on the iPhone 4S, it’s pretty good. Not least because of the lens structure, the f/2.4 aperture and the backside illuminated sensor - it sounds vulgar, but it just means the camera’s wiring isn’t in the way of the sensor.

No tablet is going to become your camera of choice because it’s just not compact enough to be handled easily, but the results here were impressive. Happily, the newly released iPhoto shines on this display, so you can look at the shots you’ve just taken in all their glory. This app is a powerful and effective photo editor that is a joy to use.

Dictation is here, but no Siri

There’s no Siri on the new iPad – which is a shame – though arguably the best part of it is here: dictation. With Siri, if you’re dictating a text message and Siri mishears a word, you have to start dictating again from the beginning. With dictation, things are much better. As with the iPhone 4S, if you have an internet connection, every keyboard that appears has a microphone key. Touch it to launch dictation and the software will listen and transcribe, including punctuation marks.

If you have an iPad 2, you can use Dragon Dictation or Vlingo, excellent apps which transcribe very well, but don’t make it easy for you to attach the transcribed text to an email, say. Apple's dictation lets you talk straight into an email.

4G, just not in the UK

Dictation is just one application that needs a decent data speed to work well. The new iPad has the capability to handle up to 42Mbps - though the masts that offer these speeds are far from ubiquitous. And though the box says “Wi-Fi and 4G”, you’ll get 4G LTE speeds only in the US, not the UK, even when 4G LTE arrives.

Not perfect, but not far off

The iPad still isn’t perfect. If we really can’t have 4G, at least an indication when you’re connected to the fastest speeds (HSPA+ etc) instead of plain 3G would be good. After all, the iPad is set up to say when you're on plain old GPRS or EDGE.

It would also be good if there were better connectivity: not more slots, but a more effective USB adaptor so it’s easier to take photos off the tablet when there’s no data connection, for instance. And we'd like it if, among all the localisation that is embedded, a UK iPad knew we spell “Favourites” with a u in it.

It's also worth remembering that new, high-resolution apps will take up more space on your iPad. Apple still hasn't moved beyond the 64GB maximum storage capacity yet, and we really think this new iPad could use a storage boost. Especially if you factor in new, 1080p videos coming to iTunes.

Google To Release New Ice Cream Sandwich Update For Nexus S

2012-03-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

I don’t blame Nexus S users for feeling a bit forgotten — for a device ostensibly meant to be on the cutting edge of Android updates, the Nexus S hasn’t had much luck on the Ice Cream Sandwich front.

If sources hold true though, that may all change very shortly. According to the latest news, Google is once again preparing to make the Ice Cream Sandwich update available, and it’s expected to drop within the “next few weeks.”

Google initially pushed out the update in mid-December 2011, but issues with battery life and the occasional sketchy wireless connection eventually caused them to stop pushing up the date to users. At the time, Google said the update was paused so they could “monitor feedback,” and many users were ultimately without a way to upgrade.

There were still ways to get the update going, if you were lucky. T-Mobile Nexus S users could download the update and install it manually, but anyone who didn’t feel up to the task were plumb out of luck. Sprint customers working with Nexus S 4Gs have actually had it even worse — while their GSM brethren at least got a crack at downloading the update, Google has been quiet about an update for the CDMA/WiMax variant since day one. Thankfully, their patience is finally being rewarded — that is, if they haven’t bit the bullet and loaded up a custom ROM already.

Where in the World is Ice Cream Sandwich?

2012-03-15T07:59:00.001-07:00

Google's roll-out of Android 4.0, dubbed "Ice Cream Sandwich," has stalled, stifling its positive impact on the Android platform.

The fourth version of the Mountain View, Calif.- based company's mobile operating system made its debut on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus late last year. Critics praised the reworked platform for its clean user interface and strong features, but manufacturers' failure to release the update for their devices has left ICS as nothing but a rumor for most Android phone owners.

Companies reassured consumers at the Mobile World Congress new handsets running Android 4.0 are on the way, but millions of users with current devices have now been waiting months for the update. The Samsung Galaxy S2, Motorola Droid Razr and HTC Rezound, three of most successful devices this past holiday season, are still operating on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Manufacturers are putting updated release plans in motion, with most promising a launch of the OS early in the second quarter of this year. Motorola, for instance, updated its schedule of devices due to receive ICS updates. However, rumors are surfacing about Google's next update to Android, and the botched launch of ICS has left a black eye on the company and its platform.

Part of the reason is due to Google's ever-present issue of fragmentation. Smartphone makers have taken their time getting the ICS update out to their devices, as they engineer their own custom skins and bloatware to work properly with the new platform. Manufacturers customize the newest version of the Android OS to better position themselves against their own competition, but Google's software is spending time on the shelf getting stale.

As phone makers take their time customizing the OS, Android is losing ground to its rivals. Google is in a constant battle with Apple's iOS in the world of smartphone software. ICS introduced some new ideas in the Android platform that inspired jealousy in even the most die-hard Apple fans, but the software's inability to saturate the market with the platform has neutralized any advantage the company could have gained.

As a result, instead of going head-to-head with Apple and iOS 5 with top-of-the-line devices running ICS, Google stands by as the 4S enjoys the best sales in the history of the iPhone, due in part to facing competition running the outdated Gingerbread OS.

Google's decision to make Android a licensed open-source operating system has left it vulnerable to problems like the poor roll-out of ICS. It appears as if Android 4.0 will finally make it to users devices this spring, but it just won't be quite as fresh as it would have been four months ago.

Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple iPhone 5 – the two monster smartphones are making a lot of buzz in smartphone gossip zone. Probably they are the most-anticipated devices in the whole mobile gadget history. Apple iPhone 5 is considered as a Galaxy S3 killer, while Samsung’s gem is being deliberated as a major threat to iPhone 5, especially with its new Rado-style ceramic design.

2012-03-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Mobile tipster spills beans on pre-order record breaker

Thanks to the phenomenally popular Galaxy range, Samsung is now the biggest smart phone maker on the planet. All eyes will be on whether it's flagship S3 handset will give Apple something to chew on prior to the launch of the iPhone 5.

The design of the Samsung Galaxy S3 has been finalised and is heading into a full-on production cycle.

That's according to Eldar Murtazin, the oft-reliable tipster who has also seemingly confirmed that the handset will come in a ceramic – not plastic – casing.

A ceramic case would certainly be a departure from the lightweight plastic enclosures seen in the wildly successful Galaxy S, Galaxy S2 and the office-favorite Galaxy Note. It would add a welcome dimension of durability and toughness to a range that for all its strengths has had something of a plasticky feel up to now.

The top-end Galaxy phones have always been about their screens-delicious slabs of glass straining to burst their housings, with droplets of color dripping from their OLED innards. The Galaxy S2 has a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen that gives probably the best colors and contrast of any mobile device, even if it lacks the sheer raw detail of the iPhone 4S.

As a flagship handset, it wouldn't be ridiculous to hope for 1080p-it would certainly give the S3 a head start against whatever the iPhone might be packing. Still, let's not get our hopes up too soon.

The Galaxy S3 will be running the latest Android 4.0 operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich, that's a given. The real question is what Samsung is planning for the TouchWiz skin, now that Android 4.0 has stolen the thunder of features like re-sizable widgets and easy screen grabs.

No Samsung Galaxy S3 release date

We still don't have a confirmed Samsung Galaxy S3 release date for you, however sources over at ZDNet Korea reckon that an April launch is on the cards, with the phone to go on sale sometime in July, to tie in with Samsung's sponsorship of the Olympic Games, held in London.

Top 10 Free Android Apps Which You Can Use Everyday

2012-03-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

As they say, the entire world is getting smarter using the smart phones and it is high time you started as well. Starting from the very beginning of the day, when its just too hard and oppressive to get up, to watching your favorite show in the night before dozing off, your smartphone can help you with a lot of benefits.

Owning an Android phone is sure a pleasurable task. and it is immensely backed with a lot of apps and features, which you can smartly use to fine tune our life. Its seamless integration with the other Google products already provides you with various options like Gmail, Google Reader, Maps and calendar etc on your phone.

Other than the already available services, you can get hold of various other apps, that will contribute significantly in organizing your life in general. Read on to know more.

1. Google Music

If you are a music lover, you are just going to love this app. If you don’t like accessing Spotify or Pandora for streaming music, Google music is a great option to look forward to. It enables you to access your music library free of cost across mobile and desktop platform. Besides, you can also buy the albums or songs from the Android Market.

What’s more, you can also share the songs with your friends on Google +.

2. Alarm Clock Plus

Waking up early in the morning is one of the most daunting task, generally speaking of course. If you have been troubled by the same, you can use this App to set various alarm, each with a distinct ringing tone of its own.

And if you are an expert in switching off the alarm while still being asleep, this app tackles the same effectively. Before turning off the alarm, it asks you to solve a little mathematical equation. This way it ensures that you are wide awake and aware before the alarm is switches off.

If you pay $.99 more, you get the app sans any sort of advertisements.

3. HopStop

Are you the one who is clumsy with the directions? Even if you are not, HopStop is a great tool and ensures that you reach your destination well on time. Its scope spans over the UK, US and Canada and you can ask for directions while traveling via public transit, being on foot, hiring a cab or biking across the city.And if you happens to be a health conscious person, this app will also tell you how much calories you burned, while commuting.

4. Cardio Trainer

You can determine the difficulty level of your exercised and optimize the results with the help of CardioTrainer. Whether you need to map out a run, or perform the distance and time analysis, or feed in the weight loss goals, this app assists you in doing it all. The music library of phone is also in sync with the app, so you can listen to songs, while kicking of fthose extra pounds.

5. Yelp

You must consider using Yelp, if you are out on an unfamiliar place. It provides you with the best options and suggestion as to where to eat and dine etc. With the option of view finder, you also get to know what all restaurant are near by your location.

6. Dropbox

Dropbox helps you stay organize while always updating the collection of documents, photos and videos. It also allows you to access the files from web browsers and mobile devices. Thus, it provides you with secured option and even if your Android were to break down at some point in time, the data would still remain unscathed.

7. Pulse News

Pulse news allow you to catch up ion your favorite news sites and blogs. It provides you with a detailed array of information and makes it really easy for you to browse through the same. You can save the same for a later reading and can also save it across various platforms and sync with Instapaper, Read It late and Evernote.

8. TweetDeck

For all the social networking addicts, TweetDeck is the option to look forward to, as it combines the Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare and allows you to juggle with different accounts simultaneously.

9. Netflix

Are you the one with a haywire schedule. Do you have to constantly leave the movies and shows in between and really wish there was an option which would help you with the same? Well here is the solution that you were looking for – Netflix!

Netflix allows you to pick up on the show or the movie that you were watching, exactly from the point where you left it. But obviously you need to avail the paid subscription of Netflix, to exploit its benefits.

10. Everynote

Have to take notes steadily, while in a meeting? Have to prepare a grocery shopping list before going out to the store? Evernote is the product for you. This app makes it really easy for you to search the notes, capture photos and it also supports voice reminders.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 will power TVs, Notebooks and Smartphones

2012-01-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs announced at the Consumer Electronics Show that the S4 processor, their latest creation, will be loaded later in 2012 into notebooks, smart TVs, smartphone's, and digital media adapters. They are not joking either. There are more than 70 devices designed around this new chip, from more than 20 manufacturers. Qualcomm is even working together with Microsoft on LTE solutions, utilizing S4 chips. The S4 chips have integrated Wi-Fi and high performance built-in graphics adapters.

A 1.5 GHz quad-core is the main feature of the Snapdragon S4 MPQ8064 Processor. Both the graphics and audio are built-in, based on Qualcomm's Krait micro-architecture-Adreno 320 graphics and advanced audio/video capabilities. This reduces power consumption and increases the preformance in the mobile computing experience.

The first smart TV operated by Android, will also be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon, combined with the experience brought to the table by Lenovo. The Wi-Fi pipes in MPOG, Net video, and local TV content, as well as

additional screens throughout the home.

The Vice President of Product Management at Qualcomm, Raj Talluri revealed their awareness that the consumer is seeking a unified level of experience regardless of device, whether smart TV, smartphone, PC or tablet. He explained that this step is a natural evolution of their leadership in mobile and computing in the home.

Linovo's K19 Smart TV is the first TV in the world to operate from a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, bit also on Android 4.0. Lenovo's hope id to transform the home into a content consuming space and a haven for videoconferencing, social media, and the whole gambit. Even now there are over 300 commercial devices operating on Snapdragon chips, along with another 350 under heavy development.

The 2012 CES is the firs demonstration of Windows 8 with Snapdragon S4 processors running on AT&T LTE network connectivity. The connected standby mode was delivered with significantly lower consumption of energy form the battery. The reference hardware tablet for the demonstration was the Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 running Windows 8, connected by LTE.

By integrating hardware and software solutions into the chip,Qualcomm has provided more robust flexibility to device manufactures such as Microsoft. This approach brings processor performance, wireless connectivity, and efficient power consumption to the forefront of the package.

The LTE integration gives the user the ability to stay connected anywhere the travel and hook into next generation networks. Gobi is Qualcomm's mobile Internet platform for connecting to 3G/4G and LTE worldwide support. With the Gobi 4000 manufactures can design for either LTE/HSPA+ or LTE/EV-DO.

Qualcomm is one of the biggest wireless chipset providers in the world and holds the most diverse portfolio for chipsets. It is perhaps Microsoft's only available cption at the moment for providing support for Windows PC's and smartphone's. Microsoft's director of Windows Core Marketing & Ecosystem, Aidan Marcuss, explained that consumers are looking for an always on, always connected solution in their devices. Perhaps he is superimposing

this on his consumers, in order to push Microsoft's hidden government agenda. There have long been stories documenting hidden back doors intelligence agencies have used to access Windows machines. If your phone is

always on and always connected, they are always watching and listening. Nice Feature.

Microsoft or Sony Leaving Next-Gen Console Race

2012-01-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

The PlayStation 3 may be the last dedicated gaming console from Sony.

Now the next-gen rumor mill is really starting to get a little juicy, as cloud platform provider Gaikai reports that one of the current console manufacturers does not have plans to partake in the next-generationconsole race. Who that will be should be relatively obvious given that Nintendo already has the Wii U exposed and flashing its goods to the general public, and Microsoft’s leaked roadmap clearly shows another Windows 8-related Xbox in the works.

So who’s left? Why that would be Sony, the very company who earlier today admitted that it will not show the PlayStation 4 console this year at E3. Reports last week suggested that both Microsoft and Sony would offer a brief glimpse at their next-generation hardware, but Sony consumer products head Kaz Hirai stated during a CES 2012 roundtable that no console will make an appearance at the June convention. Consider the PS4/E3 2012 rumor officially nuked.

But Sony pulling out of the console race altogether? That’s seems a little far-fetched given that the company just churned out the touchy feely PlayStation Vita handheld console. Yet Nintendo and Microsoft clearly don’t seem to have any kind of departure in the works, so that leaves Sony as the #1 quitter.

“Not all of the current console makers will have one more generation,” Nanea Reeves, chief product officer for Gaikai, said during CES. “That will be the big news at E3.”

One factor to point out is Hirai’s comment about the PlayStation 3 and how it will have a ten-year lifespan. There’s a good chance Sony may not produce another console until the PlayStation 3 is close to near-death. By then, the Xbox 720/Next/Loop will likely be out on the market, and the Nintendo Wii U will be saturated with lame 3rd party titles similar to those gracing the current Wii console. Players may be looking for something new by then.

Yet maybe, just maybe, Sony has no plans to launch another console at all, but will release something entirely different that will play games, play movies, use apps, rely on the cloud, pull in live network television, clean the house, cook dinner, wash the dirty kids and more. Ok, perhaps that’s going a bit far, but you get the picture.

Sony may also fear Apple and its looming iTV mammoth, and plans to counter it with something that combines the best of consoles and smart TVs. This may be why Gaikai knows all about Sony’s plans, and made that indirect comment about a console manufacturer dropping out, because Sony plans to stream games directly to the product much like LG is doing with its 2012 Cinema 3D TVs.

Something to think about, anyway. Maybe that will be the big E3 news: a completely new game-related product from Sony.

TOSHIBA INTRODUCES SUPER SPEED USB 3.0-COMPLIANT USB FLASH MEMORY Transfer Rate 22 Times Faster than Previous Models

2012-01-10T12:04:00.000-08:00

LAS Vegas, NV, January 9, 2012— This week at International CES 2012, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)*, will be demonstrating the latest additions to its lineup of flash memory offerings - the TransMemory-EX™ series of USB flash memory products. The new drives are compliant with the new USB 3.0 standards - known as Super Speed USB*¹ . Initial storage capacities include a 32GB model and a 64GB model.

Utilizing Toshiba's Double Data Rate (DDR) NAND , the new products offer maximum data transfer rates of 220 MB/sec*⁴ for reading and 94 MB/sec for writing*² - or 22 times and 18 times faster transfer rates, respectively, when compared with Toshiba's previous models*³ . Additionally, Toshiba achieved this level of performance with low power consumption of 300 mA or less - one of the lowest in the industry. Toshiba's new drives are fully backward-compatible with the USB 2.0 standard.

The new products can transfer 25GB of video content in approximately five minutes*⁵ , which would take the previous model about 30 minutes. The new devices meet user needs for portability of video content and other large data and for high-speed data transfer between digital products. "Today's consumers have a need for speed, and they want a truly interactive experience," noted Brian Kumagai, senior business development manager, NAND flash memory products for TAEC. "Devices and peripherals are becoming faster and faster, and the USB transfer speed needs to increase in order to keep up. Eventually, all motherboards and laptops will be designed with USB 3.0 ports, allowing for consumers to take advantage of the increased speed and improved performance it offers."

In order to meet the needs of consumers looking for faster transfer rates and higher capacities, Toshiba will continue to promote innovations that widen the horizons of the NAND flash market and support the company's continued leadership in that market - including the introduction of new USB flash drives and memory cards.

Key Features:

Compliant with the USB 3.0 Super Speed USB standard
Compliant with the USB 3.0 Super Speed USB standard established in 2008, maximum transfer rates of 220 MB/sec for reading and 94 MB/sec for writing are achieved. Also connectable to computers equipped with USB 2.0 hosts, maximum transfer rates of 34 MB/sec for reading and 30 MB/sec for writing are achieved.
One of the lowest power consumptions in the industry
Low power consumption is achieved thanks to Toshiba's original technology, such as multi-layering of high-speed NAND flash memory and a dedicated low-power-consumption ASIC controller. As a result, power consumption of notebook PCs is minimized even when using a USB flash memory.
Windows® ReadyBoost® capability
The new products support Windows ReadyBoost that allows use of external memory storage as a cache for a hard disk drive of a PC. Windows ReadyBoost capability contributes to enhanced PC performance, such as reduced time required for starting up PC software. This function is available for computers incorporating Windows® 7 or Vista.
Toshiba's original security software
The new products incorporate application software that allows protection of a particular block with a password lock so that data and files stored in that block cannot be accessed without the password.

Main Specifications:

Product Name	TransMemory-EX™
Capacity	64GB	32GB
ReadyBoost® Function	Available for computers incorporating Windows®7 or Vista
Interface	USB 1.1/ Hi Speed USB 2.0 , Super Speed USB 3.0
Power Supply Voltage	Powered through USB port
Exterior Dimensions	68.8 (L) × 21 (W) × 10.5 (H) mm
Weight	Approx. 14 g (main unit only)
Operating Environment	Operating temperature: 0-50°C Storage temperature: -20-60° C Operating and storage humidity: 5-95 %RH (no condensation)
Compatible Devices	Computers with USB Interface (A type) and equipped with one of the following operating systems: Windows®7 Windows®XP Windows®Vista Mac OS 10.0.2 or later (Only support USB 2.0)

LG to introduce Google TV at CES 2012

2012-01-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

LG Electronics will introduce its highly anticipated Google TV at theConsumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. LG Smart TV with Google TV combines the familiarity of Google’s Android OS with the convenience and comfort of LG’s 3D and Smart TV technologies, offering consumers a new and attractive home entertainment option.

LG’s Google TV’s most attractive feature is its ease of use, thanks to the combination of its Android-based user interface and the Magic Remote Qwerty designed by LG. LG’s Google TV’s user interface and main screen have been designed for convenient browsing and content selection. Multi-tasking is also possible, as the search, social networking and TV functions can be run simultaneously. The user interface can be accessed using the Magic Remote Qwerty which combine the user-friendly benefits of LG’s Magic Remote with aQWERTY keyboard.

Equipped with LG’s own CINEMA 3D technology, Google TV provides a home entertainment experience that is immersive, comfortable and convenient. Based on LG’s own Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology, CINEMA 3D glasses are battery-free, comfortable and lightweight. The glasses are also very affordable, making LG’s Google TV ideal for viewing by a large group of family and friends when used in 3D mode. And with a single click of the remote, any 2D program or movie can be viewed in 3D, thanks to the built-in 2D to 3D conversion engine.

Alongside Google TV, LG will continue to advance its own Smart TV platform based on NetCast, which will be available in more than 60 percent of LG’s flat panel TVs scheduled for introduction over the coming year. With a growing collection of content and services, LG’s Smart TV platform will continue to provide consumers with a unique user experience.

The first demonstration of LG’s Google TV will take place at the LG Electronics Press Conference on January 9.

Provided by LG Electronics

Apple iPad in March, iPad 4 in October

2012-01-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

Report: Apple Shipping iPad 3 with QXGA Display in March, iPad 4 in October

Before all Apple news gets lost in a sea of updates from CES, here’s one last iPad rumor to tide you over. DigiTimes reports that the iPad 3 will ship in March, and the so-called iPad 4 will ship several months later, in October 2012.

According to the site, the sources fueling this report are none other than Apple’s Taiwanese component manufacturers. Along with providing ship dates for the company’s upcoming tablets, the suppliers said that the iPad 3 will feature a QXGA (1536 x 2048-pixel) display and longer battery life than previous models. It also looks like Apple could be cutting the price to $399, $100 less than the base model of the iPad 2.

Slashing the iPad’s price could go a long way in keeping Apple competitive in the ever-growing tablet market. Sources say the iPad 4, which is rumored to sport a 9.7-inch screen, will come with “much upgraded hardware specifications and integrated applications” to help it stand out among Android and Windows slates that hit the market at the same time.