The Apple, Mac, iPod, and iPhone News

LG shows first LTE chip for 4G phones

2008-12-11T13:52:00.017-08:00

LG this morning said it has developed the world's first practical chip for 4G-grade cellular access using Long Term Evolution (LTE) as its standard. The 13mm square (0.51in) modem is small enough to fit in a cellphone but is capable of the theoretical peak speeds of LTE, which LG says tops out at 100Mbps downstream and at 50Mbps for uploads. A testbed Windows Mobile device has successfully reached bandwidth of 60Mbps down and 20Mbps up in a real-world example and should lead to slim cellphones with fast data performance, according to LG.

The speed is deemed a breakthrough and should result in phones with Internet performance rivaling better landline connections today. Assuming peak speeds, a 700MB video file would download in less than a minute; four 1080p HD movies could also stream simultaneously, the company says. Separately, LTE is also known to generate much lower latency than most existing forms of 3G and has been deemed more practical for two-way video calling and multiplayer online gaming.

LG doesn't outline its exact plans but expects the first phones based on LTE to ship in 2010 and also intends to launch a notebook adapter card for the standard in the future. The public availability of either will depend heavily on access to LTE networks, though these are expected to be relatively easy to deploy for existing 3G carriers and, in North America, are known to be available sometime in 2010 from carriers such as Bell, Telus and Verizon and will likely include AT&T and Rogers.

BlackBerry Storm for Telus in limited shipping

2008-12-11T13:52:00.015-08:00

Telus today officially became the first Canadian carrier to start selling the BlackBerry Storm. The carrier notes that "limited" numbers of the touchscreen smartphone should be in its stores today and will sell for the promised $250 on a three-year plan and $600 when contract-free. Telus' version clings to the reference version's 3.2-megapixel camera, hybrid CDMA/GSM with matching 3G, and 1GB of internal memory. Telus' version is more conspicuously pitched against the iPhone and comes with an 8GB microSDHC card preloaded with music from the Arts & Crafts label.

The launch however reinforces concerns of a stalled Canadian launch, according to tips from BGR. Telus is reported to have just 2,500 phones for all of Canada as part of the launch and accordingly will only have larger quantities by January, effectively shutting the company out of any significant holiday sales and handing sales of touchscreen phones to Rogers' adaptation of the iPhone 3G. A collection of promos on the touchscreen LG Dare as well as the BlackBerry Curve and Pearl are believed to exist to shore up sales.

Bell Canada has yet to announce a ship date of its own for the Storm and may not begin its own sales until January as well.

The delays have resulted in both carriers launching the Storm at least a full two months after their respective original announcements and is believed to stem in part from the rough state of the launch firmware for Verizon and Vodafone, both of which have had to issue rushed firmware updates to fix issues with lag and crashes.

New MacBook Pro faced with NVIDIA defect?

2008-12-11T13:52:00.013-08:00

Apple's latest-generation MacBook Pro systems may face the same material defect in their dedicated graphics hardware as encountered by earlier models, according to an investigation by the Inquirer. A dissection of the GeForce 9600M chip shows the part using the same non-eutectic (higher melting point) soldered contact bumps as the GeForce 8600M, suggesting the graphics hardware is prone to the same long-term heat damage risk as the GeForce 8400M and 8600M series chips, producing the blank screens and other video errors that have triggered recalls of previous MacBook Pro revisions as well as wider-still recalls by Dell, HP and others.

The integrated GeForce 9400M chipset, which is used across all of Apple's new MacBooks as well as a handful of newer Windows systems, is shown to use proper eutectic (low melting point) bumps and so shouldn't be prone to the same issues. The related 9300M and the low-end 6400 lineup should also be reliable.

It's unclear whether the issue affects all MacBook Pros, though the sample used to reach the findings was a retail example from just after the official launch in mid-October. Numerous reports have surfaced in Apple's support forums of screens going black in graphics-intensive games and of excessive heat in other conditions, though NVIDIA is already understood to be transitioning over to the true eutectic bumps for all its video hardware.

The discovery contradicts statements by NVIDIA investor relations head Michael Hara, who told the investigators in October that the 9600M was using the newer material. Presented with the newer findings, he now says the particular material mix is different and thus that the dedicated part still shouldn't be prone to the same failures as the earlier 8M hardware, though he doesn't explicitly deny the use of non-eutectic content.

If consistent, the revelation would suggest continued problems for NVIDIA, which posted a $120 million loss earlier this year related specifically to the graphics defects and which has been repeatedly pushed to acknowledge that more of its video chipsets have been affected by the choice of non-eutectic material. At first, the company only acknowledged that a small number of HP notebooks were affected.

8MP Samsung cameraphone for T-Mobile US spotted

2008-12-11T13:52:00.011-08:00

Blurred images of an 8-megapixel Samsung handset that is expected to be offered at wireless provider T-Mobile have surfaced on Monday, all but confirming an earlier report. The touchscreen handset is expected to be called Memoir and feature the same TouchWiz interface as the current Samsung Behold handset. The handset is on course to be the first subsidized cameraphone in the US with an 8-megapixel shooter, which also has autofocus, a built-in flash and optical zoom, as well as video recording capabilities.

Other features that are expected, but not confirmed, include 3G data network access and a corresponding full HTML browser, along with a GPS sensor and stereo Bluetooth support. [viaTmoNews]

Reports claim FCC head has anti-cable bias

2008-12-11T13:52:00.009-08:00

A new US House Committee on Energy and Commerce report (PDF) published today accuses current FCC chairman Kevin Martin of unfairly biasing policy against the cable industry. The government body head is specifically accused of overriding others' views and is said to have reversed a finding that exempted cable providers from offering à la carte rules as well as attempting to force through a report that would have accused the cable industry of greater than 70 percent control of the market, allowing Martin and the FCC to regulate the field.

The official is also blamed for allowing through a large increase to video relay fees for the deaf as well as of using his position to force reassignments and vet new hires based on employees' agreements with his personal beliefs. Such oversight has created a "climate of fear" at the FCC where some staffers are afraid to speak out, the report says.

An official FCC response defends Martin and claims that nothing illegal was discovered as part of the findings. It also reinterprets the video relay fee hike as a benefit to the deaf and says that messages from the deaf were "appalled" that a rate cut was possible and would allegedly stifle service.

Martin has been well known for advocating open access rules in telecommunications, including conditions placed on the 700MHz and white space wireless auctions this year, but has also been accused outside of the report of unfairly favoring traditional phone companies. Rumors had the chairman accepting Verizon lobbying while the carrier tried to block open access rules for the 700MHz space, though Martin later agreed to the terms citing the need for competition. [viaArs Technica]

Dell launches UltraSharp 1909W

2008-12-11T13:52:00.007-08:00

Computer builder Dell has begun selling the UltraSharp 1909W, its latest LCD monitor. Measuring 19 inches in a 16:10 ratio, the screen supports resolutions up to 1440x900, with a a 5ms response time and brightness rated at 300cd/m2. Contrast is measured at only 1,000:1, and the viewing angle is limited to 160 degrees; a number of ports are provided however, including four for USB devices, one for VGA input, and another for DVI video. The last is HDCP-enabled for protected HD content.

As with a number of Dell monitors, the 1909W allows tilt, pivot, swivel and height adjustments, and can be detached from its stand for wall mounting. Dell is selling the 1909W for $239.

ARM, Sony Ericsson, more join Open Handset Alliance

2008-12-11T13:52:00.005-08:00

The Open Handset Alliance today said it has added 14 new members to its group in a move that will bolster support for Google's new Android operating system. The new roster includes phone manufacturers such as ASUS, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba as well as prominent chipmakers like ARM and Atheros as well as carriers Softbank and Vodafone. GPS device maker Garmin is also included in the list.

Every member is expected to support Android and the concept of open phone platforms in at least some capacity, including supporting the launch of Android devices, writing code to add to Android, or developing hardware based on Android itself.

The expansion puts most major phone manufacturers on Google's side following previous additions that involve HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung. All of these either are or are planning to make phones based on Android in the near future. Sony Ericsson in particular has made plans to drop its Symbian-based UIQ platform in favor of Android for some phones by late 2009.

With the move as well as multiple Android phones now scheduled for 2009, Google's software will be one of the larger contenders for mobile market share. World sales are currently dominated by Symbian, courtesy of Nokia, but have also seen Symbian decrease in influence after the launch of the iPhone and heated competition from other smartphone-focused platforms like the BlackBerry OS.

DirecTV announces end of HDPC-20 HD tuner project

2008-12-11T13:52:00.003-08:00

A DirecTV spokesperson recently announced the company has discontinued any and all development work on the HDPC-20 tuner that promised to link DirecTV's high-definition content with Windows Media Center. The HDPC-20 was first introduced at CES in 2006, or nearly three years ago. The decision to end the project was reportedly made after DirecTV missed the August 2008 update for Windows Media Center software and timing of the next release.

Putting an end to any future doubt about the project's existence regarding a release in Windows 7, the spokesperson said the driver listed in the pre-beta version of Windows 7 for the HDPC-20 tuner was placed before the decision was made to pull the plug on the project.

The spokesperson says DirecTV will look for other ways to integrate the company's services with Windows-based PCs in the future, and promises it will announce any concrete plans or products when appropriate. [viaGearlog]

GeForce 9400M coming to Intel Atom soon?

2008-12-11T13:52:00.001-08:00

NVIDIA is in the process of porting the technology behind the GeForce 9400M to mainboards meant for Intel's Atom processors, alleged sources from PC builders claim. The MCP79 chipset, which sits at the heart of both the 9400M in newer MacBooks and the lower-powered 9300M, is said to be in conversion for the mini PC platform with the aim of improving graphics over Intel's existing but relatively limited GMA video. NVIDIA would first focus on hardware for nettops but would potentially expand to netbooks later on.

It's unclear which companies specifically plan to use the future hardware and when, though ASUS, GigaByte and MSI have all reportedly expressed interest. Of the three, ASUS is the most heavily invested in nettops and produces both the stand-alone Eee Box and the all-in-one Eee Top in the category.

If accurate, the claim would mark a partial contradiction by NVIDIA, which said it would hold off on netbooks and accordingly downplayed beliefs that it would get involved with Atom hardware. The company publicly states that the field is young but has also criticized Intel for slower graphics performance that puts gaming and HD video out of reach of these smaller systems.

Although one of the biggest backers of MCP79 and rumored as interested in netbooks, Apple has been at least as cautious and has labeled the netbook field a young market that may not necessarily last and which may need to mature.

Lenovo discounts IdeaPad S10 netbooks

2008-12-10T18:09:00.001-08:00

Desktop and portable PC maker Lenovo on Tuesday reduced prices for its IdeaPad S-series range of netbooks by between $50 and $80, depending on model. The basic black or white IdeaPad S10s now cost $349 and sport 10.2-inch LED-backlit LCD screens along with Intel's 1.6GHz Atom CPU. The custom-colored S10s have dropped from $439 to $359.

Both share other specs as well, including 80GB hard-disk drives pre-loaded with Windows XP home, a Wi-Fi module and 512MB of RAM. The recently-introduced 160GB high-capacity versions with twice the virtual memory have dropped to $399 for black or white and $409 for the user-defined color versions. All are powered by 3-cell batteries.

Lenovo is following in the footsteps of other netbook makers, as just yesterday, HP dropped pricing on its Mini 1000 to $360 from $400, as well as doubling RAM to 1GB. Dell likewise recently dropped prices for one of its netbooks, the Inspiron Mini 9, which now costs $300. [viaEngadget]

Jabra intros two multiuse Bluetooth headsets

2008-12-10T18:07:00.003-08:00

Bluetooth headset maker Jabra on Tuesday announced the launch of a pair of multi-use headsets with the M5390 USB and BT530 USB. Either can pair up with up to eight devices including cell phones and Internet-connected PCs for VoIP or soft-phone use. Additionally, both can pair up to two devices simultaneously, allowing users to answer the device that is ringing. Users can answer either their cellphone or a PC-based VoIP call thanks to the included USB dongle.

The devices offer a variety of wearing options, with the M5390 USB capable of either earhook or headband attachment, while the BT530 USB can be worn with or without the included earhook.

The M5390 USB sports a wideband audio-compatible and noise cancelling microphone and plug-and-play Bluetooth support of PC and VoIP connections. Jabra software bundled with the headset allows VoIP functionality for Skype, Cisco and Microsoft Office Communicator programs. Battery life is rated at six hours of talk time and 60 hours of standby, and range is fixed at 200 feet.

The Jabra BT530 USB features the company's Noise Blackout feature that reportedly minimizes noise without distorting voice quality. It includes a Bluetooth adapter for plug-and-play compatibility with PC applications and soft-phones, and includes the same software as the M5390. The battery is good for 5.5 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time, with a range of 33 feet.

The M5390 USB will ship in January, priced at $191, while the BT530 USB is available now, priced at $129.

Jabra M5390 USB

Jabra BT350 USB

Lenovo discounts IdeaPad S10 netbooks

2008-12-10T18:07:00.001-08:00

Jabra intros two multiuse Bluetooth headsets

2008-12-10T15:16:00.009-08:00

Jabra M5390 USB

Jabra BT350 USB

Jabra intros two multiuse Bluetooth headsets

2008-12-10T15:16:00.007-08:00

Jabra M5390 USB

Jabra BT350 USB

Lenovo discounts IdeaPad S10 netbooks

2008-12-10T15:16:00.005-08:00

Lenovo discounts IdeaPad S10 netbooks

2008-12-10T15:16:00.003-08:00

Jabra intros two multiuse Bluetooth headsets

2008-12-10T15:16:00.001-08:00

Jabra M5390 USB

Jabra BT350 USB

Nokia teases handset with gesture-driven UI

2008-12-09T13:52:00.013-08:00

Nokia reportedly unveiled this advertisement for an unnamed, next-generation handset at a Capital Markets Day presentation in Brooklyn on Thursday. Little is known about the cellphone other than what the photo reveals, which is a touchscreen that covers nearly the entire face of the handset with no hard buttons visible. The cellphone breaks from Nokia tradition as it forgoes the use of any form of a conventional keypad or keyboard and instead relies nearly entirely on what the phone maker calls a Direct UI interface.

The ad has sparked numerous comparisons of the new handset to Apple's ubiquitous iPhone, which would be a logical competitor. Thus far, the one leg up on the iPhone Nokia is expected to offer with this device is the Direct UI interface that promises to allow gestures to control the handset's operation. Nokia has a patent for such technology,

It's not known whether the released advertisement represents an actual working prototype or an early look at a model soon to be released. [viaSlashGear]

Microsoft brings in ex-Yahoo exec for ads, search

2008-12-09T13:52:00.011-08:00

Microsoft has hired an ex-Yahoo executive to run its Online Services Group, the company has announced. Qi Lu -- who until recently was the executive VP of engineering for the Search and Advertising Technology Group at Yahoo -- will assume his new role on January 5th, where he will report directly to CEO Steve Ballmer. His responsibilities should involve directing Microsoft's efforts in online search and advertising, which are centered around Windows Live.

The move is notable mainly due to the intense rivalry between Microsoft and Yahoo, stemming from a failed attempt by the former to buy the latter earlier in the year. Yahoo's stock has since plunged along with the economy, and company co-founder Jerry Yang recently stepped down as CEO in the aftermath. Microsoft is believed to have wanted Yahoo as a foil to Google, which it sees as its chief rival in many fields, including not only search and advertising but work applications and cellphones.

As a search engine Windows Live is continuing to struggle for acceptance, ranking third behind Google and Yahoo, with Google occupying a clearly dominant position.

American Xperia X1 delayed past Christmas

2008-12-09T13:52:00.009-08:00

Americans should not expect to Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 smartphone anytime soon, according to indications. Best Buy is said to have changed the online status of the phone from "Pre-Order" to "Coming Soon," and Sony's own Sony Style website has moved the release date to January 12th of next year. Those who have already pre-ordered through Best Buy are reportedly being sent multiple e-mails, warning of stock delays. The phone has been on sale in Europe since the end of September.

The reason for the postponement is unknown, but Sony Ericsson ran into parts shortages at launch, which may have persisted through subsequent months. A large shipment quantity could be important for the X1, which is widely perceived as a rival to the Apple iPhone due to its unique touchscreen interface and slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Sony Ericsson first announced the phone in February of this year.

Google launches fully unlocked Android Dev Phone

2008-12-09T13:52:00.007-08:00

Google today catered to Android developers either outside of T-Mobile coverage or eager to avoid restrictions with the Android Dev Phone 1. Essentially a carrier-neutral T-Mobile G1, the new model is completely unlocked for both its SIM card slot and hardware features to let users test the device on other GSM networks, including AT&T. The The change lets any owner run Google's reference firmware as it appears. The black design also sports a unique back engraving with a fractal-like pattern and the Android logo.

The phone remains true to HTC's stock design and carries a three-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi and quad-band GSM with EDGE for data. It's not known whether the Dev Phone 1 supports 3G outside of T-Mobile USA's network.

Buying the phone requires a one-time $25 registration as an Android developer as well as the $399 price of the phone itself. Google is careful to note that it will ship the handset only to one of 18 countries (including Canada and the US), that it limits the phones to one per developer, and that regular users may not get the support they would for the T-Mobile G1. [viaEngadget]

Dell leak reveals 16:9 ratio Inspiron 1545 notebook

2008-12-09T13:52:00.005-08:00

Dell has unwittingly revealed a major revision to its Inspiron notebooks courtesy of a company-hosted technology guide discovered late yesterday. The Inspiron 1545 will be one of Dell's first truly mainstream notebooks with a 16:9 aspect ratio display and should switch from today's 15.4-inch LCD to a more movie-friendly 15.6-inch, 1366x768 (WXGA) screen with the option of an LED backlight. It should also mark a jump to Centrino 2 that carries anything from a 2GHz Celeron to a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo and will bring GMA 4500MHD integrated video as a result.

Little else is known from the leak, though the baseline RAM will be doubled to 1GB while the enclosure appears headed to a darker, glossy look versus the silver tones of the existing Inspiron 1525. Dell also makes clear plans to ship the system with an Ubuntu Linux option in addition to the expected Windows Vista choice.

When the 1545 or a smaller equivalent like the 1445 would appear hasn't been divulged with the leak, though the proximity to the holidays without a matching announcement may point to an early 2009 update. [viaEngadget]

Logic3 launches i-Station25 iPhone, iPod speakers

2008-12-09T13:52:00.003-08:00

The UK's Logic3 has recently launched its i-Station25 portable speakers meant to work with Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. The i-Station 25 includes an accelerometer that will adjust the output of the speakers to output at the correct left and right separation when users turn it 90 degrees to better view photos or videos stored on their connected Apple device. The four built-in speakers deliver a total of 8W RMS of power, and each is sized at nearly 1.6 inches. The buzzing noise heard in speakers right before an incoming call is suppressed with the use of TDMA noise distortion circuitry.

The i-Station25 also has a composite video output, allowing videos stored on the Apple device to play on a user's TV set as well. The included remote control will control the speaker system's operation, as well as basic functions of the iPhone or iPod. An auxiliary input lets users connect a wider range of portable audio players, including MP3 and CD players. Power for the i-Station25 comes either via an AC adapter or four AA batteries.

The i-Station25 is available in the UK market now, priced at the equivalent of about $102. [viaMacworld]

AT&T may use Symbian as main smartphone OS

2008-12-09T13:52:00.001-08:00

AT&T may focus almost exclusively on Symbian for its smartphones in the future, company director of next generation services Roger Smith said in a presentation later on Thursday. The executive says AT&T has grown frustrated with the splintering of most of the smartphone market and that the carrier is likely to settle on a single, very flexible operating system like the soon to be open-sourced Symbian platform rather than attempt to code for multiple platforms.

Until now, AT&T has attempted to bridge the gap by using Java as an intermediary layer common to most platforms, Smith says. However, the inherently abstracted nature of Java is said to have led to some poor code management on AT&T's part as well as to limitations for developers, who can't take advantage of deeper OS-specific features and so can't write certain types of apps.

Smith is already allaying fears that the iPhone would be threatened under this strategy and tries to justify the distinction by characterizing the Apple handset as an outside device; the iPhone is a third-party smartphone that just happens to use AT&T's voice and data networks, he claims. Any move to Symbian or another platform would primarily apply to fully carrier-branded devices, implying that devices like BlackBerries would also be exempt from the policy.

While no definitive plans have been announced, a move to Symbian would chiefly benefit Nokia and Samsung, the two main cellphone manufacturers to use the operating system. It would also potentially damage the hopes of Google for its Linux-based Android operating system, which has been embraced to varying degrees by T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon but has yet to receive any particular endorsement by AT&T.

Acer set for own smartphone in early 2009

2008-12-07T16:16:00.011-08:00

Acer is on track to release its first smartphones in the early part of next year, the company says. Following up on its buyout of cellphone company E-TEN in the spring, the PC builder now says it hopes to have the first phones under its own name to ship before the end of March and hopes to launch them first within Western Europe and Russia, with other areas following later.

Details of the number of models or the phones themselves are unavailable, though E-TEN had previously been making Windows Mobile smartphones and had focused heavily on extras like GPS and live TV.

Acer chairman JT Wang has also revealed that his company plans to aggressively expand into phones and will make them a "major growth driver" within the next three to five years. In addition to taking control of the smartphones themselves, Acer plans to rely on as many as 500 staffers just for its phone effort and is effectively stripping E-TEN of its phone business by transferring 200 of its employees.