HighTech

the PlayStation Phone

2011-01-16T02:49:00.000-08:00

the PlayStation Phone

PlayStation Phone still come out. And this time around, a Chinese website is claiming that they have images showing a fully working unit, complete with game as well as camera tests. More after the break.

Here's what we make of the said website. It shows us some picture of the phone's features -- mainly its sliding game pads and controls. They've also run tests on actual games (as they put it) and some picture captured with its onboard camera.

The site notes that the handset will be having a 4-inch 854x480 capacitive touchscreen display and the included camera boats a resolution of 8-megapixels that allows 720p video recording. For storage, there's a micro SD card slot which is surprising considering that Sony has their own Memory Stick DUO for storage. If Sony's denial of the unit is a technique to tease us, then they're definitely succeeding in doing so.

We've mirrored some of the images from the site. For more, click the link above.

A video just popped up showing an individual playing Resident Evil 2 & Rage Raceron the unit in question. Looks like this will get out of the rumor mill soon.

iphones for sale cheap :iPhone 4 Vs Samsung Galaxy S Video Review Part 1

2011-01-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

iphones for sale cheap :iPhone 4 Vs Samsung Galaxy S Video Review Part 1

best laptop deals :best laptop

2011-01-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

best laptop deals :best laptop

laptops for sale :Future Designer laptop - ROLLTOP //Diploma Thesis//

2011-01-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

laptops for sale :Future Designer laptop - ROLLTOP //Diploma Thesis//

laptops for sale

Future Designer laptop - ROLLTOP //Diploma Thesis// incredible disgn for laptop

cheap 3d tv : 47 LG 47LX9900 FULL HD

2011-01-06T07:51:00.001-08:00

cheap 3d tv : 47 LG 47LX9900 FULL HD

Click to enlarge images:

47 LG 47LX9900 FULL HD 1080P DIGITAL FREEVIEW LCD 3D TV

Graded : Yes
3D TV Ready : Yes
WiFi Ready : Yes
LG NetCast : Yes
Netcast : Yes
HD Ready : Yes
3D HyperReal Engine : Yes
WiFi Adaptor Support : Yes
Freeview HD Tuner : Yes
Full HD 1080p : Yes
400Hz : Watch sport in style with LG TruMotion 400Hz. Motion blur is virtually eliminated giving you crystal clear picture quality perfect for watching sports like F1, football, tennis as well as fast action movies.
Contrast Ratio : 10,000,000:1 LG Ultra Contrast
Media@2.0 : Yes
Get Digital : Digital Tuner with all Freeview channels
4 HDMI : Yes
24P Playback - 24 Real Cinema : Yes
Clear Voice 2 Technology : Yes
Eco Flower : Yes
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) : Yes
USB 2.0 Media : Yes
Crystal Design : Yes
Picture Enhancement : DNIe Pro
Pixel Resolution : 1920 x 1080
Super Clear Panel : Yes
HDMI Connection : 4
SRS Speaker System : Yes
Electronic Programme Guide : Yes
USB Port : Yes
Use as PC Monitor : Yes
Guarantee Period : 12 Months

WAS £1,699.99 £1,299.99 inc VAT

ipad cases and covers ;The Powis iPad Case

2011-01-06T07:43:00.000-08:00

ipad cases and covers ;The Powis iPad Case

The Powis iPad Case has been a favorite on the Macrumors forums for some time now. We were excited to get the opportunity to review this case in person. Let’s just say it’s a beauty! Similar in styling to the ever popular DodoCase, the Moleskine Folio, and the Portenzo, this iPad case looks like a book when closed and has more features on it than you can shake a stick at. Not that you’d shake a stick at anything per se… Back to the point… the Powis iCase is a well made, environmentally friendly, and feature packed iPad accessory. Check out our review below.

First and Lasting Impressions

The Powis iCase is available in more colors and styles than we can mention. Ok fine, we counted 42 styles in all from leather alligator skin to vintage books, to leopard print, with the potential to make your own case in coming soon. Ours is the leather floral print, and my wife fell in love with it as soon as she saw it. This case looks like a leather journal or book when closed and on your book shelf and has a stylish cool thick elastic strap to secure it closed. But there is a lot more than meets the eye with this case. It can stand in 9 different positions with the ingeniously designed stand, has hidden features, and is environmentally responsible to boot! Let’s get into some specifics…

An Environmentally Friendly Transformer

On the outside this case looks like a book or journal, on the inside it becomes so much more. The iPad attaches securely to a plastic tray on the inside that snaps around it and provides access to all the ports and buttons. The iPad can be charged while in this case too, which is a major plus. The front and back cover have a rubberized bumper on their edges to prevent wear and tear and keep your case looking awesome. You can also easily slide a few documents into the inside of the front cover with their convenient business card pocket. Powis has done a great job thinking of nearly every possible viewing position with this iPad case/stand.

We can’t help but be reminded of a transformer as we transform this case into various shapes to achieve all 9 possible viewing positions. This case even has a hidden feature- a hideaway screen wipe cloth that stores underneath your iPad in a secret compartment! How cool is that! We love secret compartments. All of this is wrapped with a thick elastic band that helps in carrying and securing it closed. Did we mention that this case is also eco-friendly? All cases are constructed of 100% recycled board and made from 100% recycled cowhide fibers.

The Powis iCase iPad Case is available in 15 leather styles for $79.95 and in27 other styles for $49.95. Check it out today! You can even get the inside cover personalized for an additional $9.95 to make it uniquely yours or make it the perfect gift for that special someone.

iphone for sale : iPhone 3GS To Be $50 From AT&T Starting Tomorrow

2011-01-06T07:37:00.001-08:00

*BAM* Just like that, AT&T destroyed the $50 smartphone market by dropping the iPhone 3GS down to the same level as Nokia communicators, teeny-bop Blackberrys and the bargain-bin Android devices. That whole market now has to compete with the big dog, the iPhone 3GS.

Well, they do starting tomorrow when the wireless carrier’s new pricing starts. Notice this pricing is just for AT&T as the carrier is dropping the price independently from Apple themselves. So yeah, shoppers looking for the $50 3GS need to head down to their local AT&T dealer rather than the Apple Stores. Of course these same buyers might want to hold off a bit to see what happens in the upcoming months with Verizon and the iPhone. There might be some more surprises planned. Apple likes surprises.

AT&T Announces iPhone 3GS for $49.00
DALLAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* today announced a new price for the popular iPhone 3GS — $49.00 — available beginning tomorrow, Friday, January 7, for both new and upgrade-eligible existing AT&T customers. The offer will be available online at www.att.com/iphone, across more than 2,200 AT&T retail locations nationwide and through AT&T business channels, as well as Apple channels.**
Available only on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, iPhone 3GS delivers the following advantages unique to AT&T and its customers:
* Allows for true smartphone multi-tasking, such as talking and using applications at the same time, on AT&T’s mobile broadband network
* Provides access to our entire national Wi-Fi network with nearly 23,000 hotspots
* Provides the best global coverage with wireless voice and data access in more than 200 countries
“We want to deliver the best, most complete package for our customers — from price, to speed, to worldwide access and more,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Combined with our new, lower monthly data plans beginning at just $15 a month, this new price brings even more value to one of the most popular devices in our leading lineup of smartphones. We’re very excited for more people to experience iPhone on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network.”
iPhone 3GS gives users access to the latest iPhone iOS 4 software plus the revolutionary App Store. Additional information is available at www.apple.com.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Price for 3GS sold in Apple channels is determined by Apple.
Requires new 2-year wireless voice agmt of $39.99 or higher with min $15/mo plan. Subject to wireless customer agrmt. Internal roaming rates or charges apply. Credit approval req’d. Activ. fee up to $36/line. Coverage & svcs, including mobile broadband, not avail everywhere. Geographic, usage & other conditions & restrictions (that may result in svc termination) apply. Taxes & other chrgs apply. See store or visit att.com for details and coverage map. Early Termination Fee (ETF): None if cancelled during first 30 days, but a $35 restocking fee may apply; after 30 days, ETF up to $325 applies (details att.com/equipmentETF). Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge up to $1.25/mo. is chrg’d to help defray costs of complying with gov’t obligations & chrgs on AT&T & is not a tax or gov’t req’d chrg. Wi-Fi: Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic.

The salon industry trends emerging high-tech

2011-01-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

The salon industry trends emerging high-tech

The Consumer Electronic Show (CES), held this year from January 6 to 10 in Las Vegas, is the show in which professionals of new technologies reveal what they think the trends of the year.

Follow the 2011 CES show in Las Vegas as if you were here.
It's not just the casinos in Las Vegas. Every year, for four days, the American capital of the game becomes mecca for techies. This year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) should accommodate more than 120,000 visitors eager to discover what that 2011 prepared as their new gadgets.
The ESC is indeed the first great mass of the year of the new technologies sector. A passage considered essential by almost all manufacturers. More than 2,000 exhibitors meet this huge room size of 35 football fields. Their goal: to show their vision of the development sector for the coming year.
This show - unlike the CeBIT, the German equivalent - is not a treasure trove of new readily available commercially. It polishes up its prototypes, the story to your mouth water to visitors. Since it was founded in 1967, the ESC has nonetheless been the scene of major technological turning points, as the CD that was unveiled for the first time in 1981 and DVD in 1996.
Paradox
2011 will he a great vintage? This is one of the paradoxes of time.2010 was deeply influenced by new technologies with the arrival of the iPad, the tablet from Apple, and the explosion of mobile Internet. But these revolutions are made out of CES. First, because Apple does not participate preferring never dictate his own schedule. Secondly, because the Consumer Electronics Show has missed the boat with "motive" for the benefit of Barcelona. The city and its Spanish-Mobile World Congress-has become the mecca of mobile phones.
It remains at CES to cling to the branches digital. It is feared that the influential technology blog TechCrunch. Las Vegas is expected to endorse in the coming era of digital tablets. The Microsoft, Toshiba, LG and others are likely to benefit the show to start seriously to attack the iPad. The Internet is everywhere - especially in television - should be the other big winner of the CES. Screens more and more (and better) web-connected populate the booths of Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and other.
The show in Las Vegas remains the best showcase of imagination in this area. Prototype devices unlikely promised an uncertain future are revealed. Last year, laptops transparent rubbed television screens embedded in plush teddy ...

Las Vegas turns into a temple at all connected and Tablet

2011-01-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas turns into a temple at all connected and Tablet
The world capital of gambling Las Vegas this week turns into a temple of the tablets and everything connected, at the annual event that is the great hall of consumer electronics, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

This global event is expected to confirm the renewed optimism in the sector, with an attendance at least as strong as last year, according to the Organising Association CEA or 126,000 visitors, about 2,700 exhibitors and nearly 150,000 square metersexhibition between Thursday and Sunday.AFP - The world capital of gambling Las Vegas this week turns into a temple of the tablets and everything connected, at the annual event that is the great hall of consumer electronics, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) .
This global event is expected to confirm the renewed optimism in the sector, with an attendance at least as strong as last year, according to the Organising Association CEA or 126,000 visitors, about 2,700 exhibitors and nearly 150,000 square metersexhibition between Thursday and Sunday.
"The number one trend, it will be the tablets, I think it will be impossible to see ten feet without" having fun yet analyst Stephen Baker of NPD Group Financial. "I think all the companies in computers and smartphones will have at CES," he says.

Last year no one yet knew that success would iPad launched by Apple in April, sold over eight million copies in six months.
Next week, the organizers are planning the presentation of 40 to 80 new bars. Motorola, enjoying a renaissance, should be among the newcomers in this segment with a device Android (Google).
But independent analyst Rob Enderle expects to disappointment: "things Android will not mature before 2012 (..) and even the hardware under Windows will not be good until Windows 8.
Microsoft has made tablet, tactile devices halfway computer and telephone, a priority not to let Apple quasi-monopoly position, but did not hide his frustration during the year against the slow industry to exploit the capabilities of its touch Windows 7 launched in 2009 - hence the speculation about its next operating system, the announcement might not meet the usual cycle of three years.
"Normally, it's too early to Windows 8, but Microsoft needs a story to tell," said Mr. Enderle. The CEO Steve Ballmer gives his usual kick off the show Wednesday night.
"The two other major themes will certainly smartphones and televisions connected" to the Internet, Baker said.
Mr. Enderle also expects the first system to surf the net on their TV with Windows 7, which would be "better than what Apple and Google have placed on the market."
For an analyst at Forrester Research, Sarah Rotman Epps, the show will also be an opportunity to prepare the third wave of connectivity: after printers and game consoles and DVD players connected to the Internet, "the third wave that goes be household appliances, and it has only begun. "
For the first time, the conglomerate General Electric will be exhibiting at CES, as the maker of washing machines and refrigerators Kenmore, with particular equipment to better manage electricity consumption.
Finally, U.S. carriers could take the opportunity to brag about their investments in the mobile fourth generation (4G).
"There will be many announcements of mobile operators," says Ms. Rotman Epps, "which led all the super highways empty they seek to fill" with connected devices.
Like every year, the biggest star in the industry, Apple snub the show, and some speculate he might try to break into the prestige concomitant with an announcement on a new iPhone. Meanwhile, the space devoted to accessories for its products continues to grow in Las Vegas.

Ps4 (Playstation 4) - Primeras Novedades

2011-01-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

Ps4 (Playstation 4) - Primeras Novedades

la société Tai Chiem a mis au point sa propre version de la PlayStation qu’elle surnomme à juste titre surnommée la PlayStation 4. Ce concept est extrêmement agréable à regarder, mais quelque chose nous dit qu’elle n’est pas réalisable. En effet, ce concept Playstation 4 est fait dans une matière transparente qui ressemble à du verre. En effet, on se demande bien où seront cachés les composants de la console et même sur la solidité de celle-ci. En effet ce concept a l’air si fragile qu’elle se brisera entre vos mains.

PlayStation 3 price

2011-01-05T15:53:00.001-08:00

PlayStation 3

is not really what you call cheap, but it can be inexpensive if you know where and how to purchase one. You see this gaming console has been in the market since the year 2006 in the United States. Meaning a lot of models have been shipped to different countries and cities making it more accessible to you over the years.

If you can’t find a cheap PlayStation 3 then you can settle for a list price that are being sold in some specialty stores. This might not be cheaper but at least it is not that expensive than others. PlayStation 3 prices are always varying because of some people who are hoarding them. These persons are buying more than one gaming console and selling the extra ones in online shops or auction sites. So if you want to get a good deal with anyPlayStation 3 prices, you can also check your trusted online shops like Ebay and Amazon. Just make sure though that if you want to check other online shops and auction sites to look for cheaperPlayStation 3 prices, make sure to investigate first if that site can be trusted in order to prevent being scammed.

You can also opt for a second hand gaming console as they have cheaper PlayStation 3 prices but we would not really recommend them. Brand new ones are always better, and purchasing them in specialty stores gives you the advantage of having a good quality customer service when you need repairs, check-ups or asking for help without getting tricked. Here in our site, we will be giving you the tips and reviews that you can trust. Bookmark our site for the PlayStation 3 price alerts and other PlayStation 3 related topics to use as your reference.

Know what you are buying. Having adequate knowledge in what you want to buy like a gaming console helps you not to be tricked especially when you are being offered with package deal types of PlayStation 3 prices. Having knowledge also helps you keep your budget. This is an important factor, always stick to your budget, or if it is not enough make sure that you are only adding a few dollars.

Be patient always. Hurrying when purchasing and looking for a cheap PlayStation 3 prices is a common mistake. Some would regret it when later on they find a cheaper one than the expensive one they bought because they were impatient

Apple : 13-inch MacBook Pro Mid-2009 Review laptop

2011-01-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

Écran rétroéclairé par LED. Brillant.

Écran panoramique brillant de 13,3 pouces.

Dès que vous ouvrirez votre nouveau MacBook, vous serez émerveillé par son écran brillant rétroéclairé par LED. D'entrée de jeu, une superbe luminosité ravive la richesse des couleurs de vos photos, films et présentations sur toute la surface de l'écran. Sa résolution panoramique de 1 280 x 800 pixels vous offre un équilibre parfait entre un espace de travail confortable et une absolue portabilité. Jamais écran n'a été aussi écologique : économe en énergie, exempt de substances toxiques comme le mercure et composé de verre sans arsenic, il a tout pour plaire.

Apple, Disney create 'Tron Legacy' iAd, first for iPad Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20025643-37.html#ixzz187gPZCK8

2010-12-14T13:13:00.001-08:00

(Credit: Apple)

Apple and Disney have put together a special preview iAd for the iPad that should show up on the U.S. App Store today.

Featuring Disney's upcoming movie "Tron Legacy," the new iAd will not only be a way for users to learn more about the movie, but it is also the very first iAd on the iPad.

"Disney and Apple are excited to debut the 'Tron Legacy' iAd today as a special preview of iAd for iPad, which launches next year," said the two companies in a joint statement. "iAd brings Tron's pulsing energy and vivid graphic style to iPad's stunning display, creating a truly immersive ad experience."

When you tap on the ad, you will be given the ability to watch full screen videos and trailers from the film, view a photo gallery and character bios, and listen to music previews from the Daft Punk soundtrack.

The iAd will also give users the ability to download content to their iPad. You will be able to get gallery content, links to purchase the soundtrack, a mapping feature that locates the nearest theater, and e-mail integration that lets the user send an image from the movie to a friend, inviting them to see the movie.

iAd integration is not widely available on the iPad, yet. However, iAds on the iPad are expected to be available to other companies in early 2011.

Of course, it makes sense that Apple would choose to partner with Disney. In 2006, Disney bought Pixar from Steve Jobs for $7.4 billion in stock, making Apple's CEO the largest single shareholder of Disney and a member of its board of directors.

Google Voice for iPhone Adds iPod touch Support

2010-12-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

Description

Access your Google Voice account right from your iPhone.

Receive push notifications for new text or voicemail messages.

Send free text messages to U.S. numbers and make international calls at cheap rates.

Listen to your voicemail, read transcripts and manage your Google Voice inbox.

Display your Google Voice number as caller ID when making calls.

Call contacts from your iPhone Address Book or enter new numbers on the dialpad.

A Google Voice account is required to use this app. To sign up go to www.google.com/voice.

Google Voice is only available in the United States.

...More

Google Web Site Google Voice Support Application License Agreement

What's New in Version 1.1.0.636

* Support for iPod Touch
* iPod Touch and iPhone can now make calls using Click2Call
* Do Not Disturb setting
* Text forwarding is automatically disabled when registering for Push notifications
* Added Text forwarding setting to the app
* Easier to make calls from the phone Address Book
* Removed annoying OK dialog every time you send an SMS
* Fixed crashes caused by text messages that begin with a space character
* Fixed bug that caused the entire Inbox to load
* Fixed bug that caused Contact pictures to get mixed up
* Improved access to Contact groups
* Improved speed of Contact search

iPhone Screenshots

Customer Reviews

itouch support

by David Spilkin

yay itouch support, thank you

Landscape

by SuperNick7

Great having a native app for the Ipod Touch finally, but let's get some landscape keyboarding action in there

works great on ipod touch 2g

by evanmo

title says it all except that i'm on ios 3.1.2.

FBI Investigating Gawker Hack

2010-12-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

FBI Investigating Gawker Hack

The Gawker hack that compromised the site's commenting system has caught the attention of the FBI. Investigators were scheduled to meet with Gawker editor Nick Denton Tuesday to discuss the breach, according to the New York Post.

"The FBI in New York is aware of these reports and is looking into it," an FBI spokesman said via e-mail.

At issue is a weekend hack that accessed Gawker's commentor database, which is home to about 1.5 million usernames, e-mails, and passwords. Gawker urged its users to change their passwords immediately, especially if they use that same password on other Web sites. The password vulnerability led to a Twitter spam attack on Monday.

"The passwords were encrypted. But simple ones may be vulnerable to a brute-force attack You should change the password on Gawker (GED/commenting system) and on any other sites on which you've used the same passwords," Gawker said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, you should also change your company email password and any passwords that might have appeared in your email messages."

A group that calls itself Gnosis has reportedly taken responsibility for the hack. The group told Mediaite that it "went after Gawker because of their outright arrogance." Gnosis pointed to a document in the Gawker logs that quoted Denton as telling 4chan to "bring it on." Though Gnosis said it is not affiliated with 4chan and actually said it doesn't "like being lumped in with 4chan," Gnosis said that Denton needs to have "the means to back yourself up" when making statements like that.

In a Monday tweet, Denton denied the quote. "Actually, not true. That was an unfortunate joke in an internal chat by Gawker writers," he wrote.

It's possible that Gnosis could have broken into Gawker's commentor accounts by simply guessing their passwords. The Wall Street Journal reports that the most common passwords for logging into Gawker Media sites were "123456" and "password." Wonder if your password would pass the test? Check out PCMag's How to Create Strong Passwords feature.

Microsoft's CES Surprise, a Slew of Tablets?

2010-12-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

Microsoft's CES Surprise, a Slew of Tablets?

CEO Steve Ballmer is reportedly set to unveil a number of new tablet devices at the giant Consumer Electronics Show next month.

December 14, 2010
By Stuart J. Johnston: More stories by this author:

Wondering what's next in mobile? Just wait a day. That's not that much of an exaggeration as new smartphones and tablet releases are making news at least several times a week as of late.

Every since Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) reignited the market for tablet or slate devices, companies have been scrambling to bring out competitive models. Ironically, Microsoft showed its first Windows-based tablet back in 2000, but those pen input devices were relegated to niche status. Now, as Enterprise Mobile Today reports, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is set to make a big tablet announcement at next month's CES show.

Microsoft has had an embarrassing fall, fending off accusations by competitors and critics that it has been talking big but still hasn't delivered on CEO Steve Ballmer's boast last summer that gaining a solid foothold in the evolving market for slate computers is Microsoft's "job one."

The company hopes that will start to change in early January when Ballmer is expected to show off a "slew" of new slate devices running Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows 7 during his opening keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Google Mobile Searches Grew 130 Percent In Q3

2010-12-13T13:56:00.001-08:00

As more and more consumers use their phones for both business and product search and purchasing, mobile ad formats for retailers are becoming a more compelling way to connect with these users. Today, Google is bringingits seller ratings ad format to the mobile platform, allowing searchers using Google on the mobile web to see ratings of merchants within a search ad. Another interesting tidbit from the post—Google Mobile searches were up 130 percent year-over-year in Q3 of 2010.

Similar to seller ratings for web-based search ads, the mobile format allows advertisers to include a rating for a business. Seller Ratings are aggregated from merchant review sites and Google says the the extension will only show when a merchant’s online store has a rating of four or more stars and includes at least 30 reviews.

The ad itself shows the merchants star rating and posts a link to the seller’s reviews. Google says that the mobile ad formats with seller ratings are only available on Google.com, Google.co.uk and Google.de domains. And Google cautions that these types of ads are only appropriate for “advertisers who provide users with paid goods or services or those that enable the buying or selling of products or services via a marketplace.”

It’s not surprising that Google is continuing to ramp up its efforts in mobile search offerings. Google already does pretty well in terms of mobile revenue (in the company’s last earnings call, the search giant said that mobile search is on track to be a $1 billion business in 2010). In the call, Google SVP of Product Management Jonathan Rosenberg said that mobile search queries have grown five times over the past couple of years.

Apple Looking To Hire More CDMA Engineers

2010-12-13T13:20:00.001-08:00

A new Apple job posting, showing that the company is looking for more engineers with CDMA experience is just the latest bit of evidence that Apple is hard at work on an iPhone compatible with Verizon’s network. Te Cellular Systems Performance Engineer will need to be proficient in GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, and CDMA technologies. All but the last protocol are currently supports in the iPhone 4s. Verizon’s network uses CDMA rather than the GSM standard used by AT&T.

Apple has been adding CDMA engineers to their development staff since at least 2008; job listings two years ago showed proof of Apple seeking CDMA testing and certification engineers. The pace of hiring has intensified lately however. This is something anyone can see if you search for CDMA on Apple’s job site, there seem to be a number of positions open calling for familiarity with the protocol. The rumor of the Verizon iPhone has been bouncing around almost as long as there’s been an iPhone. Shaw Wu, a Kaufman Bros. analyst recently said that Verizon is so eager to get the iPhone that they’re giving in to more Apple demands, kicking in a subsidy of as much as $400 per phone.

Stocking stuffers under $20; Holiday gifts for tech-lovers;

2010-12-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

iPlunge phone stand, $5.99 at perpetualkid.com.

Need a gift for a gadget lover?

Whether he's a gamer, a techie, a groomer or a browser, we've got the perfect $20-and-under gift to stuff in his (or her) stocking.

Guitar Hero Smash Hits

Forty-eight of the biggest hits from the rock gaming phenomenon. Players can go it alone on Sony PlayStation 2 or corral an eight-player crew for battle-of-the-bands competitions. $15, pcrichard.com.

City iPhone cover

Remember when you needed a quarter to make a call? Remind friends and family how much easier big-city life is with this protective silicone iPhone cover with an old-school New York design. Fits iPhones 3G and 3GS. $12, fredflare.com

USB Stress Ball (left)

Got a friend who needs to relax? This squeezable chill pill plugs into your laptop and makes your screen tremble in fear with every squeeze. $19.99, thinkgeek.com.

Mr. Nose and Ear Hair trimmer

If you really love someone, set their nose hair free. This electric, hand-held '70s disco all-star is every groomer's best friend. $14.99, amazon.com.

iPlunge phone stand
Suction this little plunger to the back of any iPhone or iPod for an instant armrest for easy video and photo viewing. $5.99, perpetualkid.com.

AMAZING iPHONE APPS

The iPhone comes with quite a few built-in apps and utilities, but some of them lack crucial features. These offerings improve upon Apple's preloaded content.

Grab it: Calcbot ($1.99): This well-designed calculator app has lots of advantages, but perhaps the most crucial one is the history tape. Think of it as receipts for your past transactions — and you can even email equations that you need to remember to yourself or a friend. There's also a running tally of any long equations you might have, thus preventing you from getting lost in a sea of numbers, and support for trigonometric functions and other mathematical feats normally handled by one of those big, bulky scientific calculators.

Notebooks ($5.99): This comprehensive note-taking app seems expensive by App Store standards, but its full suite of features makes up for it. You can sort your notes by whatever means make sense to you, and incorporate to-do lists as well — upcoming to-dos will be flagged by the app, and a reminder will appear on your iPhone's home screen. Another nice thing about this app: It's able to import a wide variety of files, including PDFs, Microsoft Office documents and web pages. An even nicer thing? The ability to choose the font that your notes appear in, thus making this app even more personalized.

Alarm Clock Pro (99 cents) has a super-customizable interface, multiple options for how your alarm will rouse you (if you like to fade into the day, there's an option for your music to do just that), a sleep timer that allows you to fall asleep to songs on your iPod, and the ability to wake up to the temperature as well as the time. It all makes this clock app the one to beat.

Toshiba and iPhone

2010-12-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

Toshiba said building LCD display

factory to supply iPhone 6

Toshiba is building a large factory dedicated primarily to making LCDs for Apple, Nikkei said today. The Japanese firm would spend about $1.19 billion to make small LCDs and would primarily supply high resolution, low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) LCDs for iPhones. Apple is directly involved and will help fund the plant, the daily said.

Construction would start in early 2011 and would wrap up in time for production to start in the second half of the same year. Toshiba hasn't confirmed any details.

The timing would roughly correlate to the first results of the factory arriving in 2012, with the sixth-generation iPhone or expanded production of the fifth-generation model getting the first results. No mention has been made as to whether it would be a technological improvement or if it would simply supplement existing production; the new factory would be a more than twofold jump over the 8.55 million small LCDs Toshiba currently makes per month.

Apple may need the capacity regardless of its intentions. It has a multi-year deal with LG Display that includes the 640x960 Retina Display on the iPhone 4, but the advanced screen may have contributed to shortages as LG struggled to keep up with demand. A similar effect occurred for the iPad and reportedly led to Apple farming out production to Samsung to help cope with sales.

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2010-12-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

DailyBooth, the photo-sharing startup with a focus on faces, is out with version 2.0 of its iPhone app. The update is a complete rewrite and redesign from the original and includes a live feed of photos, full profile information and messaging support.

The refreshed application also brings with it a 3-second timer for snapping photos, integration with Facebook and Twitter, username search, improved friend finding capabilities and photo ghosting.

The application should be well-received by DailyBooth users as it finally makes a majority of the web service’s features available on the iPhone.

As the camera capabilities on newer smartphones continue to improve, startups are responding by building specialized applicationsthat drastically improve the users’ ability to snap and share photos on the web from their mobile devices.

DailyBooth CEO Brian Pokorny believes the bigger trend is building for younger audiences who prefer to communicate with faces, hence his company’s interest in building around the front-facing camera of the iPhone 4. As for Android, DailyBoothindicates a version of the application is in the works for that operating system as well.

Microsoft joins group targeting Google deal

2010-12-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

The FairSearch.org coalition said Monday that Microsoft (MSFT 27.25, +0.02, +0.07%) is among a handful of new members, who will be demonstrating “concern around the world about the broader threat the Google-ITA deal poses to travel consumers.”

Google (GOOG 595.00, +0.38, +0.06%) announced in July that it plans to purchase ITA Software, which provides travel information technology to Microsoft, American Airlines(AMR 7.84, +0.01, +0.13%) and others.

That announcement drew concerns from rivals and critics who say Google could use its market power as a dominant search engine to hinder competition in the online travel industry.

Google controls about 66% of the U.S. search market, according to comScore Inc. data, while Microsoft and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO 16.86, +0.17, +1.03%) hold a combined, 28% share.

FairSearch.org has estimated that Google now provides over 30% of all search engine traffic to online travel sites, as “the primary way Internet users navigate to U.S. industries online.”

In August, the U.S. Justice Department informed Google that it was extending its initial, automatic antitrust review of the planned ITA Software merger, with a second request for information.

FairSearch.org said Monday that it “is urging the U.S. Justice Department to challenge Google’s proposed acquisition of ITA Software, the flight search technology that powers many of the web’s most popular travel sites.”

Microsoft joins existing FairSearch.org members including Expedia Inc.(EXPE 26.51, +0.36, +1.39%), Farelogix Inc. and Kayak.com.

A Microsoft spokesman said that, “As an ITA Software customer, Microsoft’s ability to continue providing innovative ways for consumers to find the best flights at the lowest prices online rests on a competitive market for travel technology. Microsoft is joining FairSearch.org to help raise awareness of how the proposed Google-ITA merger could hurt travelers by slowing innovation and contributing to higher travel costs.”

A Google spokesman countered in a statement that, “I’m not sure there are any surprises here. Microsoft is our largest competitor and lobbies regulators against every acquisition we make.”

The Google spokesman also noted that Foundem, a search service which is joining FairSearch.org alongside Microsoft, has long complained about its ranking in Google search results.

“It’s disappointing but not surprising that established players are defending the status quo, while we plan to provide consumers with better flight search tools and more choices and drive more traffic to travel Web sites,” the Google spokesman said.

In a posting on a company Web site in August, Google Senior Product Manager Andrew Silverman wrote that, “We’re confident that the DOJ will conclude that online travel will remain competitive after this acquisition closes.”

Silverman added that the deal “will benefit travelers as well as those seeking their business.”

On Monday, Fairsearch.org countered that, “Acquiring ITA Software would give Google control over the software that powers most of its closest rivals in travel search and could enable Google to manipulate and dominate the online air travel marketplace. The end result could be higher travel prices, fewer travel choices for consumers and businesses, and less innovation in online travel search.”

Apple, Google, RIM go shopping for Nortel patents

2010-12-13T13:08:00.001-08:00

Apple and Google are reportedly in a bidding war for bankrupt Canadian telecom Nortel's patent portfolio. Unnamed sources speaking to Reuters confirmed that the two companies—among others—participated in the first round of bids on Nortel's IP portfolio, the most highly prized being patents related to 3G and 4G wireless tech.

The source claims that, following the first round of bids, Nortel has grouped the patents into six different technology buckets—this will reduce the possibility that a single company will end up owning all of Nortel's patents. With more than 4,000 patents to Nortel's name, that still puts several hundred into each group, ranging from optical data to online advertising, PCs, and wireless tech.

None of the companies involved in the bidding have publicly disclosed their participation, but Reuters points out that RIM, Apple, and Google are seen as "likely bidders" when it comes to Nortel's patents on 3G and 4G handsets and networking. Nortel had previously been one of the first entrants into fixed and mobile WiMAX in the US (the 4G tech used by Sprint and Clearwire), but later got out to focus on Long Term Evolution (LTE, the 4G tech used by Verizon).

Those LTE patents are likely what Apple is most interested in, since it's rumored that a "Verizon iPhone" will come with LTE support. Since Verizon plans to have LTE coverage in 30+ cities by the end of this year and plenty more in 2011, such a move would definitely be advantageous for Apple.

Google Latitude for iPhone now available

2010-12-13T13:07:00.001-08:00

Tired of being texted: "Where are you?" by your friends? Google Latitude for iPhone can answer that question for them without taking you away from your other important text messages, like "Hafta break up with u; sorry," or "Free food @Phils, 2 pm."

The free, location-based app, made available Monday in Apple's App Store, lets you share your location continuously with whomever you want, and see where your friends are on a map, as well as on a handy-dandy list.

Location-based apps, like Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook's Connect, are all the rage, it seems. But Google has had a dedicated mobile website for Latitude for awhile, and the app has been available for use on BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian smart phones, as well as on computers. But the iteration for the iPhone is specifically made for Apple's iOS 4, the latest version of the company's mobile operating system.

You can control your information by sharing only city-level location, hiding your location, or turning off background updating at any time, Google says.

"Remember, Latitude is 100 percent opt-in," Google says on its blog. "You must install the app and add friends (or accept requests) to start sharing your location. You can turn off background updating if you’d like and control the same privacy settings: share only city-level location, hide your location, or sign out of Latitude at any time."

To use Latitude on Apple's devices, you'll need to have iOS 4.0 or later installed on these devices: iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), and iPad.

Mashable notes that the numbered version of the app is 2.0.0.346, "a slightly odd version number for a new application, revealing how long it took for the app to be ready for prime time or for Apple to approve it."

In fact, Latitude showed up last week in the App Store, but was yanked back, for reasons unknown.

And not everyone is a fan of Latitude for iPhone.

"I will use it, but it’s totally breaking for me," writes Robert Scoble, in "Google's Foursquare Rival, Latitude, Is A Mess."

Among the reasons he cites: the user interface "for adding new people really sucks. It is forcing me to go through friend requests one at a time serially. So, if I need to add a real friend, like my wife, I can’t without first going through hundreds of requests. Compare to Instagram and you’ll see the folly of that."

Also, he contends, "There isn’t value to sharing where I’m at all the time. I look at my friends on Google Buzz. Does it really matter to me that I know where they are? No. It only really matters if they are open for a meeting, if they are in the same neighborhood as I am, or if they are doing something 'braggable.' I’m not freaked out by sharing where I’m at, like many other people are, but I just don’t get any value out of it."

And perhaps one of the key issues that all smart phone users care about: because Latitude is running "all the time it uses some of my precious battery life. Enough said. The value I get out of it isn’t worth the battery savings."

Here's Google's 67-second look at Latitude for iPhone:

Google Using Unfair Tactics for Search Results, Rivals Say

2010-12-13T13:05:00.001-08:00

A number of online retailers are reportedly irked about Google's search result tactics, arguing that Google places results for its own services more prominently, to the detriment of competitors.

Google, however, argued that it makes decisions based on what's best for its customers. "We built Google for users, not websites," the company said.

In a Sunday Wall Street Journal article, executives from companies like TripAdvisor.com, health site WebMD.com and local-business reviews sites Yelp.com and Citysearch.com, among others, said that links for their companies are showing up below results for Google's own services.

For example, Google might display a result for a restaurant within its Places Page feature above a link to the actual restaurant. Places Pages, which launched in Google Maps last year, creates an individual Place Page microsite for cities and companies. "A Place Page is a Web page for every place in the world, organizing all the world's information for that place," Google said at launch. "And we really mean every place: there are Place Pages for businesses, points of interest, transit stations, landmarks, and cities all over the world."

For sites like TripAdvisor, WebMD, or Yelp - which count on users searching within their own sites for specialized information about travel, medical data, or places of interest, the priority placement is unfair, the told the Journal.

"There is no denying that today Google is competing [with many websites] for the same Web traffic and the same advertising dollars," Jay Herratti, chief executive of CityGrid Media, which owns Citysearch, Urbanspoon.com, and InsiderPages.com, told the paper.

Google defended its practices. "When people come to Google looking for information about places like restaurants, shoe stores, parks or museums, our goal is to provide them with answers as quickly as possible and presented in a way that's easy to read and understand," Carter Maslan, director of product management, wrote in a blog post. "Sometimes the most useful information is a direct link to a business—other times it's a map or a list of review sites."

Maslan said that Google Places Pages "makes it much easier to see and compare places and find great sites with local information." Webmasters have also told Google that "Place pages help them reach a broader audience when users click through to learn more," he said.

When asked if there were plans for formal regulatory complaints or lawsuits, a WebMD spokesman said "WebMD has not filed any formal complaints, but we'll continue to watch what Google is doing very carefully." TripAdvisor, Yelp, and CitySearch did not respond to a request for comment.

Other companies, however, have already filed complaints. Last month, the European Commission said it had opened an antitrust investigation into Google over allegations that the company abused its dominant position in online search.

That issue dates back to February, when the EU announced it had received complaints fromFoundem, a French legal search engine called ejustice.fr, and Ciao! from Bing. Julia Holtz, Google's competition counsel, said at the time that two of the companies - Ciao! from Bing, a Microsoft acquisition; and Foundem - had ties to rival Microsoft. Ciao was purchased by Microsoft in 2008. The EU has now opened a formal investigation into those complaints.

In September, the Texas attorney general opened a similar investigation focused on Foundem, SourceTool/TradeComet, and myTriggers.